Bir el Gubi set up question

[Blackcloud6]

Desert  Rats Scenario 10. The Milmart Coastal Defense Unit is to set up within three hexes of 1530.  But it does not say which map.  The other two Italian units' instructions specifically say which map to set up on.  Thoughts?

[plloyd1010]

Accounts place the 102mm guns back with the main group. The Italians "cleverly" hid them among other vehicles. So I would say board 5.

[Blackcloud6]

Accounts place the 102mm guns back with the main group. The Italians "cleverly" hid them among other vehicles. So I would say board 5.

Agree.  From what I've read about the battle they were up protecting the main defense.  They clobbered the crusaders apparently.  The Brits didn't know what hit them.

[plloyd1010]

Not bad for a WW1 weapon, eh?

[Blackcloud6]

Big shells vs. lightly armored tanks.

[plloyd1010]

Their purpose in the desert was to counter the Matildas. The original function was oppose Austrian naval raids on the east coast.

[Blackcloud6]

Very interesting.  Thanks.

Are there any pictures of these vehicles?

[plloyd1010]

Yes. I found a couple online. I think there are a couple more in my naval engineering encyclopedia.

[Blackcloud6]

Yes. I found a couple online. I think there are a couple more in my naval engineering encyclopedia.

I looked this Portee up online last night.  It sure is an interesting vehicle/gun combination.  It would make a cool 1/35 scale model.