Ras Sejum's Attack: Debra Amba Conquest of Ethiopia #10 |
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(Defender) Italy | vs | Ethiopia (Attacker) |
Formations Involved |
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Overall Rating, 5 votes |
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3.8
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Scenario Rank: 223 of 940 |
Parent Game | Conquest of Ethiopia |
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Historicity | Historical |
Date | 1935-12-18 |
Start Time | 10:00 |
Turn Count | 10 |
Visibility | Day & Night |
Counters | 61 |
Net Morale | 1 |
Net Initiative | 0 |
Maps | 2: 84, 91 |
Layout Dimensions | 56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in |
Play Bounty | 155 |
AAR Bounty | 171 |
Total Plays | 4 |
Total AARs | 1 |
Battle Types |
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Hill Control |
Entrenchment Control |
Conditions |
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Entrenchments |
Reinforcements |
Terrain Mods |
Scenario Requirements & Playability | |
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Conquest of Ethiopia | Base Game |
Introduction |
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Although effective against fixed positions, the Italian air campaign proved unable to inhibit Ethiopian infiltration tactics, leading to sizable Ethiopian forces maneuvering against Italian positions. However, the Regia Aeronautica excelled at reconnaissance, alerting the Italian High Command so they could quickly dispatch strong reinforcements where needed. East of Ras Immirù’s forces, Ras Sejum began a series of violent attacks against a Blackshirt Group led by Console Generale Filippo Diamanti. The most important actions by Ras Sejum took place in the Abbi Addi area, with the first big attack carried out at Debra Ambà. Thanks to those eyes in the sky, Diamanti and his men were already in place. |
Conclusion |
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The day before the battle, the Ethiopians in the fort had sporadically harassed the Italians deployed on the Ambà with intense rifle fire. Feeling vulnerable, the Italians planned an attack to dislodge the Ethiopians and secure the area. A large detachment of Ethiopians intercepted the Italians as they approached Sicomoro Fort leading to a drawn-out ten-hour battle. The Ethiopians eventually retreated with heavy losses while inflicting only light casualties on the Italians thanks to weak firepower and a lack of many machine guns. Nevertheless, the action worried the Italian High Command who sent heavy reinforcements to the Abbi Addi area during the night and over the following days. |
Additional Notes |
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Blackshirt leaders can command Colonial units. |
AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle |
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1 Errata Item | |
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The leadership rating on the back of the Console Gen. in Conquest of Ethiopia is misprinted 7-0-7. It should be 7-0-0. (rerathbun
on 2015 Jul 19)
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Balanced and Fun to Play | ||||||||||||||
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This was a fast-paced and fun, 2-session play-through with the bold and decisive ACav leading the Ethiopians force, and with me playing the advancing Italians. We used the excess initiative, consolidation and smoke/illum optional rules in this one. Both sides drew miserable leaders and suffered from many morale failures in this seesaw battle. Together we threw 12 combat 7-die rolls, and both sides had challenges in sequencing attacks and reinforcing close assaults. The brave, but under-equipped, Ethiopian side slowly wore down in the fierce fighting and multiple leader losses caused them to have considerable problems recovering unit morale as the game went on. The Italians inflicted more casualties on the Ethiopians but lost 4 leaders in the process. I give this one a 3 and recommend it for shared play, as we settled for a costly draw after both sides lost an incredible number of steps, mostly in close assaults and adjacent-hex fire fights. |
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