Indian Setup:

SW hill: slightly less than half the Indian force, one MG unit Entrenched. SE hill: slightly more than half the Indian force, one MG unit Entrenched NE hill: the faraway small hill has just one MG unit entrenched

Italian approach, turns 1-6: moved in force along the SE edge of board 5. The BAN units ran North than turned West to flank. The bulk of the FAN units approached the hill cautiously, unstacked, although Indian MG and IF strength are weak. Still, with only a morale of 7, you don't want to take chances early in a 30 turn match. FAN units were able to approach the hill in force, despite some DIS and DEM results. BAN units assaulted the Entrenchment. Took 2 step losses but cleared it.

Indians respond with mortar fire (inneffective) and the Bren (taken out at 5 hexes by an IT 65mm that rolled an 11!). That hurt.

Turns 7-14: FAN and BAN units mopped up the SE hill. Quite a few of the Indian units (4) escape to the SW hill.

Turns 15-16: I've setup for an attack on the big SW hill. However, the small hill is only lightly defended and the Italians could win this scenario by holding what they have and taking the other hill, so I may yet turn and do that. There is enough time.

Ended with an Italian Minor win (2 hills, less than 10 step losses).

Je passe à Desert Rats avec le premier scénario. En 40, les Italiens passent à l’attaque et envahissent la Somalie britannique. Scénario exotique : l’infanterie coloniale italienne, avec des irréguliers éthiopiens, attaquent des Indiens qui se doivent bien se demander ce qu’ils font là. C’est un côté que j’apprécie chez PzG, l’hommage rendu à toutes les nationalités, et ici aux indigènes enrôlés de plus ou moins bon gré.

Les Indiens défendent trois collines qui forment une passe. Les Italiens doivent en prendre deux dans la journée ; pas mal de péripéties, un premier assaut raté, des canons traînés à pied à travers le désert, un peloton de Brens qui se fait détruire au corps à corps. Tout se joue aux derniers tours ; une dernière fortification indienne, complètement encerclée, résiste suffisamment pour arracher le nul.

Indian units set up with an HMG on all three hills. Italians entered from southeast in attempt to concentrate efforts on one hill in south while sending a company north to take the more lightly defended hill there. Italians took losses as they approached the dug-in Indians on the southeast hill, but were able to eventually take the positions on the lower slope. Upon approaching the small hill in the northeast the Italians took three quick step losses but were able to overcome the light defenses in a pair of assaults. At that point the Italians held a minor victory but had lost nine steps, meaning the Indians could secure a draw by eliminating one more step. The Italians then attacked the positions on the third hill. The Italians quickly lost two more steps meaning they had to secure the hill to gain a victory. In the end all Allied units were eliminated except for a 10-0-1 leader and HMG entrenched on the hill. The Italians assaulted the hex for seven turns but couldn't get the favorable dice roll needed to win. A very close, enjoyable scenario.

I set this up with the main force attacking the West Hill and a smaller force sprinting up the East side of the board to the North Hill. I left the East Hill totally alone and figured if I quickly got 2 hills for the Minor V I will try for the 3rd and the Major V. The attack on the West Hill went horribly wrong and 10 step losses were quickly in the graveyard. The sprinters on the East did well - the Italians were able to avoid all Opp Fire from the East Hill while sprinting North - and got next to the defenders of the North Hill unscathed. But after 4 turns of fruitless assault - The Defenders would get easily disrupted and demoralized - but the recovery morale checks from the leader and entrenchments were just as easy. After a half dozen turns I pulled everyone out and made a killer double stack in 2 hexes adjacent to the trenches with 16 FP on the DF Table - same results - could not pull off any good rolls to get everyone in the hex demoralized for a 2nd set of assaults. It ended with the Indians holding on to the entrenchment hex on the North hill after the Italians touched / occupied / controlled / walked through every other hex on the hill.

The West hill was finally cleared of all Commonwealth units by turn 23 and it took 3 turns to have Italian units touch / occupy / control / walk through every other hex on the hill. Between turn 26 and 30 there was a line of Italians holding 4 hexes of slopes on the Eastern edge of the West Hill and 4 hexes of Indians adjacent to them.

The whole thing ended badly for the Italians as a 1/2 platoon of Indians took a stroll North through [2] Opp Fires of 12FP Machinegun Fire unscathed and "touched" a hex of the West Hill to deny the Italians "Full Control of The Hill".

Good Stuff! Good scenario to get the feet wet and get a grasp of the rules. Piece count is low - but distance that needs to be covered is high - hence the 30 turns. Direction of the victory went back and forth a number of times so it was tense.

Author	cjsiam (India)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Britain, India
Participants	Dan Storm
Play Date	2019-03-02
Language	English
Scenario	DeRa001

The Punjabi forces set up on each of the three hills with an Entrenchment, occupied by Machine Gun, officer and Inf. Platoon—on a slope hex facing south….where the Italian Colonial forces were advancing.

The only British officer which had a morale modifier was the Indian Subedar from the Punjab…he and his Niab Subedar set up on the southeastern hill…couple dug in platoons with them and MG…

And the Chaos began….The Brits also set up the Bren with an HMG (instead of putting it on the northern hill) on the SE hill—dug in…MG unloaded and dug in…with range of 4 these mattered…

The assault came---the Italian focused on the SE hill…converging from both the south and eventually the east….the Bandis thought to run up the eastern side…but with the chaos of the hill assaults not resolving came over to help on the hill…They ran back to sieze the northern slopes of the SE hill—intending to approach the SW hill.

The Bren had turned on turn 3 and rushed the HMG back to the NE hill (in hind site really not necessary)…and then he came back to the southern hills. The Clever British strategy was to keep him out of harms way until the end…and then sieze a hex or two of hills to frustrate the Itallian Victory conditions….HAAHAHHAAH (evil laugh)…

Tragically---he got too close---the Bandis got adjacent—got initiative and assaulted…OOPS…Scratch one Bren on north facing of SE hill….the Bandis then continued over to the SE hill…

The hill attack was Epic…initially the fire was used to disrupt the defenders, and assaults started. My opponent had a “crises of faith” about his assaults having experience poor results in previous games…and it played out here in similar fashion for a while. The small Indian commanded contingent on the SE hill held out against multiple multi-stack Fire combat attacks, drove back at least one full assault. This went on from Turn 3 until the final Punjabi unit was picked up on turn 17…They actually at one point decapitated the command structure of the Italians. Overall they fully demoralized at least 3 stacks (most did come back…but the impetus of attack was put back a turn). During the time of assault some 12 Steps were lost by the Italians…so this Punjabi company basically won a Minor Victory---by themselves!

Finally---after basically occupying the Italians for at least 17 turns…the overwhelming fire of multiple adjacent stacks caused a final step loss to the Infantry Platoon, demoralized the reduced MG, and caused a leader casualty—snake-eyes—on the Punjabi Subedar---“You’re a better man then I, Gunga-Din”… EPIC

At that point it was a race---the SW hill was being seized…the British Mortar had long ago been “Blown to hell” by the Italian mortar and Arty….The Entrenched MG with officer was faced overwhelming numbers coming his way…his Dug in platoons next to the entrenchment were systematically reduced and the Italians kept on coming.

About turn 20 the British forces on the North hill sent out two platoons with officers(2) to threaten the SE hill and SW hill….Intention was to force some allocation of forces to protect the hills from being occupied by British (victory conditions)….The Italian 8pt off-board artillery ended up disrupting and demoralizing one of these stacks almost every turn—very accurate—that prevented the “threat” from developing, but did at least force some forces to respond….

At this point it was all about the hill entrenchment….the British commander sent a demoralized reduced platoon out of the trench –to fend for himself as he fled---avoiding the +1 for 3stack…he was overwhelmed by the Bandis….

Last few turns the Italian stacks fired at the entrenched Brits….from adjacent hexes….no officers with modifiers so attacks were only so strong and luck favored the Brits. The Italians sent in the Bandis to Assault (+1) and even Bombarded the hex at the same time---suffering Friendly Fire rolls on the Bandis and the adjacent firing FAN troops—these didn’t cause too much disruption of Italians…but did prove hurtful to the Brits—though not fatal…. Some fog of war rolls in the last 6 turns helped prevent the Italians from laying in as many as they could.

Last two turns the Italians Occupied all the hill hexes---save the Entrenchment---which they continued to Bombard, Fire, Assault…..

And in the end…A British Machine gun and officers still occupied the entrenched hex when the whistle blew.

EPIC….Gunga-Din’s valor made the difference….British Minor Victory.

Couple things came up--- Bandis get a +1 for Assault---how is that resolved when the Assaulting infantry is both Bandi and FAN? Does the +1 apply?...

The current LOS rules(4.0) basically provide no LOS protection to units on top of hills…if the Ground level observing unit is further away from any slope hex then the unit on the hill….I think that is how it is interpreted…this means that units NEXT to hill can’t shoot up---but units a few hexes away can see the top of hill, and thus fire(arty or mortars)…

Great Game….Good fun in a simple scenario….A Classic Infantry Assault coordinate puzzle...Entrenchments and defenders in Cities---the bug-a-boo of attackers in the game me thinks...

Now---to try and defend the rest of British Somaliland….onward!

As the Italians, our limited objective was to take 2 of the 3 hills on the map whilst limiting our casualties. The Indian defenders had largely split their forces between the two southernmost hills, whilst I had determined to attack the south western objective, but bypass the south eastern hill and head straight towards the northernmost hill where there was a very light defence.

However, early into the attack a sandstorm hit the area. It was brief, lasting only 15 minutes, but the effects after it cleared were to slow any movement down to a crawl but allowing the defenders the ability to see us coming from afar. Given the likely heavy casualties from attacking both southern hills, I determined to try and carry out the original plan, hoping to at least capture one of the objectives before the 1445 deadline.

The attack on the south western hill soon hit trouble. The Italians tried to skirt the western edge and approach from the north, bypassing the machine gun nest that was guarding the southern approaches. A diversionary force was directed to keep the MG group 'honest'. Some success by the Bande was short-lived as they got bogged down in a protracted assault. Most of the Fans were shot up and the attack stalled. The only thing giving these troops a chance was that the other flank troops were on their way north and holding the Indian defenders on the other hill from reinforcing the other hill. The advance there was so slow that, by the time the Indians released most of their troops, it was too late to have an effect over on the other hill.

But slow it was, and the eastern flank force only reached the north eastern hill with about 3-4 turns to go. Some sterling defending from the infantry and the 2-pdr there held them off long enough to hold the objective. Over to the south west, the attackers had pulled back to reorganise and go on the attack again, but the defence was too strong and they began to retreat in earnest. The sandstorm had made this attack all but impossible.

I think this scenario would be quite well balanced and would go to the wire, had it not been for the sandstorm from the random events table. Such are the fortunes of war!

The Italians tried an end run on this one, but the Indians beat them to the terrain with interior lines. Once the Eastern hill was taken, the Western hill, with two possible defense lines in it, loomed ahead. The Italians had to regroup before assaulting the Western hill, then slammed into it from the east around noon. Bitter fighting resulted in the Italians finally taking the Western Hill only 5 moves from the game end. Tough fight!

An intresting mix of troops as two colonial powers meet in NE Africa. Although the Italians have overwhelming numbers the Indian troops are dug in on hills and are very tough to shift. Although the Italians took one hill they fell just short of taking the second hill. Both sides suffered over 50% casualties.

In this action, in Eastern Africa, elements of 14th italian Colonial Brigade must conquer British positions in Tug Aran (Somalia), defended by british native infantry (Punjabis of India). These positions are located in three hills. All the participant troops are colonial. The Italians have native infantry (FAN), machine-gun squads (MIT) and lightly-armed native police, but ferocious close-quarter fighters (the "bandes", BAN). The British have native units of Punjab. Only the officers are European. Italian forces: 16 x FAN, 3 x MIT, 4 x BAN, 2 x 81 mm and 2 x 65 mm. British forces: 10 x INF, 3 x HMG, 1 x 3-inch, 1 x 2-pdr and 1 x Bren. The moral is lower-middle (7/5 Italians, 7/6 British). 30 turns.

0730-0745: The Italians enter in two columns, one (with artillery and mortars) towards the West hill. Another one (5 x FAN, 1 x MIT) towards the East hill.

0745-0800: The british platoon of Bren advance to block the way to the Italians. These unfold artillery and mortars.

0800-0815: Italians concentrate their bombardment fire on the Bren, but the armour resists. Some platoons of italian infantry come near to the Bren. Two of them arrive at adjacent hexes. Another one is demoralized in the way because of british opp.fire.

0815-0830: To avoid to be assaulted, the Bren retires. The Italians approach the West hill and begin to take positions.

0830-0845 and 0845-0900: 4 platoons of italian inf. march by the extreme West of the map towards the North of the hill. A FAN is demoralized by shots of a british HMG.

0900-0915: The fire of British mortars demoralizes another FAN platoon advancing to the North.

0915-0930 and 0930-0945: Finally, some platoons in good order of italian infantry take positions north of the hill. An italian attack to the hill is prepared from north and south.

0945-1000: The Italian main force starts up towards the South slope of the hill. The british opp. fire destroys 2 steps of italian infantry platoons. The British mortar battery demoralizes the italian officer who directed the platoons north of the hill.

1000-1015: The Italians continue advancing. The british opp. fire demoralizes an italian platoon. The rest of the italian forces come near slowly. Exhausted the british opp. fire, three units of the frightful italian native police (BAN) are located near the Bren, list for the assault.

1015-1030: The Italians have the initiative. Three platoons of "bande" (native police) assault the Bren, that is destroyed. One of the attackers is demoralized. Other two italian infantry platoons approach the top of the hill, prepared to assault another british position.

1030-1045: The Italian assault to British trenches fails completely. An italian platoon is demoralized and another disrupted. On the other hand, the Italian bombardment fire (mortars and 65 mm) demoralizes a british infantry platoon, who flees from his positions in the defensive perimeter in top of the hill. Italian units approach the hollow left by this punjabi platoon.

1045-1100: The italian attack fails again. Several attacking units are demoralized. Finally, in the North of the hill the italians organize themselves to mount an attack (two platoons had been demoralized in the approach).

1100-1115: A new attack on the punjabis trenches is disorganized, although formerly the italian bombardment demoralized a british HMG platoon. The Iialian attack in the North slope begins.

1115-1130: In the face of the failure of the attack in the South slope, the italians back down slowly and undergo a new loss. In the North slope the attack progresses slowly.

1130-1145: British mortars bomb the Italian units that attack the North slope: Result: 1 step removed. On the other hand, the italian OBA locates to the british mortar battery and shot. Result: the mortar battery is disrupted and a INF platoon is demoralized. 1145-1200 and 1200-1215: The italians continue trying to reorganize their beaten forces.

1215-1230: Italian mortars and batteries of 65 mm bomb british trenches successfully. A HMG platoon is demoralized. The Italians advance quickly towards the trenches with the available forces. In the North sector the action becomes paralyzed.

1230-1245: The italian batteries continue bombing british trenches, but the fire falls short and eliminates 1 step of its own forces (friendly fire). The italians continue nevertheless approaching.

1245-1300: The attack fails once again. British opp. fire causes the demoralization of three italian units.

1300-1315: In proportion as they are reorganized, the Italians command their units again to the attack. A nth attack in the South slope is prepared. In the North slope the italians have only four FAN, two of them demoralized.

1330-1345: New assault in the South slope. The result is for the moment hesitant. The Italians recover slowly their units demoralized.

1345-1400: The italian assault does not progress, the demoralized units cannot rally and flee in dispersed.

1400-1415: The italian batteries of 65 mm and mortars demoralize a punjabi unit. The italians are able to reorganize some units and they send them again to attack.

1415-1430: Finally an italian assault is successful on british trenches. A HMG is desmoralized and flees from trenches and a british official is captured. In a next assault hex the situation is undecised. On the other hand, in the North slope the situation is critical for the italians. The four surviving units are demoralized or disrupted.

1430-1445: The units of italian native police native that assaulted the british trenches assault again the punjabi HMG in flight and they destroy it. On the other hand, the Italian reserve is sent to attack the East hill and undergoes british opp. fire. Two units become demoralized.

1445-1500: The italian attack on the East hill finishes in catastrophe. Punjabi opp. fire is devastating. The italians lose two steps and the attack fails without obtaining some advance. In the West hill the italian units have only been able to conquer half of the top. Other half is firm in British hands. The battle is finished. The British (punjabis) have gained a major victory. They have conserved intact two of three hills, have undergone only five casualties (steps) and have caused 11 to the enemy.

Score: (Italian step losses- Punjabi step losses)

THE BATTLE

0730-0800: The Italians arrive and begin to advance toward the SE hill. With sheer numbers they overwhelm the Indian opportunity fire.

They move to close range and suffer their first casualties to Indian direct fire. (2-0)

0815: Indians win initiative and some reduced Fanteria are eliminated. (3-0). Italian retaliation has no effect!

0830: Punjabis win initiative again and the result is devastating. Two Italian platoons are lost (7-0). The Italians overrun the Indian mortar (7-1) and the HMGs advance. The Indians are surrounded!

0845-0900: Both sides exchange fire and take a further casualty (8-2). A blow is landed when the British Super Captain is disrupted.

0915-0930: Italians press on and the demoralized reduced Infantry is eliminated (8-3). The Bren is assaulted but repels the Italians who are demoralized. Indian HMG reduces an Italian Bande. (9-3)

0945: Casualties are traded again (10-4)

1000: Italians have a large initiative advantage. Their foot flees from the Bren APC which is then eliminated by close range fire from the Italian 65mm! (10-5)

The Italian noose closes in on the HMG entrenchment. M2! M1! M2! Reduced HMG routs and Super British Captain (SBC) is killed!

1015: The HMG is eliminated due to compound morale failure (needed SBC!) The first hill (SE) is taken and the British officers are captured. Almost half time. The Italians will need to take the SW or NE hill. (10-8)

1030-1115: Italians head west with a few quick Bande moving north. They move to surround the Indians in the SW and take numerous casualties (13-8). One Indian platoon is demoralized and flees. No longer dug-in, they are hit and eliminated by the Indian mortars.

1130-1145: Close range fighting continues. Italian Bande assault demoralised Punjabi infantry eliminating them. Commonwealth losses begin to mount. This hill has been terrible for them. It is now apparent what a huge difference BSC made in the first hill (14-12).

The biggest Italian problem, is that once demoralised they do not rally very quickly!

1200-1230: The sides continue to trade casualties on the SW hill. (16-13)

Indian forces in the far NE begin to head south! Italians begin to target them with artillery.

1245-1300: Indians in the entrenchment are demoralised and the Italians assault. The Indians flee and are eliminated. In the SW hill a single demoralised Indian INF flees.

In the SE the advancing reinforcements are disrupted. The Italians try to get in their way and keep them off the SE hill.

An hour and half to go! (6 turns)

1315-1330: In the SE the Indian infantry gets on the hill but are disrupted. A couple Italian platoons run down the road to the north.

1345-1400: In the SE the advancing Indians are cut down and demoralised. They are quickly eliminated.

1415-1430: Facing impossible odds, the Italian Bandes in the north are demoralized, reduced and flee.

The Battle is Over.

DRAW!!!

Aftermath

Although managing to capture two of the three hills, the fine print says that if the Indians eliminate 10 or more Italian steps they obtain a Minor Victory. So, with both sides obtaining a Minor Victory, the Battle is declared a Draw!

(I missed that victory condition and thought the Italians somehow managed to get a victory out of this one).

This scenario was mostly assaulting the hills, but the Italians need to decide how (or if) to split their forces and if to use close up direct fire or assaults. It kept the hills from getting too stagnant. The Commonwealth also needs to decide how to split their forces and if and when to commit reinforcements.

Scenario Rating: 3/5 – A low three, but the interesting options and “close finish” kept it interesting. It played quite quick as well.

The Indians deployed all but the At gun and one infantry on the two southern most hills. The Bren and one infantry was held in reserve on the Indian Right and the mortar was on the left.

The Italians committed the majority of their force to attacking the hill on their left with a small force used in a pinning attack from the extreme right.

Once the pinning attack was defeated and the Bren carrier with supporting infantry had checked an Italian move around the left the Italians were left with a frontal attack. Opportunity fire and ineffective artillery made headway impossible. The Italians conceded after 20 turns having taken 10 step losses to the Indian 3.

Played this overlong scenario out over 3 face-to-face sessions without the evil FOW rule. This was our first Desert Rats adventure and as others have noted this is a classic infantry slugfest over a set of entrenchments and towns in mountainous terrain. Both side drew relatively poor leaders and the British side was surrounded very quickly.

The Italian's attack was aimed initially at the SE hill where fierce fight ensued. The small Punjabi contingent on the hill held out against multiple DF attacks and drove off three full assaults. This went on from Turn 3 until Turn 15 with bad dice rolls being the curse of the day for the Italian side, resulting in multiple demoralizations and an eventual 10 step losses. Inevitably, the SE hill was taken and the battle shifted to the SW hill where a similar chaotic fight ensued and it fell on Turn 20

The remaining turns saw Italian stacks fired at the remnant of entrenched Brits, mostly from adjacent hexes and slowly developing assaults resulted in their occupation of all the hills but not the final entrenchment - which they continued to shoot at, bombard and assault. Italian OBA was often short and the hit their own troops several times in the last 10 turns.

In the end, a minor British victory was achieved on the last turn. This was a decently balanced and relatively fun scenario to play, although we did feel that it went on too long.