Italian Set-Up: 1xBERS B2/0812(ENT); HMG(red)+47mm B2/0713(ENT); 1xBERS B2/0613 (ENT). Rationale here was to have 5+ DF value in each so as to be on the 13-col in assault due to leader + morale (at least for two of the hexes). Other Italian units set-up was essentially prescribed.

Soviet Attack: try a "cold steel" approach with SMGs and INF to encircle the hill to approach from the south. This was to freeze the 2xBERS in B2/1216 as Italian units could not move until units on their board were fired upon. The HMG's + INF approached frontally. Important to note that the Soviets had no leader with a combat bonus. Against entrenched and higher morale defenders, this lack of firepower meant it was near to impossible to "soften up" before assault.

Unfortunately, the rules said nothing about Italian OF and BF. Of the first four OF's on the 7-col, Italy rolls "3", "3", and "11". The Kommissar's pistol was the most effective weapon on the Stalinist side. Meanwhile, Italian OBA could combine into three separate 21-col BF attacks. Those HMG+INF stacks just took hit after hit suffering compound demoralizations.

Turns Five and Six looked well for the Russians. For a change, Italian OBA was ineffective and ground units were able to infiltrate Hill 331.7 and launch assaults. In particular, the 7-0-0 Russian LT + INF were able, over a few turns, to DEM or destroy the 2xBERS reinforcing from hex B2/1216. Sadly, the Russian LT went insane after a severe head wound and fled east.

The two assaults the Russians had begun earlier were simply going no where. Either both sides "fizzed," or IT first-fire so confounded the Bolshevik fanatics that the subsequent attack had little chance of a significant result. Note that a single BERS + LDR resulted in a 13-col first fire against the 7/6 morale Soviets (by the way, they also drew no leader with a morale bonus) due to the ldr + higher morale shifts. So one can see that even with an INF+HMG+SMG+ldr vs. the entrenched BERS at higher morale, the Soviets were at a disadvantage.

By Turn Seven, the Italians had suffered three step losses though, mostly due to the "hero platoon," in an assault vs. non-entrenched BERS, and a DEM which freed their reinforcing elements. Further, just as the Soviets were able to get their remaining HMGs back into good order (that 10 morale Kommissar in action), the Italians reconfigured their OBA for 3x14 = 42 col attack and roll "11" (Spinal Tap fans please note).

By Turn Nine, with something like 6xBERS platoons arriving in proximity; 3xHMGs a turn or two out; and the Soviets unable to crack even a single ENT, Hill 331.7 was swamped with green, white, and red.

My rating is only a '3' for this specific play. I must concede that Italy had much the better rolling and the Russians had a mediocre leader draw. That being said, the Stalinists have a very difficult problem here: entrenched, higher morale opponents who hold the high ground and who are supported by copious OBA (much better than the typical German 2x16 found in later war Western Theatre scenarios). For the survivors, it was a choice between Siberia and an Italian prison.