Italian Long Campaign

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Turn 3,

Right from the 1st turn, a heavy EN bombardment fell onto 2nd Company sector. At Turn 3, we spotted armoured vehicles racing towards our units in the South.



There were also tanks spotted in the North in 1st Company sector. Comparatively, none of the EN artillery was dropping in this sector, which suggested that the Southern attack was the main effort.

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Turn 9

I allowed the EN tanks to race past my infantry screen before stopping them with my AT Rifle team near the objective flag. From there on, my infantry swarmed the tanks and close assaulted them.

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Turn 12

My HMG section was badly pinned down by the EN bombardment and were unable to extricate themselves. I had also assumed that the EN armoured vehicles to push swiftly to the rear. Instead, they have taken a tactical halt, and in short time, found my infantry hiding. Again we were unable to extricate most of the platoon.

The first EN infantry spotted were seen approaching the scout OP. I plotted my 1st artillery bombardment, timed at 2.3 turns.



Turn 16, the armour leading the centre thrust moved farther ahead of the accompanying infantry and were destroyed by my infantry. My mortars began dropping steadily into the mass of the EN infantry. This will slow them down for at least 2-3 turns. I have moved up 1 of the Light ATGs to better position itself against the EN armour. Unfortunately, after a short firefight, they were down by 4 men, having only successfully destroyed 1 EN tank.

1 of my platoons have already been overrrun and there is a possibility that 2 more will be in danger soon.

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Turn 25

The situation has somewhat stabilised. Since the EN infantry is coming from 2nd Company sector, my 1st Company could be released from their current position in the north and swing down to support the rest of the Battalion.

J platoon was to come down on the right flank of 3rd Company and to prevent any more EN infantry from stretching 3rd Company's lines.

The remaining HMG section that was attached to 1st Company also made its way towards the sound of the battle and we found a suitable firebase on the flank of the EN.

3rd Company also began compacting its lines and the main idea was to protect the remaining AT assets with the infantry.

I have shifted my Scouts towards the rear of the EN, hoping to get a better view of their entire size force.



Here in 2nd company sector, the remaining platoon (N Platoon) prepares to fight the EN armour.

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Turn 30

N platoon only managed to disable and destroy 1 EN tank before getting roughly handled. For the moment, the EN tanks continue their foray into the rear of my positions. I was hoping they will make their way up North, where my Heavy ATGs are sited to cover the rear of the map.

The remainder of 1st Company is finally coming up to the line and my scouts have reported very confidently that our artillery bombardment is shaking the EN infantry pretty badly. With that report, I decided to shift 1st Company into battleline and get them in as quickly as possible, to strike at the EN line of retreat. That should occur in the next 5 turns onwards.

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Turn 33

Fortune smiles. The last marauding tank is destroyed by the Heavy ATGs. In all, my AT guns accounted for 6 of the EN armoured vehicles.



Turn 36

Our battle line is advancing steadily. My scouts have even joined in the frenzy as the EN is making a shattered rout.



Battle Report

The main casualties were in 2nd Company. Unfortunately for them, they were the speed bump facing the EN main effort.

1st Company was relatively unscathed as they only had to engage 3 EN tanks. And by the time they started their attack towards the EN flank, the EN line was crumbling.

3rd Company fought very well when it was required to hold the line.

My artillery park was also getting suppressed by counter battery fire, and their fire slackened considerably towards the end.

On hindsight, I may have done better by site-ing my ATGs more forward. As the EN armour tends to outrun the infantry, this will allow the ATGs to engage the armour before my infantry has to do the dirty work.

A couple of tanks or mobile AT weapons may have been more useful at stemming the tide as well. In this battle, I had to be very reactive and hope that the EN armour would react in a certain manner. They did, but after taking out close to 2 platoons of infantry.

Also, I need to divvy up my artillery park. Putting them together increases all the risk with the only benefit being they shared the same ammo dump.

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New Battle is a Advance in Sidi Barrani, Egypt

Studying the terrain, I had in mind going 3 -up with each company going after a specific sector of the map.

The yellow stars (with purple arc of fire) depict possible firebase locations as I move my rifle coys up towards the objectives. 3rd Coy itself will be attached with a pair of M-13/40s and move along the road.

I also brought some Air Recon, blue hexagons, depicting their area of observation.

Some cavalry mounts were also purchased to give the HMG sections some additional mobility, so that they can get up to the firebase locations quickly.

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Turn 3

Air recon spotted EN infantry in 1st Company's sector and EN armor in 2nd Company's sector.



Turn 13

Situation developing by turn 13. 3rd Company has secured most objectives along the main road. Our armour is coming up on the EN flank to engage their armour. The EN is of approx. 1 company strength, dispersed over 2nd Company sector.

The HMG firebases have overwatch over the EN positions. Relatively easy for the rest of the infantry to push ahead.

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Turn 13 1st Company

There's also a company sized force in 1st Company sector. Again, our HMG firebases have good overwatch positions.

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Battle Report (at turn 20++)

Basically, our advancing infantry was very well-supported by the HMG firebases and progress was rather uneventful. When the EN returned fire, the HMGs will suppress them before our infantry manuevured to engage them at closer ranges.

Negligible losses overall.