In anticipation of an attack on the city of Yavello, General Brink and his 1st South African Division had set up around hills named Mega and Moyale. An attack along the Megpo-Moyale road was to be conducted by 2nd SA Infantry Brigade, while a sweeping move southward through El Sod was supposed to cut Italian lines of retreat. On February 14, 2nd SA Infantry Brigade started moving through the brush. The head of the column, spearheaded by 1st SA Irish, occupied El Sod on the 15th around 1400, before turning towards Mega. Covering the rear was C Company, 2nd Field Force Battalion and a section of machine guns. The group positioned itself behind a slight slope, overlooking the road. At about 0330 on 16 February, the forward section heard engines coming towards them. The Italian trucks, moving at full speed with lights out, were immediately attacked with machine gun fire, forcing the colonial infantry to seek cover. At about 0515, before dawn, the Italians tried a frontal assault, supported by light tanks.
Attacker: Italian (Elements of 21. Divisione Coloniale)
Defender: South African (Elements of C Company, 2nd Field Force Battalion, 2nd SA Infantry Brigade Group)
6.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:12.0 D:6.0
AFVs: A:4
L3/35 x 4
AFVs: D:1
Marmon-Herr. III MFF
Guns: A:0 D:1
OML 3-in. Mortar
Misc Rules:
Light Woods. Treat Grain as Brush. +1 LV Hindrance Turns 1 and 2
South African have a very very spread out defence that the Italians can pierce easily though some good anti tank rolls against teh Italian Tin Cans would work
Alas the tin cans run rampant when that does not happen
2023-01-06
(D) Rich Weiley
vs
Neil MacPherson
South African win
2022-12-30
(A) Andy Beaton
vs
James Rimmer
South African win
The Italians don't have the morale or the firepower to get through the SA line, and tiny tankettes aren't enough to make a difference with a B11.
2022-01-04
(A) Doba Serge
vs
Philippe D
South African win
2020-12-01
(A) X von Marwitz
vs
Lars-Peder Jensen
Italian win
Played this one as the Italians for a game with dramatic turns and the Italians finally winning. A full AAR can be found at GameSquad forum:
A very boring defensive game for the SAfricans as they really don't have much to stand in the way of the Italians. They just have to rely on how lucky they can get stopping the Italian armor. In my case my mortar did absolutely nothing all game (hitting all of once). I did manage to knock out a tank with the ATR late. My AC came on just in the nick of time to make the Italians turn their attention from grabbing the hilltop to making for the exit. I bungled the last MPh by not moving some concealed units ADJ to a vanguard Italian unit. Had I survived the 2+1 shot I would have been able to tie him up in CC and probably prevent an Italian victory. As it was he got the bare minimum 16 off.
2019-06-04
(D) patrick palma
vs
Chuck Dye
Italian win
2019-02-18
(A) Eric Partizan Eric
vs
Italian win
2019-01-09
(D) Paolo Cariolato
vs
Federico Corso
South African win
The scenario was an half delusion, it's quite rewarding for the italian player that must organize an attack, much less for the South African that must prepare himself for the last ditch of the Axis.
The foxholes I digged saved my game, but an hit with a MG that destroyed an italian tank was key, as it was a roll of 3 on a 2 flat prep fire that ruined the killer stack of italian, as it was a 2 minus 2 that caused an HoB on an italian squad that was giving my opponent the 16th exit point: as it always happens for the italian it surrender instead.
The last 2 turns were exciting and rewarding but in the first 4 and half only the italian player had fun, the SA has too few pieces and must stay out of sight (except for the mortar spotter), deploy and dig foxholes.
Federico Exited 15 CVP of which 2 AFV (one with MA malfunctioned) and when I stopped cold his only hope to exit the last point he reverted to take the Hill, was able to enter CC against a crew that held the place but rolled a 7 on a 3:2 melee.
The scenario is very demanding on the SA, but not much fun to play, killing L3s is key, but you must also prepare a reverse slope defence. The SA has so few pieces that a couple of bad rolls can ruin a game.
I won for the slightest margin but rolled very well in the last 3 turns of the game.
For the Chronicle: an italian leader battle hardened and went heroic and another one battle hardened.