Biazza Ridge : Sicily 1943

For the second slightly smaller Sicilian battle last week we are fighting on the Biazza Ridge. There are several scenarios out there on the web including one in the Warlord ‘Soft underbelly’ campaign book. However our battle is closer to a scenario I found for Rapid Fire by Mark Piper so hats off to him. As usual I have adapted it for Bolt action and my current collection of suitable figures. The scenario will get revisited in a different period sometime as it gives a good challenge to both sides.

Historically the battle was fought mainly on the 11th July as the Americans  pushed inland from Gela. Gavin having gathered together a small force of his 505th Paratroopers pushes inland, seeing the Biazza ridge and recognising the importance he assaults the position, only to find they have bumped into the flank of the attacking Herman Goering Division. The ridge becomes the scene for fierce fighting as both side bring in reserves. The Americans deploy the 45th infantry the Germans bring up their Tigers. The Americans as the previous day have support from Naval guns offshore.

In our scenario, there are three objectives, the Americans come on in two waves, initially the paratroopers looking to grab the main ridge. The Germans arrive in three waves, outnumbering in the first wave, but their armour arrives only in turn three.

Gavin with his elite paratroopers run to capture the ridge in turn 1

Panzergrenadiers overall they are outnumbered so I designated them elite (probably this is a bit generous at this stage in the war on Sicily ?) the American tanks have not arrived so the antitank gun sets up covering the road by the railway 

More Germans arrive in the second wave and head for the American right

The paratroopers take a real pounding on the ridge and are frequently forced to take cover (down order)

The 45th infantry arrive on the American right supported by a machine gun they race to try and secure the smaller ridge objective

The tiger has arrived down the road and heads right to take on the Sherman’s, but the AT gun is knocked out by a direct hit

The race for the second hill, both sides have infantry heading here so it is going to get bloody !

The Tiger is a bit disappointing again, failing to hit the Sherman’s and itself is hit and forced back

Gavin still holds the main ridge but they are taking a lot of casualites

Realising that time is running out the Germans apply more pressure to the ridge, and perhaps foolishly rush forward with their infantry, initially this goes well

Until the lead unit are hit by a Naval shell and completely wiped out 🙁 it was now the last turn and the second infantry unit failed to activate sealing the win for the Americans.

The Germans were still applying a lot of pressure on the main ridge but now lack the infantry to drive it home

On the American right (I forgot to take any photos) a fierce hand to hand battle saw the Americans holding the second objective. In the end the Germans still held the third objective, the railway station but an American win was declared.

A fine battle and a scenario which gave both sides lots of things to think about. The Tiger again did 

n’t live up to its billing, but I’m not complaining it’s just fun to get it out on the table. This part of Sicily provides many opportunities for either small historical encounters or more generic scenarios so we will revisit when the rest of the Italians have been painted. As I mentioned above I can see this scenario working in different period and genres, so we will try it again soon.

A bit more painting and finally completed some more French Guards in Great coats.

These are the rest of the ‘greatcoated’ Victrix figures I had picked up initially I was going to give them bearskins like the first unit but swopped in the end for spare Warlord heads I had. The command figure is a spare metal. I can now muster a small ‘guards’ brigade when needed.

I also painted up a small command base for them, this can substitute into other combined units if required.

That’s it for now and finally upto date, thanks as always for taking the time to check in

Matt ❤️

Battle of Casa de Priolo : Sicily 1943

Nearly caught up now. Our next couple of battles are a return to Sicily, with the newly painted Italians up for a fight. The battles of the 10th and 11th July saw multiple combatants contesting a range of features, villages and objectives inland from the American landings at Gela. Many of these smaller engagements provide idea ‘inspiration’ for scenarios or battles.

At Priolo we have the Italians attack with Tanks against the Paratroopers who have been scattered from their planned drop zones. The American 16th Infantry division is driving inland supported by Naval guns. Then the Herman Goering Division throws its weight into the fight as well. 

For the scenario, the Americans have the bulk of their 16th Infantry in and around the village. One of the benefits for this battle was Steve as the Americans had no knowledge of the attacking forces, only that Italians and Germans were involved. The Italians advance on the nearest road Turn 1. Germans from the far side/road turn 3. American reserves. Moving up from the beach (to the left of the table) include Sherman’s and artillery support. The Americans also have paratroopers if they can find their way to the battlefield, they will arrive randomly from the NE (this end corner of the table). The Italian/German objective is to break through the village, to get to the Americans landing on the beaches, tough !

Priolo in Sicilian sunshine July 1943

The Italians arrive with all their armour to push through the village, their infantry disembark to avoid being caught out in their transport

The Italians start down the road

The Americans have infantry in the fields and holding the outskirts of the village

More outlying Americans are called back into the village to bolster the defense

The Italian infantry starts to exchange fire with the defenders whilst the lead R35 push forward towards the village

The American defenders bring up some heavy support, but pull back when they start to take fire

As the Italians push to the edge of the village and in the distance, the HG panzers arrive

Leading the way one of the HG Tigers, but even though their deployment was random the Americans are lucky that their Sherman’s arrive on the left of the village

More German armour pushes towards the bridge, whilst Panzergrenadiers cross the river bed on foot

Nooooooooooo as the Tiger crosses the bridge the Americans get off a lucky shot, hitting the Tiger on the flank and it is immobilised ! Blocking the bridge to further panzers, we had already agreed the river bed couldn’t be crossed by vehicles, and worse than that the specific location of the Tiger means it can’t turn its turret to fight with the Sherman’s 😂

The Italians continue their advance towards the village

The lead R35 is knocked out, but the American Greyhound is also knocked out

With the bridge blocked the german armour fires into the village long range and the German infantry disembark form their trucks and run forward

After several failed activations the first of the 505th Paratroopers arrive behind the Italians ! They come under heavy fire and are pinned down, but now the Italians are fighting on two fronts !

More paratroopers arrive from the East

The fight to reach the village continues

The third and final paratrooper unit arrives running down the road

The fighting is now in the village, the crated indicates where the previous defenders were wiped out by artillery fire from the Germans. But now the Italians who have broken into the village face very fierce resistance

Pinned down the only option left is to attack…..sadly it doesn’t pay off

The axis forces are starting to struggle now

But German infantry has moved over the river and is now in the outskirts of the village

Carnage all the Italian tanks have been stopped and are burning but so is the lone American Stuart taken out by the Tiger still stuck on the bridge

That was pretty much it for the Axis. The Italians who led the advance were pretty much wiped out, the Germans have infantry in the village, but with the bridge blocked there is nothing they can do to break through. They must pull back and attack again tomorrow ?

A most enjoyable battle, nice to get the Italians out on the table, the Tiger on the bridge had us laughing for some time such is the way of things.

 I have spent much of the week prepping more Italians, including all their support weapons etc, I now just need to paint them, I e also been working on some more French Napoleonic infantry. But the only thing finished…….

….are some small winter trees which needed basing.

Anyway thanks as always for your support, next post another Sicily battle and then I’m upto date.

Matt♥️

Austerlitz : Lannes vs Bagration

It was my turn to travel over to Martins this month, carrying with me my French. We would be fighting on the Northern flank of Austerlitz where Lannes faced off against Bagration. A battle with lots of Cavalry on both sides an excellent ‘scenario’ picked out by Martin. Mainly flat ground the French would be attacking but could the Stoic Russians hold the line ? Two minor tweaks we use with these rules, giving attack columns +1 tenacity and brigades will break when only a single battalion left this helps to get a conclusion in these larger battles.

Very roughly the section of the battle we are focussing on

Sorry for the quality of the photos as seems par for the course google and blogger don’t seem to be talking to each other properly and blogger won’t upload the edited photos. I know It is an age thing but I am increasingly frustrated by technology ! Anyway enough grumpy old man moaning onto the battle 🙂

The battle starts with a clash of light cavalry, both sides cautious not to give away an advantage until their infantry arrives

Both sides begin to bring on infantry, using V&F the French surge forward in March column, the French have the numbers and although they know they will take casualties they need to close with the Russian line to score a victory.

The Russians arrive with plenty of time to form up into defensive line !

Eventually the light cavalry clash a swirl of sabres which the french eventually get the better of

The french advance and form into attack column, in their centre still screened by their light cavalry

The the Russian line prepares, french skirmishers are thrown out in advance, the french do have a couple of failed activations, so their left flank approaches the Russians first

On the right the light cavalry fight is over both sides fairly exhausted pulling back to support their infantry

French chasseurs are still fresh and await in the rear

A moment for stirring french music !, but the white rings indicate that the leading columns are taking serious damage as they try to close with the Russian line

Crash the french column break onto the french line like a wave, Both sides loose battalions who break from the combat but you can see several battalions are shaken and close to breaking

Trumpets sound Murat arrives with the french heavy cavalry

A gap in the Russian right opens up !

But on the left the Russians have the upper hand

The french are driving their advantage home on the left

Despite very stubborn resistance on the Russian left the french are able to form out into line and then attack, again both sides very close to exhaustion

Having seen off the Russian right wing and the Cossacks (revenge at last) some of the French heavy cavalry moves ominously (for the Russians) to the centre

But the Russians aren’t giving up and they fight off and break yet another french brigade

But seeing the opportunity the French heavy cavalry catch the Russians before they can form into square, not a pretty sight for Bagration. In the distance and against the odds the French infantry has held and won their right flank, the Russians at this point are broken. A victory to the french Vive L’ Emperor.

Such a fun battle, carnage, the Russians thought it was all over after a couple of turns they turned it around making the french pay a heavy price but then the french finally got to grips with the Russian infantry and the French heavy cavalry turned the tide. Not much to say other than a great game, wargaming at its best !

We have more figures to paint but hopefully we can pick up some more Napoleonic battles soon.

Thanks as always for popping by

Matt ♥️