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 ❤️