Looking for an easy setup for our game this weekend I went for Sicily in a non-historical scenario although many similar actions took place. Really a chance to get the Italians back out and give the Americans a good challenge attacking rather than defending.
Some details for the scenario, three objectives as shown on the photo above. the Italians have a hidden unit in the church as well as a sniper in the Tower. The bulk of the Italians will come on turn one with a small German reserve group will arrive only if/when the Americans claim one of the three objectives. The US will arrive over the first two turns with a reserve arriving more randomly from turn 3 onwards. Neither side would have quite enough command dice for all their units.
The Italians push their support artillery towards the small road cutting. (I’ve noticed I forgot to put any grass on the artillery base which I will try and fix 🙂)
Italian infantry dig in on the rocky ground overlooking the road
US infantry push forward towards the high ground through the walled fields
The US move a Heavy machine gun up towards the village
Turn two and both sides bring their armour into the battle
The Americans are now digging in on the high ground
Supported by their armour
The US also advance on their right towards the road
The Italians currently have the numbers in the village but come under heavy fire
On the high ground with the Americans driving the Italians away the German reserves arrive determined to take the objective back, infantry supported by a Tiger !
The Tiger moves beyond the windmill, the smoke just beyond marks where the last Italian unit was wiped out by heavy artillery fire
Italian armour joust with the US Sherman
The Americans are now pushing into the village and holding the road as well
The Semoventte is now in flames, but the Germans are now starting to take back the high ground
The Sherman moves to the road cutting and somehow survives the Italian artillery fire
The M7 (priest) is now in flames, but so is the small Italian tank which has pushed up the hill
As the battle draws to a close the Americans have now convincingly taken the village having driven the Italians out of the church and surrounding buildings. The high ground is contested although the Germans have the advantage, the road cutting objective is also contested, so the Americans have done enough to claim the win.
Another fun game and great to get the Sicily collection on the table. The Italians are a fun force to play with, we reduce their leadership which seems appropriate but inevitably they lack a bit of punch. It is also fun to bring the Tiger out but it rarely lives up to expectations.
The weather has been mixed but I managed a walk out in the hills. This shot looking west towards the central fells.
Another game planned for Tuesday and some more ECW figures on the way.
Thanks as always for checking in on the blog
Matt ❤️
Great looking layout Matt
ReplyDeleteThanks Neil 👍
DeleteThe poor old Italians - have they had a win yet in you Sicily adventures. Matt?! Lovely looking figures and table, of course!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith….no I don’t think they have had a clear win yet but it is more fun playing with the underdogs. Part of the problem as mentioned previously is I feel we need to reflect their historical issues especially around their poor commanders. No doubt when I hand over to someone else to lead they will win 🙈
DeleteA grand looking game combined with some fine looking toys and table there Matt.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Phil 👍
DeleteFab looking layout! What is needed to give the Italians a chance? More Germans???
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon…….the Italians actually did pretty well in this battle absorbing a lot of American pressure in the early stages of the battle. Of course more Germans would help but that would be different.
DeleteSuperb looking game Matt, and a hard earned win for the US forces. Beautiful scenery as always from your part of the world, rather stunning!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Donnie it was tough but the Americans got the upper hand in the village. We are certainly lucky with our local environment 🙂
DeleteAnother great back to Sicily gaming :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal 👍
DeleteAh, good to see some Sicily action and I do love fielding my Italians, even if they tend to take a hammering! Lovely view of the Fells and after some recent rain, the view from here to the Cotswold edge was so clear as there was not dust to create a haze:).
ReplyDeleteThanks Steve, Sicily fun keeps me warm in the cold days.
DeleteExcellent game, sounded pretty close to be fair, and I think you have to acentuate the positives playing armies like WW2 Italian, or peninsular Spanish, which I've started prepping!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain I would like to get on with my Spanish but just don’t seem to have the time at the moment. As for the Italians I think they need a few positives !
DeleteA great table and engrossing game there Matt. Lovely picture of the Lake land scenery too of course.
ReplyDeleteThanks David
DeleteDid the Tiger do any damage? I assume the Priest was knocked out as a result of the artillery barrage rather than the Tiger. A lovely game as usual Matt.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence, sadly the tiger hit the Sherman with no effect and then failed with all its other shots. I think it was one of the smaller Italian tanks that knocked out the priest 🙂
DeleteNice table and interesting scenario Matt.
ReplyDelete