WW2 Desert Campaign Turn 4 Game 1

This first game of campaign turn 4 and has elements of Allied armoured brigades attacking forces from the Italian Trieste infantry division. The terrain was determined using terrain cards as normal and after both sides had made their one terrain card switch, the tabletop was setup with two objectives.

The game in progress

Both forces had to dice to see how many unit are lost due to the wear and tear of operating in the desert. The Italians did not fare well and would arrive minus three units. The Allies rolled well without any losses.

The sides then diced for their battle events. Both forces were impacted by interdiction which meant the loss of a further two units and no air support. So the order of battle is...

Italians:
1 x A/C unit
1 x Artillery unit
3 x Tank units (M13/40)
2 x Infantry units
2 x Towed AT units
1 x Self-propelled AT unit.

Allies:
1 x Stuart
1 x Carrier unit
3 x A13 tank units
3 x Grant tank units
2 x Infantry units
1 x 2 Pdr Portee unit
2 x 25 Pdr artillery units

The Italians will be defending the top half of the map with Allied units arriving at the bottom.

Terrain and objectives marked with palm trees

The Allies pushed forward with their tanks leading the advances on both flanks. Italian armour was positioned in the centre ready to react to any Allied armoured thrusts.

Opening deployment and Allied advances.

A view from the Allied starting positions

In the centre an armoured engagement was soon underway while on the Allied right flank Grant tanks made a swift advance towards the hills and first objective.

Armour clash in the centre.

Allies attack the hills while in the background tanks clash.

The hills were quickly overrun by Grant tanks, while in the centre the A13 tank units were not faring as well.

Allied capture the first objective.

Allied tank units push ahead to attack the escarpment.

With the first objective taken, Allied tank units pushed on towards the escarpment and the second objective. Italian armour relinquished their hold on the town and moved to retake the hills and hinder the flank advance. With artillery support this proved an effective move and the armour briefly got a foothold on the hill, delayed forces moving up to support the attack on the escarpment.

Italian armour retires and counterattacks.

Counterattacking Italian armour hampers the Allied advance.

Allied units were able to see off the attacking Italian tanks, but without supporting units their attack on the escapement and second objective failed.  At this point in the game neither side was in a position to make further attacks. So with both sides holding one objective the game is a draw.

Final positions

Italian forces are able to hold the second objective for a draw.

I had not anticipated a draw in the campaign and will have to see how the remaining two games progress. Then decide whet to do if the campaign turn ends in a draw.