Scenario 1: Italians at the Ibarra Palace

(Researched and written by Steve Johnson, Portbury Knights)

 

On the 10^th March, the Italian Black Flames and Black Arrows Divisions finally took the small walled town of Brihuega, which had been defended by the Garibaldi Battalion of the XII International Brigade. This Civil War within a Civil War was to be repeated a few days later....

 

With Brihuega in Italian hands, the Italian Littorio Division was free to carry on advancing towards Torija, their next objective. The Division was led by armoured units consisting of armoured cars and L3/35 tankettes, with the infantry units and their support following on behind. The late inclement winter weather had grounded the Italian Air Force on its muddy airstrips to the rear.

 

With the fall of Brihuega, the Garibaldi battalion had withdrawn and regrouped to be ready to advance towards the Torija road with the aim of stopping the Littorio Division in its tracks. Despite the loss of the walled town, morale was high and was bolstered by the timely arrival of some armoured units of Pavlov's tanks. Unlike the Italian airforce, the Republican one was able to carry on flying support missions from its concrete airstrips located in its rear areas.

 

Scenario Conditions

Poor Weather: The winter weather has turned into a mix of bright sunshine and sleet and snow showers. To reflect this the following conditions apply:

For the first two turns no air support is available due to the poor visibility. All ground units suffer a -1 to their command rolls for the first two turns and visibility is reduced to 50cm.

 

The weather has left patches of wet snow and boggy ground along the floor of the valley and near the hills. The wet snow and boggy ground counts as Partially Wet Terrain.

 

Table Layout

 

Ibara Palace form the north

 

 

Ibara Palace and orchard from the south 

 

View up the road to Torija

 

Deployment

Italians: The Italians start in the table area 3 as indicated in the rough layout above. All armoured units must start on the road and remain on the road until attacked or enemy units are spotted. Any other units may deploy as they see fit in the above area.

 

Republicans: They use mobile deployment as per the rulebook and may place any of their HQ units on either of the table edges of their area 4. They can also attempt to deploy along the table edge of area 5 at -1 to their command roll.

 

(Notice the the Italian attempt to terrorise our troops with Steve's knee's....)

 

Opposing Forces

Italians (commanded by Steve)	Republicans  (commanded by Dave & Paul)
1          CO (CV9) 2          HQs (CV7) 1          FAO (CV6) 18        Infantry (Regulars - reflects the better qualities of the Littorio Divison) 2          HMG 2          Mortar 6          L3/35 Tankette 2          Armoured Car 3          75mm Artillery	1          CO (CV8) 3          HQ (CV7) 1          FAO (CV6) 9          Infantry (Regulars) 1          HMG 1          Mortar 1          45mm AT Gun 5          Infantry (Regulars) + Horse 3          BT-5 Tank 3          75mm Artillery 1          Ground Attack I-15/I-16   2          Scheduled Air Assets
Breakpoint: 14	Breakpoint: 10

 

Objectives:

Italians: To exit more than 50% of their units off the table edges of area 4.

 

Republicans: To occupy the Ibarra Palace and to prevent or destroy the Italians from passing along the Torija road.

 

The Battle

Turn 1 – Nationalist

Italian infantry advance at a leisurely pace. The L3/35 tankettes whiz up the main road north and pass the Palace.

 

Conga!

 

 

Turn 1 – Republican

The mounted infantry and support battalions fail to arrive. Paul's infantry battalion advances cautiously across the fields towards the Palace. The BT tanks advance down the main road with a view to engaging the enemy tankettes. The FAO takes up a good position overlooking the valley on the eastern ridge.

 

FAO sets up camp in the woods...

 

Turn 2 – Nationalist

Both Italian infantry battalions stop for expresso’s and a chat. The L3/35 crews see the approaching BTs and with a hurried Hail Mary, seek cover behind the orchard. The BTs take the opportunity to engage the little tanks, and manage to suppress one.

 

 

Turn 2 – Republican

The support battalion arrives, but then has a break. The mounted infantry are still nowhere to be seen. The infantry battalion can see the Italians armour in the distance, and decide staying put is the best idea. The BTs stop to consider their next move, having lost sight of the Italian tankettes.

 

 

Turn 3 – Nationalist

Both Italian infantry battalions order another round of expresso’s. The armour engages the Spanish infantry and suppresses two platoons.

 

 

Turn 3 – Republican

The sound of aircraft is heard and soon Spanish fighters are shooting up the Palace compound. Sadly, the Italian infantry had failed to get that far, and so the attack was wasted. The BTs edge forward, trying to find the Italians. The infantry gird their loins and advance under fire towards the Italian armour, but fall short of reaching assault range. The support battalion have a committee meeting to decide where they should be going….and the mounted infantry finally put in an appearance.

 

 

Not quite what we had in mind...

 

 

Turn 4 – Nationalist

The Italian tankers have a bit too much Chianti, and go gun-crazy (command bonus), shooting up an entire company (3 platoons) of brave Spanish troops. In their haste to escape the hail of bullets, they retreat through their own HQ, and knock that out too! (One platoon was suppressed, then fell back into the HQ, then was knocked out, taking the HQ with it).

 

The infantry see things are going well, so settle up their café bills and advance towards the palace.

 

 

Turn 4 – Republican

The BT crews are incensed by the carnage wrought by the Fascists, and engage furiously (command bonus). When the smoke clears there are now smoking ruins of 5 platoons of L3/35…take that you Fascist dogs!

 

The mounted infantry and support battalions now decide to swap paella recipes.

 

 

Turn 5 – Nationalist

The FAO has a lucid moment and successfully requests an accurate strike on the BTs (command bonus). The infantry join the party, and knock out one of the BTs with a combination of mortar and AT rifle fire. Those that weren’t shooting advance into the palace grounds.

 

 

Turn 5 – Republican

The mounted infantry settle on a paella recipe, and make a move towards the ridgeline. The support battalion continue their committee meeting, and the remnants of the infantry wait for their new commander to arrive.

 

The BTs try to KO the remaining L3/35 platoon, but they're living a charmed life…

 

 

Turn 6 – Nationalist

The infantry in the palace decide to take up residence, and start picking out curtains and china patterns. The other infantry battalion advance slowly. The last platoon of L3/35s is knocked out by opportunity fire from the BTs.

 

 

Turn 6 – Republican

The FAO sees a prime target in the shape of a Fascist battalion of infantry. The resulting concentration of artillery fire suppresses half of the units. The support battalion have now settled their dispute, and move into the woods. The BTs stop for a moment to let their gun barrels cool, and the troops on the Spanish right stay put, assessing the situation, now their new commander has arrived. The mounted infantry move across the gap between the woods and the hill, but a couple of units are left exposed in the open.

 

 

Turn 7 – Nationalist

While the infantry in Ibarra Palace start re-arranging the furniture, the battalion commander of the troops in the field has an epiphany (command bonus), and his troops race forward, while his mortars engage the Spanish mounted infantry.

 

The recce unit attached to the CO finally does something useful, but the information they provide is wasted.

 

 

Turn 7 – Republican

The mounted infantry manage to move out of sight behind the hill, with a view to outflanking the Italians in the open. The BTs withdraw to better positions behind the orchard. The right flank is still very reluctant to move!

 

 

Turn 8 – Nationalist

Both infantry battalions move steadily forward (the curtains are now up and the furniture arranged to everyone’s satisfaction). The FAO spots the Spanish support in the woods and calls in a strike, but with little effect.

 

 

Turn 8 – Republican

Using the lull in the battle to good effect, the Spanish troops have a short siesta… (i.e. very little happened!)

 

Turn 9 – Nationalist

One Spanish infantry platoon is suppressed by sporadic gun fire. Nothing else happens.

 

Turn 9 – Republican

The mounted infantry decide to redeploy in the hope that they can cut off the advancing Italians, as their current position will not have the desired impact in the enemy’s flank. The support battalion creep cautiously into the woods and the remaining armour redeploys.

 

Bring it on...

 

Turn 10 – Nationalist

Another quiet turn for the Fascists. The Italian artillery positions are located and are shelled, which suppresses two batteries (FAO blundered). The bulk of their forces are content to continue their rest.

 

Turn 10 – Republican

The support battalion finally take up positions at the leading edge of the woods. It’s only taken them 5 hours…..the mounted infantry dismount and join them. The FAO once again shows his super skills, and calls in another successful strike of the Fascist infantry, suppressing four platoons. The BTs follow suit and suppress another two platoons.

 

 

Turn 11 – Nationalist

The FAO spends the turn trying to sort out the chaos of the previous one. The battalion in the palace push forward to secure their right flank.

 

Turn 11 – Republican

The Fascists in the open are starting to feel the pressure, as one platoon of infantry and a MG are knocked out by the combined efforts of the support battalion and the BTs.

 

 

Turn 12 – Nationalist

The infantry on the Italian right finally remove the Republican threat to their flank (Paul’s remaining units are knocked out), and advance into the orchard to use it as cover for the push up the main road.

 

 

Turn 12 – Republican

The support battalion make up for being late by knocking out three infantry and another MG platoon. The BTs contribute another infantry platoon, but have one platoon suppressed by anti-tank rifle fire.

 

 

Result

As neither side reached their objectives, a draw was the final outcome, although the Italians were closer to breaking (13/14) than the Republicans (7/10).

 

Conclusion

A good game with an interesting scenario, with great players! It was hampered by bad command rolls on both sides; if the Spanish mounted infantry and support units had turned up on time, and then advanced as intended the game could have been vastly different. The Italian advance was also slowed down significantly because of the fickleness of the dice.