SoN5 - Circle The Wagons

29 Feb 1936

Description: A column of Italian infantry is crossing the desert when suddenly Ethiopians appear on the landscape and ambush the column.

The Terrain: The scenario takes place on four desert boards. There are two hillocks on the Italian left and two wadi on the Italian right. Broken terrain is in effect so the hillocks could come into play by giving the Ethiopian mmg some LOS to the track. The track is the the dominant feature in this scenario. The Italian trucks are for all practical purposes confined to it. The broken terrain makes it impracticle for the Italians to move the trucks off road. It also provides excellent cover (for desert) for the Ethiopians.

The Victory Conditions: The Ethiopians win by eliminating at least 26 CVP without losing more then 22 CVP. Trucks are worth 3 CVP and wagons worth 1 CVP for victory purposes. All this must be accomplished in 6 turns. The Opposing Forces: The Italians have to defend their column of 5 trucks, 3 Wagons, and 18 x 346 squads. The wagons are towing 2 x 75mm Art and 1 x 100mm Art. The Italians are reinforced with 4 x 347 cavalry squads that enter turn 5 along the south side of the playing area. The Ethiopians attack the column with 3 x 337 and 18 x 237 with 3 mgs.

The Tactics: The Italians can setup anywhere on the track but must all be adjacent to another Italian unit. If they succede in exiting trucks off the south edge the Ethiopian CVP requirement goes up by three. The SSR for the Italian setup allows the trucks to setup on the exit hex! Fortunately they must setup facing north. At first I thought this was very strange and even wrong. The Italian setup rule is poorly writen. However, I changed paradigms and decided to look at it not so much as what it allows the Italians to do as what it forces the Ethiopian to consider in his attack. Also strange about the scenario is that the trucks are the only unit that can move off board. This is not allowed for the wagons, infantry, or reinforcements without CVP consequences. So the mind games begin immediately will the Italian setup and try for the quick escape with the trucks or will he setup far away from the setup area and force the Ethiopian to come to him? If the Ethiopian decides not to cover the exit area has he just out foxed the Italian or made himself a very steep hill to climb? My opinion is that the Ethiopian is obligated to defend the exit area. If the Italian sets up very far away they will have to make best speed to join the attack on the column. Another problem for the Italians is that encirclement is inevitable and death via fail to rout is very likely. This effectively reduces the Italian morale to 5!. The main problem for the Ethiopian is that the attack will come in piecemeal from all quarters. Six turns and broken terrain make rapid movement across the battlefield very rough.

The Italian Defense: The Italians setup on the northern most two boards. This forces the largest amount of movement on the part of the Ethiopians. By the time the battle is joined the Italians should have the guns unlimbered and ready to fire, the Infantry should be pushed well out and the trucks turned around for a potential run off board.

The Ethiopian attack: The Ethiopians setup to cover the track to prevent the trucks from exiting immediately. The Ethiopians are; by SSR, forced to setup a good distance from the track. Closing with the Italians will not be easy. They have 9 squads scattered about on the two boards the Italian setup on. It could very well be turn 3 or 4 before the battle really starts heating up.

The AAR: 1A The Ethiopians begin converging on the Italian column. The long range low factor fire, which is a common characteristic of all SoN scenarios breaks 1 Ethiopian squad. 1B The Italian consolidates his column. In retrospect he could have set up stacked during setup with minimal risk and made the dispersion of units more quickly and efficently in his first player turn. The guns unlimber / unhook. 2A: The Ethiopian continues to close on the column. The goal is to get encircling fire on the Italian squads. Italian fire breaks an additional 3 squads on the northern flank. To Italian squads do become encircled but they will move out of the encirclement in the next turn. 2B: Three Italian squads CX on a counter attack 1 squad is broken but the other two get into position to ensure that 2 Ethiopian squads and a 9-1 die for failure to rout. A third squad is kept dm. The Italian guns are beginning to find the range and break 2 more squads. 3A: The Ethiopian continues to try and close with the Italian. Two more Ethiopian squads break and a third is KIAd. One Ethiopian squad manages to get into CC only to be CRd. At this point the northernmost Ethiopian force has been almost wiped out. 3B: Italian Prep Fire continues to be devestating. A critical hit by the 100mm gun leaves blood mist in one hex. A 75 breaks yet another Ethiopian squad. Three Italian squads take off on another kill them for failure to rout mission and will bag three squads in the rout phase. The Ethiopian takes one last long shot at a truck 16 hexes with mmg leader directed and boxes the roll. The Ethiopian player resigns after suffering 16 CVP without inflicting any in return. In fact the only Italian loss was a CR from 346 to 336 for one squad and the 9-1 rallied them! After thoughts: In retrospect It was inevitable that the Ethiopian would lose. They had to set up dispersed and were outclassed in fire power 56 to 111. Ignore the SSR that allows the Italians to exit there trucks off the south edge. Exiting the trucks is a huge red herring. Play this scenario only if you want to accomplish one of the following A. Play every scenario in chronological order. (I should finish on 21 October of 2010 if I buy nothing new and stay on schedule.) B. Play this scenaio if you want to learn how not to ambush a column. C. Play this scenairo and take the Ethiopians if you're the Don Quixote type and want to "Dream the impossible dream and fight the unbeatable foe. D. You want a victory real bad at a tourney and convince the other guy to take the Ethiopians Otherwise skip it. Yawn, time for a nap.

Mark