And so it begins! The Autoblinda Recon troop find a mine-field the hard way! Right in the proposed advancement area of the armoured platoon, too!
The Italians leave the Line of Departure in good order!
The waves of Italian armour flow forwards, intent on ruining the day for Bruce, Bruce, Bruce and Bruce that are waiting across the wire.
Pvt Petonelli earns an extra wine ration by hitting an Aussie 2lb AT-gun with his own 47mm ATG! Little does he know that the gun is just damaged (we improvised based on the rules for hitting vehicle) and might be repaired later in the turn.
Cpl Di Bosco, heroic Autoblinda driver, comes all the way up to the village and spots a bunch of Aussies, including an anti-tank rifle. Job's done, time to get the heck out of here!
Cpl Di Bosco is in a lot of trouble, having found a full platoon of Aussies AND a 2lb ATG. His car is immobilised and the main gun is knocked out. Things are about to get very nasty indeed.
The brave Aussies charge out to knock out the immobilised Autoblinda, but fail. Seconds later, they realise how silly it is to charge a recon vehicle right in front of a tank!
The Italian armour sweep towards the village, 1st platoon trying to flank the Aussie AT-position while 2nd platoon suppresses it.
On the Italian right flank, the Aussies open up on the poor infantry trying to negotiate the barbed wire. Not a good situation for the poor Italians...
While the armoured company continues to shoot up the Aussie right flank, the Italian right flank is getting cut to pieces in front of the dug-in Aussies on the hill. Major Linugine dies a a heros' death trying to lead his men through the barbed wire.
While the Italian tank hoses the Aussie position with MG fire from the flank, the Aussie FO sitting in a hole right next to him tries to make himself as small as possible.
The Italian tanks roll up behind the Aussie position, trying to force them out of their trenches.
And so it ends, in tears and desperation. Five minutes before I had to leave to catch my train home, the reinforcements arrived. Two Mathilda 2 and two A10s, plus infantry in carriers rolled up behind our valiant tanks. In the first round, tree tanks were knocked out, including the company commanders tank. Another posthumous hero for Italy to mourn.
We came so close, but in the end, we just traded Italian tanks and blood for Aussie blood.
