1* the Skoda battery is off table but can recieve targets from the FOO attached to the Italian battalion HQ or the DH82
2* The game starts with 4 turns of random artillery prep by the Italians (2 x 100mm Skoda guns). At which point the DH82 appears over the table to assess damage and spot further targets. (see special rule *3)
3* the DH82 spotter plane flys across the table and can roll to spot suitable artillery targets, it then takes 2 turns to fly to the 100MM Skoda battery and drop the coordinates. Once done the DH82 can return to the table and try again, it can also spot directly for the Heinkel 123 communicating by radio or hand signals.
The
Basque forces deployed 2 companys in front with the 3rd in reserve,
each of the front companys also held one platoon back to reinforce
the frontline. Artillery and support weapons were parcelled out among
the lead companys. The battalion HQ occupied a farm at the northern
edge of the village, the battalion reserve platoon occupied the
ruined castello.
The
Italians deployed two companys right of the road, the last to the
left, the Carlist Bandera also entered on the left side of the table.
The Italians deployed their supporting artillery, mortars and MMGs
mostly on the right (along with the HQ) the tank company headed
straight up the road.
As
you would expect 4 turns of randomly delivered 100mm gun fire, even
by a 2 gun battery did very little to the defences; although weirdly
the Basque 3rd Company took nearly half a platoon of casualties from
three seperate shells landing within their deployment zone!
Turn
1 saw the DH82 fly onto the table and begin looking for targets for
the supporting
artillery.
The
Basque artillery and 80mm mortar began dropping shells and bombs
among the advancing Italians who took casualties! The Italian
observers failed to spot the guns this turn.
Turn
2 Basque guns continue to land hits on the advancing Italians!
But
this turn the Italian observers spot the guns as does the DH82!
Unfortunately for the Italians their radios fail and the observer
cannot contact his guns. The mortar observer can, but the first bombs
fall well short of target!
Turn
3 The DH82 heads south to drop target coordinates to the Italian
guns.
The
Basque guns continue to fire on the advancing Italians, the Italian
radios still don`t work and their mortar fire is still wide of the
mark!!
A
Republican bi-plane fighter arrives over the table
Turn
4 The Italian radios still don`t work! But their mortars have found
the range, though they fail knock out well dug in gun!
The
Basque guns and mortars continue to target the advancing Italian
infantry! The Fighter does a Straffing run along the road too!
The
Italians deploy their support weapons!
MMGs
65/17
75/27
Turn
5
The
Basque 75mm targets and destroys an Italian truck from which the MMG
platoon is deploying, the truck is destroyed and one gun team wiped
out!
Unfortunately
the 75mm is itself wiped out by two direct hits from mortar rounds
Basque
mortars continue to cause casualties among the Italian infantry, but
their second field gun a old WW1 vintage 13pdr rolls a double 1 – I
rule the breach has jammed and needs to be cleared before she can
fire again!
The
Republican fighter makes another run across the table, it spots and
targets the Italian HQ vehicles!
The
attack is highly successful – destroying the Italian commanders bus
and wiping out a mortar team among other casualties. Being out of ammo, the fighter heads north back to its base.
Meanwhile
the DH82 has delivered the artillery coordinates and the first 100mm
shells land near the already knocked out Basque 75mm
Turn
6 the Italains and basque defenders are now within MG range of one
another and exchange fire!!
A
Heinkel He123 arrives on over the table.
The
Italian 65mm targets, hits and with a splendid 12 (on 2D6) wipes out
the second Basque field gun!
The
Italian tanks target the road block with their MGs, the 75/27 adds
direct fire to the mix also!
Turn
7 the Italian advance continues, the Heinkel targets the road block
plastering the area with fragmentation bombs!!
But
whilst diving low to drop its deadly eggs, the He123 exposes itself
to LMG fire, both guns hit, and one rolling an 11 (2D6) for effect,
nails the German!
The
end of turn 7 sees the Italians and their Carlist allies preparing
for a direct assault and the DH82 returns to the tabletop.
Turn
8 the Francoist advance continues whilst their 100mm battery begins
to target buildings within the town directed by the FOO
The
Basque reply with mortar fire and LMGs, the Carlists take their first
casualties of the game.
The
Italians use their Brixa mortars, LMGs and supporting guns to silence
Basque positions
Turn
9 The Italian target another house whilst all the Francosit forces
advance across the table, the Basques reply as best they can.
In
the center-left the Basque 2nd company is virtually wiped out and the
Italians are in danger of breaking through
Turn
10 a dice is rolled and the Basques will gain air support on Turn 12
In
the center-left the 2nd Company HQ tries to organise a
defence against the rampant Italians, elements of 3rd
company are sent forward to join them.
But
in the center the Italians supported by CV33s advance up the road
On
the right the Carlist 1st Company is hotly engaged with well dug in
Basque infantry supported by mortars and LMGs
Turn
11 the lead CV33 is wiped out by an anti-tank shell
On
the Basque left their 2nd Company is over run by the Italians and the
Carlist lead company is close assaulting the trenchline on the Basque
right!
Turn
12 the drone of aircraft fills the air, all eyes turn towards the
incoming aircarft
In
the confusion the CV33 flame thrower moves behind a demolished house
and engages the next occupied building (housing the Basque 1st
Company HQ), the house is engulfed in flame, several occupants
including a nurse are immolated! As per my house rules all witnessing
this horror need to make a morale check!
Turn
13 most of the nearby Basque defenders fail their morale checks and
abandon their positions, the CV33 continues its advance sending
another jet of firey death towards the defenders, but the anti-tank
gun crew kept their nerve and planted a shell into the tankette
stopping its rein of terror!
Above
the town the Republican fighters head for the Ju-86 “Jumo”, but
the slower bi-plane is bounced by an Me109 and shot down before it
can line up on the bomber.
The
I-16 hits but fails to do major damage to the “Jumo” which in
turn fails its morale check and breaks off its attack and flees the
table.
Turn
14 the I-16 lines up for another go at the fleeing “Jumo” but it
too is bounced by the faster, better armed Me109 who gets his second
kill of the game!
On
the ground the Italians now have men on the edge of the town square,
the Basque 2nd Company is destroyed and 3rd Company is fighting a
withdrawal north. On the Francoist left Carlist flags fly over the
trench line as the Basque 1st Company are in full retreat.
A largish infantry heavy attack-defence game, with the defender out numbered 2-1. This later period of the Spanish Civil War can be very attritional and bloody. Still the gods of the dice could have inflicted more casualties on the attackers and the defenders could have been luckier.....
