As part of 8th Army’s first attempt to crack the Enfidaville Line, the 5th New Zealand Brigade was ordered to capture the key observation point of Takrouna – a small village crowned by a group of tightly clustered buildings surrounded by cliffs, all atop a 600 ft. hill defended by troops of the 101st “Trieste” Motorized Division. The New Zealanders made a night attack to envelop the hill on both sides, but only on the eastern side did they gain much ground. There, after suffering heavy casualties from vicious defensive fire, elements of the 28th (Maori) Battalion reached the foot of the hill at dawn. The capture of Takrouna seemed impossible, but the Maoris regrouped and, with boundless determination, began working their way up the slopes of the rugged, heavily defended feature.
Attacker: New Zealand (28th (Maori) New Zealand Battalion)
Defender: Italian (1º Battaglione, 66º Reggimento Fanteria)
8 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:7.0 D:13.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0
OML 2-in. Mortar x 2
D:0
Mortaio da 45 Brixia x 2
Misc Rules:
Moderate Dust, Ov1. Crags in AA4 and BB4 represent Single Story Buildings
Heroes 2022 - Round 2. I was probably pushing too hard but conceded when I lost the 10-2 and a squad to a 1kia which yahtzeed, having already lost a hero and squad to a similar result.
2022-02-15
(A) Andy Bagley
vs
Neil Brunger
New Zealand win
One of the least enjoyable scenarios I’ve ever played – even though I won on the last CC. The Italians can fire on the New Zealanders as soon as they enter the board, and only two entry hexes allow the NZers to assault move (or advance) on with concealment. The Italians can bore-sight and have a -1 leader, so even with dust a couple of good DRs could shatter the attack before it even starts. (I did bring some units on in the APh to negate the MMG’s bore-sighting, but didn’t feel I could do it everywhere.)
In fact in our game the opposite happened, with three boxcars amongst the Italians’ opening shots malf’ing three SWs. Even so progress wasn’t easy for the NZers. My plan was to wear the Italians down with heavy fire from two kill stacks including the leaders and heroes, shifting forward mainly in the APh. Sure enough, the Italians crumbled easily on any NMC or better, whilst the NZers proved much tougher to break. In the end I succeeded in putting smoke on the victory hex, climbing the cliff with the 10-2 leader, two heroes and two squads on my final MPh, and then advancing into CC in the APh, which I won – although even this could have gone wrong in several ways, so I was lucky.
So it’s a grind for the NZers, who are vulnerable to any lucky DRs, and frustrating for the Italians who break easily and rarely get any effective shots. Add to that the terrain, which makes movement and LOS calculations a real pain, and this is one I won’t be playing again. And if those early Italian boxcars had been snakeyes instead, I would probably have conceded on turn 1!
2020-04-11
(A) Dan Best
vs
Kermit Mullins
Italian win
2020-04-11
(D) Kermit Mullins
vs
Dan Best
Italian win
Wow...tough scenario on the British...really tough in my estimation. Dan's boys entered under heavy fire and managed to get on the first level 1 hills...but couldn't survive in the open. By the end of three turns it was an Italian victory.
2018-09-16
(A) Shane Pask
vs
Italian win
I gave up during turn 6. Italians still at full strength on cliff top and village and I was not even at the cliff base. Forward defences fell early with the MMG breaking down without a shot and both mortars captured. But Italians killed the my sniper and slowed the 10-2 in melee. Not enough firepower directed by me at target.
2018-07-27
(D) Dwayne Duval
vs
Kevin Duval
Italian win
2018-07-27
(A) Kevin Duval
vs
Dwayne Duval
Italian win
Used British balance.
2016-11-11
(D) Alberto Griffa
vs
Mike Johnston
Italian win
2015-07-14
(A) Bill Brodie
vs
Eric Topp
Italian win
This is an all time great, New Zealanders having to cross open desert terrain, climb a cliff and try and wrest control of the stone villige atop a hill. Medium dust in effect, so every IFT shot gets a 1/2 D6 (FRU) DR modifier, making it hard on both sides to do damage.
My brave New Zealanders charged up the hill, but a little bit of damage her and a little bit of damage there, and by turn 6 i had lost half my meager force and had no smoke to cover my climb. Just not enough to take the objective. Eric played well using his Italians to good effect. In hindsight a slower, more methodical advance, using all eight turns and putting as much fire as possible on the Italians would ahve been a better approach. Still, great fun and one I would play as either side any time.
2015-06-20
(A) James Lowry
vs
Patch Bunny
Italian win
Took the long way, and broke like was Italian....
2014-12-07
(A) Paolo Cariolato
vs
Eoin Corrigan
Italian win
2014-08-19
(A) Seumas Hoskins
vs
Italian win
2013-12-01
(A) Martí Cabré
vs
Eloi Soler
New Zealand win
The Italian defense was a little afar from the NZ objective. I dropped smoke on the closest defenders and closed in for strong attacks with the leader and hero modifiers. The Italian defenders started breaking and then I got to the cliffs and climbed. A leader and a hero fell during the climbing but three squads, the 10-3 and a hero made it. The units on the top broke in the AFPh and were eliminated as I had surrounded the cliffs. With almost no chance to counterattack with the remaining troops, Eloi conceded.
2013-05-14
(A) Will Willow
vs
Paul Asselin
Italian win
CASLO
2013-01-01
(D) Kevin Killeen
vs
Chris Doary
New Zealand win
Lost last turn CC
2010-05-01
(A) Keith Colins
vs
Chris Kozloski
New Zealand win
Good fun. Intresting to attach with 1/2 the squads the defense has
2008-08-27
(D) Martin Sabais
vs
Italian win
Great fun, the game went down to the last turn
2006-01-01
(D) Bill Brodie
vs
Simon Spinetti
Italian win
On of my all time favourites. Played it at least five times. Love it as either side.