Along the Zarumilla River, between Peru and Ecuador
1941-07-25 (0 others)
Designer: Chris Olden
Starter kit scenario?: Deluxe scenario?:
Balance:
PeruvianEcuadorian
Overview:
Since the early days of their independence from Spain, a territorial dispute had smoldered between Peru and Ecuador. The imprecise delimitation of borders between elements of Spain's colonial empire were inherited when Peru and Ecuador became independent nations. This dispute led to hostilities in 1828 and 1859, and were only narrowly avoided in the early 1900's. Tensions between the two countries would continue for the next 40 years. Peru's President Manuel Carlos Prado y Ugarteche, under pressure from both Peruvian military and Peruvian nationalists, began a buildup on the border in October 1940, in an attempt to intimidate Ecuador, with its own internal problems., was therefore unprepared for Peru's attack across their southern frontier on 6 July.
Attacker: Peruvian (1st División Ligera)
Defender: Ecuadorian (Guardia Civil and 5th Infantry Brigade)
7 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:18.0 D:17.0
AFVs: A:5
LT vz 38(t)A x 5 Heavy Truck x 3 Medium Truck x 3
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0 D:1
Mortaio da 81/14
Misc Rules:
Bldgs: Ground level only, Stream: Deep (B20.43). VRR (B3.41): N/A
Things started a bit roughly for the Peruvians when I broke a MA, had a tank shocked by the mortar, and bungled a CC vs a PB. Turn 2 saw better progress made when the PB was dispatched, the remainder of the Ecuadorian dummy stacks was exposed, and the shocked tank recover and drive to safety. Turn 3 saw further inroads pushing into the first set of stone buildings, taking down two squads and an 8-0. The first of too many POWs was taken, granting precious deployment. The west side of the stream was toppled on Turn 4 rounding up three more squads and an 8-1 as POWs, and killing another squad and the other 8-1 who held a vital spot in R5 guarding the bridge. The Peruvians saw a squad-laden truck flamed up by the mortar, which now found itself bookended by tanks. By now three tanks had broken their MAs, but it was their superb MGs that really mattered, and those were all intact. The Peruvians blew up the mortar at the top of Turn 5. Had this not occurred I think they would've conceded, as Scott (as he is wont to do) had a very well-placed gun, threatening both infantry and tanks equally. Protected by their vanguard tanks, this allowed the Peruvians to pour over the bridge in force. But time was running low, and there were still many Ecuadorians to clear from their comfy stone buildings. The Ecuadorians knocked out their first tank with a well-placed MG shot, but by the end of the turn the attrition continued, with them losing another 1.5 squads. Time was ticking though, and getting personnel off was going to be difficult. Turn 6 had a couple important shots (P3 and R1) that had to succeed or another concession was in the works. Both succeeded, allowing the Peruvians to push some of their southern force toward the exit. The tanks moved behind the Ecuadorians, causing rout issues, and by the end of the turn they were down another three squads and 8-0. They had only one good order squad, another locked in melee, and three DM brokies. Hope was with them when two of their three squads somehow managed to bounce back, but was again dashed when their studly 447 fell to point blank tank MGs, and the unit stuck in melee was busted. Then, in a bizarre twist, one of their freshly rallied squads turned berserk (the Peruvians having begrudgingly finally declared NQ), the 7-0 who rallied them turned later, and he then converted the other rallied HS. This left no good order Ecuadorians on the board, but with their half of the turn remaining they would still have to be dealt with. FPF betrayed them when the HS failed and the squad reduced to a pathetic 126, and them and the 7-0 were easily dispatched in CC. This was a really tense game that came right down to the wire. A freshly interesting slice of the war, and Chris Olden usually delivers on his designs.
2026-04-05
(A) Diane Spangler
vs
Lawrence Spangler
D
Ecuadorian win
2026-03-30
(D) Lawrence Spangler
vs
Charles Watson
D
Ecuadorian win
2026-03-11
(A) Steven Cummings
vs
Richard Marks
Ecuadorian win
2025-04-07
(D) Dave Mareske
vs
Dennis Dowd
Ecuadorian win
The Peruvians need to move fast to get 2 personnel off. Tanks can be used to try and clear buildings. My defenders were beaten up but they held enough of a line to prevent any infantry from exiting.
