Played an interesting game last week, and probably our group's most enjoyable game of T&T yet. We were christening my Italian biplane by actually using it in a game with the airplane attack rules from T&T. This, of course, demanded a scenario, so here it is...
Patrol Peril!
A Triumph and Tragedy scenario for the Second Italo-Ethiopian War
The Northern Front, December 1935
The year: 1935. The place: a rocky valley near the River Takazze. An Italian motorized patrol has run into trouble, ambushed by Ethiopian Mahel Safari soldiers from Ras Imru’s advance guard. With one truck out of action, the Italians prepare to hold off the enemy as long as possible… Then, the sound of a plane is heard. An Italian recce pilot has seen the stranded patrol and radios for backup before joining the battle. Can the Ethiopians finish off the Italians before the cavalry arrive?
Terrain & deployment
The game is played on a table approximately 6x4. There is a central corridor of open ground about 24” wide which is flanked by rocky terrain and slopes on both sides. The Italians deploy next to the rocky terrain on the right end of the table, with troops starting either in or within 6” of their trucks (they have been ambushed and have jumped out or are defending their vehicles).
The Ethiopians deploy in the rocky terrain to the left, facing the Italians, from which they have launched their ambush.
Special rules
All Eritreans and Ethiopians may add +2” to any move in rough terrain (this simulates their ability to move at speed through rocky ground.)
All Eritreans and Ethiopians may add +1 to their rolls in hand to hand combat (as both nations were warrior cultures.)
The front Italian truck has already been immobilized in the ambush.
The Italian plane may enter on Turn 1 on the roll of a 4,5,6 on a d6. Otherwise it automatically enters play on Turn 2.
Victory
The Italians need to survive until Turn 7 when a couple of CV33 tanks arrive to rescue them and the Ethiopians will scatter. The Ethiopians can claim victory by destroying at least 2 of the Italian units, or downing the plane, a victory in itself.
Forces
THE ITALIAN PATROL and PLANE
8 Blackshirts of the ‘23rd April’ (Raw soldiers with rifles and bayonets, one soldier has a LMG) + Giancarlo, (Leader with rifle and bayonet)
8 Blackshirts of the ‘23rd April’ (Raw soldiers with rifles and bayonets, one soldier has a LMG)
8 Eritrean Askaris (Trained soldiers with rifles and bayonets, one soldier has a LMG)+ Bulucbasci Tesfaye (Leader with rifle and bayonet)
1 Ro.37bis plane. The plane is piloted by a Veteran pilot and spotter/gunner. The gunner has a Light Machine Gun and two small bombs (count as hand grenades) which may be lobbed individually.
BALAMBRAS MELKOT’S MAHEL SAFARI (ETHIOPIANS)
Balambaras Melkot (Hero with pistol, sword; Tactician special ability)
Balambras Melkot’s personal guard - 7 soldiers (Veterans with rifle and bayonet/swords; 1 soldier has a LMG)
Nasibu’s men – 10 Mahel Safari soldiers (Trained soldiers with rifles) + Nasibu (Leader with pistol and sword)
10 Mahel Safari soldiers (Trained soldiers with rifles)
10 conscript Mahel Safari soldiers (Raw soldiers with rifles)
10 conscript Mahel Safari soldiers (Raw soldiers with rifles)
The HMG unit – an old Maxim, 3 crew + 3 soldiers (Raw, soldiers have rifles, crew have HMG only). HMG may not fire at plane (no AA mounting)
08 September 2009, 02:19:24 AM