Our Saturday Game - ASL Scenario 51 - The Taking of Takrouna

Are you tired of AAR's yet!?!  I won't lie...I'm knackered...four in a row has been tough...didn't finish the "Our Friday Game" post until 12:30 AM this morning. So I'm looking forward to a week of being back at work and blog free for a few days. But on the plus side, I'm hopeful that the additional content has added some spice to those of you who can't leave the house whether you're in Paris, Milan, Stuttgart, Hong Kong, Wuhan, the Isle of Man, or Wichita, Kansas. And yes, you are all in our thoughts as we struggle through the COVID-19 misery. 

As our lockdown continues in Quincy, Illinois...we are now learning how COVID-19 got to our community. Quincy is located in Adams County and one of our first cases came from outside the community when an infected person visited relatives here and of course passed on the infection. Then yesterday we learned that the teenage child of a local doctor attended some parties of young people and apparently was infected with the virus. This teenager then went to work at our busiest grocery store and gave the virus a buffet of people to infect. The most troubling aspect is that the doctor allowed their teenager to attend this party after we went to shelter-in-place. It's beyond baffling that anyone...let alone a doctor would fail to follow the one protocol that keeps us all safe. 

And now...we are faced with dark reality of COVID-19 in our community. Should our hospital fill up...there will be no additional ventilators or PPE or anything else required. Every available supply will go to New York, Chicago, Seattle, etc. Our best defense was our isolated location....and we blew it. I only share this...because I needed to vent it. 

For the final game in our 4 game series, Dan selected ASL Scenario 51 - The Taking of Takrouna. This scenario takes place in Tunisia in April of 1943 as the Allies made their first attempt to breach the Enfidaville Line. One of the key objectives was a small cluster of buildings surrounded by high cliffs at Takrouna.

The 28th Maori New Zealand Battalion would get the task of taking this strongpoint from Italian defenders. The Maoris would succeed. 

ROAR currently has this scenario with 77 Italian and 58 Maori wins. The ASL Archive has it with 9 Italian and 4 Maori wins. It definitely looks like a very challenging scenario for the Maori.

Monument to the 28th Maori Battalion with Takrouna in the background.

A current image of Takrouna. 

Takrouna definitely looks like a tough nut to crack.

A look at the battlefield and Kudos to MMP for getting some great representation of Takrouna. Well done gents!

As the scenario attacker, Dan would command the men of the 28th Maori New Zealand Battalion. This hard hitting unit would see action in Greece, Crete, North Africa, Tunisia, and suffer severe losses at Monte Cassino. It would finish out the war in Northern Italy. Dan's force would consist of 6 x 4-5-8's and 2-4-8's led by a 10-2, 9-1 with 2 x 1-4-9 Heroes and 3 x LMG's and 2 x 50 MTR's. Not a bad force, although numerically weak at first glance.

As the scenario defender, I would command the men of the 1st Battaglione, 66th Reggimento Fanteria. This unit's fame would be tied to their defense of Takrouna. My force would consist of 12 x 3-4-6's and 2 x 1-2-6's led by a 9-1 and 8-0 with an MMG, 3 x LMG's and 2 x 45 MTR's with 5 foxholes to hid in. 3-4-6's are possibly one of my least favorite units to field in ASL. They have poor fire power and poor morale in addition to being LAX in Close Combat. This will be a very bad handicap against the stealthy Maori's.

Also...keep in mind that moderate dust will be in play throughout the scenario, so this will of course affect every shot. I won't make mention of it again, but it definitely messed with more than a few shots. It was especially tough on the 3 factor Italian shots.

And now for Dan's Pre-Game Comments:

“The British must attack up the board 25 hill to the fortified village on top.  They will enter on north board edge and move as a group up the slopes and try to surround the village hex.  Then after fire and broke the units and reinforcement are not possible scale the heights and take the village for the win.  The 10-2 will lead two squads with LMG.  The 9-1 will lead the other squad with LMGs.  The two HS will each take a MTR and the two heroes will each lead a squad.  The final squad will deploy with one trying to run the board edge and the other ready to take prisoners.  Hopefully the dust will protect the British from too much effective Italian fire.”

 Ahh...a Schwerpunkt I see Mr. Best...or is it Mr. Bond...

 The giant wall of RESID tells the story of Dan's 1st Turn movement. Italian rifles and machine-guns were aimed at the entry hexes for the Maori. It seemed a bit criminal...but the Italians can't let the British close with them if they are going to win. So, my boys let loose as Dan's brave New Zealanders stormed up the hill.

Dan's boys would suffer some breaks, but Dan's 10-2 would snake an MC and become a Heroic 10-3. UGH!!!

Dan had two other Heroes who both went into Close Combat with Italians. And by some miracle...I would win both Close Combats....the world's axis changed just a bit...Did you notice?

My boys were doing well and must admit that my dice were rolling a lot of 3's, 4's and 5's with some well placed 2's to boot. It would appear that the dice mojo had transferred to my dice cup for this game!

Hmm....it might also have been the liquid luck I had with my lunch today...

Turn 1 - Italian. Dan had taken my far northern foxhole, captured the squad and my LMG. His 10-3 Heroic Leader was also in there. From this position, Dan's 10-3 could dominate the battlefield. I was genuinely worried at this point.

 Going into Turn 2 Dan had a bit of toehold on the hill, but not much more.

His mortar would lead off with a successful smoke placement. This would definitely hinder some shots.

Dan's boys once again pushed forward led by the Heroic 10-3. This move did surprise me, especially given that this in an 8 turn game. I expected Dan to soften up positions with the 10-3. I would stagger this assault with some lucky shots.

After the game, Dan and I talked about the aggressive style of play that we both have adopted for many of our games. We both enjoy a fast playing game, but will readily admit that sometimes our over-aggressiveness gets us in tight situations.

 In my part of Turn 2 - I moved rapidly to get at the 10-3. The 4-5-8 with him had broken in Prep Fire, I wanted to position my boys to eliminate that squad and then go into CC with the 10-3.

 An Italian 1-3-6 was positioned adjacent to the 10-3. If it stayed in place, Dan's DM squad would be forced to surrender. Dan poured fire down on them...and they survived but would be Pinned. I was good with that.

As Turn 2 came to an end, I had won another CC against the Heroic 10-3 and had successfully eliminated him. I had pushed forward and felt confident that I could hold the objectives.

Turn 3 - Dan launched yet another assault with his available force.

In my part of Turn 3 - most of my fire was ineffectual.

I would go into a final close combat with Dan's most forward unit and once again prevail. With that Dan offered the concession and the game was over after three full turns. Dan had definitely put forth a 110% effort, but the early losses had accumulated to the point, that his force was just not strong enough to continue the fight. My thanks to Dan for a great final game in our 4 game series. I can't think of a better way to have spent my shelter-in-place vacation. So thank you Mr. Best for taking the time out to play these past four evenings. Very much appreciated!

My Italians would celebrate a solid victory against a very tough opponent. The combination of difficult terrain and dust really gave my 3-4-6's the extra boost they needed to win this one.

Now...as for this scenario itself...I don't know...it did not rock my world. It was another hard DTO scenario with difficult terrain...bad visibility and frankly was just not that much fun. Smacking your opponent as they enter the map is just not my favorite kind of scenario. I don't enjoy when it happens to me and I don't particularly enjoy dishing it out...although it's definitely better to give than to receive in this kind of scenario. So...do I recommend that you play this one...no I don't. There are too many better scenarios that give both sides a fair chance to win. Just my two cents worth. But if you are looking for a challenge...then take on the British and see if you can untie the Gordian Knot.

And now for Dan's Post-Game Comments:

“The plan did not work.  The British were shot to pieces.  With both heroes lost in CC along with the battle hardened heroic 10-3 leader.  Timely movement by the Italians pushed into the British flank and Italian fire was effective enough to get some double breaks.  Well played by Grumble Jones keeping the Italians out of stacks and in the game.  Congrats on a well played victory!  Looking forward to our next game.”

I would like to thank you...all my readers all over the world who choose to spend your valuable time reading this blog. 

THANK YOU for your readership and support. 

Dan and I will return next Saturday for a playing of ASL Scenario J176 Deadly Assumption.

Stay safe and we'll see you then.