Game 2, the KAR defend Hargeysa. East Africa 1940

Game 2, the 2nd KAR defend Hargeysa.  East Africa 1940

In August 1940 Italian forces invaded the British Somaliland Protectorate.  Hargeysa was an important location, and indeed was named the Capital of the Protectorate on being recaptured by the British in 1941.

I am using Chain of Command for these games, and the initial series of three focus on a single platoon of the Kings African Rifles who are attempting to delay the Italian spearhead as Commonwealth forces are moving to concentrate at Tug Argan.

So far 2nd Lieutenant Herbert Farthingdale, and the reliable Sergeant Kakenya, have lost seven men during a rearguard action at the border.  They cannot recover any casualties since they are in retreat.  I diced to see if the Colonel would send any support to Herbert and had a nice surprise since an MMG and a Boyes A/T rifle are available in Hargeysa.  

2nd Bn Kings African Rifles
2nd Lt Farthingdale, Platoon Sergeant Kakenya

Section One Corporal Korinko
Lewis Gunner and 7 Riflemen

Section Two Corporal Lekuton
Lewis Gunner and 6 Askaris Riflemen

Section Three Corporal Meitikini
Lewis Gunner and 6 Askaris Riflemen

Section Four Corporal Lemasolai
Lewis Gunner and 1 Askari Rifleman with Boyes A/T rifle

HMG Machine, Mark I, Vickers, .303-inch
L/Cpl Olekorinko plus one Askari

L/Cpl Olemeeli
Light platoon Mortar plus one Askari

Italian Spearhead
Random selection up to three rolls: D6

1.  Elements of 3rd Bersaglieri Motor Cycle battalion
2.  A Colonial Infantry platoon
3.  A Semovente SP gun, just because I have one!
4.  CV33 Tankettes
5.  A Regular Italian Infantry platoon
6.  Italian Heavy Machine Gun section

The battlefield.

The Axis have initiative, and I roll the Italian dice.  This could get messy for the KAR right from the start.

The Italian Motorcycles storm on table with a maximum move.  Mamma Mia but these boys are fast.

The second Italian roll and they get a third!

The motorcycles take the KAR Jump off point. 

Off their bikes the teams get into cover

On their third turn the Italians invade.  Cv33s with Infantry escort, the MMG unit

The Italian roll - not bad.

The pair of CV33s rumble down the track with a section of Colonial infantry cowering behind them.  

Meanwhile the Italian MMG teams in the rough ground roll a 1 as a random event and the ammo mule is killed.
The East African Campaign - tough on mules tough on the causes of mules. 

The KAR roll on the other hand left something to be desired. I suppose the three COC points are useful but all I can do is get a single Mg team and a section on table.  The KAR are suffering here.

The KAR MMG

Corporal Meitikini and his section take cover in the building nearest the section transport.

The Italian machine guns fire into the KAR MMG.  It's a massacre.  Those were the saving throws!

The KAR dice.  Words fail me!

Corporal Meitikini and his men do some damage to the Italian Motorcyclists

But  the Italain dice say it all and suddenly Corporal Meitikini is in big trouble.  He runs for it and withdraws with five men killed. 

Casualties.  Five Askaris and the Mg crew against two Italians and the ammo mule from the Italian Mg section. (It was a don't roll a one moment!)

Next game, the KAR ambush at the Slow Wadi wadi