The KAR defend the border, 1940

My KAR platoon have taken up position at the border of British Somalia, awaiting the onslaught of an invading Italian army.  I have completed my 36 Askaris, giving them all the red fez of a Kenyan a battalion rather than the black ones Nyasaland units wore.  Each section has a lewis gun rather than a bren, but the KAR were well trained, often acting in an independent constabulary role.  With the Black Watch also finished I am about ready to start my campaign.  The Black Watch piper, Wee Jock McGurk is a sight to see!

The first three games involve 2nd KAR.  The Askaris names are Kenyan and Maasai.  The Italians will be randomly generated to give me a solo game. The Italians are probably going to be commanded by Tenente Marco Buttafuoco and his Sergente, the long suffering Trombono Porco.

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 6 Askaris Riflemen

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: D6

1.  Elements of 3rd Bersaglieri Motor Cycle battalion

2.  A Colonial Infantry platoon

3.  A platoon of 2nd Black Shirt Bn

4.  CV33 Tankettes

5.  A Regular Italian Infantry platoon

6.  Italian Heavy Machine Gun section

The KAR platoon must retreat past the Wadi, but all losses will be cumulative.  If young Herbert Farthingdale can get his platoon back with more than 50% still present he will have won a victory of sorts...

Turn 1 0500 hrs

The KAR place their patrol markers, but in reality they are only trying to get the jump off point into the old Turkish redoubt guarding the river crossing.  The Italians deployment point is at the crossroads.  I believe that bridge is going to be a kill zone.

Generated Italian Forces
One section 3rd Bersaglieri M/C battalion, 
two CV33 Tankettes, 
two Italian Heavy Machine Guns

Italian dice.

The Tankettes deploy on the road and drive forward for a modest 7 inches, threatening the redoubt.

The Motorcycles take route 1.  They seem to skip over the terrain, even though some of it is terraced, making a full 12 inches and creating a dust plume.
I also bring on the machine guns, advancing behind the tankettes

The KAR dice

Young Herbert Farthingdale and his men deploy a section in the Redoubt.  Another goes in location 3 under the platoon Sergeant, and I bring on a third on the terrace at location 2. 

The Italian column on the road

Those damn fast motorcycles move onto the flank

Sergeant Kakenya puts some fire down onto the road

 Turn 2

The KAR dice are pretty good.   Platoon Sergeant Kakenya lays down fire onto the road, suppressing the lead Tankette. 

Herbert leads an MMG on table at the Redoubt, and orders the section already there to lay down fire on the Motorcycles.  The Italians deploy from their bikes and take cover under a terrace. 

Italian Dice. 

The Tenente rolls dreadful dice.  That pair of ones is a challenge.  An MG fire team from the M/Cycle squad try shooting at the KAR section in front, but fail.  One of the Italian machine guns moves into a solid position to fire at the Redoubt.    

Turn 3

And at this point my planned write up hit some problems.  I got so into the game I forgot to record the dice rolls!

The Platoon Sergeant brews the tankette. 

Turn 4

Sergente Buttofuco has his men fire into the Askaris above them. 

Meanwhile those pesky Italian MMGs also target the vulnerable KAR section, all but wiping it out.

 
Turn 5

Corporal Korinko is killed and his section reduced to three men with six shock.

KAR 1st Section does one!

Turn 6

Leaving an MMG to hold the rearguard Lt Farthingdale withdraws the platoon back to Hargeysa and the second game.

The Black Watch platoon, almost ready for Tug Argan.  That platoon transport looks like its been in a crash!  That will be the fault of "Careless" McGurk, REME driver.   Turns out that most of my Black Watch bear the surname "Mcgurk..."