US Paras in Sicily

Tim put on another 54mm skirmish in his occasional series of Fistful of Lead games. This scenario was the 82nd (?) Airborne in Sicily, which came out of the relevant Skirmish Campaigns book (but which I've also seen reproduced virtually word for word in another set of rules which shall remain nameless).

Anyway, the plucky US Paras landed at night with the objective of taking out a fortified farmhouse complex near the Allied landing sites.

I can;t really remember who played. I think Jerry, John and Tim C took the US and me and Simon (and maybe Diego?) took the Axis. All played with Tim Gs terrain and 54mm toys. This was pretty much the last f2f game we played at the club before the lockdown kicked in, and it seems like a different world now.

And mightily fortified it was too! with trenches, bunkers etc. Good  job it was dark.

Here are the US paras, a very grand collection of 54mm figures from various sources.

And the rather ragged assortment of Italian defenders. We met some of these already attacking the Western Desert Force in Egypt. They are quite heavily armed, with a couple of full rifle sections, two MMG teams and even some Germans along for the ride.

These scary looking Germans occupied this bunker. They had a flare pistol, which none of us had quite figured out the significance of.

MMG team on the roof of the farmhouse. The setup at start had various MG teams in the bunkers, but most of the Italians were inside the main farm building.

These bunkers were garrisoned with an LMG and a couple of riflemen,

As the alarm was raised, the chaps started to slly forth. Not being sure where the enemy were coming from, they just headed in all directions to the perimeter. The garrison commander can be seem on top  of the smaller tower, peering into the darkness.

This LMG team peered into the murk, wondering what was happening as naughty paras crept closer.

Over here, more US troops appeared, but were concealed by the dark woods.

Over here though, the US forces stumbled over a trip flare, lighting them up like day. The LMG team now had some targets! 

These US troops also stumbled over a trip flare, which was a bit unfortunate, as the bunker contained an MMG. Suddenly the Germans having a flare pistol made, sense. If only we'd put them over here. 

The Americans over here were mown down by MG fire, althugh not before they'd inflicted a few losses on the defenders. There were quite a lot of active defenders now, alerted by the sounds of firing. 

Things were getting a bit sticky over here, despite pinning some of the Americans, the managed to close with the wire and started posting grenades into the bunker.

Some riflemen fired from a flank in support, to little effect, although they did pin one of the US wire cutters down.

The Italians and Germans massed for a counterattack over on the other flank.

The Germans did a heroic 'running over the back of a chap lying on the wire' thing to try and stop this rather threatening US para attacking the bunker.

A desperate hand-hand battle ensued and down went the Yank.

Unfortunately his pals now had a clear shot at the plucky Gefrieter, and down he went. We still held the bunker though.

Over on the other side the last survivor of the MG team was eliminated , but more Italian riflemen has made it the defences by now.

The Americans pushed the Italians back, even though the commander urged them on from the tower. Spotting the US commander standing by the left hand bunker, the Italian Sergeant took aim with his Beretta SMG and managed to take him down (the figure lying on his back by the bunker).

We called it a day there. A panaorama of the defences. Looking at bit ragged but still just keeping the Americans out.

One again, that was a load of fun, and probably the biggest FFoL game we've played. Tim had to work to keep things moving along, but for such a large skirmish game we got through a lot of action in a couple of hours, and it looked lovely in 54mm.