Halfaya Pass - two more times

 For the afternoon session at Tapton I set up the Halfaya Pass Memoir 44 scenario. I'd solo played this a few weeks before.  This covers the attack on the pass which took place in April 1941 as part of Operation Battleaxe. 

The pass is defended by a mixed Italian /German force of infantry, artillery and anti tank guns dig in and protected by minefields and wire, with some tanks in reserve. The hills are steep, so units stop on entering them. I use 'flat' hills for the terrain here, when other people are handling the toys, it makes it less likely the models will slide off. 

The Allies have an entire Infantry Brigade (nine infantry units) and most of 1st Army Tank Brigade (five units of Matilda heavy infantry tanks). 

I honestly can't recall who played the first game. I think it was Simon and Andrew. Both sides need six VP to win, but the onus of attack is on the British as the Axis have artillery, so can win by just shelling the British on their start line. One of those M44 scenario design things to force an attack. 

There are exit hexes at the end  of the highway, so British units can get VP by exiting here, as well as killing stuff. 

Many of the minefields are dummies (0), and the Germans can rearrange them at the start of the game. The British went mine hunting early on, and unsurprisingly found the real minefields clustered around the road with the gaps at the side. The Germans busily shelled the Allies in the meantime, and moved one of their reserve Panzers up into the pass. The Allied infantry took heavy losses from the Axis fire up to this point.

As the Allies pushed through the minefield gaps, they played an 'airpower' card on the cluster of Axis units in the pass (you can just make out the Spitfire, the desert camo is very effective). It was absolutely devastating; it knocked out one artillery piece, drove the other back, destroyed the Bersaglieri and damaged the panzer company. Ouch. Some of them were already damaged, but even so...

The Matildas took advantage of the slackening fire to mass on the left, firing broadsides at the infantry on the hill as they went.

And off they trundled down the road, through the shattered defences, knocking out the Panzers on the way.

The German infantry pulled back to intercept them, but one squadron managed to roll off the exit hex.

The German infantry got into its stride, assaulting the next squadron.

The Matildas retreated again, into range of the AT positions on the left ridge. More German infantry joined in. 

Suddenly the British were looking a bit thin on the ground.

They frantically attempted to repair some of the damaged tanks.

Off they went again, but it was too late. The cumulative losses did for them and the Germans gained a last VP, winning 6:5. That was close! I thoughtit was gonna ng to be an easy Allied victory for a while. 

Meanwhile Tims gunboat was also being thoroughly shot up over on the other table!

We had a break for tea and mince pies, then kicked off another game . John and Andrew (British),  and Simon, Tim and Pete (German) played while Bish observed. 

The British went mine hunting again, but this time used more of their infantry to do it, who also cleared some of the wire. The mines on the road turned out to be the dreaded 'four' strength field! The leading Matiladas were very lucky and only suffered one hit though.

The British put in an infantry attack on the left, having found some minefield gaps.

Although some units were rather shot up, eventually a bayonet charge carried the ridge and cleared the first Italian trenches.

The attackers pressed on into the pass and cleared the German AT gun positions on the left ridge as well. The Axis right flank was looking very dodgy now.

One very battered Matilda squadron ran the gauntlet of the Italian artillery and made it off the table.

The Allies were strong enough to attack on their right as well, and pushed up onto the ridge. The Germans other Panzer company was committed here already to thicken up the defences.

The Allies pressed on steadily however, and overran a German last stand on this isolated hill. That was 6VP to the British and a creditable win.

Including my solo play, that is three times I've run the Halfaya Pass scenario, and it seems to be very balanced. Fun to play with interesting terrain and a mix of unit types, even if it looks a bit scary at first with all those fortifications!