WW2 Operation Compass: South of Nibeiwa

My N.Africa campaign continues. 

A reminder of the situation:

It is now 11th December 1940 and the Italian advance has halted with most of their units settling down into fortified camps.

The British counter-attack has begun and the setting for this action is in the south of the map. The 7th Armoured Division has begin its 'left hook' and comes into contact with the Italian 63rd Cirene Division south of Nibeiwa. 

Continued -

I am departing from the Blitzkrieg Commander rules for this game having listened to a recent interview of Colin Rumford and Richard Marsh on the WSS podcast. It has rekindled my interest in Rapid Fire, or more precisely, the new Rapid Fire Reloaded rules.

I played the first version of Rapid Fire when they were published in 1994 and were my go-to set for the next 15 years or so using 15mm figures. These updated rules look interesting so I will see how they work with 6mm figures and if viable for the future. 

Distances are changed to cms from inches. I have continued with BKC figure and vehicle ratios which provide for larger formations than RFR which I feel works better in 6mm. So a typical infantry company will be 12 figures rather than the average 8 in RFR. Vehicle ratios in BKC are 1: 3 or 4 and 1:5 in RFR. Therefore slightly more tanks etc.

The game will be played on a 6' x 3'9" table. In this game the Italians have set up camp around a small settlement and a nearby oasis. They have yet to fully fortify it with only basic scrapes and berms dug.

Orders of Battle

British

(Air Superiority)

7th Armoured Division

Division CO and accompanying OP.

Divisional Troops:

11th Hussars Armoured Car Regt

Regt HQ - Morris light recce car

1st Squadron - 1 x Morris A9, 1 x Rolls Royce, 1x Universal Carrier

2 squadrons each - 1 x Morris A9, 2 x Rolls Royce

3rd RHA

CO with 15cwt truck

2 x 2pdr Portees

106th RHA

CO with 15cwt truck

3 x 40mm AA guns and tows

4th Armoured Brigade

HQ - 1 x A13 tanks

HQ squadron - 1 x MkVIB tank

7th Hussars

HQ - 1 x MkVIB

A Squadron - 1 x A9 tank, 1 x MkVIB

B and C Squadrons - 2 x MkVIB each

2nd RTR

HQ - 1 x A13 tank, 1 x A9CS tank

A Squadron - 3 x A13

B Squadron (3rd Hussars) - 3 x MhVIB

C Squadron - 3 x A10 tanks

6th RTR

HQ - 1 x MkVIB

A - C Squadrons - 1 x A9, 1 x MkVIB each

11th Indian Infantry Brigade

HQ - CO with truck

AT coy - 1 x AT platoon with carrier

2nd Queens Own Cameron Highlanders

Bn HQ with truck

A - D Coys - each 12 figures with integrated AT rifles

Transport - 8 x trucks

Support Coy - 1 x MMG, 1 x 3" Mortar & 2 x carriers

1/6th Rajputana Rifles

Bn HQ with truck

A - D Coys - each 12 figures with integrated AT rifles

Transport - 8 x trucks

Support Coy - 1 x MMG, 1 x 3" Mortar & 2 x carriers

4/7th Rajput Infantry Battalion

Bn HQ with truck

A - D Coys - each 12 figures with integrated AT rifles

Transport - 8 x trucks

Support Coy - 1 x MMG, 1 x 3" Mortar & 2 x carriers

Italian

21st Corps - 63rd Cirene Infantry Division (part)

Division HQ

CO with truck and radio truck

1st Libyan AT coy - 2 x 47L32 AT guns and tows

Bersaglieri m/c coy - 9 x motor cyles, 1 x m/c MMG

157th Infantry Regt

HQ

CO with car

Infantry gun battery - 1 x 65L17 IG with tow

Mortar coy - 3 x 81mm mortars

3 x Infantry battalions each:

HQ CO

3 x infantry companies each - 12 figures. 1 coy with AT rifle

Weapons coy - 2 x MMG, 1 x 45mm mortar

45th Artillery Regt (part)

Regt CO with car

2 x light AA batteries each - 2 x 20mm AA guns with tows

Howitzer battalion

HQ CO and OP with trucks

3 x batteries each - 1 x 100mm howitzer and tow

Light Gun battalion

HQ and truck

3 x batteries each - 1 x 75mm field gun and tow

The Italian unfinished camp. 2 infantry battalions are guarding the perimeter, split east and west, with the 3rd battalion in reserve in and around the centre.  

The reserve battalion location with the dug in 100mm guns.

The Bersaglieri motor cycle company enjoy a ride in the sun. The Italian divisional CO is located within the settlement.

Approaching from the east, the 7th Armoured Division spreads out across the desert.

The British infantry debus as the Italians begin to open fire.

Seeing the large threat develop from the east, the Italian reserve battalion is immediately ordered to reinforce the eastern perimeter. The Berseglieri motor cycle company abandon their motor cycles and occupy the buildings protecting the CO.

First blood to the Italians. A 75mm field gun (lower middle of photo) scores a hit on a A10 tank which brews up. The Italian OP relays targets to the 100mm batteries who fail to hit anything.

Although the Italian 100mm batteries have yet to make their mark, the potential for inflicting serious damage is not lost on the British and an airstrike is called in. Unfortunately for the RAF their target is surrounded by 20mm AA guns. As the Blenheim light bomber makes its approach it is shot down!

The 11th Hussars armoured car regiment are tasked with screening the British flanks. Here they engage the Italian right flank as the 1/6th Rajputana Rifles make their approach. 

In the centre another tank is damaged but in return the 75mm field gun is destroyed from concentrated fire.

On the opposite flank the 11th Hussars engage the Italian left screening the 4/7th Rajput infantry battalion.

Lack of cover leaves the Highlanders in the centre of the atack vulnerable. Their only protection is to seek cover from the advancing armour are go prone.

An overview as the British close in on the Italian defenders.

The Highlanders suffer heavy losses on their approach towards the centre of Italian defences but pour lethal fire into the defenders either killing them or forcing them back from their positions.

It is now obvious to the Italians that there is no threat to their eastern perimeter and therefore, the battalion holding the position has been ordered to reinforce the west.

Heroic action by an Italian 75mm field gun on their left flank stalls the British advance. It manoeuvres out of its berm to more clearly target the advancing forces. It quickly knocks out a tank and armoured car. 

The 11th Hussars close to maximise their firepower on a now reinforced Italian right flank. Of particular danger is a 75mm field gun, 47mm AT gun and an AT rifle equipped platoon. One armoured car is lost and another damaged. They are joined by a bren carrier with the Rajputana MMG on board (top of photo) who is struggling against its face-off with a 20mm autocannon. 

The British have now overrun the first line of Italian defences with the 6th RTR exchanging fire with the dismounted Berseglieri motor cycle company occupying buildings. I should add that the Crusaders in the photo are representing A9's! Unfortunately not enough in my inventory.

The Highlanders in particular pay a high price for their success with a breakpoint test not far away (50% casualties). The accompanying 2nd RTR have also sustained losses but are still in good shape as they prepare to assault the 2nd defensive line. 

The heavily depleted armoured cars of the 11th Hussars are joined by MkVI light tanks and the Rajputana Rifles. Collectively they pour devastating fire into the hapless Italians eliminating their anti-tank capability along with a couple of platoons of infantry.

The Italian eastern perimeter battalion suffers such casualties that have taken it past its breakpoint. The first test of the game and it rolls a '6' comfortably holding the line. 

The Italians hastily form another defensive line but their only protection is lying prone.

The western perimeter battalion hurries through the tent lines followed by their battalion commander! It may all be too late though as both battalions that had been engaging the British are required to take break tests, one for the second time. The 100mm guns in the foreground have proved to be utterly useless missing their targets yet again.

The end finally arrives for the Italians as both infantry battalions fail their tests and surrender. 

The final scene as the remaining Italian units know that it is futile to continue and surrender to the British.

Rapid Fire Reloaded really was as claimed, simple. I found myself after a few moves rarely having to refer to any chart and was able to purely concentrate on the action. That is undoubtedly a positive with these rules allowing the game to flow. The price of that simplicity though is units, armour etc. trends towards the generic. Yes there are allowances for armour and troop quality just fewer. 

Overall, a good fun ruleset especially if you like the full fat Rapid Fire rules but unlikely it will displace my preference of BKC. 

I shall be suspending this campaign for now due to available time.