Back to the Island

We revisited the Majorca scenario from a week or so back last night. We were much reduced in numbers and had a small cast change, but it was still worth giving it a go to see if there was a way for the Nationalists to win.

For the game I made some changes to the units' values, increasing the Nationalist fire effectiveness and giving them a light mortar as infantry support. I was unhappy with giving the Nationalists such high values in the original game, but on reflection this is all about differentials. In this campaign/battle the Nationalists are really so much better that widening the gap and flexing the unit definitions was the only way to go. 

I was expecting four in Shedquarters, but Richard ended up Zooming in as he was incubating a cold, and I misunderstood Steve's message so he was online too. The physical attendees were Phil & Tim, who ran the Republicans, whilst Richard and Steve gave me instructions to move the Nationalists.

Compared to the last game the Nationalists chose a different approach, and came on at the other two entry points. These are closer to the enemy, and are nearer usable cover. Steve's early push on the village was spearheaded by the Guardia Civil. They got caught early doors by the Republican air force, but emerged unscathed, having previously shot up the village a bit.

The local fascist militia, the Falange, leapfrogged the Guardia Civil and stormed the village. Richard's personal distain for their real world counterparts means he has little regard for their longevity on the tabletop.

The defending militia fought bravely, but were evicted from their position, and fell back to the second zone in the village.

As the Falange had used all their activations, Phil sent in an attack with his other militia, supported by MGs.

This proved to be a bit abortive, and Phil's men ended up back on their start positions in Disorder.

Richard then brought on his artillery. There was much discussion about the art of positioning it so it could get on the top of the hill and then fire. Because of the board layout this is only possible in five activations over two turns if you don't want to expose yourself to enemy fire. That means two activations to get in the lee of the hill, then three more to (1) drive on to the ridge (2) unlimber and (3) open fire. Richard gambled on going on to the ridge in three, splitting the battery in the process. Alas the Republicans swiftly acquired both guns and suppressed them, destroying the gun that was still limbered.

At the other end of the board Richard brought on his motorised infantry battalion, and deployed into the wood, ready to take on the Anarchists occupying the hills.

Then the Italian volunteer air force turned up, and strafed the Republican guns.

This was enough to cause the gunners to flee in terror, never to be seen again.

Meanwhile in the village, the Falange dug themselves in, taking fire from the surrounding Republicans.

As Richard advanced through the woods, Tim's Anarchists launched a counter attack.

Richard responded immediately, and expelled the Anarchists from the wood, and inflicted a lot of hits.

Yes. Quite a lot of hits. Of course, this has used up all of Richard's activations for the turn.

Tim's other Anarchist column storm down off the hill. Richard's machine guns are shot up really effectively by Tim, and a melee ensues.

The Nationalists are driven out of the wood. Although they lost the melee, the Nationalists inflict slightly more hits. However, the Anarchists are now well fired up.

Then the Italian airplanes return, but what's this? They mistake Richard's men for Republicans, and shoot them up a bit. Luckily the damage is minimal, and the Nationalists pass their Terror Test.

Into the next turn, and the Republicans get to activate first. Tim's Anarchists follow up on their victory last turn, and charge into the Nationalist regulars again.

Once more they prevail, hurling the Nationalists out of the wood. Once more the cost is high. (BTW I like this mechanism, whereby you can win a melee but take more casualties).

Richard decides to avoid being attacked again by the rampant column, and sends his men to attack the other Anarchists, the ones he beat up earlier. Due to the large number of unallocated hits which have not been cleared by reorganisation, the Anarchists fall apart and rout.

Back to the village, and Phil's militia have another go at evicting the Falangists from their position.

It doesn't end well. The unit, except for the MG company providing covering fire, is wiped out.

Steve then announces that he is sending in the Guardia Civil to arrest the MG crews.

In what looks like an execution, the MG crews are found dead at their weapons. The Guardia Civil, however, have taken some punishment, and decide to regroup back at their starting position.

We then ran out of time. We'd had a slow start - the weather was horrible with ice and freezing fog, which slowed arrivals. Then we had some problems with players working out exactly where units were and so on, so the first turn took much longer than expected. We probably needed at least four full turns (which is what I think we played last time) to get a result.

The scenario came closer to the historic outcome this time round, and I think that another turn would have given a Nationalist victory. The Republicans were close to breaking, having lost several units. Boosting the power of the Nationalists helped here, but I think the change in tactics and arrival points made a real difference too.

The loss of half of the Nationalist artillery early on slowed them down considerably, and they never got the infantry mortar into action. Having said that, the mortar crew played a vital role in stopping the Nationalist regulars in the woods being overwhelmed, as their presence prevented the Anarchists getting a 2:1 advantage. Just.

In conclusion, I still don't think I have got the scenario exactly right, but it provides a solid evening's entertainment.