The epic story of a Eastern Front river crossing with crappy tanks

An Italian River Crossing on the Eastern Front, 1942

A 20mm WWII wargame fought on Saturday, March 24, 2007

This scenario was based on an actual engagement between Soviet and Italian light armored units during the Axis advances in the south as part of Operation Blue (Fall Blau) in the summer of 1942. Elements of the Italian Expeditionary Corps in Russia (Corpo di Spedizione Italiano in Russia, or CSIR) meet a determined Soviet defense at a small river.

The Gourmet Wargaming Club played this game using 20mm miniatures with our home-grown Hail of Lead rule set. Scroll down to look at the photos, below.

Italian Order of Battle:

Elements of the 9th Pasubio Autotransportale Division and the 3rd Eugenio di Savoia Celere Division.

Regular infantry are Green, morale Uncertain; Bersaglieri are Regular, morale Bold.

79th Roma Italian Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)

XLVII (47th) Bersaglieri Motorized Battalion

67th Bersaglieri Light Tank Battalion (L6/40 tanks)

I/8th Artillery Regiment Off-Board (2 batteries 100mm howitzers)

Soviet Order of Battle:

All troops Green, morale Uncertain

124th Soviet Rifle Regiment (3 battalions)

Attached Light Tank Battalion (T-70 tanks)

Light Artillery Regiment (5 batteries 76mm field guns on-board)

The Soviets plan their defense.	Light forest lines the river, which is easily forded along its length. The Italians enter from the right in this photo.	As the game opens, a Bersaglieri patrol exposes the sole Soviet tank unit. The T-70's open fire on the patrol shortly thereafter.	The Italians also discover a Soviet infantry battalion covering the river on the Axis left flank.	Italian hidden units move up at bottom. Russian hidden units wait in covered positions.
Three field artillery batteries (76mm) open fire on the few Italians who show their faces.	Soviet defenders are discovered in the center town. They are gradually brought under increasingly heavy artillery and small arms fire as the Italians engage.	An Italian infantry battalion in 2 bases. Their MMG stands pour fire into the town.	More Italian infantry approach the river to the right of the town.	The town is covered by some of the Soviet infantry regiment's heavy weapons. Here we see a 76mm infantry gun battery with an MMG stand and a MG/mortar stand.
A closer look at the town's defenders. Soviet infantry, SMG stands, antitank rifles, and miscellaneous infantry. The 45mm antitank gun didn't get a chance to bag any Italian armor.	Gods and generals, part I. The Soviet CinC is appropriately wearing red.	Gods and generals, part II. Italian officers enjoying the warm Russian summer.	A Bersaglieri antitank unit pops out of cover and is soon engaged in a firefight with the T-70's (still hiding in cover in this shot). The unit was hit by direct fire from Soviet 76mm field batteries, but the gunners' poor training showed. Not an Italian gun was lost.	Mighty Italian armor breaks cover. These L6/40's are marginally inferior to the T-70's, but there was to be no armor versus armor clash.
Swarms of the L6/40's lent quite a bit of firepower to the Italian attack. It didn't hurt that the tanks were Bersaglieri-manned, and therefore quite effective.	The Soviet T-70's have broken cover to attack the antitank guns. The resulting firefight was somewhat inconclusive, until the weight of the Italian artillery dropped on the enemy light tanks.	Soviet defenders flee the town after absorbing a huge amount of firepower. The Italians quickly sent in a Bersaglieri reconnaissance motorcycle platoon to find the town protected by a single dummy unit.	The other 2 batteries of the 76mm field gun unit proved to be a thorn in the side of the Italians. They continually brought the enemy under fire as they closed in on the center town. The poor training and experience of the gunners hampered the Soviet effort to hold on.	Meanwhile, the 3 field gun batteries in the Soviet center-right have felt the might of the Italian artillery. This unit--what was left of it--was forced back into cover.
A close-up of a smoldering T-70, holed by a 47mm antitank gun.	The Bersaglieri gunners hold on under fire, rallying when required.	Another battery of 47mm guns set up nearby and assisted in the attack on the Soviet light tanks.	Finding the town empty, the Italians pour through to threaten the remaining Soviet units.	An unharmed Soviet infantry battalion holds the riverline on the Soviet left as the center town falls.
A Mexican stand-off develops as the Soviets are loath to leave the cover of the woods and the Italians don't want to suffer unnecessary casualties. The game ended at the point when the Soviets desperately broke cover and were pounded by superior Italian forces.	Small pointy trees, big round men. Another blood-bath at Game Central.