Commonwealth forces in British Somaliland take on the Italian invasion

The Italian Invasion of British Somaliland, August 1940

A 20mm WWII wargame fought on Sunday, June 8, 2008

Italian forces attacked British Somaliland in early August, 1940, and by the middle of the month Commonwealth forces evacuated via the port of Berbera. This wargaming scenario represents the attempt to slow the Italian advance early in the invasion.

We used 20mm miniatures with the Rapid Fire II rule set. Each side fielded 3 to 4 infantry battalions with support weapons, plus armored cars and aircraft. A French battalion held one area of the field with orders to prevent the passage of the Italians, and provided very effective air support despite their Vichy leanings.

Have a look at the photos, below, to see how the game turned out.

The battlefield. The Italian attack came from the right board edge, the Commonwealth and French defended the left.	The French commander (left) is a little too chummy with the referee. Bribery?	Two of the splendid Italian commanders move their forces onto the map.	Commonwealth commanders swill beer and contemplate an easy victory. How wrong they will be.	War is what you make of it. Sometimes it's relaxing on the couch, enjoying a fine fermented beverage. Next moment, sheer terror.
Consultation with the referee is required due to the hidden locations of the Allied forces.	A far cry from bully beef!	A swish piece of equipment for the battlefield: the periscope.	...And a view through the periscope.	An Italian Askari (regular colonial) battalion enters the table on the left flank.
An Italian Blackshirt Cohort (fascist militia battalion) enters on the right flank.	A close-up of the Blackshirt militiamen.	An Italian Bersaglieri (sharpshooters) battalion (bottom left) follows the Askaris as they march toward the town in the center.	One of 2 attacks by Italian CR.42 biplanes on the Allied left flank. Commonwealth troops can be seen along the line of cover, below.	Italian Askaris advance through the orchard in the center on their way to the town.
Blackshirts take the Commonwealth infantry head on, and a bitter firefight drags on for quite awhile.	The Bersaglieri heavy weapons are set up in abandoned trenches.	The first of many debilitating French air attacks hits the Italians in full stride. The fighter is an M.S.406 strafing Askaris.	Bersaglieri move up to take covered positions in front of the imposing hill to their front.	Askaris move into the town, with cover provided by the Italian airforce.
A British Blenheim light bomber appears, and is engaged by an Italian CR.42. The combat is inconclusive, and the Italian aircraft's loiter time expires.	Indian infantry (top right) can be seen holding the Askaris at bay in the town.	A mechanized column of Bersaglieri troops enters the board, motorcyclists led by a couple of AB-40 armored cars.	Askaris charge the Indians in a contest for the town.	The Blenheim bomber is back, harassing the enemy on the roads.
The French airforce strikes again, the M.S.406 strafing Bersaglieri infantry heading for the hill.	French Senegalese colonial infantry open fire from the hillside, and receive special attention from the Italian AB-40's.	More motorized Italian troops are trucked in toward the town.	Ack! Another strafing pass against Bersaglieri heavy weapons.	More Indian troops (top left) fight off advancing Askaris.
French White M1915 armored cars of WWI vintage enter the fray to take on the enemy AB-40's. One has a machine-gun, but the other has--tremble!--a short 37mm gun.	The motorized troops deploy, but the end of the game is nigh.	Indian infantry still maintain a serious presence in the town, despite the best efforts of the Italians.	No, please, no! Not another strafing attack on the Bersaglieri. I need another beer.	Truly an episode of Clash of the Titans. The Italians take light damage from the French 37mm fire, but are driven away from the town.
Bersaglieri infantry slog up the hill, still under fire from the French Senegalese troops.	They've had enough. The Bersaglieri take one too many casualties, and, still being machine-gunned by French fighters, sound the retreat. The Italians have fought hard, but could not break through anywhere.