Post by Toyama on Apr 10, 2017 17:15:13 GMT
Italy's East African Campaign
august 1940
Benito Mussolini desired to expand Italian influence in the Mediterranean by linking Italian North Africa (Africa Settentrionale Italiana) with Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana), capturing the Suez Canal and the Arabian oilfields in the process.
When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the Italian troops were not prepared for a prolonged war in North Africa or East Africa. As a consequence, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered only some limited aggressive actions to capture territory along the borders of Egypt, Kenya, and Sudan.
Later in June, Amedeo, Duke of Aosta—the Governor-General and Viceroy of Italian East Africa, convinced the Italian Supreme Command (Comando Supremo) to plan a campaign to conquer British Somaliland. Victor Emmanuel III—the King of Italy—and Mussolini agreed with the Duke of Aosta and by the beginning of August the campaign was ready to commence.
In the early hours of 3 August 1940, the Italian Army crossed the border between Italian East Africa and British Somaliland and split forces to advance in three columns.
Battle report
Forces (140 pts/side):
Italy:
Stalwart Ltd x2, Conscript x3, Blackshirts, Breda M37 x2, Breda M30 x2, Fucile M91 x3, L3/35 x4, SPA Dovunque 35 x2 (plain truck), Autoblinda x2, Carro Armato MII/39, M35 45mm Mortar, Canone da 75/27, 47/32 ATG.
UK:
Inspiring Ltd x2, Bren MG x4, BEF inf x2, Vickers MG x2, Bedford 3T, Universal Carrier, NZ Daimler Dingo x3 (representing early UK Dingo), Matilda II, 3” Mortar x2, 2-pounder ATG.
Rules:
Italy enters the board from one table edge; UK is deployed on the three objectives: West, Central and East. West and East are located in villages; Central resides in the mountainous central part of the board. Whoever holds more objectives at the end of turn 7 is winner.
At the start of the campaign the Italian force enters Somaliland across the western border in two menacing columns, one northern column directed at Objective West (OW), the other more southward advancing towards the centrally situated mountain range, which was said to host the Central Objective (CO).
The British forces are somewhat equally divided between the three crucial objectives. Upon seeing the numerical superior Italian host entering the country from the west, the British commander decides to withdraw his forces from Objective East (OE). A Matilda tank and a Dingo armoured car are left behind, covering the retreat.
When approaching OW, 2 Italian tankettes and an armoured car are suprised by the appearance of the heavily armoured Matilda tank from between the village buildings. Knowing their (lack of) chances, they hastily seek cover and ask central command for some tank-busting support. Central Command tells them to hold out; a Dovunque truck is sent carrying a 47/32 Anti Tank Gun.
(hide and seek at Objective West)
Meanwhile, the southern Italian column reaches the foothills of the central mountain range. Machine guns and artillery position themselves in cover on the rocky slopes. Across the rocky gorge, Battle Bowlers - english helmets - can be seen in cover behind rocky outcrops. Potshots are exchanged, only disrupting units on both sides.
With the Italian main force checking the British infantry at CO, the Italian armour, consisting of the CA MII/39, 2 L3/35s and an Autoblinda armoured car decide to press the advance and proceed deep into Somaliland towards Objective East (OE). Unfortunately, their plans are soon hampered by British artillery and Machine Gun fire on overwatch.
(stalemate at the central objective)
Mid-game, there still are little casualties.
At OW, the fast Italian armor swirls around the lumbering Matilda tank, hoping to lure the tank from the objective. Despite its lack of speed, the Matilda somehow gains initiative and succeeds to DF-disrupt the Autoblinda. Finishing the annoying Italian armoured car has now become an easy job. In a combined action with the Dingo, two Italian tankettes are eliminated likewise. Meanwhile, the Italian ATG, approaching in purpose to threaten the Matilda, runs into lucky British mortar fire and blows up. The ATG's demise leaves no Italian forces to contest the British ownership of OW.
In the mountainous centre, there is some heavy firing going on. The defending UK artillery and Dingo car are quickly destroyed, as are both Italian Breda MG teams. With both sides losing numbers in equal amounts, the Italian numerical superiority starts to count and enables the Italians to slowly push toward the central objective. Still, hiding in crevasses and behind rocks, the British infantry isn't easily defeated and manages to prevent the Italian capture of CO.
With Objective West firmly in British hands and no easy infantry victory at CO, it is up to the Italian armoured column moving towards CE to capture the objective and score the much needed victory point. In its advance, the Carro Armato manages to take out a BREN gun team, but misses a British Lieutenant in wooded cover. The inspiring Ltd consequently directs a mortar barrage over the Italian tank, damaging it. Finally, a MG team located on one of the numerous rooftops, easily destroys it. The Italian raid on Objective East ends in an honourless defeat.
In the end, British troops claim objective West and East; ownership at the central objective is contested. An allied victory!
(Objective East, overlooking the battlefield westward)
Aftermath:
The Italian plan was for the western column to seal off French Somaliland and then send light forces eastwards. The central column would establish a base at Hargeisa and then carry the main weight of the attack through the Mirgo Pass towards Berbera. The eastern column would move to Odweina to cover the central column's flank and be prepared to link up with it if necessary.
On 5 August, the port of Zeila was occupied by the Italian western column commanded by Lieutenant-General Bertoldi. Any possibility of help from French Somaliland for the British was eliminated. As planned, small forces then proceeded southeast along the coast and occupied the village of Bulhar.
The Italian central column—commanded by Lt-Gen Carlo De Simone—faced more difficulties because of the mountainous terrain through which it advanced. The column was held up at Hargeisa by the Camel Corps assisted by a company of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, but De Simone brought up some light tanks, and by 5 August the opposing troops had fallen back. De Simone took two days to reorganise his supply position at Hargeisa and then resumed his advance through the Karrim Pass toward the Tug Argan, a dry sandy river bed, in the Assa Hills.
The eastern column, under Brigadier General Bertello and comprising mainly irregular troops, reached Odweina on 6 August and then headed north west toward Adadle, a village on the Tug Argan.
The Italians commenced their attacks at Tug Argan on 11 August but, early on 15 August, newly-appointed Major-General Godwin-Austen concluded that further resistance to the Italians would be futile as his troops were close to being cut off. He contacted the British Middle East Command headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. Godwin-Austen requested and received permission to withdraw his forces from British Somaliland. The determined effort of the Black Watch battalion, which covered the retreat, allowed the entire British and Commonwealth contingent to withdraw to Berbera with almost no losses. By 17 August, most of the contingent was successfully evacuated from Berbera to Aden. Rather than evacuate, the Somaliland Camel Corps was disbanded.
On 19 August, the Italians took control of Berbera and then moved down the coast to complete their conquest of British Somaliland. The British colony was annexed by Mussolini to the "Italian Empire" and was the first British colony to fall to enemy forces in World War II.
august 1940
Benito Mussolini desired to expand Italian influence in the Mediterranean by linking Italian North Africa (Africa Settentrionale Italiana) with Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana), capturing the Suez Canal and the Arabian oilfields in the process.
When Italy declared war on 10 June 1940, the Italian troops were not prepared for a prolonged war in North Africa or East Africa. As a consequence, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini ordered only some limited aggressive actions to capture territory along the borders of Egypt, Kenya, and Sudan.
Later in June, Amedeo, Duke of Aosta—the Governor-General and Viceroy of Italian East Africa, convinced the Italian Supreme Command (Comando Supremo) to plan a campaign to conquer British Somaliland. Victor Emmanuel III—the King of Italy—and Mussolini agreed with the Duke of Aosta and by the beginning of August the campaign was ready to commence.
In the early hours of 3 August 1940, the Italian Army crossed the border between Italian East Africa and British Somaliland and split forces to advance in three columns.
Battle report
Forces (140 pts/side):
Italy:
Stalwart Ltd x2, Conscript x3, Blackshirts, Breda M37 x2, Breda M30 x2, Fucile M91 x3, L3/35 x4, SPA Dovunque 35 x2 (plain truck), Autoblinda x2, Carro Armato MII/39, M35 45mm Mortar, Canone da 75/27, 47/32 ATG.
UK:
Inspiring Ltd x2, Bren MG x4, BEF inf x2, Vickers MG x2, Bedford 3T, Universal Carrier, NZ Daimler Dingo x3 (representing early UK Dingo), Matilda II, 3” Mortar x2, 2-pounder ATG.
Rules:
Italy enters the board from one table edge; UK is deployed on the three objectives: West, Central and East. West and East are located in villages; Central resides in the mountainous central part of the board. Whoever holds more objectives at the end of turn 7 is winner.
At the start of the campaign the Italian force enters Somaliland across the western border in two menacing columns, one northern column directed at Objective West (OW), the other more southward advancing towards the centrally situated mountain range, which was said to host the Central Objective (CO).
The British forces are somewhat equally divided between the three crucial objectives. Upon seeing the numerical superior Italian host entering the country from the west, the British commander decides to withdraw his forces from Objective East (OE). A Matilda tank and a Dingo armoured car are left behind, covering the retreat.
When approaching OW, 2 Italian tankettes and an armoured car are suprised by the appearance of the heavily armoured Matilda tank from between the village buildings. Knowing their (lack of) chances, they hastily seek cover and ask central command for some tank-busting support. Central Command tells them to hold out; a Dovunque truck is sent carrying a 47/32 Anti Tank Gun.
(hide and seek at Objective West)
Meanwhile, the southern Italian column reaches the foothills of the central mountain range. Machine guns and artillery position themselves in cover on the rocky slopes. Across the rocky gorge, Battle Bowlers - english helmets - can be seen in cover behind rocky outcrops. Potshots are exchanged, only disrupting units on both sides.
With the Italian main force checking the British infantry at CO, the Italian armour, consisting of the CA MII/39, 2 L3/35s and an Autoblinda armoured car decide to press the advance and proceed deep into Somaliland towards Objective East (OE). Unfortunately, their plans are soon hampered by British artillery and Machine Gun fire on overwatch.
(stalemate at the central objective)
Mid-game, there still are little casualties.
At OW, the fast Italian armor swirls around the lumbering Matilda tank, hoping to lure the tank from the objective. Despite its lack of speed, the Matilda somehow gains initiative and succeeds to DF-disrupt the Autoblinda. Finishing the annoying Italian armoured car has now become an easy job. In a combined action with the Dingo, two Italian tankettes are eliminated likewise. Meanwhile, the Italian ATG, approaching in purpose to threaten the Matilda, runs into lucky British mortar fire and blows up. The ATG's demise leaves no Italian forces to contest the British ownership of OW.
In the mountainous centre, there is some heavy firing going on. The defending UK artillery and Dingo car are quickly destroyed, as are both Italian Breda MG teams. With both sides losing numbers in equal amounts, the Italian numerical superiority starts to count and enables the Italians to slowly push toward the central objective. Still, hiding in crevasses and behind rocks, the British infantry isn't easily defeated and manages to prevent the Italian capture of CO.
With Objective West firmly in British hands and no easy infantry victory at CO, it is up to the Italian armoured column moving towards CE to capture the objective and score the much needed victory point. In its advance, the Carro Armato manages to take out a BREN gun team, but misses a British Lieutenant in wooded cover. The inspiring Ltd consequently directs a mortar barrage over the Italian tank, damaging it. Finally, a MG team located on one of the numerous rooftops, easily destroys it. The Italian raid on Objective East ends in an honourless defeat.
In the end, British troops claim objective West and East; ownership at the central objective is contested. An allied victory!
(Objective East, overlooking the battlefield westward)
Aftermath:
The Italian plan was for the western column to seal off French Somaliland and then send light forces eastwards. The central column would establish a base at Hargeisa and then carry the main weight of the attack through the Mirgo Pass towards Berbera. The eastern column would move to Odweina to cover the central column's flank and be prepared to link up with it if necessary.
On 5 August, the port of Zeila was occupied by the Italian western column commanded by Lieutenant-General Bertoldi. Any possibility of help from French Somaliland for the British was eliminated. As planned, small forces then proceeded southeast along the coast and occupied the village of Bulhar.
The Italian central column—commanded by Lt-Gen Carlo De Simone—faced more difficulties because of the mountainous terrain through which it advanced. The column was held up at Hargeisa by the Camel Corps assisted by a company of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, but De Simone brought up some light tanks, and by 5 August the opposing troops had fallen back. De Simone took two days to reorganise his supply position at Hargeisa and then resumed his advance through the Karrim Pass toward the Tug Argan, a dry sandy river bed, in the Assa Hills.
The eastern column, under Brigadier General Bertello and comprising mainly irregular troops, reached Odweina on 6 August and then headed north west toward Adadle, a village on the Tug Argan.
The Italians commenced their attacks at Tug Argan on 11 August but, early on 15 August, newly-appointed Major-General Godwin-Austen concluded that further resistance to the Italians would be futile as his troops were close to being cut off. He contacted the British Middle East Command headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. Godwin-Austen requested and received permission to withdraw his forces from British Somaliland. The determined effort of the Black Watch battalion, which covered the retreat, allowed the entire British and Commonwealth contingent to withdraw to Berbera with almost no losses. By 17 August, most of the contingent was successfully evacuated from Berbera to Aden. Rather than evacuate, the Somaliland Camel Corps was disbanded.
On 19 August, the Italians took control of Berbera and then moved down the coast to complete their conquest of British Somaliland. The British colony was annexed by Mussolini to the "Italian Empire" and was the first British colony to fall to enemy forces in World War II.