[Italy] Operation Herring - Breakthrough - April 20, 1945

Operation Herring - Last airborne operation in Europe.
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 09/16/2020
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x5 x12 x6 x12
first You play first    


Historical Background:
In April 1945, the last Allied offensive was to break through the German Gothic Line in order to reach the north of Italy and the borders with Austria and Yugoslavia. To support this offensive the Allied Command decided a small airborne operation on the rear of the enemy by some sections of the Nembo Regiment. Called Operation Herring, it was about eight groups of Italian paratroopers dropped on the night 19th to 20th of April in the area of Poggio Rusco. During three days, they succeeded to sow confusion in the enemy lines by destroying a German supply depot, securing a strategical bridge at Camposanto and capturing a lot of German soldiers in the area, helping so the advance of Allied troops.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 5 command cards.
Allied player [Italy] : 6 command cards, you move first.

Conditions of Victory:
12 medals.
- The blowing of the bridge is a permanent medal objective for the Axis player.
- The sabotage of the supply depot is a permanent medal objective for the Allied player.
- Use Exit rules (Actions 23) for any Allied tank units exiting the map by the Exit hexagon.

Special Rules:
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troops 2) to all Allied infantry units dropped on the map. Put an Italian Elite badge on each unit.
- Use "Mobile Artillery" rules (Troops 14) to the Allied artillery battery.
- Use "Blowing up a bridge" rules (Actions 2) Option 2, for the Axis player.
- Use "Sabotage" rules (Actions 6) for the Allied player on the supply depot. One star is needed for destruction.
- Use "Destroy Supply" rules (Actions 14).
- Use "Night Attacks" rules (Actions 19).
- Use "Paradrop" rules (Action 20). On the 1st turn, before playing his turn, the Allied player must drop eight infantry units.
- Special Weapon Asset rules (SWAs 4 - Special Weapon Assets>1942) are in effect for units equipped with Anti-Tank Weapons (SWAs 5).

Scenario Bibliography:
- Operation Herring.

Remember, see the memorial to the Nembo and Folgore paratroopers at Dragoncello, near the city of Poggio Rusco.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
1
12
1
1
19
7
1
1
5
10
1
2