[Eritrea] Capture of Keren - March 27, 1941

Bataille de Keren - Advance of the Fletcher Force.
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 03/10/2022
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x6 x7 x5 x7
    first You play first


Historical Background:
With the removal of the roadblock on the 26th March, the way to Keren was open. General Platt created the Fletcher Force with the 8 Matilda tanks of B Squadron/4th RTR and the Bren carriers of 9th and 10th Indian Brigade. The mission of Fletcher Force was to take Keren and to prevent the withdrawal of the Italians. In the same time, the 6th Royal Frontier Force Rifle (29th Indian Brigade) had to capture Mount Zeban and then Mount Canadai. The Fletcher Force met only with some rearguard units, the bulk of Italian troops (in fact, the remnant units) had withdrawn during the night. On the 27th of March 1941, after a 53 days siege, the city of Keren was in the British/Indian hands.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history !

Briefing:
Axis player [Italy] : 5 command cards.
Allied player [United-Kingdom/India] : 6 command cards, you move first.

Conditions of Victory:
7 medals.
The capture of the Italian HQ is a permanent medal objective for the Allied player.
Exit marker rules are in effect on the road hexagon marked "Nacfa road" (Action 23), only for Italian artillery units.

Special Rules:
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nations 5) to all Allied units.
- Use "Royal Italian Army" rules (Nations 6) to all Axis units, badges are not required.
- Use "Elite Armor" rules (Troops 2) to the British armor unit. These tanks are moving slow, they can move only one or two hexes and fight.
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troops 2) for the two British units with badges. These are mechanized units on Bren carriers.

Scenario Bibliography:
- Hyperwar - East African Campaign 1940-41 - The battle of Keren.
- Satellite Image of the battlefield.

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
6
1
8
10
6
10
12
4
2
1
1