Heat: Pedal to the Metal Heat: Pedal to the Metal

[Sicily] Battle for Primosole bridge - July 14, 1943

Operation Fustian
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 05/30/2019
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x5 x12 x6 x12
first You play first    


Historical Background:
The Allied landing in Sicily forced the German high command to send emergency reinforcement units close to the frontline. In the evening of the 13th of July 1943, units of the 1.Fallschirmjäger Division flying from Avignon via Rome were dropped in the Simeto river area to reinforce the Kampfgruppe Schmalz (15.PanzerGrenadier Division). This German paradrop coincided with the British Operation Fustian, a night paradrop of the 1st Airborne Brigade to capture Primosole bridge on the Simeto river. For the first time in this war, two elite units were engaged in the battle by the two belligerents at the same time, on the same objective and by the same way. German "Green Devils" and British "Red Devils" had to fight in the darkness of the night more often by close combat, near Primosole bridge. During the day 14th of July, British paratroopers, smaller in number, had to withdraw on the hills south of the bridge and waited the arrival of 8th Army vanguard which reached them in the evening. Finally, Primosole bridge was captured by the British 8th Army only on the 17th of July after several failed assaults.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

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

Conditions of Victory:
12 medals.
Primosole bridge is a persistent medal objective for the last player who occupy it.

Special Rules:
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nations 5) to all Allied units.
- Use "Royal Italian Army" rules (Nations 6) to the three Axis units with Italian badge.
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troops 2) to all German infantry units and to the ten British paratroopers units. Place badges on these British paratroopers units.
- Use "Heavy Anti-tanks Guns" rules (Troops 23) to the Axis artillery unit with 88 badge.
- Simeto river is impassable (Terrain 8) except by the bridge and fords.
- Bunkers are field bunkers (Terrains 22).
- Use "Night Attacks" rules (Actions 19).
- Use "Paradrop" rules (Actions 20). During the first turn, the Axis player drops 5 units holding his hand over the airfield and 5 units holding his hand over LZ, then the Allied player drops 5 units each time holding his hand over the two DZ.
- Reinforcement : One daylight (level 6), the Allied player can introduce on the board up to 3 armoured units, 4 infantry units and 1 artillery unit. These units can entered by the hex "vers Syracuse" with the activation of a suitable command card. The Axis player can use the same way, introducing up to 3 elite infantry units, 1 armoured unit and 1 heavy anti-tank artillery unit, by the hex "vers Catane".

Scenario Bibliography:
- Militaria Magazine hors-série n°36 - Objectif Messine.
- "La Sicile, débarquement surprise" - M.Blumenson - Ed. Marabout.
- "Opération Sicile" - W. B. Brever.
- "Histoire des opérations aéroportées" - Ed. Elsevier.

Remember, see the Commonwealth war graves at Catane and several memorials (151st DLI Brigade, "ai caduti di tutti le nazionalità", 10th Berkshire Rgt) in the vicinity of Primosole bridge.

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
2
1
1
1
1
6
5
12
17
4
8
2
2
1
1
1