Brigs Peak & Sanchil - IABSM Christmas Game

On Saturday we had our clubs Christmas gaming day. It was a great opportunity for James Morris to try out the I Ain't Been Shot Mum rules and terrain for the game we will be taking around the shows this year, the first outing will be at Salute in April where we will unveil the full thing.

The Empire forces mass in the valley below Sanchil & Brig's Peak

Without any further ado, on to our game which was:

The Attack on Sanchil & Brig’s Peak by the 1st/3rd Punjabis

This attack took place on the evening of 10th February 1941

A section prepares for action

The slope of Brig's Peak and Sanchil was defended by Eritrean Askaris from 97th Colonial Battalion supported by a light mountain gun while two companies from the 3rd Battalion 1st Punjabi Regiment would attack up the slopes. The Italians would be reinforced by troops from the 3rd Battalion Bersaglieri as the game progressed.

Starting the climb

 I have uploaded the Orders of Battle here James put together a brilliant scenario that really played out well.

Eritrean Askaris are targeted by British 2 inch mortars firing smoke rounds

We played without blinds, the Italian troops were hidden, but their 'platoon' and 'big man' cards were placed in the deck and they could be revealed when their card came up, this prevented the issue often seen in asymmetrical games of I Ain't Been Shot Mum when one side has nearly every card in the deck and the other ones blind turns up as frequently as the Tea Break card.

The British forward observer lives a charmed life despite Italian shelling and mortar fire

All movement was at a -2 modifier to represent the difficult terrain of the mountain side, all shots down the hill would be Ok shots where all shots up the hill would be Poor shots.

Up and at 'em lads!

James would play the Italians and I had the Indians, to be assisted by Steve when he arrived around lunch-time.

The mountain gun crew come under increasing pressure - the flag seems a tempting target for the Brits!

The initial 'Stonk' was quite devastating on the Askaris and they were carrying a lot of shock markers when the Indians had spotted them, in the ensuing fire-fights and bayonet-work they were soon dislodged.

Going in with grenades at the ready

The game turned into a race between the British to get to the top. In the centre, Lieutenant Gibbs led one of the platoons about half way up the slope successfully dislodging a platoon of Askaris but taking heavy casualties in the process and also causing the Italians to abandon their mountain gun. On the left flank Sergeant Shaw had led one platoon to almost the top of the peak, easily brushing aside a platoon of Askaris, but his supporting platoon was making poor headway against the steep slope of Brig's Peak so leaving the platoon he scrambled back down the slope to try to lead the supporting platoon up a better path.

Tough work, this climbing business

Italian mortar fire opened up and managed to knock out one of the 2" mortars supporting the Indian attack, but caused very little other damage, the Indian 3" mortars were similarly ineffective.

Lt Gibbs rallies his forces, having just survived a close shave in the front line

On the right flank Subedar Johal led his platoon in a bayonet charge to almost the crest, but was cruelly cut down by fire from the Italian Bersaglieri. Lieutenant Gibbs switched from the centre to the right flank and drove the supporting platoon onwards towards the Bersaglieri on the heights.

A late-arriving section of Eritreans finds itself shot up by Empire forces

We were now running low on time, and it was time to wrap up. The Indians had lost a 2" mortar and had two platoons down to minimum activations, the Italians had lost all their Askaris and held the ridge line with a couple of shaky platoons of Bersaglieri. I reckon another couple of turns would have had the Italians dislodged.

Fix bayonets!

A great game, that turned from a battle against the Italians into more of a quest between myself and Steve as to who could get their troops to the top first.

Don't shoot, lads! Sergeant Shaw runs down the slope to motivate his boys into action

The Indians are all from my collection and the Italians from that of James. James made the terrain with a very little assistance from myself.

Nearly at the top! A fierce counter attack by Bersaglieri holds up the Brits