With Andy and Jack indisposed last week Phil and I decided to take a break from matters WW2 and dusted off our Italian forces for a quick north vs south 85pt Sharp Practice scrap. Quick turned out to be a bit of an understatement!
The mission was a straight forward encounter between Phil's Neapolitans and my Kingdom of Italy armies, tasked with capturing a vital bridge and seeing off any enemy forces they encountered. The Neapolitan Chevaulegers de la Garde Royale deployed first and cantered swiftly down the road towards the bridge.
Unfortunately for them the Italian Volteggiatori of the 1° Reggimento Fanteria Leggera managed to move swiftly through the forest to a position overlooking the road, muskets primed waiting for the cavalry.
Phil tried to counter this by moving his line Volteggiatori up opposite the Italian light infantry.
Behind the 1° Reggimento Fanteria Leggera Italian line Volteggiatori pushed through the woodland in support...
As two columns of Neapolitan Fucilieri marched onto the field of battle!
A move mirrored by a column of Kingdom of Italy Fucilieri who entered on the opposite side of the table.
The Chevaulegers de la Garde Royale boldly cantered forward...
Towards the waiting muskets of the 1° Reggimento Fanteria Leggera!
In an effort to help, the Neapolitan skirmishers started to fire at the Italian Light Infantry Volteggiatori opposite, but to little effect...
The green-uniformed Volteggiatori took aim at the Chevaulegers de la Garde Royale - one close range volley inflicting enough Shock on the cavalry to make them fall back and lick their wounds for the remainder of the battle!
Seeing the Neapolitans marching down the road towards them the Kingdom of Italy Fucilieri deployed into an attack column!
Rashly the Neapolitan Fucilieri column decided to charge the Italians - but came up short...
On the flank of the columns the Italian line infantry Volteggiatori joined their light infantry colleagues in skirmishing against their Neapolitan counter-parts...
Whilst the Italian attack column bore down on the Neapolitan Fucilieri...
In a desperate move the Neapolitan force commander challenged the Italian to a duel (which was a bit unsporting as he was on a horse!) The first round of sword play saw the Italian lightly wounded, but two more rounds were inconclusive so honour was shared.
Avanti con la baionetta! The Italian attack column smashed into the Neapolitan Fucilieri!
Two brave men of the north fell, but the Neapolitans were battered, one group broke, the formation broken, excess Shock taken - Phil's Force Morale took a hammering...
Belatedly, as usual, the Italian Granatieri arrived with the battle almost won.
Although Andy was not with us, I channeled his 'reckless tactical spirit' and charged the Italian line Volteggiatori into the Neapolitans facing them,
The Gods of War(gaming) were clearly with me in the subsequent Fisticuffs!
Whatever Italian is for "they don't like it up 'em" it certainly applied here...
As the remaining Neapolitan broke and were last seen running back to Naples as fast as they could!
The game lasted just 50 minutes and we were down the pub by 8.30pm!
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