Monaldini and Monticelli – A Crossfire Battle Report 2

Bruce Stewart (aka Gunnery Sargent Rock) and his mate Clynt had a go at my Monaldini and Monticelli Scenario. Kiwis, including six Shermans, and Greeks against Fallschirmjäger and “Turcomen” during the Italian Campaign. All words are Bruce’s.

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Preparation

Clynt is over from Thailand so time for a rematch. So, we tried the Mondalini scenario.

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Part 1

I decided this time rather than have half my army fight and the other half watch I would kick off with all my forces on the left flank and go straight up the road and knock off the villages one by one with my Shermans all on overwatch and NOT taking any risk of ditching. The plan worked pretty well and I managed to take and hold Monaldini, the second objective Montecelli just before lights out.

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Part 2

We opted to continue playing but Clynt managed to take the fifth of my elements out almost immediately. This was a Sherman as I attempted to move on the last objective of San Lorenzo in Strada. A villa too far.

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Casualties

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Observations and conclusions

We completed the game in under two and a half hours.

The game was very enjoyable. Its perhaps my 20th Crossfire game so I think I have the hang of it. I really liked that I had other priorities for victory ergo, rally kiwis and keep them out of harm’s way.

Clynt set up a good defence so that’s always a great help having a decent challenge. With the way I like to play, having the defenders marked on a map so I blunder around finding them, he really soaked up a lot of my efforts with Turcomen lurking in or near Monticello.

Most of my casualties were almost entirely Greek infantry due to mortar fire. They would get suppressed and there was little chance of rallying them.

The scenario was pretty well balanced I thought and I learnt a lot.

If I had managed to get to La Strada it was wall to wall fresh veteran Fallschrimjager.

I’m still liking the armour rules for playability and the fact tanks aren’t complete liabilities.