Mediterranean sea, southwest coast of Sicily island.
It was the early morning of 10 July 1943 when the first landing craft their ramps at Gela and the first units of US Rangers set their boots on Italian soil. Together with the British and Canadian units that had landed further east, the Western Allies launched an unprecedented landing operation to push open the gate to Fortress Europe.
The night before, on 9 July, American and British airborne troops had already dropped into enemy territory behind the planned beach landing zones to occupy important positions. This was to prevent or delay timely counterattacks by Italian and German troops on the day of the landing.
This operation, called Husky, was the beginning of the end of the Italian army as an ally of the German
Wehrmacht. It was the additional front, long demanded by Stalin, and thus brought the necessary relief of the Eastern Front.
Assault Sicily 43 is the second volume in a planned series of tactical level wargames in which players lead historical units into battle during the landing and airborne operations around Gela Beachhead in July 1943.
Americans, Italians and Germans fight bitterly for the backdoor Sicily as a launchpad for the invasion of the continent.
Game Characteristics:
- Players: 2-4+ (great solo playability)
- Age: 14+ years
- Game Scale: Squad and team level infantry units, individual vehicles and artillery
- Turn time: 5-20 minutes
- Game time: 1 hour – 3+ hours, scenario dependent
- Complexity: 4 -6 out of 10 (medium)
- Optional rules that ease the entry into the game system
- Replay value: 10 out of 10
- This game can be combined with the Eastern Front module: Assault Red Horizon 41
"Assault Sicily '43: Gela Beachhead"
From Sound of Drums / Assault Games:
Assault Sicily 43 is the second volume in a planned series of tactical-level wargames in which players lead historical units into battle during the landing and airborne operations around Gela Beachhead in July 1943. Americans, Italians and Germans fight bitterly for the back door of Sicily as a launch pad for the invasion of the continent.
The scenarios and included dynamic campaign show the fierce and brutal fighting in the early days of the landing. US Rangers and Airborne soldiers face Italians and German counterattacks by Panzergrenadiers and the Hermann Göring Division, supported by the 504th Heavy Panzer detachment. Become part of the courageously led assaults on Italian positions by the American airborne troops of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment dropped the night before the landings.
The Assault Game System:
Structure of the Rulebook:
The Assault game system is easy to learn. For this purpose, the rules are divided into basic rules and optional rules. Optional rules deepen and intensify the game experience. For an easier introduction to the game system, you can simply omit these optional rules and start.
Scenario Design:
To raise the re-playability, scenarios can be played with historical setup or fictional. For this we have designed the blue and green factions. Historical setup means that the blue faction is played with units of the German Wehrmacht and the Italian Army. The green faction is played with the US Army units. Players can easily change the perspective by swapping the set up areas for both sides.
To describe how the Assault Games scenario design is working I would like to quote Grant from The Players Aid (Article Grant´s Top 10 Wargames of 2021):
"This game is designed to be a different experience, even with scenarios that you have already played. This is accomplished through the use of the Order of Battle which is variable through the use of Formation Cards. In each scenario, rather than being given a set Order of Battle, the players will randomly select Formation Cards based on the side they are playing. These Formation Cards give the player a certain number and type of units available for the scenario. This ensures both variation and regular surprises, since the make-up of your forces will change from game to game. This was a really refreshing take on the genre as these Formations are close in unit makeup but with slight variation that will provide new challenges or opportunities."
The Formation Cards give the player a certain number and type of units available for the scenario. This ensures both variation and regular surprises, since the make-up of your forces will change from game to game. Your High Command has assigned you certain units to achieve a particular goal; you will have to adjust your individual tactics based on the available units and the objectives you have been given!
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