​My buddy Greg and I have started to play through A Qualified Success, a "Pint Sized Campaign" written for the WWII game Chain of Command. The campaign focuses on Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, specifically the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry pushing north toward Syracuse while the Italian Coastal defenders and Napoli Infantry Regiment try to slow them down.

July 13, 1943

Platoon Sergeant Roy Keane leads a squad on a reconnaissance-in-force, testing the outskirts of the village of Cassibile. Anticipating heavy resistance in the two story buildings, he swings to the left towards a hedgerow and crop fields. Suddenly a machine gun next opens up and additional Italian troops are seen moving through the field.

Keane and his men luckily make it across to the hedge where his men lay down accurate fire on the Italian infantry within the crops. The Bredas can't keep up with the Bren and the Italian riflemen have trouble getting a clear shot past their comrades. 

At the same time a rumbling sound echoes from the road--a Sherman arrives and sends two shells directly into the machine gun nest. Men scream as shrapnel tears through them.

Keane and his squad continue to apply the pressure to the remaining Italian squad. Several men, including Caporale Cino Casaletto are instantly killed, and the remainder crack under the fire. Seeing their right flank collapse, any men who were holding onto the buildings in town retreat as well. 

For his role leading the assault, Platoon Sergeant Keane has earned the respect of his men as well as mentions in the dispatches of his COs. The British continue their push towards Syracuse, but the now-organized Napoli Infantry Regiment might have something to say about that!

July 11, 1943

The Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry have landed on the shores of Sicily meeting only token resistance from scattered and under-equipped coastal defense forces. They moved to take control of a railway station just outside the small village of Cassibile but soon came under fire from unexpectedly strong positions within the brick station itself as well as entrenchments and sandbag fortifications. 

Under deadly fire from four Breda machine guns, two squads of the British platoon soon take casualties and become disordered. The British commander decides to pull back and wait for another chance. The green coastal defenders are ecstatic--if this is all the British can throw at them, perhaps Sicily is saved!

July 12, 1943

The next day is eerily quiet as the Yorkshire Brigade sends out a fresh platoon to attempt the capture of the rail station. A pair of mortars lay down a smokescreen but there's still no sign of the Italian defenders. Two British squads see the opportunity and begin an all-out sprint over the rails (this is where Greg got a quadruple phase while I had zero soldiers on the board!).

Finally, after two jump off points had been captured by the British, they heard a sound coming from the train station--the coastal defense platoon was singing songs and still celebrating their victory of the previous day. And the sentries seemed to have come in for limoncello too!

A few confused men staggered out of the station to trade shots with the British but the result was clear--after two attempts the Yorkshires had taken control of the train station. Next they'd be headed to the village of Cassibile.

My buddy Greg and I have started to play through A Qualified Success, a "Pint Sized Campaign" written for the WWII game Chain of Command. The campaign focuses on Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, specifically the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry pushing north toward Syracuse while the Italian Coastal defenders and Napoli Infantry Regiment try to slow them down.