Fronte Russo Scenario 42
Chiaramonti’s Column
By Ottavio Ricchi
with developer’s commentary by Doug McNair
December 2007

As if the 41 scenarios in our popular Fronte Russo supplement weren’t enough, Ottavio Ricchi has returned with even more Panzer Grenadier scenarios detailing the Italian CSIR’s operations in the Soviet Union. Today we present the first of them, “Chiaromonti’s Column,” in which elements of the 9th "Pasubio" Division make a dawn attack on a unit screening the withdrawal of Soviet armies. The Italians win a Major Victory by clearing both east-west roads of undemoralized Soviet combat units, and a Minor Victory by clearing one east-west road and eliminating 14 Soviet steps (wagons don’t count). The Soviets win a minor victory if 16 Italian steps have been eliminated or are currently demoralized at the end of play (wagons don’t count), and a Major Victory if they control one hex of each east-west road at the end of play.

This scenario is a classic example of why leadership and morale form the core of the Panzer Grenadier system. The Italians only just barely outnumber and outgun the Soviet defenders, while the Soviets are in a strong defensive position along a railway embankment and have substantial artillery and mortar support. More importantly, both sides have a morale of 7/6, so the average-quality Italian attackers could normally be expected to break on Soviet defensive lines. But there is one factor that gives the Italians a huge advantage – the scratch Soviet rearguard force has only three leaders. This means the Soviets will get few if any morale bonuses, will be at a distinct disadvantage in assault combat, and will have a very hard time launching counterattacks or pulling back to form new defensive lines once the Italians break the railway line. The saving grace for the Soviets is that they can withdraw off the east edge at any time, so if they can hold the high ground and the towns long enough to inflict 16 step losses while not taking 14 step losses themselves, they can then break and run off the east edge and still score a Minor Victory.

With that, here’s “Chiaromonti’s Column.” Enjoy!
-Doug McNair

Fronte Russo Scenario XLII
Chiaromonti's Column
28 October 1941

CSIR attempted to re-engage the withdrawing Russians by way of a pincer movement, with Celere Division forming the right pincer and Pasubio Division the left. A flying column under the command of Colonello Chiaromonti and consisting of the 80th Infantry Regiment and elements of the 79th spearheaded Pasubio’s advance. The column met only limited opposition for 10 days, but on October 25th it encountered stiff resistance at the village of Sheliznoje. A three-day engagement ensued, with a large but poorly-led Soviet rearguard trying to delay the Italian advance so the Red Army could form new lines to the east.

Note: This scenario uses boards and pieces from Eastern Front, and a board from Road to Berlin.

Game Length: 32 turns
First Turn: 0530
Other: Treat all river hexes as a railway embankment (see Fronte Russo Special Rule 12).

Elements,
9th "Pasubio" Infantry Division
Enter anywhere on the west edge:
27 x INF
6 x HMG
2 x 65/17
6 x 81mm
1 x 20mm
3 x 45mm
5 x wagon

Leaders: 1 x COL, 1 x MAG, 2 x CAP, 5 x TEN
Morale: 7/6
Initiative: 5
Off-Map Artillery: 4 x 8

Elements, 296th Rifle Division
Set up first, anywhere on or east of the railway embankment. All units that do not set up in town or woods hexes may begin Dug In:
23 x INF
5 x HMG
2 x SMG
1 x Recon
3 x 45mm
2 x 76mm
4 x 82mm
5 x wagon

Leaders: 1 x CAP, 1 x LT, 1 x SGT
Morale: 7/6
Initiative: 3
Off-Map Artillery: 2 x 10

Special Rules
1. Italian initiative is reduced by one for every 4 steps eliminated.

2. Soviet initiative is reduced by one for every 3 steps eliminated.

3. Soviet units may exit the east board edge at any time and are not considered eliminated if they do. However, the area off the east edge is not considered “safe hexes” and demoralized Soviet units may not flee off the east edge.

4. Maximum visibility increases over time as follows:
Turn Visibility

0530 2 hexes
0545 4 hexes
0600 6 hexes
0615 8 hexes
0630 10 hexes
0645 onward 12 hexes

Victory Conditions
Italian Major Victory: At the end of play both east-west roads and all town hexes on or adjacent to them are free of undemoralized Soviet combat units.

Italian Minor Victory: At the end of play one of the two east west roads and all town hexes on or adjacent to it is free of undemoralized Italian combat units, and at least 14 Soviet steps have been eliminated (wagons don’t count).

Soviet Minor Victory: At the end of play at least 16 Italian steps have been eliminated or are currently demoralized (wagons don’t count).

Soviet Major Victory: At the end of play at least one hex of each east-west road (or any town hex on or adjacent to it) is occupied by at least one undemoralized Soviet combat unit.

Tied victory levels or any other result is a draw.

Conclusion
The Italians made their final push on the morning of the 28th, and Chiaromonti was able to disrupt Soviet defenses and capture the village. While Italian sources say Pasubio’s skilful attack broke a numerically-superior Soviet force, it is likely that the Soviet rearguard withdrew for fear of being cut off from Soviet lines. The next target of Chiaromonti’s advance was the town of Nitikowka, 20 kilometres distant. There his overly aggressive tactics led to the near-destruction of 80th Regiment.