The Raid on the depot at Lake Hautanzaltih 11 May 1934

this action takes place at night behind the Italian lines.  The Italians have established a supply depot just off the main supply route.  It is guarded by a half battalion of Askaris and a motorised company as patrol and reaction force.  The site that they have chosen used to belong to a mineral exploration company.  The company buildings are now the Italian offices.  The depot is on the edge of Lake Hautanzaltih.

This action takes place at night behind the Italian lines.  The Italians have established an advanced supply depot just off the main supply route.  It is guarded by a half battalion of Askaris and a motorised company as patrol and reaction force.  The site that they have chosen used to belong to a mineral exploration company.  The company buildings are now the Italian offices.  The depot is on the edge of Lake Hautanzaltih.

ITALIAN FORCES

Tenente Colonello Affluete Accumulato, is in command he really was looking for a more exciting assignment but his mother interfered, pressurising  his Uncle (the General) Decelerato, and he had him posted somewhere safe.  The only interesting thing is the Auster floatplane that was left here when the mineral company fled.  The depot workshop repaired it and he enjoys taking it for joy rides.  His mission is boringly simple: provide overnight rest point for troops going to and from the Column and keep the supplies safe.  The safe in his office contains 2,000 Maria Theresas for paying off the local tribes.

Moving up Country and resting over night are a Heavy Artillery Battalion with 2 x 120mm guns, 2 x steam tractors, an Anti-tank Battery – 2 x 47/32 ATk guns, 6 x crew, 2 x portees (asleep), an MG Company – 3 x MMG, (1 x MMG placed, 1 crew awake, 2 crews asleep)

TRIBAL FORCES

Ras Bari Kareem, is an independent tribal chief, loyal to the Holy Emperor Hailie Ridiculuz has decided to attack the Italian supply depot in the old mineral company base.  The commander has fixed the old seaplane that was left there and spends nearly all day buzzing about in it.  Thus he can only attack at night.  He intends to approach after dark and attack about midnight (the player had to decide when and what signal he would use to signal the attack), cut the wire, infiltrate the depot and blow up or destroy the supplies.  There is a pay chest in the Depot Office that has only just been replenished.  He has a force of light cavalry (mounted rifles), infantry riflemen, a MMG, an old howitzer captured by his father in the last Italian War and an assault troop of former mine workers with Dynamite, rifles and wire cutters.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

IMPERIAL FORCES

Major Snikin Gettuhm, of the Imperial Secret Service, is posing as an Army Colonel to lead this very special mission.  With him is an old friend and pilot now a Coptic Priest – Pastor Eized.  He has been given a very Holy Relic.  The Salver of Salome, that was used to present her with the head of John the Baptist and which has been hidden in the nearby caves since Italians approached.  Archbishop Vari Ralijuz entrusted the relic to the pastor.  He has 2 new Chevrolet armoured cars as well as two companies of infantry, supporting mortars, MMGs and an assault troop.  The Italians have repaired an old seaplane and have been buzzing about so he can only approach at night.  So they must have at least one pilot there.

His mission is to get the relic and the pilot to the seaplane so that it can be taken to safety.  The relic must escape but it must not be compromised.  He intends to infiltrate about midnight, tackle the guards, and get the relic out.  Then do as much damage to the depot as possible.

The action opened with a fast and furious battle between the armoured cars.  Both of the Emperor's cars were disabled.

But the infantry and cavalry made their attacks while the defenders and their searchlights were distracted.  The Tribal cavalry charge routing the defending askaris but losing a fair number tangled on the barbed wire.  The tribal infantry crept forward and made their attack but the defenders were getting organised, the 120mm guns turned and readied to meet them with terrible results.

The Imperial infantry deal with one of the Lacias and the searchlight but cannot breach the wire under the hail of bullets from the machine guns.

The other Lancia sweeps out to the rear of the tribal infantry routing them with sustained and effective fire from its turret machine guns.  And then pursuing the defeated cavalry.  The Italians redeploy to deal with the Imperial infantry.

The Imperials withdraw taking the relic with them.  As a consolation the last rounds fired from their mortars blew up the petrol tank and set the supplies on fire.

The mistake made by the Imperials was sending in their armoured cars too soon and alerting the Italians.  The excellent and bold handling of the Lancias.

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