Just twenty-four hours after Mussolini declared war on England and France, six troops from 11th Hussars left Dar el Hamra and set out westwards for the Wire.  The Hussars’ veteran Rolls Royce armoured cars were organised in troops of three, and were to immediately establish an ascendancy over their Italian enemies.   

Whilst A Squadron was attacking Fort Maddalena, a larger British force had been assembled and tasked with taking Fort Capuzzo. The force, from 4th Armoured Brigade, was divided into two parts. Most of the brigade would attack Fort Capuzzo, with a smaller force protecting the northern flank by harassing the Italians around Sidi Azeiz. Fort Capuzzo fell without a fight after the garrison surrendered following an air attack.   The Italian positions further north were located on a ridge astride the “road” from Sidi Azeiz to Fort Capuzzo. 11th Hussars made contact, and attacked.  

The game reflects the assault on the ridge near Sidi Azeiz.  

11th Hussars

No.3 Troop B Squadron 11.Hussars

2nd Lt Bumfluff Farthingdale,

Troop Sergeant Major, Mr Grimsdale

3 x Rolls Royce Armoured Cars 

No.5 Troop, B Squadron, 11th Hussars 

Troop Sergeant Pitkin

3 x Rolls Royce Armoured Cars 

Bumfluff begins these games as a 2nd Lt.  As he progresses he will have the chance to rise in rank and reputation.  

Bumfluff has a current reputation as a "bit of a duffer."  It is well earned.  He will (quite unhistorically) be swapped among the various regiments of 7th Armoured as they all try to get rid of him...

Elements of II Battalion, 7th Libyan Infantry Regiment

Company HQ

Sergente Gellato  

1st Platoon

2 x Colonial Infantry Squad (7 men each)  

2nd Platoon

Corporale Stracciatella

2 x Colonial Infantry Squad (7 men each) 

Attached

Corporale Pistachio

One 77/28 gun from 2 Gruppo, 2nd Libyan Artillery Regiment. 

The Game

The Ridge Position

Tenente Romeo Gelato looks down on the advancing "old ladies" of 11th Hussars

Bumfluff's troop

11H advance

Bumfluff motors up the hill only to have the Libyans attack one of his cars... and fail

The .303s in the Rollers break the left flank of the Italian infantry

But Pitkin on the right flank of Italians is ambushed off the jump off point. He is brewed up, but escapes from his emergency flap.

Corporale Pistachio celebrates with an icecream

The rest of Pitkin's troop circle the Italian guns and blatter it with their machine guns.

Even the Rolls taking fire to its front batters the Italian gun, which is wiped.

End game, Troop Sergeant Major Grimsdale and Bumfluff encircle the Italian position and force their surrender by hammering in some Shock.

Aftermath

And the moral of the tale:

"Rolls make a quality product," and "Don’t mess with the 11th Hussars."

A Wargamer in Cyprus