Combat Campaigns

Mission 1 : Across the Rio Grande! Lajitas, Texas. January 18, 1941

Shortly after dawn on the morning of January 18th lead elements of the US 1st Cavalry begin crossing the Rio Grande River into Mexico from their staging areas near Lajitas, Texas. Their objective to cross the border and clear the small Mexican village of Lajitas, Mexico (sister village of Lajitas, Texas) of any Fascist forces. Although fordable in many places, Engineers managed to emplace pontoon bridges across the Rio Grande River during the previous night to make the crossing easier.

Your men will be up against those Fascist forces in Mexico who are currently receiving training and support from Italy in the form of military advisors. These advisors are made up of Spanish Civil War veterans and as such have a higher than normal ELR for Italian troops. Some Italian vehicles have been smuggled into Mexico as well.

• Type: River Assault (modified).
• NORTH is to the right side of the mapboards.
• Mapboard selection: 2 mapboards. The eastern-most mapboard (only) must be a river mapboard: use random dr to determine which mapboard to use (either 7, 8 or 40). No standard bridges exist across the river. Roll directly on the Farmland column of Table A9 to determine western-most mapboard.
• Weather: EC are Clear, Moderate with a No Wind.
• Enemy ELR: Fascist Partisan 2; Italian Advisors 2.
• FRIENDLY side can place 2 Foot Bridges across the river in any location. If islands are involved, no Foot Bridges are placed in those hexes, the bridges just continue again at the next water hex in the bridge path.

MISSION SETUP

The main objective for C Troop is the central area of the village, Lajitas, Mexico. The actual objective is house marked on the map with the Yellow “V” although the rest of the village should be cleared of any enemy forces as well. During the previous evening US Engineers managed to place 2 Foot Pontoon Bridges across the Rio Grande to help speed up entry into Mexico (see map for location).

Intelligence reports that both Mexican Fascists (Partisans) forces and their Italian Advisors are operating in the area of Lajitas. Suspected Enemy Positions are show below (Black S? counters).

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TURN 1

Most of the Americans move forward and begin to dismount to lead their horses across the river. Just as the lead elements begin to move onto the pontoon bridges things start to go bad for the Americans. South of the village, enemy reinforcements (obviously tipped off to the pending incursion) begin to arrive (Grey S? counters). At least 1 squad of partisans is identified, engaged and forced to rout.

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TURN 2

As the lead elements of C Troop cross the river and begin to spread out, a squad of Italian Advisors is spotted and engaged. Fortunately the majority of enemy reinforcements appear to be heading toward the safety of the village. It seems that the enemy is not going to contest the actual crossing and is preparing to base their defense in the streets of Lajitas.

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TURN3

Bad luck continues. On the northern-most pontoon bridge a squad panics, blocking all further movement across the Rio Grande! To the south, the Cav Troopers continue leading their mounts across the pontoon and up the western river bank. As 2nd Squad/2nd Platoon closes in on the village’s outskirts they are met by an Italian Lancia 1ZM Armored Car and more Mexican Partisans.

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TURN 4

The traffic jam caused by the paniced squad finally breaks loose and more men are able to move toward the village. The Lancia 1ZM continues to be a major obstacle as the US troops have no AT capability. Fortunately, the Americans are able to press the attack forward even as more Partisans materialize in the village.

In the far south, 1st Platoon is ordered to head for the gully in an attempt flank the village. Staying mounted, they are able to cross the open ground at significant speed and without receiving any fire.

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TURN5

1st Platoon continues heading for the gully, overrunning the broken Italians and routing the Partisans back beyond the gully. Captain Torrance send 3 of the LMG squads to support 1st Platoon in their advance and to get them into position to suppressive lay fire on the village.

The Company HQ along with 2nd and 3rd Platoons keep trying to move in closer to the village from the southeast but the Lancia 1ZM keeps most of them pinned. without any AT capability the Cav Troopers will likely need to be taken it out in Close Combat.

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TURN6

Coming Soon!

Tags: SASL Mexico

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