Breakout from Zara
Italian Invasion of Yugoslavia 1939

This is a participation game based on a planned, but not executed, invasion of Yugoslavia by Mussolini’s Italy in 1939
 
1939 invasion of Yugoslavia
 
In August 1939, Hitler proposed to Mussolini that Italy should invade Yugoslavia. Mussolini was delighted at the prospect, but was advised that the Italian armed forces were in no condition for such an adventure.

What if Mussolini had ignored the advice of his generals in August 1939, as he was to do on many occasions. The strategic objective was likely to be limited to taking traditional areas of Italian influence in Dalmatia. The main attacks, as actually happened in 1941, would be from Italian bases in Istria and Albania. 
 
One of the more interesting actions would have been the breakout from Zara (modern day Zadar in Croatia). In 1941, the Italians had 9,000 men in the Zara garrison, organised into two regiments with support units including motorised AA, field artillery, a tankette company and a Bersaglieri battalion. The Royal Yugoslav Army had an infantry division outside Zara.
 
Scenario
 
You command an Italian battlegroup of five infantry squads with armoured and artillery support. The main army is breaking out of the Zara enclave on several fronts. You have a key mission to weaken the Yugoslav defences.
 
Your objective is to capture a Yugoslav supply dump within 6 turns. There are several possible routes, but you can expect resistance from Yugoslav units. 
 
The rules are a simplified version of the popular WW2 rules, Bolt Action. The figures come from the Warlord, Burns and Tiger miniatures ranges, with equipment from a variety of smaller suppliers.

Royal Yugoslav Army

Bersaglieri