Hold the Heights: A Sicilian Standoff in Big Chain of Command

Last Saturday, we returned to the sun-drenched hills of Sicily for our second game of Big Chain of Command. The setup: Stefan (leading a platoon of Italian Fucilieri) and Max (with a Bersaglieri platoon) squared off against me and my platoon of US Armoured Infantry.

After their previous defeat, the US troops had retreated to a strategic ridgeline.

They fortified their position with barbed wire and minefields, determined to delay the advancing Italians long enough for the American main force to organize a defense and prepare a counter-strike.

However, the previous battles had taken their toll: While the Italian platoons were highly motivated to continue their offensive (both at Force Morale 10), the US Armoured were exhausted and simply hoping to survive the coming storm (Force Morale 9).

Morning breaks over a small town. The surrounding area, with its rolling hills covered in vineyards, fields, and plantations, still appears quiet and peaceful.

A view from the church down toward the outskirts of the town.

The local farm woman had sold fresh fruit, vegetables, and dates at the market and is now making her way home with her teenage son...

...while her father has driven the cows onto the fresh, lush meadows.

The peaceful silence is abruptly shattered as Italian and American patrols clash, scrambling to secure the best possible outposts (Jump Off Points after the Patrol Phase).

The US Company HQ takes up a position between a date palm plantation and a wooded hill...

...while the Italian HQ shelters behind a church situated on a small ridge near the edge of town.

The entire Bersaglieri platoon takes advantage of the fact that the Americans haven't yet advanced to the edge of the ridgeline. They double-time forward under the cover of the terrain—only a lone American sniper occasionally forces them to duck and weave!

Simultaneously, a squad of Italian Fucilieri emerges from the town and begins a slow, cautious advance. As of yet, no Americans are visible behind the wire and minefields.

But appearances are deceiving! Several squads of US Armoured are working their way forward through the plantations to give the Italians a proper "welcome."

Two Bersaglieri squads form up to assault the ridgeline...

...while the second Fucilieri squad moves into position by the church, using the stone walls for cover as they open fire on the Americans.

One of the Bersaglieri squads takes heavy casualties during their assault, especially as the Armoured Infantry receive support from an M20 Armored Utility Car. However, the Italians manage to pin down both the M20 and two full US squads.

A second Bersaglieri squad exploits this opening, using a Reposition move to crawl toward one of the US Jump Off Points and capture it!

The Fucilieri continue their slow advance toward the ridgeline to relieve the pressured Bersaglieri, though they still face the daunting problem of how to breach the obstacles.

Fighting on the left flank, the US Armoured attempt to save the situation with a daring counter-assault. They manage to decimate an infantry squad and the Bersaglieri Solothurn team, forcing them to retreat.

At the same time, the Bersaglieri who captured the outpost suffer devastating losses from a pre-registered mortar strike (SOS Fire) and flee in total disorder toward their comrades in the Fucilieri.

Ultimately, it was time to go. The US Armoured had to withdraw to avoid encirclement. Nevertheless, my boys successfully carried out their orders to delay the enemy for as long as possible. Strategic victory! Furthermore, while maintaining very low casualties ourselves, the Bersaglieri platoon was nearly wiped out, ending the game on the verge of breaking (Force Morale 2!).

The main force has now had enough time to prepare defensive positions for the Axis main assault—and my Armoured platoon will surely get their chance for revenge!

Lessons Learned:
As is often the case: reading the rules helps! Max’s clever trick—using "Reposition" five times in a row with the same squad to seize my JOP—wouldn't actually have been possible.

According to the CoC rulebook (page 33): "No unit can use Chain of Command points more than once in any phase."

That aside, Big Chain of Command is incredible fun thanks to the expanded options provided by the Company HQ. It feels like we’ve only just scratched the surface!

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Operation Husky: Italian Grit vs. US Airborne – A "Big Chain of Command" After Action Report

The Scenario: The Probe (Broad Front)
During the opening stages of Operation Husky, a platoon of US Airborne, supported by a section of Glider Infantry and a troop of three M10 Wolverines, held a vital outpost near Gela. Their orders: hold the line.
Across the field, an Italian mobile group—consisting of a Bersaglieri platoon, a Fucilieri platoon, and a section of Semovente M75/18s—was tasked with forcing a breakthrough to pave the way for following Italian formations.

Force Disposition & Morale
The Italians started highly motivated (Bersaglieri FM 11, Fucilieri FM 9, Semoventes FM 10). On the other hand, the US forces were feeling the strain; many Africa veterans had been replaced by green recruits, leading to a brittle morale (FM 8, Wolverines FM 9).

The Battle Unfolds

The Patrol Phase proved disastrous for the Americans. Due to a series of tactical blunders and misunderstood orders regarding the armed reconnaissance (the "Probe" mission), the US Jump Off Points (JOPs) ended up stranded in the middle of an open meadow. It was clear from the start that the Italians would exploit this vulnerability.

The Bersaglieri seized the initiative immediately, launching a double-phase to block the most likely route for American reinforcements. While the US Airborne dug into the village (supported by a stray US Infantry squad), the Bersaglieri quickly cleared barbed wire obstacles blocking the road. Despite taking light casualties, they cleared a path for their Solothurn anti-tank rifles to move toward the main road.

To the north, a fierce firefight erupted between the Fucilieri and the Airborne/Glider infantry advancing into the village. While the "US Boys" managed to draw first blood, they were soon pinned down by overwhelming Italian fire, and casualties began to mount rapidly.

Attempting to break the encirclement, an Airborne section tried to push from the village toward the plantations. However, a second section of Fucilieri appeared as if from nowhere and opened a devastating volley. The Airborne had no choice but to "Hit the Dirt."

As they attempted to crawl back toward the safety of the village houses, the LMG team was caught in the open. The Italian HQ displayed excellent tactical coordination, transferring CoC points to the squads to trigger React Fire. The LMG team was wiped out instantly—a massive blow to the platoon’s already shaky morale.

The Armor Arrives
The heavy metal finally reached the field: three Italian Semovente 75/18s against three American M10 Wolverines.

While the Italians used their high-explosive shells to hammer the defenders in the village ...

... the American commanders were preoccupied with the threat of the Solothurn AT rifles. Fearing a hit to their thin side or rear armor, the M10s were forced to maneuver cautiously, leaving the infantry in the village largely unsupported.

One Wolverine eventually managed to suppress the Bersaglieri squad nearest the village, forcing them to withdraw. Another M10 engaged the Solothurn crews, eventually neutralizing both AT guns with well-placed HE shells. Unfortunately, this would be the only significant American success of the day.

With the defenders in the village on the brink of collapse, the US Company HQ had no choice: they ordered a general retreat to preserve what was left of the Airborne for future engagements.

The Wolverines covered the withdrawal, pushing the Bersaglieri out of the plantations before successfully disengaging. The battlefield was left to the victorious Italians.

Aftermath & Lessons Learned

The new Company HQ mechanics in Big CoC added a fantastic layer of tactical flexibility, allowing for more fluid support assignments and the strategic transfer of CoC points.

Tactical Reflection: The game was largely decided during the Patrol Phase. I let myself be lured by the heavy cover of the village, which restricted me to a very narrow sector. This cost me control of the road—the very point where my reinforcements needed to enter. Had I prioritized the left plantation, my JOPs would have been in cover, the road would have been under my control and my M10s could have operated with much more freedom.

Max played his Italians brilliantly and gave me zero room to fix my initial mistakes. A well-deserved victory!

Rules Correction

We realized afterward that in Big CoC, only infantry platoons count toward the number of Patrol Markers and JOPs—tank units do not. I should have used 4 markers instead of 5, and 3 JOPs instead of 4.

This would have at least likely prevented the "JOP in the open" disaster!

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Back to the Front: CoC v2 Action with Scenario 6 "Attack On An Objective"

Last Saturday, Max and I got CoC v2 back on the table. Specifically, we tackled Scenario 6 "Attack On An Objective", and as usual, we played it twice—switching sides, of course!

The setting was our go-to "Operation Husky", which we’ll be sticking with for a while. That said, we might eventually move to the mainland and into September '43, since Max is itching to field his Bersaglieri after a long hiatus, and I’m keen to keep pushing forward with my HG-Division 😎

From peaceful slumber to a bloody battlefield

A small, insignificant village is jolted awake from its peaceful slumber. Unfortunately for the locals, it sits right in the path of the US troops landing at Gela. For the defending Germans, however, it’s the perfect spot to stall or at least slow down the enemy advance.

The tiny church was turned into a strongpoint for all-round defense, with its thick walls offering decent protection. Naturally, it became the primary objective for the attacking US Armoured units. The village was further fortified with barbed wire to the north, as the GIs were expected from that direction—a hunch that turned out to be spot on.

Once the first shots from the scouting patrols shattered the morning silence, a bloody firefight erupted. Both sides took heavy losses, but the defending units of the Hermann Göring Division managed to beat back the assault—at least for now.

US Armoured funneled their entire attack from the north, with nothing but swaying wheat fields for cover during their advance. Meanwhile, several platoons of the HG Division occupied the houses, raining fire down on the approaching GIs.

The Setting: A small village surrounded by fields and orchards, typical for southern Sicily in the summer of '43.

Everything is drenched in warm, Mediterranean colors.

The Calm before the Storm: The first shepherds drive their livestock onto the meadows surrounding the village.

But then all of a sudden the first shots shatter the morning silence and the locals scramble for safety!

The GIs strike the village with concentrated force, laying down a wall of covering fire against the buildings. The defenders are forced to keep their heads down and can only return inaccurate fire.

Hobby Hack: My templates for the buildings – no more fiddling around with removing floors and roofs for units inside!

Reinforcements: A tank arrives to support the defenders and opens fire on the attacking GIs.

Counter-Battery: But shortly after, it’s heavily hit by a 57mm AT gun rushed to the front, and attempts to reverse into the cover of the citrus grove.

Holding the Line: Meanwhile, a German PaK 40 pins down the attacking Americans with HE shells as they try to outflank the village.

The Aftermath: Facing mounting casualties, the US Armoured commanding officer is forced to break off the attack and regroup his boys for another attempt.

Game 2: Swapping Sides!

After the Americans successfully wrestled the village from German control in a subsequent assault, HQ from the HG Division issued a clear order: launch a counter-attack and drive the enemy out of the village at all costs.

With my HG Division platoon, I had no intention of getting pinned down in the corner of the wheat fields. Instead, I planned to push through the cover of the olive and apple orchards to outflank the village, allowing me to apply pressure from multiple directions.

However, I made a critical error by placing one of my Jump Off Points (JoPs) too far towards the left flank. I couldn't use it safely, yet I was forced to keep a section in reserve just in case I needed to defend it.

Furthermore, the opposing US Armoured platoon had no interest in just sitting back and defending terrain. They pushed forward aggressively with several squads in a determined counter-offensive. This forced my hand; I had to commit more and more of my units and support early on. Any hope of a defense, let alone a push from the JoP in the wheat field, became an illusion.

The HG platoon commander was fearing the worst, but then disaster struck the GIs: some lucky volleys knocked out several NCOs in quick succession. To make matters worse, the Armoured MG squad came under such heavy fire that they were forced to break and flee. Ultimately, the attackers' Force Moral collapsed. Instead of suffering a certain defeat, the troops of the HG Division managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and retake the village!

The Plan: Pushing towards the farmhouse with part of my platoon while using the orchards for cover—that was the plan. However, the aggressive defense of the US Armoured rendered it obsolete from the start, forcing me to commit more and more troops just to avoid being overrun.

Efficient Defense: Meanwhile, a single section of the US platoon was enough to secure the village...

...while the other three squads were free to give the Germans hell, making them pay dearly for every single inch of ground.

The Turning Point: More luck than brains for the Germans! Fate was against the GIs today; it felt as if every NCO was a literal magnet for enemy bullets.

Lessons Learned: Tactical Takeaways

Every Chain of Command game is a school day! Here’s what this double-header taught us:

• JoP Placement is Key: My biggest takeaway? Don’t get greedy with your Jump Off Points. Placing a JoP too far out on a flank without a solid plan to secure it can turn a strategic asset into a liability that ties up your reserves.

• The NCO Factor: Never underestimate the impact of losing your NCOs. In Game 2, the US attack looked unstoppable until their leadership started dropping. Once your Force Moral starts to bleed, even the best-laid plans crumble.

• Aggression vs. Caution: Max showed that an "Armoured" mindset means pushing hard. Even when defending, a well-timed counter-offensive can completely disrupt the opponent’s deployment.

• Terrain Matters: Those orchards and wheat fields aren't just for show—they are life-savers. Utilizing Covering Fire while moving through open ground is the only way to keep your squads combat-effective.

Now it’s your turn!

We’ve all been there: Your plan is perfect, the support is in place, but then the "NCO magnet" kicks in and your Force Moral hits rock bottom.

• Have you ever had a game where your leadership seemed to have a death wish?
• What’s your go-to strategy when you're forced to commit your reserves too early?

Drop a comment below and share your most epic (or tragic) tabletop moments from Sicily or beyond!

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Chain of Command v2 BatRep: Flank Attack

Max and me continue to play through the scenarios of CoC v2 bit by bit. On Saturday, scenario 5 was on the agenda: ‘Flank Attack’.

As usual, we played it twice, so each of us acted as attacker and defender once.

To cut a long story short: the defender won both games, but both were very exciting and hard-fought, and the decision was very close – my platoon from the HG Division even managed to capture the farm (one of the two possible objectives), but was then unable to hold it due to increasing losses.

The games grabbed our attention to such an extent that we only took a few photos – so today there are only a few snippets to see 😎

The battlefield – a small farm in Sicily, surrounded by fields and orchards. The attacker's goal is to secure the strategically important crossroads or the farm for the main force to advance.

2 sections of my HG panzer grenadiers were able to mount such a concentrated fire from their LMGs ...

... that the LMG section of Max US Armoured broke.

US Armoured advance in cover of an orchard using Marching Fire ...

... while at the same time an M20 Scout Car try tied to soften up the HG defenders with the HMG. But suddenly the Germans brought a 5 cm PaK into position ...

... which forced them to retreat.

In the end, I managed to bring his Force Morale down to the point where I could start the Final Countdown without Max being able to secure either of the two Objectives at that point – and with only 4 phases remaining and dwindling Command Dice, there was nothing he could do to change that.

Pictures from our second game, in which I attacked with my armoured infantry from the HG Division:

Both the US Armoured and my Panzergrenadiers attempt to secure the farm, and both sides suffer heavy losses in the process.

With all hands on deck and firing from all barrels, the Germans advance, but ultimately fail due to fierce resistance from the US Armoured and are forced to abandon their attack.

The much bigger problem was that Max had managed to draw me into this fight, into which I had gradually thrown all my resources.

This enabled me to storm the farm, but I was then unable to hold it in the long run due to his concentrated fire, especially as my force morale gradually collapsed.

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