Back to Bolt Action (3rd edition): an East Africa Battle (1941)

ENGLISH

After some time away from the table, it felt great to dive back into Bolt Action 3rd edition, and what better occasion than an HBA tournament organised by our friends from Treviso. The event was the perfect excuse to roll dice again, in good company and with a special assistance.

For our re-training game, we set up an Italian East Africa scenario (1941): Italian forces against the British. It was a thematic and historically grounded matchup that immediately set the tone for a fun but challenging game. The match itself was tense and well balanced. In the end, the Italians secured the victory, helped by a combination of unlucky dice rolls on the British side and a perfectly placed HE shot from the 75/46 gun, which proved decisive at a crucial moment, almost depleting a fresh British infantry squad close to the objective of the game.

From a gameplay perspective, the battle really highlighted how important historical lists are for balance. Using them made the scenario feel fair and authentic. The Italian player, for example, really felt the historical struggle of facing heavily armoured Matilda tanks with only light anti-tank options, such as the M11/39. It was challenging, but in a good way—exactly the kind of tension you want from a narrative-driven game.

The reworked shooting mechanics in 3rd Edition noticeably sped up the game, keeping the action flowing without unnecessary pauses. The new rulebook also deserves praise: it is well laid out, clear, and easy to consult, which made learning and referencing rules during the match much less disruptive.

Overall, the experience was extremely positive. We had a lot of fun, the rules ran smoothly, and the scenario felt both cinematic and competitive. A big thank-you to the Friends of Treviso for organising the event, hosting, and teaching us!

ITALIAN

Dopo un po’ di tempo lontani dal tavolo da gioco, è stato davvero bello tornare a Bolt Action 3ª Edizione, e quale occasione migliore se non un torneo HBA organizzato dai nostri amici di Treviso. L’evento è stato la scusa perfetta per tirare di nuovo i dadi, in ottima compagnia e con un prezioso supporto durante la partita.

Per questa partita di “ri-addestramento” abbiamo allestito uno scenario di Africa Orientale Italiana (1941): forze italiane contro britanniche. Un confronto tematico e storicamente solido, che ha subito dato il giusto tono a una partita divertente ma impegnativa. Lo scontro è stato teso e ben bilanciato. Alla fine, la vittoria è andata agli Italiani, grazie a una combinazione di tiri di dado sfortunati per il lato britannico e a un colpo HE perfettamente piazzato dal cannone 75/46, risultato decisivo in un momento chiave, arrivando quasi a decimare una fresca squadra di fanteria britannica nei pressi dell’obiettivo di gioco.

Dal punto di vista del gameplay, la partita ha messo in evidenza quanto siano importanti le liste storiche per mantenere l’equilibrio. Il loro utilizzo ha reso lo scenario più equo e autentico. Il giocatore italiano, ad esempio, ha percepito chiaramente la difficoltà storica di affrontare i pesantemente corazzati carri Matilda disponendo solo di limitati mezzi anticarro, come l’M11/39. Una sfida impegnativa, ma nel modo giusto: esattamente la tensione che ci si aspetta da una partita a forte componente narrativa.

Le meccaniche di tiro rielaborate della 3ª Edizione hanno velocizzato sensibilmente il ritmo di gioco, mantenendo l’azione fluida e senza pause inutili. Anche il nuovo regolamento merita un elogio: è ben strutturato, chiaro e facile da consultare, rendendo l’apprendimento e il riferimento alle regole durante la partita molto meno invasivi.

Nel complesso, l’esperienza è stata estremamente positiva. Ci siamo divertiti molto, le regole hanno funzionato senza intoppi e lo scenario è risultato allo stesso tempo cinematografico e competitivo. Un grande ringraziamento agli Amici di Treviso per l’organizzazione, l’ospitalità e per averci fatto da “maestri”!

GALLERY

Italian infantry moving to the objective

Italian Askari unit cautiosly advancing 

the Italian light mortar, who duelled with the British sniper (losing at the 5th turn)

one of the protagonist of the day: the mighty Italian 75/46 AT/AA gun

two M11/39 blocking the British advance towards the objective (but failing to disable British armoured forces)

Matilda mkII and British troopers

 

Report – Evento “Gioca La Storia” | 8 Giugno 2025

 🇮🇹 (English Below)

L’8 giugno abbiamo partecipato con grande entusiasmo all’evento Gioca la Storia, tenutosi presso il Museo delle Forze Armate 1914-1945 di Montecchio Maggiore. In questa splendida cornice, ricca di reperti storici di grande valore (che meriteranno un post a parte), diverse associazioni e gruppi di wargame storico tridimensionale provenienti da tutto il Veneto hanno allestito tavoli dimostrativi per far conoscere al pubblico il mondo del wargame e il suo valore educativo nella simulazione e nello studio della storia militare. 

Durante la giornata si è giocato con regolamenti ambientati nella Prima e Seconda Guerra Mondiale, tra cui: Bolt Action (scala 28 mm), Schutzengruppe (scala 1/72), Flames of War (scala 15 mm), Lacquered Coffins (scala 1/300, aviazione WWII) e Blue Max (WWI, gioco aereo).

La partecipazione del pubblico è stata ottima, con particolare entusiasmo da parte dei più piccoli, attratti in modo speciale dal tavolo di Bolt Action.

28 mm Bolt Action, First Don offensive game

Tobruk 1942 with Bolt Action (28 mm)

Italian and British fight over the Mediterranean sea

Sono state allestite anche vetrinette didattiche per illustrare “gli attrezzi del mestiere” dei wargamer!

Some pictures from the exhibition

Non vediamo l’ora di poter replicare questa bellissima esperienza con una seconda edizione! Vogliamo in particolare ringraziare il direttore del museo Stefano e tutti i volontari del museo per la bellissima opportunità, Enrico e Lorenzo, degli "Amici del Modellismo Treviso", "Il Circolo di Pietra" e gli amici di Bassano del Grappa (Maurizio in primis).

Avanti Savoia! 28mm Italian cavalry in the Steppe (Bolt Action)

Biplanes fight! 1/300 H&R planes game with Lacquered Coffins

Tobruk 1942 

SM79 lands a torpedo which blows the British cruiser

EN

On June 8th, we enthusiastically took part in the Wargame at the Museum event, hosted at the Museo delle Forze Armate 1914-1945 in Montecchio Maggiore. In this beautiful and historically rich setting, various wargaming clubs and associations from across the Veneto region presented tabletop simulations to showcase the educational and historical value of miniature wargaming.

Several gaming tables focused on World War I and II scenarios, featuring: Bolt Action (28 mm scale), Schutzengruppe (1/72 scale), Flames of War (15 mm scale), Lacquered Coffins (1/300 scale, WWII air combat), and Blue Max (WWI aerial dogfights).

Educational displays highlighted the tools and materials used by wargamers, and the museum staff ensured excellent organization – we thank them warmly for their support and hospitality.

The event was well attended, with many children especially captivated by the Bolt Action table.

We are already looking forward to the second edition of this fantastic event!

Bande Amhara

Gruppo Bande Amhara, was an Italian East Africa colonial cavalry unit constituted mainly by Eritrean Ascari and led by Italian officers. A banda was about one company strong, and the Gruppo Bande Amhara was about 1700 men, led by the famous Ten. Amedeo Guillet.

I painted this 9 models unit Bolt Action or Crossfire. Figures are mainly plastic ACW Perry, with some conversion done(colonial helmets and greenstuff for the Eritrean headgear).

The unit is a ragtag ensemble of stragglers and survivors from different squadrons. The battle flag is a simplified version of the "Banda Togni" flag.

New books

Hi all,  quite a long without writing on my blog...well, life gets in the hobby.

Two big news: I got two cats, Pepe and Sally, which keep me busy (and full of fur), and I moved (always in Verona). Some weeks ago I got my new bookcase, so I decided to purchase more books to fill it! Here the picture of the last three the mailman delivered to me.

 As you can see different themes (I hope I will review the books someday):

• East Africa 1940-1941 (Land Campaign) by Mark Sobisnky: a detailed book about an often forgotten WW2 campaign. Even if the Italian Army, cut away from the homeland, was doomed, his men's toughness and courage give the Commonwealth army a worthy opponent. Plenty of wargaming opportunities, especially for infantry-based rules. A friend of mine suggested Crossfire, I think I will give it a go when I will finish painting an Italian Army for this theatre.
  I also suggest as reading: La caduta dell’impero fascista. La guerra in Africa orientale italiana 1940-1941 by Andrea Santangelo (in Italian only).
• A Gentleman's War or Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets by Foley and Whiteman. I came through this on a Facebook group. The reviews were funny. I think it is a modern version of Well's Little Wars. I will try them to play Italian Risorgimento, along with Micheal Leck's Rebels and Patriots.
• La marca nelle Crociate by Danilo Riponti (Italian). Is a collection of essays about Treviso (a town in northern Italy - Veneto) families in the X-XIII century and their involvement in Crusaders in Holy Land. The interests in Crusades pre-dates this year, thanks to prof. Raccagni involving my club (Band of Butei) in playtesting  Lion Rampant: The Crusader States. I am trying to figure out a retinue for Lion Rampant which can be used both in Italy and in Holy Land, set at the beginning of the Communal Age, around 1150 AD. More will follow about this too (I hope).

It is all for now, feel free to comment on the blog or on Facebook if you read any of these books or have further suggestions!

Since I know you are curious about the cats:
Pepe on the left (male), Sally on the right (female)

X-wing, Tercios and Bolt Action!

X-wing

After one year I eventually managed to have a couple of games. I appreciate it because is fast, quick to learn, yet deeply strategic. Having pre-painted minis (and of good quality) is a great plus. I shall start studying a bit the combination between the different ships! Thank Alberto and Alessio! 

 Liber Militum Tercios

Back to Thirty years war again! Luca introduced me to Tercios a quite new ruleset by the Spanish El Kraken publisher dealing with the great battles of the period. The rules aim to recreate the grand tactic of the battles. The rules are easy to learn, but has some interesting feats, the most interesting, at least to me, the orders cards. As many of you may already know, I love all sorts of orders vinculating units freedom of action. General de Brigade and Et Sans Resultat! are good examples. In Tercios orders are not persistent, but are re-assigned each turn. Anyway, it's a good start for future modifications. Some mechanics aren't really new, for example any wear unit must test to activate its order (like Bolt Action pinned units) or the hits vs save mechanic (wherte savings, describes by the courage attribute of the units is a sum of morale and armoured resistance to enemies' offences). Overall all this already seen features blend in a very smooth way. I need a couple more games to write a proper review, so stay tuned!

In the pictures the 15mm collection of Luca (Testudo). But 28mm figures I can use both for Tercios and for Pikeman's Lament are ready to be painted (somewhere under the pile of plastic and lead in my basement).

Bolt Action

My first 500 points Commandos army is complete. They just went out for their first training mission against a German Pioneer force...and went awfully. Many things to reflect upon and more figures to assemble and paint for a 1000 point revenge!

 

Commandos in training!

Back to my (first) 28mm WW2 project.

I always liked WW2, and last year, after my conversion to 28mm (Lion Rampant, Ronin) I decided to jump into this period, too, in order to be able to play a different game. The only club mate interested in the period had German and a friend of him American. He was complaining that he couldn't get many games and so I decided to start an army. 

They chose Bolt Action as ruleset, because it's easy to learn, quite fast (about 2-3 hours) and fun fo play, even if it's not the most historically accurate ruleset. But, hey, it's a game, after all!

Since Germans (I must admit, my first choice) had already been taken, I decided to go Brit. But, as some of you may know I dislike easy/common/mainstream armies and so I chose Commandos. 

Here some reasons:

1. to be able to play several scenario: Commandos fought from 1941 to 1945 in almost any theather
2. cheap plastic aivalable (see below)
3. peculiar unit (I love veteran and strange troops)
4. veteran units: more pointsworthy the unit less models needed, and it's not a secundary consideration when valuating to get into a totally new period

Last Christmas Warlord games had it's usual sprues' offer (50% IIRC), and I bought a consistent quantity of Commandos sprues (maybe 5), plus a plastic Commandos box, which gave me the weapon and more infantrymen. Later I found an action for MMG, Officers, medics and a beautiful AEC mk III. At Model Expo in Verona I eventually purchased straightly from Italeri stand a Churchill plastic set. So I was ready to start (for more details about my models, check this post on my blog)

Now (note that I looked accurately after purchasing the models) I started to looked the exact operations the Commandos were involved in.The issue was made easier by this excellent wikipedia page.

My attention was drawn by:

1. Norwegian islands 1941,  I should use SAS models but I guess any Commando unit could go
2. Sicily 1943, interesting to play against Italian not in the desert
3. Normandy 1944. Too mainstream, but a good "generic" start
4. Italy 1945 (last offensive in April) just a few weeks before the end of war in Italy (25th April) Commandos + partisans in the Comacchio lagoon against a generic Wehrmacht force

Norwegian islands (1940)

Early war period, very small actions (realistically playable in 1:1 ratio), and with a strong scenario objective (usually a fish oil and glycerol factory or a coastal battery or ships).  The main drawbacks are: limited troops choice (no tanks, no artillery) and Commandos always as attackers (except local counterattacks).

Sicily 1943

A good choice of enemy, in particular some Italian troops in a small, but interesting choice of scenarios (both Commandos attacks and Italian and Germans counter attacks, noticeably Malati bridge). One day I'll be glad to have a WW2 Italian army!

Normandy to Rhine (1944-1945)
The standard. Good selection of troops for both sides, an interesting addition is the Churchill AVRE supporting the operations (and I own a Churchill). From DDay to Rhine an interesting idea for a campaign as well.

Northern Italy 1945
In the late war, in the Comacchio lagoon, relatively near to where I live (in comparison with Norway, at least). Commandos spearheaded an advance against the latest German defensive lines. Supported by the North Irish Horse Churchills (yeah!) the crumbled the poor Germans. An interesting addition (already on my wish list) the LTV Buffalo!

Recently I discovered an other group of players (5-6) playing Bolt Action in my city and so I decided to prioritize the painting of my models.  I've just finished Ottoman Turkish (ok they need bases) my second army for Lion Rampant (so far my most played ruleset), so it's time to move to this new project. I hope in a few week I could be able to show you my first 500 points Commandos army.

Commandos are coming!

Eventually I decided to start gaming WW2 in 28mm scale. I had and hard time deciding the rules to use, but, according my new philosophy (the important thing is playing), I followed the majority. Since in my area (Verona, in Northern Italy), there is a cospicuous group of Bolt Action Players, I decided gettin' into it. The rules provide a simulation of about a platoon per side, it's not the most historically accurated rulset, but it's fun to play, doesn't requires ton of miniatures and it's very easy to learn. 

My closer friends already own Germans and Americans, so, I decided to go Brit. I've always liked peculiar troops: I find regular infantry boring, so I decided to purchase a Commandos army. I loved them in Company of Heroes, too (a PC videogame).

A Detail of Warlord's Commandos! Box front cover

So I found this bargain, through the Bolt Action sell and swap group on facebook and I've been able to do my army on a budget (IIRC about 60€).

The "Starter" army

Here we have: A Commandos box, plus some extra sprue, a British Army Command (the medic inside is a great plus), and a Vickers HMG. Then I got a Tamyia Bren Carrier and a Warlord AEC mk III to add some anti-tank power (I cannot rely on a PIAT squad). 

I should be able to squeeze a 750 points army out of these. Of course a serious Tank has to be purchased, I cannot decide between a Churchill or a Cromwell. Buffalo and Tetrarch are also viable future purchases for fun. But it's enough for now. Time to go asssembling!

Lot of pieces!!!! OMG, when will I assemble this carrier?!