SOVOIA!*
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DATE: 23 August 1942*
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BATTLE TYPE: Italian advance vs. Soviet Union delay*
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Two-Player PBEM Game*
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ISCHBUCHENSKIY, RUSSIA:  As the Italian 8th Army took up positions along the west bank of the River Don, a Russian counterattack opened a gap between it and the German 6th Army advancing on Stalingrad. As part of the effort to seal this breach, the Savoy Cavalry and Novara Lancers were sent to aid the hard-pressed 3rd Celere Division. With the dawn of the 23rd of August, elements of the Soviet 304th Rifle Division advanced expecting no opposition, but immediately ran into the Savoy regiment. Unprepared for suddenly finding themselves on top of the enemy, the overextended Russians began to withdraw-only to be met by a squadron of Italian cavalry changing headlong at them from the rear.*
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AFTERMATH: After their initial shock, some Russians opened fire on the cavalry while others ran in an attempt to regain the cover of their foxholes. But the Italians, crying "Savoia!", crashed into their midst and rode right through their position. Once clear of the Russians, the cavalrymen wheeled about and charged again. Meanwhile, the troopers unhorsed in the first charge were engaging the enemy with carbines or in hand-to-hand combat. By now the squadron had shrunk to half its original number, and riderless horses dashed madly to and for in the wild melee. At this point Col. Bettoni, commanding the Savoy regiment, ordered the dismounted 4th Squadron to advance and sent the two remaining squadrons against other portions of the enemy line. Some Russians fought to the last, while other surrendered or fled. In the end, the Soviet rifle regiment was effectively eliminated, though at a significant cost to the troopers and horses of the Savoy Cavalry.*
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NOTES: This scenario is based off of Avalon Hill's Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) annual '89 scenario A12 with some minor modifications. The map is not based on the scenario.*
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Sources:  ASL Scenario A12*
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Design by:  Don Lazov*