Building a North Africa: Mid-War Force based On The Italian Starter Army with John Lee With the launch of the North Africa Compilation release, I thought I would look at how a new player, or someone on a budget, can get an Italian force on the table that would be semi-competitive or at least hold its own with the focus on the mainstay of the armoured forces – M14/41s and Semoventes.  For the new player, it opens the door to playing Flames of War without needing to buy, assemble or paint too much and get into playing the game quicker.

So, if we look at what we get in the excellent value starter set (M14/41 Tank Company), that will help decide what formations to run.  The starter set contains the following: Complete A5 Rulebook Italian “Start Here” booklet 10 x M14/41 Tanks or Semovente Self-Propelled Guns 4 x 47mm Anti-tank Guns 4 x 88mm Anti-aircraft Guns 4 x 100mm Howitzers 1 x 8 million Bayonets Dice 2 x Decal Sheets 8 x Unit Cards

The bonus here is that the rulebook is included in the box – so the new player makes a saving right away.  Now if we look at what formations are in the Italian section of the North Africa book, we can see what we can maximize from what we get in the starter box.  The most obvious formation is the Tank Company, but secondary options are the Heavy Tank Company and Bersaglieri Weapons Company, and we will look at options for 100pts.

The tank sprue allows you to make either the M14/41 tank or Semovente Assault Gun.  You can also make both using the one sprue and swapping the superstructure in and out as required.  Magnets would be recommended to do that. The M14/41 is a great little tank that is versatile and with a 47mm gun with AT6, they also pack a lot of machine guns.  6 dice – great for pinning infantry before assaulting.

The Italians have two stat lines on their unit cards – Standard and Elite.  The 8 million Bayonets dice allows you a chance to roll to increase the from Standard to Elite.  IF you roll the die and the image is face up then, you have an Elite unit.  You have a 33% chance of getting an Elite unit.

The Semovente is a double duty beast – you can throw AT8 direct out to 20” with HEAT (effectively making it AT9 at long range) or fire an artillery bombardment out to 60”.

Looking at the Tank Company, let us look at what units comprise this formation: 1 M14/41 Tank Company HQ 2-3 M14/41 Tank Platoon or Semovente SP Battery Based on the formation and what we get in the starter box, we can use all contents of the starter box and add a couple of extra boxes to round out the points to 100pts.

The formation is maxed out to four units for the formation break.  You have one platoon of M14/41s to take on enemy light tanks and armoured cars (and assaulting infantry!)  Two platoons of double duty Semoventes to take on light and medium armour, and the ability to bombard and reroll hits with five guns.  Combine that with the 100mm howitzer battery and you have three templates to cause your opponent some headaches.  You have 47mm AT guns that you can walk up and shoot to assist your assault as they are infantry units not gun units!  As you have two Anti-tank slots in the diagram and you can take 1-4 88mm Anti-tank guns, you can choose to have all four in one slot, or as shown here, split them (never two each due to morale issues – lose one gun and you are rolling last stand) so that you can cover both objectives, both flanks, and different parts of the table.   Armoured Cars for spearhead and “Tactical Brilliance” Command Card enables one of your Semovente batteries to be Elite automatically and gain Scout giving them the ability to remain gone to ground when moving – great to move them under cover to get into better firing positions much easier.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $267: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110 1 x IBX14 M14/41 or Semovente Platoon     50 1 x IBX16 AB41 Armoured Car Platoon     47 1 x FW256-ICB Italian Unit and Command Cards     10 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50 TOTAL $267

Another option to get more big guns onto the table is change out the Semoventes for M14/41s and give it a light attack flavour and use everything except the 47mm guns:

Fifteen tanks and maxed out formation.  We have changed out the Armored Cars for Light Tanks and added four Lancia Truck Mounted 88mm guns.  Now we have EIGHT 88mm guns!  Only one template now with 100mm Howitzers but a tank force that can take on all enemy light armour, armoured cars, and infantry and two units of big guns for everything else.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $300: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110 1 x IBX14 M14/41 or Semovente Platoon     50 2 x IBX15 90mm on Lancia Anti-tank Battery     60 1 x IBX17 L6/40 Light Tank Platoon     30 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50 TOTAL $300

Next, we look at the Heavy Tank Company which comprises the following: 1 Heavy Tank Company HQ 1 P26/40 Heavy Tank Platoon or Semovente (Long) SP Battery 1-2 P26/40 Heavy Tank Platoon or Semovente (Long) SP Battery or M14/41 Tank Platoon or Semovente SP Battery  This formation is versatile allowing you to utilize your existing M14/41s and Semoventes in the formation along with their upgraded equivalent units – the P26/40s and Semovente (Longs).  What I love about this formation is that you can take a mix of different tank sand assault guns depending on the points and your play style.  Both the new vehicles have AT10 make them useful for taking on medium tanks from the front.

With replacing only one platoon with P26/40s we can still use everything in the box except the 47mm guns.  Two templates and a mix of tank types gives you some flexibility on the table supported by your 88mm Anti-tank guns.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $211.50: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110.00 1 x IBX21 P26/40 (75mm) Tanks     41.50 1 x FW256-ICB Italian Unit and Command Cards     10.00 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50.00 TOTAL $211.50

If you want to include the new Semovente (long 75mm) then this is what the list could look like:

We had to drop the 100mm Howitzers and the M14/41s but keep the 88mm Anti-tank guns.  With two batteries of Semoventes, you probably don’t need the 100mm Howitzers anyway as you still have two templates.  This is a smaller force but very versatile in the right hands!  And fun to play!

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $241.50: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110.00 1 x IBX21 P26/40 (75mm) Tanks     41.50 1 x IBX22 Semovente (Long 75mm) Assault Guns     30.00 1 x FW256-ICB Italian Unit and Command Cards     10.00 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50.00 TOTAL $241.50

Now let’s have a look at the Bersaglieri Weapons Company where the Starter Box has one unit that is compulsory in the formation and a good starting point: 1 Bersaglieri Weapons Company HQ 1-3 Weapons Platoon 1-2 47mm Anti-tank Platoon

We are using everything from the Starter Box, and we have a formation of infantry five units strong for the formation break. We have two templates with the Semoventes (with the “Tactical Brilliance” Command Card) and 100mm Howitzers.  Armoured Cars for spearhead and the two units of 88mm guns. This makes a great defensive army where you have options to attack or counterattack depending on reserves and the mission. Remember, whilst the Weapons platoons are small, they pack a lot of firepower!

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $256: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110 3 x IT762 Weapons Platoon (Bersaglieri)     39 1 x IBX16 AB41 Armoured Car Platoon     47 1 x FW256-ICB Italian Unit and Command Cards     10 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50 TOTAL $256

Now, if want to add some more mobile heavy AT firepower with the new Semovente 90 Battery (Wild Card Unit), we can change out the M14/41s, Armoured Cars and drop a couple of 88s:

Core formation remains the same, but you get more heavier firepower.  The Semovente (90mm) can move and shoot with its 88mm gun and has FA4.  Be careful though as this unit is Aggressive so its easier to be hit – use its range to take out the enemy.

To buy this army you need only to purchase the following for $250.50: 1 x ITAB03 M14/41 Tank Company Starter Force   110.00 3 x IT762 Weapons Platoon (Bersaglieri)     39.00 1 x IBX23 Semovente (90mm) Assault Guns     41.50 1 x FW256-ICB Italian Unit and Command Cards     10.00 1 x FW256 North Africa Compilation Book     50.00 TOTAL $250.50

There you have it – some options to ponder for getting started with three different formations that you can maximise with the starter box.  Enjoy! ~John