In Italy, the fight continues!
As the Allies push north up the Italian Peninsula, they have encountered heavy resistance from the Axis and their multitude of fortified and defensive lines, slowing the allied advance to a crawl. The 'soft underbelly' of Europe proved to be false, instead it was a 'tough gut'.
Tough Gut focuses on the fighting of the first five months of the invasion of mainland Italy in 1943/44. Dealing with the landings and breakout from Anzio beachhead, the bitter fighting on the Gustav Line, and the legendary battles for Monte Cassino, this book is a must-have for anyone looking to re-fight these oft-underappreciated but strategically crucial battles on the Bolt Action tabletop.
Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Barracks
Scenario 2: Battle for the Thumb
Scenario 3: The Gates of Hell
Scenario 4: Cassino II: The Railway Station
Scenario 5: Counter-Attack At Castle Hill
Scenario 6: Battle for the Ruins, the Struggle for the Continental Hotel
Scenario 7: Operation Revenge
Scenario 8: For the Freedom of Our Nation!
Scenario 9: It’s A Trap!
Scenario 10: Playing With the Big Cats
New Units & Theatre Selectors
The Allies
While the British and Americans were the best-known of the Allied forces involved in the Italian campaign, it was a truly multinational affair, with the British equipping and supporting forces from across the Commonwealth and beyond. For a long time, this diverse group of brave men have been represented using the National Characteristics from Armies of Great Britain, but Tough Gut gives them their own unique rules and units! Now New Zealanders (and Māori), Indians, Canadians, and Poles (as well as several flavours of Brits!) can be more properly represented in Bolt Action, giving you even more ways to use the British plastic infantry boxed set. Similarly, the US provided equipment and training to a wide variety of nations, most notably the resurgent French forces in exile. These are now represented, along with a number of famous US units such as the 45th Division and 100th Nisei Battalion. Following the Italian surrender in late 1943, General Umberto Utili would go on to serve the new Allied-aligned Kingdom of the South. Commanding the Corpo Italiano di Liberazione (CIL, or ‘Italian Liberation Corps’), his men would serve alongside the Allied effort, using Italian equipment and uniforms. With rules for these men, including Paracadutisti, Bersaglieri, and Alpini elites, there’s a brand-new way to field your Italians.
The Axis
German forces in Italy were a fascinating mixture of hardened veterans and raw recruits, and the Fallschirmjäger paratroopers played a particularly active part, especially in the bitter defence of Monte Cassino. These defiant and stubborn soldiers receive new units, including an officer team and pioneer section, while the rest of the Wehrmacht also receives plenty of love, with updated profiles for many infantry units to better represent them as they were during the Italian campaign. Not to be left out, the Italian defenders of Anzio also get new units for the Decima MAS and Paracadutisti, along with the attendant theatre selectors. There’s never been a better time to revisit a German or Italian force with these new units and rules.
Extra Rules
There are plenty of new and revised special rules and pieces of equipment to be found in Tough Gut, allowing you to tailor your forces specifically to the Italian campaign. From the early-model Panzerfaust 30 anti-tank weapons to flash suppressors for your machine guns, and many more besides, there’s a whole bunch of ways to subtly (or not-so-subtly) tweak your existing troops, or inspire a new force. Long-time players will be delighted to learn that Gebirgsjäger now receive the Mountain Warriors special rule (as well they might), while the Forza d’Animo national special rule sees Italian forces become much more aggressive on the tabletop. Generic units such as Chaplains and the frankly terrifying Forward Observer (Super-Heavy) become available to all nations, alongside a selection of equipment and fortifications.
Number of pages: 176
Format: Paperback 242 x 190 mm
Language: English
Author: Robert Vella
Published: 17 Aug 2023
