The key attack in Operation Diadem was the French attack on Monte Majo (2123). This hex is one of the most defensible around, making Cassino look like a pushover. It will be seldom that a Europa player tries to emulate the Allied attack on 2123. So how did 5th Army puff it off? They cheated. Twice.

First, the attack on 2123 wasn't really a river crossing. The British X Corps had secured a bridgehead over the Garigliano at Minturno in January. They secured about a quarter of the hex, but not enough to own it given the configuration of Map 26. The Diadem attack was launched out of this bridgehead. Although a river so close to the backs of 5th Army certainly made for inconveniences historically, it didn't cut their attack potential in half.

Second, the Allies grossly violated the Europa stacking rules and got away with it. They ignored the mountain stacking restrictions, attacking hex 2123 with two US and three French divisions from hexes 2122 and 2222 (3rd Alg was in overstack). What's worse, they also attacked Monte Cassino from hex 2122 with the British 4th and Indian 8th Divisions (78th Division staying in overstack). They probably also paid no attention to the restriction on artillery divisions in mountains and used one or more of the 8-7-8 British artillery groups. At least the Polish attack from 2021 stayed within the stacking rules. It's that kind of rules bending that can really make a successful operation!

A fatal flaw in Europa? Not really--can you play a game of SF and get every rule right? But it is something to ponder. The SF overstack rules liberalize stacking, but do not increase attack ability. The stacking rules work fine for typical mobile operations, but can be a minor problem in major fixed assaults. Rick Gayler pointed this out in describing the "Battle of Kiev" scenario (TEM #34), where the Soviets were able to cram lots of units into their Dnepr bridgehead-and attack with them. There have been various proposals for better simulating major offensives in Europa. One way to implement this might be through a clever variation of the stacking rules.

The Germans had their turn at playing fast and loose with the rules on their Jun I turn. Some of their 10th Army units were somehow, in one turn, able to extricate themselves from enemy ZOCs, cross at least two mountain hexes and a couple of other hexes to form a new delaying line. And this with only a movement allowance of six. What overachievers! My opinion is that the Allied player must have been in the kitchen, raiding the refrigerator. You can't trust the Nazis.

Battle for Rome Operation Diadem: May - June, 1944

Europa Scenario
Order of Battle: Allies
Order of Battle: Axis
Designer Notes
Playtest Report Charts (very slow: 343K)
Europa as History: Battle of Rome
Playing for Real? Cheat!
Civitavecchia: Smile When You Say That
Play Aid Charts