From Salerno to Rome: World War II – The Italian Campaign, 1943-1944 (2020)

From Salerno to Rome allows you to simulate the first ten months of the military campaign in Italy during WW2, from the landing in Salerno (September ’43) to the liberation of Rome (June ’44). The game starts with the American 5th army that has just landed in Salerno and the British 8th army advancing in Apulia, while the Axis powers gather their forces to hit with a powerful counter-offensive one of the two allied armies…

The game enables you to fight the battles that took place in Italy from September ’43 to May ’44: Salerno, Cassino, Anzio, Ortona…

WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

• Two maps (56,2 x 86,2 cm / 22x34 inch), depicting the Italian peninsula from Salerno to Rome
• 576 counters (3 countersheets - 192 counters per sheet)
• Rulebook (24 pages - A4 size) with example of play
• 7 charts & tables
• Tanks and Aircraft booklet (8 pages - A5 size)

SCENARIOS

• Ortona - The shortest scenario of all; the 8th Army crosses the Sangro river and engages a fight at Ortona, defended by the Green Devils of the German 1st parachute division. 1 Map - 1 turn

• Salerno - The landing of the 5th Army. 1 Map - 2 turns

• Anzio - The Shingle Operation and the bloody battles of Cassino. 1 Map - 2 turns

• Diadem - The breakthrough of the Gustav line and the entry into Rome. 1 Map - 2 turns

• The Kesselring’s Option: Foggia Counterattack - A hypothetical scenario, yet absolutely plausible: The 2nd SS Panzerkorps counterattacks in an attempt to reconquer Foggia and its precious airports. 1 Map - 2 turns

• The Campaign Game - The whole campaign, from the landing in Salerno to the conquest of Rome. The longest game! 2 Maps - 10 turns

GAME SCALE

Time Scale: 1 turn = 1 month, turns subdivided in impulses.
Unit scale: Brigade (Commonwealth infantry), regiments (German, US & French infantry), battalions (German PanzerGrenadier), groups of 15-30 tank
Map Scale: 1 hex = 5 Km
Number of Players: Two
Playing Time: 2 hours for the shortest scenario, Ortona. 6-12 hours for the entire campaign
Complexity: 3 out of 5
Solitaire Suitability: 2,5 out 5

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HOW TO PLAY

The game lasts 10 turns, each representing one month. Each turn is divided in a varying number of impulses, during which both players always have the opportunity to react to their opponent’s moves, alternating within an extremely flexible game structure.

When a turn starts, each player gets a certain amount of activation points he can use to put under command his forces during impulses. These formations, single divisions or whole army corps, once activated, can move and fight, move strategically in a different sector, can be put in reserve and so on.

​Activation points can also be used for other operations: air cover, landings, strengthening defensive lines, recon, ULTRA, etc.

Artillery has a very important role in the game; it can perform various missions: bombardment, interdiction, tactical support. Aircraft perform the same kind of missions too, but with a much longer range.

The activation point system creates great uncertainty in the game, so every game plays out differently: players must carefully plan their strategy and constantly make fundamental decisions. It is a game of great tension and depth, where desperate counter-attacks alternate with strategic surprises; the attention of players must always be constant.

Other detailed rules cover: combat, breakthroughs, artillery, reserves, reinforcements, replacements, naval support, supply in mountainous terrain and flat land and, of course, victory conditions.

HOW TO WIN

The German player has obviously a chance to win the game right away if he manages to repel the US 5th Army in Salerno.

If the German player does not win, the game goes on, and the Allies must conquer Rome, trying to eliminate the armies of the Axis powers, in order to win. The Axis wins if the Allies do not reach their victory conditions or if, in any moment, the losses for the Allies go over a certain level. 'The Kesserling’s Option' variant changes the game completely, giving back the initiative to the Axis player and changing the victory conditions again.

(description from the publisher and BGG user)