Oil Crisis Spreads: Sandy Ridge*
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Date: January, 1975*
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Battle Location: Libyan coast beetween Al-Khoums and Tripoli*
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Battle Type: Italian assault vs. Libyan defence*
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Historical fiction: Israel losses Yom Kippur War and is currently occupied with resistance warfare raging. West, seeing the Israeli struggle is not yet over, carries on with airstrikes and weapon supplies for Israel. In response, Arab nations of the OAPEC carry on with oil embargo against both US and Europe. Enjoying major oil crisis, when negotiations fail and Arabs demand complete end of Israeli state. Western World decides to strike against Arab States, forcing them to open their markets... or occupy the oilfields...*
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Observing the success of the Franco-Spanish forces at establishing the beachhead near Algiers and UK and US wins in Arabia with naval assault on Abu Dhabi occuring, Italians are next ones to begin their operations. Italian AO is obviously Libya, its ex-colony and important OAPEC activist.
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Libyan armed forces were greatly undeveloped at that time, its sharp rise started only after Muammar Gaddafi reached for power. For this reason, Italian naval landings are bloodless and easy. Rome decides for "safe variant". Rather than assaulting Tripoli, Tobruk and Misrata directly - what could end up with heavy and unneccesary losses - Italians first deploy on a beachhead and then carry on along the coast, similarly to 1940. Italian task force consists of various formations, mainly heavy ones as lighter "elites" await their support role in key actions of the war.
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Libyans are well aware of the landing. They hastily reorganize their force into something combat capable. Entrechment and fortifications of key cities, particularly Tripoli, are underway. But time must be bought in order to turn the capital into fortress. 
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Strong Libyan task force of mixed units moves and occupies the rigde, located between Tripoli and Al-Khoum, directly opposite to the Italian advance axis. Their objective: hold to the last man and buy a lot of time. Powerful AA formations, including very successful Kub system (SA-6 Gainful) is deployed on the ridge to hinter Italian air cover.
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Italian formations are looking to ignore the defences and drive them around. Yet, GPS is not yet invented and maneuvers in full desert are dangerous. Furthermore, Libyan AA battery is successful at shooting down a few Italian Air Force aircraft. All of these forces the Italian command to order a head-on assault against, what Italians call, Cresta Sabbioso, or Sandy Ridge.
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An armoured task force, made of tank companies of Ariete division and Bersaglieri infantry, is chosen to complete that objective. Regardless of AA cover, air sorties are provided, but do not count on them unless Kubs are disabled.
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Italian advance needs that ridge. Give them that ridge.
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Notes: If played against the AI the human player should take the Italian side.*
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Sources: My imagination*
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Design by: Macin "SaS TrooP" Kaua* 
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