Santa Maria Infante: On the Road to Rome 1944 (2004)

From the publisher website:

SANTA MARIA INFANTE—ON THE ROAD TO ROME 1944 is a detailed new ATS system game that tells the story of the Battle for Rome from the perspective of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Division, the American soldiers tasked with cracking the mighty Gustav Line. Their mission was to break the German stranglehold on the ‘Mount Bracchi Triangle’, a wedge of hills dominated by enemy spandaus and mortars and open the road to Rome. The fight would be slow and bloody, with each German machine-gun nest needing to be eradicated before the next leap of a few yards forward could be accomplished. The rolling countryside and even slopes afforded Nazi soldiers superb positions from which to site their weapons and rain murderous fire on anything that moved.

IN EACH GAME YOU GET:

* A complete collection of color die-cut counters in 1/2”, 5/8” and 3/4” sizes, representing the tanks, guns, and infantry that fought in the Battle of Italy in 1944;
* A gorgeous new 22” x 34” map on heavyweight stock—the Italian terrain of the Bracchi Hills region—cartography never modeled in a wargame before;
* Complete 2nd Edition rules of play with examples of play;
* Scenarios and Play Aids printed on separate heavyweight cards;
* Two ten-sided dice.

Microbadges :

• Advanced Tobruk System fan
• Advanced Tobruk System fan
• Advanced Tobruk System fan

More information from the publisher:

The boxed ATS product SANTA MARIA INFANTE was surprisingly popular, considering the dearth of titles set during the Italian Campaign of World War II. It's unique draw may have been based on the ideal setting the battle represents for the study of small unit tactics. Or the topography of the map, a lone road atop a ridge...one the Americans must move along to reach the town the game is named after. Maybe it was simply the fact that this is a Ray Tapio game design from top to bottom...okay, we vote for the map and interesting battle!

No matter the reason, tactical-level gaming has had few studies that play out in a manner which recognizes correct platoon/squad tactics and rewards the expert player...like SANTA MARIA INFANTE.

This is no simplistic, cartoonish game. You'll need to make the investment in time, utilize the ATS game engine, especially the infantry and terrain portions, to the fullest. You'll best be an intelligent, canny student of military history, we'll leave the 'beer and pretzels' to those other guys. You are serious and so are we and the battlefield of SANTA MARIA INFANTE calls you to arms.

ATS SANTA MARIA INFANTE contains:
1x complete collection of color die-cut counters in 1/2”, 5/8” and 3/4” sizes, representing the tanks, guns, and infantry that fought in the battle;
1x 24” x 36” map on heavyweight stock;
1x latest edition of the ATS rules of play;
12x Scenarios and a complete set of Play Aids printed on separate heavyweight cards;
1x Battlefield Walkaround booklet;
2x ten-sided dice.

THIS IS A COMPLETE GAME. NOTHING MORE NEEDS TO BE PURCHASED.