Box Contents

The Lions of the Folgore – Italian Paracadutisti Starter Army is a mix of plastic and resin models containing:

• x7 Italian Paracadutisti sprues (42 Infantry) – Plastic
• Platoon Commander – Resin
• x2 MMG Teams – Resin
• Medium Mortar Team – Resin
• Autoblinda 41 Armored Car – Plastic
• M13/40 Medium Tank / Demoventra 75/18 – Plastic

The Nembo Arditi List

Breakdown

(x) denotes a vehicle-mounted weapon.

Notes and Analysis

The objective of this list is two-part: 1) use as much of the Starter Army as possible, and 2) make a List that works at a competitive level. Please keep in mind, this List was written using only the contents of the Starter Army.

If Armies of Italy: Third Edition wasn’t enough, Warlord also released a new plastic infantry kit, the Paracadutisti Platoon. Both as a box of 30 infantry and as a part of the Lions of the Folgore – Italian Paracadutisti Starter Army. The Starter Army is the focus of our discussion today. This particular Army List uses 32 of the 42 Infantry, all three Heavy Weapons, and both Vehicles. The list clocks in at 11 Order Dice, which may seem on the low end for 1,100pts, but keep in mind, every unit is Vet. Vehicles included. We have a solid core of four Vet Infantry Units – two Nembo Paracadutisti and two X Arditi (using the alternate beret-wearing heads). I’ve also added Avanti! (Paracadutisti) to every unit with the option to take it. Thus, not only do you have 11 Vet units, 7 of those units are Stubborn. This force will be exceedingly difficult to shift once you get dug in.


Let’s break it down, starting with the Rifle Platoon. The Platoon Commander has three buddies, all with SMGs. This PC is meant to hang out in Outflank with the two squads of X Arditi. The Arditi are both seven-strong, all with SMGs. You won’t have any trouble bringing these units in from Outflank – the PC boosts their own Morale, and the Arditi have Behind Enemy Lines. You want them waiting in the wings, ready to swoop in from the short table edge and unload 14 SMG shots per squad at point-blank range. The PC can clean up anything remaining with its own eight SMG shots. But all of that is Outflank options, what about the units on the table at the start of the game? For that, you have two squads of Nembo Paracadutisti, each with six Rifles and an LMG. These Stubborn Vets will do just fine without PC support and should be used to harass enemy Infantry at range. Pin them down and wait for the Arditi to arrive.

Of course, two squads of seven Vets are hardly enough to keep an entire enemy force at bay. And that brings us to the Heavy Weapons Platoon. A lone Platoon Commander with a Pistol (we gotta use that fantastic resin model) leading two MMG Teams and a Medium Mortar. All four of these units have Avanti! (Paracadutisti) both to keep the theme going and to make sure your Support Teams don’t flee the field. Get these small, three-man units into cover and lay down some suppressing fire. You need to fix the enemy infantry in place to allow your Arditi the chance to deal significant damage.

And finally, we have the Armored Platoon with two classic Italian AFVs: the Autoblinda 41 and the M13/40. The plastic M13/40 kit can also be assembled as a Semovente 75/18 if you’d rather have the SPG, but you will need to find 25pts to make the swap. The Autoblinda is the Command Vehicle as it is more likely to be held in Reserve and/or out on a solo mission down a deep flank. I’ve had an Autoblinda as a 1+ pick with my Italians for years, and I never regret bringing that little speed demon to a game. The turret Light Autocannon always seems to punch above its weight, and the wheeled + Recce combo gives you an insane amount of maneuverability. Armor 8 is no worries if no one can draw a line of sight. Our second vehicle is the classic M13/40 “Medium” Tank. I put “Medium” in quotes as it only has Armor 8, but at just 150pts Vet, it’s hard to complain. The Light AT Gun is your only true, dedicated AT asset, so protect it. But it’s much more fun to use the coax MMG and rip nine MMG shots instead. If only it had Buzzsaw … You won’t be going anywhere fast, the Tank has Slow, but with Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts, you’ll be able to keep on rolling despite a few Pins. Just do what you can to keep your front towards the enemy. Vulnerable + Armor 8 is a real issue if you get hit in the side.

The glaring weakness is your lack of AT. The Light AT Gun on the M13 is hardly enough to stop anything over Armor 9, and the Light AC on the Autoblinda caps out at Pen +2. There is always the option to drop a Med. Mortar shell on enemy armor, but it’s hardly a dependable strategy. You’ll have to creatively problem-solve if you run into Heavy Armor; don’t let that stop you from slapping down all these Vets.

I like this Starter Army. I like the options included in the Paracadutisti box. It’s hard to describe, but there is a certain swag to this box. But that could just be my love for Armies of Italy. Whatever the reason, this will be a fun Army List to get on the table!

What’s Next?

Thoughts and musings on where to go from here:

• Add AT – As mentioned, the biggest weakness is a lack of AT. Get yourself some Rapid Fire AT Rifles, Light AT Guns that re-roll their Morale Tests, or some Mountain Gun Howitzers. You have many viable options, including, if you really want to go wild, swapping the Nembo Paracadutisti to Folgore and arming them with 3pt Anti-tank Grenades. Remember, those Folgore get to re-roll misses against vehicles in close quarters.
• Transports – Even with the Autoblinda, this force needs some additional speed. A Transport for one of the Arditi units would provide additional options for missions that don’t allow Outflanking. Sadly, there is no way to get Behind Enemy Lines onto a Transport for Italy, so consider putting the solo Platoon Commander aboard as well to make sure the bus arrives on time.

– Andrew