Assault Sicily 43 - Primosole Bridge

From the Publisher:

The highly acclaimed ASSAULT GAME SERIES, with its fresh tactical combat system, gives you the opportunity to fight as the German or British paratroopers at Primosole Bridge.

13th July 1943, Simeto River, not far from the east coast of Sicily.

On the night of 13 July, the paratroopers of the British 1st Airborne Division jumped behind enemy lines to secure the Primosole Bridge, protect it from counterattacks and destruction and cut off the German troops who were further south. In response, German paratroopers launched an ad hoc counterattack. The battle for the Primosole Bridge had begun.

The battle for this bridge would be decisive in determining the advance of the British troops on their way to Messina. Which side would prevail?

Primosole Bridge is a campaign expansion for Assault Sicily 43 and simulates the British operation Fustian and the air landings around the bridge over the Simeto river in July 1943. This operation led to four fighting days of intense fighting between the British Red Devils and the German Green Devils. You have the opportunity to replay a battle where deadly combat took place over every metre, as both sides fought to gain control over this vital river crossing. Play a single battle or dive into its extensive dynamic campaign.

The Primosole Bridge expansion offers you intense tactical battles, but also a great selection of historical units, providing you with a unique gaming experience. Combine the units of this expansion with Gela Beachhead and no game will be the same as it infinitely increases its replay value. The unique dice system specially developed for this game system ensures fast and action-packed gameplay. Know the strengths and weaknesses of your units and use them wisely to decide the battle in your favour.

This is a game by wargamers for wargamers. A wargame that tells stories

Game Components:

• Two factions: British Army, German Paratroopers and Service Troops
• Six double sided geomorphic maps
• 240 unit counters
• Campaign Book with 19 scenarios individual playable or as dynamic campaign „Primosole Bridge“
• 31 different types of unit cards
• 19 Command cards
• 13 Tactical cards
• 53 Formation cards
• 24 Tactical air and off-board artillery cards
• Deluxe inlay for game components

Game Info:

Designer: Wolfgang Klein, Erich Rankl
Artist(s): Michael Grillenberger, Marc von Martial, Wouter Schoutetten
Art Direction: Marc von Martial

Hist. period: World War 2
Game length: 60 – 180 minutes+
Players: 1 – 4 players
Age: 14+ years
Complexity: 6 / 10
Solitaire: yes 7 / 10

Expansion: ownership of "Assault Sicily 43 - Gela Beachhead" is required

Assault Sicily '43 – Primosole Bridge drop-zones players straight into Operation Fustian, one of the most fiercely contested airborne operations of the Second World War. On the blistering night of July 13, 1943, the British 1st Airborne Division jumped behind Axis lines with a singular, vital objective: capture and hold the bridge spanning the Simeto River south of Catania. Securing this choke point meant unlocking the path for the British Eighth Army's armor to punch through to Messina. However, a ferocious, impromptu drop by Germany's elite paratroopers turned the landscape into a deadly, multi-day grinding match. This tactical simulation allows you to command these legendary "Red Devils" and "Green Devils" in an intense, meter-by-meter slugfest.

Core Gameplay and Major Mechanics

The design philosophy behind the Assault Game System focuses on cutting away the rules-bloat often found in company-level tactical wargames, substituting tedious math with smart card and component integration. The game shines by introducing several core mechanisms that disrupt typical hex-and-counter conventions:

• Variable Formation Cards: You do not receive a rigid, pre-set Order of Battle. Instead, players draw Formation Cards that randomize your exact available platoons and command point allowances within historical parameters. You have to adapt your strategy on the fly based on the specific reinforcement hand you are dealt.
• Command Point Allocation: Optional rules introduce an activation economy. Your leadership points generally allow you to activate roughly 75% of your total board presence each turn, forcing tight prioritization, keeping movement fast, and minimizing player downtime.
• Dynamic Custom Dice Combat: A streamlined combat dice mechanic keeps the fire resolution quick and chaotic, simulating the frantic nature of close-quarters skirmishes without forcing players to hunt through pages of dense Combat Results Tables.
• Persistent Campaign Play: The system includes six double-sided geomorphic maps and 240 beautifully illustrated unit counters, driving 19 separate scenarios. These can be digested as standalone tactical puzzles or linked into a fully fluid, dynamic campaign framework where past unit casualties and positioning directly shape your next battle layout.

Solo System and Interconnected Play

For the lone commander, the Assault Game System features open board state designs that adapt naturally to solitaire wargaming. Because force compositions are partially randomized via the cards, solo players face continuous tactical surprises even when operating both factions. Furthermore, this system is deeply compatible with the Gela Beachhead base package, allowing you to combine unit assets and maps for a sprawling, highly customized strategic sandbox.

BOARDGAMEGENERAL ADVICE

The crew here at Boardgamegeneral has a massive soft spot for the production standards Sound of Drums consistently brings to market, and Primosole Bridge is no exception. Inside the box, you’re greeted with thick geomorphic map tiles, crisp typography, custom component inserts, and extensive tactical aid cards that completely replace the need for constant rulebook flipping.

This expansion is tailor-made for intermediate wargamers who already own Gela Beachhead and want to elevate their tactical combat into an intense, paratrooper-focused skirmish game. If you are a fan of systems like Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) Starter Kits, Combat Commander, or Lock 'n Load Tactical, you will immediately lock into the close-quarters friction present here.

Its primary strength lies in the Formation Cards, which completely break memory-based play; you can play the exact same scenario three times and face a completely different tactical challenge due to the shifting force pools. The combat resolution is fast, bloody, and satisfyingly modern.

Verdict: An absolutely stellar tactical expansion module that introduces elite asymmetric forces and incredible narrative continuity. A must-buy addition for any fan of the Assault system.