Sicily to Brenner Pass Revised

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the strategic situation in T10:

[larryfulkerson]

Here's T12's situation in the East. I'm doing arty strikes because there are AA units in the stacks and I don't want to hit them from the
air in that case. Arty is working just fine, just slower.

[larryfulkerson]

Still trying to sack Messina in T14. I think I'm getting close now. It's going to fall soon.

[larryfulkerson]

It's T16 and I still don't have Messina. I keep eliminating all but a tiny bit of the enemy in Messina and Elmer keeps sailing more and more
units into Messina. They sail in, move to the front, die and are carried away by others. And still they come. It's either fight them here
on the mainland. I'd rather fight them on the mainland.

[larryfulkerson]

OK. Finally in T17 I captured Messina. And now at the beginning of T18 I see this screen. It mentions that the 9th US Div is going to
withdraw in 2 turns but I'm pretty sure there is no 9th Division in play. I couldn't find it in the OOB. Somebody might want to look at that.

[FrankieITA]

9th US Division comes to the scenario when you conquer Palermo. It's actually scheduled for deployement before you can actually control the pop-up point, therefore it keeps getting procrastined till you get there. It's the same for other forces late during the scenario, so be sure to always check the pop-up location.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Western end of the island and I'm in mop up operations, sweeping up all the remnants. Most of them are surrendering
rather than fight. But they have to pretend like they are defending so they shoot a few rounds and throw down their rifles and raise
their hands. It's slow and tedius but somebody has to do it.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: frankieITA
9th US Division comes to the scenario when you conquer Palermo. It's actually scheduled for deployement before you can actually control the pop-up point, therefore it keeps getting procrastined till you get there. It's the same for other forces late during the scenario, so be sure to always check the pop-up location.

Oh. OK. That explains a lot. Thank you frankieITA dude. I was wondering about that. Also, in T18 I struck some Axis planes on the
mainland w/ my arty in Messina and it evaporated. and now in T19 I'm seeing a news item about me invading the mainland. I haven't
yet. so Hm.......

[larryfulkerson]

OK. It's T19 and I've been moving units and NOW I've invaded the mainland. I've gotten just enough units ashore to hold it for a turn
or two but they are going to need some back up soon because the Germans are going to react.

[larryfulkerson]

I hammered the Axis unit(s) at Reggio w/ my arty for a couple of combat rounds and then T19 ended and here it is T20 and I'm finally
assaulting the hex. I expect it to fall easily now. I landed some more units further north and now I need to connect the two so there will
be supply at the new site.

[Zovs]

Larry in my AAR or my game, I had no enemy units left on Sicily on T19. It did take me till turn 18 to get Messina, but I had previously wiped out all the units on the western end of the Island.

Does Italy surrender as soon as you land on mainland Italy? If so all I got in port is the Canadian Armor Brigade so I may just land and see what happens ... lol.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: dlazov66
Larry in my AAR or my game, I had no enemy units left on Sicily on T19. It did take me till turn 18 to get Messina, but I had previously wiped out all the units on the western end of the Island.

You did good. That's about right as I see it. The actual positions that the Allies have at the beginning of T1 aren't the best and
the Germans have all kinds of units nearby to hassle the Allies. It's exciting at the beginning.

ORIGINAL: dlazov66
Does Italy surrender as soon as you land on mainland Italy?

I think it's supposed to. I did an arty strike on some German units on the mainland from Messina, Sicily and the next turn I got a news
string that I have invaded the mainland. So you know as much about it as I do.

ORIGINAL: dlazov66
If so all I got in port is the Canadian Armor Brigade so I may just land and see what happens ... lol.

You might want to do a save game just before you do. The Germans might just react to your landing. Also, look up a good place
to land by looking for supply points and the hexes that your expected reinforcements will spawn in. Good hunting.

[larryfulkerson]

I did some more landings just north of San Marco. I'm thinking I can connect that new area w/ the old one before the new one runs out
of supply(s). I'm looking at Taranto also. It's about time for that area to be mine.

[larryfulkerson]

It T23 and I landed some paratroopers at Taranto and captured the supply point and the port and even grabbed an airfield.

[larryfulkerson]

A partisan spawned in Rome itself so I used it to bust some bridges. Elmer will probably fix them.

[Zovs]

Larry thanks for the tips:

. Also, look up a good place
to land by looking for supply points and the hexes that your expected reinforcements will spawn in. Good hunting.

Its been a long while since I have done any landings, is it just at ports or can I land at beaches I forgot.

Thanks, you are inspiring and this is a freaking blast to play for some reason...

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: dlazov66
Larry thanks for the tips:

. Also, look up a good place
to land by looking for supply points and the hexes that your expected reinforcements will spawn in. Good hunting.

Its been a long while since I have done any landings, is it just at ports or can I land at beaches I forgot.

Thanks, you are inspiring and this is a freaking blast to play for some reason...

Um....I've been landing at ports for the most part. I haven't been able to find any invasion "beaches" and speaking about beaches
you are aware of the trick about landing at non-port hexes right: move to the spot where you want to walk ashore and stop there then
the NEXT turn unembark and just walk ashore. I've been doing that at cities that I own, to simulate landing at ports that have just a
simple pier and lighters to unload ships.

And Yes, it's a blast to play this thing. This is my fourth time through the scenario and I'm beginning to learn where to go and what to
do and it's getting easier to play this thing. The map is beautiful and the scenario is really fun to play.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the strategic situation in T24:

[larryfulkerson]

I had a meeting engagement w/ a German mechanized formation and even w/ all kinds of Rifle squads and tanks my air power saved the
day yet again. This is how much air power is really helping.

[larryfulkerson]

I dropped some paratroopers NW of Taranto. I didn't split up the unit into three's like I should have and I dropped in the blind which
argues that small units are better for drops in the blind but I did the lazy risky thing and dropped the whole unit and I lucked out this time
because there was a German unit nearby and if it had been one hex closer to my origin then there might have been a disaster where
the whole unit evaporates. Which is why it is a better idea to split the unit and send the smaller one first.