Soft White Underbelly

[Smirfy]

"About mid-day, Kesselring telephones me and tells me that we shall probably have to wait three or four days before our large-scale counter-measures begin to get under way. Until then there can be no major shift of developments in our favour."

Joseph Geobbels

A heroic stand by the 4th Br Armoured Brigade prevents any direct assault on the bridgehead, TG 545 suffers massive damage from shore batteries and is forced to withdraw. Patton's attempts to breakout of the Bridgehead are thwarted by German reserves. Ike orders Alexander to bring forward Operation Trent Bridge by a week despite protestations from Dolittle and Coningham that the air plan has not fully been carried out.

[marion61]

You can avoid that mess with the ferry and Reggio by just going around it. You lose a lot of vp's just trying to take those hexes when all you need to do is re-target your TF's on turn one to invade the marked beaches. That's pretty high CV axis unit next to your armored division. I hope you flew them some supply at the end of the turn. Those units in Reggio can cut off that British armored brigade by hitting your armored division that looks pretty weak. If you aren't flying your lead units supply, I'd suggest that you do. You can re-supply them at the end of the turn so they will be ready for axis counter attacks during the axis phase. Just my opinion, I tend to play aggressively.

[Smirfy]

Against a human there would have been no way I would have attempted it. Its just an opportunity that I thought someone like Patton would have exploited and it has the the possibility of demonstrating whether the AI moves excessively or not when the proper invasion goes in

[Smirfy]

"The question is - Just how long can you hang this operation on the end of a limb and let it hang there"

Dwight David Eisenhower


Foul weather or not, Ike decides its a go, the consequences of Patton getting destroyed are too serious to contemplate. A week earlier than planned the Trent Bridge is lauched. Two transports are sunk on the way to the beacheads. They probably decided to go through the only few hexes I dont have numbers in

[Seminole]

Ike orders Alexander to bring forward Operation Trent Bridge by a week despite protestations from Dolittle and Coningham that the air plan has not fully been carried out.

Told you waiting was a bad idea.
Ports can be wrecked in a single turn, and take a long time to bring back online. The cumulative effect of making the Axis use Italian rail to move supplies is worth the losses. Each turn that Naples, Crotone, etc. aren't receiving over 25,000+ tons of freight by sea is a good thing for the Allies. Certainly worth a few bombers.

[Smirfy]

"A withdrawal is a type of military operation, generally meaning retreating forces back while maintaining contact with the enemy. A withdrawal may be undertaken as part of a general retreat, to consolidate forces, to occupy ground that is more easily defended, or to lead the enemy into an ambush."

Wikipedia

Patton is instantly relieved by the twin events of the Italian Armistice and the greatest single feat of staff work, logistics and route marching in Military history.

You guys can decide for yourselves but I think the last move is *excessive* it might be in the rules it might be WAD but to my mind it remains excessive. Even my lively imagination is hard pushed to add a plausible narritive to the move. I hope some compromise can be found between protecting the AI and slightly more immersion. I am throroughly enjoying the game none the less and will continue.

[Smirfy]

ORIGINAL: Seminole

Ike orders Alexander to bring forward Operation Trent Bridge by a week despite protestations from Dolittle and Coningham that the air plan has not fully been carried out.

Told you waiting was a bad idea.
Ports can be wrecked in a single turn, and take a long time to bring back online. The cumulative effect of making the Axis use Italian rail to move supplies is worth the losses. Each turn that Naples, Crotone, etc. aren't receiving over 25,000+ tons of freight by sea is a good thing for the Allies. Certainly worth a few bombers.

Yes I think you are correct now Dollittle is off the leash he is not going back on it. His directive wreck every railyard in Italy!

[Smirfy]

"Above all it was shown individual skill and gallantry without thorough orginization would not prevail"

Wisnton Spencer Churchill


The bloodbath off the coast at Salerno, Naples destroyed Salerno damaged the Luftwaffe emaciated. 9,000 Allied troops perish at sea.

[Smirfy]

Annoying thing that happens in every game. The Garrison here escapes without fail

[Seminole]

Annoying thing that happens in every game. The Garrison here escapes without fail

Was the port destroyed?
Did they get a path out by sea north of the ferries where the control is neutral?

[Smirfy]

ORIGINAL: Seminole

Annoying thing that happens in every game. The Garrison here escapes without fail

Was the port destroyed?
Did they get a path out by sea north of the ferries where the control is neutral?

The Port was not destroyed but they never realistically would have survived the interdiction especially considering the losses I endured. I'm sure it is a loophole that will be closed in upcoming patches