Jul / Aug 1942 - 6 impulses played
The W.Allies gain the initiative, without even having to reroll.
The disembowled front of the Axis in Marocco shivers and braces for impact.
The USAAF begins preliminary air strike with the escort of one of their two fighters in the zone - the Lightning. The Axis decline to intercept the tactical bomber going on the Rome MIL unit - which is untouched by the attack.
The USA takes a land option and UK naval. The Royal Navy appears in force to bombard Tangiers meanwhile the Yanks assault it via land. There is a puny GARR-Div!
US infantry corps also flanks the Axis defenders and jump on the lonely SS Division.
Though meanwhile the Allies, confident of their supremacy, invest little in the air support, the Axis goes all out, sending two bombers per combat to try to inflict as many ground losses as they can to the W.Allies. The W.Allies elect to let the bombers pass without interferences for Tangiers and issue - having only 1 remaining fighter in the area against 4 of the Axis.
The combats do not go well for the W.Allies. They rolled 2 against Tangiers - tallying a 13! (They could have rolled 3 or passed the fractional, a 14 would have been
juicy! With a MECH; MAR and Mot-ART!).
The SS-Division gave hell to the two infantry corps attacking, bringing one down - and the other, disrupted, by advancing would have cut itself off. Aware of the failure of the attack at Tangiers the US troops hold their position.
The Axis begins to rivlet troops down reinforcing Tangiers and the Italians lift from homeland two INFs, but lack the ability to debark them yet.
In the while the Gabbiano takes off with order to intercept the enemy task forces (The 3 Box one had carriers and air cover, but the 2 Box group was devoid of any air cover!). With the Gabbiano sitting at the 4 box, it would find at 50%; meanwhile the RN could find it at 40%. A calculated risk.
Both forces find each other, and the Gabbiano finds itself swarmed by Allied fighters going in for the kill! (+6 / -5 combat!). The W.Allied shot the Gabbiano down without remorse; but at the same time the Gabbiano manages to gun down an US FTR that was providing additional air cover to the carriers and transports.
The US moves in against the Rome MIL unit. The Axis fuels in more of their airplanes, the 7 strong Stuka and the 3 strong Do217; escorted by an Italian Bf109. The Hellcat feels this is its moment of glory and scrambles to intercept. Italian artillery as well fire in support from the mountains - ensuring 3 combat factors will aid the Italian Militia.
The Air Combat here sees the Italian pilots managing to swiftly kick the rear of the Hellcats - gunning them down meanwhile the Hellcats invite back home the Stuka (I preferred to have the Stuka in front, despite being stronger in ground support, it's cheaper and quicker to replace than a LND3).
To the land attack a mix of US and UK forces took part, Alexander giving direct support. The fight turns into a +5.8 after the MIL from 10 went to 16 combat value. The Allies tally a 13, remaining blocked with their entire frontline areas; and having spent already Nimitz for reorganization, only Clark remains.
The Axis draw a breath of relief as the USA wave has been temporarily stopped, and slowly Axis forces pour in, to establish a stronger perimeter.
Minor interference from W.Allied planes achieve nothing. A first bombing raid on Madrid also from Liberator strategic bombers fails.
