Sicily to Brenner's Pass ( Brian and larry )

[DanNeely]

what're you planning on doing to keep Brian from just flanking both of your MLRs via the center of the island?

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: MikeJ19
Larry,

You might be able to slow him down a bit at the river. At least when you do reset your line it can be a very narrow one. It is hard to really see on the maps above. On the West side, Brian is going to have a rough time. Your defence line can be narrow and deep.

Supply issues are never fun.

All the best,

Mike

I'm sorry I've been posting maps that are hard to see. I'll work on that...better detailed maps
coming up. The good news is that my supply situation is a lot better than Brian's because he's
the one moving into enemy territory and has to build the rails to keep it flowing. On the other
hand I never have to worry about supply unless he cuts off one of my units from it's LOC or
something.

I've flown most of the bombers out of harm's way but I'm still sending fighters to the area and
they DO mix it up with the Allies and they are always tired the turn after and I have to replace
him with a fresh one. I rotate the fighters to keep the fresh ones at the front when possible.

I dare say that I think the proficiency of the Germans is higher than my enemies. That's a good
thing. It's hard sometimes to keep them rested and ready though.

Briam has laid on multiple INT missions and I can't move a unit without it being struck. And there
are losses incurred in the strike. You get to where you don't want to move a unit at all. I wish
I had enough fighters to deal with that. I'll just do the best I can.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely
What're you planning on doing to keep Brian from just flanking both of your MLRs via the center of the island?

I've been moving people into the mountains in his path in turns past and it worked fairly well. I
can watch the border graphic to see if he's sneaking units into my territory and move blockers to
deal with it. I'm thinking I can put people in the mountains easy enough and if I choose the
further edge of the mountains to defend he has to traverse the mountains to get to my units and
supply is very low for him that way. I'm not certain he won't do it but I would have to think
twice about moving into the mountains for an extended period of time. Thanks for the question
DanNeely dude. Keep those good questions coming because it forces me to actually deal with it
when I would ordinarily put it off until just before needed.

[larryfulkerson]

Again this turn Brian attacks on the west and not the east. Although he did move some
British troops up to adjacent to the MLR on the east side. I think he's planning a big
push soon. Brian's INT is murderous. I can't move a unit without it getting struck.
With losses. The idea is not to move anybody unless you really have to.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the condition and mission of the aircraft and I seem to be doing rather well
resting it out and letting the Allies do what they want.

[devoncop]

That is much healthier Larry !

It's tough having to put up with the heavy interdiction unopposed in the deep South but you need those boys to hit him hard when he gets further North when he won't have the airbases to support the same volume of air cover.

I am trying to rest to full strength then intend to put the lot into the air at hopefully a crucial point when the Allies are hopefully complacently resting several units having seen no opposition in the air for multiple turns...

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what the front lines look like after I have moved everybody. Brian is pressing
on the west side and the east side is quiet.

[larryfulkerson]

I got some reinforcements this turn and they are going to need some rest before they
will be combat ready. So I'll park them on the road and let them rest for a bit.
They probably won't make any difference to the game.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the front lines right now. Brian is slowly working his way north and gaining
hexes a couple at time. I'm kind of proud of the defenders of the fallback contingent.
They contained the advance of the Allies, after a fashion, for a lot of turns so far.
It's time they give way and retreat to the MLR and relative safety.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the T103 front lines. I'm being pushed back.

[larryfulkerson]

This turn will be the last one for a couple of hours while Brian is away from his
computer. Usually we can do about four turns per day, not today. I like Brian as
an opponent because he's unusually reliable and keeps me in his loops. Plus, he
plays well.

The Allies pull up adjacent to my west MLR and he pushes further north in the
mountains with the British and curiously no action on the east side. Some movement
of troops. I think he's trying to outflank me by taking the scenic route through
the mountains. The supply situation can't be good for that. Let's watch ans see.

See the way the border graphics kind of bulge northward in the mountains? That's
Brian sneaking northward through the mountains. Supply can't be good for that.
I'd like to know what the supply situation is for him.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the size of my fleet. They are in good condition because I've been keeping
them out of the fight, biding my time when the odds are better. Besides, I'm looking
to build an MLR somewhere further north.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what's going on globally. I'm covering all the ports south of Napoli on the
west and those in the gulf ( Taranto, etc. ), curiously there aren't any on the east
side toward the edge of the map. Works for me. I've got some reserves at Rome but
I'm waiting to see which side needs them before I move them. Plus, Brian's INT is
murderous.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

This turn will be the last one for a couple of hours while Brian is away from his
computer. Usually we can do about four turns per day, not today. I like Brian as
an opponent because he's unusually reliable and keeps me in his loops. Plus, he
plays well.

The Allies pull up adjacent to my west MLR and he pushes further north in the
mountains with the British and curiously no action on the east side. Some movement
of troops. I think he's trying to outflank me by taking the scenic route through
the mountains. The supply situation can't be good for that. Let's watch ans see.

Lousy supply, but if he can work around one of your MLR segments trapping it, or even just trap a quarter of it via interdiction and disengagement penalties when you pull back to avoid being pocketed it'd make for a very cheap advance on his part.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson
The Allies pull up adjacent to my west MLR and he pushes further north in the
mountains with the British and curiously no action on the east side. Some movement
of troops. I think he's trying to outflank me by taking the scenic route through
the mountains. The supply situation can't be good for that. Let's watch ans see.

Lousy supply, but if he can work around one of your MLR segments trapping it, or even just trap a quarter of it via interdiction and disengagement penalties when you pull back to avoid being pocketed it'd make for a very cheap advance on his part.

I think your analysis is grounded in evidence and I think it's valid. I've already started pulling
back the Panzers on the east side. Plus I've driven some units over to the edge of the
mountains. I'm going to try to build a light screen along the mountains to contain most of
what he's got. I'm afraid the rest are going to get throuogh and I'll have to displace
in the face of Brian's INT. That spells losses just moving. I've got to sometime soon start
building another MLR somewhere north. I just don't know where I'm going to need it yet. I
think I have enough people for one more good MLR and that's about it.

[DanNeely]

The river north of Corigliana'd be my first thought, shorter front so you won't have to screen as wide a position, nothing but nasty terrain to its north to prevent a breakout, and far enough to hobble allied supply until the rail gets fixed again.

[devoncop]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

The river north of Corigliana'd be my first thought, shorter front so you won't have to screen as wide a position, nothing but nasty terrain to its north to prevent a breakout, and far enough to hobble allied supply until the rail gets fixed again.

I would second that suggestion. That is actually where my first MLR is set up after my initial beach resistance and Warspite is just fighting there now. I gave him all the territory to the South given the need to preserve air power.

I like your backfield cover and the only difference is I tend to keep artillery units behind the port defences to boost their defence but it's a personal choice whether you have them there or concentrated behind the MLR.

[MikeJ19]

Larry, Dan and Devoncop,

I love the discussion that is going on here. It is really interesting and I am learning a lot.

[larryfulkerson]

Me too.

[larryfulkerson]

New moves from Brian. He's trying to outflank me. Time to go.