Adventures in Italy

[devoncop]

One thing that gives me some cause for optimism (and I need some positives at the minute !) is that we shortly hit October and then into winter when hopefully, given the previous details about the effect of weather on airstrikes will hopefully make Larry's huge air power slightly less horrendous [:)]

[devoncop]

27th September 1944

This turn the 91st US Division, evidently having had a huge morale boost with the arrival of Gen Clark along with 6th South African armoured Division have pushed back the Panzer Grenadiers and Marine Infantry holding the right of the Savona Line and are now almost past the area protecting the Germans through having the Alps covering their right flank...this is worrying.

To add to the worries the fresh British 78th Division has been spotted travelling East from Toulon to the front line...Jodl has promised fresh forces shortly...but belief in Berlin's promises is wearing thin....

The turn is spent with more bullying of the German Flak batteries by Allied bombers and the harassing fire of German artillery on Allied lines in France.

The Savona Line has now held more or less for 6 long weeks...Better than hoped for....but as yet not as long as needed [;)]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like from 50,000 feet. The rail is north of Rome now and the
supply levels are slightly better and the units are moving a little bit more north.
On the east side the mop up has concluded and now the units don't have enough supply
to move and still have about 50% supply when they get there. It is hoped that the
supply level will increase with the repair of the rail through the mountains.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's all the attacking I did this turn. I dropped about three bridges and destroyed
some German equipment and I owe the air power for most of the kills. If it weren't for
the air force I couldn't win this war.

[devoncop]

1st October 1944

Another month scrapes by.....it is probably racing by for Larry but when you are trying to run down the clock time seems to stand still [:)]

Once again Larry assaulted and captured the hex north west of Savona and once again a German counter attack won it back but fatigue and attrition levels are growing.

Next turn is very important for the German defence on the border in the short term and all forces are asked to dig deep and hold back the tide a while longer. It is gratifying to see the railhead in central Italy so far south as my experience retreating through the central "badlands" is that Larry will find supply a killer.

I got hit hard trying to move troops by rail this turn and a Turkish regimental HQ was obliterated trying to reach the fighting.. This was doubly annoying as I am particularly short of artillery capable units.

[devoncop]

4th October 1944

More attacks by the London Brigade of British 56th Division and 11th Brigade of 78th Division on the area won back by the German counter attack last turn. Again the attacks were beaten back and in the series of attacks on the Savona Line the Allies lost over 80 Infantry and Engineer squads supplemented by a further 30 or so from German artillery during my turn. this is the first turn for several weeks where losses to both sides have been where they are acceptable to German High Command.

It was vital the Savona Line was held until last turn as a relatively strong Division, the 148th was due to arrive in the area and it would have made a big difference had the allies overrun the ground. In the context of the whole Campaign it means little but in the dire circumstances on the border at present it was really important.

I am confident I am going to be facing more attacks from fresh Divisions as Larry has stated the British 46th is fairly battered by all the fighting and he will be bringing up new troops to replace them.

[devoncop]

8th October 1944

The remainder of the 148th infantry Division arrives at Savona as it survives more attacks along the line. The same god forsaken stretch of ground to the north west of the town changes hands again as Larry takes it and the Germans again counter attack and take it back.....[X(] There must be some secret gold or something in the area ! Additional Panzer units are needed however as the KG Hudel is now really struggling for men and machines so a regiment of 26th Panzer is sent towards the front.

Once again German artillery manages to get multiple rounds at the Allies and this time they focus on Allied heavy guns. By the turn end the Allies have had nearly 100 heavy guns destroyed. If only planes could be reached in the same way.......

The situation is unchanged in the mountains way in the north with German artillery the only activity as the Allies sort out supply issues.

I get reports that Allied troops from Rome have advanced north and recon elements may be approaching Florence.

[larryfulkerson]

Supply is finally starting to show up around Grenoble. As soon as the rail gets
extended a little more I can start a campaign.

The fighting in the east has gutted a couple of British divisions and there's no
more to send so I'm going to have to send the US 1st Armor Div instead. CCR has
to rest a lot first but I'll park him where the supply is good and he'll be okay
in about three turns or so.

I guess the tired British division needs some rest near Toulon where the supply
is good. I'm thinking of shipping them back to Rome. They were damaged that bad.

[MikeJ19]

Ian,

You are doing great in your defence. I'm impressed at how well you have managed to slow down Larry's advance.

Great job in destroying Larry's artillery, though as a gunner I only like counter battery fire done by my side!

[devoncop]

ORIGINAL: MikeJ19

Ian,

You are doing great in your defence. I'm impressed at how well you have managed to slow down Larry's advance.

Great job in destroying Larry's artillery, though as a gunner I only like counter battery fire done by my side!

Cheers Mike !

I have been very lucky recently with replacement timings and certain combat results.....it won't last ! [:)]


Though please don't let me give you the impression Larry's artillery has been taken out !

The losses I caused last turn amounted to only about 20% of what I could see..... split amongst two stacks near Savona.....Unfortunately he has plenty left ! It was nonetheless good news ....what he hasn't got can't increase the carnage on my boys[:)]

You will know much better than me the effect of all those guns on my battered lines !

[devoncop]

11th October 1944

There was peace in the valleys and mountains of Italy as Larry bombed a single bridge in the far north .............and promptly failed a proficiency check[:D]

German artillery also took things relatively easy as some redeployments were needed...There was some light bombardment of a reasonable quantity of artillery in what looked like a Brazilian unit in the Central area of the Alps way north of Savona where the mountain passes will soon come under serious pressure I think.

A single German fighter squadron arrived as a reinforcement, found itself very lonely and was advised to take out immediate life insurance.......[:(]

[devoncop]

15th October 1944

Normal service is resumed as Larry launches successful attacks against the north western end of the Savona line with US and South African light armour with usual artillery and heavy CAS. The line again bends but just avoids breaking but losses are heavy.

A recon in force from the Gothic line in the centre comes across a US recon unit pushing towards the line, semmingly aiming for Florence and so the way is blocked to gain a couple more precious turns delay.


Grenoble finally falls. The battalion of the Monte Rosa battalion as a garrison that was isolated and holding the city in the far north west had done all that was asked of them and more so no complaints. This means I can expect supply to improve markedly to Allied troops trying to force the passes so that will cause further problems north of Savona. Units from Milan are despatched to try and support the troops blocking the passes.

Larry informs me his airforce are getting tired............to which my response would be that however tired they are they cannot feel a fraction of the tiredness felt by those unfortunates subjected to their incessant bombing[;)]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what most of it looks like in T134. Rhw advance has run into some German
defenders south of Florence and the supply level is too low to do anything about
them. I can bomb them from the air but that's about it so far. Attacks are
scheduled at Savona where the Allies are going to try to break the German line
yet again. I've railed in a fresh division and I'm going to try to replace the
British Division because they have been gutted by the fighting lately.

Broken bridges are slowing me down in the middle sector. But I'm getting them
repaired and the advance is advancing slowly. It's going to take the rest of
the game to get these guys up to the fighting in France. Actually they are just
over the border in Italy to be nit picky about it. I've got quite a few planes
resting this turn. The INT bombers have been flying direct attacks and a few of
them aren't dark green anymore but more pastel green and right on the border of
turning yellow. They start the turn green but turn yellow during the turn after just
one mission. That tired.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the Grenoble area right now. I've only just captured the city and grabbed the
supply point and now the area is flooded in supply so it looks like the area is primed
for an advance to the east.

[UP844]

Ian and Larry, this is a great AAR, I'm always looking at new posts! [&o].

In my opinion, the scenario has a some serious weaknesses:
- the lack of a continuous railway line along the Adriatic (east) coast of Italy greatly affects the supply there. Actually, the British were never especially affected by supply shortages. In fact, they managed to continue their advance, even though at a slow pace, until late '44, whrn they stopped to prepare the final spring offensive.
- in many places, the terrain is much less rough than it should be. In the North-West, both along the coast of France and Italy (up to la Spezia) and in the interior, as I reported earlier, there is no coastal plain at all. The Germans managed to fight many successful delaying actions against the British along the Adriatic Coast, which has much broader coastal plains and lower hills. The Allies never seriously attempted an attack from France into Northern Italy because there were very few roads and the terrain (mountains up to 10,000 ft) was very favourable for the defender. Only in April 1945 a few French units advanced to Aosta when the Allied were already running wild in the Po valley plain.
- the lack of naval units, which played a significant (even though a bit overestimated) role in beating German counterattacks at Gela, Salerno and Anzio. With no such support, a landing at Salerno means suicide, so the Allied are forced to land at the tip of the boot, and the Germans can easily slow them on a short front.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: UP844
Ian and Larry, this is a great AAR, I'm always looking at new posts! [&o].

Well, thanks for the kind words. It's all Ian's production of the running battle reports
that he gives us. I like the details and background he provides. I'm pretty good at pictures
but I'm no poet.

ORIGINAL: UP844
In my opinion, the scenario has a some serious weaknesses:
- the lack of a continuous railway line along the Adriatic (east) coast of Italy greatly affects the supply there. Actually, the British were never especially affected by supply shortages. In fact, they managed to continue their advance, even though at a slow pace, until late '44, whrn they stopped to prepare the final spring offensive.

I'm in favor of a rail line on the east coast. It can run from Foggia over to the coast and then north all the way to Brenner's Pass. That would be pretty cool.

ORIGINAL: UP844
- in many places, the terrain is much less rough than it should be. In the North-West, both along the coast of France and Italy (up to la Spezia) and in the interior, as I reported earlier, there is no coastal plain at all. The Germans managed to fight many successful delaying actions against the British along the Adriatic Coast, which has much broader coastal plains and lower hills. The Allies never seriously attempted an attack from France into Northern Italy because there were very few roads and the terrain (mountains up to 10,000 ft) was very favourable for the defender. Only in April 1945 a few French units advanced to Aosta when the Allied were already running wild in the Po valley plain.

A change for this topic might give the Axis a better chance to defend on the east coast and if there's a rail running along the east coast they might need this change to make it more balanced.

ORIGINAL: UP844
- the lack of naval units, which played a significant (even though a bit overestimated) role in beating German counterattacks at Gela, Salerno and Anzio. With no such support, a landing at Salerno means suicide, so the Allied are forced to land at the tip of the boot, and the Germans can easily slow them on a short front.

There's a new version of the scenario that has ships. Brian and I are playing that version as we speak.

Here's a link to get to the AAR describing a game using the new version:
tm.asp?m=4469441

[MikeJ19]

Larry,

You have Brazilian units? Again, I learn something new...

[devoncop]

Hi UP844

Glad you are enjoying it !

The comments regarding the terrain from Savona Eastwards have certainly struck a chord with me and the latest Allied attack has brought it home to me (see the latest update below[:)])

[devoncop]

18th October 1944

This is a momentous day in the battle for Italy and the update will hopefully explain why...........

"At 0600 hours the battered and bruised Panzer Grenadiers of the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division's Sturm battalion and the much travelled and severely overworked Kampfgruppe Baumer, whose 40 or so Tiger 1's and 2's and similar number of Stugs had been racing around as an armoured fire brigade since before the fall of Rome could scarcely believe their eyes....Huge numbers of Allied tanks from the fresh US 1st Armoured Division came thundering towards their lines north of Savona. Observers counted in excess of 160 M4 Shermans and associated armoured vehicles plus 200 Infantry squads before a devastating bombardment from more than 800 bombers and fighter bombers obscured everything.

It later emerged that both US 12th Bomber Group and the British Mediterranean Bomber Group had been committed along with artillery support. By the end of the day KG Baumer had lost 17 of its tanks and 24 Stugs and the line was breached as German command and control collapsed. Only 37 Infantry squads and 7 Shermans were lost to the Allies.

The attack was not an isolated one...along the line of the Savona Line that had held for 3 long months armour made the difference. Where the Allies attacked with infantry, even with support they were rebuffed as in the case of the 65th US Division's Puerto Rican Regt who were fought off by elements of 71st Infantry Division and Recce troops of 26th Panzer but it was not enough and units began streaming back towards Genova".



Forgive the dramatic licence but Larrys attack was true drama !

I now have a big problem. Not only has the Savona Line become a line in name only but Larry has now broken into the open countryside East of Savona and the Alps. The map shows perfect tank country through Milan eastwards and means the troops in the mountain passes as well as those manning the now redundant Gothic Line are likely to be caught in a huge envelopment.

In such circumstances I feel I have no choice....Orders are given to evacuate the Gothic line and form new positions further north near the passes around Trento which is the only defensible terrain left. Amazingly, despite the history of the game interdiction was light enough that 90% of troops were able to move freely by rail and we are now into a major damage limitation exercise with the rest......... !

I do have reinforcements due but my big deficit is in anti armour units...we will see if terrain and supply issues can in any way compensate......

[MikeJ19]

Ian,

Love your description. I find it so hard at times watching the other guy’s turn and seeing all my well thought out plans fall flat.

That being said, you have been giving Larry a really hard time.