STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - no devoncop please

[700851McCall]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: 700851McCall

If you want a unit to attack but not advance use the 'limited attack' option. That way you can pick which unit advances.

warspite1

I have in the past used limited attack only to find a unit advances - not always only sometimes.

But can you clarify by what you mean about picking which unit advances? Regardless of the method I didn't know one could pick unit(s) to advance - it all seems random to me.

Use full attack with the unit or units you want to advance, and use limited attack with those that you want to stay in place and not advance. Okay, in some cases all the units on standard attack will not have enough MP left to advance, so no-one advances, but there's not much you can do about that

I've never come across a situation where a unit doing a limited attack advanced. I think you might be mistaken about that. Or it has happened to me and I missed it, but I don't think so. It's a handy tool and I use it a lot.

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

The British achieved their aim - although with just one unit advancing the 23rd Armoured's hold on that coastal hex is, shall we say, precarious.

The three hexes marked with the cross-hairs came under some serious bombardment too so I'm hoping they won't be in a position to make life too difficult. The British and US bombers are all geared to interdiction too....

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

The Centre

The Germans are so difficult to kill. I am still trying to finish off the Germans in the mountains but it is very slow work as they simply retreat after every battle and the movement allowance means its incredibly difficult to surround them. So here is some appropriate music to sum up the experience [:)]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ls2SDeqltk

[Szilard]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Is there a random event for Mt. Vesuvius erupting? A little lava does wonders for foxholes.

warpite1

I think that was CivIII.....

Vesuvius did actually erupt in March 1944, trashing a B-25 group.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bsmv6PyKs0

EDIT: Some great pics of B-25's & Vesuvius: http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Szilard

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Is there a random event for Mt. Vesuvius erupting? A little lava does wonders for foxholes.

warpite1

I think that was CivIII.....

Vesuvius did actually erupt in March 1944, trashing a B-25 group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bsmv6PyKs0

EDIT: Some great pics of B-25's & Vesuvius: http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html

Thank you for posting. I did not know about the B-25s.

[John B.]

Thanks for posting. I did not know that!

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Szilard

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Is there a random event for Mt. Vesuvius erupting? A little lava does wonders for foxholes.

warpite1

I think that was CivIII.....

Vesuvius did actually erupt in March 1944, trashing a B-25 group.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bsmv6PyKs0

EDIT: Some great pics of B-25's & Vesuvius: http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html

warspite1

Thanks for posting that Szilard [:)]

[warspite1]

I was unable to war game for most of yesterday, but got back to find devoncop has made a potentially campaign winning move..... stay tooned!

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

The sneaky devoncop has gone round the back!! Because of supply considerations I never once even considered the possibility of this kind of move. Totally unseen by me he has (at least):

2 x Infantry Regiment
1 x Infantry Battalion
1 x Panzer Battalion
1 x Assault Gun Battalion
1 x Armoured Anti-Tank Battalion

in behind my forces. Of course I don't know what else he has got and remains hidden....

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

I move everything back I can, but decide to try and make life less complicated by removing the panzergrenadier regiment on the peninsular west of Salerno. With massive air support the infantry of the 138th Brigade and armour from the 21st Tank Brigade, the German 67th Panzergrenadier Regiment is destroyed. One thing less to worry about at least!

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

I thought I could rescue the situation by bringing in my reserve 56th Division. However, unbeknown to me, the ships don't have enough range to reach Salerno! I clicked on the HQ, saw that could reach and sent the whole division out as a group. However, although the HQ can reach port, the remaining units can't. I now have a double whammy of no defenders at Salerno and transports at sea about to be picked off....

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

The situation requires every spare man to man the rear to try and stop a breakthrough to the coast.

I move every available unit I can back as far as they can go - which sadly isn't as far as Battipaglia unfortunately.

I start to bring the Canadians back but the terrain makes this difficult and so I bring some British and Kiwi units back too - infact there is a whole hotch-potch of units ordered to the area. Meanwhile I decide to try and keep the pressure up in the north by attacking the large stack of enemy units just inland from the coast.

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

The big picture.... grim.....

[warspite1]

Turn 138
24th November 1943

The scores on the doors - ahead of this vital turn. What does devoncop have in store?.....

[Zorch]

While you're at it, make sure not to bomb Sophia Loren (like the allies did in real life).

[warspite1]

Turn 139
25th November 1943

So I've just lost an entire division to air attack. Air superiority is 23 vs 5 and every fighter is on air superiority. And the Axis air force - just weakened by the transfer of key units to the USSR - just destroys the lot; every transport (bar one battalion). Sure.


The 103rd Panzer Battalion forces the British recce forces back toward the coast.

[warspite1]

Turn 139
25th November 1943

So it looks like the threat from the German forces around Battipaglia was overdone - which makes the loss of the entire division even more painful....

For the German forces involved, it may well have been worth it to the Axis - even without factoring in the lost division. The reason for this is the dislocation of the British and Commonwealth forces - it will take ages to get the Canadians resupplied and back in position.

What other surprises await?......

[warspite1]

Turn 140
26th November 1943

The Germans continue to bombard the British positions north of Salerno (painful but not too bad casualties-wise) but the encirclement manoeuvre seems to have run its course. There are still plenty of units to mop up and as I know from experience, this won't be a quick job.

[warspite1]

Turn 140
26th November 1943

The plan for this turn is very much more of the same. I need to tidy up in my rear areas - and get rail/bridge communications restored asap. At the same time the push toward Naples continues....

[warspite1]

Turn 140
26th November 1943

On the southeastern approaches to Naples, a largely infantry force of British and New Zealanders drive the enemy back. The 5th New Zealand Brigade push on into the suburbs of the city...