Mistakes in the Baleares - Newbie vs Nationalist AI scen 6

[WingedIncubus]

August 2, 1936 - Turn 1

The Reactionaries failed to seize power by their July 18th coup. Our forces are mobilizing to defend the Republic at all costs on all fronts against the Rebels.

The Balearic Islands have declared for the Fascists; only Menorca has remained faithful to the Second Republic. Holding those islands would allow them to protect their supply lines from their ally in Italy, so I was tasked by the government to seize both Islands within two months.

The overall situation when I arrive to Headquarters, however, is abysmal.

On the ground, whatever troops that will be made available for the operation are scheduled to be arriving piecemeal. The units already in Barcelona and Girona are but skeleton crews, currently unfit for deployment, and the local councils currently refuse to allow their immediate deployment. Even the Aragon and Levante headquarters are severely understaffed and underequipped.

It will take days to convince the councils to release them for deployment, so until then I give orders that every unit currently scheduled for frontline duty be prioritized for replacements. Similar orders are transmitted to Mahon.




On the navy side, most of the Armada have remained loyal to the Republic but the strongest surface fleet elements, the Battleship Jaime I and the Light Cruisers Libertad and Mendez Nunez, won't to available in the Mediteranean for a whole month.




The only naval assets we have on hand are two B-1 submarines and two Torpedo boats based in Mahon, plus a number of small patrol boats to defend the mainland coast. The torpedo boats will patrol the Menorcan Channel to intercept shipping bound for Alcudia, while both subs will patrol the Mallorca Channel to attack the Ibiza island supply lines.




In the air, with only patrol aircrafts and float planes we lack any effective offensive capability, so they will be our eyes over the Channels. Only the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron, with its 2 CASA Vildebeest and pilots experienced in navy bomb runs, are assigned to attack spotted Nationalist ships by low-altitude bombing runs.




Until we get ready, our strategy is shipping interdiction. With not enough assets available to lock the islands under blockade, the goal is to harass the Fascists' shipping lines until we are ready to move to seize the islands.

[WingedIncubus]

Our first piece of good news - the Torpedo boats have intercepted a supply task force inbound for Alcudia near Capdepera. One freighter was hit and reported on fire.



After a hot pursuit that lasted 3 hours, the burning cargo was finally sunk. One first victory for the Republica!

[WingedIncubus]

Meanwhile, Submarine B-3 has intercepted a supply convoy outbound for Ibiza in the Mallorca Channel - 1 cargo sunk, 2 other reported on fire and heavily damaged. Mallorca was later finished off with a bomb from 2nd squadron shattering it with internal explosions.




The Mahon Torpedo boats made another victim, relentlessly pursuing the ailing Fascist convoy.

[WingedIncubus]

4 ships reported sunk. August 2nd was a good day for the Republic.




However, our informants in Palma informs us that an Italian warship is docked there, reportedly an Armored Cruiser.

[WingedIncubus]

August 3, 1936 - Turn 2

A first batch of reinforcements are scheduled to arrive within the next 5 days, but I expect those units TOE to be incomplete upon arrival. However, the good news is that most of our starting LCUs are now up to full TOE, or very close.

We'll see. The first tentative date to begin amphibious operations is set for August 8. Meanwhile, all available cargos, tankers, barges, and small ships are in dockyards or at pierside for swift repair to tip-top shape. However, without adequate troop transports, our starting deployments overseas will bridgeheads rather than a full invasion.




Not much to report today, except a convoy of 4 ships reported Eastbound toward Ibiza. Our patrol aircrafts have not hit anything but our submarines are now in position to intercept.

[WingedIncubus]

April 4, 1936 - Turn 3

Task force 9 (the Torpedo boats) has intercepted the convoy transporting troops on a NW-W course along the Majorcan coast around Pollensa. Seems indeed that it was the previously-reported convoy.

With the help of 2nd squadron, 3 ships were sunk, with approximately a hundred Fascist troops reported to have drowned with the wrecks.

[WingedIncubus]

Rather than have my spotters in the air share the same patrol arcs, I decided to try split their angles in two for better coverage per plane.

Despite their lack of bombing experience, 4th squadron is put on Naval Attack duty; one of the Vildebeests in 2nd squadron is damaged and underdoing repairs for a few days, so only the other Vildebeests is currently operational. Off picture, I've assigned the Training curriculum, with Naval Attack as Secondary mission, at 30% to speed up their improvement.

We have to be careful with our airplanes, none of these airframes are currently being produced so each loss could be permanent.

[WingedIncubus]

August 6, 1936 - Turn 4

No report of ship spotted today.

More units are currently mobilizing in Girona, Barcelona, and Terragona. Of more immediate use, a company of the Antifascist Worker and Peasant Militias of Valencia and militias of Desiderio Trilles are now available, the latter in Castillon, both however severely depleted. Waiting the rest of the Urribari column, they will be refitting and training in Valencia for the eventual debarkment on Ibiza.




Santa Eularia is chosen as the best ground for the debarkment, given that it has already a level 1 civilan port and some industry. 3rd Recon Squadron is redirected from naval searches for a preliminary recon over the islands.




August 7, 1936 - Turn 5

No bite today either.

The few pictures taken over Ibiza has revealed nothing much, but I am sure Ibiza has at least a garrison unit. Recon continues, while the PSUC Militia Company in Lerida is ordered to join the rest of their unit mustering in Terragona.

Note to myself: Both the MAOC and the Trilles compagnies are assigned to me temporarily; they are scheduled for withdrawal in 27 days.

[WingedIncubus]

August 8, 1936 - Turn 6

Whatever units of Urribarri's command that would be immediately available is now in or around Valencia. The cavalry and engineers will not arrive until next month, so we'll do without them. I leave them one more day for the remaining replacements to arrive, then D-Day for embarkment for Ibiza. We'll do with what we have.




Meanwhile, both Casanellas and Vidal's military regiments are getting equipped for the first ambitious assault on Mallorca itself. The former is rather inexperienced with no assault value, its infantry companies scheduled to arrive one by one the next few days only. Furthermore, Vidal himself and his command will only arrive tomorrow.

With so little ships available for a proper amphibious operation, the invasion will require staggered, individual debarkments rather than a coordinated multi-pronged operation. Because of this, I plan delay operations on the main island for a few days more.






My initial plan of operation for the seizing of Mallorca: The northern landings on Pollensa will aim to secure Alcudia as our main port and logistical base, while the troops in Puerto de Soller will serve to pin the Nationalists into defensive positions in Marratxi. Later, a third landing in Porto Colom will aim to seize and deny Porto Christo, with the goal of striking northward, seizing Manacor for La Puebla to link up with the rest of the invasion.

[WingedIncubus]

August 9, 1936 - Turn 7

D-Day for the invasion of Ibiza has arrived. I sign the orders, which are communicated to the officers as the proud soldiers of Urribarri's regiment climb and take their place inside the amphibious task force aiming at Sainta Eularia. The Angela Comes will lead the path of the convoy. Through waypoints, the convoy will pass 25 NM north of the Ibiza coastline, then turn south 10-15 NM from the coast before heading west for the landing zone.

(I noticed that I created a Surface Combat TF by mistake - I corrected it to an Amphibious after the picture was taken).

However, the cargo space of the light ships currently docked in Valencia harbor would prove insufficient for an efficient landing. The infantry landing crafts are thus put to contribution.




Thanks to the landing crafts, enough room is available for the men and equipment of the regimental command unit, two infantry companies, and the logistical battalion. Supplies will occupy the rest of the cargo. Urribarri's last militia company will have to land at a second stage.




2 airplanes are also detached from 3rd Reconnaissance squadron on recon duty over the island. I do not expect the landing to be contested, but better be safe than sorry.

[WingedIncubus]

August 10, 1936

Task Force has arrived right in front of the coast of Santa Eularia at the stroke of midnight. The landing is scheduled to begin shortly. Preliminary reports indicate no military presence, though a light garrison defensive fire is to be expected.

No air report have been made of any shipping in the channel for the last few days. It could be that at least, so far, our naval interdiction of Ibiza has been a complete success, deterring the Fascists from risking their precious cargo.

More and more Republican columns are gathering in Barcelona, but they are all mostly raw, inexperienced recruits. Commanders with low Inspiration assessment were fired, replaced by more capable officers to train them while the mustering continues.




In Mahon, the motors of Torpedo Boats T14 and T17's deserve a little refit after their successful patrols and sinkings.

[WingedIncubus]

Santa Eularia has returned to the Republic without a single bullet fired. We expect the main locus of resistance from the Rebels will be in Ibiza.

While the disembarking continues, whatever empty cargo we have in the task force will be detached to bring supplies and ammo from Valencia, while a tanker will be dispatched with precious fuel.

[WingedIncubus]

August 12, 1936

Urribari and Trilles's infantry moves toward Ibiza to reconnoitre closer using their command's reconnaissance assets, while the MOAC company moves north to probe - and hopefully secure - Cala de Sant Vicent. The Intendacia stays behind to organize the logistical supply lines.




Detached cargos are already on their way back to Valencia while the tanker Campuzano is tasked to bring fuel to Santa Eularia. However, what light industries are in the town are self-reliant in resources, thus producing daily small quantities of supplies.




Our reshuffling of commanders in Barcelona begins to bare fruit: both the troops' morale and training slow increase. However, we cannot wait too long, else the Fascists decide to send reinforcements to Ibiza.

Vidal's column (now under Lieutenant Colonel Mangada Rosenorn's command) is currently the sole unit remotely assembled for a first deployment, at least to secure a beachhead on the island. To boost its strength further, the lone Morello militia company detachment was assigned under his command.

Embarkment for Pollensa is scheduled to begin tomorrow. However, the Troop Transport Elcano is not due to arrive in Barcelona until in 4 days.