Mistakes in the Baleares - Newbie vs Nationalist AI scen 6

[WingedIncubus]

August 15, 1936

First contact was made with the militia defending Alcudia. They managed to repel our advance into the city with minor losses. Our units have quickly recovered, as more professional infantry units inside Vidal's regiment advance to support the battle.

We are confident in our numerical superiority and shall attempt a frontal assault to overhelm the Fascists' fortified positions and take the city.

Meanwhile, the Carlos Marx Regiment is unloading and holding defensive lines in Pollensa while 1st Fighter Squadron relocate to its airport, closer to the front.




Uribarri's Infantry (now known as the Fantasma units) intercepted the lone artillery unit, disabling their guns and support units, yet but they managed to retreat in somewhat good order.




However, the Fascists are sortieing from Ibiza and advancing toward Santa Eularia, over 600 strong. We are redeploying to create a narrow defensive front to protect our positions in town and Casa de Saint Vicent.

[WingedIncubus]

August 16, 1936

The enemy Ibiza force did not advance on our positions in Santa Eularia. They stopped, allowing us to place ourselves into defensive positions. The Valencia amphitibious task force is steaming toward Barcelona to fetch reinforcements.

Our shock offensive has been repelled In Alcudia with 25 killed or wounded. The latter are repatriated back to Pollensa to recuperate, while we continue to apply pressure.




The troop transport Elcano has docked in Barcelona, so we use it to advance to the second stage of our plan as the 1,200-strong Bayo Baleares Regiment embarks to land on Puerto de Soller, hoping to threaten Marratxi nearby Palma. They might arrive just in time, as an Italian infantry battalion has been reported to be moving towards La Puebla.

[WingedIncubus]

April 17, 1936

The Bayo Baleares have landed uncontested in Puerto de Soller. The battle continues in Alcudia against now a handful of Rebel militia holding firm, while Task Force 5 grabs the Artillery and Engineers in Mahon to bring them to Pollensa and help reduce Alducia.

All available landing barges and light cargoes in Barcelona are mobilized to embark the Zapatero Regiment to shore up our presence on Ibiza. Because the sheer weight of their equipment, we'll have perform two trips but they will land in Cala de Saint Vicent.

[WingedIncubus]

August 18, 1936

Despite our best predictions, the assault on the defenders in Alcudia has been a complete fiasco - over 200 Italian infantry have arrived in the nick of time to save the day for the Fascists, reinforcing the defence of the city.




Their presence and counter-attack have cost us dearly. The Vidal's column is completely disrupted and in need of rest and refit. Orders have been sent for them to retreat back to the fortifications in Pollensa until further reinforcements arrive.

It is not a defeat, only a minor setback.




Waiting for the rest of their companies being repatriated from Mahon, we receive a report from Teniente Guerrero that his Carlos Marx Regiment in Pollensa are also missing a significant part of their TOE - almost half of their infantry squads, in fact - and those need to be reinforced from the mainland. They need men supplied from the UGT, Catalunya, with support and pack mules.



Because Mallorca is not connected to our main supply bases, an RSV must be prepared with those specific squads and brought by ship to Pollensa.

I sent the instructions for the RSV to gather those men and material in Barcelona, adding also reinforcements from the CNT and Women squads for Vidal's Regiment to the requisition order, for expedition to Pollensa when possible for us to do so.

[WingedIncubus]

August 19, 1936

Vidal's Regiment has succesfully extricated itself from Alcudia to lick their wounds behind Pollensa's trench fortifications.

Subunits from the Carlos Marx Regiment have arrived from Mahon, including an indenpedent group of long-range artillery. We shall bombard Alcudia to keep the Fascists pinned while we regroup for another push.




The RSV is ready to be delivered in Barcelona... but our civilian navy is overstretched. None of our cargos are currently available, mustered to deliver supplies and troops between both Ibiza and Majorca. Thankfully we have not lost a single ship, but this lack of ship stalls operations.

My staff officers and I, while looking at the map and acknowledging that our overseas supply lines are stretched to their limit due to the lack of cargo ships, debate abandoning our original third axis in the south for the time being, concentrating our forces instead on northern front, with Puerto de Suller to Pollensa as anchor points.

In the meantime, Bayo's men advance toward Marratxi and Can Pastilla for a reconnaissance in force, the logistics staying behind defended by an Infantry battalion.

[WingedIncubus]

August 20, 1936

Both the macaronis in Alcudia and the forward rebel units are pummeled under our bombs and shells - from long-range artillery in the former, and by 2nd Recon Squadron in the latter. Only minor scraps were inflicted on the aircrafts.





The newly-renamed Fantasma Regiment cautiously advances on the enemy defending the outskirts of Ibiza, with the Zapatero Regiment in tactical reserve. Recon information is all over the place, but we are confident that we are matching them in Infantry numbers, despite their possible superiority in artillery.

[WingedIncubus]

On Mallorca, the Bayo Boys's 2nd infantry battalion cautiously pokes out towards Can Pastilia, whose junction seems to be left undefended. The goal is to cut the rail and road supply lines to Alcudia through La Puebla.




Weirdly, despite Mallorca not being connected to Spain, both Vidal and Carlos Marx' Regiments still received reinforcements overseas on the missing devices that I had set up in the RSV.

Perhaps it's the supply preference being set to Pool, but I thought LCUs in hexes that are not connected to the main supply bases had to have their reinforcements delivered through RSVs overseas, then they would take their reinforcements overland as long as they are within 200 NM?

Unless they took the reinforcements from my Barcelona RSV? But it seems to be far beyond the 200 NM, and they do not trace supply by road overseas? (EDIT: I checked, and Barcelona is only 17 hexes away from Pollensa, but still... they shouldn't have taken their reinforcements from there overseas?...)

[WingedIncubus]

Troop Transport Ciudad de Sevilla is scheduled to dock in Valencia tomorrow. This should help a lot in moving in more troops that I need in Mallorca. Barcelona is now full of volunteers eager to join in the fight, waiting for the boats.

Right now, even barges and fishing boats are now on the Balearic moving the supplies to the forward bases.

[WingedIncubus]

August 21, 1936

Artillery shelling shall continue in Alcudia until morale improves.

Vidal's Regiment will be ready to resume its attack on the city in a day or two, hopefully with better results this time. The remaining infantry unit from Carlos Marx Regiment, plus the A. Calero's Regiment of seasoned soldiers who remained loyal to the Republic, are on their way to dock in Pollensa. We shall push deeper around the city and completely isolate Alcudia from the mainland.




Fantasma Regiment moves in a cautious attack on the forward Fascist garrisons in position in front of Ibiza, inflicting minimal damage. This is met by the Rebels making their own counter-attack supported by their artillery that, while repelled, inflicted us significant casualties.

Their overwhelming advantage in artillery numbers shows its effects. Reinforcements from the Zapatero Regiment are marching to the sound of the gunsto support the dogged Fantasma militiamen.





Can Pastilia has been taken without resistance, severing the main artery between Palma and Alcudia. Hopefully, that means supplies will trickle harder to the defenders on the East coast.

Cautiously, we order an artillery barrage from the hills as the main Bayo Regiment forces move cautiously to attack Marratxi.

[WingedIncubus]

Our submarine crews are getting fatigued from the lack of targets and the druggery of patrolling. One by one, they receive orders to return to base in Mahon to allow the men to rest a little. B-3 is called back first.

No furloughs, however.

[WingedIncubus]

August 22, 1936

The battle for Ibiza continues, both on land and air as our Dornier-J drop bombs at low altitude to keep the pressure on the rebel positions.

The Fascist attacks are again repelled with heavy losses on both sides, neither wanting to cede the battlefield to the enemy. The Zapatero Regiment has arrived, while their remnants from Barcelona are trickling from Santa Euralia to join in the fight.





The Bayo Regiment has penetrated Marratxi, defended only by a small militia company, while Vidal's Column renews their offensive on Alcudia under long-range artillery support. The Carlos Marx Regiment moves around the outskirts of the city, aiming for La Puebla and Lloseta.

The Elcano having arrived in Barcelona, we have to take a decision. The fight currently being in Ibiza and the Rebels having the bulk of their artillery on the small island, we order the Syndicate of the Workers's Column under Mayor Yague to embark for a daring landing behind the Fascists position in Republican-controlled San Antoni, threatening Ibiza itself.

[WingedIncubus]

August 23, 1936

Battles are flaring up all over the Mallorcan islands. The Ibizan Fascists' sheer firepower is too much for the militians, taking continual significant losses.





However, the Syndicates of Workers' Regiment have started to land in San Antoni. But even better, it seems the Fascists have overcommitted themselves and left Ibiza empty of troops? We cannot be 100% sure... but we have to try taking it to surround the Fascists right where they stand.

[WingedIncubus]

In Marratxi, the Bayo Regiment's relentless assaults successfully penetrate the outskirts of the town. I am confident they will succeed in overwhelming the defenders there within a few days, should they not be interrupted by sudden Fascist reinforcements.

The Italian air force are starting to harass our ships, but our Fighters can't seem to find them. Thankfully, none were hit. I ordered my Fighter Squadron to attempt a sweep over Marratxi, hoping to find and drive them off.




Recon pictures confirm that the Italian company has been drawn away from Alcudia, marching full speed ahead toward Can Pastilia. Will our lone infantry battalion hold the line? They are ordered to stand and hold the flank, but one Infantry Battalion attacking Marratxi has been ordered to remain in tactical reserve to support the defense.

The Macaronis' departure, however, should help us in our offensive on Alcudia. The Carlos Marx regiment advances on La Puebla while Calero's Militia Regiment barely landed in Pollensa moves to secure the westen flank of Alcudia for the encirclement.

[WingedIncubus]

August 24, 1936

Significant ground taken inside both Alcudia and Marratxi.

Time to finish them off once and for all.





On Ibiza, the Fascist have redeployed their militia southwest back inside Ibiza, while the Fantasma and Zapatero militia are battered by the Nationalists's crack artillery and sappers. They are no match one-on-one and getting slaughtered. I order the half-strength Fantasma Regiment to retreat to Santa Eularia.

The Syndicalists, however, are better-equiped and more fresh. More importantly, though, they bring in combat engineers and artillery of their own.

We have been battered, but the Fascists must be exhausted and disrupted as well from the days of constant battle. They move in from their rear, the Zapatero held in strategic reserve should we manage to pierce their lines.

[WingedIncubus]

The subpar performance until now from our valiant troops fighting for the Republic in the Levante theater of operations requires a fresh perspective. The previous Levante CO has been sacked.

General Miaja Menant will take over operations in Ibiza.

[WingedIncubus]

Well hello there...

Time for those meddlesome floating Italians to receive a diplomatic visit from my torpedo boats in Mahon and from sub B-1.