Sicily to Brenner Pass - Mike1984 v. Desert

[Panama]

It would appear there has been a tear in the space-time continuum and you are back in 1916 trench warfare. [;)]

[desert]

It would appear there has been a tear in the space-time continuum and you are back in 1916 trench warfare. [;)]

 
You'll be in for a treat a few turns from now, I think.

[Panama]

ORIGINAL: desert

It would appear there has been a tear in the space-time continuum and you are back in 1916 trench warfare. [;)]

You'll be in for a treat a few turns from now, I think.

Now you went and made me look ahead. Great scenario and AAR. [8D]

[mike1984]

This sucks...

[Andriko]

This looks like a hell of a lot of fun!

[desert]

Turn 37 - August 15, 1943
 
While the Adrano sector finally quieted down, the US 1 ID and 2 AD have made an appearance east of San Fratello. My forces were attacked and pushed out with many casualties, but the Fallschirmjaegers quickly reoccupied the area. I'm going to shell them with some Italian guns.

Bombardment - 18%/a battalion lost; one of their M10s was destroyed, which is pretty cool
Bombardment 2 - 15%
Bombardment 3 - 14%

Now my big guns N of Santo Stefano will bomb their stack of artillery. Hopefully none of theirs have enough range to hit back.

Bombardment - they did; I lost 15 guns to their 10

[mike1984]

The next two turns, I lost the slides. Sorry, it sucks because this was the climax of the massive attack by the US 1 ID and 2 AD. Then again, after what happens next, I don't wish to rehash it...

The assault failed miserably. As you can see from the combat reports below, my boys were slaughtered. Shame on me for ordering a frontal assault against fortified enemy. After this, I'm not sure I can mount another blow for a while. The enemy's lines have no weak spots. Add into that the incredible ability for the enemy to repulse even the strongest attacks, and I'm screwed.

Turn 38

Attack E San Fratello - US 1 ID(all), 2 AD(TkD) attack 15 PzG(Recon,Eng), 1 FJ(1 Inf) [Allied -10%, Axis -16%]
Attack E San Fratello - US 45 ID(all), 2 AD(all but TkD) attack GR 29 PzG(Eng), IT 202 ID(142 Inf), 28 ID(5 Inf), 19 Inf Bde, Mot.Grp B; two IT units are pushed back, but the US forces are thrown back with horrific losses; [Allied -51%, Axis -7%]
Bombardments along the entire US sector, focusing on the previously assaulted positions; [Axis average loss, -20%]

[desert]

Turn 38 - August 16, 1943
 
The US 45 ID has reappeared. There were 2 or 3 serious attacks east of San Fratello.
 
I have a temporary advantage in the battle for the skies. The AS is 3/3, with 14 of my planes destroyed for his 58-97.
 
Bombardment of 45 ID - 25%
Bombardment of same hex as last turn - 17% including 2 tanks

[mike1984]

Turn 39

Just bombardments. My boys had to fall back from the assault. You'll see next turn...

Bomb N Catania [Axis -18%], W Adrano [Axis -3%]
Bomb E San Fratello [Axis -8%], NE Traoina [Axis -5%]

[desert]

Turn 39 - August 17, 1943
 
Well, this is the day the last of the Axis troops evacuated from Messina to the mainland. In our game, however, I don't seem to be budging. By the end of the month, I think both of us will be getting big reinforcements - only that will be enought to break the status quo.
 
The Americans have mostly withdrawn again, and the Allies have ceased all offensives in general. There were 4 bombardments though, 2 of them quite destructive. My air force reports no contact with enemy planes, though some have been seen by ground troops.
 
Bombardment NW of Catania - 12%

[mike1984]

...

[desert]

Turn 40 - August 18, 1943
 
There were massive bombardments all along the line in the Santo Stefano sector; many squads and pieces of equipment were lost. The Americans have at least 7 artillery units, and several HQs with mortars attached. They also made some minor probes.
 
In the Adrano sector:
Bombardment on Canadian brigade S of Adrano - 11%
Bombardment NW of Catania - 25%!

[mike1984]

As you can see, my losses so far have been exponentially worse than his. However, most of those losses came after we got bogged down in this crapfest you see now.

[mike1984]

That hex to the NW of Catania is the only spot in his line that appears to be weak enough to take. But for some reason, his units hold every time.

[desert]

Turn 41 - August 19, 1943
 
American bombardments on my lines. British attack NW of Catania, up to 30 tanks lost. Switched an artillery regiment near Santo Stefano with one from Adrano; the former has my only 170mm guns, and from Mt. Etna they have enough range to hit the Gerbini airfields. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.

Bombardment of Brits NW of Catania - 17%
Bombardment of Monty's HQ - 9% (18 guns!)

Here are my losses - note the vast increase in tanks and aircraft disabled since Turn 33.

EDIT: Hmm, not as huge a gap as I remembered. I guess most of my catastrophic losses were in the last 10 turns.

[mike1984]

As I said prior to the assault, if it failed, it would be my last offensive for a little while. At this point, I'm not really sure what to do. Every time I try to attack his line, I'm thrown back with huge losses. When I do push one of his units out, the rest of the defenders hold. If there is one aspect of this scenario that should be changed, it would be to add a port hex to Sicily. My forces are stuck trying to blast away at a fortified defensive line, while actual military tactics would call for an end run (again, like Patton did at Brolo) to break the stalemate.

[desert]

Turn 42 - August 20, 1943

Today is notable for the arrival of two wings of Me-109s (80 planes).

There were a couple of bombardments in US sectors, and another British attack on my tanks NW of Catania. Dozens have been destroyed in the last 2 days...

The artillery have disembarked in Adrano and targeted an airfield that serves as a base for American fighters.

AF Bombardment - 15%/19 P-40

A British stack was also bombarded. They seem to have lost at least two full infantry brigades (evaporated) in the last week or two.

Bombardment - 18%

Here's an amusing screen of the WW1-style network of trenches and fortifications the Germans have constructed on the Etna Line and around the mountain. [;)]

[mike1984]

Turn 43

I've moved the US 1 ID and US 2 AD into position southeast of Nicosia. There is no real need for them to stay on the front line right now. There is good supply numbers in their new positions, which will allow them to recoup all the lost squads from the attack. They are also my most superior divisions, with an average proficiency of about 90%. The British will try another attack on the weak spot west of Catania. But again, it is turned back.

[desert]

Turn 43 - August 21, 1943
 
Three bombardments in US sectors.

Another catastrophic attack by the Brits against my tanks. One of their brigades disintegrated under the strain.

Another Airfield Bombardment (Brits next door) - 16%

[mike1984]

I lost the next few turns. Forget how it happened. But I'm missing turns 44 and 45. If Desert has anything for those turns, stay tuned for his input. Otherwise, I'll see you again for Turn 46.