Yet Another Sicily t BP Ian Allies me Axis

[devoncop]

20th November 1943

Operation Flytrap continues....

There is success in the south as the 36th US Division surrounds and destroys the unfortunate 211th Coastal Division along with KG Baumunk at Pizzo and the line up the West coast is clear and the main US forces race North to relieve the 9th Free French Colonial Division that landed near San Marco now only 40 Km away....

The Free French themselves successfully took San Marco itself along with destroying some Panzer Grenadiers that were holding the second of the three ports. The final remaining southerly port is held by dug in infantry which is now caught between the French and advancing Americans and should call next turn.

In the East the British 5th Division managed to destroy the Engineering Unit that was trying to blow the bridge and the bridge was captured intact and the British have now hit the roadblock Larry referred to which sees some very strong Panzer Grenadier regiments from the Herman Goering Division dug in across the main road North on the east coast.

The only "fly in the ointment" (excuse the pun!) in Operation Flytrap was the attempt to seal the jar as it were with an invasion by the 45th US Division at the small port East of Cantanzaro which was repelled after heavy fighting by the garrison of Panzer Grenadiers....operations are continuing in this area...

[larryfulkerson]

This is what it looked like just before I ended my turn. Ian is making
rapid progress and I've been forgetting to blow the bridges and that just
helps him out.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's an indication of how severe the fighting is currently.

[larryfulkerson]

Well what do you know....35K posts already.

[larryfulkerson]

This is what it looked like just before I ended my turn. More landings and
he's outflanked my units and will destroy them next turn. Most of the Axis
units are in garrison mode and so there's nothing to prevent Ian from making
rapid progress.

[devoncop]

23rd November 1943

(Apologies for the delayed report....carrier pigeon got shot down by a rogue ME109)

There was great rejoicing among the Senegalese Regiment of the 9th Free French Division who found their attacks on the last German port garrison west of San Marco were assisted by the arrival from the south of the US 36th Division as the western side of "Operation Flytrap" ends in complete success. The idea now is that the East/West rail line that runs across the map towards Cantanzaro and then joins the east coast rail line north can provide supply to British forces driving north which eliminates the need to repair the line all the way up from Reggio up to Cantanzaro in the East.

British and Indian Divisions operating temporarily with the Americans drive west from San Marco to snap shut the trap behind the dug in German Panzer Grenadiers from the 26th and Herman Goering Divisions near Rossano and the Panzer Regiment at Cantanzaro itself. Supply issues should help reduce the power of these strong German units...

Two more Axis fighter squadrons were completely destroyed this turn and it is believed the Axis air force must be close to collapse.

[devoncop]

26th November 1943

In the west 36th US Div Recon elements almost reach Lauro and the considerable German garrisons around Cantanzaro, Rossano and east of San Marco are subjected to encirclement and bombardment.

Cantanzaro in particular is important because of its position on the east/west route so needs to be cleared sooner rather than later.

Annoyingly the Free French garrison units in Sardinia report that bridges are being blown up regularly on the island in the interior hampering supply and it is suspected some pro fascist units may have decided to ignore the official surrender ....orders are given that no quarter should be given to any units discovered.

Good progress is being made on rail repair though the Allies have become very fond of blowing bridges so these also will need sorting out in due course.

[devoncop]

30th November 1943

Likely suspects for the sabotage on Sardinia are discovered skulking in the central mountain village of Ozieri in the unpleasant form of KG Hudel and its full collection of tanks. The Free French garrisoning the island have some work to do.

On the west coast advance elements of the US 3rd Division approach Policastro now around 150Km from Salerno so one of Larry's "brick walls" of defence lines is due very soon.

On the east coast the minor port held by the 67th Panzer Grenadier Regiment from the 26th Division is overrun east of Corigliano allowing 1st US Armoured Division to start arriving so the Corigliano garrison can be cleared out. Some progress was made this turn with assaults and heavy casualties caused to another Panzer Grenadier regiment there.

[larryfulkerson]

Soldiers from the 10th Panzer Division make their way past a destroyed tank
destroyer on their way to the front. They are to be an outpost tonight 100
yards in front of the German line from midnight to 04:00 and they will take
turns watching and napping all that time. A human being can only stay awake
for so long and it was found that two-man outposts are better than one-man
outposts because fewer troops are found in the morning with their throat slit.

[devoncop]

2nd December 1943

Some luck for the Allies. The fleet having rested for a few turns to regain strength was despatched to off Salerno where it was noted some Axis air was apparently based ...on conducting the airfield strike the remaining ships did a speculative strike on what appeared to be a large number of troops at the same location....several rounds of gunfire later and the strong Gerbigs Division had lost almost 40% of its strength....

Further South the 3rd US Armoured reaches Policastro unimpeded and the remaining elements of 1st US Armoured arrive on the West coast by troop transport. The German forces around Corigliano are split in half with over 40 Panzer VI tanks destroyed.

Supply should receive a big boost next turn as the rail line is repaired up to within 40Km of the front lines in the centre.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looked like just before I ended my turn.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looked like just before I ended my turn.

[devoncop]

10th December 1943

Catanzaro finally calls after heavy fighting to the British Royal Tank Regiment and the New Zealand 2nd Division whilst the Free French Mountain Division clear German resistance in and around Casenza.

In a huge tank battle around the town of Corigliano the entire 2/26th Panzer Regiment of 26th Panzer Division is destroyed, losing 93 tanks to the Allies 27.

This importantly clears all east/West Axis roadblocks and engineers are trying hard to improve supply.

The unfortunate Gerbigs Division at Salerno gets more heavy punishment from naval guns and the next operation is being planned ....

[devoncop]

13th December 1943

3rd US Division recon meets some German infantry on its long trek up the west coast so I suspect the heavy fighting will resume again soon. This is only 100Km from Salerno so is to be expected. More shelling of the Gerbig Divn in the port brings another 18% loss to the defenders and the naval tak force is then withdrawn to resupply and help further south.

Airborne units are being returned to their airbases ready for Operation "Tough Nut" and two fresh Divisions are prepared once the supply situation improves further.

KG Hudel is finally destroyed by a combination of the Free French and starvation in Sardinia which is finally Axis free it is hoped.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like when I ended my turn. Ian is slowly making his way north.

[devoncop]

21st December 1943

As Operation "Tough Nut" swings into action a tragedy as the New Zealand Paratroops were dropped directly on top of 26th Panzer Division armour and were obliterated east of Senise on the route to Taranto. Thankfully the drops by 82nd Airborne went more to plan and the 9th Panzer Grenadier Regiment garrisoning the port to the east of Senise are now surrounded and cut off from the rest of 26th Panzer. Ist US Armoured Div has landed at the same location and once the port is seized the ability to move more troops quickly up from the south is available.

In the west the front line is now at Altavilla and Pisciotta and again the garrison at Pisciotta has been isolated and surrounded.

There is now a debate underway as to how ambitious the next encirclement should be. One group of advisors wants to stick to the current "Salami slice" approach whilst the other argues that with the losses incurred on Sicily and in the south the Germans may be weakened sufficiently for a bolder move to take out all defenders around Taranto and/or Salerno....

The debate continues........

[devoncop]

25th December 1943

Happy Christmas everyone !

Altavilla falls to the US 34th Division with bridge intact and bombarding of the garrison at Pisciotta continues. More naval manoeuvres are underway and more punishment is handed out to the Gerbigs Division at Salerno.

More Ist Armoured Division troops land South of Taranto and the task is now to take out the 26th Panzer Division .

[larryfulkerson]

Ian is up to the Salerno area and is sneaking up on Tranto in the east. He's
using his shlps to bombard and help get his troops ashore and he's making good
progress. There's been no bridge busting going on here lately. I've got most
of the Axis aircraft stood down, saving them for the end times.

[devoncop]

29th December 1943

More success for the US 34th Division which with naval and air support overwhelms the isolated garrison at Pisciotta and forward elements are now only 10Km from Salerno in the west. The naval task force then bombarded some artillery guarding the beaches and in its way back to safety was repeatedly dive bombed by Stukas sustaining slight damage to a light cruiser but with 25 of 38 Stukas shot down.

In the East the Ist Armoured Division destroyed the 9th Panzer Grenadier Regiment of 26th Panzer Division in the small port South of Taranto and lead elements here are now only 10Km from the Taranto ports and airfields.

Taking stock it seems Larry may have stripped the defences around both cities and be consolidating either around Rome or further North on the Gustav or Gothic fortified lines. Either way I am encouraged that the Allies have advanced 350 of the 1350 Km needed to reach the Brenner Pass since landing on the mainland 60 days ago.....

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what's going on currently. Ian is determined to get some more troops
ashore in the Salerno area and has made it all the way east to Taranto and
is developing the battlefield. His supply situation can't be ample yet.