Operation Sledgehammer ’43

[TankBushido]

The Germans are fiercely fighting for the Bulge. In hindsight, I could have better planned and executed this operation. I definitely misplayed it. First of all, I would have waited until I’d crossed or was adjacent to the Moselle river before I’d kicked it off. My forces take another turn to clear out forces on the south and east side of the river. The positive outcome is that I cut the rail line, so now getting supplies into the Bulge for the Germans will be problematic. Secondly, a little more forethought would have allowed me to close the gap in the middle. One or two armor divisions coming from the center of the bulge from the west or, as Tom 1 suggested, an airborne drop would have been able to seal the gap and trap them in the bulge. Forces in the north make another strong push south, but there is still a 50 mile gap where the Germans can escape. One more turn should finish the job.

[TankBushido]

But alas, I don’t get the chance to finish the job. The Germans counterattack fiercely in many places both in the bulge and on my flanks, but my forces hold against all attacks. Then they pull out to a defensive line to the east. I can only hope that heavy interdiction shreds them as they retreat. Around four straggler divisions are left behind that I can destroy as a consolation prize. Luckily, I think I’m very well positioned for my next push and won’t miss a beat. My plan is to breach the West Wall near Aachen and in the Saar, doing a mini double envelopment. Then I will force my way across the Rhine where the Moselle meets the Rhine. Push east north of Frankfurt and then wheel north and south from there, threatening to encircle each half of the German armies.

[Commanderski]

That's a good plan but you will have bad weather coming so that may change things.

You don't want to break through and get caught in the mud or snow behind the lines without the ability of getting supplies or reinforcements to them.

[bomccarthy]

ORIGINAL: TankBushido

The mop-up operation in Italy is nearing a close. My forces on the Adriatic coast have fully cleared the path to the front. Only one more port on the West coast remains to be cleared. All of my forces should be on the main front within a couple of turns. I’m contemplating railing some of these forces to participate in my operations against the West Wall, but I haven’t decided yet. Assuming they stay in Italy, I have two main objectives in Italy after the mop-up. First, seize the airfields around Udine to provide bases for bombing German cities. Second, they could attempt to push through the Alps towards Bavaria and Austria, attritioning the significantly strong German forces here.

If you are playing for victory points, I don't think there is any alternative to sending as much force as possible to NW Europe in order to capture Berlin early. The point system is very heavily weighted toward this. Judging from your VP situation, the AI made a hash of the strategic bombing campaign. I've always managed the air directives myself, so I'm not familiar with how to set up the air doctrines in a way that enables the AI to handle the air war effectively.

Given your situation on the ground, a decent strategic bombing campaign could have had you in positive VP territory at this point, with a reasonable chance of achieving a decisive victory, assuming you capture Berlin by the beginning of February.

[TankBushido]

The intent of this playthrough was to learn, not optimize victory points. But yes, the AI didn't do well in the strategic bombing campaign; heavy losses and sub-optimal bombing. For whatever reason, it would never target V-weapon launch sites (despite explicit directions to attack them). Luckily, I have now overrun the launch sites so V-weapon VPs are now mostly 0. In my next AAR, I will be taking full control of air forces.

I am going to start shipping forces from Italy to NW Europe. But I do want to try to capture Venice and the airfields, so not everyone is going to go all at once. I'll roll it out over several turns.

[bomccarthy]

I reached a similar situation on the ground in my past two games - controlling all of Italy up to the Alps, then going on the defensive in the Med and moving the bulk of the Commonwealth forces and Br armored units to NW Europe (I'm always leery of the Br manpower shortage, so I leave the defense of N Italy to Br infantry).

The question: How to transport the units to the north - rail, ship, or road? Rail is probably fastest, but uses up precious rail capacity in France. Ship is next in speed, but uses up the ships you need to move supply from England to Europe. Road is slow. I've always chosen the slowest method, afraid of the effects on supply presented by the other two. However, I'll be interested to see if you have a different experience.

[TankBushido]

Turn 67:
I’ve decided to use rail to send them to NW Europe. I’m doing only a few units at a time to reduce the load on the rail network; we’ll see how that goes. But operations in Italy continue with high concentration attacks. I have some strong forces here, so I’m trying to punish the Germans for defending the open ground and am trying to chew up some pretty beefy units here. Hopefully, this will drain resources from the main front.

[TankBushido]

My attempt to roll into the next operation to cross the Rhine has started off well. The West Wall was breached easily both near Aachen and in the Saar. I’m still bringing forces forward and I claimed the open space in the vacated bulge. I’ve started to pull all airborne units off the line and forming them into the airborne army with targets being set behind the Rhine between Cologne and Frankfurt. This will be my one big airborne operation of the war. Previously, I only airdropped to support the initial Sledgehammer landings.

[TankBushido]

Turn 68:
Things continue to go well for both of my main thrusts with breakthroughs in both resulting in armor units bounding to the shores of the Rhine river. I’m getting better concentrations of strength with more forces now fully up to the line. I will be able to opportunistically cause the Germans trouble in other areas if they thin out too much trying to stop my main spearheads. The weather seems to be holding up with just rain and light mud, but I’m expecting a pause here pretty soon when the heavy mud hits.

The grind continues in Italy, but not much change in the front; just pushing a couple hexes a week. Victory points are rolling good now with double digit increases every week.

[TankBushido]

Turn 69:
Major breakout in the north which allows me to secure more territory next to the Rhine in preparation for crossing it. Things are slower in the south as the Germans deployed stronger forces to block me. I’m able to almost bag a pocket of about eight divisions west of the Moselle river. Heavy rain expected next turn which could throw a wrench in the works.

[TankBushido]

In Italy, I isolate Venice.

[TankBushido]

German casualties top 1 million.

[TankBushido]

Turn 70:
I really should stop or pare back my attacks in Italy, but I have victory disease and the Germans are really being chewed up here. After Venice falls, another corps is going to be rail transported to France.

[TankBushido]

In the west, I forgot to take a screenshot at the end of my turn, so this is the situation after the German moves. The link up still doesn’t quite happen, but it still looks like I’m going to bag quite a few divisions. Note that some pretty strong divisions have been deployed in the sector east of the Moselle river. Also, the AI didn’t fully defend the Rhine crossing as it left a hex unoccupied (noted by the red X). I was going to force a crossing next turn regardless, but this makes it much easier. The pocket wasn’t fully closed, but will be next turn and will be digested quickly.

[TankBushido]

Turn 71:
My troops surge across the Rhine and Operation PLUNDER kicks off as my paratroopers start their drops further behind the lines. I’ve shattered the majority of the pocket and it will be fully digested by next turn.

[TankBushido]

Heavy rain in Italy, but the drive to Udine continues.

[TankBushido]

Turn 72:
Venice is taken in Italy, but the poor weather limits gains as my armor doesn’t have enough mobility.

[TankBushido]

I take my first major German city as the Germans vacate Cologne. I push south along the east coast of the river towards Frankfurt. My advance in the Saar has bogged down and has only limited gains. The surrounded pocket is now fully eliminated. This turn I really felt the effects on the poor weather and the constant activity and strain I’ve been putting on my troops. Still I’m only about 300 miles from Berlin. Here’s hoping the German defense starts to disintegrate. I’m already seeing more frequent routing from regular attacks.

[TankBushido]

Turn 73:
Another corps is pulled off the line in Italy and being railed to the front in Germany. I’m still grinding away progress on the coast and surround a couple of divisions.

[TankBushido]

In Germany, I push north of Cologne toward the Ruhr. I want to get the front to separate a little bit from the rail line at Cologne before striking out east. Also, a close threat will pull forces there and extend the German line which will make the breakout to the east easier.

In the south, I have multiple breakthroughs and a near encirclement. Mainz is captured on the run. Once I get my southern attack force completely across the Rhine, I’ll head east and south.