Jan / Feb 1944
Through Nov / Dec 1943 the Western Allies managed to seize Casablanca (Making Balbo retreat and inflicting a GAR and INF-Div loss to Italy) without sensible losses by their side (My way to say that they lost no units, probably some soldiers perished in the effort!)
Meanwhile the Italian Comando Supremo was crying bitter tears, with their positions compromised, and other forces bombed, the Allied were feasting and celebrating their new port seized.
Biting the bullet of reality, the partly pinned Italian troops started to dig in new positions in the small woodlands in the otherwise rather desertic and plain area.
The bad weather came to the help of the Axis, stalling potential landings behind their lines or in Spain, and giving a moment of respite to the staggering Italian lines and the Axis forces recovered (The turn ended after 2 impulses per side!).
In the while the Berlin Militia returned in the sector, rearmed and reformed with grand haste; and the Italian transports brought in new troops.
The Allies remain in the sea (Joy, in the 2 Box now, their shore bombing crippled!) and as soon as the new year opens, with good weather kissing Marocco again, they launch a new offensive. The W.Allies now have a neat air superiority, and can perform bombing almost undisturbed as the Italian fighters (After the loss of 2 6 air to air factor the turn before) kept away except to protect their quality mechanized unit.
Despite being outgunned and outclassed the Italian fighters shot down the enemy bomber, laughed in face to their escorting Spitfires, and fled to safer bases! (The UK had a Spitfire 7 Air factor, vs two Italian fighters with 5 and 4 Air factor.).
The USA, clearly drunk from the victory in Casablanca, strike hard through the woods where Balbo established the new headquarter (Curiously, out of 4 units, Balbo, AT, GARR, and the Rudel Stuka, only Balbo emerged untouched by the preliminary Allied bombardment, performed with 2 bombers and 1 artillery). On the other hand the USA were able to attack only from Casablanca (with an ARM and a MECH!), and the shore bombing already reduced by the low sea box, was halved due to the woods.
[My gaming buddy realized the mistake only after the fight.]
With only a +5, the attack from Casablanca resulted in a suicidal attack for the US forces (Who lost 11 BPs there!), the Italians lost their GARR; and held the line.
Now, suddenly, in Casablanca there was just an artillery unit, a TP that was disrupted, and 3 planes which got quickly evacuated with rebasing orders (Using HQs as extra bases).
The Italian counterstrike came immediately. Balbo mobilized Italian reserves (landed in Tangier with ships at the end of Nov / Dec) to replace the Garr (That was anyhow disrupted), and with the still operational corp from the other woods Casablanca was assaulted.
Seeing a vague opportunity to possibly disrupt all the Italians, attacking with 14 combat factors total vs 1; the US sent in a Brazilian fighter-bomber to ground support, and sent in abundant escorts (A 7 Air factor Thunderbolt, and two 6 factor Lightinings); facing them 2*7 Air Factor fighters and 2 Axis bombers trying to provide aid.
The air battle resulted bloodless, with one bomber per side being cleared to the target; even if the Axis fighters aborted almost all the escorts and were starting to rule the skies, at last they failed to stop the Brazilian pilots.
Ultimately the artillery in Casablanca, despite the air support and the leadership of Bradley provided was destroyed at no cost for the Italians. But Balbo favored to keep in the woods, more than advance and seize the TP in the port (Because Casablanca is attackable by 3 hexes and is on the coast! Pratically a death sentence for any advancing Italian.)
For now the balance of Morocco in the new year neatly favors the Axis; 1 GARR lost against 1 LND3 + Pilot, 1 Mot-ART, 1 ARM, 1 MECH of USA!
Germany started the year with an Air Action, as the Allies have the dominion of the air it was mandatory to send reinforcements, more Naval planes, and 2*8 Air Factor FW190A were railed in the zone.
Badoglio in Spain reorganizes too the 7 Air Factor Italian fighter based in Cadiz.
And the bad weather hits again (For the Impulse #5, 2nd Allied Impulse of the turn).
