Turn 5, 14 July 43
British...
The German and Italian units are intermingled in a fortified line stretching west/northwest from Catania. The British infantry have no hope to just smash through on their own. The 5th and 50th Divisions are holding a position along the Gerbini River, while the Canadians are moving behind them northbound. In a major boost to British firepower, 4 armored brigades and a guards brigade landed at Syracuse, and are following the path the 82nd Airborne took earlier in the week. With the tanks available to support an attack, I suspect an operation to break through near Adrano would be somewhat successful. But more scouting of the Axis line is needed before any plans can be made. The Adrano-Traoina sector of the Etna Line is the only part that hasn't been investigated.
Americans...
II Corps is an organizational mess right now, with divisions mixed with each other, clogging the roads north of Nicosia. The 82nd Airborne is the only full division deployed in line, between Traoina and Nicosia. I really want to get the 1st and 45th divisions up and ready as soon as possible, and get pressure on the Axis line between Fan Fratello and Santo Stefano. Palermo won't be available for seaborne operations right away, until after the provisional corps captures the city. Even after its capture, it's far behind my lines, and would require a major shift of units from the front lines, in the face of strong enemy troops. In a few days, the 2nd Armored will land on the island, and will make haste to reach the northern coast and support any breakthroughs. I wouldn't be surprised to see an earlier breach in the Etna Line by the armor-supported Canadians. But we'll see how that goes.
