War in the West Campaign 43 Allied AAR

[marion61]

Turn 9

The air war in both the north and south are unchanged this turn. The picture below shows interdiction levels over sea and land around the front. I have moved air units to Corsica and have been expanding the airfields there. One note about 8th Air Force. My flak losses once I set their altitude above 20k went back down significantly. Over 200 crates saved and the crews are no longer calling Gen. Spaatz, Gen. Spaz! There doesn't seem to be any noticeable difference in hit rates at their new altitudes.

[marion61]

Axis forces are still withdrawing slowly from the boot this turn. I'm not sure if the slow withdrawal is by design or due to my interdiction. Maybe a little of both. They've ended this turn behind the Crati River which puts them out of reach for any significant attack this turn. I'm glad 6th and 7th British Armored Divisions are in the fight now. It makes pushing the axis line back and exploiting it a great deal easier until further up the peninsula of Italy. My only real push will be towards Taranto with 8th Army for now. I don't want to push the axis line to far north until I invade around Rome which is already set and prepping. I want the southern bases around the SE part of Italy for 15th Air Force to use. They will be in range of the Rumanian Oil fields from there. I've also started to swap out my P-40N's and P-47's air groups out in the Med. Air Force with the P-51B's for now. If I want escorts to Romania I need the longer range planes.

I did make one small mistake, which I've since corrected. I forgot to start expanding my small airfields on Sicily after I took them. I normally put my transport aircraft on them to fly supply to my front line units. This turn I resupplied my two advanced armor divisions finally, when I should have been doing this a couple of turns ago.

[marion61]

Turn 10

The map shows my Air Directives this turn for Italy. I've taken my recon planes off of Rome this turn because I want to know where all those axis unit pulled back to this time. My other Air Directives are set to interdiction to slow their withdrawal to the mountain line north of Naples. I have pretty much disbanded the Malta Air Force. I can transfer them to the Tactical Air Force and just create a 2nd Air Superiority Air Directive. Since I have plenty of fighters in Tactical Air Force now, I'm switching several squadrons to bombers. I have not flown any tactical or superiority missions over France or the Low Countries so far. I like to wait until the 2nd RAF Tactical and 9th Air Force get enough planes to conduct recon missions with plenty of escorts. I usually start once the bad weather starts to break in Feb. 44 and I still have time to change my mind on where exactly to invade from England.

[marion61]

Turn 10 Ground

I catch up to the axis ground forces behind the Crati River. 6th and 7th Armored bypass the river and conduct a hasty attack against the Herman Goering Div, which retreats. This should cause another withdrawal next turn since this line is broken and the axis units on the eastern coast are in danger of being cut off if they do not withdraw. The rail net is progressing fine, staying just behind the front. I do wish I could have just one more rail repair unit, because once I'm off the boot the rail repairs can get behind for awhile, and the 2nd rail repair unit is needed for the coming invasion.

Sardinia has been taking a little longer than usual and I think it was because the axis units didn't abandon the ports like they have in past games.

I do wonder why SU's cannot cross the ferry from Sicily to the boot of Italy. I have to move 5th Army across to the Boot to give 8th Army some SU's, which is on the Boot.

[marion61]

Turn 11

Not much has changed with the air war for now, so no directive changes needed, just adjusting the directive areas.

I've finally started to get reinforcements into the Med. First Indian Division landed at Crotone to support 8th Army. Most of my new reinforcements will be follow on forces for the planned invasion around Rome. My air forces are gaining interdiction points around Rome and soon several air fields on Corsica will be expanded. By the time the invasion goes in, I should have a comfortable interdiction level. I'd like to have Taranto and Foggia to before the invasion, but those are targets of opportunity and only if the axis run for their line north of Naples. I haven't really needed to create any new depots since I've been using the captured ports. Once I get into Italy north of Naples it becomes important to create depots close to the fighting.

Axis units appear to be moving farther north, only keeping some units in the passes between the mountains to slow my chase. Most of them will probably escape, but I should be able to bag a few once I hit open ground with my armored divisions. Now that most of those axis units are gone, I have about 3 new small air fields to use. Mostly I'll transfer the shorter ranged fighters into these airbases.

[marion61]

Turn 12

I've switched 8th Air Force to attacking oil and sub pens, to aircraft factories and fuel. I'm sure the Italian Luftflotte is feeling pretty used by now and I want to start taking out aircraft reinforcements as much as possible. I tried this tactic a few versions ago and if I start it now, by Christmas the Luftwaffe will not be flying very many air directive sorties anymore.

Axis forces in Italy created a new line of defense at the first set of mountains outside the Boot. Once again I attacked the Herman Goering Division, in a mountain hex, and they retreated. I had a unit with enough MP's to take the hex, and putting two more axis divisions in danger of being cut off. The other parts of this front are just pursuing at their leisure. It would take deliberate attacks to budge other parts of the axis front and I don't want them running north just yet. The invasion from Sicily is gaining prep points and seems on schedule for now, except for one TF having to wait on the securing of Sardinia. Sardinia has taken longer to take than I had planned since I wanted the units taking Sardinia for the new invasion. May have to do without a sixth invasion beach, or it will come in a couple weeks behind.

[marion61]

Turn 14

Turn 13 saw no significant changes on land, sea, or air. Axis forces at the top of the Italian Boot have put up a strong line there.

Turn 14-Hoping to receive some air reinforcements soon for the 2nd RAF and 9th Air Force. With the weather turning bad my Strategic Air will not be flying as many sorties. The weather in the Med. is not ever usually so bad that you can't fly most sorties. I'm still losing a lot of crates to operational losses. I've checked my group fatigue numbers, and they are all below 10%. I noticed the sharp increase in operational losses starting with version .40. So far my recon of the beach's around Rome appear empty. The picture shows the air directive options screen for RAF Bomber Command. Lots of red in the Ruhr. It will take construction units awhile to fix it all.

[marion61]

Turn 14 Ground

8th Army has been stalled out and is jockeying for position to get better attack odds. I may not be able to break out of this area till my invasion goes in north of here. Then it will be every German for himself!

Corsica and Sardinia are finally secured and construction on repairs and expanding air fields continues. I need those bases on Corsica expanded for the Tactical Air Force so they can cover my invasion in Italy and later on to cover the beach's in the South of France. I wasted a few turns worth of prep points trying to include the Ranger's and the SAS into the invasion. For some reason it would not allow me to assign these to the amphib. HQ's and I stacked them in the hex, which cost more prep points. I should still be able to invade on turn 17 or 18. 1st Army has become active in Britain. I changed a few leaders around, but my best ones are still in Italy.

One a historical event did happen, and I wish I had screen shotted it. Gen. George S. Patton's political rating improves to 7!!! I guess you can teach old dogs, new tricks.

[marion61]

Turns 15-21

There were several major developments, but not much to show on the maps. On turn 15 I turned 8th Air Force bombers to aircraft factories for now.

In the Med. I had started to attack the areas around Rome to soften up any defenses that my recon didn't show and to take some planes out. I was only going to have 5 invasion beach's, with a sixth two weeks later. On the ground there have been no significant gains. The axis units formed a good defensive line at the top of the Boot and has been frustrating 8th Army for weeks. North of Naples was starting to be the new axis line, recon showed.

On turn 17, with bad weather moving in, I attempted to launch my invasion around Rome. The German's had moved in several new air groups on their turn and had taken control of the seas around the invasion site from me. Over the next few turns I chew up the Italian Luftwaffe, but cannot regain interdiction control around Rome. On turn 19 I decide to shift the entire invasion further north where it will be closest to Corsica. From the picture it's obvious that 8th Army is making very slow progress. I've never attempted an invasion this far north in Italy. I'll be interested to see how it goes. So far I have chewed up over 800 Axis planes on the ground. I guess the AI really doesn't want me to invade there.

[marion61]

Turn 23

Axis air units in Italy finally pulled back to the north of Rome. Most of the air groups are empty if the recon reports are correct. On turn 22 I moved the bulk of the Tactical Air Force onto Corsica to make sure I had control of the area around Piombino, and to reach those axis air units that pulled back. The weather had me worried, but it looks like I will make the invasion this turn.

The units going ashore all have the best support units I can give them. I set the invasion to cover a larger area than I normally would. I'm hoping with all the units the axis have down south, that they won't have enough to contain me in all directions. My main goal once ashore is to cut the peninsula off and trap as many units as I can down below my lines. Most will get evacuated, but I'll bag a few. The picture shows my new invasion sites.

[marion61]

Turn 24 Southern Italy

My invasion above Rome has had the desired effect down south. Most of the axis units that could escape are doing so. I'll probably only capture a couple of divisions with 8th Army. 6th and 7th Armored have pushed to cut off land units south of Foggia. Now 8th Army can take Taranto and Naples and the air fields in the area for 15th Air Force to use.

[marion61]

Turn 24 Italian Invasion

7th Army led by Gen. Patton landed successfully at the port of Piombino. This was supported by the 1st British Airborne Division. I don't recommend invading ports themselves, but around them. Invading around them will give you 3 ports instead of two once you clear the defenders if any out. Also an amphib. HQ automatically creates a size 2 port and Piombino is only a size 1 port and it didn't change so taking the port wasn't a good idea. 7th Army expands the beach head and gets follow on forces on shore.

5th Army le by Gen. Clark landed successfully with IV US Corps in the center flanked on the north by II Corps/7th Army and flanked on the south by V British Corps. V British Corps made significant progress by breaching the axis lines with the New Zealand mech. division. To help ensure no axis units escape by rail and land I'm planning a new air drop on the eastern side of Italy to cut the rails with the 509th Para Regiment. I just need to get my Mech. division over that way so I can set the air drop. I've also crammed as many planes as I can from Tactical Air onto the new air bases.

[marion61]

Turn 25

7th Army had the bulk of the axis response forces block any real attempt for a breakout in the north end of the invasion. II Corps is just holding the line north, while IV Corps makes very little progress either. V British Corps has besieged the port of Civitavecchia, while the 82nd US Airborne has taken Rome and the area just south of it without a fight. The 2nd NZ has pushed far enough to allow for the airborne drop to cut the rails north of Pescara. V British Corps is going to be stretched very thin taking up blocking positions across the peninsula. The 1st FF Corps will be coming ashore this turn also to help V British Corps and IV US Corps gain some momentum. 8th Army is chasing down the remains of the axis forces still in Southern Italy. Only escape they have now is from a port and my interdiction should get some of them.

[marion61]

Turn 26

Bad weather moved in this turn, but I still managed to make significant progress east and south of the invasion beach's. The axis did push the 1st British Airborne back into the port of Piombino, but they won't have the odds next turn to push me out of the port so it's not a major worry. I'm also going to beef them up now that they are going to be on the ground awhile. I'll assign them support units. I try to assign each division (armor first) one each of a tank battalion, tank destroyer battalion, and an engineer battalion. 7th Army made a small gain east of Piombino, while IV US Corps remains static. V British Corps moved into blocking positions and the 509th Para Regiment made it's drop north of Pescara. With 8th Army moving north now, I'm probably on the beach's to stay. Once I expand the airfields around Rome and the invasion beach's I can move 15th Air Force further north. So far my supplies are getting thru and there are no major supply problems. I've been repairing the rails as fast as possible and putting ports, and rail yards on priority repairs. I have the admin. points to spare on them.

[marion61]

Turn 27

5th Army is on the beaches to stay. I've consolidated the beach heads and have sent the 1st NZ Motorized across the middle of Italy to cut off any troops trying to escape by ground. 8th Army is mopping up down in southern Italy and sending the armor divisions north as fast as possible. I need to get the large airfields around Taranto and Foggia up and running so I can get 15th AF established. Only escape left for Axis units is to go by sea. 7th Army is sitting on Corsica waiting for the transports to finish the present invasion. I'll send two Amphib. TF's back to England so I will have 5 TF's for the invasion of Northern France. I'll have 3 left to invade Southern France.

The Axis response time to my invasion was fast, but they couldn't contain it. I'm sure the AI might start dipping into it's reserves to slow me down in Italy. Invading further north actually got me back on track where I wanted to be at this point, but bad weather is moving in.

[marion61]

Turn 31

On turn 28, Axis units conducted a major attack on the British 6th Airborne Division. They pushed the 6th Airborne back into Piombino and I almost lost the invasion port. The attack was so costly for the Axis units involved that I managed to gain quite a bit of territory the next turn. Most of my air attacks in Italy are geared towards reducing supplies and movement as much as possible at this point. Once the lines solidify again I will go after troops again as well as supplies.

Got the bulk of 7th Army on the left flank finally. I needed the extra units that 7th Army had sitting around on Corsica doing nothing. This turn saw the Axis giving up a lot of ground, and if they stay put several of them will be cut off next turn. 5th Army is in the middle of Italy. They are making gains, but this area seems to be the most defended. 8th Army has the right flank and is trying to take Ancona. Other elements of 8th Army finish mopping up down in Southern Italy. 15th AG is going to have tough going soon when it reaches the mountain passes. Also several divisions from 7th Army will be packed up and sent to Southern France for that invasion. Supplies are sluggish getting thru at the moment. Still trying to get all the rails fixed. I'm using Air Transport Freight for my armor and mech divisions.

[marion61]

Turn 34

The past few turns saw little action. Most of Italy had bad weather and it reduced my CV's to the point where it would have been pointless. I used the time to refit most of my high CV units. Not a lot of airstrikes either.

This turn saw each army make significant gains. 7th Army armored units almost penetrated to Arezzo and encircled several units along with elements of 5th Army. 5th Army surrounded several regiments and is almost to Arezzo from the south. They have also opened up the passes, but I really don't have enough movement left to exploit it. It will have Axis troops packed in there next turn. The bulk of 8th Army is in place and they captured Ancona. Now I have a depot to work from and I'm moving Coastal Air assets into the area to ensure I get supplies on this side of Italy by sea. The next line of resistance is being erected I see from recon reports from Arezzo across. I'm wanting to break that line also before it gets too strong because I see another line of forts just north of that one which will have time to prepare before I can reach it.

[marion61]

Turn 36 Air

I've included this shot from the end of the Air Execution Phase. I've started my recon of Northern France and once the weather clears some I will let 9th AF and 2nd RAF Tactical off the leash to destroy as many planes as possible. Weather is still slowing down my bombing campaign, but once the weather clears some I will start hitting rail yards in the hope that it slows the Axis response to my invasion of Northern France. All my Air Directive's are set to medium intensity, but I'm losing a lot of crates from operational losses. Axis sorties seem to have gone down significantly the past few turns. This may just be due to weather, but I hope it's from lack of fuel.

[marion61]

Turn 36 Ground

7th Army managed to gain in several places and the most important was Livorno. I needed that port since it's a size 4. It will help with supply issues. The supply issues aren't bad yet, but rail conversion is going slow with only two RR Engineer units. 5th Army took Arezzo and cleaned up the encircled units. 8th Army took another port and surrounded several units. V British Corps is trying to clean up some really tough Paratroopers near Ascoli Pice. They are being quite hard to budge and have no depot to pull from. Resistance is becoming tougher each turn and soon I have to move some divisions off the line.

[marion61]

Turn 37

Not a lot of action on the Italian Peninsula the past turn as bad weather has suspended most operations. I've set most units to refit and have started moving the divisions that I plan on using in Southern France to airfields and ports.

I've moved two TF's back to England for my invasion of Northern France. I've started to stack my invasion divisions with assault engineers and my most valuable support units. From the recon photos I've taken, I'm planning on invading the Pas de Calais. I've targeted my TF's this turn and should be ready by the 1st part of May if the weather is good. I have placed Gen. Patton in charge of 1st Army which will be the southern part of the invasion near Dieppe. I've placed FM Montgomery in charge of 21st British Army Group. Once 12th AG becomes active I will put Gen Bradley in charge. I'm still debating on a commander for the British 2nd Army. Gen Eisenhower is in charge at SHAEF.