beginners guide to BattleGround Italy 43-45

[zakblood]

so now losses




and remember some of mine, aren't looses as such, so far so good, it's very light for me, and minor atm for the axis, but turn 3 will change that somewhat now .

[zakblood]

so did i do any better or did the AI plan go a different way than mine?




in the air part, i'm the master, as the AI just doesn't have the strength the allies have

[zakblood]

but does the land go the same way, as now some combat has happen'ed, is the axis, mainly German side showing it's teeth as yet?




well it didn't all go my way, but some pockets surrendered so made it look better for me all the same

[zakblood]

as shown




with 17 Italian units and 1 German unit now out of play, with no losses to myself, i lick a few wounds and press on

[zakblood]

so on the start of turn 4, i start to squeeze the gap and close and empty the 2 last Italian pockets




and also prep a landing on the main land of Italy as well, around Catanzaro, while this is more of a feint etc, as i wish to cross mainly at the ferry points, i want as few unit left defending there as possible, so a landing higher up does this job and can be held with a airborne landing and a few troops until relieved by the force which will cross at the ferry, with luck[;)]

[zakblood]

and so ends turn 4



one pocket gone, another one soon to go, and the mass of units on the east side all trying to get a across a bombed ferry route, makes for easy pickings if your careful, or a bloodbath if you press too hard, as remember what i said about the Germans biting if caught / trapped.

so it matters not if some get away, just not the bulk of there forces

[zakblood]

with air going how i want it to go

[zakblood]

again on the start of turn 5, i take a look at the land side

[zakblood]

steady and in the right direction then it seems so far, so good, i've not pushed to hard or gone too deep as yet it seems with results and losses etc

[zakblood]

so again, with the AD sorted and done, i move again back onto the land planning phase and plan and do my moves and combat and see how the AI deals with me




with the western side of the Island now firmly in my hands, i move to support the western push, which while going well, has stopped somewhat with 2 large pockets of Germans and 1 of Italian units, while the Italian are in the port, it's not going to be easy so i probe and pull back, but don't attack the Germans this turn, as there too strong for me by a long way, so bide my time and leave along and let lack of supplies kick in, as when morale and supplies are lower, they will fall at less cost, i can wait

[zakblood]

back ground tasks, rail repair units have been shipped across on a safer route and start to prepare the lines, giving me the supplies later to push on into Italy.

2 more TF's are sent back and put into safer ports and have started prepping for another 2 landings, again it takes time, but atm it's on my side, with the Axis is full retreat, unless i push to hard, and then i will pay a large butchers bill for being too eager and aggressive etc

[zakblood]

so at the start of turn 6, lets take a look at the air results and losses so far

[zakblood]

with again the air going in the direction i want, i move on and leave the AD plan set again as shown before, only on the next turn i will alter it, as the Ferry points will then be mine hopefully

[zakblood]

and now the losses for ground recovered and all the hard work the unit have done so far, i have pushed too quick, or not quick enough?




maybe a bit slow on engaging the axis and not really attacking with as much force as i could have, but losses are low for me, so gains and time wise i'm more than happy for this session of testing and play

[zakblood]

so on the start of turn 6 i have 2 nuts to crack, one easier than the other, but both needed, so here we go, wish me luck[X(][8|] i'll need it, Infantry only on the port attack and then combined arms on the German units left in the pocket[;)]

[zakblood]

so this is how it looks now after i've done my turn on turn 6




so with Sicily in my hands, now some R&R and wait while the supplies catch up and then across the ferry we go, while we also wait for the prep points to mount up so the secondary parts can now also come into play, quite simple really, once you've done it a few times, on normal tbh, are fare easier than doing the Germans first imo

[zakblood]

so onto turn 7




my losses grow as i called in more support last turn for some large assaults to wipe some pockets clean, but overall, i'm still happy, so now i alter the ferry ones as no longer needed, and send them into other area's

[zakblood]

results from past combat




yes what a large number, and yes from pocket taken and cleaned, mostly surrendered tbh, with few losses taken myself, planning and combined arms helps, plus owning the land sea and air helps

[zakblood]

and now unit no longer in action from the last turn




tbh i got off light and was lucky i got as many as i did, it happens, if you're very lucky, play it alot and helps with me doing it for testing more than a few times, so yes about time i now moved onto a different level of difficulty, but as i've still not read the manual as yet, or learnt fully how to play properly some say[:D]

i'm ok for normal for now with AI help on.

[zakblood]

so onto turn 7, and lets see if my luck runs out, shall we[;)]




and yes it seems it does, as i've knocked the Italians out of the war, with most in the mainland surrendered with all the others elsewhere now ready to make there way over to my side and join the Allies[8D]