Sicily 43

[John B.]

So, Skynet is clearly becoming self-aware as the AI gave itself two turns in a row. Here in the center it is a hard fought and see saw battle I made progress at the western circle but was pushed back and it looks like british armor is across the river in the eastern circle. I may send more of brigade Schmaltz to shore up the defenses here, I'm just glad that there are no bridges so that should hamper their resupply flow. I'm currently sitting on a significant victory but mainly because I still hold most of the island and there have been high allied casualties.

[John B.]

In the West there are no German formations and the allies were able to punch a hole in my lines and get part of the second armor division to the rear. However, they persist in not guarding their supply line and I may be able to blow the two bridges in my turn. Still, sooner or later they will get through this line and then just mop up here.

The update message just said that Mussolini was overthrown. I wonder if this will affect the Italian units in any way?

[John B.]

We're into Day 11 and the Allies continue to apply relentless pressure in the center. They have taken very heavy casualties but have, again, pushed across the river and disorganized a German Panzer Grenadier battalion. There just is not too much available to keep throwing them back. And, while I keep putting them out of supply, counter attacking means giving up my entrenchments. All is quiet on the coast which is a bit odd since the Brits have three very powerful stacks well supplied and well organize at the bridge. As long as they sit there, I'm winning so I guess that I should not complain. But, oh for some heavy guns to shell those overstacks!

[John B.]

Down south, Patton has clearly been reading the riot act to the second armored division. As you can see, it is starting to push aside the Italians along the coast road. There really is not that much to stop him with as the Italian divisions are pretty weak and being battered by the American tank units. My boys on the bridges to the rear held their ground this turn, however, so that's got to be hurting allied supply (although Agrigento may be a port that would be supplying second armored, I"m not sure about that).

[John B.]

We're into turn 13 and the Axis had some nice attacks. The Italians destroyed a battalion from the 1st US ID.

[John B.]

In the north/west there is really bitter fighting at the river with the 1st Canadian division getting pushed back from their bridge head. Still all quiet along the coast!

[John B.]

In that previous screen shot the circle and arrow is from a fresh regiment of the 29th Panzer Grenidier division. It has to go out to the west to block the allies because . . .

[John B.]

The Italian line is creaking loudly. The second armored continues to expand along the coast road while there is a possible breakthrough in the center with only the lone Italian engineer unit currently between the Americans and Palermo. That's why the new regiment is headed that way!

[John B.]

Day 14 did not see too much action. The allies made only a few attacks and suffered some pretty heavy losses. The Germans did three bombardments and eliminated 20 squads or so. But, my view is that every slow turn is a Axis victory.

[John B.]

In the South the 2nd armored did not make much progress or really do much of anything. The brave Italian battalion (circled) in the south held out against two different assaults by a battalion of rangers. In the center, however, Truscott is pushing his 3rd ID up the center and his spearheads are now about 1/2 the way across the island.

[John B.]

Not much of anything in the West. The Brits continue to stand pat and tie up a lot of combat power that is doing nothing. How very Monty-esque. I'm off on vacation for a few days so there won't be any updates until next week!

[John B.]

Back to the battle! In the center there has been see saw fighting. I pushed the Brits out of a hex and then withdrew. They did not counter attack this turn as the units there are all firmly in the red in terms of health. Further to the West I've put a regiment in the path of the oncoming Americans that seems to have deflected them a bit from their push to Palermo.

[John B.]

Near the coast the Americans basically spent the day cleaning up behind their lines. I've notice that the AI really does not use its artillery for bombardment missions. Oh well, not my problem.

[John B.]

Well, turn 16 has come and gone. In the Center I did a couple of bombardments but figured I have what the allies want so I can afford to sit tight. I did get a little greedy and sent a panzer battalion after a British company. It pushed it back but then got stuck. In the east the Brits finally launched an attack and the fortified Italian battalion held firm with very heavy British casualties.

There are reports that German troops are massing at the Brenner pass. I wonder what happens to the Italians when the Germans occupy Italy. I hope they don't go away!

[John B.]

In the West the American really did not make any progress. They pushed across the river on the coast and pushed around some weak units but nothing really to write home about. I'm leaving the Germans on the road to Palermo and they'll dig in to see if I can slow things down there.

[John B.]

Just a slight delay in getting this posted.

The Germans launched several local offensives (areas marked in black) and destroyed an American infantry battalion. The Brits (blue) near the coast launched two attacks on that lone Italian battalion across the river and both attacks were bloody failures.

[John B.]

At the other end of the front the Americans basically spent the day pushing the Italians in the marked area deeper into the pocket. But, the Americans did not really make any progress. The allies still have a lot of time, but they stopped gaining ground about 5 days ago.

[MikeJ19]

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoy reading how other people play this game. I always learn something.

[John B.]

Mike, Sure thing. My progress is not as fast as I'd like but I really enjoy this game for battles like this!

[John B.]

Turn 18 is now in the books. The Germans (sorry, Axis [;)]) dug in and bombarded the large British stacks in the east. The Brits, meanwhile finally forced their way across the river with very heavy casualties. I"m not sure what this will gain them as it now looks like they're in the valley of death surrounded by dug in German troops. Still, they need to push as some point to get me off the island.