1940 Battle of Pindus AAR

[rhinobones]

Thanks for the posting, the picture helps to put the battle and terrain in perspective. You can see the snowcapped mountains on the horizon. I didn’t see this view during my research.
Note the road sign to the right; 50 Ioannina. Ioannina is one of the scenario’s random primary objectives. Since I mostly deal in hypothetical scenarios, this little bit of historical accuracy is an anomaly.

Regards, RhinoBones

[rhinobones]

Turn 7 – Royal Hellenic

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T07 Gk Koritsa.jpg (459.2 KiB) Viewed 1121 times

51st Rgt. The regiment concentrates three assaults (#10, 20 and 35) against an Italian heavy weapons battalion in an attempt to make an escape route for a pair of infantry companies. The Italians hold their ground and get the best of the fight inflicting heavy casualties on the Greek’s third attack (#35).
Most other attacks are with artillery and yield few Italian losses.

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Greek 10th Rgt and elements of the 42nd Rgt conduct a pair of assaults on Italian positions with attack #11 inflicting moderate-to-heavy Italian casualties. Greeks also perform multiple artillery bombardments, mostly to make life difficult for the invaders. Otherwise, the Greeks are content to hold the existing trenches.
In the mountains facing the Italians, Greeks have been able to build up well defended positions. With battalion size strong points and supporting artillery, the Italians have entrenched and made an advance toward Kalpaki very difficult.

Further South the 24th Rgt harasses the 131st with a minor assault and a bunch of artillery attacks. The Greeks have succeeded in drawing the Italians into mountainous terrain where defenders have the advantage. They also have a flanking position from which a raid into the Italian supply line is possible.

[rhinobones]

Turn 8 – Regio Esercito

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Koritsa Attacks 1 through 11

139th Rgt. The Greek formation opposing the 139th has been identified as the 35th Rgt. An assault is made against units approaching from the hills South of the road, light casualties are inflicted and the Greek units pushed back.

3rd Alpini Div. The Pindus Detachment is attacked causing moderate casualties and driving the Greeks back. The objective is to clear the road of opposition and advance quickly to Vovousa.

47th Bari Div. Maximum effort is put into attack #10. The defenders are successfully driven out with very heavy casualties and encirclement of the infantry units completed.
With little success several other assaults are carried out along the front.

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Kalpaki Attacks 1 through 11

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. The divisions mass their artillery for bombardments of concentrated Greek positions. Bombardments #3 and #4 are more successful than most in that light-to-moderate casualties are inflicted. Infantry units consolidate positions and dig in along the road and mountains.

131st Centauro Div. Armored battalions are extracted from the left flank and sent to join the assault towards Ioannina. Attack #6 fails to move the Greeks out of the way but does manage to cause moderate enemy casualties.
To defend the left flank, mostly company size divisional support units are deployed to defend against the Greek 24th Rgt. The Italian commander needs to monitor the gap between the 51st and 131st Divisions to ensure the Greeks do not try to exploit a soft spot.

[rhinobones]

Turn 8 – Regio Esercito Part 2

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Korista Attacks 12 thru 21

139th Rgt. A battalion moves into the position vacated by the Greeks and a weak attack #14 is conducted. Casualties are minimal and afterwards the Italians dig in for the night.

3rd Alpini Div. A combined arms attack #21 is made against the Pindus Detachment which retreats off the road and into the hills. Even though the detachment has been under continuous attack, it is still battalion strength with organic artillery support.

47th Bari Div. The Greek infantry is assaulted from four sides and eliminated. This reduces the Greek 51st combat strength to about half strength. The 47th is now ordered to clean up the remaining enemy units and deploy their battalions on the road to Vovousa.

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Kalpaki Attacks 12 thru 21

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. Divisions try another concentrated artillery attack #13. However, this time the Greeks keep their heads down and losses are minimal. The Italians used up a lot of supply for little gain. They Italians spend the rest of the day improving their entrenchments.

131st Centauro Div. The armored battalions attack again #12 and this time the Greeks are driven out of their position. Greek casualties are moderate. The Italian commander still believes that his armored force will be able to push through the 24th Rgt, turn to the North and make a drive toward Kalpaki.

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Close up of attack #15 and the destruction of the Greek infantry battalions. The Greek 51st Rgt has been reduced in strength and has been spread out against the Pindus Mountains. The Italians will still need to clean out the stragglers, but as an organized fighting force the regiment is finished.

[rhinobones]

Turn 8 – Royal Hellenic

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T08 Gk Koritsa.jpg (474.58 KiB) Viewed 1088 times

35th Rgt. Is assigned to guard the northern Koritsa/Vovousa mountain road against Italian incursion. They have made a few ground attacks to keep the Italians busy, but otherwise relied mostly on artillery to harass the enemy.

51st Rgt. The regiment attempts to regroup and form a coherent defense against the Italians. They launch attacks #9 and #20 in an attempt to isolate an Italian unit and delay their advance.

42nd Rgt. This regiment is split between the Koritsa and Kalpaki fronts. Units facing the Italian 47th are disorganized but are able to move into a blocking position along the southern road. They are vastly outnumbered and doomed if reinforcements do not arrive soon.

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Greek 10th Rgt and elements of the 42nd Rgt combine to make a series of three assaults (#7,23,38) on the South end of the 51st Div’s line. The attacks are heavy and result in moderate Greek losses. The 51st hold its positions.
The 24th Rgt continues to threaten the flank and manage to make an attack #6 which pushes Italian armor back to the river crossing. For now, the Greeks are successful in blocking the road to Ioannina and Kalpaki.

[rhinobones]

Turn 9 – Regio Esercito

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Koritsa Attacks 1 thru 8

139th Rgt. No combat initiated by the regiment. Troops dig in, sight mortar support and get some rest before the enemy strikes.

3rd Alpini Div. The division’s immediate objective is to encircle and eliminate a Greek heavy infantry unit which has penetrated the Italian lines. To isolate the unit the first step is to complete the encirclement by driving off its companion infantry company. The company is assaulted but it retreats before combat (RBC) and an Italian infantry battalion occupies the position completing the envelopment. Italians attack #4 the surrounded enemy using the available battalions. Greeks suffer heavy losses but hold their positions and repulse the Italians. With light fading and the troops exhausted, the Italian commander decides to wait until tomorrow before attacking again.
Meanwhile, an assault #3 is launched against the Pindus Detachment. Casualties are light and the detachment is pushed back to the road. This small victory brings the Italians one step closer to the first objective.

47th Bari Div. The 47th is also in the process of performing an envelopment. Attack #1 is intended to push back a Greek infantry company which is protecting the escape route for a heavy infantry company and its companion infantry unit. The attack is successful in reducing the escape route to a single hex; however, insufficient troops are available to complete the envelopment.
Along the road assault #5 inflicts sever casualties on the Greek units. This road does not appear to be as heavily defended as the road taken by the 3rd Div. The Italian commander expects to make good progress toward Vovousa.
Further South the division’s CCNN regiments are in contact with elements of the Greek 42nd Rgt. This action is for protection of the flank and does not directly help secure the objective. The Greeks probably see this action as an attack on Kalpaki and are defending accordingly. The Italian commander hopes to disengage as soon as possible and use the CCNN to support an advance on Vovousa.

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Kalpaki Attacks 1 thru 8

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. The divisions make two assaults against the Greek lines. Attack #2 results in moderate Greek casualties and attack #7 is considerably more effective. The 51st Div units in attack #7 advance into the retreated Greek trenches and gain a better defensive position in the mountains. Their position is support by howitzer and mortar units.

131st Centauro Div. Stages attack #6, forces the defenders to retreat with moderate losses, and crosses the river with their armored battalions. Greek resistance does not appear to be more than battalion strength.
On the North flank, company size units entrench to defend against enemy actions which could threaten the division’s logistics train.

[rhinobones]

Turn 9 – Regio Esercito Part 2

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Koritsa Attacks 9 thru 13

3rd Alpini Div. The Pindus Detachment is attacked a second time #11. Greek casualties are light but the Italians are able to advance closer to Vovousa.
The units surrounding the trapped Greek heavy infantry unit are too exhausted to finish the attack. They dig in for the night and prepare for tomorrow’s fight.

47th Bari Div. The division is unable to mount ground assaults but can bombard Greek units blocking the road. Artillery attack #12 inflicts an incredible 15% casualties. The Greek units were presumably unprepared, disorganized, did not dig in or were in some combination of these factors during the bombardment.

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Kalpaki Attacks 9 thru 13

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. The divisions conduct minor attack #10, primarily to attrit the enemy. No ground is gained.

131st Centauro Div. Attack #9, the armored battalions bang away at the Greek’s mountain positions in a fruitless attempt to make a breakthrough. The Greeks defend and hold their ground. Losses on both sides are very light. This small skirmish makes it clear that tanks and mountains don’t mix.

[rhinobones]

Turn 9 – Royal Hellenic

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35th Rgt. No ground attacks were made. Offensive action is limited to bombardments which cause no damage.

51st Rgt. The Italians made another gamey move by using a HQ unit in the envelopment. Greeks retaliate by attacking with the heavy infantry company which forces the HQ unit to RBC. This breaks the encirclement and gives the Greeks a very small escape window however, the Greek unit is exhausted and unable to make good the escape.
To the East Greek reinforcements are observed forming an in-depth defense of the mountain roads to Vovousa.

42nd Rgt. Attack #3 is accompanied by a number of artillery bombardments. The Greeks suffer the heavier casualties and fail to push the Italians off the road.

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Greek 10th Rgt and elements of the 42nd concentrate attacks #10 and #20 against the southern end of the 51st Div’s line. The Italians lose their mountain entrenchments and fall back after taking moderate casualties. Greek gunners bombard along the entire Italian front causing minimal casualties.

The 24th Rgt digs in and appears to have some reinforcements arriving from the Ioannina sector. A few artillery attacks are made with little effect.

[rhinobones]

Turn 10 – Regio Esercito

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Koritsa Attacks 1 thru 10

139th Rgt. The regiment makes ill-conceived attack #4 on the entrenched Greek position and gets the dirty end of the stick. Italian casualties are twice that of the Greeks.

3rd Alpini Div. The Greek heavy infantry unit is finally enveloped and attack #6 is conducted. The outnumbered, out of supply unit is completely eliminated. With this problem resolved a regiment of infantry and supporting units can move to the east and join the push on Vovousa.
Attack #9 against the Pindus Detachment results in heavy Greek losses and an Italian advance. Along the mountain road Italians have amassed a heavy infantry regiment and a regiment of artillery support. The first objective is in sight.

47th Bari Div. The first order of business is to eliminate the Greek pocket by closing its escape route. To do so attack #3 is launched which drives an offending Greek unit away and enables the Italians to close the noose. Greek casualties are substantial.
Attack #8 is intended to clear the southern route to Vovousa, but the assault fails to achieve any meaningful results. What is needed is support from the units engaged in rear area clean-up.

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Kalpaki Attacks 1 thru 10

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. The divisions concentrate forces to conduct attack #10. Moderate casualties are inflicted and no ground is gained.

131st Centauro Div. The division has become spread out with no definitive defensive line formed. Italian units have penetrated the perimeter and are engaging from multiple directions. In spite of the poor defensive position, the Italian commander continues with the battle plan and launches attacks #1 and #5. Both attacks gain ground but Greek casualties are moderate. Before the division progresses much further it will need to clean up the rear area and secure the perimeter.

[rhinobones]

Turn 10 – Regio Esercito Part 2

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Koritsa Attacks 11 thru 19

139th Rgt. The regiment makes a second failed assault while taking moderate losses. The attack does help to expose a second Greek battalion providing artillery support to the Greek front line.

3rd Alpini Div. The Greek 51st Rgt is effectively destroyed. The isolated Greek units attempted to Retreat Before Combat and were eliminated in the process. Divisional units providing the containment are now free to move West and join the march on Vovousa.
Units already at the front perform attack #18 against the Pindus Detachment with minimal effect. Casualties are low and the Greeks hold their ground.

47th Bari Div. The division conducts attacks #15, #17 and #19. Mostly they just trade casualties while little advance is made. The operations are considered a failure.

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T10 Itl Kalpaki Attacks 11 thru 19



Kalpaki Attacks 11 thru 19

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. It is quiet on the Kalpaki front. All units consolidate gains and dig deeper.

131st Centauro Div. Attacks #13 and #14 manage to push the Greeks back while inflicting minimal losses. Attacks #11 and #12 fail to gain ground or inflict much damage. In fact, the Italian 131st Recon Company is battered with 11% casualties.

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131st attacks #20 and #21 are designed to push the Greeks away from the mountain road and open an avenue to Kalpaki. Little ground is gained however, the Italian commander is able to identify the defenders as part of the Greek 15th Rgt. Arrival of regimental size reinforcements means that the roads to Kalpaki are better defended than originally thought.

[rhinobones]

Turn 10 – Royal Hellenic

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35th Rgt. A single ground attack is made, which causes few casualties on either side, and the Greeks follow up with multiple bombardments. A HQ unit located just to the North of the 35th moves from the area of Arrenes in a reconnaissance mode toward the Italian positions. Movement of the HQ has been noticed by the Italians.

51st Rgt is reduced to a few remnant units. As a cohesive military formation, it no longer exists but could still cause trouble by threatening supply lines and tying up Italian units.

42nd Rgt has been joined by elements of the 8th Div HQ formation. Together they pepper Italian CCNN regiments with artillery fire and block the Italian 47th from moving South toward Kalpaki.

Cavalry Brigade. This formation is a newly arrived reinforcement and immediately takes up positions along the southern road to Vovousa. Attacks #25 and #40 are launched with little effect other than to show the Italians that the advance to Vovousa will be contested.

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Greek 10th Rgt and elements of the 42nd concentrate attacks #9 and #26 against the 51st Div’s line. Greek casualties are moderate and the attacks fail to dislodge the Italian. The ground assaults are followed up with a series of artillery attacks which hit every front-line Italian infantry position.

The 24th Rgt and 15th Rgt combine to launch the most intense and concentrated assaults of the day. Together they launch 13 individual assaults. The most successful attack splits the Italian 31st Rgt’s 2nd Armor Battalion into company level subunits however, the Greeks fail to follow up and occupy the position. The Italians do not suffer sever casualties but their organization, and battle plans, are disrupted.

[rhinobones]

Turn 10 – Casualty Report

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Counting just the infantry types the Italians have lost about 545 squads/teams and the Greeks 834 squads/teams. The complete elimination of a few Greek companies has probably helped keep the Italian Kill Ratio above the Greek’s ratio. After Turn 5 the Italian Kill Ratio was 1 to 1.56 to and now it’s 1 to 1.53.

This analysis does not factor in the loss of equipment (trucks, mechanized vehicles, artillery, etc.) or animals.

[Cpl GAC]

1) Do you find yourself dividing support units in smaller-scale scenarios? (Artillery, anti-tank, etc) At this scale I'd think the player would need to more proactively create combined arms teams whereas at the division scale and up it's more baked into the computations.

2)What made you decide to turn off the; active disengagement, new supply, and new mud/snow rules?

3) What benefit is derived from the two icon supply units?

It's really well done. I love the equipment graphics matching the icons. That looks like it was a lot of work but a great detail.

[rhinobones]

1) Do you find yourself dividing support units in smaller-scale scenarios? (Artillery, anti-tank, etc) At this scale I'd think the player would need to more proactively create combined arms teams whereas at the division scale and up it's more baked into the computations.

The primary regimental combat/maneuver units are battalions with support units company size. So far I (as the Italians) have not had a need to subdivide; subdividing does come with a penalty paid in unit Proficiency. In the previous scenario version regiments were broken down to individual companies but I found that moving a couple hundred companies made the game far too tedious. Note that “company” is the smallest size allowed.
I left the Greek side all as companies since the PO is no good at dividing battalions and forming combined arms. As seen in the screenshots the PO is pretty good at combining individual companies into battalion sized formations. Also, the computer doesn’t seem to mind pushing around a couple hundred counters.

2)What made you decide to turn off the; active disengagement, new supply, and new mud/snow rules?

I’m not a fan of Active Disengagement. I find it unrealistic with disengagement penalties being way too severe. Turned it off and compensated by increasing the cost to move into/thru an enemy ZOC.
My understanding is that New Supply was a fix needed to make older scenario supply compatible with TOAW IV. Not needed for scenarios native to TOAW IV.
New Mud & Snow turns melted snow into mud. In this scenario there is no thawing and I didn’t want the possibility of mud to occur.

3) What benefit is derived from the two icon supply units?

This is mostly a personal quirk. I see it as a transportation unit used to carry supplies, so I used the wheel to symbolize the unit. Also, I think it looks a little bit better than the supply moon.

Loogistics Unit.JPG (442.96 KiB) Viewed 937 times

Regards, RhinoBones

[Curtis Lemay]

My understanding is that New Supply was a fix needed to make older scenario supply compatible with TOAW IV. Not needed for scenarios native to TOAW IV.

1. New Supply was a TOAW-III feature - long predating TOAW-IV.

2. The reason for New Supply was enhanced realism. Old Supply only had four step-levels and distance was measured in hexes. New Supply has infinite levels and distance is measured in MPs. It also has the added benefit of Variable Supply Points.

Compare 9.1.7.2 with 9.1.7.3 for the details.

[rhinobones]

1. New Supply was a TOAW-III feature - long predating TOAW-IV.
2. The reason for New Supply was enhanced realism. Old Supply only had four step-levels and distance was measured in hexes. New Supply has infinite levels and distance is measured in MPs. It also has the added benefit of Variable Supply Points.

Appreciate the correction and enlightenment. Maybe I got the New Supply Rules confused with High Supply.
Agree, having supply distribution tied to movement/hex is much more realistic.

Regards

[rhinobones]

Turn 11 – Regio Esercito

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Koritsa Attacks 1 thru 10

139th Rgt. Attack #5 trades casualties with the enemy and the Italians are able to gain little ground. This is a blocking mission and territory is not a priority.

3rd Alpini Div. Attack #6 inflicts heavy losses on an isolated heavy infantry company and pushes the unit up against the impassable mountains. Italians surround the unit and move in for the kill.
A second attack eastward along the mountain road is also successful, however, Greek reinforcements can be seen coming to the rescue. The reinforcements appear to be at least a battalion in strength.

47th Bari Div. The division runs into the newly deployed Greek Cavalry Brigade and in attack #10 causes moderate losses in the lead elements. Several of the division’s battalions are still in the mountains chasing down stray Greek units and should soon be available to support the advance.
The CCNN regiments are still engaged on the southern flank with units from the Greek 8th Division. This action does not directly help with the drive on Vovousa, but it does keep the enemy from disrupting the division’s logistics train.

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Kalpaki Attacks 1 thru 10

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. The 23rd conducts a ground assault and the 51st bombards Greek entrenchments. Both attacks are successful. The Italian commander is content to attack only when the odds are favorable and win the kill ratio. Gaining ground is not a priority for these divisions.

131st Centauro Div. The Greek 15th Rgt appears to have pulled out of the southern front, their movement and destination is unknown. Meanwhile the 131st conducts attacks #1 and #4 against the Greek 24th Rgt. Both cause heavy Greek casualties with the enemy withdrawing after Attack #4. Their withdrawal allows the Italians to straighten out the line.
The Italian commander would like to start moving the Division North toward Kalpaki, but some pesky Greek units need to be cleaned up first.

[rhinobones]

Turn 11 – Regio Esercito Part 2

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Koritsa Attacks 11 thru 18

3rd Alpini Div. Attack #18 attempts to advance toward Vovousa but fails. Total losses are in favor of the Greek defenders. Attack #16 eliminates a heavy infantry unit which releases most of the force to support the main assaults.

47th Bari Div. The 47th is only able to mount one bombardment and one attack #17. Neither has a lasting impact on the enemy and costs the CCNN regiments more men and equipment.

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Kalpaki Attacks 11 thru 18

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. Ground attack #15 is highly successful inflicting 26% casualties on the 10th Rgt Greeks and loosing fewer than 1% of their own. For an attrition operation this is about as good as I can get.

131st Centauro Div. With the Greek 15th Rgt gone, two attacks are concentrated on the remaining 24th Rgt units. Assaults #11 and #14 cause slightly more casualties to the Greeks, but otherwise, do nothing to move the enemy out of the way. The Italian commander still has hopes of moving on Kalpaki from the South.

Credit Niehorster Org for the TO&E

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Shown is the authorized 1940 Italian armored division TO&E with the Carro Veloce L3/L5 tankettes being the primary armored vehicles. To give the division a bit more muscle a number of Carro Armato M11/39 medium tanks, which were not authorized, have been added.

At the time of the battle a number of battalions were detached, so as depicted in the scenario, the 131st is ahistorical.

[rhinobones]

Turn 11 – Royal Hellenic

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35th Rgt. A HQ unit located to the North has attempted to work around to the rear of the 139th Rgt and disrupt the Italian line of communications. It is unknown whether this is an probe, reconnaissance or an attack in force. Either way, the Italians have little available to counter the Greek move.

Pindus Detachment. Reinforcements have arrived to support the Pindus Detachment in blocking the mountain road to Vovousa. Attack #17 attempts to delay the Italian advance but it is repulsed with moderate Greek casualties.

Cavalry Brigade. The brigade masses close to a regiment on the front line and launches a series of assaults on the 47th Rgt. The brigade takes moderate losses in the first three attacks; then scores some Italian casualties in the fourth attack. The Italians hold firm.

The 8th Div attacks Italian CCNN regiments with artillery fire and blocks the Italian 47th from moving South toward Kalpaki. No ground assaults are attempted.

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Greek 10th Rgt and elements of the 42nd concentrate ground attacks #9 and #49 against the 51st Div’s line. Greek casualties exceed 10% on each assault and the Italians hold their positions. The ground assaults are followed up with a series of artillery attacks which hit every front-line Italian infantry position.

The Italian Intelligence Officers are still confused about the disposition of the Greek 15th Rgt. The 15th was pulled out of the line and replaced by the 3rd Greek Cavalry. The withdraw and deployment was not observed leaving the Italians unable to take appropriate defensive measures.

Of the total 16 ground attacks launched by the Greeks, eight of them are against the 131st Armor Division. The 24th Rgt and 3rd Cavalry combine forces to concentrate assaults on the armored components of the 131st. Casualties are not particularly heavy and by the end of the day the Greeks are only able to advance by one hex as the Italians pulled back to better defensive terrain.

[rhinobones]

Turn 12 – Regio Esercito

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Koritsa Attacks 1 thru 13

139th Rgt. A battalion is tasked with chasing off the Greek HQ unit that’s reconnoitering the rear area. The attack does not unmask any additional enemy units, so the expectation is that this is an unsupported movement.

3rd Alpini Div. The division makes assaults in two directions. Attacks #10 and #12 inflict moderate Greek casualties and forces the Pindus Detachment to split.
An isolated infantry unit is surrounded and attack #7 attempts to destroy the unit. The Greeks hold their position even though it suffers heavy casualties.

47th Bari Div. Attack #1 is the only successful attack and inflicts heavy losses on a lone infantry unit. Attacks #4, #9 and #13 are all failures resulting in many more Italian losses than Greek. Reinforced Greek units are blocking the road to Vovousa and are now present in large numbers.

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Kalpaki Attacks 1 thru 13

51st Siena and 23rd Ferrara Divs. A couple of ground assaults and a bombardment cause moderate Greek casualties. Attack #11 forces a Greek retreat leaving a grenade/infantry unit isolated. Depending on the Greek reaction, the 23rd may be able to turn the Greek flank and envelope units defending the ridge line protecting Kalpaki.

131st Centauro Div. The division spends the time adjusting defenses and reorganizing the tank battalions in anticipation of more action next turn. Only attack #2 is conducted for the purpose of clearing the Greek unit from the rear area.