STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - no devoncop please

[warspite1]

Turn 88
5th October 1943

Strangely, although there were numerous bombardments from the Germans last turn, none of them showed up on the combat report [&:]

While the two infantry divisions hold the river line - and the third is in reserve - the armour of 5th Army Reserve is ordered to head west to engage the Germans in the rear of the British position.

[warspite1]

Turn 88
5th October 1943

The 5th Division is then ordered to attack along the coast road in conjuction with 7th Armoured Division while 46th Division, supported by 1st Canadian Division and 8th Army assets attack north of San Marco where the Germans have some serious strength in the form of a heavily reinforced panzergrenadier regiment.

The attacks take their toll but the German strength appears to be dissipating.

The attacks are repeated in the last round. While the Germans on the coast hold, those north of San Marco are forced to retreat. For this last round the US were able to provide a light barrage against the rear units - although this had negligible effect. I decided to to attack as the odds were unfavourable and I would rather conserve strength.

[warspite1]

Turn 89 - Axis Turn (in real time)
6th October 1943

Now the action is truly underway I will need to look at the enemy moves properly. I will give this the same treatment therefore as the CFNA game.

Sadly the Germans are not - as I'd hoped - choosing to retreat. They are in fact bringing more units south to engage with the British.

I can see a panzer battalion moving south, north of the US 5th Army's left flank - this unit then heads west rather than continuing south to attack the US forces.

Sneaky little wotsit! devoncop has a German paratroop unit in the central mountains that moves north toward the US forces....

[warspite1]

Turn 89 - Axis Turn (in real time)
6th October 1943

The moves switch further north now and there is lots of choo choo action as lots of reinforcements can be detected heading down the west coast....

The turn then switches to bombardments. I'll have to start looking at these in the same detail too....

There are 9 bombardments in all - and two hexes are singled out for special attention.

For the results of these barrages/air attacks please see next post

[warspite1]

Turn 89 - Axis Turn
6th October 1943

The German bombardments of the British positions proved pretty painful and there was no artillery to inflict counter-battery fire with. This was not the case with the US attacks and so I was at least able to provide some level of hurt back.

[warspite1]

Turn 89
6th October 1943

The engineer position was pretty dire that turn with only two attempts succeeding.

I decide to send some scouts out along the east coast to find out the strength of the opposition here. The detachment from the 36th Recon Battalion stumble across artillery and infantry further north. Their comrades of the 3rd Division to the west do not find anything.

Two regiments of the 45th Division destroy the German interloper to the south.

North of San Marco a German screen is pushed back - British armour moves across the river but will need the bridge repaired asap.

The main attack is from the 5th Division on the coast against the German panzergrendiers. Huge artillery and air support is ordered for this attack.

[warspite1]

Turn 89
6th October 1943

British losses continue to be painful and I will need to consider taking 5th Division out of the line due to yet more heavy losses to infantry and tanks. At least this time the panzergrenadiers were forced to retreat. I need the US forces to the northeast to force the Germans off the road.

There is good news and bad news; the good news is that both a US attack in the north and a British attack in the south are successful. The bad news is that the turn ends and the so the units that moved in to the vacated hexes are now incredibly vulnerable....

The Germans lose half their infantry as well as much of their artillery at a cost of less than 20 tanks. British losses were very heavy in all departments....

[warspite1]

Turn 90 - Axis Turn (in real time)
7th October 1943

Damn! devoncop brings to panzerjaeger units into block the road in front of the US tanks. I suspect an attack will be forthcomimg....

There is some shuffling of forces going on in front of the British positions. The Germans aren't withdrawing but I think one (presumably mauled) unit has moved back to replenish. However, yet more big black units head south along the coast road to beef up the position - It looks like a whole infantry division (65th).

Wow this is a serious amount of reinforcement going on....

The US 3rd Division's recce detachment finds itself in a bit of trouble as enemy forces head south to engage....the 36th's unit finds itself in similar trouble.

The bombardments start - it looks like on the east coast. It is and then an attack goes in that forces the Americans to withdraw.

Then the turn ends. Looks like a proficiency failure....

devoncop has confirmed that was the case. So there was only the opportunity for him to launch two attacks - one bombardment and one land combat.

The bombardment was levelled against the US tank force and they got away with only light casualties fortunately. I lost no tanks which was a bonus. On the east coast the recce unit will be lucky to get away however as its reorganising....

[warspite1]

Turn 90
7th October 1943

My engineers were a little better this turn and the bridge between the main US forces an the Germans on the west coast has been fixed. In the British sector the two bridges north of Cosenza remain down.

I've got no idea how amphibious landings work against the Germans but as a tester I order the 56th Division to sea. They will attempt a landing just behind the German front line....

But before all that here is the position on the east coast

[warspite1]

Turn 90
7th October 1943

There are three attacks planned and one invasion (plus a bombardment on the coast).

The turn becomes something of a disaster. The initial bombardment proves hugely costly in counter-battery fire.

The amphibious landing is a complete pig's ear and pretty much half the infantry and the divisions equipment are lost.

Its a similar story against the single recce battalion - where almost 200 rifle squads are lost. I really don't understand how that is remotely possible but ho hum...

The attack by the Americans is no different...

Total disaster.

[warspite1]

Turn 90
7th October 1943

Over 600 infantry squads lost...[:(]

[warspite1]

Turn 91
8th October 1943

With me unable to move the remains of my division off shore the Axis bound the hapless infantry.

North of San Marco I manage to force the German battalion back but cost in doing so is high once again. The Germans are clearly here in force and determined to stay....

[warspite1]

Turn 92
9th October 1943

Really heavy barrages from the Germans this turn. I am in a good deal of trouble here.

My engineers have really let me down too in the last couple of turns too. I need them to get repairing quicker. Even now the bridge southeast of San Marco remains down.....

I also decide that amphibious assaults are a costly waste of time at the moment. I have limited to no intelligence on what the Germans have and so any assault is just pot luck. I therefore decide to bring the 1st Armoured and 34th Infantry divisions up to the front. 36th Division will continue to hold the coast road (and will advance when the bridges are repaired in order to put pressure on the German defences). 3rd Infantry will join 45th Division in trying to force the rear of the German line - meanwhile the new arrivals will try and head up the central valley.

[warspite1]

Turn 92
9th October 1943

There are two rounds of bombardments this turn, sandwiched between two attacks - one by the Americans and one by the British. Both succeed in forcing the enemy back but I would imagine the loss rates in these frontal slogs are unsustainable for the Allies.

[warspite1]

Turn 93 - Axis Turn (in real time)
10th October 1943

Not too clear what is happening from where the screen is but it looks like the panzers in the central valley have withdrawn a hex or two but there are still reinforcements coming down the coastal road.

There are just a couple of bombardments - both against the British. God alone knows what sort of weaponry the Germans have in the port hex directly north of 5th Division. This caused huge grief last turn and this is no different 44 infantry squads, 5 tanks and 61 artillery pieces - and that is just the first bombardment?!?!? The second is not quite as bad but still costs another 17 infantry squads, 14 artillery pieces and 3 tanks.

[warspite1]

Turn 93
10th October 1943

I get some reinforcements but it looks like more duplicate divisions nonsense. There is a second US 1st Armoured Division. The names of the regiments are different - referring to CCA, B and R - but this is definitely a duplicate of the division already in the game. I will send this to the ghost division car park in the mountains along with the two British divisions. Very disappointing [:@].

[warspite1]

Turn 93
10th October 1943

With one round to go, further progress has been made by both the Americans in the north and an Anglo-American attack to the south. Meanwhile the 15th Regiment of 3rd Division are pushing north to try and outflank the Germans in the mountains.

The final round of the turn will see the US 45th and attached 5th Army assets try once again to dislodge the enemy from the road....

Sadly an infantry regiment maintained position. That was a real shame, if the British had had enough movement points to the south and that attack had worked, then those Germans in the mountains would be on their way to be surrounded (depending on what else devoncop has behind).

[warspite1]

Turn 94 - Axis Turn
11th October 1943

Damn I didn't get a shot of the turn. I think there were 4 bombardments but I don't know who against.

[warspite1]

Turn 94
11th October 1943

The 1st Armoured Division push on up the central valley, while on their left flank the 3rd Division start to move into the mountains - seemingly behind the forward defenders (but I suspect devoncop has a surprise or two waiting).... This allows additional reconnaissance and I get to see what is waiting even if I manage to get through this initial lot!

Movement is hard-going meaning that there are few chances to get attacks in.

[warspite1]

Turn 94
11th October 1943

In the next round of attacks the US 45th Division and British 8th Army assets manage to push the defenders back further - but sadly a lack of movement allowance means that there will be no surrounding of the enemy....