Yet Another Sicily t BP Ian Allies me Axis

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like now. Ian is making his way north through all the broken bridges and my INT missions are a pitifully weak touch but it's better than nothing at all.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what the west coast looks like now.

[devoncop]

10th May 1944

For the first time I manage serious damage to the Luftwaffe with a combination of airfield strikes and increased fighter cover due to grabbing airfields a bit further north. Over 150 German planes are reported either damaged or destroyed which is long overdue.

The German Motorised Infantry regiment blocking the bridge and railroad north of Santo Stefano is subjected to bombardment from sea and air and the main artillery support of the trapped 305th Division suffers over 50% losses from British and Free French artillery and the RAF.

Frustratingly the French exclusion zone remains in place preventing any opening of the second front.
...
The Indian recon units and US 3rd Divn recon are now not too far from the Gothic Line, just north of Florence and beyond which is Bologna....two important targets.

[devoncop]

13th May 1944

The 715th Grenadier Regiment at Santo Stefano is overrun with the loss of over 110 Infantry squads and more importantly the bridge is repaired and the route is clear north again.

The Luftwaffe again intervened showing surprising resilience to losses and I am hoping replacements should start drying up soon.

The Free French Mountain Division is shipped to Corsica in case of being needed in the Alps and further damage is done to the 305th Fixed Division in the east which is still blocking the North African Free French.

A proficiency test fail brings things to an early turn end.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like zoomed way out. I'll post a closer picture to show the details.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like zoomed in a little bit.

[larryfulkerson]

I'm looking for a good place to put a fairly stout MLR for the maximum performance per unit. That sounds like I need to include a lot of natural defensive terrain in the layout plan. I want some barbed wire and anti-personal mines, a mote would be good, and while you're at it include some small tactical nukes if you would.

I'm thinking I'm going to need more than one MLR for defense in depth and mutual support. Lots of arty.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's where we are in the hot spots for the game.

[devoncop]

17th May 1944

I am continuing to inch forwards with the 10th Indian Division now within 30Km of the Gothic Line and about double that from Florence. US bombers got a rest this turn as when France finally becomes an option any time now then they will be busy boys.
The British and Free French in the east have almost eliminated the artillery component of the 305th Division so assaults on the infantry...hopefully much weakened can begin.

Rail supply has almost reached Foggia in the east and is almost at Rome in the west but still a long way south of the front which is stretching the forward Divisions a lot.

[devoncop]

20th May 1944

The assaults on the 305th Division to clear the East coast route North begin and it's artillery are eliminated along with most of one of its infantry regiments.

The US 3rd Recon are now within 30Km of the Gothic Line and should be in Florence within the week depending of whether it is garrisoned.

In the West the Indian Divisions, now joined by the US 45th are approaching Livorno. What is important is that around Florence and across to the West coast just South of the Gothic Line are numerous airports that will vastly improved fighter cover across the North of Italy.

Another 75 German fighters were destroyed or damaged this turn in airfield attacks which will help going forward.

[devoncop]

24th May 1944

The advance elements of the Indian 4th Division rach the centre of the Gothic Line but are held up by an artillery battalion from OB West in the pass. Air support is called in.

More heavy losses for the Luftwaffe in fighters through the turn but they bravely keep contesting the skies. The arrival of more Mustangs appreciably helps in the air war.

The Indian 10th Division and 8th Division continue to press forward further west and are now about 15Km from Florence and about 50 from the western end of the Gothic Line.

More airfields are seized on both the east and west coasts helping forward deployment of air assets.

The 305th Division is cut in half and two regiments are destroyed on the east coast to artillery,air and ground assault.

The only negative is the exclusion zone in France is STILL present [:@]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like on the east coast. My dudes are in garrison mode. D'oh. Ian will make short work of these guys.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's an overhead shot of the entire country

[devoncop]

27th May 1944

Planning for Operation Anvil continues to allow a move East from France so for another couple of months the only route is North despite the supply constraints. The railheads are now North of Rome and around Foggia but that is still a long way from the Allied spearheads at the Gothic Line. The 4th Indian has reached Florence and US recon has almost reached Pisa in the west.

There were a huge number (over 2000) of moves by the Germans this turn and they were difficult to analyse as some units headed south,some headed East from Turin , not long having arrived there, and others moved towards Turin. Larry sent a message in the diplo pouch saying this was to get the disparate elements of some units collected together....

The US bombers are rested again and the British may need some downtime as well as ideally I want them all at 100% effectiveness when Anvil starts in August.

The 305th is shelled again and another regiment is wobbling but other than that the turn was quiet.

[devoncop]

30th May 1944

Florence falls to the Lancers of the 4th Indian Division just ahead of the US 3rd.

The 305th loses another Regiment (now barely battalion strength by the time it was overwhelmed) and only two understrength regiments remain.

A coupl;e of annoying isolated units have popped up in the last week or so ...an armoured recon unit that the 10th Indian are trying to deal with in central Italy and now a mechanised battalion north of Foggia threatening communications on the east coast. Troops are having to be diverted to deal with these nuisances.

The OB West artillery is dislodged from the Gothic Line Pass south east of Bologna by more Indian troops who now await fresh reinforcements coming up from the south.

In the main development of the week the Luftwaffe may finally have been dealt a terminal blow as reports indicate over 150 losses verus less than 20 Allied planes lost and 3 furballs of total squadrons. In the last couple of rounds (unusually ) no Axis planes opposed aerial bombings.

[larryfulkerson]

The Allies have advanced up to Pisa on the west coast and Florence further east and who knows where he is on the east coast. I need to start setting up my MLR's in the mountains north of Florence.

[devoncop]

3rd June 1944

A turn of "wrapping up".

The 305th Division on the East coast is finally overcome with both remaining regiments destroyed and the OB West artillery south of San Benedetto has been surrounded and should be finished off next turn by the Indians.

The elusive armoured recon unit operating behind Allied lines south of Arezzo has been finally eliminated and Pisa falls on the west coast.

Interestingly intel suggests Larry has done a bit of "Grand Old Duke of York" manouvering having marched a couple of Divisions "to the top of the hill" over to Torino he has now "marched them down again" as some units head north towards Brenner Pass and others head south east towards Bologna maybe.... ?

Another full squadron of FW190's is blown off the runways by British bombers....

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like now. Ninty six more turns left.

[devoncop]

11th June 1944

We are in a period of phoney war as the Germans appear to have settled in their defensive lines whilst the main Allied formations are preserving their strength awaiting Operation Anvil.

Artillery dig in North of the Gothic Line in the West is targeted with success by naval and air bombardment and the advance guard of three Divisions of Indian and US troops arrive at the defences of the Gothic Line further East to find them abandoned....

There is an unsuccessful attempt by FW fighters to intervene but otherwise no meaningful German activity.

[devoncop]

14th June 1944

The Poles have reached Lucca in the west north of Pisa and artillery in the hills above them is bombed but with little effect. A shortage of engineers (or at least engineers who know how to repair bridges) continues to slow progress but the Indian Divisions are now within 50Km of Bologna, as is the US 3rd Division. Supply however is not great. The New Zealand Mechanised Divn is supporting them and driving north though rogue German units continue to distract Allied forces in areas to the south.

No Axis air activity this turn.