Boldairade (Allies) vs Nirosi (Axis). Boldairade welcome

[Nirosi]

As far as available forces go, the Axis is strong on land and at sea, but lagging in the air. Allied land forces for all countries are respectable, even very good for the Soviet Union, but the British navy was seriously battered, and merchants are in short supply probably barely meeting UK’s needs. OKW hopes that the huge Soviet Army is still a paper giant due to most of its soldiers still been very inexperienced. That might change in the coming months, however.

[Nirosi]

Weather is slowly turning for the worse in the USSR.

[Nirosi]

October 23rd, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

In Norway, the USSR and Libya not much happened. However, the Americans and British landed in Crete and took over Heraklion pushing the Mare Nostrum Marine Division East of the city and put it in a situation where it is now unable to evacuate. The Allied assault came just days before the division was to leave the Island and be replaced by a Coastal Corps. The capture of Crete, and maybe even Rhodes eventually, added to the fact that Tobrouk and Benghazi are already in Allied hands, puts both Southern Italy and Greece at risk from Allied landings, as well as the Ploesti oil fields that could be targeted from Crete or and/or Rhodes.

[Nirosi]

November 6th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

A very quiet period overall with no combat action except some modest raiding by a few U-boats.

However, more, newly improved, U-boats put to sea in the Atlantic and the German fleet set sail for the Norwegian Sea for some hunting.

In Crete, the Mare Nostrum Division is slowly losing cohesion but still repealed two Allied attacks while the German corps on Gibraltar’s beaches ran out of supply and will soon have to surrender. Rumors has it that secret local negotiations have started already. In Rhodes, the British corps isolated in a small Eastern section of the Island is kept alive by air supplies runs for either Cyprus or Crete.

In Libya, the Soviet Union and Norway, Allied and Axis troops are facing each other waiting for a spark to restart open hostilities.

[Nirosi]

The first three type XXI U-boats (seen here with a type VII) are ready for action!

[Nirosi]

November 20th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

In Libya the Ariete Armored Corps was destroyed after 6 days of battle supported by Allied air and shore bombardment. The corps was literally destroyed to the last man and tank, and then the Americans entered Misurata. Italy is now devoid of mobile force and will be so until January when the Scipio Armored Corps will become operational.

Italian air and naval forces tried to take advantage of the fact that the Allied fleet that supported this week-long battle must be in a low state of operational order, but the low amount of oil reserves allowed only for limited operation with air raids and submarine attacks. Overall, four groups were lightly damaged by Italian air raids (Glorious and Illustrious groups) or submarines (Sussex and Suffolk groups). It is believed that the Allied fleet will probably return home as it is in need to rest and resupply. If not, the Italian fleet will be ready to engage the enemy soon. The specialised Squalo Division even lacked the oil to launch a single attack or to retreat to a safer position. Berlin agreed to provide emergency oil transfer and even ordered its own fleet back home to allow for the extra deliveries.

In the Soviet Union, it becomes clear that Stavka has gained enough reserves and confidence to prepare a Winter offensive near Leningrad. It is still possible that the buildup in the sector might hide another one in another sector, but until proven otherwise, OKH believes that Leningrad is the sector of the next Soviet offensive. As such, local corps commanders were ordered to dig in and some received extra anti-tank regiments. The XIX Panzer corps was dispatched in the area to act as a reserve fire brigade. The III Panzer Corps and 6th PanzerGrenadier Corps were sent to Italy and France respectively where they will wait and recover in a clement weather and be ready to be dispatched where needed on short notice. Other mobile reserves remained, for now, as before near Dnepropetrovsk, Kiev and Smolensk.

In other news the Mare Nostrum Division in Crete, lacking even basic supplies, was finally forced to surrender.

In Germany, massive air raids caused some non negligible disruption. OKW hopes that the Winter will mitigate the damage done to Germany’s industry until a serious air cover can be re-established by March. Also, for the first time since the war started, Italy was bombed when Taranto industries sustained some small damage.

[Nirosi]

General Ettore Baldassarre (left), commanding the XX Armored Corps Ariete is believed to have been killed in action during the Battle of Misurata.

[Nirosi]

December 4th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

In Libya, the Allied fleet wisely retreated but will probably come back combat-ready in two weeks, causing some more headaches to Axis high commands.

On land, the 2nd Fortress Corps was destroyed by successive allied assaults that put the German VII corps in a dire position almost cut-off from friendly troops. The VI Corps tried to reconnect with the front and the Italian 2nd Coastal Corps was sent forward to help it, receiving in the process an anti-tank regiment that Commando Supremo held in reserve. The Regia Aeronautica launched a massive air offensive to disrupt Allied forces. Axis forces refrained from attacking an exposed American armored corps as OKH was too divided on the matter to decide in time.

However, the II Panzer Corps held in reserve in Italy for the Winter was sent to Libya and was itself replaced by the 2nd PanzerGrenadier Corps removed from the Kiev area, as OKH does not expect much action in this sector for a while. However, a Soviet build-up just North of it in the Eastern Pripyat marshes worries OKH whole will try to beef-up the Italians with a German and Hungarian corps.

In other news, all resistance from German troops in Gibraltar ceased. And much to its citizens surprise, Bulgaria was added to the Allied strategic bombing targets!

[Nirosi]

In Norway, the Allies are closing-in on Oslo prompting OKW to send some small reinforcements in the form of a coastal division. Also, all organised resistance from German troops behind enemy line ceased.

No ore was received from Sweden as the British occupation of the Norwegian Southern coast prohibits coastal navigation from Narvik. OKW has received orders directly from the political level to take the Norway situation more seriously.

[Nirosi]

In the Soviet Union, Kesselring was put in command of the troops around Leningrad and the sector received yet another reinforcement in the form of the LVI Panzer Corps. Soviet and German force are staring at each other through the Winter cold waiting for the inevitable explosion in the sector.

[Nirosi]

December 18th, 1942 (End of Axis turn)

In a brilliant move Stavka, quickly redeployed quite a few tank corps from the Northern sector to the Central one and pressed-on with an offensive. Dug-in in good defensive terrain and protected by the river, the Italians resisted the Soviet assault but will probably not hold for long. Hungarian and German infantry already on the move to help, pressed forward faster to reach the front. The two panzer corps deployed near Leningrad were also sent in the vicinity now that it is clear that all hostile intentions North were cancelled by Stavka.

[Nirosi]

After a small battle in Africa to push back American armors, Axis troops retreated slightly waiting for the enemy’s next move.

In other news, Germany was severely bombed again, the new Type XXI U-boat seem quite effective, the stranded British in Rhodes attempted yet another assault on the port but were pushed back by the Italians who themselves are having supply problems and the German fleet once more sailed for the Norwegian Sea.

[Nirosi]

January 1st, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

East of the Pripyat Marshes the Italian I Corps was overrun by vastly superior tank forces and the XV Corps was forced to retreat causing a whole in the Axis front. OKW is analysing options. For now, Axis tanks North and South of the marshes stayed put and the infantry redeployed a few miles back. OKH is trying to determine if it would be best to try to plug the whole now or on the contrary let it grow bigger in the hope of cutting-up the abscess by the flanks in Spring, trying to trap some good Soviet corps.

At least one tank Corps has been located North, still in the Leningrad sector, but OKH does not believe an offensive is still planned there as not enough Soviet units seem present. Still, OKW reminded OKH that should the need require it, they can still ask for the two panzergrenadier corps left in reserve in Italy and France. For now, OKH replied that they prefer to do just that: keep them in reserve.

In other news, the new Type XXI U-boat that was off to a good start about two weeks ago encountered its fist hiccup when two flotillas of a group of three were badly mauled in the North Atlantic. The raiding fleet, shadowed by an Allied fleet it could not identify properly, decided to head back home to safety rather than risk an unpredictable battle.

[Nirosi]

German infantry, moving South into the marshes.

[Nirosi]

January 15th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

In Libya only some reorganisation occurred on the Axis side with the replacement on the North flank of a two divisions corps by a three divisions corps reinforced with an anti-tank regiment. In Norway, OKW dispatched yet another corps around Oslo while both sides stayed put.

In the Pripyat Marshes, the V Hungarian corps was severely bombarded, but the only follow-up assault did little, the corps still been well protected behind a river. For now, OKH ordered its mobile corps to stay put and wait for further development as the Soviet offensive could falter by itself, even more so with the massive bombardments carried by the Luftwaffe on the spearhead tank corps. An extra infantry corps was sent in the vicinity however, just in case it might be needed. Further West, two partisan bands are causing some small headaches. Two Romanian security divisions are trying to eliminate the problem.

Over Germany’s skies, the Allied strategy seems to have changed as the bombers are now target synthetic oil plants. OKW immediately ordered a small reduction in transfers to Italy. Comando Supremo ordered a formal protest to be sent to Berlin.

[Nirosi]

January 29th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

In the Atlantic, German U-Boats had a field day and probably caused some headaches in Allied capitals.

However, much of the action happened in the Mediterranean and the USSR.

In the Mediterranean, the Italian fleet attempted a relief of Rhodes that ultimately failed. The weather limited the battle actions that could occurred and only the Astoria Group and Caio Duilio Group were damaged respectively by Italian and American submarines.

[Nirosi]

In Libya, the US 1st Armor Corps was attempting to flank the III Panzer Corps. A counterattack was therefore ordered and seems to have left the US corps in bad shape. OKH hope that this will make the Allies think twice before attempting another assault.

[Nirosi]

In the Pripyat Marshes, the Italians and Hungarian were pushed again by the Soviet tanks. This time OKH got nervous and ordered the panzergrenadiers in the South to intervene to protect Kiev’s flanks. The risk of eventually losing the city was too high. However, the panzer corps north of the marshes and the reserves in France and Italy stayed put for now.

In other News, a British corps seems to be moving North toward Trondheim…

[Nirosi]

The Fiume heavy cruiser during its mission toward Rhodes.

[Nirosi]

February 12th, 1943 (End of Axis turn)

In the Mediterranean, the Allies and Italy played cat and mouse again at sea near Rhodes, continuing the operations launched previously. Submarines again where at the center of the operations with both the Mississippi group and the Braham group damaged, while the Suffolk group was almost destroyed. Italian submarines did however suffer some loses. On the other hand, American submarines did not manage to cause damage to the ships they intercepted. Regia Marina authorities seems to believe that the Americans might have torpedoes problems. In the end, the Allied fleet in the area was too big and the Italian surface fleet decided to retreat back home.

In Libya, the Allies surprised the Axis with furious and effective attacks that mauled the LVVIII Corps, probably putting it out of action for months, and then continuing the offensive on the III Panzer Corps that is now also severely battered. This brilliant Allied operation forced Axis troops to redeploy in view of the situation and the Scipio Armored Corps was send closer to the front in emergency even tough it is not in full operational order yet, still training with outdated equipment. OKH can only hope that the Allies are too tired themselves to keep pushing West continuously.