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

[warspite1]

Turn 116 - Axis Turn
2nd November 1943

A decent turn again. The engaged unit is in the British sector. The two furballs are German aircraft - one fighter and one SG - not sure what that is (unless they mean StG)?

The bombardments are against US tank battalions but caused manageable damage.

[warspite1]

Turn 116
2nd November 1943

5 attacks are earmarked - 2 in the CW sector and 3 in the US.

On the left of the line the German 65th Division HQ is pushed back by a British armoured brigade. To their right the 7th Armoured Brigade makes short work of a battalion of infantry from the Hermann Goering Division, threatening the surrounding of a large number of troops. The lack of movement points is likely to frustrate further progress however.

In the middle of the line elements of the US 1st Armoured, 3rd and 34th Infantry Divisions do the same to a panzergrenadier battalion.

On their right a Fallschirmjaeger battalion succumbs to the advances of the US 45th Division, while on the extreme right the US 191st Tank Battalion continues its progress.

[warspite1]

Turn 116
2nd November 1943

With moves running out the British in the west and the US in the east keep the pressure on. The policy of pushing ahead means that some of the regiments and battalions in the front line are somewhat exposed to counter-attack, but I think this is the only way to try and keep the Axis off balance.

The turn ends with a couple more attacks - one in the centre and one in the east (post the shot below) and a number of bombardments to (hopefully) cause some German units to reorganise....

[warspite1]

Turn 117 - Axis Turn
3rd November 1943

A ton of reinforcements moving south - including artillery this turn....

Pleasingly 3 Axis units were engaged last turn and the Axis bombardments were few in number and result; the CW forces were the target.

[warspite1]

Turn 117
3rd November 1943

I make a few gains in retreat before combat, the 4th and 7th Armoured Brigades in the thick of the action once again and isolating two panzergreanadier battalions, a panzer battalion and an attached company.

[warspite1]

Turn 117
3rd November 1943

To try and sow a little confusion (and hopefully mess up their supply) I send the 82 Airborne behind the front line, capturing Senise and severing the road to Taranto. The 504th drop straight into the teeth of a panzergrenadier regiment however....


Does anyone now what the unit with the HQ is? Its marked as 504th R?? - thanks

[warspite1]

Turn 117
3rd November 1943

Operation Link-Up begins. Any units that can be scratched together are put onto the coast road in an effort to reach the 82nd Airborne as quickly as possible.

There can only be one attack from the south at the present time and so I order all paratroop units into dig-in mode.

[warspite1]

Turn 117
3rd November 1943

Meanwhile on the CW front....

78th Division and its armour support have opened up the way to Policastro - but they can't advance on the town yet (as I've no idea what is there) and a large formation of Germans inc panzers and artillery is threatening the coast road.

I decide its time to try and liquidate the pocket to the southeast.

[warspite1]

Turn 117
3rd November 1943

The CW has significantly reduced the pocket, but Axis forces remain. This is also true of the encircled forces in the south which is a pain.

The attempts to link up with the airborne units on the east coast didn't quite work as a battalion of panzergrenadiers grimly holds onto the port it's defending.

Its now a case of waiting and seeing what the Germans have to a) counter with from the north and b) what fight the units south and southeast of Senise have.

[warspite1]

Turn 118 - Axis Turn
4th November 1943

Numerous enemy units spotted moving up from Taranto. My relieving forces need to get there fast....

Weird?!?!?? Watching the playback indicated no attacks - but the Combat Results tell a completely different story?? There were 13 attacks/bombardments..... [&:]

[warspite1]

Turn 118 - Axis Turn
4th November 1943

I'll need to go through these one by one to work out what the hell is going on. The air briefing states no aircraft lost on either side too....

Well a look at the first Loss report shows that to be total cobblers.

1. The Luftwaffe try and destroy a bridge behind the US lines. The USAAF lose a Mustang (0 destroyed) and the Luftwaffe lose 19 aircraft (6 destroyed). The bridge remains intact.

[warspite1]

Turn 118 - Axis Turn
4th November 1943

2. devoncop targets my rail repair crews on the west coast with minor casualties

3. One battalion from the 325th Glider Regiment is bombarded - again casualties are light.

4. The Luftwaffe seeks to attack the main US forces on the coast (the relieving force) but suffer a further loss of 40 aircraft (10 destroyed) and achieve only minimal casualties.

5. A bombardment of CW units in the west - minimal casualties

6. Another air attack on the US forces and another bad result for the Luftwaffe - 34 aircraft lost (4 destroyed)

7. The first major effort to get at the 82nd Airborne sees a battalion of the 504th retreat - but they dish out more losses than they take.

[warspite1]

Turn 118 - Axis Turn
4th November 1943

8.9 and 10 are three more bombardments against the CW but the losses are relatively light.

11. Another attack against the 504th - and more retreating - but again losses are manageable and the attack does not come without cost to the Germans.

12 and 13. Two more bombardments of the rail repair crew. Casualties mounting....

[warspite1]

Turn 118
4th November 1943

The main focus for this turn is to continue the rescue mission for the paratroopers.

[warspite1]

Turn 118
4th November 1943

Sadly the moves ran out before the turn! But it was a good turn while it lasted with the link up being made on the east coast with the glider troops.

[warspite1]

Turn 119 - Axis Turn
5th November 1943

The Axis forces remain full of fight. I will need to get a handle on losses here and with 17 actions of various types (inc. 1 attack, 1 furball, and two disengagements) coming on top of a number of high intensity Allied turns, I am keen to understand how my troops are shaping up.

As can be seen that was a reasonably tough turn - especially for the US forces...

[warspite1]

Turn 119 - Commonwealth Sector (West Coast)
5th November 1943

As the peninsular starts to widen so the difficulties increase for the Allies. Clearly advancing up the coast roads are the preferred route, but I need to be careful my forces are not too stretched a la Stalingrad. Here is the Commonwealth position at the present. Whilst keeping an eye on the mountain terrain inland, I intend to push on up the coast. I do not intend to commit too many forces to the mopping up operation around Lauria. Risky but....

[warspite1]

Turn 119 - US Sector (East Coast)
5th November 1943

The US position has become stretched and now that the US have the 'heel' to conquer, that position can quickly become untenable. I need to get my US forces consolidated once more or a drive toward Taranto will be impossible.

[warspite1]

Turn 119 - Big picture
5th November 1943

Rough outline of a plan going forward.....

[ChuckBerger]

Forgive the impertinent question... but haven't you just kicked some ***? It seems like you have surrounded and destroyed many top quality German formations. Whatever difficulties you think you have in terms of a broader front and tired/depleted troops must surely be worse for your opponent. And you must have him demoralised from the recent battles as well. You see strung-out, scattered, depleted Allied formations in sore need of a rest - your opponent sees a tide of unstoppable, constantly replenishing forces, with the threat of amphibious invasions everywhere and he hasn't got the troops to delay much less stop the tide!

Charge, good sir!