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

[warspite1]

Turn 132
18th November 1943

The Germans continue to hit the British hard with bombardments. Another 90 infantry squads are lost as well as numerous tanks and artillery pieces. Its more quiet on the US sector, just one bombardment that caused little damage.

[warspite1]

Turn 132
18th November 1943

II Corps

The perennial problem with engineers rears its ugly head. The 36th Division engineers have spent 4 turns now trying to repair the rail line in Taranto with no joy.

I've detached the 92nd Engineers and ordered them to the east coast where there are numerous bridges to be repaired. The remaining engineers are trying to fix the rail lines in the Taranto area.

Free French Mountain Corps

All towns in the heel of Italy are liberated and the Moroccan troops have linked up between Brindisi and Bari. I want to be able to use the airfields around Brindisi and Lecce but I need the rail lines fixed first because supply is rubbish. The 3rd Division engineers are on that job.

[warspite1]

Turn 132
18th November 1943

Ferocious battles continue north of Salerno as the German fight for every scrap of ground.

I perhaps need to re-think this as a head on approach does not seem to be working.... and I've failed a force proficiency check..[:@]


Perhaps I diverted too much artillery to the large stack to the northeast?

[warspite1]

Turn 133
19th November 1943

Another grim turn for the British and Dominion forces around Salerno. I will tally up shortly but plenty more losses with little in the way of reply.

Meanwhile I notice the Luftwaffe appears to have left Foggia.....


And sure enough just 8 bombardments nets this kind of damage - good job the Germans found their trusty battlefield nuclear weapons...

[warspite1]

Turn 133
19th November 1943

Mmmm it all continues to be very strange - a 'good' attack with huge air and artillery assistance apparently costs 150+ infantry squads (a third of the attacking force) masses of tanks and aircraft and artillery....all for very little [&:]

Okay.

The turn ends with little achieved...

[warspite1]

Turn 134
20th November 1943

There were six more bombardments - three came to nothing and the other three were in the CW sector again. Losses remain high but nothing like as bad as last turn, and the Luftwaffe lost a lot of aircraft.

On the east coast devoncop seeks to take advantage of my lack of intel and sneaks at least one parachute battalion west of Barletta - and the rail line between Bari and Brindisi is also broken....

3rd US Division and elements of the French Division will seek to tidy up....

The British make a minor breakthrough at Salerno but just one armoured brigade now has to fight off the German forces no doubt looking to counter.

[warspite1]

Turn 135
21st November 1943

The German artillery continues to appear as something out of Battlestar Galactica. The losses continue to cause serious concern.


Amazing what 7 bombardments can do.....[8|]

[warspite1]

Turn 135
21st November 1943

The developments at Salerno mean I need to have a bit of a think about this. I'll start in the east.

Further German units have been found near Barletta. This is great delaying tactics by devoncop and I need to get rid of these asap. I've had to earmark more French troops to check out the mountains for other German units.....

[warspite1]

Turn 135
21st November 1943

In the west there is no way through....

[warspite1]

Turn 136
22nd November 1943

At last the German barrages were more manageable. I need to make this - no doubt brief - respite count.

Two attacks go in but somehow a lone reconnaissance battalion manages to hold off the combined infantry, armour, artillery and aircraft attack. Fortunately the attack on the left of the line was a little better and did succeed in forcing back the defenders. Meanwhile the poor Canadians are still trying to plough a lonely furrow through the mountains.

[Zorch]

Is there a random event for Mt. Vesuvius erupting? A little lava does wonders for foxholes.

[warspite1]

Turn 136
22nd November 1943

In the east the US 1st Armoured, supported by the Moroccans, move into Foggia.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Is there a random event for Mt. Vesuvius erupting? A little lava does wonders for foxholes.

warpite1

I think that was CivIII.....

[warspite1]

Turn 136
22nd November 1943

It can be very frustrating that there is no control over which units advance after combat. The 9th Armoured Brigade, that had cut-off a German regiment northwest of Salerno, took part in an attack on the surrounded unit and promptly advanced. I tried to then send him back - which worked - but at the cost of engagement.


But the good news is the front has started to expand (subject to keeping the gains post any counter-attacks heading my way)

[700851McCall]

If you want a unit to attack but not advance use the 'limited attack' option. That way you can pick which unit advances.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: 700851McCall

If you want a unit to attack but not advance use the 'limited attack' option. That way you can pick which unit advances.

warspite1

I have in the past used limited attack only to find a unit advances - not always only sometimes.

But can you clarify by what you mean about picking which unit advances? Regardless of the method I didn't know one could pick unit(s) to advance - it all seems random to me.

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

Four more bombardments and four more depressing results for those being pummelled. The damage was not as bad this time but still hugely expensive in men and equipment of all types.

But now for some good news [:)]

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

Italians have turned up near Taranto!!!!!!!!

....seems they're on our side....

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

Because I know so little about the campaign I really don't know what to expect in terms of OOB of either side. I am amazed there has been no response to the loss of Foggia and I need to tread cautiously as I am expecting a surprise any minute.

The 1st Armoured are starting to fan out from the town and the French have been tasked with ensuring there are no Germans to the east.

The paratroopers near Barletta continue to swallow up far too many units and I have started to order the 36th Division to break off. I should be able to surround and destroy the Germans with the 3rd Division and some assistance from the French.

[warspite1]

Turn 137
23rd November 1943

In the west I will try and force 23rd Armoured Brigade up the coast road, but first the Canadians will attack a lone flak unit and there will be a general bombardment of the large group of Germans just east of the road. This contains the HQ of OB South West and the 15th Panzergrenadier Division. The panzergrenadier regiment on the peninsular will hopefully be taken care of by the three battalions of 138th Brigade.