More Adventures In Italy With Ian

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the attacks that Ian did on his turn. I see at least one battle in which he
evaporated my unit(s). The fighting is slanted in favor of the Allies and I'm guessing
that it's because of his airpower support. I've seen him move his boats so I'm guessing
they are supporting too. I've moved all my aircraft to the Rome area for safe keeping
for now and they weren't involved. They are all on rest and refit for now. Some of
the squadrons were down to half strength so this rest will allow them to fill out more,
become a stronger unit.

Brian has succeeded in embroiling my Panzer division and I need to back them out of the
fighting if I can. Or reposition them in better spots. They will have to fight their
way out of being surrounded.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the situation on the ground. I've gotten myself surrounded and it's looking
pretty grim for the Panzers. They need to back themselves out of the pocket or
re-establish their LOC somehow.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like in the east. I'm afraid the Panzer division is toast.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's a list of the attacks that Ian did in his turn. He gained a few hexes it
seems. And I lost some troops.

[devoncop]

24th July 1943

After a strategy meeting concerning the unexpectedly heavy resistance being encountered close to the landing sites Montgomery and Patton decide to make "necessity the mother of invention" and "Operation Echo Echo" is launched... The first "E" will be for "Engage" and the second "Envelop" and relates to the plans to destroy the two most powerful German units on Sicily, the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division and the German Goering Division.

The second of these targets is already being reduced having been surrounded South of Piazza Amerina. The first is now checked in its offensive against the US 2nd Armoured and 34th Divisions with the arrival of the reserve 1st Canadian Division.

Augusta is now in British hands in the East and resistance there has stiffened with the Germans committing a full FJ Paratroop Division.

One effect of the Operation is that initial progress is slower but supply lines are shorter and the railheads are closer to the front.

[devoncop]

27th July 1943

Ferocious desperate attacks from the 15th Panzer Grenadiers hit the Canadian 1st Division just West of Licata in the East which is only halted thanks to the M5's of US 2nd Armoured Div to their rear. Huge credit again goes to the air support which has made a big difference since the invasion.

More positive developments as Operation Echo Echo nets another big pocket of German troops in the West as in a rare and unexpected development Patton goes into cooperation more and sends elements of the 7th Army around the rear of the 1st FJ Division and KG Baumer now fully arrived from Primasole Bridge and fighting the British 50th and 51st Divisions West of Augusta. The 206th Italian coastal Division is also caught in the pocket along with the powerful Nebelwerfer Regiment.

Attacks go in and KG Hudel is overrun in the central pocket along with all of its Tigers and in the East KG Baumer is also severely damaged.

The fly in all of this ointment is the lack of dramatic movement towards Messina. It is hoped that If the large number of German troops pocketed can be taken out then the drive to Messina may only encounter weak resistance....if not the timetable is already in trouble.....

[larryfulkerson]

I just got some moves from Ian and I'm checking out my squadrons. They are all on rest to fatten
up and they are doing just that as we speak. Just taking the Me-109G's as an example: we're building
6 per turn but there's none on hand. The squadrons are sucking down all the replacements as fast as
they can. They are getting stronger.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looks like before I have moved anybody.

I wasn't expecting the Americans to get their act together and move north quite so
quickly so I got outflanked and surrounded and now it appears that there's no way
out of the pocket. I'm wondering what would happen if the Germans persisted in
their drive to the beach to the American supply points?

[MikeJ19]

Larry and Ian,

This is very interesting and I am enjoying your approaches to operations.

Ian, well done on your encirclement.

[devoncop]

27th July 1943

The Allies finally learn where the accelerator pedal is on their mechanised units and as a serious reduction of the central and eastern pockets is undertaken by 50th and 51st British Infantry Divisions in the East and US Infantry and armour in the centre, M20 recon vehicles in reach Gerbini airfield crossing the river West of Primasole bridge. The bridge and immediate vicinity are the scene of frantic activity as the HQ's of 1st FJ, 29th Panzer Division and an Italian coastal Division try to pack up ahead of the allied advance.

Other than the above units the area appears clear of Germans for now.

There is limited success against the 15th Panzer Grenadiers in the East with attacks from 2nd US Armoured and 1st Canadian Division but after driving back a mechanised battalion an attempt to push through the line was stopped with concentrated artillery fire from the Divisional artillery.

Montgomery promises the eastern pocket will be cleared within two weeks and orders units to head direct to Messina to stop any escape by German units that may now be starting a limited withdrawal from forward positions.....

[devoncop]

Thanks for the comments Mike.

In both my game as the Germans and this one the Herman Goering Div in particular was very vulnerable to pinning and encirclement as it is a decent Division but very isolated if it tries an immediate counter attack against the landings...I now think it may be better to use it more conservatively....

[larryfulkerson]

July 31, 1943
There's nothing for the Axis player to do this turn because all
the main divisions are already where they need to be. I'm not
attacking so nothing changed on my turn, more or less. Ian has
put the collar on everybody on the island, Germans and Italians
alike. He's outstanding in his field.

[devoncop]

3rd August 1943

We are now into August and to match the historic schedule I need to be in Messina in 2 weeks which is a tough ask but progress is being made. The British 50th Division managed to dislodge the eastern most FJ Regiment from the pocket and push it away from the coast so helping supply to the recon units at Gerbini. Recon units passing through Gerbini swing west to the coast to pocket the three HQ's lining the river from there to Primasole bridge and other units reach Catania but are unable to take it despite a probing attack.

For the first time there are a few supply constraints in the British sector though the US eastern front has maximum supply as it has moved bery little.

In the centre 91st US Cavalry Recon unit cuts off the road north out of Piazza Armerina cutting off two more regiments of Panzer Grenadiers and an anti tank battalion from (I guess) 29th Panzer Grenadier Division.

The remnants of the HG Division are overrun in their entirety and this has at least been one part of Operation Echo Echo that has been a notable success.

There is a limited breakthrough in the East by US armour towards Caltanisetta this turn after a check last turn and this splits the 15th Panzer Grenadiers in half so with good execution I may manage a further envelopment...

[devoncop]

7th August 1943

Forward elements of the British 51st Division are almost at Mount Etna but are blocked for now by Italian coastal battalions.I

The pocket of the 15th Panzer Grenadiers North East of Augusta are overrun in their entirety by the British whilst the pocket South of Caltonscetta in the centre is reduced by US armour and infantry. US recon units are now engaged in trying to trap the balance of the 15th Division against the southern coast....Operation Echo Echo continues !

More aircraft are transferred from Tunisia though most British planes were unfortunately in reorganisation.

[devoncop]

10th August 1943

A final pocket of Axis forces in the west is formed as 2nd US Armoured recon elements shut the trap at Agrigento trapping remaining units of 15th Panzer Grenadiers and Aosta Division.

The fierce resistance at Primasole Bridge by the three HQ battalions is eventually overcome and the bridge captured intact and in the East Catania is readied for assault. The forward elements of 51st brigade are now less than 50 Km from Messina trying to match the historic capture date of 17th August.

Attempts to reach the north coast to split the island in two are thwarted by an Italian infantry garrison at Certa and Canadian recon elements reach Nicosia.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what it looked like just before I ended my turn. There wasn't anything for
me to do. Everybody is surrounded and dug in and three-dots.

[devoncop]

14th July 1943

My boys are getting tired. The small garrison at Catania fights off repeated assaults and progress slow meaning I won't hit the historic rate for the capture of Messina.

The rail and road line on the North coast is now cut as Canadian recon units reach the sea effectively cutting off all Italian and German troops in the West from Messina.

There has been a big difference in the progress made by the British in the East and the Americans in the West who have found the surprising presence of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Divn a tough but to crack as the Germans are supported by the full Aosta Division and apparently most of the Italian coastal units from the west.

In the short term this is not a huge problem though at some point there will have to be a slog through the West of Sicily to capture Palermo and the western airfields.

It seems the 51st and 50th British Divisions are faced with minimal resistance North of Catania so far so hopefully once the remaining pockets are eliminated thoughts can turn to the thorny problem of the mainland invasion target....

[devoncop]

17th July 1943

The 50th Divn finally take out the Catania garrison so Larry should get his shipping capability now.

British troops stream north along both the east and west sides of mount Etna within sight of Messina but in the East are blocked by a small Italian HQ unit and coastal battalion with artillery support.

More units are destroyed in the eastern pocket and the Canadian Recce unit so far encounters no resistance on the northern route towards Messina.

British 1st Airborne Division starts assembling in the SE of Sicily and plans are being prepared for their use on the Italian mainland...

[larryfulkerson]

August 17, 1943
Here's what it looks like right after the playback. Ian has flown a lot of his
aircraft to the island and his mop up is killing my troops and there's nothing I
can do about it. He will own the island soon.

[MikeJ19]

Fun stuff guys.

Ian, could you use 1 AB to make it harder for Larry to withdraw his forces out of Sicily?