Adventures in Italy

[larryfulkerson]

It turns out that Palermo was a supply point and it's supplying the west and some
is trickling toward the east so it's a very good thing and I need to expand the
supply net to get some of that supply into the south if I can. There's a road and
a rail leading from Palermo that I can convert and that will allow supply to flow
that way. It's worth some losses, from just moving.

[larryfulkerson]

In the east the story is different. The only place where the supply is half-way okay
is along the coastal road, so I guess the most progress will take place there. It's
the only place an accellerated advance is possible.

I've got engineers busy on fixing the rail but with only 9 RR squads in each unit not
much rail fixing is going to take place. I've had only one successful rail fix happen
in the entire game so far.

The airfields on Sicily have been uncovered and I need to start moving the shorter ranged
planes to the island. If I can find parking for them all I'll move them all.

[larryfulkerson]

I've been moving units and I think I may have trapped some of the HG remnants and at
least one Italian unit. Things are going rather well, except for the arty. It ran
out of bullets and I had to stand them down for a bit. Shooting with very low supply
tends to hit nothing, cause no damage, even tho it costs to shoot. My policy is if
they turn yellow, rest them. Same with the rest of the units.

[larryfulkerson]

I did an airfield strike on two Italian fighters on the mainland on the west coast of
the mainland, and I wasn't familiar with how these things tend to turn out so I ganged
up on him with just about everything that had the range and it turns out that I didn't
need all that firepower. I lost two destroyed and he lost 5 destroyed.

[devoncop]

23/8/43 Turn

Well after the dust had cleared the defence of the airbases went better than we could have hoped against massed allied strikes.
The summary shows 39 Axis losses but 134 Allied planes lost... Hopefully it may constrain allied air activity a little during German
redeployments.

I now have a dilemma...Catania has gone and hopefully sea transport capability will arrive next turn BUT....I have several units due as reinforcements spawning in Messina over the next half dozen turns or so. Most are very weak Italian units but one is a full strength German Panzer Grenadier Regiment...do I try to hold on and risk losing more units to Larry's juggernaught in detail in the hope of getting the reinforcements or cut my losses now and extricate what I can to the mainland....I have some dug in units with artillery support North of Catania both sides of Mount Etna but nothing formidable....

I will see how Larry moves this turn and decide....

[sPzAbt653]

It turns out that Palermo was a supply point

So, um, you didn't notice the black supply points that are in the sea hexes next to Allied Supply Point locations ? Hint, hint [:)]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the west end of the island right now. I'm aiming to extinguish the Italians
guarding the roads down south and capture the rest of the island, airfields and all.
It won't help the war effort on the island very much but I'll sleep better at night
knowing it's all been cleared of enemy units.

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: sPzAbt653

It turns out that Palermo was a supply point

So, um, you didn't notice the black supply points that are in the sea hexes next to Allied Supply Point locations ? Hint, hint [:)]

They are kind of easy to miss but now that I know what to look for I'm cooking with gas.

[larryfulkerson]

Here's what my front lines looked like when I ended the turn. There's at least three
small MLR's that I'll have to reduce. Maybe I can capture Messina before he gets a
lot of stuff off the island.

[devoncop]

Turn 24/8/43

Well the extent and speed of the Allied advance has made my mind up....The disparity in ground forces remaining in Sicily is such that by the time meaningful reinforcements arrive there will be nothing to reinforce. After a couple of effective artillery barrages most decent units are pulled back to Messina and the units garrisoning the city are successfully ferried to the mainland.

In northern Italy the 19th Infantry Division is designated to defend a priority port and we await further help from Berlin.

As it happens Larry I missed the supply symbols by the ports also....!!! We live and learn [:)]

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the front lines before I have moved anybody. And it's obvious that I don't
want to fight all the Italians on the island. I think it's best if I invade the
mainland and make the Italians disappear so I don't have to fight them any more.
Don't try this at home. It sounded good on paper, your mileage may vary. It worked
in rehersal. I gotta try something like that or face more losses. I think maybe the
northern route might be easier to crack.

[larryfulkerson]

This is what it looked like just before I executed my last combat round. I'm taking
the picture now because before when I did this I ran out of rounds, the turn ended
and I didn't get a picture.

[devoncop]

Turn 28/8/43

Nearly September and we just hold out on this cursed island !

Another ferry load of valuable artillery units and Panzer Grenadiers slip across the straits of Messina and the defence lines are at bare bones. Next turn the strong Panzer Gren regiment is due as a reinforcement in Messina so it would be a huge boon if it arrived but I am expecting US troops under the shy and retiring General Patton to turn up at the gates of Messina any hour....

Once again Axis aircraft incur 2 to 1 losses but this won't be enough.

[devoncop]

31/8/43

Gallant but doomed Italians holding the ragtag line 40 Km from Messina delay the allies for another turn.

The Panzer Gren Regiment arrives in Messina just in time to be shoved back on a ferry as it sees streams of colleagues fleeing in the opposite direction and so joins them....More defenders for the mainland.

The Allies must have supply issues as I expected Messina to be under attack by now...Maybe another ferry load can get out next turn ?

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the front lines just before I ended the turn. Just a little more and I'm done.

And yes, supply is a major problem. I suspect it will be for the entire game.

[devoncop]

So maybe one more boatload of evacuees and that's my lot...

Thoughts have already turned to the next big moment....the invasion point. Does Larry go for the short direct crossing across to Reggio? It is an allied supply point but also furthest from the eventual aim....Brenner Pass....

Or does he go for a holder more northern route? Salerno? Though that would give him air cover problems and would be easier for me to reinforce the defenders....

There are numerous other ports on the West coast...and a few on the East including one just East of the vital Foggia airbase...but many are not allied supply points so I doubt he would risk that....

This turn quite significant reinforcements are due from Berlin including the exotic Turkish and Azerbaijani contingents of Axis sympathisers !

[devoncop]

A final boatload out of Messina...better than could have been hoped at the beginning of August and Messina will surely fall next turn.

In a dramatic development a US TD unit attempts a daring invasion of Corsica at the northern port of Bastia but is repelled by a gallant Italian Coastal Battalion before Stukas from the mainland send the entire unit to the bottom of the Ligurian sea including 33 tanks...A small success but nonetheless welcome....revenge won't be long coming I am sure !

[larryfulkerson]

Here's the front lines just before I ended the turn.

[MikeJ19]

Guys,

I have had a couple of busy days and have not had much time for reading these posts. They continue to be very enjoyable and instructive.

Thanks and have fun playing!

[larryfulkerson]

ORIGINAL: MikeJ19

Guys,

I have had a couple of busy days and have not had much time for reading these posts. They continue to be very enjoyable and instructive.

Thanks and have fun playing!