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Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #4. Western France.

Instead of panicking, tucking tail and running the allies doubled down on their effort to establish themselves in Western France.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #4. Land Combat. Southern France.

The allies also continued their expansion of their position in Southern France and trying to push closer to the allied landing in Western France in hopes of a link up.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #4. Amphibious Invasions (Land Combat) of La Spezia, Italy and Brest, France.

Most bold (or reckless) of all, however, were two high risk allied amphibious invasions of La Spezia, Italy and Brest, France.

The amphibious invasion of La Spezia, Italy was really more suppose to be a raid than a sustained invasion. The objective of the "raid" was the destruction or disruption of Italian air, ships and submarines based there. As will be discussed later, USA strategic bombing had managed to destroy the only (saved) Italian oil point and thus any units disorganized are almost as good as destroyed. Thus the thoughts behind this raid, which had an estimated 64% (9 or higher) chance of succeeding.

Now moving cross continent to northwest France, specifically Brest, the through behind those landings were the same except the odds were much better. And, the prospect of exploiting and expanding a successfully landing there were too.

The allied player rolled VERY WELL, rolling a 17, for both attacks. As the old saying goes, "Luck belongs to the bold".

Both landings, even without the axis oil shortage, dealt a serious blow to the axis ability to continue attacking and disrupting the allied convoy lines.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Axis #5. German Counterattack Against Allied Beachheads in Western France.

The Germans counterattack the two allied beachheads in and north La Rochelle and nearly succeed in destroying both.

(Top Land Combat) The Germans only manage to force the lone allied defender to retreat. However, if successfully, which it should be, the following land combat will ensure the destruction of that unit likely on the next German impulse.

(Bottom Land Combat) Things never go as they should. The Americans in La Rochelle hold, just barely, on a low roll by the Germans, will results in the destruction of one attacker and disorganizes the rest.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #6. Land Combat. France.

The USA uses an o-chit with Eisenhower to double the two land combats in southern France (first two).

The Americans in Bordeaux try to do their part is pushing out to try to link up with the allies coming from Southern France.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #6. Land Combat. Northern Italy.

The successful allied raid into La Spezia turns into more than a raid with the allies bringing in two power armor corps and mech division to the area.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #8. Land Combat. Northwest France.

The successful allied landings into Brest, France also turn into more than just a raid to destroyed German u-boat pens. It turns into a major push into France.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #8. Land Combat. Southern France.

In southern France, the allies put out of supply, disorganize and easily rollup two elite German corps.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #8. Land Combat. Italy.

In Italy, the two American armor corps supported by a mech division run havoc over the Italian defenders. The problem is is that there isn't enough other units to establish a front and protect their rear, much less their flank.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Axis #9. Land Combat. The Italians Counterattack for La Spezia.

The vulnerability of the USA armor in Italy is made clear in an unsuccessful counterattack by the Italians to retake La Spezia. This attack failed but had an uncomfortable 25% chance of succeeding. 1 out of 4 while not good odds are not by any means long odds.

The allies learned their lesson and consolidated their forces in Italy into a more compact and defensible formation.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #10. Land Combat. Northern France.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #10. Land Combat. Western and Southern France.

The allied forces in (central) Western France and those in the Southern France continued their push "outwards" and nearly managed to link up this impulse.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied # 12. Southern and (central) Western France.


Linkup but not without cost.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #12. Land Combat. Northern France.

"Rolling, rolling, rolling ... keep those doggies rolling ... Rawhide."

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Allied #12. Land Combat. Italy.

With no units lost, Italians out of oil and with no good prospect of getting more, a disorganized results against Balbo is as almost as good as destroying.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. France.

So to bookend all these land combats I just posted, I wanted to show the positions in France at the end of the turn once again.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. Southern France. Italy.

And here's Southern France and Italy (again).

Turn 29. May/June 1944. The Eastern Front.

Not to slight the other major front in Germany's two front war.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. The Eastern Front. Allied #2. Land Combat.

With axis oil at a premium and with the Western Allies finally opening up and expanding a second front against Germany, the Soviet cranked up the Red Army and push as hard as they dared this turn.

Turn 29. May/June 1944. The Eastern Front. Axis #3. Counterattack (Land Combat).

The Germans counterattack with what was initially a good attack before the addition of Soviet defensive air. Though the Germans managed not to lose any unit they disorganized a number of units requiring oil for reorganization.