Mistakes in the Baleares - Newbie vs Nationalist AI scen 6

[RangerJoe]

September 18-19, 1936

The battles in Palma and El Arenal have petered out, for two different reasons.

In Palma, our Columns are disorganized and exhausted after days, even weeks of constant assaults that have yielded no results. We have switched gears temporarily to low-level, skirmish assaults while we put the rest into defensive stance to regroup. While the Fascists do keep counter-attacking and that slows it somewhat, it still trickles down with time.



In El Arenal, and for reasons I do not completely understand, we are cut off from our supply lines.



The only reason is because of this? Maybe it cuts the supply line to Son San Juan, or the demand for supplies is so overwhelming there as the Carlos Marx Regiment hogs all the supply for repairs?

You have to control the hexsides of both hexes for the supplies to flow.

[WingedIncubus]

We made contact with the enemy on Formentera - and the odds are... not good.





Also, all the RSVs sitting in Ibiza and Alcudia might be better supplied in Barcelona rather than them hogging the local supplies. After merging the countless RVs together into a few workable units, cargos have been chartered on their ways out from both islands to transport back to Spain.

[WingedIncubus]

You have to control the hexsides of both hexes for the supplies to flow.

Thanks! What would be the best way to take control of that hexside: Move a unit from Son San Juan through that that green hexside?

[RangerJoe]

You have to control the hexsides of both hexes for the supplies to flow.

Thanks! What would be the best way to take control of that hexside: Move a unit from Son San Juan through that that green hexside?

Yes.

[WingedIncubus]

You have to control the hexsides of both hexes for the supplies to flow.

Thanks! What would be the best way to take control of that hexside: Move a unit from Son San Juan through that that green hexside?

Yes.

September 19, 1936

It worked! Supply lines are now restored in El Arenal.

However, moving troops from Marratxi to Palma did not take control of the hexside. Something I missed? Perhaps they need to be in Combat mode?

[WingedIncubus]

Public Service Announcement

Reminder that Spanish aircrafts are built with paper and iron strings, all held together with butter. Daily use and forget WILL cramp up the aircrafts' fatigue through wear and tear, so they need regular maintenance. If you don't take the time to rotate them, you'll end up like this.

If I had more time I would increase airbase size on the island to move them closer, but with about only 3 weeks left to the campaign I cannot spare the engineers away from Palma and El Arenal.

[RangerJoe]

Thanks! What would be the best way to take control of that hexside: Move a unit from Son San Juan through that that green hexside?

Yes.

September 19, 1936

It worked! Supply lines are now restored in El Arenal.

However, moving troops from Marratxi to Palma did not take control of the hexside. Something I missed? Perhaps they need to be in Combat mode?

Sometimes the defender breaks the encirclement which is reported in the combat report.

[WingedIncubus]

Sometimes the defender breaks the encirclement which is reported in the combat report.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That's what this message means!

Then it would be best to move other troops around to that hexside, when move them through to reestablish control? Or is there a better way to reestablish encirclement?

[RangerJoe]

Sometimes the defender breaks the encirclement which is reported in the combat report.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! That's what this message means!

Then it would be best to move other troops around to that hexside, when move them through to reestablish control? Or is there a better way to reestablish encirclement?

Yes and yes!

[WingedIncubus]

September 21, 1936!

Viva la Republica! El Arenal has been liberated with the remaining 800 demoralized Fascists throwing down their guns in surrender.

Only a single coastal cannon battery remains, still resisting. Guillamont's Column will stay behind to mop them up while almost 3,000 men are now freed to head into the battle in Palma.





Meanwhile, our Navy is transitionning into close battery to disrupt and destroy as many rebels as possible inside the city before one, last desperate offensive to wrestle the city away from Franco's control. Surely, they'll be starting to crack now.

[WingedIncubus]

On Formentera, our submarine caught an Italian convoy on route to resupply Pilar de Mola. The Principessa Giovanna has eaten one eel and been damaged. Her sinking, however, is unconfirmed.




The Syndicalist Regiment maneuvers along the coast to attempt to capture the Pilar from the rear, catching the remaining Fascists on the island in a deadly pincer.

[WingedIncubus]

September 22-23, 1936

Our 3,000 men reinforcements have arrived in Marratxi. We shall attack by overwhelming that side the rebels control to completely surround them and push them into the sea. The proud Pajareros shall lead the offensive.

Tomorrow, we launch our big push into Palma. The more we wait, the more wasted. Everyone is tired and exhausted, but we enter the big artillery inside as well to narrow the artillery gap and blast the Fascists point blank in the face. Palma is in rubble anyway, but we shall fight and die like brave - and free - Spaniards!

The Navy will bombard the port with its supplies and fuel, and the airfields as Italian flighters and land bombers have been reported inside the city.

[WingedIncubus]

September 24, 1936

Promising!

While the enemy managed to break out of their encirclement again, we gained the advantage in artillery and inflicted 2-for-1 casualties on the Fascists in devastated Palma.

Their lines reportedly are getting thin and overwhelmed, so time to plug in reserve columns as we press on the attack.



On Formentera, the Fascists are pushed into their last line in Pilar de Mola. Soon, the small inlet shall be ours!

[WingedIncubus]

Close call. We receipt report of an submarine in the vinicity of Barcelona.

We detatched a destroyer from the Bombardment task force to find it - and hopefully sink it.

[WingedIncubus]

September 25, 1936

Adios, unknown sub.

Spotted on the surface right outside watcher view of the harbor, they didn't manage to evade in time. A single depth charge right in the kisser ended her.




Principessa Giovanna had survived, but not for longer. Found in the Pilar de Molar harbor it took a few torpedo misses, but two hits finally sunk her into the shallow waters of the harbor.

[WingedIncubus]

Our bombardment campaign on Palma continues. The more squads and defensive works our naval guns destroy, the easier our job shall be made.

According to our recon intel, at least 3 more light industries have now been rendered unusable. Like a vice, we slowly decreasing their local supply production hopefully in time that it might prove insufficient to feel the thousands of Fascists defending the isolated city and they'll either starve or surrender.

[WingedIncubus]

The Fascists are helpless in Formentera with only a few dozens holdouts in Pilar de Mola.

One last, swift attack and the islands will be back in the Republic hands.




In Palma, we trade casualties but the defenders' firepower is slowly beginning to trickle down. Whatever disabled soldiers we have, we order them evacuated out of the city while we call for more replacements from new recruits.

While nominally, the Fascists are over 5,000 strong but according to our best intel over 1,200 men (a full quarter of that amount) are in makeshift hospitals and RSVs, too damaged to fight. That suggests that their supply production is starting not meeting the rebels' demand.