This AAR is in fact 'after the action'. Hopefully I caught most of the detail in screenshots but I wanted to share some of the methods I've used that have met with success. Because this is the BG Italy scenario Axis units are limited, and after a few turns the Luftwaffe is but a shadow, so not all of these methods will translate to the broader campaign where the opponent can better mass forces.
For those who have not played it the BG Italy scenario begins with Operation Husky already in motion. All six WA TFs in the Med are in position to support the invasion, but you do not start with 6 temporary port hexes to support the troops that start ashore.
There is one temporary port on the American beaches at Licata while repairs of Siracusa (lvl 3) and Gela (lvl 1) are underway.
You also do not start with the size 2 airbases that you get from executing an invasion. Because of this I don't initially dedicate any assets to ground attack over Sicily. The Italians should be weak enough to make it redundant.
First we establish several air directives to support our efforts to clear Sicily.
The naval patrols are set to try and deny supply to enemy ports as well as protect supply to our own. I apparently forgot to grab the screenshot of the contingent responsible for naval patrol over the American landing zone. It should be the P-39Q Aircobras with P-40N escort (and maybe FB commitment from more of the same).
The westernmost efforts at Trapani were largely useless. The best result was drawing out Axis fighters in advance of Strategic Air Force making their attacks later in the week.
I think it is important to adjust routes and staging bases for most air missions. Naval patrol in particular can accumulate over the route from the staging base to the mission area. This can be used to help set up sea supply denial zones. I also don't like to fly over flak when a little more gas can get me safely around.
The P-38s light up the Axis attempts to intercept our naval patrol. These missions run seven days a week, so they are in effect fighter sweeps over some of the same airfields that Strategic Air Force will be skirting en route to their targets later in the week.
Malta Air Command is responsible for maintaining air superiority over the naval approaches to the British beaches, as well as the landing sites themselves.
Tactical Air Force fighters based south of Sicily establish dominance in the air over the American landing site.
Fortresses and Lightnings modified for recon are used to surveil the ports and railyards in the toe. The limitations of this scenario mean that industrial/resource strategic bombing targets are largely moot. This allows the Strategic Air Force to concentrate from the beginning on supporting the troops on the ground more directly.
The long legged night fighters stationed in Malta are re-assigned to Strategic Air Force in order to provide escort to the bombing runs over the toe. While not as large as the P-38 groups assigned to escort naval patrol, the fighters will not be flying until midweek when the Axis fighters have already come out to play a few times and taken their lumps from the Lightnings.
Tearing up the railyards and ports down here will slow his reinforcement, supply, and eventual extraction. The overlapping bombing missions and recon efforts I consider important to success. Switching targets around constantly I think hurts efficacy.
Overall air losses:
We rest any air groups <70 morale. We'll use units over 60 morale if the situation dictates, but below that I'd rather have a stronger effort available the next week than drive them into the ground.
Resting units after your air execution phase will rest them during the opposing air execution phase, and they may be ready again by the time it is your turn again (and someone else may need to be grounded instead).
