Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

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Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

This is the first of two games I have been playing at the WA. As it is the Battleground Italy scenario the number of units and scope is considerably smaller, so i felt it would be a good way to get my feet wet.

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).

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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.

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Tactical Air Force fighters based south of Sicily establish dominance in the air over the American landing site.

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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.

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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:

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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).
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

American start moving off the beaches first.

Bradley gathers 3rd US Inf Div and 4th Tabor Goums FF Mtn Rgt for a deliberate attack against the 177th Ital. Bersaglieri Rgt.
This is overkill, but overkill is what I want against the Italians. Bradley's efforts are rewarded when the regiment shatters and only 13 allied soldiers are lost.

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Bradley then turns his efforts back toward the east, with deliberate attacks against the Italians on his right flank.

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The Canadians spearhead 8th Army's drive to link up with the American beachhead.

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Canadian and British Armored Bdes give chase to the Italians who tried to break contact with the Americans east of Gela and rout them.

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Montgomery moves the rest of 8th Army in the wake of the Canucks and makes contact with the enemy across a wide front.

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Patton sends 2nd US Armored division west to make contact with the enemy. They blast the hapless Italian coastal defenders and upon reaching the Platani radio Patton to report it is undefended.
"Well then get off the #&#%ing radio and get your ass across the that river!"
2nd US Arm Div breaks down into regiments and create a 20 mile wide bridgehead over the river. A river backed by rough terrain is the last thing an armored unit should try to breach head on - unless nobody is there.

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2nd US Armored Div position threatens to split the island, and the Germans have to consider being outflanked if they don't react.
This is the advantage of hitting the Italians hard instead of trying to 'save' MP with a hasty attack. If they melt you don't have to hit them again, and again, and worry about them getting into decent terrain with supply, and even worse a corset of German reserves...

We have three level 1 air bases that we shift some Spitfire variants to in order to provide local fighter cover as well as kick start the air base TOE buildup.

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

We intend to get on the Italian mainland as quickly as possible.
This next phase of the Med campaign is taken with an emphasis on a secure invasion site. The terrain surrounding the eastern Italian ports is a defender's dream, but just north of Taranto and in the heel of the boot is open terrain.

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Operation Jackpot

Relocate TF 545 (C) to temporary port on US beachhead to ensure adequate supply for Op. Husky.
Transfer Commando and Ranger SUs to TFs that will make the landings while they are en route to African ports.

4th Moroccan FF Mtn Div will lead the assault, broken into regiments with support from the 2nd Tabor Goums FF Mtn Rgt.
82nd Airborne Div and 509th Para Rgt will make jumps supporting the landing sites and linking beaches on both sides while securing the airbases.

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5th Army will take overall command of the invasion, and the plan is to put no reinforcements in Sicily so they can all support Operation Jackpot.
A British and U.S. Inf Div shipped to the temp port in Licata on turn 1, only one could be offloaded, but is securing the port against any Axis raids.
If Italian Army continues to shatter will consider not unloading, and perhaps reloading the other to wait near Malta.

Corsican and Sardinia will not be directly invaded. We will wait for Italian surrender to see what the Germans have left and support with British airborne as necessary.

8th Army will be pulled from Sicily for invasion of central Italy to be determined. No plans at present to assault across the Messina Straits.

TF 81 (3/4th Moroccan FF Mtn Div) relocates to Tunis (21 prep points per turn)
TF 85 (2nd Tabor Goums FF Mtn Rgt) relocates to Bizerte (21 prep points per turn)
TF 86 (1/4th Moroccan FF Mtn Div) relocates to Bone (21 prep points per turn)
TF 545 (A) (2/4th Moroccan FF Mtn Div) relocates to Sousse (19 prep points per turn)
TF 545 (B) (231st BR Inf Bde) relocates to Valleta (12 prep points per turn)

Pertinent rule for success of Operation Jackpot:
Defending units on a temporary port hex, or adjacent to a temporary port hex and also adjacent to a sea hex, will have their end of combat CVs multiplied by 4 when determining whether they retreat.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 2

On the second week TF 545 (B) and TF 86 switch positions. This will allow TF 545 (B) the ability to gain 13 prep points per turn so that it can launch an invasion on turn 5 (12+13+13+13) whereas TF 86 will still be available on turn 4 (21+20+20).

This week the Germans stepped up the naval interdiction efforts while we essentially repeated ours. The result was the temp port was cut off, but supplies still trickle into the captured, damaged ports of Gela and Siracusa.

We unload a rail repair unit to help tie the depots together.

Sicily theater:

Patton continues his 'reconnaissance in force'. It's clear the Germans have pulled back to the Etna line already. Elements of 2nd US Arm Div reach the northern Sicilian coast at two different locations, bisecting the island.

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The British 8th Army assaults across the river west of Catania, pushing back Schmalz PzG Bde.

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British 4th Arm Bde crosses the river with infantry support from 1/1st BR Arb Div. They launch a follow up attack against Schmalz PzG Bde and compel another retreat.

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With the assistance of another BR Inf Div from XXX Corps a final attack is launched from the bridgehead against the 2/H Goering Div that is holding the plains north of Catania.

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The Free French are tasked with holding the center for 7th Army against any Italian counter attacks while US Infantry continue down the beach on the left flank toward Sciacca. They cross the river and prepare to assault the town next week. On the northern coast 2nd US Armored Division has entered Termini.

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Lots of units crowded in the toe. This bodes well if he's going to fight me hard down here. More mouths to feed and less for Op. Jackpot to face.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 3

In the air war we shift Strategic Air Force's efforts against port and rail facilities from the toe (which according to recon are well wrecked) to the heel in order to delay Axis supply and reinforcement against Op. Jackpot. Otherwise little changed, except we're starting to get more short legged fighters into Sicilian air bases.
This allows us to shift forward the transport aircraft that will lift the 82nd and 509th in support of Op. Jackpot.

The Germans launch a counter attack to push back the British armored brigade on 8th Army's left flank.

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Bradley uses 3rd US Inf Div to shatter another Italian regiment and open the path to Palermo.

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Patton doesn't want to use 2nd Armored to assault the Sicilian capital alone. Instead he suggests a swap to 8th Army, in exchange for two Armored Brigades to help exploit the capture of Sciacca. Patton secretly hopes that 2nd Armored can spearhead 8th Army's efforts and steal a little luster from Montgomery's efforts to award himself the prize of Messina.

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Bradley uses 1st US Inf Div to take Sciacca

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The Americans then follow up with an attack by 9th US Inf Div that routs the Italian defenders out of the heights overlooking Sciacca.

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After 2nd US Arm Div has made its away across the river Patton orders them to find, fix, and destroy the enemy.

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After scouting the positions of Schmalz PzG Bde Patton learns that they're being reinforced by elements of 15th PzG Div. Patton intends to draw the 15th PzG Div reserves off with a follow up attack supported by the 1st Canadian Arm Bde.

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Patton's boys don't win the field, but they do provide sufficient distraction for the German armor for Montgomery to bring the weight of 8th Army's infantry into battle.

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After 8th Army succeeds in dislodging Schmalz' force the British armored brigades race west to try and capture the Italian airfields. The density of units defending the approaches to Messina render null preparation to land elements of 1st BR Airborne division behind the Etna line. Without making this deep strike there is no need for the armored brigades mobility in this sector, and Montgomery meets his end of the 'swap'. XXX corps also moves west in order to provide command and control to these assets.

The Canadian armored brigade pulls back across the river and takes up a blocking position south of the FJ Div still garrisoning Catania. The Americans also break down an Infantry division to provide security on 8th Army's left flank while a regiment of the 82nd airborne retake the ground vacated by 4th BR arm bde under German pressure.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 4 - July 31st, 1943

Rain coming out of Africa over Sicily.

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We rest several strategic bombing groups and also 2 of the 4 B-25 groups running naval interdiction for Tactical Air Force (over landing beaches and north of Messina)
Strategic Air again runs naval patrol south of Reggio Calabria with B-24s.
The rest of Strategic Air repeats last week's bombing directives against the port and railyard facilities that support the heel.
Germans are defending the approaches to Messina with full divisions. We hope to cut these units off and hold them in place.
We've been prepping the British 1st Airborne Division to land behind them and they're now at 95 prep.
This turn we're able to bring the short legged air groups of Tactical Air Force to Sicilian air bases.
We assign two separate Ground Attack directives for Tactical Air Force with the long legged in one group from Africa and the other the short legged FBs that were just relocated.
Coastal Air Force also runs a Ground Attack on the eastern side of the Etna Line with Aircobras.
Tactical and Malta Air Force run Air Superiority Directives off the American landing beaches to help secure the flow of supplies.

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II Corps continues the push west. US Inf division force the surrender of an Italian division and rout others across the map. The British Arm Bde are re-assigned to II US Corps and continue liberating airfields and scouting the enemy redoubts at Marsala and Trapani. Next week 1st & 9th US Inf Div will assault these cities. Palermo will likely wait until the week after that.

Low on supplies the H Goering Pzr Div is forced back by the 2nd US Arm Div who joins the 5th and 51st BR Inf Div is making the assault on the western slope of the Etna Line.
A follow up attack in the gap against the H Goering Pzr Div by 2nd US Arm Div, this time joined by the 1st CA Inf Div. This attack is stalled when General Hube brings up Italian mobile reserves. Battle communications are made difficult by the remote location of XXX BR Corps HQ (on the western side of the island supporting the initial thrust of the British armored brigades).

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We switch TF 545(A) with TF 545(B) from Valletta to Tunis so that it can go from 31 prep points to 52 next week and be ready to invade the heel. Doubtful we'll try to make the invasion next turn because we're still using the Air Force against Sicily and the weather could get worse, but we can if we want to. I go ahead and put follow on forces for Op. Jackpot on boats this week, but I shouldn't have positioned them off of Malta. Better to put them on boats and then leave them in harbor (not necessarily with TFs that may need prep!) so they can get supplies - rookie mistake.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 5

Heavy air recon shows too many units to attempt the Messina cut-off with British 1st Airborne. They will instead be held as reserve for possible action on Sardinia/Corsica.
Initial situation map prior to recon:

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We will commence Operation Jackpot on schedule, ahead of the weather, and without interdiction at sea in the initial phase to preserve full surprise.

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Once again we establish naval control blocking Catania, Reggio and Messina from supplies by sea.

7th Army clears Marsala and Trapani, but cannot yet crack Palermo (not cut off from sea supply, if they had been isolated they likely would have surrendered). Hopefully next turn the western side of the island will be wrapped up.

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This was prior to me recognizing the value of TF supporting fire on attacking coastal positions. Palermo should have been cracked this turn, but I have something dumber in mind...

The Germans start the week with a counter attack against 1st CA Arm Bde, ejecting them from the hills flanking Catania with a strong attack from 15th & 29th PzG Div, support by 1st FJ Div and 4th It Mot Div. The defenders give nearly as good as they get, despite being outnumbered 10 to 1.

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BR Inf Divs retake the hills as the Canadian armor link up with their infantry sister division and join the Americans in throwing back the H Goering Pzr Div with heavy losses. This move has the potential to cut off the Schmalz Pzr Bde as well as it will have to pull back to the mountain if it can.

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2nd US Armored Div pair with the Canadian Arm Bde and push back the H. Goering Division on the western slope of Mt. Etna. 2nd US Arm Div moves forward into the gap while 8th Army tightens the noose around the Fallschirmjaeger Div in Catania.

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~15k freight was received at Sicilian permanent ports last week whereas the temp port received ~27k freight.

With the invasion of the mainland underway a decision to abandon the temporary port is made. Palermo should fall next week and TF 545(C) is ordered to enter the Straits of Messina and block the resupply and evacuation of Sicily.
Several first line Italian divisions are identified, and recon indicates at least the following German formations:
16th Pzr Div
H Goering Pzr Div
15th PzG Div
29th PzG Div
1st FJ Div
Schmalz PzG Bde
Unknown armored formation at Barcellona.

TF will likely take a beating, but the potential capture of 6+ German formations should be worth the price. Next week we should be able to pull one TF from the mainland invasion and bracket the ferry route while avoiding being under port defenses.
Biggest drawback to forgoing the temporary port is that our own evacuation will be hindered by port repair.

Note: This being my first game as the WA outside the Husky scenario I still didn't know what to do with TFs. I knew they would block supply, but mistakenly thought one TF would also block ferry withdrawal. I failed to allocate any to repairing the initially damaged ports (instead leaving one to maintain the temporary port), and I also failed to use them for attack, but I learned their value quickly...

The stage is set for Operation Jackpot:

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One small snag as we're only able to launch three of the four expected parachute drops.
LZ King and LZ Queen, the effort to bisect the peninsula nearest Taranto, are both launched, but only one of the drops against LZ Jack and LZ Ace are made.
The initial plan was for the redundancy to be at the secondary line, with two jumps giving us the opportunity to cut off the peninsula, while the jumps into LZ King and LZ Queen would have no redundancy, and rely on making both jumps to accomplish the outer cordon.
My positioning of C-47s on Africa was insufficient. The range circle looked good, but at the edges and at a diagonal I can testify they're not to be trusted.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by JocMeister »

That looks a little bit too ambitious for my liking! If he can get some good naval interdiction up you could be in trouble. [X(]

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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

That looks a little bit too ambitious for my liking! If he can get some good naval interdiction up you could be in trouble.

BG Italy scenario, so he can't bring the entire Luftwaffe to bear. Also much that he does have is withdrawn pretty early. The BG Italy scenario is more 'historical' in that regard.

In the grand campaign I'd rely on B-24s, B-25s, Catalinas and British patrol aircraft to get naval interdiction that far.
I think the most important thing for an Allied landing is that it doesn't fail.
I really like the advantages of this spot. Room to fall back, plenty of hexes covered by TF supporting fire, as well as the temp port CV multiplier for defense.
The terrain doesn't offer much to the defender, and plenty to like for CAS.
TFs can also help you crack Taranto and Brindisi quickly.
Also lots of airbases, so you can re-stage Tactical Air almost in its entirety without even expanding airbases. Puts Balkan oil at risk also (not a factor in this scenario).

I'll get into more detail shortly, but after focusing my port and railyard (priority on railyard) attacks on the toe and heel, I begin now moving them to the Naples-Foggia area. I believe it contributed heavily to my opponents poor supply situation, as well as hampering his ability to respond. Factor in potential for Italian surrender from this gambit (and what that does to the rail in southern Italy) and I'm not sure there is a better spot for the WA to go after Sicily.
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by loki100 »

I do think the scenario is more realistic for the Italian campaign, it clearly stops the standard tactic of the Germans in the 1943 campaign of committing everything apart from garrisons to Italy (and of course the WA can build up beyond the realistic OOB too).

I think I'm slowly grasping that the TFs are much more than the tools for delivering invasions, but would still worry about generating too many losses in 1943 in case that really hamper your flexibility in 1944?
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Smirfy »


Your opponent certainly is not short in courage holding on to Sicily like that. My advice is keep an eye on your aircraft pools remember you only get 1/5 Start converting Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Warhawks to bombers you will need them when positional warfare starts and they attrite away quickly in the opening phase so retraining is like banking. Your heavies are your best friend in this scenario because they can bomb troops without many losses and they have bigger pools than the fighters, even if they dont kill many they usually ensure success. Your American mediums and RAF Bostons will hit the buffers quite quickly if you over use them.
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Your opponent certainly is not short in courage holding on to Sicily like that.

It would be more dangerous if I knew some things earlier, but I intended to play it to my advantage with the early move on the mainland.
My advice is keep an eye on your aircraft pools remember you only get 1/5 Start converting Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Warhawks to bombers you will need them when positional warfare starts and they attrite away quickly in the opening phase so retraining is like banking. Your heavies are your best friend in this scenario because they can bomb troops without many losses and they have bigger pools than the fighters, even if they dont kill many they usually ensure success. Your American mediums and RAF Bostons will hit the buffers quite quickly if you over use them.

I'll go into better detail on how I used the air power. I continued using Strategic Air assets to bomb his ports and railyards. I moved Tactical Air into the heel as quickly as I could ramp up Air Support on the airbases to support interdiction for the breakout. Having started this scenario as the Axis and seen how the Luftwaffe is taken away I'm not too worried about my air force. I want to use them to help slow and pin the enemy while I use maneuver to get where I'm heading.

Luftwaffe losses by turn 6

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WA losses by turn 6

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Total tosses for the scenario

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 6

Supply bug means no freight to invasion. Had to wait until .21 beta to proceed beyond this turn so that the Axis logistics phase during my opponent's subsequent turn would send freight to my temporary ports.

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Situation in the heel besides the supply snafu is pretty good. Only a single German brigade among the defenders, but we lost contact with an entire regiment of the 82nd airborne, and the outer cordon is not closed.
We didn't trigger an Italian surrender with the landing, but survived an effort by the Brindisi garrison to storm Spade beach.
Commandos and Rangers are ashore to ensure the flanks of forward depots.

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TF in the Straits got their ass kicked - 98% damage. Stopped flow of supplies, but did not stop escape. I positioned it between two fortified ports for the end of the previous turn and it got roasted. Lesson learned.
Will use to repair lvl 1 and 2 ports on Sicily while its own damage is repaired.

Send 4 Spitfire squadrons being starved on Pachino to Heel bases. Also send 2 recon groups (Spitfire and Mosquito), the Aircobras and their Spitfire escort. Additional bases that are seized will each be manned with a Spitfire squadron to help kick start filling the air base TOE.

Situation before air execution. No naval interdiction over the heel ports, but USAF will be sending heavies to ensure flow of supplies this time.

Here is the overall Air Directive arrangement.

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Air Superiority flown from Sicily and Malta to cover the American landing beaches.

B-25 and B-24 groups will pave the way to the heel.

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Remaining B-25 to cover US beaches on and will try to keep Messina and Reggio isolated from sea freight.

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B-17s and B-26s will maintain pressure on the rail network, put in same directive. F-9 Fortresses will provide strategic recon.

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They have some decent successes:

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Brit bombers will work on rail and ports in the arch of the foot.

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Air interdiction results over Sicily:

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Ground Attack aircraft took a morale beating last week, so they rest this week and many of the FB's providing escort will take their duty as we don't expect much air opposition over Sicily.

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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Fly in some supplies to try and assist with consolidating The Heel.
Get supplies flown in to those attacking Brindisi, but not to those attacking Taranto.

US Rangers and elements of the 82nd Airborne encircle Brindisi while fresh off the boat the 34th & 36th US Inf Div under VI US Corps storm the port's defenders. Italian 58th 'Legnaro' Inf Div is routed because Brindisi was not cut off to start the turn. All 5 TFs are gathered off the coast of the city to provide fire support.

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3 TFs are then moved to support BR Arm Div and Bde attack on Taranto.
6th BR Arm Div and 25th BR Tank Bde assault with the naval gun support, but the fortification level is only knocked from 4 to 3 and the defenders resist.

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A follow up hasty attack reduces fortifications from 3 to 0 and the 210th Ital Coastal Div retreats while the German crews in the newly minted fortification zone surrender. With Taranto's fall the WA now have anchor at the top of the heel.

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The remaining regiment of the 82nd airborne moves along the beach instead of risking assault on high ground behind German SS spotted north of Taranto. This safe more is premature, and costly.
General Ridgeway, flown in to assume command of 5th Army after the supply debacle, orders the 1st British Special Service Bde to 'take that high ground come hell or highwater!" They succeed in their assault, but lack the time after their march from the beaches to take advantage of the Italian retreat.

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If the paras had waited they could have waltzed onto the ridges behind the 16th SS Sturm Bde. This would have virtually ensured that the heel was uncorked next turn. Results are already promising, but this would have given it certainty.

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The remaining division left on the island south of Sicily is shipped to the beach. Too far to unload this turn.

Para targets are initiated to support a follow up landing in the Anzio region as well as potentional breakthroughs from the heel.

50th & 51st BR Inf Div pull from the Catania side of the mountain to join 1st CA Inf Div in a deliberate attack against the 3rd 'Ravenna' Ital Inf Div and 103rd 'Piacenza' Ital Celere Div holding the reverse slope of Mt Etna.
Over 3500 Italians are taken out at the cost of 261 men of the Commonwealth.

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2nd US Arm Div (pulled back to make way for the Inf assault) is joined by 1st CA Arm Bde in crossing the breach and hitting the 13th 'Re' Ital Inf Div who routes and loses 40% of their strength. North American losses are only 106 men and 11 tanks.

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No gas left to chase the Italians toward Barcellona.

Palermo resists the first assault, even with the TF off the coast providing fire support.
1st, 3rd & 9th US Inf Div with direct support from 4th & 23rd BR Arm Bde and 4th Tabor Goums FF Mtn Rgt fail to discourage the defenders who are still in supply.
A follow up attack by 1st & 3rd US Inf Div and both Arm Bdes routes the Palermo Coastal Rgt and the 28th Ital Inf Div retreats in the hex left available - they still lose over half their men in the retreat.

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28th 'Aosta' Ital Inf Div holds against the efforts of 23rd Arm Bde to compel their surrender, the terrain is simply not favorable. The US Inf will have to collect them next week.

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End of week 6 situation in Sicily

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End of week 6 situation in The Heel

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Air Interdiction status at end of turn in The Heel

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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Seminole
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 7

This turn we get the Italian surrender. Part of my plan was to wait until August before invading Italy in the hopes of getting the first surrender check for going onto the mainland. That failed, and last week I was forced to battle some Italian troops, but they didn't stop me from getting the ports I wanted before German reinforcements could arrive. Now that the Italians have surrendered we don't have to worry about wading through them anymore.

We setup our air directives to continue denying sea supply to Catania and Messina, where the last German holdouts are located. Catania is still defended by the 1st FJ Div, which we cut off on our push through the Etna Line. We focus some ground attacks on these paratroopers while Strategic Air Force shifts their port/railyard campaign to the Naples region.

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Lastly we continue the B-24 and B-25 naval patrols to support The Heel. These flights are escorted as before, and we have some fighters already stationed in The Heel, but we're having problems getting Air Support into the airbases and many of the aircraft we've sent remain idle

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We bring several TFs to help in the assault on Catania. The shellshocked paratroopers surrender.

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Back in The Heel, the Germans made an attack against the regiment of the 82nd Airborne holding the right flank. Supporting fire from the TF stationed offshore prevented the panzers from getting to the beach.

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We begin the push to break out of The Heel. Our hope is to battle the exhausted Germans (the units we're fighting spent the last two weeks hard marching from the combat in Sicily to reach here) on these plains and with our armor make a break for the Foggia air bases. I don't really want to battle through the terrain that lies beyond them, and the enemy is obliging me by offering battle here in terrain not suitable to defense.

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Next push gets us a breach, but we don't have the follow on armor forces to fully exploit it yet.

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What follows are each of the battles, blow by blow, to try and get out of The Heel:

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Forgot to include the follow up fight that took this hex

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Germans finally manage to hold onto the edge of port at Bari as the Western Allies have exhausted their efforts this week. Being continuously battered backwards like this is not good for the Army Group C. Morale, equipment and fatigue all suffer. General Ridgeway relays to Ike that while they haven't broken into the open plains yet, they appear to be on the cusp, and the German army looks tired.

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American TFs go back to maintain their temporary ports (that are themselves connected to rail). We will abandon the British temp ports so that their TFs can be used to fix the port in Calvi (Corsica) and Oristano (Sardinia) as well as those on Sicily.

British TFs are given new landing targets flanking Grosseto. May re-assign, this is probably too bold. Need to look at what units I can pull once I start the stampede to Foggia.
Hitting north may cause him to panic so we can follow up back nearer to Rome...

Corisca and Sardinia have been evacuated already by the Germans, and Italian troops proceed with securing the islands unassisted.

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Situation on Sicily:

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Overall view of the Battleground Italy

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Ground Losses

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Air Losses

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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Seminole
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Turn 8.

Weather is obliging, but the personnel staffing department at AFHQ is lacking.

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I've had two 'healthy' supply cycles since patching the supply bug, but for some reason I can't get the Air Support staffed in my air bases. The result is most of the air frames I've already transferred are now in 'reserve' status waiting on ground crews.

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The impact of not having ground crews means my efforts to break out of the heel will have to wait for more ground reinforcements. Consequently, not much bold happens this week, mainly shipping reinforcements from Sicily to The Heel, and inching my units in The Heel toward the front line. Consequently this gives the Germans more time to send reinforcements. This isn't a terrible development, I want to do battle down here, I just hate having to sit on my hands...
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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Seminole
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Deployments in The Heel prior to recon and attacks:

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My goal this turn is to hit him in the center and try to lower the supply status of the latest reserves while I consolidate my strength.

On Sicily we face the last German garrison while other troops head for the ports.

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After we expel Scmhalz PzG Bde from Sicily everyone is heading for the exits.

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Back in The Heel we've made some small pushes, but nothing major.
Supplies are building in the depots. It is certainly not for lack of available freight or bodies in the pools (I have several hundred Air Support in both the American and CW pools, just didn't get a screenshot of it) that my aircraft in The Heel are largely idle...

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Finally, an overview of available OoB:

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"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Joel Billings »

Check the supply detail screen for the airbases in question. Do they list a number next to No Freight or No Manpower. Remember that having squads in the pool doesn't matter if you don't have any American or British manpower to fill them out (the squads are just the equipment, not the men).
All understanding comes after the fact.
-- Soren Kierkegaard
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Seminole
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RE: Seminole v Vorsteher - Battleground Italy 43-45

Post by Seminole »

Check the supply detail screen for the airbases in question. Do they list a number next to No Freight or No Manpower. Remember that having squads in the pool doesn't matter if you don't have any American or British manpower to fill them out (the squads are just the equipment, not the men).

For turn 10 I have some screenshots with that info. Will post it soon. Server game, so old saves not available to me.
"War is never a technical problem only, and if in pursuing technical solutions you neglect the psychological and the political, then the best technical solutions will be worthless." - Hermann Balck
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