Battleground Italy - vs Axis AI

[Speedysteve]

Hi All,

Time for a step up in scenario size before I tackle the full campaign. This time against Challenging Axis AI.

Here's the results of the first weeks air efforts. I mainly focussed on Recon across Sicily and the Italian Toe, AF and port bombing on Sicily, Interdiction across Sicily and Air Superiority over most of Sicily.

Interestingly it was my Air Superiority mission that suffered the most.

[Speedysteve]

About to start my ground planning and movement for the first week and I thought this was odd. Why on earth would the British Beaches in the SE be all isolated? Seems like the Amphib TF's haven't created temporary ports at the start of this scenario also.

[soeren01]

I think there was a post that it was an design decision.

[LiquidSky]

They are isolated from naval interdiction I bet. Click the interdiction button at the top to see the values. If the sea zones are more 2 or more in favour of the Axis, then supply ships can't sail/row through them.

[Speedysteve]

That would be it then.....thanks LS

[Speedysteve]

Post my ground movement on Turn 1.

The Brits prodded further inland towards Catania and linked up with the US east of Ponte Oilvio AF cutting off 3 small Italian formations.

The US mainly re-organised (2nd ARM all merged together), rest of 82nd Airborne flying into Ponte Olivio whilst 78th British and US 9th Infantry Divisions are awaiting port space to unload.

I withdrew 2 of the Amphib TF's back to Tunisia to begin preparations of Corsica and Sardinia whilst another 2 x Amphib TF's headed up to interdict the Straits of Messina.

I also flew in a FS to each of my AF's and changed their TOE to 100%.

Not overly happy with my turn and my AF Directives but it's work in progress!

[Speedysteve]

Should we really be receiving Event info on Soviet upgrades and promotions to Guards status? I can really imagine Uncle Joe cabling Eisey in SHAEF saying "this Tank Bde performed brilliantly last week. I've made them Guards Status! They get new uniforms and extra rations as well you know! You should try it. It's great for morale!" [;)]

[Smirfy]

ORIGINAL: soeren01

I think there was a post that it was an design decision.

It certainly feels like it has went too excessive with this patch. I know Tunisia is coming up and there will be issues re supplying the Axis but presently it is like the Axis are the great naval power.

[Speedysteve]

They're certainly projecting a fair old Naval presence across my beaches and local sea area. I'm going to try and project more air superiority across these areas to see if it helps lower the Axis threat.

[Smirfy]

I'm running first turn tests with this scenario with thirty plus mainly patrol squadrons added through the editor the results are looking interesting

[Speedysteve]

My Turn 2 Air directives also included a manual Naval Patrol directive by 120 x Tactical AF Mediums which seemed to up the levels on my side south of Sicily

[Speedysteve]

Air Directives:

[Smirfy]

The Axis values are still high. I'm not sure innate objects like Ports should have such a high power in an abstract system. Sicily and Husky IRL were a logistical triumph. As for medium Bombers being used for naval patrol again I think the system should let you use them against the physical rather than the abstract.

[Smirfy]

You need more naval patrols there

[Speedysteve]

After ground movements.....

The Axis mainly withdrew to the North and NE and except for a couple of Italian Rgt's that offered scant resistance 2nd ARM Div made the north Italian coast at Termini.

[Seminole]

FYI - temporary ports (which this scenario does not assign to the British beachhead) act as a national supply source for resolving hex isolation status. You won't get replacements if cut off by sea, but your troops won't consider themselves 'surrounded' for combat purposes.

There is something about the way that naval interdiction values are counted. I think dropping lots of little bombs has an outsized effect, and the loadouts available to the Axis LBs magnify this. Just a hunch...

[Smirfy]

Something has happened with the latest patch whether the patrol bonus has slipped off or something has slipped on. As for weapons system I would argue that the Mossie or Beaufighter are superior than anything in theatre at NI.

[Speedysteve]

Air losses from the Axis turn....My CAP took a heavy toll on them as they continued to fly Naval Interdiction missions SW of Gela

[Helpless]

There is something about the way that naval interdiction values are counted. I think dropping lots of little bombs has an outsized effect, and the loadouts available to the Axis LBs magnify this. Just a hunch...

Main problem is that BI scenario has no Allied naval groups, it is greatly reducing their potential.

[Speedysteve]

Needs to be sorted Pav. I'm being hard done by [;)]

A Wet Front moved across from the west impacting the effectiveness of my recon missions in particular.

It doesn't appear there's any Axis aircraft based on Sicily anymore.

103 enemy are claimed for the loss of 46 friendly.