First time grand campaign tips? Turn 8

[DustyJenkins560]

Hello all, first time WitW forum poster. I recently decided to dive into this deep game after having it and WitE2 on my radar. I'm more interested in the Western Theatre than the East, so I chose this game. I read plenty of helpful posts and looked at many guides on the forum, so thank you all for the wonderful tips you've provided, it has made learning the game much easier. I also have a WW2 atlas on hand with helpful maps to figure out who attacked and where.

I started practice on the Husky introduction, had some minor defeats, some draws, and a minor victory. I then moved on the Torch to Tunisia as many have said that scenario is good for learning. (FOW on, movement FOW off, as torch manual suggests.) After a few restarts, it all started to click! Or at least I think so. I managed a major victory! Then I decided to try my hand at the Kasserine Pass scenario on challenging as the Germans and managed a decisive victory! Woo hoo! So I decided to attempt the daunting task of the Grand Campaign as the Allies on normal.

I'm currently on turn 8. Sicily has completely fallen, with a number of Italian coastal and infantry divisions surrendering to me. Sadly, the Germans managed to mostly escape besides a brigade. Darn! Italy will probably be tougher. I'd been preparing my amphibious task forces in Northern Africa with the units there for an attack on Sardinia. (Some guides suggested taking it for air support towards Rome). Plus it seemed fun for an Alt-history path. Now here is the part that caught me off guard: after Sicily fell, the Italian units on both Corsica and Sardinia have defected to my side and are engaged with the German defenders! They will withdraw in 5 turns however. This was entirely unexpected by me. Now I'm left wondering if prepping for the attack was useless.

Here are my questions, please feel free to offer tips, tricks, and potential strategies. Am I able to just land in the ports that now belong to me? Or are the ports too low capacity? Should I re-target new landing sites in mainland Italy?

For additional context, I've taken little land losses. I've also moved the Canadians to North Africa. In the air war, the losses are somewhat on par, with me winning quite heavily in air combat. The Germans have lost a number of fighter bombers, though I've taken plenty of operational losses and losses concerning my bombers as I'm going hard in the Ruhr. I make sure to rest low morale air groups.

On a final note, I'm totally loving this game! I imagine facing a human would be much tougher than the normal AI. I'm still having tons of fun though. Any suggestions for what I should do are much appreciated!

[Chama]

Hard to give any specific advice as every game is different, but here are my 5 cents regarding what to do in Italy as the allied in a GC.

The reason why you would want to go for Corisa and Sardinia is because it opens up most of the italian west coast, as well as southern france as possible invasion sites. If the germans control these islands, specifically Sardinia any landing around Rome and beyond is almost doomed, the reason is that you won't have sufficent air cover, while the germans can lay it on thick.

This means that you will be forced to go up the boot in a painful, (and more importantly) slow slog. It's true that units not under german influnce will defect to the allies when the surrender event occurs. But in a PVP game you can never be sure that the germans actually do not defend these islands, and as the allies you are on the clock to get a proper invasion going (preferbly north of the german main defense line in italy). This means that it might, or might not be nessecairy to invade Corisa / Sardinia. It's hard to tell beforehand as both sides might be bluffing regarding their stand on it.

[DustyJenkins560]

Thanks for the reply, do you have any suggestions for what units I should use for attacking corsica or sardinia? Deciding on who goes to italy versus the islands is troubling me.

[rickwarintheeast]

In the campaign game, I've taken to the following

1 - British divisions land as scheduled near Nota
2 - Cancel airborne drops
3 - Strip 5th army by transferring US VI Corps to 7th Army, and British V and X Corps to 8th Army
4 - Ship US V Corps from England to Africa, and all US ground reinforcements to Africa through the end of 1943

5 - Revector the British Siracusa force to land at Sciacca in SW Sicily (on Turn 2)
6 - Revector two US divisions to land on Sardinia SE of Cagliari (on Turn 2)
7 - Revector one US division to land on Corsica near Bontifacia (on Turn 2)

8 - Pull one British Eastern naval task forces back to Africa and prep a British division for beaches south of Taranto
9 - Pull one US Sardinia naval task forces back to Africa and prep another British division for beaches south of Taranto

10 - British Eastern Sicilian landings drive up the eastern coast, and around Etna, securing airbases and cutting Italians in the west off from retreat
11 - British Western Sicilian landing take the airbases, and Palermo when possible
12 - US Sardinian forces drive north, taking airfields and ports
13 - US Corsican forces hold on until Sardinian air cover can tip the balance, plus the airborne divisions, plus other units as they become availalbe

14 - At some point the two remaining British naval task forces and both US Sardinian naval task forces go to the biggest ports and beginning preparations for landings in Tuscany between Livorno and Piombino

15 - When ready, execute the landings south of Taranto with airborn drops and four infantry divisions and all the independent battalions, regiments, and brigades at hand...under command of the 5th Army...this force is meant to cause the Germans to build their first fortified zone from Salerno to Barletta...these formations are the strategic prize

16 - The 5th Army moves north, keeping the Germans in sight, with sufficient air and ground reserves to deter a German adventure, and liberates what is given...and a ground route is opened to the Straits of Messina

17 - When ready, the 7th and 8th Armies land in Tuscany, with the strategic goal of cutting the Florence - Arzezzo rail road and reducing the Germans facing the 5th Army to supply from the single rail line on the east coast of Italy
18 - Focus everything on breaking over the Appenines to Ravenna...naval interdiction of the east coast ports until 5th Army and 8th Army can take the port
19 - If lucky enough to create a pocket, mop up the survivors...this could be as big a German defeat as Stalingrad...and will cripple German forces in the west...shortening the war

20 - 5th and 8th Armies deploy enough brigades and regiments to screen the mountains, with some mobile forces as backup...while forcing the passes to Klagenfort to reach Vienna is possible, the forces are better spent for the end run through Freiburg and Munich
21 - Send all extra British forces to reinforce the under-strength British 21st Army Group when it drives on the Baltic Coast and supports US 12th Army Group's drive on Berlin

22 - 7th Army pushes over the mountains and turns west toward France
23 - French 1st Army lands west of Marseille, links up with 7th Army and drives up the Rhone Valley to support Eisenhower's push into Germany, freeing the 12th Army Group to drive on Berlin

24 - Meet the Russians on the Oder in January 1945

Sorry for the stream of consciousness...I got carried away.

Regards, Rick

[DustyJenkins560]

Thank you for the reply Rick, no need to apologize. This is quite the ambitious plan! Next time I play I'll have to attempt it.