Europa Games and Military History

Month: March 2000 (Page 1 of 3)

July 1937

Jul I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

Jul I ’37 Insurgent Turn. The Nationalist and Italian CR.32’s are both rebuilt. The arrival of some artillery allows some cadres to be rebuilt to full strength and for some unsupported divisions to recieve support. It is hoped that this will stabilize the front lines.

The 5 Ara XXX pulls back to 2107 where it will once again be in supply. It is also reinforced with a division. Italian fighter pilots finally redeem themselves, aborting an I-15. An attack on the 4th (San) XX at 1507 is more successful than the earlier attack on the Asturians. The Santanderos are forced back and the division disintigrates trying to withdraw (4:1 -1 =DR) (ZOC kill). The elimination of the Loyalist saliant at 1507 shortens the line. One of the divisions which took part in the battle will be able to shift toward Burgos to firm up the lines.

Loyalist Player Turn.

Jul I ’37 Loyalist Turn. The ideological re-purification of all cities in Cataluna is now complete, freeing up a swarm of PA non-divisional units. The I-15 is rebuilt. An air raid on Oviedo fails to hit the airfield there but an intercepting Italian CR.32 is abouted by a PA Mixed F. So much for the Italians redeeming their honor.

An attack is finally launched on the 5 Ara XXX. The People’s Army calls in GS & demolishes the corps in a hard-fought battle (3:1 0 = EX). Further north (hex 1805), an attack is launched on a force centered on the recently rebuilt 13th XX. Both sides call in air power. In the air, an I-15 jumps a Kondor Legion He-45 and aborts it, but the I-15 is itself killed. On the ground, the presence of enough armor (in the form of the Dro and Bab lt. armor II’s) to achieve AECD doesn’t prevent the capture of the position with heavy causalities on both sides (3:1 -2 = EX).

Jul II 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

There are rough seas in the Atlantic, but this should have no effect on operations. The 108th XX is formed. The KL He-45 is rebuilt, but the CVT has no ARP’s left so the CR.32 cannot presently be returned to service.

The Nationalist command had discussed the possibility of a withdraw, but noting an intelligence report that the Loyalists are now running low on supplies, Franco orders that there should be no pulling back. No attacks are possible, but an attempt is made to mount an air offensive against the PA air force. The bombers and attack planes manage no hits but in a raid on Madrid an escorting Italian CR.32 aborts an I-16.

Loyalist Player Turn.

Pointing out that no Insurgents are anywhere near enough to be a threat to Basque interests, Republican leadership lobbies the Basques to allow their units to be released for operations outside Euzkadi. Perhaps inspired by recent Loyalist successes, the Basques agree.
The I-16 is rebuilt.

The PA command is determined to sieze Burgos from the CVT. Enough supply is rounded up that about half the attacking force is in attack supply. Both sides mount major air operations to support their ground troops. The Nationalist CR.32 is aborted in a patrol attack on an R-Z. German fighter pilots seem to show better ability as the Kondor Legion He-51 kills an I-16. Italian pride takes another hit as Burgos falls (2:1 0 = HX). There is much gnashing of teeth in Rome as 3 divisions are eliminated along with their supporting units. Of the strong Italian ground contingent in Spain, only the 3 Lit XX, operating independently of the rest of the CVT, and a few scattered non-divisional units are left. To make matters worse, the remaining Italian CR.32, confident that Burgos would hold, had landed at the city’s airstrip and is aborted in escaping!

The Insurgents, already reeling from the loss of Burgos and the Italians, are dealt further shocks as PA units southwest of Burgos launch further attacks without attack supply. The 32nd XX (hex 2108) is destroyed but goes down fighting (4:1 0 = EX), while further west (hex 2210) the reinforced Ov XX is pushed back (3:1 -1 = DR).

June 1937

Jun I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

Most units lost in recent fighting are rebuilt, but the artillery shortage means that most divisions are at either cadre or unsupported strength.

Units north and west of Soria pull back a bit, trying to cover the hole in the line left by the loss of the fort at 2306. To the north, the CTV and a Nationalist XXX launch a spoiling attack on a Loyalist XXX. Large air battles develop as both sides call in air support. A Loyalist I-15 flying a patrol attack against an Italian CR.32 is aborted. In air combat, another Italian CR.32 aborts a Loyalist A-101 but is killed by return fire. All this adds up to a waste of aircraft and aircrew as the Loyalist withdraw from the battlefield in good order and the Insurgents decline to pursue (3:1 0 = DR).

Loyalist Player Turn.

The Gijon factory, damaged in the battles there at the start of the rebellion, is finally back in production. The 45th (Int) XX is formed, partly with PA troops, and the I-15 is rebuilt.
In the north, the 7th (Ast) XX slips thru the mountains to hex 1507. It will be out of supply and exposed but its presence west of the mountains will stretch the Rebel lines.

On the Miranda de Ebro front, only 1 attack is launched as the reinforced 52nd XX is attacked in its new position (hex 1905). This time, the attack comes off in nearly textbook fashion (4:1 0 = DE).
On the Soria front, a weak Nationalist position in the mountains (hex 2105) is attacked from 4 sides. Even though the defenders are very exposed, the difficult terrain allows them to take some of their attackers with them (5:1 -2 = HX). To the west, the weak Nationalist 5 Ara XXX is cut off but not attacked.

Jun II 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

The CR.32 is rebuilt. The 52nd XX is rebuilt but without artillery.

It is necessary to shift troops from the center of the main line to cover the deteriorating situation on the flanks. In a general reshuffling of the line, the CTV moves to Burgos and several divisions are sent to deal with the impudent Asturian XX at 1507. Once again, both sides call on their air forces for support. A CR.32 is again killed, this time by an R-5, as the Loyalist air force continues to give an unexpectedly good account of itself. On the ground, the attack on the Asturians is also a disappointment (4:1 -1 = AS) as more supply is burnt up without any reward.

To the south, the 5 Ara XXX manages to re-establish tenuous contact with the main line. To the west, some units north of the Cordillera Central pull back in order to shorten the line and shift to the east.

Loyalist Player Turn.

The A-101 is rebuilt and the 46Ch XX is formed.

More air battles erupt as both air forces continue to consentrate on direct support of the ground troops. Another CR.32 is shot up as it is aborted during a patrol attack on the pesky R-5. The surviving Italian fighter pilots are quick to point out that this time it was a Nationalist CR.32 unit with Spanish pilots.

The Loyalists are still unable to attack on the Santander front. They do pull the unsupplied 7th (Ast) XX back into the mountains and relieve it with the 4th (San) XX.

On the Soria fornt, an attack on the 5 Ara XXX (at hex 2206) is forgone in order to attack the 2nd (Req) XX and supporting units to the north (hex 2107). The Carlists are destroyed at some cost (4:1 0 = HX). The victorious PA units decline to occupy the battleground after bagging the division, but the 5 Ara XXX is again cut off. Further west, units move cautiously to follow the Insurgent withdraw. There is no need to advance too far here since to do so would stretch out supply lines too far.

In the center, there is a return to the familiar pattern of two attacks. Two XXX’s launch a direct attack on Burgos, now held by the CVT. This is a calculated risk, as the attack will be iffy, but success will deprive the Insurgents of 3 divisions plus strong supporting units, as intelligence has indicated that replacements for the Interventionist forces are minimal. However, the attack fizzles (2:1 0 = AS). To the northeast(hex 1705), 2 PA XXX’s and a Santandero XXX attack the Nationalist 11th XX, a couple of Mixed X’s and some Italian non-divisionals, who manage to withdraw in good order (4:1 0 = DR). People’s Army high command begins to join their Rebel counterparts in worrying about burning up too much supply.

May 1937

May I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

The direct route into Santander along the rail line is deemed too strong to attack directly, so attempts are made on the flanks, with mixed success. In the mountains to the west, 2 XXX’s attack some unsupported Santandero X’s and succeed in destroying them despite the defensible terrain (6:1 -2 = EX). To the east, however, the 15th(Int) XX, with some supporting units and DAS beats back an attack by the CTV and a Spanish XXX (3:1 -1 = AS).

Loyalist Player Turn.

The planned drive from Santander is again delayed as units in that area extend their lines to prevent an Insurgent breakout from the mountains, the troops around Soria are still not ready, but the tempo of operations aroung Miranda de Ebro picks up as 2 attacks are launched in that area. North of the Burgos-Miranda de Ebro rail line (hex 1803), air units flying GS help drive back the Insurgent 4th(Req.) XX and supporting units with heavy losses (3:1 0 = DH), but further south, bad terrain and Insurgent DAS pretty well muck up an attack on the 72nd XX even though the Loyalist in this battle also recieved GS (3:1 -2 = AR).

May I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

The 52 XX is formed. Attacks continue to focus on the flanks of the line across the Santander rail line. To the south (hex 1703), Loyalist DAS again helps the 15 (Int) XX fend off an attack by the CVT (2:1 -1 = AS). To the north, DAS also plays a role in defending the last line in the mountains (hex 1306) before the narrow coastal plain from an assault by the 3 (Req) and 13 XX’s, with supporting units. The attack, launched by the Nationalists with much hesitation and in some desperation, is a disaster (3:1 -2 = AH). The strong 13 XX is completely wiped out as its cadre is routed while attempting to withdrow (ZOC kill). Most of the supporting units are also eliminated, including 2 LE III’s. (It may have been a mistake to take the losses in this manner; if the Requete XX had been eliminated the cadre of the 13th would have survived, but the Insurgent have plenty of Nationalist replacements but no accumulated Requete replacement.)

This ill-advised attack has compromised the Insurgent position around Burgos. The offensive will have to be called off and only tactical counterattacks made until the situation can be stabilized.

Loyalist Player Turn.

The troops near Soria are finally ready to attack. They begin by reducing a fortified position (hex 2306) held by the Nationalist 12 XX (plus supporting units). Both sides call in air support as the Loyalists carry the fort lines in a bloody exchange (4:1 -2 = EX).

Along the Miranda de Ebro front, 2 attacks are again launched. The 72nd XX is finally expelled from the rugged terrain it had been defending (hex 2004) although the Loyalists, attacking in greater strength and with air support, take some losses (5:1 -2 = HX). Directly west of Miranda de Ebro, the reinforced 52nd XX holds on in yet another battle featuring ground support on both sides (3:1 0 = AS).

On the Santander front, there are still no attacks launched, but the destruction of the 13th XX allows the Loyalist forces to move forward in the nountains.

August 1943 – the Empire strikes back

Historical: Messina falls, Sicily occupied

To my, semi-concealed, delight the LSSAH division pops into existence in Palermo – up to full strength with the plethora of Armour RPs saved from destruction in Africa. Carrying on the Axis strategy of “hitting ’em on the beaches”, it and an Italian tank regiment (with the help of the Strat reserve fighter cover) burst through the egg-shell defence covering Trapani (at 3532) vaping another infantry division, then run amok through the “little people” building the airfields and repairing the ports. OK, so this wasn’t part of the Allied Cunning Plan, but if we were able to cut off Leibstandarte’s retreat, it would be a great scalp to get. Derek had even done the decent thing and broken it down into bite-size portions in the exploit phase.

However, the Allied turn was a disappointment. Deliberately looking for the exchanges with low-odds attacks, we ‘unluckily’ rolled high and they escaped with DRs. Further consolidation secures the beachheads from all but the heaviest Axis attack.

But the focus has shifted again and by early August, the Brits, bolstered by heavy reinforcements from England, are ready to rumble again. Sardinia is only lightly held, and with heavy fighter top-cover, the landings proceeded like clockwork. Beachheads are established to the east (2008) and west (2010, 2111 & Sant’Antiocho) of Cagliari, just beyond its Danger Zone. This is not to say there wasn’t opposition – indeed the Axis flew a lot of missions, but consequently, ° of their invaluable anti-shipping bombers are now out of action.

The Axis Aug II turn is pretty quiet – there is little to be done about the landings in Sardinia, and with the Americans well ensconced in Sicily, the Axis forces fall back to the northern coast railroad, keeping Palermo supplied. In their turn, the Americans overrun a small Italian stack near Caltanissetta (3929) and strike out eastward. A bit of luck and some hefty ground support pushes the defenders out of Catania, whose fall signals the death knell for Italian Malta – it’s now unsupplied without access to the east coast supply run. The LSSAH regiments have again hidden themselves well, in fully armoured stacks in the rough. 1st Armoured swings north-east smashing through some Italians to hook round Mt Etna and haul up beside Messina and the cadred HG. This cuts the coastal railroad, but it needs a Big Effort from the remaining Allied bombers to close the Palermo port down and leave the LSSAH assets out of supply.

In Sardinia, despite harassment from Marseilles bombers, the Canadians and Brits surround Cagliari. With engineers and NGS thrown in, a 5:1 isn’t too much of a stretch, and the city falls. Monty breathes a sigh of relief as regular supply floods in through the liberated port. A major construction program already has 4 airfields in the Sardinian south, so the island looks well secured, as long as we can prevent the units in the north escaping from the battered minor ports.

Throughout the adventures in the Med, the dozen fighters left in Britain, combined with the partisans and the ETO Strat forces have been leaving their marks all over north and central France. Only a third of the original forces are left in England now.

April 1937

Apr I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

Spring rains continue to make the ground to muddy to launch any attacks in the north, while the delay in attacking along the rails west of Madrid has allowed Loyalist reinforcement to strengthen their position to such an extent that the Insurgents decline to attack them.

Loyalist Player Turn.

The French close their border again. Intelligence reports indicate that they will keep it closed for a long while this time. Otherwise, still waiting….

Apr II 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

The weather in the north finally clears, allowing operation to pick up in the north. Most of the Insurgents’ best troops, including the CVT and Kondor Legion ground troops, are committed to a massive attack SW of Santander (hex 1604). Loyalist control of the air over the battlefield allow the to recieve DAS but the attack is so strong the Insurgents aren’t to worried about being unable to call in GS. The attack results in the Insurgents ending up in control of the battleground but they fail to inflict much losses on the PA & Ast. units involved (5:1 -2 = DR). Commitment of so much strength to this one attack, and continued supply concern, prevent any other attacks at this time.

Loyalist Player Turn.

A revolt against the Republican government breaks out in Barcelona. The PA command had been warned of this and has made sure that plenty of good, loyal PA units are available in Cataluna to suppress the revolt. It also moves quickly to disarm POUM units.

The drive on Burgos gets off to an inauspicious beginning. The Insurgent attack on the Santanderos has disrupted the planned attack from that direction, the troops at Soria are not quite ready to attack, and some forces from Miranda de Ebro are sent to Santander to shore up the defense in that area. In the end, only one attack is launched, a preparatory attack on the 3 Lit Div and supporting CTV units in the upper Ebro Valley (hex 2103). The Italians are shattered with some losses to their attackers (3:1 -1 = EX).

Meanwhile, an attempt to bomb the airfield at Burgos goes badly as an escorting I-15 is aborted and the target escapes damage.

July 1944 – Sicily Invasion and Counterattack

July 1944 – Sicily Invasion and Counterattack

Historical: Sicily invaded by US (south coast) & British (east coast); Mussolini ousted

With Derek leaving the west basically empty, and with a Jagdgeschwader based out of Messina, Operation Husky opened with a lone Dakota air-dropping the 509th Para battalion into an empty Marsala. But, still inexperienced, they land heavily and failed to take the port – DRAT! Inauspicious omens! This, of course, immediately set of the alarm bells in Palermo, and the garrison quickly fell out to bolster the defences around Messina and Palermo.

After first shooing off the 109s in Messina, the US invasion fleets hove into view. The two areas selected for invasion were the western tip centred on Trapani, and the southern coast around Agrigento and Licata. Because of the lack of range of good fighter cover, these were the only viable options without slipping within range of the Axis submarines. The Axis threw every bomber they could at the fleets, and despite the fighter and carrier cover, a good half-dozen hits were inflicted – including an irritating trend of singling out the divisional HQs for special treatment (3 out of 5 units hit over the next few turns were on the HQs!). However, despite that, the boys got ashore, pushed aside the coastal defenders with the assistance of the other para drops and established nominal 15pt+ beachheads.

Meanwhile, the Brits formed outside of Tripoli with their full strength and gave them ‘what for’. The dice gods played along, and gave us our 50:50 roll, forcing an impossible retreat from the city. This released the Poms for their Med duties, though they had to scamper north for 2 turns by plane, train or boat to get to any usable ports. The Med timetable being behind schedule was the last straw needed to cancel plans for a major ’43 invasion of northern France. Thus Britain started being emptied of any troops of consequence – including the (ex) Home Fleets.

Reasoning that the best chance to get at the Allies is before they can build up their shore-strength, Derek assembles a large stack in Sicily built around the Hermann Göring division. Getting a long run-up from Messina, it slams into the unarmoured flank of the Americans at Licata for an HX, cadreing the HG and (with the aid of a pesky coastal division) destroying the 3rd Division lock, stock and 2 smoking barrels. Also, despite solid Allied CAP over the southern ports, 2 of the remaining 3 are bombed out. A Palermo Pest division scuttles out to isolate the southern coast forces from the one remaining supply port at Trapani.

In the July II Allied turn, the laborious build-up proceeds: the 2nd Armoured, and rebuilt 1st Armoured HQ land and assist with re-opening the link between Trapani, Marsala and Agrigento – better to be safe, with un-isolated troops, than to push on to disaster. (I wish I could heed that advice later!!)

Dec II 1943

SSMM, Calm Seas everywhere.

Axis Player Turn

Spain – The withdrawal of the FH PzG XX from San Sebastian to Russia sends shivers down the German CinC spine until he can find replacements for them in the form of the 26th Pz Cadre that he has to spend valuable armoured RPs on to bring up to strength. In Extremadura, the remaining Spanish forces flee into the hills while Galacia asks for fighter protection and sea borne reinforcements. At Barcelona, Franco spends some of the RPs he has collected from the special replacements gained from massive losses and rebuilds a couple of infantry XXs. These are thrown into the frontline, much to the bitter disappointment of the Allied CinC. Barcelona is looking a tough nut to crack.

Italy – The sudden winter offensive of the US infantry causes the abandonment of the Adriatic coast. Units flee north to the next river line and a PzG cadre is sent from Rome to SE of Aquila de Abruzzi to try and ward off any further american adventurism. The Cassino sector holds on but looks increasingly over its shoulder to the happenings in the east.

Allied Player Turn

Spain – Irate at the poor press they got from the previous turns failure in battle, the Canadian tank boys with attached infantry slam into the pesky Spanish cavalry which had slipped into Navarre. The horseboys are wiped out, but not before running amok with the British infantry (EX result). The Canadians press forward and reach the entrances to the passes over the Pyrenees.

Italy – Two US infantry XXs attack and get an EX result on the PzG cadre SE of Aquila, much to the consternation of the German CinC. This attack puts the infantry astride the east-west transportation line outflanking the river line along the Adriatic, threatening Pescara and, more importantly, Roma. The Cassino line is now useless and the Allied CinC begins to see possibilities opening up.

Analysis

The addition of Spain was definitely been a two edged sword from the Allied point of view. It was fun at first over running and swamping the scattered Spanish defences but the key aim of breaking into the Pyrenees before bad weather struck failed. This was mainly due to my failure to get started on towards Barcelona early enough. The Tarragona force was meant to be a block on the Germans getting establish deep in Spain, it worked but I should have used it as a means of getting to Barcelona and knocking the Spanish out earlier. The home rules for garrisoning Spain were also a pain, too many units tied down well away from the fighting, but this is what the rules were meant to do so I guess from that perspective they worked. As to how “historical” they are is anyones guess.

In Italy the Americans at this date were lodged further north than as was the case historically, but the Italian peninsula has a lot lower counter density – Spain was being mainly defended by German units that were slated for the southern front. This allowed me to push further and faster without any amphibious landings (except for the initial one on the toe). The most disconcerting thing in the game for me at this stage was the German refusal to strip Northern France of units to defend Spain and Italy. I had been hoping for a cross channel lodgement by late 43, but the enemy just wouldn’t play my game. The fact that I had several US and British XXs and assorted special forces sitting in the GB holding box could have played a part to. Norway still sits pretty in the north, awaiting Allied liberation. The time is coming.16

Dec I 1943

Snow, Snow, Mud and Mud, all seas Rough.

Axis Player Turn

Spain – San Sebastian and the surrounding environs are strengthened and Pz Training XXs placed in Southern France as a reserve in case of Allied breakthrough. The large amount of Artillery received this month is scattered along the French coast allowing several divisions to be replaced with brigades and regiments.

Italy – Little occurs in the region.

Allied Player Turn

Spain – Off the coast of Barcelona the Spanish and Royal navies blunder about trying to locate each other for a second Trafalgar but fail to find each other to the disappointment of both CinCs. Caceres falls to a Portuguese infantry attack which forces the Spanish out of the city. At Salamanca the Canadian 2nd Infantry is left with a bloody nose in an EX result which gives the city to the Allies. Only the Galacian cities remain in Spanish hands in the west. Franco calls Churchill all sorts of rude names. Outside of Zaragosa Spanish pride is restored when two Canadian Armoured XXs with attached Motorised British infantry are stopped dead in an attack on a cavalry force (One 4-8 division and three 1-8 regiments). The “Barcelona Bugle” correspondent reports the Shermans were beaten back by the Spanish troopers swords thrust into the treads of the tanks. At Barcelona, British and French infantry are unable to seize the eastern half of the city despite a fourfold superiority in numbers. Franco calls “No pasarán!”

Italy – US Infantry pushes up the central mountain spine threatening the coastal positions (due to the low counter density in Italy compared to history, the central mountains were left unguarded by the German player, and the US infantry, stripped of artillery and other baggage were let loose to turn the Axis flanks). Elsewhere little happens.

Nov II 43

Mud and Rough

Axis Player Turn

Spain – Barcelona is strengthened by the arrival of the SS 10th F PzG XX at Sabadell while the Spanish pull back from the Tarragona region. The northern front is wilting under allied pressure but Hitler sends an urgent plea to Franco to hold on for as long as possible until the passes over the Pyrenees can be garrisoned effectively. In the west the fragmented units holding out against the Portuguese-British attack begin to suffer from lack of supply and urgently radio through to Barcelona looking for aid. Constant withdrawals of key units to Russia is also annoying the German CinC who is forced to shuffle units about to hold Spain in the war.

Italy – Naples and Salerno are abandoned and the German army with RSI units withdraws to the forts behind the Garigliano. HG XX just scrapes through the ZoCs of the US/NZ forces to arrive safely home. The folly of not using air harrassment on its line of retreat haunts the allied commander and he is hounded into early retirement by the bitter press denunciations (obviously fed by press leaks from irate politicians from Whitehall and Washington). The best chance of pinning and destroying the HG XX (the last C/M XX in Italy except for a PzG XX guarding Liguria from sea attack) and getting an easy run into Rome without having to face a strong Cassino defence was missed due to the focus on Spain. The German CinC breathes easy once more and orders a bottle of grapa.

Allied Player Turn

Spain – Portuguese and British troops take Merida and push on to Caceres. Salamanca holds out again to an allied attack. In the east, Zaragosa falls to troops pushing north from the coast along the Ebro. This leaves only Barcelona and Lerida linked with France.

Italy – The British forces take up positions south of the Garigliano while the US forces move to the Adriatic coast and begin to enter the mountains, preparing for a flanking move on the 32 mile long “Adriatik Anvil” manned by the 44th Hud XX and a couple of lower quality Infantry units with ants. The placement of units makes it clear that despite the weather and terrain that the US forces are preparing to launch another assault soon. With news of this, the German CinC snorts grapa through his nose in surprise. It is also noted that several ports in Northern Italy have been left virtually unguarded and well within the reach of the air bases in Corsica (where significant numbers of air units begin to redeploy). Northern France and its defending troops remains untouched by the troubles in Spain and Italy.

Nov I 1943

Mud everywhere, Rough in the Atlantic, calm in the Med and Baltic

Axis Player Turn

Spain – Enraged at the Portuguese “stab in the back”, the handful of Spanish units in the west shuffle about in the mud and swear to fight to the death against their invaders while along the Pyrenees the Germans shuffle about trying to protect Barcelona and Franco’s new government. The 250th Spanish Blue XX mans the barricades with newly mobilised Artillery regiments providing support to cavalry and civil guard units. Viva la meurte! The sudden withdrawal of the 16th Pz XX to Russia from Tortosa leaves a single Spanish Mtn XX holding the line from the approaching English and French North African units.

Italy – Confident that the mud has closed down the front, the Army Group Italy CinC pops the cork on a couple of bottles of vino rosso in celebration. The policy of holding the US forces as far forward as possible seems to have paid dividends. Naples and Salerno remain in German hands, and, despite the drubbing received at Andria and the loss of an undamaged Foggia, the Peninsula looks secure. Along the coast several ants scurry to take up coast watch duties while the frontline rests under the driving rain while LW and RSI fighter aircraft rebase to Naples.

Allies Player Turn

Spain – A joint Canadian, British and Portuguese attack on Salamanca fails to dislodge the stubborn Spanish and the Allies are forced to flee from battle. At Tortosa, the single Spanish XX is crushed by British and French units who get a DR/ZoC result. Units exploit through to link up with the Tarragona beachhead and march onwards to Barcelona. At San Sebastian, an attack by Canadians and British fail to dislodge the defenders and break out into France.

Italy – The Indian 4th Mtn XX the NZ Mech 2nd and an armoured X arrive in Italy to team up with the 4 division strong British corp operating in the area. These units, using the roads to cross the peninsula, position themselves behind an American attack on the Panzer XX in Benevento. US units are stripped from the Adriatic coast to slam into the Pz XX defences while infantry and engineering troops slip through the mountains past the HG XX in Salerno. Fighters from Naples scramble to intercept the Allied air offensive in support of the US attack in the muddy conditions but are largely ineffective against such overwhelming odds. An EX results to the stunned disbelief of the Axis commander who spills vino rosso all over his uniform on hearing the news. The unhinged line is further broken into by the NZ 2nd XX and again the HG XX looks like being trapped unless it retreats to behind the Garigliano.

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