Month: August 2025 (Page 1 of 4)

Allied Turn

A weather roll of ‘3’ means continued winter. The US rebuilds its 2nd Arm XX, and its 4th and 85th Inf XX’s. The British replace their 15th Inf XX, and rebuild their 6th Arm XX and 50th Inf XX. Arriving from Britain are the US 29th Inf XX and Canadian 3rd Inf XX. The US replace 1 air group and repair 5, the British replace 1 air groups and repair 2, and the French repair 1.

The Allies advance adjacent to the Italians along their border, and move to within 1 hex of Geneva, effective cutting the direct route between France and Italy. The Allies liberate Lyon and with it MR 14. They also liberate St. Etienne and with it MR 13.

The first Allied attack is against a 21-pt stack just east of Roanne by the US 4th Inf XX, the British 43rd, 46th, and 51st Inf XX’s, the Canadian 1st Inf XX, and the Polish 3rd Mtn XX’s. The Allies include 4x RE’s of combat engineers to negate the fort. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 14 air groups. German AA abort 1 and return 1. At 4:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for an HX. Due to Allied ZOC’s the entire German stack is eliminated. The Allies eliminate an Arm X and 2 Eng III’s.

The next Allied attack is against a 19-pt stack just northeast of Roanne by the US 36th Inf XX, the British Guards, 1st, and 11th Arm XX’s, the British 1st Abn XX, the British 50th Inf XX, the Canadian 2nd Inf XX, the French 9th Inf XX, and the NZ 2nd Mech XX. Here the Allies include 6x RE’s of combat engineers to negate the fort. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 14 bomber groups. There is no AA. At 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. Due to Allied ZOC’s the entire German stack is eliminated.

The third Allied attack is against a 17-pt stack 2 hexes east of Bourges by the US 2nd and 3rd Arm XX’s and 6x Arm X’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups. German AA aborts 1 and returns 1. At 6:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for an EX. The Germans reduce a Static XX and eliminate the rest of the stack. The Allies reduce the US 3rd Arm XX and eliminate an ant.

The fourth Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack 2 hexes due north of Bourges by the US 101st Abn XX, US 9th Inf XX, the British 6th Arm XX, the British 3rd Inf XX, and the Canadian 4th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups. German AA return 1 air group. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DH. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate an ant.

The fifth Allied attack is against a 17-pt stack just southwest of Tours by the US 1st and 4th Arm XX’s, the US 3rd, 8th, and 88th Inf XX’s, the British 5th Inf XX, and the Polish 1st Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 2 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 8 air groups. German AA return 1 air group. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a 2 for an HX. The German reduce their 90th PzG XX and eliminate a PzG X and an ant. The Allies reduce the US 88th Inf XX.

The sixth Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack across the Loire at the town of Saumur by the US 34th Inf XX, the British 1st, 53rd, and 78th Inf XX’s, and the Canadian 5th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. After the Allies have flown all their CAP missions, the Germans fly in a CAP mission of 6 fighter groups to this hex. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 16 air groups with 2 escorts, which all of their CAP joins. The Allied fighter groups abort 3 and return 2 of the German fighters, which all bypass. The 3 surviving interceptors kill 1 and abort 1 of the GS mission. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 7 air groups, which the 7 Allied fighter groups at Poitiers intercept. The Allied interceptors return 3 DAS air groups at the cost of 1 killed and 1 aborted to themselves. German AA abort 1 and return 1. Allied AA abort 2. At 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for an HX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate the rest of their stack. The Allies reduce the British 1st Inf XX.

The final Allied attack is against an 18-pt stack 2 hexes due south of Nantes by the US 82nd Abn XX, the US 2nd, 5th, and 85th Inf XX’s, the British 7th Arm XX, and the British 56th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 6 air groups. German AA abort 1 and return 1 air group. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate a Pz cadre, a PzG cadre, and an ant.

Axis Turn

The German receive 2 more Inf XX’s, and stop another one from transferring east. The Germans replace a PzG XX, 2x PzG X’s, and 3x Inf XX’s. The Germans disband a large Art X, an Inf III, and an ET III. The Germans repair 4 air groups.

In Italy nothing changes. The Axis line in France starts in the mountain hex just west of Geneva. From there it goes in a straight line northwest for 6 hexes until it reaches the Loire River 3 hexes east of Vichy. At that point the Axis defense line clings to the east bank of the Loire for 9 hexes. The Axis player is aware that attack strength across a minor river hexside is reduced by as much as 40%. South of the minor city of Orleans there are 4 stacks, composed mostly of Inf XX’s unable to move far enough, still stuck on the west bank of the Loire. The Axis defense line once again runs along the north bank of the Loire starting 2 hexes west of Orleans. The Germans give up the medium city of Tours, and have to give up 2 hexes on the north side of the Loire due to the Allied bridgehead at the town of Saumur. The Germans regain ownership of the north bank just southeast of the minor city of Angers, and hold it all the way to the Atlantic just past the medium city of Nantes. By the end of the turn the Axis line from the Swiss border to the Atlantic is 31 hexes long and has an average defense strength of 16.5 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘5’ for continued winter. Another US Inf XX arrives, as does the Polish 3rd Mtn XX after a 3-turn trip the long way around Africa from the Near East. A French Inf XX becomes full at Alger. An Indian Inf XX and a British Art [xx] become full at Tripoli. They will arrive in south France by the next turn. The British upgrade their 6th Arm XX and 1st Abn XX. The Allies ship the US 29th Inf XX and the Canadian 3rd Inf XX from Britain. The US repair 3 air groups, the British replace 1 and repair 2 air groups, and the French repair 1 air group.

The Allied front facing the Italians remains unchanged. The first Allied attack is against a 19-pt stack just west of the minor city of Roanne by the US 4th Inf XX, the Canadian 1st and 2nd Inf XX’s, the British 43rd and 50th Inf XX, and the French 9th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 20 air groups, which 4 of the Allied CAP fighter groups escort. The Germans intercept with 4 fighter groups. The escorts kill 1 and return 1 of the interceptors, which all bypass. The surviving interceptors kill 1 and abort 1 of the GS air groups. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 4 air groups, which the last 2 Allied CAP fighter along with 2 fighter groups at Clermont intercept. Allied interceptors miss. German AA aborts 1 and returns 1, Allied AA misses. At 5:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an EX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate the rest of their stack. The Allies reduce the US 4th and British 50th Inf XX’s. The Canadian 1st Inf XX and US/Canadian SSF Mtn X advance into the hex.

The next Allied attack is against a 17-pt stack just east of Vichy by the British Guards and 11th Arm XX’s, the NZ 2nd Mech XX, the British 1st Abn XX, and the British 15th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups, which half the CAP escorts. German AA misses. At 6:1, – 1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for an EX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate the rest of their stack. The British eliminate their 15th Inf XX and a Eng X’s, and the US eliminate a Mech Cav X

The third Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack just southwest of Bourges by the US 2nd Arm XX and 5x British and Canadian Arm X’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. German AA returns 4 of the GS air groups. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for another EX. The Germans eliminate their entire stack. The Allies reduce the US 2nd Arm XX.

The fourth attack is against an 11-pt stack just west of the town of Vierzon by the US 3rd Arm XX, 101st Abn XX, and 9th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 8 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. German AA returns 1 GS air groups. At 6:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DR.

The fifth attack is against a 13-pt stack by the Canadian 4th Arm XX, the British 6th Arm XX and the Polish 1st Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 8 air groups, which half the CAP escorts. The Germans intercept with 3 fighter groups. The Allied escorts abort 1 and return 1. The surviving interceptor returns a P-47. The German then fly in a DAS mission of 3 air groups, which the remaining CAP intercepts. The CAP misses, and a Me110 heavy fighter kills a P-51 with return fire. Allied AA of 10 misses, while German AA of 7 aborts 3 and returns 2 of the GS air groups. At 4:1, – 1 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for an HX. The Germans eliminate their entire stack, including a just produced cadre which could not retreat due to Allied ZOC’s. The British reduce their 6th Arm XX.

The sixth Allied attack is against the 15th PzG XX by the US 1st and 4th Arm XX’s, the US 8th and 88th Inf XX’s, and the British 3rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 4 air groups. German AA misses. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DH. The 15th PzG XX is reduced and retreats thru Allied ZOC’s.

The seventh Allied attack is against the 9th PzG XX by the British 7th Arm XX, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 1st and 5th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 6 air groups. German AA returns 1. At 5:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for an HX. The 9th PzG XX is reduced. The Allies eliminates a US Inf III and 2x Arm II’s.

The eighth Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack 2 hexes southwest of the town of Saumur by the Canadian 5th Arm XX, the US 82nd Abn XX, the US 5th and 34th Inf XX, and the British 78th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 6 air groups. German AA aborts 2. At 7:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate the rest of their stack.

The final attack is against the 14th Pz XX by the US 2nd and 85th Inf XX’s, the British 53rd and 56th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 6 air groups. German AA misses. At 4:1, – 2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for another HX. The Germans reduce the 14th Pz XX and eliminate an ant. The Allies reduce the US 85th Inf XX.

During exploitation the British Guards XX pushes 2 hexes due east from Vichy getting behind the newly built German fort line. The US 3rd Arm XX and Czech 1st Arm X overrun Bourges, and the Canadian 4th Arm XX exploits 1 hex northeast of that city. In the north the Canadian 5th Arm XX exploits behind the German line into the hex due east of the town of Cholet.

Axis Turn

The Germans receive no less than 7x Inf XX’s this turn, and then replace 3 more. The Germans also replace the HG Pz XX. The Germans disband 2x Aslt Gun X’s, an Art X, a Mot Rkt X, and a Panther II for a total of 8 Inf RP’s and 13 Arm RP’s. The Germans replace 3 air groups and repair 1.

The Germans give up trying to hold Lyon until the next VP Check, it is elongating their defense line too much. Retreating north into France with the Germans are 2x Italian Arm XX’s, 1x Mot Inf XX, 2x Alp XX’s, an Alp X, a Bicycle III, 3x Art III, an AA III, and 3x AA II’s. The remaining Italians along the French border fall back to the eastern edge of the Maritime Alps.

Retreating from St.Etienne the German non-c/m units form a narrow salient caused by the penetration of the British Guards Arm XX due east from Vichy. The Germans look at a counterattack against the Guards but can barely get to 3:2, -2 odds, and cancel the attack. For 9 hexes from just east of Roanne to northeast of Nevers the German defense line hugs the east bank of the Loire River. From there the defense line then heads northwest for 3 hexes, then due west to angle around the medium city of Tours 1 hex out before heading northwest again. A hex southwest of the minor city of Angers their line turns due west to take advantage of some bocage terrain before reaching the Atlantic. By the end of the turn the Axis defense line from the Swiss border to the Atlantic is 32 hexes long and has an average defense strength of 16.3 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘5’ for winter weather. The US receives its 4th Arm XX. The US rebuilds its 36th Inf XX, and replaces an AA X and an Eng X. The British rebuild their 7th Arm XX and 78th Inf XX. The US repairs 4 air groups, the British repair 3 air groups, and the French repair their only P-47.

The Allied front changes very little from Nice on the Mediterranean, thru the Maritime Alps, along the south bank of the Isere River, the strong stacks southwest of Lyon, around St. Etienne, and then along the west bank of the Allier River up to Clermont.

The first Allied attack is against an 11-pt stack just northeast of Vichy by the NZ 2nd Mech XX and the British Guards and 11th Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. After the Allies had flown all their CAP’s the Germans fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission using 8 air groups, which the Allied CAP escorts. The German CAP intercepts. The Allied escorts kills 1 and return 1 of the interceptors, which all bypass. The German interceptors return 1 and make 3 fighter bombers jettison their bombs at the cost of a Me109 aborted. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 6 air groups, which the 6 Allied fighter groups at Montlucon intercept. The Allied fighter groups abort 1 and return 1 of the DAS mission at the cost of 1 killed and 1 aborted to themselves. The AA on both sides return 1 enemy air group. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DR.

Next the Allies attack a 15-pt stack 2 hexes northeast of Montlucon by the US 2nd Arm XX, the Canadian 4th Arm XX, the British 6th Arm XX, and the Polish 1st Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups. German AA of 3 abort 1 and return 4. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DH. The Germans reduce a Para-Inf XX and eliminate an ant.

The third Allied attack is against a 7-pt stack that could not retreat into the main defense line by the British 3rd Inf XX and the US 8th and 88th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in 4 bomber groups on a GS mission against no AA. At 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE.

The fourth Allied attack is against the LSSAH cadre that could not make back into the main defense line by the US 1st Arm XX and 9th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 9 air groups. German AA of 1 abort 1 and return 2. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE.

The fifth Allied attack is against an Inf XX now isolated on an intermittent lake hex by the US 1st Arm XX and the British 1st and 5th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 4 bomber groups against no AA. At 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE.

The sixth Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack 2 hexes due west of Bourges by the US 3rd Arm XX, 101st Abn XX, and the 3rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups. After the Allies had flown all their CAP’s the Germans fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 16 fighter bombers escorted by 4 fighter groups, joined by 2 of the Allied CAP. The German CAP intercepts, and the Allied escorts kill 2 and return 2. The 2 surviving German interceptors miss, but the 2x Typh1B they picked on, after they jettison their bombs, kill 1 and abort the other. The German think twice about flying in a DAS, and instead trust their AA. German AA of 6 manage to abort 2. At 6:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR.

The seventh Allied attack is against a 9-pt stack 2 hexes northeast of Poitiers by the British 7th Arm XX and the Canadian 5th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in 4 air groups on GS. German AA of 2 abort 1. At 9:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DH. The Germans eliminate an Art X and an Eng III.

The eighth Allied attack is against an 11-pt stack in bocage terrain by the US 82nd Abn XX, the British 78th Inf XX, and the US 2nd, 5th, 34th, and 85th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups. German AA of 2 return 1. At 9:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DH. The Germans reduce an Inf XX.

The final Allied attack is against a vacant port fort in La Rochelle by the British 53rd Inf XX, the Indian 8th Inf XX, and 6 RE’s of combat engineers. At 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR that destroys the port fort. Liberating its last city gives the Allies MR 18.

Axis Turn

The Axis player declares a ‘West Invaded’ emergency, meaning he will receive an extra 13x Inf RPs and 15x Arm RPs on each of the Feb I, Mar I, and Apr I turns. He also decides to claw back the 1st Pz XX, the 11th PzG XX, and the 4th PzG X which were transferred east from the Southeast Theater. With the Arm RPs from the previous turn’s disbandings the German Player replaces his 7th Pz XX, an Inf XX, and a PzG III. He also replaces 1 air group and repairs 3 others.

The Italian front changes very little. By the end of the turn the 8 mountain hexes the Italians defend had an average defense strength of 12.6 pts. The Italians also defend 2 rough hexes west and southwest of Geneva with an average defense strength of 18 pts.

The Germans remained in place facing south thru Lyon over to St. Etienne. North of St. Etienne the Germans gave up 3 hexes to shorten their line slightly. They still clung to 3 hexes along the east bank of the lower Allier River before it flowed into the Loire River near the town of Nevers. The German defense line ran within 1 hex of Bourges on its southeast, southwest and west sides, and within 1 hex of Tours on its southwest side. The German defense line was stuck in clear terrain except for 3 bocage hexes near the Atlantic. By the end of the turn the German held defense line was 29 hexes long and had an average defense strength of 15.9 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘6’ for snow. Another Inf XX arrives from the US. The US replaces 2 air groups, the British replace 1. With their air cycle the US receives no less than 10x P-47D10’s.

The Allies now have mostly French units facing the Italians over the snow covered Maritime Alps. There are British and Indian Mtn XX’s east and northeast of Grenoble. The Allies looked at an attack on St. Etienne, but could get no better than 2:1, -2.

The first Allied attack is against a 23-pt stack defending Clermont by the NZ 2nd Mech XX, the British 6th Arm XX, the British 1st Abn XX, the US 36th Inf XX, the Canadian 2nd Inf XX, and the British 15th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in 16 air groups on a GS mission. German AA of 5 abort 3 and return 2. At 5:1, -1 odds the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an HX. The Germans reduce the 21st Pz XX and an Inf XX, and eliminate 3 ants. The Allies reduce the US 36th Inf XX and eliminate an Eng X.

The next attack is against a 13-pt stack just northwest of Vichy by the US 2nd Arm XX and the British Guards and 11th Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups. After the Allies had flown all their CAP missions the Germans put up a CAP of 9 fighters over this hex. The allies fly in a GS mission of 10 fighter bombers escorted by 1 fighter, which the Allied CAP joins. The German CAP intercepts. The Allies kill 1 and abort 2 of the interceptors, which all by-passed. The surviving interceptors get 5 of the GS fighter bombers, mostly P-47’s, to jettison their bombs at the cost of 1 interceptor aborted. German AA of 1 returns 1. At 5:1 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The Germans reduce a Para-Inf XX and eliminate 2x Inf cadres.

The third attack is against a 13-pt stack 2 hexes northwest of Montlucon by the Canadian 4th Arm XX, the US 8th Inf XX, and the British 3rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase 8 bomber groups on a GS mission. At 6:1, – 1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR.

The fourth attack is against a 13-pt stack just west of the town of Chateauroux by the US 3rd Arm XX, the US 101st Abn XX, the US 3rd, 9th, and 88th Inf XX’s, and the British 5th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 bomber groups. German AA of 2 aborts 2. At 9:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a PzG III and 2x ants.

The fifth attack is against a 13-pt stack just east of Poitiers by the US 1st Arm XX and the British 1st and 78th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 8 air groups. German AA of 2 aborts 1 and returns 1. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an HX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a PzG cadre and an ant. The Allies reduce the British 78th Inf XX.

The sixth attack is against a 14-pt stack just northwest of Poitiers by the Canadian 5th and British 7th Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 12 air groups. German AA of 2 aborts 1. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for an EX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and eliminate a PzG cadre and an ant. The Allies reduce the British 7th Arm XX, and eliminate a US AA X.

The seventh attack is against a 10-pt stack defending Poitiers itself by the US 82nd Abn XX and the US 2nd and 5th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups. At 5:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DR, but surrounded by Allied ZOC’s the stack is eliminated.

The eighth attack is against a 14-pt stack just east of the minor city of La Rochelle by the US 34th and 85th Inf XX’s and the British 53rd and 56th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 5 air groups. German AA of 5 aborts 1 and returns 1. At 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DR.

The final attack is against the port fort in the minor city of Bayonne by 4x Eng III’s supported by 2x Siege Art II’s. At 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR, which destroys the port fort.

Axis Turn

Full in the West this turn are the 9th PzG XX, 2x Inf XX, and a Tiger II. Full in the South are a Para-Inf XX and an Inf XX, both of which will strat rail around Switzerland to the West. The Germans replace the 15th and FH PzG XX’s and an Inf XX. The Germans disband an Art III, 2x Pather II’s, 2x Recon II’s, 2x Aslt Gun II’s, and a Tiger II for a total of 3x Inf RP’s and 20x Arm RP’s. The Germans replace 1 air group and repair 3.

The Italian front is little changed except for a couple more Art III’s squeezed into the line. By the end of the turn the 8 mountain hexes defended by the Italians had an average defense strength of 12.5 pts. The 2 rough hexes west and southwest of Geneva held by the Italians had an average defense strength of 17 pts.

The Germans continue to hold the Lyon – St. Etienne line strongly, as well as the upper Allier River. However, the British Guards Arm XX had crossed to the east side this river when it exploited into Vichy. This forced the Germans to coagulate around this town on its southeast, east and northeast sides. After that the Germans defended again along the east bank of the Allier with the 25th Pz XX and FH PzG XX for 2 more hexes.

Around Bourges the German defense line becomes convoluted as a Static XX and an Art III could not retreat back into the main defense line southeast of Bourges, and an Inf XX 4 hexes due west of Bourges that could not reach the main defense line decides it would cause the Allies more inconvenience by remaining on an intermittent lake hex. The Germans used their 9th, 15th, and 90th PzG XX’s to shield Tours. From that point the line went straight west to the Atlantic. By the end of the turn the German main defense line was 28 hexes long and had an average defense strength of 14.5 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘1’ means mud. The US 8th and 88th Inf XX’s arrive from the US. The Polish 1st Arm XX arrives from Britain. There are now 44 Allied XX’s in France. US: 3x Arm, 2x Abn, 10x Inf. British: 5x Arm, 1x Abn, 1x Mtn, 12x Inf. Canadian: 2x Arm, 2x Inf. Indian: 1x Mtn, 1x Inf. NZ: 1x Mech. French: 1x Mtn, 1x Inf. Polish: 1x Arm. The US rebuilds the 9th Inf XX, and replaces 2 c/m ants. The British rebuild the 3rd Inf XX and the 4th Art [xx], and replace a c/m ant. The US gives the Canadians and the Polish enough Arm RP’s to rebuild one of their Arm XX’s. The US replaces 1 air group and repairs 4. The British replace 1 air group and repair 6.

East of the Rhone very little changes in the Maritime Alps facing the Italians. In fact the Allied stacks remain in place around Grenoble, allowing a gap to open up between themselves and the retreating Italians. Only at Valence do the Allies cross the Isere River.

The Allies do advance up the west bank of the Rhone River, and over the mountain hexes of the Massif Central. The 15-pt Axis stack that could not retreat all the way into their main defense line is the target of the first Allied attack. The Allies mass the British 1st Arm XX, the NZ 2nd Mech XX, the Canadian 1st and 2nd Inf XX’s, and the British 43rd, 50th, and 51st Inf XX’s to attack this mountain hex from 5 sides. The Allies fly in a CAP of 11 fighter groups. The Germans react by flying in their own CAP of 8 fighters groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 40 air groups escorted by 4 fighter groups, which 4 of the Allied CAP joins. The German CAP intercepts the Allied GS mission, and the Allied escort kills 3, aborts 1, and returns 1. The surviving interceptors kill 2 and return 1 of the GS air groups. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 7 air groups, which the remaining 7 Allied CAP fighters intercept. They manage to kill 1 DAS air group. Allied AA of 7 manage to abort 1 and return 4 DAS air groups. At 5:1, -4 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for an AS, a lot of effort for no result.

The next Allied attack is against the German 2nd Para-Inf XX 2 hexes north of Clermont by the US 2nd Arm XX, the Canadian 4th Arm XX, the British Guards, 6th, and 11th Arm XX’s, and the Polish 1st Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. At 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The British Guards Arm XX advances.

The 3rd Allied attack is against a 9-pt stack sitting in bocage terrain by the US 101st Abn XX, the US 8th and 88th Inf XX’s, and the British 3rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. At 7:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR. The Allies advance the US 8th Inf XX into the bocage hex.

The 4th Allied attack is against a 15-pt stack 3 hexes northeast of Limoges by the US 3rd Arm XX and the US 3rd and 9th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 16 air groups. At 5:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR. The Allies advance the US 3rd Arm XX and 9th Inf XX. During exploitation the US 3rd Arm XX exploits 1 hex behind the German line.

The 5th Allied attack is against the FH PzG XX by the US 2nd Inf XX and the British 1st, 5th, and 78th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DH, and the PzG XX is reduced. The Allies advance the British 78th Inf XX into the hex.

The 6th Allied attack is against a 9-pt stack just southwest of Poitiers by US 1st Arm XX, the Canadian 5th Arm XX, and the British 7th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DR. The entire Allied stack advances adjacent to the southwest side of Poitiers. During exploitation the Canadian 5th Arm XX exploits adjacent to the west side of Poitiers, while the US 1st Arm XX exploits adjacent to the southeast side of Poitiers.

The final Allied attack is against a 10-pt stack just northeast of Cognac by the US 82nd Abn XX, the US 5th and 34th Inf XX, the British 53rd and 56th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. At 9:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The Germans eliminate 2 small Static XX’s and 2 c/m ants. The Allies advance the US 34th Inf XX and British 56th Inf XX into the hex.

Axis Turn

The Germans veto the transfer of a PzG XX east. The Germans replace 4x Inf XX’s and 4x AA II’s. The Germans disband 2x small ET X’s. The Germans start construction of a ragged line of 7 forts from northwest of a mountain hex adjacent to the Swiss border until just southwest of the town of Moulins. The Germans replace 4 air groups and repair 3.

Little changes along the Italian front facing the Allies. They are defending 8 mountain hex with an average defense strength of 12.1 pts. They push an Alpine XX into German controlled France and rail a pair of Art III’s around Switzerland to help the Germans defend on the north side of the Rhone River where it curves east into Switzerland.

The 2 weak Italian Arm XX’s defend behind the Rhone River 2 hexes southwest and west of Geneva. The Germans defend the major city of Lyon with a14-pt stack, and the medium city of St. Etienne with a 23-pt stack. From St. Etienne the defense line runs straight to Clermont. The Germans remain on the west bank of the Allier River until northwest of the town of Vichy. From there the somewhat ragged German defense line runs northwest to Poitiers. The Axis player has to wonder if he is subconsciously following Hitler’s no retreat dictum as he doesn’t give up a single hex along two thirds of his defense line except the mountain hex southwest of St. Etienne that the Allies vainly tried to capture the turn before.

Northwest of the minor city of Poitiers the Germans reform their shattered defense line to head due west to the port fort in La Rochelle. From 2 hexes northwest of Montlucon to the Atlantic the Germans give up 12 hexes to the advancing Allied hordes. From north of the Rhone River to the Atlantic the Axis defense line is 27 hexes long and has an average defense strength of 15.9 pts.

Dec II VP Check

Former Axis Major Cities: Tunis, Bordeaux = 6
Former Axis Medium Cities: Tripoli, Grenoble, Toulouse = 3
Former Axis Naval Bases: Tripoli, Tunis, Bizerte, Sete, Bordeaux = 5
Net Ground Losses: 0
Net Air Losses: 0
Net Naval Losses: 0
Previous Total: 12.5 VP’s
New Total: 26.5 VP’s

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘3’ means continued mud. In Britain the Polish 1st Arm XX upgrades and immediately ships off to France. The British 4th Mixed XX, the last of its kind, converts back to an Inf XX. Assorted US X’s arrive from the US. The British replace the 234th Inf X, eliminated in a typical Churchill fiasco in the Dodecanese.

East of the Rhone the Allies hardly move a unit. The Allies seem to have found a role for the weak former Vichy Inf XX’s, facing the equally weak Italians. The Allied stacks on the south bank of the Isere River remain slightly stronger than the Axis stacks on the north bank. The Allied stacks on the west bank of the Rhone and thru the mountain hexes of the Massif Central also see little change.

The first Allied attack is against an 11-pt stack just northwest of the town of Le Puy by the NZ 2nd Mech XX, the British 6th Inf XX, the Canadian 2nd Inf XX, the US 36th Inf XX, and the British 15th Inf XX. In the combat phase the Allies fly in 10 air groups on a GS mission escorted by 6 fighter groups. The Germans do not react and have no AA. At 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DH. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and retreat their stack. The Allies advance the Canadian 2nd and British 15th Inf XX’s into the hex.

The next attack is against a 17-pt stack just west of Montlucon by the US 2nd Arm XX, the British Guards and 11th Arm XX’s, the Canadian 4th Arm XX, and the US 101st Abn XX. In the combat phase the Allies fly in in 8 bomber groups on a GS mission escorted by 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react and have no AA. At 7:1, -4 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a HX. The Germans reduce an Inf XX and a small Mtn XX to cadres, and eliminate their 3rd PzG cadre. The Allies reduce a British Art [xx] and eliminate a US ant. During exploitation the full Allied c/m stack that advanced after combat overruns these 2 cadres in the minor city of Montluconn at 12:1.

The third Allied attack is against the 16th Pz XX 2 hexes northeast of Limoges by the US 3rd Arm XX, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 1st, 5th, and 78th Inf XX’s. Here the Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, which the Germans match with a CAP of 8 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups escorted by 4 fighter, which half the Allied CAP also escort. The German CAP intercepts the Allied GS mission. The Allied escorts kill 2 and return 1 of the interceptors, who all bypass. The surviving interceptors kill 2 GS air groups, but suffer 1 kill and 2 aborts to themselves. They did force 3 of the GS fighter bombers, including 2 Typh1B’s to jettison their bombs. Next the Germans fly in a DAS mission of 5 air groups, which the remaining Allied CAP intercepts. They kill 2 and abort 1 of the DAS mission. German AA of 1 misses, and Allied AA of 10 misses. At the end 5 GS air groups and 2 DAS air groups survive to combat resolution. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE, and the 16th Pz XX is reduced to a cadre.

The fourth attack is against a 15-pt stack 3 hexes southeast of the minor city of Poitiers by the Canadian 5th Arm XX, the British 7th Arm XX, the US 2nd and 9th Inf XX’s, and the British 53rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 14 air groups. German AA of 2 aborts 1 and returns 2 of the GS air groups. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a EX. The Germans reduce a Res Pz XX, and eliminate a PzG X, an Inf cadre, and an AA II. The Allies reduce the US 9th Inf XX, and eliminate 2 Arm II’s. During exploitation the Allies overrun the Res Pz cadre at 12:1.

The final attack is against a 17-pt stack in the town of Cognac by the US 1st Arm XX, the US 82nd Abn XX, the US 5th and 34th Inf XX’s, the British 56th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 10 air groups. German AA of 2 aborts 2 and returns 1 of the GS air groups. At 8;1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DH. The Germans eliminate a Static XX, a Res Pz cadre, an Inf cadre, and a Trng X, and retreat the rest of their stack.

Axis Turn

Finally full is the German 21st Pz XX of DAK fame, and of course the Germans keep the 16th Pz XX from transferring east. The Italians receive another Arm XX, and still incredulous that the Allies are completely ignoring them they decide these must be sent to France to help the Germans. The Germans replace their 3rd PzG XX, a PzG X, and 2x Inf XX’s. The Germans replace 3 fighter groups and repair 4 heavy fighter groups, mostly Me110’s. In Greater Germany the Germans disband an Art X, a Tiger II, and an Aslt Gun II, in the West the Germans disband an Art X, 2x RR Art II’s, and a Tiger II, and in the South the Germans disband a Siege Art X for a total of 16x Inf RP’s and 10x Arm RP’s.

There are no Axis cooperation limits in SF, but the Germans feel a little uneasy as the Italians strat rail their 2x Arm XX’s thru Germany into German occupied France. The Italian Arm XX’s fall into line along the upper Rhone as it curves into Switzerland. The rest of the Italian units in southern France give up 2 mountain hexes as they retreat east into Savoy, the French province just south of Geneva that they claim belongs to them.

The German units along the Isere River fall back into the newly built forts on either side of Lyon, into the major city of Lyon, and into the medium city of St. Etienne, giving up 7 hexes east of the Rhone. They also re-position the construction units that were going to start a 2nd fort line in an east-west direction, into a northwest-southeast line, anticipating further retreats.

On the west side of the Rhone the Germans give up 12 hexes, including 3 mountain hexes, up past Clermont. Left behind because they could not retreat 2 hexes back to the main defense line was an Inf XX, an Inf Cadre, and an Art X. The Germans box in the US 2nd Arm XX, British 23rd Arm X, and the Czech 1st Arm X that overran Montlucon on 4 sides. From 3 hexes east of Limoges around to 3 hexes north of Limoges the Germans keep to their existing defense line. However southwest of Poitiers the Germans give up 4 hexes in order to build a defense line around the penetration by the Canadian 5th Arm XX and the US 6th Mech Cav X. The German again had to rail 2 small XX’s down from Brittany as the threat of an Allied amphibious landing subsides with the rough and stormy sea conditions. By the end of the turn the German defense line from the Atlantic to the Rhone River is 23 hexes long and had an average defense strength of 13.8 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘4’ for continued mud. The only reinforcements are 2x US Arm II’s. The US repair 1 air group, and the British replace 4 air groups and repair 1. The destruction of Bordeaux’s port is repaired.

The NZ 2nd Mech XX arrives from Alger with no MP’s left. The Allies remain in place along the defense line in the Maritime Alps facing the Italians. The Allies have to shuffle units along the south bank of the Isere in order to pull the British 4th Mixed XX out of enemy ZOC’s for conversion next turn.

The first Allied attack is against a 21-pt stack 2 hexes southeast of Montlucon by the British 11th and Canadian 4th Arm XX’s, the US 101st and British 1st Abn XX’s, and the British 3rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 12 fighter groups. After the Allies have flown all their CAP missions the German fly in a CAP of 8 fighters. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 20 air groups, which 8 of the CAP escorts. The German CAP intercepts. The Allies kill 1, abort 3, and return 1 of the interceptors, who all choose to bypass. The surviving interceptors kill 2 and abort 1 of the GS air groups. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 8 air groups, which the last 4 CAP fighter along with 3x P-51B’s within range intercept. The Allies abort 2 and return 2 of the DAS air groups, at the cost of 1 of their own aborted. The Allied AA of 5 misses, while the German AA of 2 aborts 2 and returns 3 of the GS air groups. At 4:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for an EX. The Germans reduce 2 Inf XX, and eliminate a Static XX, an Eng III, and an AA II. The Allies reduce the British 11th Arm XX and British 3rd Inf XX, and advance the US 101st Abn XX.

The next attack is against a 13-pt stack 2 hexes due east of Montlucon by the US 2nd Arm XX, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 5th and 78th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups, which 6 of the CAP escorts. The German AA of 2 aborts 1 and returns 3. At 7:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR. The Allies advance the US 3rd Inf XX and the British 78th Inf XX.

The third attack is against the 9-pt stack 2 hexes northeast of Montlucon by the British Guards Arm XX, the US 3rd Arm XX, the Canadian 5th Arm XX, and the British 1st Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 14 bomber groups against no AA, which 6 of the CAP escorts. At 10:1, -3 odds the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The Allies advance the British 1st Inf XX.

The fourth attack is against the Static XX that was unable to retreat back to the main defense line by the British 7th Arm XX, the US 9th Inf XX, and the British53rd Inf XX. The Allies fly in 2 fighter groups on CAP, not expecting much action. At 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The Allied ZOC’s eliminate the Static XX, and the British 53rd Inf XX advances.

The final attack is against the 14th Pz XX by the US 1st Arm XX, the US 82nd Abn XX, the US 5th and 34th Inf XX, the British 56th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 2 fighter groups. In the combat phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups. The German AA of 3 returns 1, and at 8:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR. The Allies advance the British 56th Inf XX. By the end of the turn the Allied line from the Atlantic to the Rhone River is 23 hexes long with an average defense strength of 24 pts.

Axis Turn

The Germans replace their 2nd Para-Inf cadre and convert it to a Para-Inf XX. The Germans replace their 26th Pz XX and convert it to a 16-10 XX. The Germans also replace an Inf XX and a Mixed X. The Germans choose not to transfer the LSSAH Pz cadre east. Note that the SE Theater is treated as a rigid garrison, and so it does transfer the 1st Pz XX east. The Germans replace 1 air group and repair 4.

The Italians hardly move a unit. Their defense line thru the Maritime Alps is as strong as they can make it, given the stacking limit of mountain hexes and the weakness of their XX’s.

Having completed 3 forts along the Lyon-Geneva line, the Germans move 3 pairs of construction units back 1 hex to start another fort line next turn. Note that this test is using WW Rule 14 which doubles construction times, so it takes 2 turns for 2 construction units to build a fort in poor weather. The Germans also rail in 2 more pairs of construction units to extend this 2nd fort line to 5 hexes long.

The Germans keep the same units in place along the north bank of the Isere River and on the west bank of the Rhone River. The Germans manage to slightly increase the defensive strength of their stacks thru the southern Massif Central. They increase the defensive strength of their stacks around the southwest, west, and northwest sides of Clermont and around the southwest and west sides of Montlucon. They gamble that a 9-pt stack with 2x Res XX’s can defend a bocage hex. From there they use c/m XX’s to defend 8 clear hexes all the way to the town of Cognac, which is held by a 17-pt stack composed of 2x Res XX’s, cadres, and assorted other units. By the end of the turn the German defense line is 23 hexes long with an average defense strength of 13.4 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll was ‘6’ for continued mud. The British 6th Abn XX becomes complete in Britain, and along with the Polish Para X constitute the airborne threat to northern France. In France the British 53rd Mixed XX converts into an Inf XX. Arriving from the US are an AA X, a variety of engineer units, and the US/Canadian Mtn Cmdo X. Arriving from Gibraltar is a British Inf X, with 3 MP’s left. Arriving from North Africa are the British 6th Art [xx], with 1 MP left, and 2x French Inf XX’s, with 4 MP’s left. The US replaces 2x Arm II’s and the British replace 2x AA X’s. The US repair 2x air groups, and the British replace 1 air group and repair 1 air group.

The arriving French XX’s are inserted into the line facing the Italians in the Maritime Alps. The line across the Rhone valley remains unchanged, the Axis here are too strong to attack. British units defend the mountain hexes of the Massif Central.

The Allies make their first attack against a 17-pt stack 2 hexes southwest of Clermont with the British 6th and 11th Arm XX’s, the US 101st and British 1st Abn XX’s, and the US 36th and British 3rd Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 12 fighter groups, and in the combat phase a GS mission of 14 air groups, which 8 of the CAP then escorts. After The Allies had flown all their CAP missions the German fly in a CAP of 8 fighters over this target. The Allied escorts kill 1, abort 2, and return 1 of the German interceptors, which all choose to bypass. The surviving interceptors kill 3 and abort 1 of the Allied GS air groups. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 4 air groups which the last 4 Allied CAP fighters intercept. The Allied fighter groups suffer 2 killed, and the German DAS groups suffer 1 killed and 1 aborted. At 6:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR. The Germans retreat, and the Allies advance the US 36th Inf XX.

Farther north the Allies attack a lone German Inf XX with the US 2nd Arm XX, the Canadian 4th Arm XX, and the British 5th Inf XX. Here the Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups and then a GS mission of 4 bomber groups, which all the CAP escorts. The Germans do not react, and at 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The Allies advance the US 2nd Arm XX and the British 5th Inf XX.

The Allies also attack a Res Pz XX in the next hex over with the Guards Arm XX, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 78th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups and then a GS mission of 4 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. The Germans fly in 2x Fw190 attack groups for DAS, and the Allies intercept with a pair of P-51’s in range. The Allies kill 1 DAS group, and at 8:1, -3 roll a ‘4’ for a DH. The Res Pz XX is reduced, and its cadre retreats onto a friendly unit thru the Allied ZOC’s. The Allies advance the British 78th Inf XX into the hex.

The Allies attack 2x small static XX’s in the minor city of Limoges with the US 3rd Arm XX and Canadian 5th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups and then a GS mission of 4 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. A lone Fw190 intercepts, and gets aborted trying to bypass. At 7:1, -2 odds the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR. The US 3rd Arm XX advances.

A self-supported PzG X is attacked by the 82nd Abn XX, the US 9th Inf XX, and the British 53rd and 56th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups and then a GS mission of 4 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. After all the Allied CAP has been flown, the Germans fly in a CAP of 2 fighter groups, but the Allied escorts abort 1 and return the other. German AA misses, and at 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The Allies advance the US 9th Inf XX and the British 53rd Inf XX into the hex.

A pair of isolated German Inf XX’s are attacked by the US 2nd Arm XX, the British 7th Arm XX, the US 2nd and 34th Inf XX’s, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. Surrounded these German Inf XX’s are eliminated on rolls of ‘2’ for a DR, and ‘6’ for a DE.

The final attack is against 2x small Res XX’s by the US 5th Inf XX. Here the Allies fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups escorted by 4 fighter groups. The Germans do not react. German AA returns 2x GS groups. At 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an AS result. Overall the Allies were not not very productive in the mud weather.

Axis Turn

The Germans gain the 10th PzG XX (no relation to the 10th Pz XX historically lost in Tunisia, but whose cadre is currently alive and well in southern France), the 273rd Res Pz XX, a Croat Inf XX, 3x AA III’s, and some c/m ants. Kept from transferring east are the 14th Pz XX, the 25th Pz XX, the 2nd Para-Inf XX (currently in the replacement pool), the 76th Static XX (now a 5-7-6 Inf XX), and a PzG X. Disbanded this turn are a Rkt Art III, a Tiger II, 2x Aslt Gun II’s and a small ET Fort III (their only source of production). The Germans do not replace any units this turn as they will need RP’s to replace units next turn for their conversions. The Germans replace 3x air groups and repair 6x air groups.

The Italians receive another pair of Coast XX’s and an Tank II. The Italians continue to inch units into the Maritime Alps, fearful that the Germans might pull back to the Lyon-Geneva line and leave them on their own.

The Germans remain strong along the Isere River, and on the west bank of the Rhone River. They hold on to their defense line in the mountain hexes of the Massif Central. They do retreat from a mountain hex 2 hexes ESE of Clermont. They insert the 10th PzG XX into a hex ESE of the minor city of Montlucon. They extract the 16th Pz XX thru Allied ZOC’s back to their new defense line around the salient spearheaded by the US 3rd Arm XX, giving up 2 hexes. The 25th Pz XX is railed in to box in the US 3rd Arm XX. On the other side of that salient the Germans pull back the 90th PzG XX, the FH PzG XX, and the LSSAH Pz cadre, giving up 5 hexes. Left behind is a Res XX that could not retreat far enough. By the end of the turn the German defense line from the Atlantic to the Rhone River is 22 hexes long with an average defense strength of 13.3 pts.

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘4’ meant mud. The US 2nd Inf XX and 6th Mech Cav X arrive at Sete, while the 28th Inf XX arrives in Britain to double the US contribution to an amphibious threat to northern France. The US replace a Mot AA X and 2x Arm II’s, and the British replace a Mot AA X. The US replaces 4x air groups and repairs 1, and the British repair 1 air group. A US Port Con X starts repairing the destruction of the port of Bordeaux. East of the Rhone River the Allied stacks remain unchanged, too strong to be attacked, but not strong enough to make attacks.

The first attack is against a 10-pt stack 3 hexes southwest of Clermont by the British 6th Arm XX, the US 36th Inf XX, and the British 3rd and 15th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase a GS mission of 12 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. The Germans do not react. German AA of 2 aborts 1 GS air group, and at 6:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The German stack retreats, and the Allies advance the British 15th Inf XX.

The next attack is against 15-pt stack 3 hexes ESE of Clermont by the British Guards and 11th Arm XX’s, the US 101st and British 1st Abn XX’s, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 5th and 78th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 12 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. After the Allies had flown all their CAP missions the Germans fly 10 fighter groups on a CAP mission over this target hex, and send them all to intercept the GS mission when it flies in. The Allied fighter groups intervene against the German interceptors, which all choose to bypass. The Allied fighter groups kill 2, abort 1, and return 4 of the interceptors. The German interceptors kill 1 and abort 2 of the GS mission. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 8 air groups. Allied AA of 5 aborts 5 DAS air groups, and German AA of 2 returns 1 GS air groups. At 6:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR. The German stack retreats, and the Allies advance the British 5th Inf XX.

The third attack is against the German 1st Para-Inf XX 3 hexes due east of Clermont by the US 2nd Arm XX, and the Canadian 4th and 5th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 14 air groups, which all the CAP escorts. The Germans do not react. The German AA of 1 returns 2 bombers groups. At 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DH. The German Para Inf XX is reduced to a cadre and retreats. The entire Allied stack advances into the hex. During exploitation the 1st Para-Inf cadre is overrun, with the US 2nd and Canadian 4th Arm XX’s advancing.

The fourth attack is against a 15-pt stack by the US 2nd Arm XX, the British 53rd Mixed XX, and the US 3rd and 9th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a token CAP of 2 fighter groups, and then no GS mission. The German do not react. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The 7th Pz cadre is eliminated along with an AA II, and a German Inf XX is reduced. The US 3rd Arm XX and 9th Inf XX advance. During exploitation the German Inf cadre is overrun, with the US 3rd Arm XX advancing.

The final attack is against a 15-pt stack adjacent to the Gironde by the British 7th Arm XX and the US 5th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 3 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 bomber groups (no AA in target hex). At 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a HX. The German reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a small Res Mtn XX and an Inf cadre. The US eliminate 2x AA X’s and 2x Arm II’s. During exploitation the German Inf cadre is overrun and an Allied c/m stack advances.

Axis Turn

The Germans replace the 15th PzG cadre, the 29th PzG cadre, a PzG X, and an Inf XX. The Germans don’t have the RP’s to replace whole divisions and have to resort to self-supporting cadres to fill out the defense line. The idea of building a NODL is null, there is barely strength for a single line. The Germans replace 2x air groups and repair 4x air groups.

The Italians take over more of the Axis defense line north of Grenoble as the Germans shuffle units west along the line. While the German defense along the Isere River remains as strong as ever, and continues relatively strong into the Massif Central up to Clermont, west from that city the defense line has severe weaknesses. Southwest of Montlucon the defense line is held by single XX’s, the cadres of which the Allies have shown they can easily overrun even in mud weather.

Limoges is now held by a pair of Res XX’s railed down from northern France. The Axis player has no choice but to thin out the coastal defense in Brittany just to form a single continuous line from central France over to the Atlantic coast. Left behind are 2x Inf XX’s southeast and west of the town of Perigueux. The defense line ends in the intensive canal hex just south of La Rochelle with the pair of PzG cadres just replaced.

Allied Turn

On a roll of ‘3’ the weather over France remains clear. The British convert their 15th Mixed XX back into an Inf XX, and convert their 42nd Arm XX into 3x assorted X’s. The US replaces an air groups and repairs an air group.

The first attack is against an isolated Inf XX by the British 1st Abn XX and the US 36th Inf XX along with assorted c/m units. A CAP is flown in, to which the Germans do not react. At odds of 4:1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a HX. The German Inf XX is eliminated, and the Allies eliminate 2x US Arm II’s.

The next attack is against an Inf XX in a mountain hex 2 hexes northeast of Ales by US 82nd Abn XX, the Canadian 1st Inf XX, and the British 3rd, 43rd, and 50th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups, and in the combat phase a GS mission of 10 air groups, which 4 of the CAP escort. The Germans do not react. At odds of 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DH. The German Inf XX is reduced and the cadre retreats. The British 43rd Inf XX advances into this hex.

The third attack is against the 3rd PzG XX by the British 6th and 11th Arm XX, the US 101st Abn XX, US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 5th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 air groups, which half the CAP escorts. The Germans fly in 2x Fw190A attack groups as DAS, which the remaining CAP intercepts. The CAP kills a Fw190A, and a Fw190A kills a Spit IX. Allied AA of 7 returns the remaining DAS group, and German AA of 1 returns 2 GS groups. At 7:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The 3rd PzG XX is reduced to a cadre, and the British 11th Arm XX and US 101st Abn XX advance into the hex.

The fourth attack is against the 90th PzG XX by the US 3rd Arm XX, the British Guards Arm XX, and the British 15th and 78th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, but after the Allies have flown all their CAP missions the Germans fly in a CAP mission of 10 fighter groups. They have decided to change tactics and overwhelm just one of the Allied attacks. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups, which all the Allied CAP escort. The Germans send all of their CAP to intercept. The Allied fighter groups manage to kill 1, abort 1, and return 1 of the interceptors, which all bypassed. The German interceptors kill 4 air groups and return 2 more at the cost of 1 of their own killed. Having exhausted the Allied CAP, the German fly in a DAS mission of 7 air groups. Allied AA returns 1, and German AA aborts 1 and returns 1. At miserable 3:1, -2 odds the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an AR result. The Allies retreat both their stacks of mostly c/m units.

The fifth attack is against the 16th Pz XX by the US 2nd Arm XX, the British 53rd Mixed XX, the US 9th Inf XX, the British 56th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of just 4 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 8 air groups, which half their CAP escorts. The German AA of 3 aborts 1 and returns 1. At 6:1, -1 odds the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DR. The 16th Pz XX retreats, and the Allies advance the US 2nd Arm XX and the British 53rd Mixed XX.

The sixth attack is against a 15-pt stack behind the Dordogne River by Canadian 4th and 5th Arm XX’s and a host of c/m units. The Allies fly in a CAP of 2 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 air groups, which both CAP groups escort. The German AA of 5 misses, and at 4:1, +3 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a Res XX, an AA III, and a Punitive II. The Allies advance a 21-pt stack across the river.

The final attack is against a 13-pt stack behind the Dordogne River by the US 1st Arm XX and the British 7th Arm XX, and another host of c/m units. The Allies fly in a CAP of just 1 fighter group, and then a GS mission of 5 air groups. At 4:1, +3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DH. The Germans merely have to reduce an Inf XX to satisfy this result, and the Allies advance a 17-pt stack, including the British 7th Arm XX, across the river.

Axis Turn

Changing a rule about the GG Theater, the Axis player is now allowed to keep units from transferring east. This allows him to keep 6x Cons III’s, which were needed in the West Theater. He also gained 3x Aslt Gun II’s, which were promptly disbanded along with an Art III. The Germans replace an Inf XX and 4 air groups.

The Italians receive an Arm XX and 3x Coast XX’s from their hypothetical OB. Italian units are gradually contributing to the German stacks on the east side of the Rhone valley. Newly arrived German Cons III’s rail into position to construct a fort line between Lyon and the Swiss border.

The German stacks along the Isere River remain strong, but the Germans have trouble containing a bulge made by the British 11th Arm XX southwest of Clermont and another made by the US 2nd Arm XX southeast of Limoges. Allied progress north thru the rough terrain of the Massif Central may eventually compromise the Rhone Valley defense line.

In western France the Germans cling to sections of the Dordogne River. The next river line in western France is the Loire River 10 hexes to the north, with only patches of defensive terrain in between.