Europa Games and Military History

Author: David Stokes (Page 4 of 4)

January 1937

Jan I 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

Seas turn rough in the Med., but otherwise the weather is unchanged from the latter half of December. Many Insurgent units head toward the northern Gobernitos area in preparation for the upcoming campaign. The continued good weather in the south prompts an attack along the rail line west of Madrid. A big air battle takes place as both sides call in air support, in which a Loyalist I-16 manages to kill a CR.32. The presence of a PA tank brigade disrupts the attack and causes a near rout of the Insurgents (3:1 -2 = AR).

Loyalist Player Turn.

The 2nd and the 3rd (Ast.) Div’s are formed. The PA high command orders units west of Madrid not to advance to take advantage of the Insurgent retreat there, rather they remain in positions where engineers will soon complete forts. (As an aside, I have not specifically mentioned it, but rest assured that engineers have been busy building forts in many areas. I have also not mentioned that there have been several air battles as both sides have, for the most part unsuccessfully, been attempting to bomb rail lines, airfields, and other targets. I generally won’t mention these unless there are air units aborted or eliminated as a result. And finally, I noticed a typo in Report Part 3’s summary of this year’s Loyalist campaign plan. The last line should of course say that operations against Estremadura and Andalucia will have to wait till 1938, not 1939. Hhmmm…, it occurs to me I’d best start putting the year in with the turn in these reports.) Otherwise, the front is quiet as the build-up for the drive on Burgos continues.

Jan II 37

Insurgent Player Turn.

The weather across the Iberian Peninsula worsens(Winter in Zone D, Mud in Zone E, Rough in both sea zones), leaving no openings for attacks. The territory lost earlier in the month is re-occupied.

Loyalist Player Turn.

The French border is closed. Three more Div’s are formed (3rd, 1st (Ast.), & 2nd (Ast.). Preparations for the upcoming campaign continue.

Comment to Date

Comment to Date

In Asturias, the Insurgents control Oviedo, Mieres, and not much else. Otherwise, the front lines run roughly along the borders of Andalucia, Estremadura, and Castilla la Vieja, except in the for inroad made by the Loyalist in the southern and eastern reaches of Castilla la Vieja. Both sides have suffered from a shortage of artillery, particularly the Insurgents. Many divisions have had to be formed unsupported. These shortages are finally beginning to be met.

For the Insurgents,many Art III’s that could have been expected to join the rebellion stayed loyal, plus several Art III’s were lost in the first battles. For the Loyalists, as yet unrepaired damage to the factory at Gijon, sustained in the August fighting, has hampered production.

The Insurgent plan for 1937 calls for eliminating the Northern Gobernitos, begining with Santander, then Asturias, then Euzkadi. Secondary attacks will be launched down the rail line west of Madrid, mostly to hold Loyalist units in that area. After the Basques are crushed, the situation will be re-evaluated to determine the next phase of operations.

The Loyalist plan calls for a three pronged attack toward Burgos from Santander, Miranda de Ebro, and Soria. After Burgos is taken, forces will push on to Valladolid. From there, some units will head west to retake Salamanca, while the main force will turn north to take Leon, after which it will eliminate the Insurgents in Galicia, who will now be cut off. It is expected that Portuguese aid to the Insurgents and the mountainous terrain past Leon will cause the campaign to conquer Galicia to take the rest of the year, so a campaign against the Insurgents in Estremadura and Andalucia will have to wait till 1939.

December 1936

Dec I 36

Insurgent Player Turn

Weather over the Iberian Penisula worsens considerably (Winter in Zone D, Mud in Zone E, Rough in both sea zones). Both sides have supply problems along the border between Andalusia and Murcia, and to a lesser extent along the Cordillera Central. The 2 Av XX is formed from the 2 LE III.

With the Loyalists at Salamanca and the bridge over the Tajo RIver at 2218 both now U-2, the Insurgents are now in a good position to attack. Bad weather doesn’t really hamper the attack at Salamanca (6:1 -1 = DE), but on the attack on the bridge, many causalities result as the attackers are exposed to defensive fire longer as they struggle thru the mud. Still, they manage to take the position (5:1 -3 = EX). In this battles, the Condor Legion gets its first taste of ground combat as the Dro II takes part in the attack, despite the weather being distinctly unsuited to armor tactics.

Loyalist Player Turn

The French border is reopened. Four divisions are formed from 1-strength units: the 6th, 8th, 26th (An), & 30th (Cat). The battleship taskforce suffers accidental mine damage in the harbor at Gijon. With weather not particullarly condusive to active operations, the Loyalists concentrate on shoring up weak sectors of their lines.

Dec II 36

Insurgent Player Turn.

The weather moderates a bit (Mud in Zone D, Clear in Zone E, Rough seas in the Atlantic, Calm in the Med.) but the Insurgent forces are in no condition to lauch any attacks and have to focus on tiding up their lines and taking control of the rail line south of Salamanca, finally establishing firm communications between the northern and southern parts of Insurgent Spain.

Loyalist Player Turn.

Three more divisions are formed from 1-strength units, the 1st, 25th (An), & 28th (An), as the Loyalists continue to be content to make small adjustments in their lines.

November 1936

Nov I 36

Insurgent Player Turn.

The weather is now mud in Zone D, and there are rough seas in the Atlantic. The 2 LE III is again used to form a Division, the 2 Cas. The 2 Sor XX and supporting units move onto the rail line west of Talavera de la Reina, once again cutting the supply line to Salamanca. The Lt Inf II’s remain cut off further east, south of the rail line.

Loyalist Player Turn.

Soria and Miranda de Ebro, both abandoned by the Insurgents, are occupied. Both of the Lt Inf II’s south of the rail line running west from Madrid are destroyed in separate battles (9:1 -1 = DE; 9:1 0 = DE) with a Tank II and a Mech III being used to negate terrain modifiers in the second attack. No attack on the 2 Sor XX is possible at reasonable odds.

Nov II 36

Insurgent Player Turn.

Mud continues in Zone D, but the calm returns to the Atlantic, while weather in Zone E stays clear. The 1 Av XX is formed from the 1 LE III. No attacks this turn but units begin to position themselves for attacks on Salamanca and the Loyalists guarding the rail line where it crosses the Tajo River at 2218.

Loyalist Player Turn.

A low odds attack is launched on the 2 Sor XX. A large, mostly bloodless air battle is fought as both sides try to get air support, but in the end the attack just fizzles out (2:1 0 = AS).

October 1936

Oct I 36

Insurgent Player Turn.

The Loyalist Art III in Pontevedra dies from lack of supply, as do the PA & Anarchist units around Granada. A bit of luck here for the Insurgents, as 2 of the 6 Loyalists units would have been expected to survive. The 2 LE III is again used to form a XX, this time 2 Sor.

Insurgent units withdraw from Logorno, which will be unsupplied once bad weather hits. Don Benito is re-occupied without opposition. Two Lt II’s infiltrate to positions near the VMS Cav X, which has now moved directly astride the rail line. Badajoz, defended only by its intrincis garrison, falls easily despite half of the Falangist militia in the attack cowering in the rear (9:1 0 = DE). Granada is also taken easily, despite the fact that its attackers lack artillery support, as it too, has only its intrinsic garrison to protect it (8:1 -1 = DE). Loyalist unit in Merida as pushed out of town (4:1 0 = DR).

Loyalist Player Turn.

The VMS Cav X is attacked by several weak units that have been scraped up to attempt to re-open supply lines to Caceres and Salamanca. Despite the presence of a Tank II and GS, the attack fails as the Insurgents manage to get DAS from the MIxed T air unit (2:1 +1 = AS). South of Logorno, two Loyalist corps manage to destroy the Hue XX, but at considerable cost to themselves (3:1 -1 = EX).

Oct II 36

Insurgent Player Turn.

The 3 Sor XX is formed from the 1LE III. Forces in SE Castilla la Vieja fall back to Soria. In Estramadura, Carceres, defended only by the Civil Guard, is taken easily (8:1 0 = DR), while the last Loyalist unit in the providence south of the Tajo River, is overwhealmed in rough terrain (9:1 -1 = DE).
The Loyalist position in Estramadura has collapsed with surprising speed.

Loyalist Player Turn.

Supply lines to the forces in Salamanca and north of the Tajo River in Estramadura are re-opened as the VMS Cav X is finally wiped out (9:1 -1 = DH).

At Pamplona, an attack by PA and Catalan units takes the city form its out-of- supply defenders and cuts off the survivors as they try to escape to Insurgent lines (9:1 -1 = DH) (ZOC Kill). The Northern Gobernitos are now linked up with the rest of Loyalist Spain! Anti-climacticly, Logorno is taken as its intrinsic garrison is wiped out (9:1 -1 = DE).

September 1936

Sep I 36

Insurgent Player Turn

The 1 Cas XX is formed from the 1 LE III. Insurgent units in Aragon decline a chance to take a temporarily unoccupied Zaragoza and instead begin a withdrawl.

Loyalist Player Turn

Caceres is siezed form easily as it is held only by its intrinsic garrison (9:1 0 = DE). All cities in Estremadura are now Loyalist controlled. NW of Zaragoza a Requete X covering the withdrawl is destroyed as half of its militia runs away before the battle (9:1 0 = DE). Along the Madrid-Calatayud rail line a Cav III is also wiped out as the Loyalist Arm Car III is used to negate the rough terrain (6:1 0 = DE).

Sep II 36

Insurgent Player Turn

Rough seas in the Atlantic this turn. The loss of the rail hex the Requete X had guarded leaves Insurgent units in Navarra and around Logorno unsupplied. Three resource points are expended to build additional rail capacity. The VMS Cav X cuts across rugged terrain to reach the Tajo River across from Talavera de la Reina. This will cause supply problems for Loyalist units in Salamanca and Estremadura. Almendralejo is captured by a strong force (9:1 0 = DE).

Loyalist turn.

The French border is closed. Near Caceres, an Insurgent Inf III is hunted down (9:1 -1 = DH). South of Calatayud, an attack only succeeds in pushing back the Insurgents (6:1 -1 = DR).

August 1936

Aug I 36

Insurgent Player Turn

Single regiments screen the Loyalist units in Algerciras and Pontevdra while a bunch of weak units converge around Zaragoza. Efforts continue to hook up the rail lines. A security lll secures Guadix; the Loyalists in Granada will be cut off from the rest of Loyalist Spain The Mixed T unit brings across more troops from Morroco and a naval transport bring in a regiment from the Canaries. Low odds attacks are made to try to capture key rail junctions. A strong stack from Sevilla and the 2LE lll attack Cordoba but are repulsed despite air support (2:1 -1 = AR). Units from Zamora and Valladolid are unsuccessful in an attack on Salamanca as a Loyalist Bre. XIX from Madrid provides DAS (1:1 0 = AS). At Gijon, troops brought by ship from Galicia and supported by NGS take the city (3:2 0 = DR Rolled a 6!).

Loyalist Player Turn

Units continue to move along rail lines to hook up the tranportation net. Units are scraped up for a counterattack on Gijon. The Insurgent fleet had scurried back to El Ferol, a mistake allowing the Loyalists to be the ones to get NGS. The city is retaken with some losses (4:1 0 = HX). Units in Zaragoza try to take out the strong stack opposing them with no luck even with the mech lll (2:1 +1 = AS). An insurgent art lll is destroyed in the mountains NE of Madrid with the help of GS by the Bre. XIX (5:1 -2 = DH). Another attack in the mountains just south of Teruel also benefits from GS, this time by Vildebeests flying from Alicante. The defenders are pushed back into the town (5:1 -2 = DR).

Aug II 36

Insurgent Player Turn

Supply problems crop up. The rail line from Burgos to Calatayud hasn’t yet been connected, leaving all Insurgent units in Aragon, Navarra, and the southern part of Euzkadi out of supply. Several other pockets of units on both sides are also U-1, particularly in Estrenadura, where units are still basically scattered around with no real front line.

The 2 LE III is used to form the Van XX. Units continue to be brought to Mainland Spain from Africa by boat & plane. The rail line to Catalayud is finally hooked up; the units in the upper Ebro valley will be back in supply. Aviles is abandoned but the wooded rough hex SW of Gijon is occupied. Algeraciras is taken (5:1 -1 = DE) and Cordoba as well, though with some losses (3:1 -1 = EX).

Loyalist Player Turn

Several point cities are occupied without opposition (Aviles, Don Benito, Almendralejo, Aguilas). NW of Aguilas a joint PA-Anarchist attack on a single Bdr III is launched, with the ultimate goal of pushing on to Guadix to hook up with forces in Granada, goes bad as militia units refuse to attack despite recieving GS. The artillery still manages to push back the Insurgents but does not advance (4:1 -1 = DE). Teruel is taken (8:1 -1 = DE). A big attack into wooded rough terrain SW of Gijon is a success (6:1 – 2 = DE). Two attacks are launched on the Insurgent units screening Zaragoza. NE of the city, an attack by units coming up from the south is a success (6:1 0 = DE) but an attack from within the city is a disaster as half the militia fails to take part (3:1 – 1 = AR).

July 1936

Jul II 1936

Insurgent Player Turn

Units are ferried from Morroco by air and sea. Most units move 1 hex to begin connecting the rail net. No attacks in the offing.

Loyalist Player Turn

Units begin to connect the rail net. No attacks allowed

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