Narrative

The earlier arrival in October of 42 Soviet Ilyushin 15 “Chato” biplane fighters,  31 Ilyushin 16 Mosca monoplane fighters and subsequently a squadron of Katiuska fast bombers (SB-2s) prompted the Nazi supporters of  Franco to increase their own  aircraft transfers to be named “The Kondor Legion”. Soon the skies over Madrid and elsewhere were often populated by rival aircraft. The Republican civilian watchers on the ground cheered when an aircraft was hit assuming, of course that they were Nationalists and certainly the stubby Soviet machines held their own against the HE 51s of German manufacture.

What the watchers were unaware of however was that the soviets were instructed pursue then enemy over Nationalist lines only if they remained within gliding distance of friendly forces.

FWtBT No 4 - AUG II 37

FWtBT No 4 – AUG II 37. Picture (c) 2017 by Ken Newall

Nationalists Turn

Weather;  Clear

Supply; “Aranjuez Pocket”  feeds off GSPs

Eastern most 3 hexes of the Nationalist forces investing Euzkadi become U1 (Due to advance by Basque division adjacent rail to Vallalodid carelessly unguarded)

Northern Madrid force U4. Isolated mountain redoubt at 2616 survives elimination roll.

2 Nationalist Hexes at top of Cordellera Iberica (Sw Catalayud) U1 Isolated

Reinforcements: 3-6 i9nf XX 2FN(CTV)  withdrawn. 1-8* inf Mar (CTV) upgraded. Conversions delayed.

Replacements: 2-1-8 cav1E (Col) 1-6 sec 24GC, 4-6 XX 3 (Req),  1-6 art 11L art Replaced.

Cr.32 and CR.32bis(CTV) Replaced

Air Activity: sortie 1:  Large GS Mission force of Mxd T, SM.81 (CTV), He.45 (KL), R0.37 escorted by  2X CR.32bis (CTV) fly to 3011 (SW of Aranjuez).  Intercepted by Mxd F.

Mxd F attempt to bypass the screen .  First CR.32bis misses, second Returns the fighter.

Sortie2: Po.540 out of Valencia contacts CATF-1 on supply interdiction avoids AA and scores a HiT! (L +4 VP)

Sortie3; He.51 (KL) breaks rail line at 2703 (W of Catalayud.

Naval Activity: NTs, transport 2-1-8 cav1E (Col) to Cadiz.

Attack 1; 2024 rough/fort (S Euzkadi), Supplied 2-5 inf 6 (Req), 3-2-6 inf 1LE, 2-6 art 4P Unsupplied 4-6 inf XXs 1,3 (Req)and Supplied 7-6 inf XX13, Unsupplied 2-5 inf AGM (Fal), 1-8 lt tk LE, 1-8 mb B (CTV) and Supplied 5-6 inf XX 4 (Req), 3-2-6 inf 2LE, 1-8 mtns 4, 7 Attack 2-3-5* inf XX 5 (Bas) , 2-4 inf 13 (Bas) 1-2-4 inf 6 (Bas)@ 6:1 (-2) = DR. Advance 13 XX, 1LE, 4P, 6 (Req), AGM (FAL)

Attack2: 2706 rough (Rail line 60 miles East of Madrid)  Unsupplied 4-6 inf XX 83, 2-3-* inf 1Sor and Supplied 5-6 inf XX 61, 3-2-6 inf 3LE, 1-8 mtn 5, 1-8 lt 6, 1-8 aslt G (CTV)  with Ju52g4e GS@  6:1 (-2) = DR.  63XX, 5, 6.

Attack3; 3011 clear (SW Alanjuez). Supplied 4-6 inf XX 107, 2-6 inf Tdi (Col), 2-1-8 cav 2O (Col), 1-8 mg Ard (CTV and 5-6inf XX 17, 2-10 AA 88 (KL), 3-1-2 sge art (Transported) and Unsupplied 2-1-8 lt tk BAB (CTV), 1-10 lt tk (Dro) KL), 4-3-6 art Leg (CTV), 2-1-8 art ) with Mxd T, SM.81 (CTV), He 45 (KL), R0 37 Attack 2-1-8 tk 2, 4-6 inf XX 65, 1-2-6 art 4, 2-6 inf cadre 45 (Int) @ 3:1 (+1)  = HX. Lose  17 to Cadre.  Advance Bab (CTV),Ard (CTV), O, TDi (Col), 2O (Col)

Exploitation; . Bab (CTV), DRo (KL) break rail lines in place 2911, 3011 (Aranjuez & adjacent)

Republican Turn

VPs:  (+15 VPs)  for  Gobernetos continued survival

French border; Closed.

Supply; “Arunjuez pocket” back in supply.

Reinforcements: The following delayed assets are landed. 1 art RPs, 1 arm RP. 1 ASP returned.

(The Nationalists are wondering about the efficacy of the blockade. No supplies have been destroyed and all except 1AS are now landed. This is at the cost to date of 1 Hit on SS-3 (CTV), 1 Hit on a CATF-1

And a cost of 8 VPs)

Replacements: 1.5 SRPs, 0.5 SRP (Int) recovered.  65 XX , 6Ch 2 tk rebuilt (manpower exhausted)

Attack1:  (SW Aranjuez)  Supplied 4-6 inf XX 6, 5-6 inf XX46ch, unsupplied 2-1-8 tk1, 1-5 mech 2 and  Supplied 6-6 inf XX 35 (Int), 2-6 eng ZM, 2-6 inf 15AL (Int), 1-8 tks 8, 10  and 3-6* infs 67, 70, Unsupplied 2-3-5 inf*XX 41, 2-1-8 tk P attack  1-8 mg ard (CTV), 2-1-8 lt tk (Bab (CTV), 2-1-8 art o, 2-1-8 cav 2O (Col), 2-6 inf Tdi (Col) @ 5:1 (-1+1) = HX. Lose 70XX. Advance 35XX (Int), 1 tk, Ptk. (+4 VPs)