Narrative

Alejandro Gonzalez of the 35th regiment was bored. His had been an easy war. After the bloodless “capture” of Huleva he and his regiment had marched the 50 miles to Seville and encamped just over the Guadalqive River to the Northwest of the city. From there they had simply watched, patrolled, and intimidated the local population, and watched, patrolled and intimidated the population. No matter how many times they repeated this daily routine the locals still managed to smuggle food in to the city which showed no signs of surrendering.  Something though was about to change.  For days troops from fellow fascists in Italy had been arriving and with them heavy howitzers and specialist demolition troops. Alejandro knew his war would soon be getting very much more interesting.

Elsewhere in the Nationalist Zone the “White Terror” continued. Those who knew how to die well cried “Viva La Republica!” although others might accuse former comrades in an attempt to save themselves.  Many died alone but In Navarre a priest gave the last rights to a group of captured Asturians  as the volley rang out and they fell into a trench  which became their grave.

FWtBT No 4 - FEB II 37: Tactical: The Teruel pocket contracts for last stand.

The Teruel pocket contracts for last stand.

Nationalist Turn

Weather:  No Change, Winter/Mud, Storms/Calm

Supply: Seville feeds of GSPs

Reinforcements:  All units are engaged so no upgrade/conversions possible but delayed upgrade  3-6* inf XX Van to 5-6 inf XX 11 executed.

½ SRP reclaimed.   Replacements: 3-2-6 inf 3LE, 2-3-5 inf XX Pos, 1-6 sec 6GC, 1-8 cav 1

Moves: Nationalists in the Teruel pocket contract to stack with the single art unit there for support because no help from the outside is forthcoming.

Air Activity; All raids ineffectual

Attack 1;  3612 woods (25 miles south of Tomelloso)  Unsupplied 4-6 inf XX Mov, 1-8 lt tk Bab (CTV), 2-1-8  cav 30 (Col) , 2-1-8 cav 1E (Col) and 2-3-5*inf Ov and 3-2-6 inf 1LE, 3-2-6 inf 3LE, 2-1-8 art O, 2-3-6 art 61, 2-10 AA 88 (KV), 1-10 lt tk Dro (KL), 1-8 mg Ard (CVT) attack 2-6* inf 2Ch, 1-6 inf 12 @ 5:1 (-3) = AS.

Exploitation;  (CTV) and (KL) motorized units re-deploy to bolster defence of nearby units.

Republican Turn

Supply;  Seville draws of GSPs. Seville Expends AS for 12 GSPs

Reinforcements: 1-6 sec 11GC upgraded to 1-2-6 sec 3GA.

Replacements; 1-6 infs 2,9 and 1-6 art5L replaced and form 3-6* inf 3

1-4 infs 3 & 4 (Bas  )form 2-4 inf XX o 4 (Bas) which is equipped and deploys as 2-3-4* inf XX 4 (Bas)

Moves: NT3  (with BTF-1, LtTF-1 (Bas) loads 1 art RP  at Gijon and transports to Santander; returns to Gijon and loads remaining 0.5 art RP and offloads at Santander .

All Reaction attempts by Nationalist Combat Task Force at El Ferrol fail.

Air Activity:   Po.540 and Bre.19 attempt to bomb rail at 3517 (Linares). Intercepted  by CR.32bis (CTV). Bre.19 Turned back and raid aborted.

Attack 1; 2630 mtn (Low vol rail line NE of Huesca) Supplied, 1-8 mtn 1, 2-3-5* inf XX 32 (Cat),  1-2-7 mtn 130 (Cat),  3-6* inf XX  2,  1-6 art 11 (Cat)  Attack  1-5 inf 1Zar (Fal) 1-6 inf 20 @ 5:1 (-3) = AS

Attack 2;  3303 rough  (east of Teruel) Unsupplied U2  1-8 mtn art 1, Unsupplied 1-6 inf 16 (over mtn hexside) and 1-6 bdr 2Car, and 1-5 inf Fan (An)  and 1-6 inf 10 attack 1-8 cav 3 (U2)  @ 5:1 (-3) = EX loose  Fal, advance 2 car.

Attack3: 2704 rough/Fort h (30 miles West of Calatayud).  Supplied 1-8tk 6, 1-0-8 lt tk AAC, 1-8 cav 7, 2-1-R  art TB, 1-6 inf 8, 5-6 inf XX 11Ch, 3-6* inf XX 1 Attack 1-5 mech 1, 1-6 art 10L @ 7:1 (-3) = DE. Advance 11Ch, 7 cav, 8 inf

Attack 4: 2001 Rough (Vitoria) Unsupplied 2-3-4* inf 2 (Bas) attacks 0.5 Garrison @ 8:1 (-2) = DR. Garrison dispersed. Advance  2-3-4* XX 2 (Bas)

(A foolih error by the Nationalists pulled back 2-5 inf 3 (Req) for Upgrade.)

Attack 5: 2034 rough (East of Vitoria). Supplied 1-2-4 inf 1 (Bas), 1-2-4 inf 2 (Bas) and 2-4 inf 13 (Bas), 2-4 inf 14 (Bas), 2-4 inf 15 (Bas), and (over mtn hexside) 1-2-4 inf 5 (Bas), 1-2-4 inf 5 (Bas) attack 1-8 cav 1 @ 9:1 (-2) = DE. Advance  5, 9.