Narrative
The Zaragoza offensive is almost spent. The Nationalist forces have barely any ASPs left and the Republican defence is strengthening. It was a close run thing and another Elim and breakout may have been sufficient for the Nationalists to keep up the momentum. However as the Nationalists use up their last supplies this turn they brace for a Republican counter attack. Despite all the recent successes the Republic still do have sufficient reserves to launch localised attacks and have built up the supplies to do so. In a final attempt to maintain the offensive and keep the initiative in addition to the main thrust SE, the Nationalists make a series of sporadic unsupplied, low odds attacks on targets of opportunity this turn.
Harassment from the air down the Aragon valley is continued and a number of Republics best divisions still remain out of position. Perhaps the Nationalists should have held off the attack on Bilbao and used the 5 AS’s in the south but the judgment was made that the VPs drain needed
To be curtailed and the fall of Bilbao would free up troops for future operations. In addiition there is the need to put the industrial output to the Nationalist cause.
On balance while the offensive may have lasted an extral turn with more supplies I feel the fall of Bilbao is a suitable trade off.
Now the question is where to send the troops released?. Firstly to Asturas to capture Gijon for much the same reasons as Bilbao, secondly to Zaragoza against the main line and hope to mass for some unsupplied attacks or thirdly to re-deploy to Albacete and pressure the Republic there to dissipate their defenders. Perhaps a breakthrough on that front may gain some ground. We will see.
Nationalists Turn
Weather; Clear across land and sea
Supply: All Peoples Army units move back into supply other than the isolated pocket near Pamplona.
Replacements 1.5 SRPs, 0;5 SRPs (Col) recovered. Mtn 1, Eng AM, Cav 2O (Col) rebuilt, 3, 13 th cadres rebuilt.
Pacification: San Sebastian, Zaragoza
Goberneto Collapse: Euzkadi: Both remaining Bas XXs are eliminated.
Air Activity: Sortie 1: SM.81, SM.79-1, mxd B with CR 32bus, CR32.bis (CTV) escorts fly GS to support attack 4 (See below).
Attack 1: 2132 wooded rough (French border NE Pamplona) Unsupplied 4-8 cav XX, and 3-4-5* inf XX 12 and 3-4-5* inf XX 23 and 2-8 mtn Guard, 1-6 inf 20, 1-2-6 art 42 attack U2/Isolated 1-8 tk 6, 1-6 art 7L @ 7{1 (-2) = HX. Lose 20 inf. No Advance.
Attack 2 2533 clear (S of Pamplona) Unsupplied 4-6 inf 85, 3-4-5* inf 24,1-6 inf 33, 1-8 mtns 5,8. 1-5 cadre 50 and 3-4-5* infs 22,75, 1-8 mtn 4, 1-8 cav VMS (Fal), 1-2-6 art 48 Attack2-3-5* inf XX31, 1-2-6 art 10 (Cats) @ 2:1 = AR.
Attack3: 3207 clear/fort (Cuenca) Unsupplied 4-5-5 inf XX 55, 4-6 inf XX 107 and 5-6 inf XX 81, 3-5 inf XXs 73, 14 and 5-6 inf XX 11, 3-5 inf XXs 21, 40, 1-8 cavs 3,6,9 attack 2-3-5* inf XX69, 1-2-6* inf @ 3:1 (-1)= EX. Lose 21 XX, 6,9 cavs. Advance 55, 81 XXs.. Fort destroyed Cuenca captured. Loyalists wish they had put some Mech behind this attack.)
Attack 4: 3133 clear/Airfield (s of Zaragoza) Supplied 2-1-8 lt tk 2, 6-6inf XX 5, 2-6 art 4P, 2-3-6 art 62, 4-6 inf XX FA (Mxd)with 3 pts GS Attack 3-6* inf XXs@ 2:1 (+1) = DR. Advance 5XX, 2 lt tk, 62, 4P art. Airbase captured. ( no aircraft present).
Attack 5: 3032 clear (SE Zaragoza). Supplied 3-2-6 infs 1LE, 2LE, 3LE, 6-6inf XX 152, , 3-1-2 sg art Man (CTV), unsupplied 6-6 inf Xs 52, 108 and 6-6 inf XX 63, 5-6 inf XX61, 3-2-8 lt tk N, 1-8 mech S, 1-5 mech 1, 2-1-8 art E, supplied 1-8 art Ter (CTV), 2-1-8 lt tk Bab (CTV) Attack 1-8 tk 10, 2-6 infs 87, 152C, 1-6 inf 2, 1-2-6 sec 2GA, 2-6 inf 15AL (Int), 1-2-6 art 2 @ 3:1 (+1) = DH. Survivors have no retreat path and are eliminated. Advance 61, 63, 10 8XXs, lt tk N, Bab (CTV).
OCT II 38: The Republic pulls back to original fortified lines on the Albecete front
Republican Turn
VPs : Lack of Goberneto collapse (+5 VPs)
French border; Closed
Guerrillas; Ineffective
Supply; All in supply.
Replacements; 3 PA , 0.5 (Int)SRPs recovered. I-15/t10 Replaced.
Nationalist Harassment hits: 1 @ 2632, 2@2732.
Air Activity: Ineffective.
Despite their best efforts the Republic just cannot mass sufficient density of troops to attack on the Zaragoza front, are in retreat to the north and purely defensive in front of Albacete.
No Attacks
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