Initial Phase: The Weather is clear in Zones D and E, Sea is calm in Atlantic and Mediterranean. All units are in supply, except for the Spanish 21st cadre in 23A:2315. It remains at U-1. Spain generates 3 GSPs in Sevilla. The last German ARP is spent bringing back an aborted Me110C4. This unit appears in Toledo. Also in Toledo, the263rd Infantry division is rebuilt from cadre to full strength (7 Inf RPs remain).

Movement Phase: The Germans surrounding Valencia were so intent on watching the Luftwaffe pound the Allied capital ships that they failed to notice transports sneaking in and evacuating Spanish troops. A morning recon mission reports back that the city is now undefended.
The 251st Infantry division that was under control of the 65th Corps separates and takes up positions around the city as a garrison.

In repair activity, the 512th Combat engineer moves to 23A:3703 and fixes a rail break. Just before it does this, its place in 33:3633 is taken by the 16th Construction regiment, so that the temporary airfield there is still maintained. Another rail break is fixed in 3529 by the 4th RR Engineers. In the north, the 1st RR Engineer advances the railhead by two more hexes to 1909, and the engineers advance to Valladolid.

South of Valencia, the 25th Corps abandons preparations to enter the city and instead crosses to Jucar river into Alzira (except for the 608th Motorised Artillery regiment). It then heads along the road to 3907 where is takes a left turn south-eastwards to reach the outskirts of Cartagena, in 4310. Close by, the 34th Corps also menaces Cartagena by taking up a position in 4311. Behind them, the rail guns advance down newly captured track to Malaga, in range of Cartagena.

The 15th Mountain Corps is ordered to head north to finish off the defenders in Galicia. Firstly it detaches the 133rd Motorised Heavy AA battalion, which remains in the hex for now. The mountaineers administratively move north to 3103, and then hop on the train which takes them as far as 1509. The 608th Motorised Artillery regiment is now on its own, and it heads up the road to Albacete, fully gaining ownership of the transportation line for the Germans. This allows the 62nd and 65th Corps to use administrative movement towards the Gibraltar sector. The 62nd moves as far as Tomelloso, while the 65th is a short step behind them in 3311.

Position Antiaircraft units move into Madrid from the north. 4 points go into 2711 while 2 points enter 2710. 4 other points use admin movement to move through Valladolid to 2312. The 22nd Air Landing Division continues its pursuit of the remnants of the Spanish 21st division. It moves around to the woods in 2415, between the unit and its supply lines. In order to make sure the Spanish are finished off next turn, the 5th Infantry division is sent from Toledo to join the glider troops in the same hex.

From the Madrid area, the 33rd Corps reforms. The SS TK Motorised division and 7th Panzer division move south to 3313. They are joined there by the 563rd Motorised AT battalion, and the 110th and 613th Motorised Artillery regiments which are reassigned from the 66th Corps. The 133rd Motorised Heavy AA regiment is also ordered to join the 33rd, but can only reach as far as 3311 in this phase. Also in the Madrid sector, the 66th Corps is reinforced and ordered forward. The Corps advances through Valdapenas to take up a position in 3414. Along the way it absorbs the 57th Infantry division and the 782nd & 610th Artillery regiments that were left behind in 2613. The artillery uses admin movement to reach the destination hex. The forward units of the 53rd Corps head westwards from Tomelloso to 3216, where they are in range of several Allied positions next turn.

Due to the fall of Valencia, a redeployment of air assets is now necessary. All the German He111s and Ju88As rebase to Madrid 2710. The remaining unit stationed in Zaragoza, a Me110, transfers to Albacete. A forward temporary airbase is constructed in 3213 by the 517th Combat Engineer regiment which leaves the 53rd Corps to do so. Once it is completed, 3 Me109Es fly in to take up residence. All the Ju87s also rebase to Madrid, but to 2711. The last series of operations sees a Me110, 1 Me109E and 1 Me109F land at Murcia.

Leaving the Valencia area is the 64th Corps, which is ordered to make a 180 degree turn and head northwest via admin movement. It heads up the road through Cuenca before making a left turn across open country and reaching the new airbase in 3213.

The multiple German engineer and construction units around Valencia are ordered forward (using administrative movement where possible) so that new airbases can be constructed next turn. The 667th Combat Engineer regiment heads to Albacete, the 604th goes to 3709, and the 674th advances to 3212. Lastly the 519th Engineers pack up their shovels and move along the coast then inland to 3808. Most of the Construction regiments also advance, abandoning their temporary airbases in 3303, 3304 and 33:3633. The 16th Construction regiment sorties to 3807 with admin movement, the 7th regiment admin moves to 3703 then hops on the train to Alcazar de San Juan, then a final hex to join the 674th Combat Engineers in 3212. Next the 108th regiment admin moves to Valencia. Finally the 71st Construction regiment moves to 3906.

German garrison forces are also active this turn. The 605th Motorised Light AA battalion is no longer guarding any aircraft in Zaragoza, so it uses admin movement to move up to Madrid 2710. The 263rd Infantry division is assigned to guard duties on the south coast, and it administratively moves down the road from Toledo to 3705. It is scheduled to break down next turn.

Combat Phase: A-22s from Malaga are assigned to assist the defense of Cartagena. They manage to evade the 7 points of AA from German armoured units around the city, and deliver 1 effective point of DS. The only attack is made against Caratgena. The German 34th and 25th Corps attack the city with a huge armoured push, while rail mounted siege artillery pounds the city fortifications from some 16 miles away. Despite the addition of 1 point of DS, the collection of small Spanish units is only worth 9, while the Germans muster 69, making a 7:1 attack with a -1. The die roll nearly comes up with a 1 but at the last second it falls over to reveal a 5, modified to 4 for a DE. All the Spanish are eliminated (and isolated). The GD Motorised regiment from the 34th Corps advances into the city.

Exploitation Phase: The 25th Corps heads north after successfully assisting in the capture of Cartagena. It moves up to Hellin before leaving the road and advancing to the woods in 23A:3512. Also making its way from Cartagena is the 34th Corps which trundles forward via Lorca to the valley at 3916. From the main group of German forces, the 33rd Corps heads west along the road through Ciudad Real and Puertollano, and then off into the wooded rough at 3118, threatening Cordoba. It is joined there by the 133rd Motorised Heavy AA regiment. Finally the 608th Artillery regiment is ordered to take a garrison role in protecting the Me110s in Toledo. It heads there from its position in 3609.

Losses

  • Spanish Unisolated – 0
  • Spanish Isolated – 8
  • Spanish Air – 0
  • German Unisolated – 0
  • German Isolated – 0
  • German Air – 0
  • British Unisolated – 0
  • British Isolated – 0
  • British Air – 0