The Weather is clear in Zones D and E, Sea is calm in Atlantic and Mediterranean. All units are in supply.
Spain generates 3 GSPs in Madrid and 3 in Sevilla. With 19.5 Inf RPs available, the Germans rebuild the 11th and 12th Infantry divisions to full strength (5 RPs each). They also recreate the 308th Motorised Artillery (1 Arm RP, 2 Inf RPs), the 512th Engineers (2 Inf RPs) and the 616th motorised AT battalion (0.5 Arm RP/0.5 Inf RP). They still have 5 Arm RPs and 5 Inf RPs left in their pool.
The rebuilt AT and artillery units come on in the major hex of Barcelona, while the Engineers appear is Perpignan.
Movement Phase: The 15th Mountain Corps heads southwards from Zaragoza to confront the Spanish 32nd division that occupies the mountains in 33:3533. The Corps ends movement in 3433. Nearby the 25th Corps manoeuvres its armoured units into the canals at 3631.
The 62nd and 65th Corps advance from Barcelona down the coast. The 62nd reaches as far as 3529 while the 65th can make it one hex further to 3530. Both Corps detach faster moving artillery to a further position at 3532. It is joined there by the AT, Engineers and artillery that arrived in Barcelona as reinforcements. The Artillery in the 65th is replaced by the 783rd regiment that was stationed to the east of Barcelona.
With the newly captured Iberian rail capacity from Barcelona, the 4 RR Siege Artillery units from near Bayonne are able to move down into Spain up to Totosa in 33:3531, putting them in range of both Spanish divisions that are blocking the coast route.
The 4th RR Engineers regauge 2 more rail hexes and move further into 3623. Behind them, the 512th Engineer regiment moves out of Perpignan, repairs the rail hex in 3521 and then moves to 3523. The citizens of Barcelona start to get a bit restless and the conditions under occupation. The Pol SS division is sent there from 3224 to restore order.
In the Pyrenees, the 674th Engineer moves over the high mountain pass at 2826/2926 and down the mountain road to end movement in 3128. The 63rd Corps (which has been stripped down to 2 divisions), moves from 3325 to Manresa and then northwest along the rail line as far as Lerida, which it captures unopposed. Behind it, the 66th Corps also exits the Pyrenees and uses admin movement to leapfrog the 63rd to stop in 3128.
Along the Biscay Coast, the 607th Light motorised AA battalion moves to Santander to relieve the 11th Infantry division. The division advances to 1107, joining the 7th Panzer division in front of Gijon. Joining them is the TK SS Motorised Infantry which arrives in Oveido after moving up from Leon. Lastly, the Luftwaffe 151st motorised AA heads up the coast road to join the tanks and infantry in 1107.
In Bayonne, the 7th Parachute division breaks down into its supported components. The 3rd regiment uses admin movement to enter Spain and take up a garrison position in Bilbao. The 1st regiment acts likewise except that it is tasked to occupy San Sebastian against any potential seaborne attacks. The 2nd Parachute regiment uses rail movement to reach Santander, utilising captured Iberian rail capacity.
Further north in France, the 601st Motorised Light AA battalion in La Rochelle uses rail movement to reach 3624, the partial hex of Barcelona. Also from St Nazaire and Nantes, the 605th and 604th Light AA battalions hop onto trains and move down to the European gauge railhead at 33:2033. They then use admin movement to head down the road as far as 23A:2501
In central Spain, the 1st RR Engineer converts two more hexes to European gauge, extending it as far as Vitoria. Further west at 2107, the 604th Combat engineer regiment constructs a temporary airfield which is in fighter range of Madrid. 2 Me109Es from 33:1930 and a Me109F from 2028 stage there and escort a terror bombing mission at 2710 which is flown by the two Ju88A4s. The Spanish decide to conserve their fighters fro the ground battle so no interception occurs. There are 5 points of AA in the hex, but it is not able to significantly divert the bombers away. 1 hit is achieved, earning the Axis a VP. The fighters return to 2107, one of the Ju88s goes to Barcelona and the other lands at Bilbao.
This allows the 7th Construction regiment to abandon the airfield in 1930. Another airfield is abandoned by the 71st Construction regiment in 1626 next to Bayonne. The two Construction units use rail movement as fair as the railhead, and then admin movement to 2006. A final airfield is abandoned by the 108th Construction regiment in 2625. It uses a combination of rail and admin movement to reach 33:3626.
The 64th Corps shifts forward to 2802, tying down the Spanish units in 3403. However, it dispatches the 263rd Infantry division north to take control of the rail line leading to Burgos. It moves as far as 2304. The 22nd Air Landing division completes the takeover by moving to 2016 and thence back to its original hex in 2107. The two isolated Iberian rail nets are thereby joined into one. The nearby armoured 34th Corps also inches forward to 2706, but it is close to the limit of its supply line.
From its base in Valladolid, the 53rd Corps moves southwards towards the Cordillera Central, ending movement in the village of Segovia in 2409. In other transfer missions, a Me109E relocates to Valladolid from 33:2625, a Ju87 also moves there from Vitoria, and another Ju87 flies in from 2029. All these units are in range of Madrid. A Me110C transfers south from Santander to Zaragoza, and a second Me110C transfers to Zaragoza from Barcelona.
Combat Phase: The Spanish fly their Mixed attack bombers and SM79s, plus a British Hurricane on strafing duty from Valencia over the 82nd division in 3632. There are no German fighters in range. 4 He111Hs from Barcelona fly against the 32nd Infantry division that defends in the mountains in 33:3533. 2 Ju87s from Santander and a third which stages from 3029 via Santander support the assault on Gijon.
Combat: Gijon is besieged by the SS TK division, the 7th Panzer division, he 11th Infantry division, plus some AA guns, and 3 Ju87s raining precision munitions from the sky. It is held by small formations led by the 87th MG regiment, plus the 47th Artillery regiment, and local security and border forces. The defenders have 7 points, while against them is a total of 43. The Spanish are quickly forced back into the city where they try to regroup, but the mechanised advance is too fast and they are caught against the Bay of Biscay. The Gijon commander surrenders his troops. 6:1 even results in a 2 for a DR, but the city is surrounded by ZOCs. The 11th Infantry division occupies the city, and the 3 Stukas return to base at Santander.
In 3533, the 32nd Infantry division is attacked by the 15th Mountain Corps, backed up by a range of artillery, including rail guns in 3531. 4 He111H4s also join the battle for the high ground overlooking the coast road. In total the attackers have 30.5 against 5, a 6:1 with a -2 modifier. The difficult terrain slows down the German advance, allowing the dug in Spanish to direct withering fire on the advancing units, but in the end overwhelming artillery power wins the day. A 2 is rolled modified to 0 for an EX. The Spanish unit is reduced to cadre and retreats to 3633. The Germans lose the 98th Mountain regiment, 402nd Bicycle regiment and 616th motorised AT battalion. The 15th Corps advances into the hex and the bombers return to Barcelona.
Close by, the 82nd Infantry faces up to the Panzers of the 25th Corps. 28 vs 5 works out to a base 5:1 with +3 for full AECA. The Allied defensive support is fired on by the German AA. Perhaps due to the shock of actually seeing enemy aircraft, the gunners are well wide of the mark. The 1.5 points of DS make a total of 6.5 against 28, bringing the attack down to a 4:1 +3. Unfortunately, the lightly armed bombers are unable to disrupt the German spearheads, and the Spanish are crushed, 4 modified to a 7 for a DE, no retreat possible. The 25th Corps advances. The Allied aircraft return to Valencia.
Exploitation Phase: The SS TK Motorised Infantry division moves south to Valladolid from Gijon. Also in the Gijon area, the 7th Panzer and 151st Motorised Heavy AA regiment head south, just behind the SS troops. They finish movement in 23A:1909.
The airbase at Zaragoza is garrisoned by the 604th and 605th Motorised Light AA battalions that move in from 33:2833. Near Barcelona, the 608th Motorised Artillery moves forward to join the 25th Corps.
On the Biscay coast, the small fishing village of Laredo is garrisoned by the 643rd motorised AT battalion, which moves up from the railhead in 23A:2001. Another garrison is formed in Aviles by the 607th motorised Light AA battalion that advances from Santander.
Losses
- Spanish Unisolated – 5+5 = 10 (2 Special RPs received)
- Spanish Isolated – 7
- Spanish Air 0
- German Unisolated – 5 (1 Special RP received)
- German Isolated – 0
- German Air – 0