Month: August 2025 (Page 2 of 4)

Allied Turn

Arriving this turn are the US 3rd Arm XX and 101st Abn XX. The US now has 3x Arm XX’s, 2x Abn XX’s, and 7x Inf XX’s in southern France. The British have 6x Arm XX’s, 3x Mixed XX’s, 1x Abn XX, 1x Mtn XX, and 9x Inf XX’s in southern France. The Canadians have 2x Arm XX’s and 2x Inf XX’s in southern France. The French have a Mtn XX and the Indians an Inf XX in southern France for a grand total of 38x Allied XX’s. Arriving from Britain are a Czech Arm X, a Belgium Mot Inf X, and a Dutch Mot Inf X. Remaining in Britain are 2x Arm XX’s, 4x Inf XX’s, and 4x Marine Cmdo X’s to maintain an amphibious threat. The US repair an air group, the British repair 4x air groups, and the French replace an air group.

The Allies hardly move a unit and make no attacks east of the Rhone. Their first attack is against a 7-pt stack sitting on a lone mountain hex in the Massif Central by the US 82nd and 101st Abn XX’s, the US 3rd Inf XX, and the British 5th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and in the combat phase 16 assorted air groups on GS, which half the CAP escort. The Germans intercept with 4x Fw190’s, which try to bypass. The escort kills 1 and returns 2 of the German fighter groups. The Germans fly in 2x Fw190F’s attack groups on DAS. The remaining CAP intercepts and kills 1 in exchange for one of its own killed. At 5:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a HX. The Germans eliminate 2x cadres. The Allies eliminate 2x Mot AA X’s and advance the US 101st Abn XX and the British 5th Inf XX into the hex.

The second attack is against an adjacent 14-pt stack by the US 3rd Arm XX, the Canadian 5th Arm XX, and the British 6th and 11th Arm XX’s. The Allies fly 6 fighter groups on CAP, and then a GS mission of 6 bomber groups. The Germans do not react. The German AA of 2 returns 2x bomber groups. At 7:1, + 2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DE. Cut off by the first attack this entire German stack of an Inf XX and 2x Inf cadres is eliminated.

The third attack is against a 10-pt stack in the town of Cahors across the Lot River by the British 53rd Mixed XX, the 1st Abn XX, and the 56th Inf XX, along with no less than 4x Art [xx]’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 bomber groups, which half the CAP escorts. The Germans intercept with a Fw190, which tries to bypass. The escort returns the German interceptor without any damage to itself. The Germans fly in 4 air groups on DAS, which the remaining CAP intercepts without success. The Allied AA of 7 misses, and the German AA of 2 returns a bomber group. At 6:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE. The entire stack of 2x PzG X’s and a Mot Art III are eliminated.

The fourth attack is against a Res Pz XX and 2x PzG cadres 5 hexes southeast of Bordeaux by the US 1st and 2nd Arm XX’s and 5th and 9th Inf XX, the British 15th Mixed XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then 10 assorted air groups on GS, which 2 of the CAP escort. The Germans choose not to react. The German AA of 1 misses. At 7:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The Res Pz XX is reduced and the 2x PzG cadres are eliminated.

The last 2 attacks are to clean up the lone German Inf XX adjacent to Toulouse and the 2x Inf cadres in the Pyrenees foothills. All these isolated German Inf units are eliminated.

During exploitation the Allies manage to make 2 penetrations of the German defense line. The first starts just east of the town of Rodez and allows the British 11th Arm XX to curve behind the German defense line and the US 3rd Arm XX to reach the town of Aurillac. The other starts in the town of Cahors, and penetrates across the Dordogne River, along which the next German defense line would be based.

Axis Turn

Having hoarded their Arm RP’s the Germans are finally able to replace 1 of the 5 c/m XX’s in their replacement pool. They replace the 16th Pz XX, which immediately converts to a 16-10 Pz XX. The Germans also retain the 389th Inf XX from transferring east from the West Theater, and replace 5 of 7 Inf XX’s in their replacement pool. The Germans also replace 3 air groups.

The Italians continue thinning out their defenses in Sicily and southern Italy. They maintain a strong defense along the coast in front of Roma up to Civitavecchia. They also have a strong coastal defense at Livorno and from La Spezia up to Genova. However, the Italians maintain their strongest defense thru the mountain hexes of the Maritime Alps.

With the help of an Italian Alpine XX the Germans defend the hex northeast of Grenoble with a 15-pt stack. They then have stacks of 17, 21, and 23 pts behind the Isere River. They maintain a 21-pt stack on the west bank of the Rhone. They hold 3 mountain hexes in the Massif Central, and another mountain hex just east of the town of Aurillac. The Germans tried concentrating their available c/m units against the Allied bridgehead across the Dordogne River, but didn’t like the 4:1, -2 odds before the intervention of Allied airpower. Instead they tried to box in that bridgehead as they held the rest of the north bank of the Dordogne down to the Gironde. Knowing the Allies would not get any VP’s in this VP Check, the Germans abandoned Bordeaux. From the Atlantic to the west bank of the Rhone the German defense line was 20 hexes long with an average defense strength of 12.7 pts.

Sep II VP Check

Former Axis Major Cities: Tunis = 3
Former Axis Medium Cities: Tripoli, Grenoble, Toulouse = 3
Former Axis Naval Bases: Tripoli, Tunis, Bizerte, Sete = 4
Net Ground Losses: 0
Net Air Losses: 0
Net Naval Losses: 0
Previous Total: 2.5 VP’s
New Total: 12.5 VP’s

Allied Turn

The US rebuilds its 9th Inf XX. The British convert its 43rd Mixed XX back into an Inf XX, and upgrade the Guards Arm XX. The British also rebuild its 50th Inf XX. The US 5th Inf XX arrives from Iceland and the Indian 8th Inf XX finally arrives from the Mid East. The destruction of Sete is repaired, and 6 of 14 damage hits are repaired.

The Allies hardly move a unit and don’t make any attacks east of the Rhone. Their first attack is 2 hexes southwest of the town of Le Puy in the Massif Central against an 11-pt stack by the British 6th Arm XX, 43rd and 50th Inf XX’s, and the US 82nd Abn XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 12 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase a GS mission of 12 assorted groups, which half the CAP escort. The Germans intercept with 6 fighters, and attempt to bypass. The escort kills 3 and aborts 1. The surviving interceptors return 2 of the GS mission. Next the Germans fly in a DAS mission of 6 assorted groups, which the remaining 6 CAP fighter groups intercept. In a bloody air battle 4 of the DAS groups are aborted as well as 2 of the Allied intercepting groups. At 5:1, even the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a Para III and an AA II. The Allies advance the US 82nd Abn XX into the hex.

The next attack is against the German 2nd Para XX by the US 2nd Arm and 3rd Inf XX’s, and the British 42nd Arm and 5th Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 8 fighter groups, which half the CAP escort. The Germans do not react. The German AA of 1 returns 1 GS group. At 9:1, +1 odds the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DE. The 2nd Para XX is reduced to cadre, and the Allies advance the US 3rd Inf XX into the hex.

The last attack on the northern side of the German perimeter is against a 10-pt stack 2 hexes due east of Toulouse by the British 11th Arm XX, and the Canadian 4th and 5th Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 8 fighter groups, which 2 of the CAP escort. The German intercept with 2 fighter groups. The escorts kill 1, and the surviving interceptor returns a GS group. With 4 Allied CAP groups still available, the Germans decide not to fly in the 2 air groups available for DAS. At 8:1, +1 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The 16th Pz cadre, a Mixed X, and an AA II are eliminated. The Allies advance the British 11th Arm XX and the Canadian 4th Arm XX into the hex.

The fourth attack is against the Inf XX and cadre in the wooded rough hex east of Carcassonne. It is surrounded by the US 5th and 9th Inf XX’s, the British 15th Mixed XX, the British 78th Inf XX, and the Indian 8th Inf XX. The Allies fly in just 4 bombers on a GS mission. The Germans do not react. At 11:1, -2 odds the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The German Inf XX and cadre are eliminated. The US 5th and Indian 8th Inf XX’s advance into the hex.

The fifth attack is against 2x German Inf XX’s in the foothills of the Pyrenees by the US 1st Arm XX and the British 7th Arm XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 bomber groups, which half the CAP escort. The German do not react. At 5:1, +2 odds the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DE. The 2x German Inf XX’s are reduced to cadres. The Allies do not advance into this hex.

The final attack is against the German Inf XX in La Nouvelle by the British Guards Arm XX. The Allies fly in a GS mission of 7 bombers. There are no German air groups within range to intercept. At 7:1, +3 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DE. The German Inf XX is reduced to a cadre, and retreats down the coast. The Allies advance a 27-pt stack into the hex.

During exploitation the Allies breakout east of Toulouse when the US 2nd Arm XX reaches and secures the entrance to the breach. The Canadian 5th Arm XX secures the battlefield itself. The Canadian 4th Arm XX overruns 2x Cons III in the medium city of Toulouse, forcing 3x German air groups to escape. The British 11th Arm XX exploits past Toulouse on its northeast side. The British 4th and 7th Arm X’s, each on a Canadian Art X moved by a TC, link those 2x Arm XX’s back to the Canadian 5th Arm XX. Note that 3-RE TC’s are allowed to breakdown into 3x 1-RE TC’s. Along the front the US 1st Arm XX exploits to Castres, the British 7th Arm XX exploit into the hex southwest of Castres, and the British 15th Mixed XX, on a 3-RE TC, moves into Carcassonne. The British 23rd Arm X along with the US 5th Mot Art X and assorted c/m ants occupy the rough terrain southwest of Carcassonne. Assorted c/m ants on top of the US VI Art X, moved by a 1-RE TC, occupy another rough terrain hex. The Allies overrun the cadre that retreated from La Nouvelle at 9:1 odds, and gain ownership of the south coast of France down to the Spanish border. From there the British Guards Arm XX moves into the rough terrain hex northwest of Perpignan to complete the Allied line.

Situation map of the western theater of war on Sep I 1943 Allied turn in the SF42 game, showing the British Armour breakout at Toulouse

Axis Turn

The Germans receive 2x PzG XX’s, of which the 1 in the South Theater admin moves thru Savoy into southern France. They also receive 2x Static XX’s, which are quickly reorganized, and a Tiger II, which is quickly disbanded. The Italian receive 2x Coast XX’s which are placed in Sicily in order to move stronger units north. The Germans replace 3x Inf XX’s. The Germans replace 4x air groups and repair 5x air groups.

The Axis defense east of the Rhone, which appears to be working, is left unchanged. However, west of the Rhone a completely new defense line is constructed starting at Bordeaux, then along the Garonne River, and finally along the Lot River back to the Massif Central. All the German c/m units south of Toulouse are able to reach this new defense line. From the Rhone to Bordeaux the line is 21 hexes long and has an average defense strength of 11.7 pts. However, an Inf XX gets left behind adjacent to Toulouse as a roadblock, as well as 2x Inf cadres, which reach the town of Pamiers in the Pyrenees foothills.

Allied Turn

The US 5th Inf XX is released from the Iceland garrison and ships towards the Med. The US repair an air group, the British replace an air group and repair 3.

The Allies do not make any attacks east of the Rhone River, the Axis stacks are too strong. Their first attack is against the German Inf XX in the mountain hex east of Millau by the British 6th Arm XX, 43rd Mixed XX, 5th and 56th Inf XX’s, and the US 3rd Inf XX. They fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase a GS mission of 15 bomber groups (no AA in the hex), which half the CAP escorts. The German air groups stay on the ground. At odds of 9:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DH. The German Inf XX is reduced, and the British 5th Inf XX advances into the hex.

The Allies next attack the weak stack southwest of Millau with the US 1st Arm XX, Canadian 4th Arm XX, British 15th and 53rd Mixed XX’s, British 1st Abn XX, and the British 78th Inf XX. They fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 12 assorted groups, which half the CAP escorts. The German air groups stay on the ground. The German AA of 5 aborts 2. At odds of 12:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DH. The Germans eliminate an Art X and an AA III, and retreat a PzG X. The Allies advance a 42-pt full armor stack into the hex, but it will not be able to overrun the second line.

The final attack is against the wooded rough hex northwest of Beziers by the US 2nd Arm XX, Canadian 5th Arm XX, and the British Guards, 7th, 11th, and 42nd Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighters groups, and then a GS mission of 12 assorted air groups, which half the CAP escorts. The German air groups stay on the ground. The German AA of 2 aborts 2 and returns 3. At odds of 10:1, even the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE. The Germans reduce an Inf XX, and eliminate a Bicycle X, a Tiger II, and an AA II. The Allies advance a 68-pt stack into the hex.

During exploitation this Allied stack overruns a 6-pt stack at 10:1 odds with enough MP’s left over to spread out behind the German second defense line. The British 7th Arm XX and 23rd Arm X reached the town of Carcassonne. The US 2nd Arm XX parks itself in the town of Castres, with the Canadian 5th Arm XX in between it and the 7th Arm XX. The British 11th Arm XX and the 4th Arm X reached the hex northeast of Castres, completing a line of 4 Allied Arm XX’s behind the German second line. Although the German c/m units will be able to extricate themselves, the 4 German Inf XX’s and a Res Mtn XX in the southern corner of France along the coast may not get very far.

Axis Turn

A newly arrived Static XX gets reorganized, as does 2 small Inf XX’s which managed to stay out of enemy ZOC’s. The Germans replace an Inf XX and a Mixed X. The Italians replace 2x Inf XX with their weaker, slower versions.

The Italians slightly strengthen the hexes they are defending in the Maritime Alps. The Germans maintain the strong stacks they have along the north bank of the Isere River and on the west bank of the Rhone, but they have to rail away the second line they were maintaining in this sector to rebuild the western half of their perimeter. The Germans still hold 3 mountain hexes in the Massif Central, but then they hold a straight line for 5 hexes thru rough terrain and 2 more hexes in clear terrain on the south side of the Tarn River. From that point their defense line goes southwest just 2 hexes in front of Toulouse. In the foothills of the Pyrenees their line hooks southeast with 2x Inf XX’s just southwest of Carcassonne. Left behind are an Inf XX and an Inf cadre in a wooded rough hex just east of Carcassonne, and an Inf XX in the minor port of La Nouvelle. By the end of the turn the Germans are defending a line 21 hexes long with an average defense strength of 13 pts.

Allied Turn

In Britain the Canadian 4th Arm XX becomes full, is upgraded, and embarks on transports for the Med. The Allies spend 12 resource pts to increase the French rail cap to 24. A US Port Cons X begins repairing the destroyed port of Sete. The US repairs 2 bomber groups, the British repair an attack group.

The British rail their 46th Inf XX to Nice to replace the 43rd Mixed XX. Farther north the US 1st and 9th Inf XX’s liberate the medium city of Grenoble. From there they join the British 52nd Mtn XX and the French 3rd Mtn XX to attack an Italian stack defending the mountain hex just east of Grenoble. They fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, then during the combat phase fly in a GS mission of 8 bomber groups, which 4 of the CAP escort. The Germans intercept with 3 fighters from Lyon, and then fly in a DAS mission of 3 Fw190 attack groups, which the 2 remaining CAP intercept along with 4 fighters within intercept range on the ground. The 3 German interceptors try to bypass and suffer 1 killed and 2 returned. The German DAS suffers 1 aborted, but inflicts 1 killed and 2 aborted against the Allied interceptors. The Italian AA of 1 returns a bomber group, and the Allied AA of 2 miss. At 3:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for an EX. The Italian reduce the 184th Para XX and eliminate the rest of their stack. The Allies reduce the US 9th Inf XX. The US 1st Inf XX and British 52nd Mtn XX advance into the hex.

The US 3rd Inf XX replaces the British 6th Arm XX defending mountain hex 2 hexes north of Ales. The 6th Arm XX and the 43 Mixed XX, which railed from Nice, move into the hex northwest of Ales. Just west of them are the British 50th Inf XX and a Canadian Arm X. The 3 stacks join together for an attack against a German 5-7-6 Inf XX in a mountain hex of the Massif Central. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase fly in a GS mission of 12 assorted groups, which 3 of the CAP escorts. The Germans intercept with 3 fighter groups from St.Etienne. The Allied escort kills 1 and returns 1 of the interceptors which try to bypass. The surviving German interceptor returns a US bomber group. The Germans then send a DAS mission of 3 groups, which the remaining 3 CAP intercepts. They kill 1 and abort 1 of the DAS mission at the cost of 1 of their own aborted. At 5:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an EX. The German Inf XX is reduced, as is the British 50th Inf XX. The 43rd Mixed XX advances into the hex.

Once again targeting a German c/m XX are the British 1st Arm XX, the British 15th and 53rd Mixed XX’s, the British 5th and 78th Inf XX’s, and the British 1st Abn XX as they mass against the German 29th PzG XX. Here the Allies fly in a GS mission of 12 air groups escorted by 8 fighter groups. The Germans don’t react. The German AA of 3 abort 1 and return 3. At 10:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a DH. The 29th PzG XX gets reduced. The 53rd Mixed XX advances into the hex.

In their final attack the US 2nd Arm XX, the British Guards, 7th, 11th, and 42nd Arm XX’s, and the Canadian 5th Arm XX line up to attack a 16-pt German stack sitting in a coastal hex. The Allies call up the British battleships Nelson and Rodney, along with 2 pairs of cruisers, for 11 pts of NGS. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and in the combat phase fly in a GS mission of 8 assorted air groups, which 4 of the CAP escort. The Germans don’t react. The German AA of 3 miss. At 8:1, +2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DE. A German Inf XX gets reduced, and the rest of the stack gets eliminated. The Allies advance the US 2nd Arm XX, the Canadian 5th Arm XX, the British 11th Arm XX, and 2 British Arm X’s into the hex. This stack then executes a low-odds overrun against the Inf cadre and a Mixed X. On a roll of ‘3’ they achieve a DE. They advance into the town of Narbonne with half their stack, which can then go no farther.

Axis Turn

The Germans place the newly formed 14th Pz XX at Toulouse, along with the 305th Inf XX and the quickly reorganized 364th Inf XX. Arriving from Germany are 2 small reserve Pz XX’s and another Res XX. Also appearing at the border of the Southeast Theater in Italy is the 1st SS Pz cadre. The Italians gain 2 more Coast XX’s. The Germans replace an Inf XX, a PzG X, and a Mixed X. The Italians replace their 5th Alp XX. The Germans replace 3 air groups and repair 2 more. The Germans start airfields at Toulouse and next to Lyon, as they realize they don’t have enough airbase capacity near the front.

The Italians shift more units north along the Tyrrhenian coast, figuring if they can keep any Allied landing south of Gaeta, they can be stopped at the Cassino Line. Noticing the Allies have not crossed the border into Italy (triggering the Northern Italy Invasion Alarm) the Axis player is still trying to figure out the best strategy when the Allies completely bypass Italy. The 1st SS Pz cadre rails thru northern Italy, thru the French province of Savoy, and into southern France. The Italians are now holding 11 hexes of the Axis perimeter, but are only defending 7 of them as the others are blocked with high mountain hexsides. The 7 mountain hexes the Italians are defending have an average defense strength of 13.4 pts.

The Germans take over defending the perimeter in the mountain hex northeast of Grenoble, and then with 3 strong stacks along the north bank of the Isere River. They also maintain a strong stack on the west bank of the Rhone. Behind this front line the Germans have built a second defense line 4 hexes long just south of Lyon and St.Etienne. The Germans still hold 2 of the mountain hexes along the southern edge of the Massif Central, but the Allies have now gained a pair of these mountain hexes, 2 hexes north and northwest of Ales.

The Germans hold the mountain hex east of the town of Millau, then Millau with the 1st SS Pz cadre, then 2 rough hexes with weak 10-pt stacks. The Germans felt compelled to give up the minor city of Beziers and the wooded rough hex to its northeast, but form a line of 3 strong stacks, including 1 based on the 14th Pz XX, just west of Beziers. The western side of the German perimeter has more of a second defense line now, with only a pair of gaps. The German share of the Axis perimeter is 19 hexes long and has an average defense strength of 12.5 pts.

Allied Turn

The US rebuilds the 45th Inf XX, and the British finally upgrade their 7th Arm XX. The Allies again spend 12 resource pts to increase the French rail cap to 21 RE’s. In GB the Allies load up an Art [xx], an Arm X, an Inf X, 2x Arm II’s, and 2x TC’s for transport to the Med during the turn.

Using the US 1st and 9th Inf XX’s, the British 52nd Mtn XX, the French 3rd Mtn XX, and 4x French Mtn III’s the Allies line up for an attack on an Italian stack just southeast of Grenoble. They fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and then during the combat phase fly in 10 air groups on GS missions, which 4 of the CAP fighters escort. The Italians stay on the ground. The Italian AA of 1 aborts a bomber group and returns another. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. An Italian Alpine XX is reduced and the rest of the Italians go into the replacement pool. The British and French Mtn XX’s advance into the hex.

The Allies can find no decent attacks against the German wall across the Rhone valley, and instead build up 35-pt and 31-pt stacks on the south bank of the Isere River. On the west bank of the Rhone is another 35-pt stack. Along the southern edge of the Massif Central the Allies have a row of stacks that average more than 20 pts in defense strength, and the Allies still cling on to the mountain hex southeast of the town of Millau.

The British 7th, 11th, and 42nd Arm XX, along with the US 2nd Arm XX move in for an attack against a German 14-pt stack just northwest of Sete. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase fly in 14 air groups on GS missions, which half the CAP escorts. With most of their fighters sitting in St.Etienne, Lyon, and Grenoble to defend the Rhone valley, the small stack of German air groups at Toulouse stays on the ground. The German AA of 2 manages to abort 3 air groups and return another. At odds of 7:1, + 2 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DE. A German 5-7-6 Inf XX is reduced to a cadre and smartly retreats behind the 16th Pz to give it an escape route. The 26th Pz cadre and an AA ant are eliminated. The Allies advance a 39-pt stack into this hex.

In the final attack the Canadian 5th Arm XX, British Guards Arm XX, the British 15th and 53rd Mixed XX’s, the British 1st Abn XX, and 3x British Inf XX’s mass for an attack on the German 16th Pz XX in their relentless campaign of attrition against German c/m XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups, and then in the combat phase fly in 16 air groups on GS missions, which half the CAP escorts. The German AA of 3 could only return 2 of the GS groups, leaving odds of 10:1, -2. The Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The 16th Pz XX is reduced to a cadre and retreats thru Allied ZOC’s into the hex that the Inf cadre retreated into. The Allies advance a 35-pt stack into this hex.

The Allies are now defending a perimeter 24 hexes long with a average defense strength of 23.7 pts.

Axis Turn

Due to the situation in France the German 113rd Inf XX is not transferred east. Note that the North, Greater Germany, and Southeast Theaters are treated as rigid garrisons with the Axis player having no control over what transfers into or out of those theaters, but units in the West and South Theaters that transfer east can instead be retained in those theaters. The Germans rebuild an Inf XX and replace a PzG X, but are able to reorganize only 1 more Inf XX.

The Italians pull out of Grenoble into the mountain hex to the northeast. The Germans are now defending 3 hexes along the north bank of the Isere with a 23-pt stack, a 19-pt stack, and a 15-pt stack 2 hexes north of Grenoble. They still have the same 21-pt stack, topped by the 6th Pz XX, defending along the west side of the Rhone River. The Germans were able to substitute in reorganized 5-7-6 Inf XX’s for the 5-6 Inf XX’s that had been defending the mountain hexes along the southern edge of the Massif Central. The Germans are still weakest along the western side of their perimeter. The 6 hexes starting in the town of Millau down to the sea have an average defense strength of only 11.7 pts. They do have the makings of a second defense line, but it has gaps.

Allied Turn

The British upgrade their 11th Arm XX, but can not upgrade their 7th Arm XX due to enemy ZOC’s. The US finally converts their 3rd Inf XX to its SF strength. The British rebuild their 51st Inf XX. The US repair 2 air groups. The British replace 3 air groups and repair 4 more. The Allies spend 12 resource pts to build up the former Vichy rail cap from 15 to 18 RE’s.

In GB the Allies try to maintain a plausible invasion threat with 4x Inf XX’s, including the US 29th, 2x Arm XX’s, 4x Marine RE’s, 2x Arm X’s, and a growing airborne threat. Understanding that the main battle is in southern France, the Allies load up the 46th Inf XX, the 15th and 53rd Mixed XX’s, an Art [xx], and 3x Arm X’s for arrival there next turn. The large mixed XX’s being especially useful for the Allied tactic of attacking the German c/m XX’s at less than 1/2 AECA. So far the Allies have eliminated 1 Pz XX and reduced 3 others to cadres. The Allies use 4x C-47’s to transport 4x French Mtn III’s from North Africa into Cannes.

The first Allied attack is against an Italian stack in a mountain hex. The Allies use the 1st, 9th, and 45th US Inf XX’s, the Canadian 2nd Inf XX, the British 52nd Mtn XX, and the French 3rd Mtn XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups, and in the Combat Phase a GS mission of just 4 bomber groups, which the CAP then escorts. The Italians stay on the ground. At 6:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘2’ for an EX. The 2 Italian XX’s are eliminated and the Allies reduce the US 45th Inf XX.

The next attack is against the 15th PzG XX 2 hexes northwest of Montpellier by 2x Arm XX’s and 5x Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 8 fighter groups, and then a GS mission of 10 air groups, which half the CAP escorts. The German fly in a DAS mission of 7 air groups, including 5x Fw190 attack bombers, escorted by just 2 fighter groups. The remaining 4 CAP fighters, plus 2 more within range on the ground, intercept. The combat between the fighters engaging and the escorts does nothing. The 4 Allied intercepting fighters manage to return 2 of the DAS groups. AA aborts a DAS group, leaving the odds 10:1, -2. The Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE, and the 15th PzG XX is reduced to yet another c/m cadre.

The last combat is against the major port of Sete using 4x British Arm XX’s. The Allies fly in 6 fighters on CAP, even though there are no enemy fighters within range to intercept. In the Combat Phase the Allies decide against flying in a GS mission, and left the odds 6:1, + 2. The Allies rolled a ‘2’ for a DE. The German 44th Inf XX is reduced and a PzG X eliminated along with an AA ant. The Allies advance into a destroyed port.

By the end of exploitation the Allied perimeter is 24 hexes long, including 11 mountain hexes, and has an average defense strength of 18.9 pts.

Axis Turn

The Germans receive the 24th Pz XX and an Inf XX. They manage to reorganize 4x Inf XX’s and 3x Static XX’s, but every other division that qualifies is in enemy ZOC’s. With the flood of ARP’s the Germans were able to empty the killed and aborted boxes of all their fighters, the problem now being the lack of airbases in southern France.

The Italians fall back slightly, clogging up the few routes thru the Maritime Alps. The Italian share of the Axis defense line ends with their northernmost stack defending Grenoble. The Germans takeover from that point, defending the mountain hex northwest of Grenoble with an 11-pt stack. They then have a 19-pt stack and a 25-pt stack defending the north side of the Isere River 2 hexes south of Lyon. On the west bank of the Rhone they have a 21-pt stack. For the first time the Germans form a second line as they are determined to block any advance by the Allies up the Rhone River valley, the shortest route into Germany.

The Germans hold 4 of the 5 mountain hexes along the southern edge of the Massif Central, and have strong stacks blocking the 1 mountain hex the Allies do hold. However, the rest of the German line, 6 hexes from the town of Millau down to the sea, where the Allies made 2 of their 3 attacks the previous turn, is weakly held. Even though this line includes the 16th Pz XX and the 29th PzG XX along with 3 c/m cadres it has an average defense strength of just 11.7 pts. The Germans have decided they would rather have the Allies attack westward into southwest France than in any other direction.

Allied Turn

The US converts its 2nd Arm XX, 9th Inf XX, and 36th Inf XX to their SF strengths. The British convert their 1st, 5th, 50th, 56th, and 78th Inf XX’s to their SF strengths. The US replaces its 156th Inf III. The British replace their 33rd Guards Inf X and rebuild their 42nd Arm XX. The US replaces an air group and repairs an air group, and the British repairs an air group. The Allies start quick construction of a new airfield and complete the upgrade of an airfield.

Arriving from the US is the 45th Inf XX, an Eng III, and a mortar II. Arriving from GB are the British 11th Arm XX, 43rd Mixed XX, an Art X, and an Arm II. The US now has 2x Arm XX’s, 1x Abn XX, and 6x Inf XX’s in southern France. The British now have 7x Arm XX’s, 2x Mixed XX’s, 1x Mtn XX, 8x Inf XX’s, the Canadians 1x Arm XX and 2x Inf XX’s, and the Indians 1x Inf XX in southern France.

The US send their 1st and 2nd Arm XX’s down to Nice, where together with the US 3rd and 34th Inf XX’s and the British 43rd Mixed XX they will attempt to push back the Italian stack threatening that city. With 6 Allied fighter groups sitting at Nice, the Italian do not fly any DAS because each air groups lost counts as an RE lost towards the Italian surrender conditions. [Note: SF rule 38.B.2 should probably specify killed air groups as 1 RE and aborted air groups as 1/2 RE.] At odds of 2:1, + 1 the Allies rolls a ‘6’ for a DH. The Italians eliminate 4x Art III’s and 2x Aslt Eng II’s with a total defense strength of 17, and retreat the surviving units into the mountain hex of Imperia along the Ligurian coast. The British Mixed XX and assorted other units advance after them.

Farther north the US 1st and 9th Inf XX’s, the British 1st Inf XX, and the 52nd Mtn XX again will try attacking the Italians in a mountain hex. Here the Allies fly in 9 air groups on GS. Still within the intercept range of Nice the Italian air groups stay on the ground. The Italian AA of 2 aborts 2 and returns 1 leaving the odds at 5:1, -2. The Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DR. The Italians retreat, and the Allies advance the US 9th and British 1st Inf XX’s into the hex.

North of that attack the Canadian 1st and 2nd Inf XX’s and the British 3rd and 51st Inf XX’s likewise attempt to attack an Italian stack in the Maritime Alps. Because of the proximity of German air groups at Grenoble, Lyon, and St. Etienne the Allies fly in a CAP of 10 fighter groups. In the Combat Phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 9 assorted air groups, which half of their CAP drop out to escort. The Germans intercept with 5 fighter groups, all of whom attempt to bypass. The Allied CAP manages to kill a Fw190 and return a Me109G, but 3 get thru. They could only return a P-38, which even while hanging on to its bomb kills its assailant. Italian AA of 1 return 2, leaving the odds at 5:1, -2. The Allies roll a ‘2’ for an EX. The Italians put 4.5 REs into the Replacement Pool. The British reduce the 51st Inf XX. The British 3rd XX and the US 156th Inf III advance into the hex.

On the west side of the Rhone the Canadian 5th Arm XX and the British Guards, 6th, and 42nd Arm XX’s line up a full ATEC attack against a German Inf XX and Art III in a wooded rough hex. The Allies fly in a CAP of 4 air groups. In the Combat Phase the Allies fly in 5 bomber groups on GS, which 2 fighter groups of the CAP escort. The Germans make no attempt to intercept, but instead fly in 6 air groups on DAS. The last 2 fighter groups in the CAP intercept along with 10 long range fighter groups within intercept range. The Allied fighter groups managed to kill 1, abort 1, and return 1 at the cost of 1 killed and 2 aborted among themselves. Allied AA of 10 misses, leaving odds of 6:1, +1. The Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DH. The Germans reduce their Inf XX and retreat into a mountain hex of the Massif Central. The Canadian Arm XX advances after combat and then exploits into the vacant mountain hex southeast of Millau. During exploitation the 6th Arm XX moves back into the mountain hex 2 hexes north of Ales.

In the final attack the British 1st, 7th, and 10th Arm XX’s, the British 5th, 44th, 50th, 56th, and 78th Inf XX’s, and the Indian 4th Inf XX mass for an attack on the 26th Pz XX. With only 1 German fighter group within range the Allies fly in a CAP of just 1 fighter group. During the Combat Phase the Allies fly in 6 assorted groups on GS, which their lone CAP escorts. The Germans intercept with their last Me109G, which the Spit IX from the CAP kills. The Germans fly their last 3 attack groups, all Fw190A’s, on DAS, which the last 3 Allied long range fighters intercept. The DAS mission kills 2 of the hapless Bftr groups. The German AA of 3 aborts 2 bomber groups. Allied AA of 10 manages to return 1 DAS group, leaving odds of 6:1, -2. The Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DH which reduces the 26th Pz XX to a cadre. During exploitation the British put a 25-pt stack northwest of Montpellier, a 17-pt stack with full ATEC in the woods hex west of Montpellier, and a 25-pt stack in the coastal hex southwest of Montpellier.

Axis Turn

Full this turn is the 2nd Para-Inf XX, and arriving from the east are 4x LR RR Art II’s. Completely out of Arm RP’s the Germans can not replace any c/m units, including the HG Pz XX, nor can they rebuild any of the 3 Pz cadres littering the battlefield. The Germans do replace an Art X. The Italians replace an Alpine XX and an Alpine X. The Germans replace 4 air groups and repair 1. Notably the Germans leave 9 bomber groups in the killed and aborted boxes.

The Italians strengthen a line of 3x 15-pt stacks in mountain hexes from Imperia on the coast northwest into the Maritime Alps. They leave the next 2 hexes undefended because their high mountain hexsides make it impossible for the Allies to advance eastward. The next mountain hex is defended with an 11-pt stack. They leave the hex just east of Gap undefended because its 1 glacier and 2 high mountain hexsides again make it impossible to move east. The Italians defend the mountain hex northeast of Gap with an 8-pt stack, the mountain hex southwest of Grenoble with a 7-pt stack, and Grenoble itself with a 9-pt stack.

The Germans defend the hex northwest of Grenoble with a 9-pt stack and the rough hex on the north bank of the Isere River with 13-pt stack. Retreating out of Valence the Germans defend the clear hex on the north bank of the Isere with the 3rd PzG XX and 2x Inf XX. Defending the rough hex on the other side of the Rhone is the 6th Pz XX. The next 3 hexes, all mountain hexes of the Massif Central, are defended by 4x Inf XX’s. Trying to block the British 6th Arm XX from advancing up the rail line is a 16-pt stack led by the 2nd Para-Inf XX. Holding the west side of the British penetration is the 1st Para-Inf XX. The Germans test what attack they could make against the British 6th Arm XX, and come up with 1.5:1, – 2. They cancel the attack. A weak 10-pt stack hold the northeast side of the penetration by the Canadian 5th Arm XX. The 16th Pz XX holds the northwest side. The 7th Pz cadre and an Art X hold the west side and the 15th PzG holds the southwest side. An attack on the Canadians would produce 2:1, -6, which the Germans quickly cancel. Containing the British bulge west of Montpellier are an 11-pt stack using the 29th PzG XX, a 14-pt stack using the 26th Pz cadre, and a 15-pt stack in Sete using the 44HuD Inf XX. The Axis perimeter around the Allies in southern France is now 26 hexes long, 16 defended by the Germans, and 10, including 3 undefended hexes, held by the Italians.

Jun II VP Check

Former Axis Major Cities: Tunis = 3
Former Axis Medium Cities: Tripoli = 1
Former Axis Naval Bases: Tripoli, Tunis, Bizerte = 3
Net Ground Losses: 0
Net Air Losses: 0
Net Naval Losses: 0
Previous Total: – 4.5 VP’s
New Total: 2.5 VP’s

Allied Turn

The US converts the 1st Arm XX and the 1st Inf XX to their SF strengths, and replaces a c/m ant. The British rebuild the 56th and 78 Inf XX’s, and replace the 8th Arm XX, the 33rd Guards X, and a mot AA X. The French replace their last eliminated Vichy 3-6* Inf XX. The US replaces 2 air groups and repairs 6. The British replace 1 air group and repair 4. The Allies increase their airbase capacity in southern France to 70.

Arriving from GB are the supported components of the Canadian 5th Arm XX and a British Arm II. Arriving from Alger a couple naval steps later are a British AA X, a MG X, and 2x MG II’s.

In the Maritime Alps the Allies line up the US 1st Inf XX, the Canadian 1st Inf XX, the British 1st Inf XX, and the Scottish 52nd Mtn XX to attack 2x Italian Inf XX’s. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. Then the Allies fly in 4 bomber groups on GS. The Italian AA of 1 misses, and at 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for an embarrassing AR. During exploitation the Allied XX’s remain in the mountain hexes into which they had retreated.

On the east bank of the Rhone River the Allies line up the US 1st Arm XX, the British 4th Mixed XX, and the 82nd Abn XX to attack the 10th Pz XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 7 fighter groups. The Germans fly in 7 fighter groups, all they have left in southern France, in a CAP over this attack. The Allies fly in 12 air groups on GS, which their CAP escorts. The Germans try to bypass and have 2 killed, 2 aborted, and 1 returned of their CAP. The survivors return 2 groups of the GS mission. The Germans then fly in a DAS mission of 4 air groups which the Allies intercept with 4 long range fighter groups. They manage to return 2 DAS groups. German AA of 3 aborts 2 and returns 4 of the Allies GS. Allies AA of 3 misses. At 4:1, -1 odds the Allies roll a ‘3’ for a HX that reduces the 10th Pz XX to a cadre and eliminates an AA II. The Allies eliminate the US 156th Inf III and the British 33rd Guards X again. The Allies advance the US 1st Arm XX, a British Tank X, and 2x Canadian Art X’s after the 10th Pz cadre. During exploitation a US hv AA X joins to form a 35-pt stack in the town of Valence.

Against the HG Pz cadre in the rough hex to the southeast of Valence the Allies line up the US 2nd Arm XX, the Canadian 2nd Inf XX, the British 3rd and 5th Inf XX’s, and the Scottish 51st Inf XX. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. The Allies then fly in 4 air groups for GS. German AA of 3 returns 1, leaving 8:1, -2 odds. The Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DE that eliminates the HG Pz cadre, an AA III, and a mot Art III. During exploitation these XX’s stay put, the 2nd Canadian XX and the 51st Scottish XX in a mountain hex, the British 3rd Inf XX and an Art [xx] in the rough hex southeast of Valence.

On the other side of the Rhone the newly arrived Canadian 5th Arm XX, and the British Guards, 6th, and 42nd Arm XX’s line up to attack 2 German Inf cadres and a SS PzG X in the wooded rough hex northeast of the town of Ales. The Allies fly in a CAP of 6 fighter groups. Then the Allies fly in 4 bomber groups for GS. The German AA of 1 misses, leaving 5:1, even. The Allies roll a ‘1’ for a HX. The entire German stack is eliminated. The British reduce the 42nd Arm XX, and advance the Canadian 5th and the Guards Arm XX’s into the wooded rough hex of northeast of Ales. During exploitation the Guards Arm XX exploits into the mountain hex to the northwest, while the Canadian 5th stays put in the wooded rough hex. Various c/m units, including a mot Art X, defend Ales.

In the final attack the British line up the 1st, 7th, and 10th Arm XX’s to attack a small German Inf XX. At 7:1, + 1 odds the British roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The German Inf XX is reduced, and an Art X and AA II are eliminated. The 7th and 10th Arm XX’s advance into this rough hex northwest of Montpellier. During exploitation the 7th and 10th Arm XX’s overrun the Inf cadre just created but don’t advance into its hex. Various c/m units including a mot Art X defend Montpellier, while the 1st Arm XX exploits back down to the coast adjacent to Sete.

US NRP 5 + 1 = 6
US Inf 33.75 + .25 + 6 + 1 spec. = 41
US Arm 31 + 6 – 1 = 36
US ARP 34 – 10 = 24
Res Pts 10 + 5

Br NRP 5 + 2 = 7
Br Inf 37.75 + 2.5 spec. + 6 – 4 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 1 + 1.75 spec. = 34
Br Arm 20 + 4 – 5 – 1 = 18
Can Inf 1 + 1 = 2
Ind Inf 3.5 + .5 = 4
Br ARP 52 – 6 = 46
Res Pts 19 + 5 – 1 = 23

Fr Met 2.25 + 1 – 3 = .25
Fr Arm 0
Fr Af 6 + 1 = 7
Fr Col 3 + .5 = 3.5
Fr ARP 3

Res Pts 5 + 1 = 6

Axis Turn

Unable to pin down the exact turns of their resurrections and because of the badly compromised German defense line in southern France, many divisions destroyed at Stalingrad suddenly arise from the dead. These divisions include the 16th Pz XX (14-10), the 3rd PzG XX (11-10), the 29th PzG XX (10-10), the 44th Inf XX (10-6), the 94th Inf XX (7-6), and the 371st, 376th, 384th, and 389th Inf XX’s (5-7-6). The 15th Pz XX from North Africa is resurrected as the 15th PzG XX (13-10). Full this turn is the 1st Para-Inf XX (9-8*). A couple of turns earlier the 113th Inf XX (3-6* cadre) had arrived in France from the east, been rebuilt, been reduced, and then had its cadre eliminated. The Germans replace the 113th Inf XX (7-6), the 715th Inf XX (5-8), the 39th Inf XX (5-6), the West PzG X (5-10*), a SS PzG X (4-10), and 2x AA II’s. The Germans disband a Pz II (2-1-10) that was never sent to North Africa. The Germans also disband a 5-3-6 Art X and a 3-1-8 Rkt III. The Germans replace 5 air groups and repair 7 others.

Currently defending the northern and western French coasts are 14x Static XX’s, 10x Res XX’s, 4x LW XX’s, and 1x Sec XX. Previously stopped from transferring east were the 6th and 7th Pz XX’s and the 38th and 39th Inf XX’s. Previously stopped from transferring to North Africa were the HG Pz XX, the 10th Pz XX, the 334th Inf XX, and 12x assorted RE’s.

The Italians add a couple more Coastal XX’s and start quick construction of 2 more forts. Their defense line thru the Maritime Alps held up perfectly, so they don’t change anything. The Italians are relieved that it appears the Allies intend to bypass Italy completely.

Even with all its new found strength the German player gives no thought to attacking. The Allied salients are strong, have full ATEC, and can call up heavy air support. In fact the German player gives up 2 wooded rough hexes and a rough hex in order to fall back into the mountain hexes of the Massif Central. They contain the salient southwest of Valence with the 3rd PzG XX from the other side of the Rhone and the 6th Pz XX and 2x Inf XX’s in Valence itself. They contain the British Guards Arm XX sitting in a mountain hex 2 hexes north of Ales with the 16th Pz XX, the 1st Para-Inf XX, and 4x Inf XX’s. They contain the salient northwest of Montpellier with the 26th Pz XX, the 15th and 29th PzG XX’s, the 7th Pz cadre, and a SS PzG X.

Ge Inf 13.75 + 7.75 spec + 6 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 2 – 2 – .5 – .5 + 5 + 3 = 13.5
Ge Arm 0 + 6 – 3 – 2 – .5 – .5 + 2 = 2
Ge ARP 32 – 17 = 15
Res Pts 29 + 9 – 1 = 37

It NRP 4 + 1 = 5
It Inf 14.45 + 4.25 = 18.7
It Arm 5 + 2 = 7
It ARP 23
Res Pts 0 + 2 – 2 = 0

It RE’s eliminated: 23

Allied Turn

With clear weather until October, there is no weather roll. Arriving from the US is the 82nd Abn XX, a mot AA X, an AA III, and 2x Mortar II’s. The British convert the 3rd Mixed XX back into an Inf XX and a Tank X, but most of the conversions the Allies should have made could not be completed due to the units being in enemy ZOC’s. In GB however, the Canadian 5th became a 13-10 Arm XX and the US 29th became a 9-8 Inf XX. The Allies completed 3 airfield upgrades pushing their airbase capacity up to 60 in southern France. The US repair 3 air groups, the British repair 2.

Arriving from GB were the supported components of the 52nd Mtn XX, and arriving from Alger a couple steps later were the 4th Indian XX, a mot AA X, an Inf X, and the 44th Inf HQ.

In southern France almost every Allied unit is involved in an attack. The first attack is against a 10-pt Italian stack in the mountains with the Allies using 3x British XX’s, including the Scottish Lowland Mtn XX, 3x US Inf XX’s, and a Canadian Inf XX. Neither side fly in air support. With odds of 4:1, -2 the Allies roll a ‘5’ for a DR, but because the Allies exert ZOC’s into both hexes it can retreat into the Italian stack with 6 RE’s is eliminated. The Scottish advance into the Maritime Alps.

The second attack is against the newly created HG Pz XX sitting on the east bank of the Rhone. Here the Allies use 2x US Arm XX’s, a British Mixed XX, 2x British Inf XX’s, and the other Canadian Inf XX. The Allies had flown in a CAP of 10 fighters, they now fly in 9 air groups on GS, which the CAP escorts. The German AA of 3 aborts 2 and returns 1. At odds of 8:1, -1 the Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE. The HG XX is reduced to a cadre and an AA II eliminated. The Allies advance 2x British XX’s and an Art [xx] north along the east bank of the Rhone River. During exploitation they are joined by a US Arm XX along with AA and c/m ants to make this a 47-pt stack.

The third attack is against a German 5-6 Inf XX, a 3-10 mot III, and an AA II. Neither side fly in any air support. Here the British use 3x Arm XX’s and 2x Arm X’s. At odds of 6:1, + 2 the British roll a ‘4’ for a DE. The Inf XX is reduced and the other units eliminated. The British advance all 3 Arm XX’s into the hex. During exploitation they overrun the cadre just created and exploit behind the German line to completely surround a German 13-pt c/m stack.

The final Allied attack is against the 7th Pz XX. Here the British use 3x Arm XX’s, 3x Inf XX’s, and the Guards Inf X to bring AECA below 50%. The Allies had flown in 10 fighters on CAP, and now fly in 15 air groups for GS, which the CAP escorts. The German air groups, low on ARP’s, remain on the ground. German AA of 5 aborts 3 and returns 3. At 5:1, -2 odds the British roll a ‘2’ for an EX. The Germans reduce the 7th Pz XX and eliminate an AA III. Because of the large amount of Inf RP’s the British have accumulated they reduce the 56th and 78th Inf XX’s and eliminate their Guards Inf X. During exploitation these British Arm XX’s solidify the Allied defense line facing northwest against the 26th Pz XX and 7th Pz cadre. These attacks have opened up the northern side of the German perimeter, that can only be filled by railing down units from their Channel defense in northern France.

Axis Turn

Completely out of Arm RP’s, the Germans replace only the 5-6 Inf XX just eliminated. The Italians replace all their units just eliminated.

The Italians take over a mountain hex the Germans had been defending, and now defend a line 9 hexes long thru mountain hexes with an average defense strength of 8.1 pts. That line ends in a rough hex on the coast where the Italians had built up a 38-pt stack of mostly artillery units to threaten the major city of Nice. They have deferred attacking it because they can not afford to take any casualties. The Germans defend the east bank of the Rhone with a 9-pt stack in rough terrain and the 10th Pz XX in clear terrain.

On the west side of the Rhone the Germans manage to rail down 3x Inf XX’s from the Channel coast, which with the 7th Pz XX and some c/m ants try to free their trapped stack by attacking the British 7th Arm XX. Staging in from all over France and northern Italy the Germans fly in a CAP of 9 fighter groups. The Allies reply with a CAP of 23 fighter groups. The Germans take every bomber off naval patrol and fly in a GS mission of 20 assorted air groups. The Allies drop 20 fighter groups out of CAP to intercept. Out of their GS mission the Germans have 5 killed, 6 aborted, and 3 returned. Of their fighter groups the Allies have 1 killed and 3 aborted. The Allies then fly in a DAS mission of 14 air groups, which their last 3 CAP fighter groups then escort. The Germans intercept with their CAP who all bypass the escort. The 3 Allied fighters manage to return 2 of the interceptors. Against the DAS the Germans kill 2, abort 1, and return 3, while having 1 of their own killed and 2 aborted. Allied AA of 5 aborts 2 of the GS mission. German AA of 1 accomplishes nothing, but the Allies can only use 4 of their DAS air groups due to the RE limitation. At 3:1, -2 the Germans rolled a ‘4’ for an EX. The British 7th Arm XX is eliminated, because its cadre retreats into a ZOC, along with a mot AA X, and a US c/m ant. The Germans reduce 2x Inf XX’s and eliminate a Para III. The trapped German stack advances into the vacated hex, from where they exploit back into a reformed Axis perimeter that is now 21 hexes long, 11 held by Germans, and 10 by Italians.

Allied Turn

No weather roll is needed, weather is clear in Zones C, B, and E, and the seas are calm. In southern France 1 new permanent airfield is completed, and 2 permanent airfields are upgraded. Allied air capacity in southern France is now at 51.

Arriving from GB are an Art X, 2x US Arm II’s, a US AT II, and a Canadian AA II. Arriving after them from Alger are an Arm X, a mot lt AA X, and 2x 2-1-10 Arm II’s (actually British Recon II’s, but armor per SF’s UIC).

The usual 2 stacks of 2x US Arm XX’s, 2x British Mixed XX’s, and 2x Canadian XX’s along with 7x Art RE’s, 2x Inf RE’s, 2x AA RE’s, and 1x Arm RE line up to attack the 10th Pz XX. The Germans fly in a CAP of 7, the Allies fly in a CAP of 14. In the Combat Phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 14 air groups, which their CAP then escorts. The Germans tried to bypass and had 2 killed and the rest returned. German AA aborts 2 and returns 3 of the GS mission. At odds of 9:1, -3 the Allies roll a ‘1’ for a DR. The 10th Pz XX backs up, and the Allies advance a US Arm XX and a Canadian Inf XX into this wooded rough hex. During exploitation the US Arm XX that advanced moves into the mountain hex to the east engulfing the 1st hex of the Italian line thru the Maritime Alps. The other US Arm XX takes its placed, while a British Arm XX then takes its place. The Allies now have a 41-pt stack in the clear hex on the Rhone’s east bank, a 37-pt stack in the hex just capture, and an Arm XX in the mountains next to it.

Meanwhile a pure British stack with the 1st, 6th, and 7th Arm XX’s, 2 Arm X’s, an AA X, and 3x Art X’s move into the swamp hex on the west side of the Rhone, which had been held by a British Inf XX and a French Inf XX. They plan to attack across the Canal du Rhone. They fly in a CAP of 5 fighters, the Germans fly in their last 2 fighters on CAP. In the Combat Phase the Allies fly in a GS mission of 3 P-40 types, and then stage in 7x B-25’s and B-26’s from GB against the defender’s weak AA. The Allied escort completely miss the 2 German bypassers, who then abort 2x bomber groups. The German AA of 2 aborts 1 and returns 3 of the GS air groups. At odds of 4:1, +2 the Allies roll a ‘4’ for a DE that reduces a small Inf XX and eliminates an Art X and an AA II. During exploitation the British 6th Arm XX and assorted c/m units overrun Montpellier at 8:1, +3 eliminating the Inf Cadre just created and a Pol X. The other 2 British Arm XX exploit into the hexes southwest and east of Montpellier. A breakout from the beachhead is now underway.

US NRP 4 + 1 = 5
US Inf 27.75 + 6 = 33.75
US Arm 25 + 6 = 31
US ARP 19 + 18 = 37
Res Pts 9 + 5 – 2 = 12

Br NRP 3 + 2 = 5
Br Inf 31 + 6 – 1 – 1 = 35
Br Arm 19 + 4 = 23
Can Inf 2 + 1 = 3
Ind Inf 3 + .5 = 3.5
Br ARP 34 + 20 = 54
Res Pts 16 + 5 – 1 = 20

Fr Met 1.25 + 1 = 2.25
Fr Arm 0
Fr Af 5 + 1 = 6
Fr Col 2.5 + .5 = 3
Fr ARP 2 + 1 = 3

Res Pts 4 + 1 = 5

Ge spec. = 2.5

Axis Turn

The Germans use WitD’s General Goring OB option and create a 14-10 Pz XX, their 5th such XX. The Germans also replace an Inf XX, an Art X, a Pol X, and an AA II. The Germans repair 2x Me109G’s, and begin regular construction of 8 forts along the English Channel. The Italians begin quick construction of forts at Livorno and the coast hex northwest of that port.

More German battalions rail into Italy to be ready to disarm Italians. Up in the Maritime Alps the Italians creep one stack one hex east to escape from the Allied units surrounding it on 5 sides.

In southern France the Germans barely manage to build a solid line against the Allies. It starts with a weak 9-pt stack in Sete, the 26th Pz XX in the woods hex northeast of Sete, and then another weak 9-pt stack northeast of that. From there the line goes straight east with the 7th Pz XX, a 13-pt stack of assorted c/m units, a weak 9-pt stack, and then the 6th Pz XX on the west bank of the Rhone. On the east bank is the HG Pz XX, then the 10th Pz XX, and finally a stack of assorted c/m units in a mountain hex that link up to the Italians. Obviously this leaves a lot of targets for the Allies.

Ge Inf 17 + 2.5 spec. + 6 – 1 – 1 – 5 – 3 – 1 – .5 = 14
Ge Arm .5 + 6 – 1 – 5 – .5 = 0
Ge ARP 0 + 12 – 2 = 10
Res Pts 28 + 9 – 8 = 29

It NRP 3 + 1 = 4
It Inf 16.2 + 4.25 = 20.45
It Arm 4 + 2 = 6
It ARP 15 + 8 = 23

Res Pts 0 + 2 – 2 = 0
It RE’s eliminated: 17