Tag: SF42 (Page 1 of 2)

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘1’ for continued winter in zone D, clear in zone E, and calm seas. The permanent airfield at Port de Bouc upgrades to 9 capacity. The US rebuilds its 1st Arm XX to full strength. The British rebuild its Guards Arm XX to full strength. The British repair a fighter group and 3x heavy bomber groups. The withdrawal of the British 9th Arm X in the WitD OB is ignored. This brigade was stationed in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt until early 1944 when it was shipped off to Italy for the rest of the war according to Joslyn. Before the end of the Initial Phase the Allies fly 3x Spit V’s, a French P-40F, and a US P-38G into a CAP over the TF off the coast of Tunisia.

The Axis decline to make any patrol attacks on the British TF. The convoy from GB rendezvous with the convoy from the US just north of Mallorca. After 2 sea boxes in daylight and then 2 sea boxes at night, the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916 at dawn. From 16 hexes away in Lyon the only bomber in southern France declines to attempt contact. The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to attempt contact, and the convoy arrives safely.

In Tunisia the Allies use the British 1st, 8th, and 10th Arm XX’s, 3x French Inf XX’s, a British Arm X, and 2x French Cav X’s to get AECA below 50% and achieve 4:1, -1 odds on the 21st Pz XX. They use the British 7th Arm XX, 5th, 50th, 51st, and 56th British Inf XX’s the 4th Indian Inf XX, the 2nd NZ Inf XX, 2x French Inf XX, 2x British Arm X’s, and 2x French Arm X’s to attack the 90th Mot XX in Tunis at 4:1 odds. Because the Axis have 9 fighter groups in range, the Allies fly in CAP’s of 9 fighter groups over both targets. Then the British add 4 more fighters to the CAP over Tunis. The Germans fly in a CAP of 4 fighters to Tunis, joining the 5 fighters based in that major city. At the start of the Combat Phase the Axis fly in a DAS mission, to which the Axis CAP and their fighters on the ground all escort. The Allies drop all 13 fighters out of CAP to intercept, 9 to engage the screen and 4 to bypass. The Allied engagers had 3 killed and 2 aborted, the Axis screen suffered 1 killed and 1 aborted. Against the mission force the Allies killed 2 and returned the other 2, for 1 aborted Allied fighter. The Allies roll a ‘6’ for a DE, and advance 3 XX’s, including a French XX into Tunis. Against the 21st Pz XX the Allies rolled a ‘1’ for an AS. During exploitation the Allies build a strong wall (average defense strength 17.8) around the remaining Axis units.

In southern France the Allies mass 4x Arm XX’s, 4x Inf XX’s, and 2x Mixed XX’s against the German stack intruding into their defense line, and manage 6:1, -2 odds. The Allies fly in 4x Spit V’s on CAP. The Axis respond with a CAP of 3x Fw190’s and a Me109. The Axis fly in 3 bombers on DAS, for which their CAP become escorts. The Allies intercept with 3x Spit IX’s, 3x P-38’s from nearby Port de Bouc, to which they add their CAP. In the combat against the screen the Allies killed a Fw190 for 3 of their own fighters aborted. Against the mission force the Allies kill 1, abort 1, and return 1. The Allies roll a ‘4’ against the offending stack for a DR, and see their defense line restored. The German stack of c/m units has no problem retreating thru Allied ZOC’s back onto friendly units. During exploitation the Allies build up the 4-hex line between the Rhone River and the Maritime Alps to an average defense strength of 32.8 pts.

Axis Turn

The only Axis reinforcement in Europe is an Italian AA II. The Germans use their last 2 ARPs to replace a Ju87D in North Africa and place it at Bizerte, their last airbase. The Italian begin quick construction of 2 forts along the northwest coast of Italy. Before the end of the Axis Initial Phase the Allies fly 4x Spit V’s and a French P-40F into a CAP over the British TF off the coast of Tunisia.

In North Africa the Axis retreat into a 3-hex perimeter around Bizerte, the average defense strength is 11.3 pts. They transfer out the Ju87D, and even begin emptying the airfield on Pantelleria.

The Italians worry most about an Allied amphibious landing between Savona and Livorno. Sicily logically should be the next target after Tunisia, but the Italian fear the Allies will bypass it and land on Calabria, the toe of Italy. The Italian also worry about a landing at Citavecchia near Roma.

In southern France the Germans can no longer give any thought to attacking, the Allied stacks are just too strong. They have to worry about where the Allies might amphibiously land along the Axis held southern coast of France as well as along the English Channel.

Allied Turn

The weather roll is a ‘5’ for winter in zone D, mud in zone E, and rough seas. The permanent airfield at Toulon upgrades to 6 capacity. The British rebuild their 42nd Arm XX to full strength. The French replace 2 of their little 1-8 mot Inf III’s. In North Africa the Australian 9th Inf XX, a Recon II, and 4 unused RP’s are withdrawn, and 2x Free French X’s are converted to a forming division. The British repair 2 air groups. In GB the Canadian 5th Arm XX is upgraded to a 8-7-10 Arm XX. Before the end of the Initial Phase the Allies fly 3x Spit V’s and 2x D.520 into a CAP over the TF off the coast of Tunisia.

At the start of the Movement Phase the naval patrol stack at Cagliari attempts contact from 11 hexes away, and succeeds. The Axis send 5 bomber groups and a Ju88C as escort. The Seafire aboard the Formidable joins the 5 fighter groups dropping out of CAP. A Ju88A is killed, the Ju88C, a Ju88A, and a He111 are aborted for a Spit V aborted. The TF’s AA misses. The Ju88A misses, but the code-S He111 scores a hit on King George V. The Allies refill the CAP with 4 more fighters. The naval patrol stack at Marsala from 16 hexes away attempts contact, and succeeds. A Ju88A and a He111 are aborted, but a Ju88A avoids AA and scores another hit on the King George V. The British TF, alternating night and day sails back to Gibraltar, where King George V sails back to GB for repairs that will take 4 turns. The British send the modern battleship Duke of York to take its place.

The supported components of the British 1st Inf XX, 3x AA X’s, and an AA III rendezvous just north of Mallorca with a convoy from the US with an AA III, an Eng III, and 4x c/m ants. After 2 sea boxes in daylight and then 2 sea boxes at night, the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916 at dawn. From 16 hexes away in Lyon the only bomber in southern France attempts contact and fails. The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to make an attempt, and the convoy arrives safely.

In Tunisia the 4x British Arm XX’s close to within a hex of Tunis, while their 6x Inf XX’s are strung out along the road around Sfax. The French advance to within 3 hexes of the northern end of the Axis line. During exploitation the British envelope the Axis defense line (average defense strength 9.5) with a stronger line (average defense strength 10.8) that also has full ATEC. The Allies fly in 5 heavies to bomb the port of Tunis. The Axis intercept with 5 fighter groups. The Allies have 3 aborted for a defending fighter killed and another aborted. The Allies score 1 hit reducing port capacity to 5.

In southern France the Allies once again build their strongest possible stacks around the German penetration with stacks of 31 pts on either side (both half ATEC) and stacks of 17 pts (both full ATEC) along the bottom of the penetration.

In GB the Allies load up 4x Art X’s, 2x Eng X’s, and 4x c/m ants and ship them out to the MTO. At the same time the British TF sails from Gibraltar, and reaches the same spot off the coast of Tunisia where it can intercept any evacuation attempts by the Axis.

Axis Turn

The Axis reinforcements in Europe this turn include a small German Inf III and an Italian AA III. The Germans rebuild the 7th Pz XX to full strength. The Italians replace the 31st Arm III at Palermo, making the 131st Arm XX whole again. Although the Italians think about rebuilding some of the units in the North Africa Replacement Pool, especially the many 2-3-6 Art III’s, it is too dangerous to try to ship RP’s past the British blockade. The Germans repair 9 aborted air groups, mostly bombers which they use to restock Cagliari and Marsala. The Germans start quick construction of 3 more forts along the English Channel. Before the end of the Axis Initial Phase the Allies fly in a CAP of 5 fighter groups over the British TF off the coast of Tunisia.

The Axis player decides against any naval patrol attempts, having lost too many air groups. It would cost 16 ARP’s to replace and repair all the German air groups in the various killed and aborted boxes, and they only have 2 ARP’s left. The Axis player look at an attack in Tunisia, but the best they can achieve is a 4:1, -7, where the only possible result is an AR.

In southern France the Germans look at attacking but the best they can do is a 2:1, -2. With an AE and an AH possible, the Germans decline to make an attack. Instead they strengthen the defense at Sete and the 2 minor port along the south coast of France, and start sending minor non-c/m units north fearing they are only 4 turns away from an Allied landing on the north coast of France.

Allied Turn

The weather roll was a ‘2’ for mud in zone D and zone E, and calm sea. The airfield at Port de Bouc upgrades to 6 capacity. In southern France the US replaces 3x c/m ants, and gives the French 1 arm RP. In North Africa the 1st and 2nd SA XX’s are withdrawn. Before the end of the Initial Phase the Allies fly a CAP of 3 fighter groups, all that could reach, over the British TF off Sicily.

The naval patrol stack at Marsala makes contact from 3 hexes away. The 3 fighter groups drop out of CAP to intercept and abort a Ju88 and return a Ju88. AA misses, and the Ju88 misses on its 3 bombing attacks. The Allied player stages in 3x Bftr’s for a new CAP. The naval patrol stack at Cagliari makes contact from 10 hexes away, and flies in 3x Ju88’s and a Ju88C as an escort. The 3x Bftr’s drop out of the CAP, and the Seafire aboard the Formidable joins the interception. The Seafire and Ju88C both miss. A Ju88 is killed, another is aborted, and a third is returned for a Bftr aborted. The Allies stage in a Msqto as a new CAP, but it turns out to be unnecessary as the 1 bomber at Sassari on naval patrol fails to make contact from 17 hexes away. The British TF moves 3 sea boxes at night and is off Bone at dawn. It sails 3 sea boxes in daylight and another 3 sea boxes at night to be west of Alger and within the next naval step of reaching Gibraltar. From there the Nelson, Rodney, and a CA, all damaged with 1 hit, return to GB where their damage will take 2 turns to repair. Along the way they are passed by the BC King George V on its way to take their place.

The supported components of the Canadian 1st and 2nd XX’s, 2x Art X’s, and 2x AA X’s appear just north of Mallorca. After 2 sea boxes in daylight and then 2 sea boxes at night, the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916 at dawn. From 16 hexes away in Lyon the only bomber in southern France attempts contact and fails. The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to make an attempt, and the Canadian arrive safely.

In Libya elements of the British army overrun the last Italian roadblock of garrison units, and the leading units get within 2 hexes of Gabes. While in French North Africa the small French divisions hold their positions along the Algerian border. From Alger the Allies fly a port bombing mission using 5 heavies against Tunis. All 5 Axis fighter groups in Tunis intercept. A bomber is aborted and another returned, but the remaining 3 inflict 2 more port hits on Tunis, reducing its capacity to 6. During exploitation the British overrun the small Italian XX in Sfax and advance to within 3 hexes of Sousse. By the end of the turn, inside Tunisia are 4x British Arm XX’s and 9x c/m RE’s. Lined up just inside Libya are 6x Inf XX’s and 5x assorted RE’s.

In southern France the Allies once again build their strongest possible stacks around the German penetration with stacks of 27 pts and 25 pts on either side and stacks of 17 pts and 16 pts along the bottom of the penetration.

The British again send a TF consisting of the Formidable, the modern battleship King George V, 2x CL’s, and 4x DD’s along the coast of North Africa to a point 5 hexes west of Bizerte to intercept any evacuation of Axis units from North Africa.

In GB the Allies load up the British 1st Inf XX, 3x mot AA X’s, and a US AA III, and send them off to the MTO.

US NRP 1
US Inf 12.75
US Arm 17 – 3 -1 = 13
US ARP 17 – 1 = 16

Br NRP 2
Br Inf 15.5
Br Arm 5.5
Aus Inf 4
Can Inf 1
Ind Inf 1.5
Br ARP 51 – 1 = 50

Fr Met .25
Fr Arm 0 + 1 = 1
Fr Af 2
Fr Col 1
Fr ARP 1

Axis Turn

The Axis player is at a decision point. The effort to evacuate units from North Africa had cost 17 RE’s of losses towards the Italian surrender conditions (8 RE’s of warships, 7 RE’s of NT’s, and 2 RE’s of units). Italian units lost on the ground in North Africa don’t count towards Italy’s surrender. The German 15th and 21st Pz XX’s along with the 90th Mot XX, all still in Tunisia, will get replaced for free by the OB. Holding out in Tunisia also delays how quickly the 4x British Arm XX’s in Tunisia can reinforce southern France.

There are no German nor Italian reinforcements in Europe this turn. The Germans choose not to spend any RP’s, hoarding them to rebuild the 7th Pz XX next turn. The Italians choose to replace the supported Mot III of the 131st Arm XX. The Germans replace 2x bombers and repair 2x bombers. The Germans start quick construction of a fort at Fecamp on the English Channel. The Italian replace a Ju87B in North Africa. Before the end of the Axis Initial Phase the Allies fly 3x Spit V’s and 2x Bftr’s into a CAP over the British TF off the coast of Tunisia.

At the start of the movement phase the powerful naval patrol stack at Cagliari attempts contact from 11 hexes away over calm seas, and fails. In the face of 6 Allied fighter groups defending the TF, the 2x bombers assigned to naval patrol at Marsala decline to make an attempt.

In Tunisia the 133rd Arm cadre reaches Bizerte in position for a possible evacuation, while the 4-hex long Axis defense line holds its position.

In Italy the German para units on Sicily retreat back to the mainland, to be strat railed up to northern France. The Italians continue to strengthen their defenses along the northwest coast of Italy.

In southern France the Germans look at an attack against the 1st Canadian XX and the British 3rd Mixed XX, but can get no better than a 2:1, -4 in the mud, a 50% chance of an AE.

Ge Inf 7
Ge Arm 1
Ge ARP 15 – 6 = 9
Res Pts 12 – 1 = 11

It NRP 1
It Inf 4.45 – 1 = 3.45
It Arm 3 – 1 = 2
It ARP 12 – 2 = 10
Res Pts 1

Allied Turn

The weather roll was a ‘6’ for snow in zone D, mud in zone E, and rough sea in the Mediterranean. The hypothetical Jan – Jun 43 column on the SF Allied Replacement Chart has US: 1 NRP, 6x Inf RP’s, 6x Arm RP’s, 4x Res pts; Br: 2 NRP’s, 6x Inf RP’s, 4x Arm RP’s, 4x Res Pts; Can: 1x Inf RP; Ind: .5x RP. The British replace an AA X from the Mid East Replacement Pool, and rebuild the 6th Arm cadre to full strength in southern France. Also in southern France the US replaces 2 artillery units and the French replace a small Inf XX. A permanent airfield is completed at Toulon, but it is not nearly enough for the Allied air groups flooding into the MTO. Many bombers get parked on the 12-cap airfield at Gibraltar.

The supported components of the British 42nd Arm XX and the 3th Mixed XX, 2x US AA III’s joined by the CCC of the 2nd US Arm XX, 2x Inf III’s, and a c/m ant sailing from the US appear in a vast convoy just north of Mallorca. After 2 sea boxes in daylight and then 2 sea boxes at night, the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916 at dawn. From 12 hexes away the naval patrol stack at Toulouse makes contact and flies in 2x Ju88’s, which are intercepted by 4x P-51’s. A Ju88 is killed and another is aborted for an intercepting P-51 aborted. From 17 hexes away the naval patrol stack at Sassari fails to make contact. The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to make an attempt.

Realizing they will soon be withdrawn, the Aus 9th XX and SA 1st XX turn around at head back towards Egypt along with a couple of Recon II’s. This reduces the British chase group to 4x Arm XX’s and 6x Inf XX’s. The 3x Arm XX’s at the head of the chase are stopped by a roadblock of 3x Italian garrison units at Homs. They attack at 10:1, + 2 and advance into the hex on a DE. The British exploit thru Tripoli, historically occupied on January 23rd, but are blocked by 2x garrison units in the swamp hex southeast of Zaura.

In French North Africa the French move an Inf XX from Tebessa down to put the Italian 133rd Arm cadre in a ZOC, and edge other stacks of French units eastward up to the Tunisia border, and across the border northeast of Le Kef. Staging thru Alger and Constantine the Allies fly 8 bomber groups (6 of them heavies) on a port bombing mission against Tunis during the exploitation phase. The 3 Axis fighters at Tunis intercept and return a bomber at the expense of a fighter being aborted. The bombers score 4 hits on the major port of Tunis.

In southern France the Allies pull back into a straight line reducing the perimeter to just 13 hexes long, including 7 mountain hexes, a major city hex, and a swamp hex. The Allied defense line includes 4x Arm XX’s 2x Mixed XX’s, 4x Inf XX’s, and 6x small French XX’s.

At the start of the exploitation phase a British TF including the battleships Nelson and Rodney, the fleet carrier Formidable, a CA, 2x CL’s, and 4x DD’s depart Gibraltar and reach Alger 9 sea-boxes away in 1 naval step. They stay at Alger for 2 naval steps. They stay in Alger for the first 12 hours of the final naval step of the exploitation phase and then move along the coast of Algeria for 3 sea-boxes in daylight. Realizing what they are doing the Axis player attempts a naval patrol contact in the last hex of the third sea-box from 16 hexes away in Cagliari. The contact attempt fails and the British continue their move for 3 sea-boxes at night, ending 1 hex offshore 5 hexes west of Bizerte. The Axis player transfers a Ju88, a Z.1007, and a Ju88C heavy fighter to Cagliari joining 3x Ju88’s already there. He also transfers a Fw190 and a Me109 from Sicily to Tunis, and 3x Fw190’s and a Me109 from southern France to Trapani. The 4 transport groups at Palermo are transferred to Catania.

In GB the Allies load up 2x Canadian XX’s, 2x large Canadian Art X’s, and 2x AA X’s, and ship them out towards the MTO.

Situation on the West front after the SF 42 1943 JanI Axis turn during the SF42 game

Axis Turn

The hypothetical Jan-Jun 43 column on the SF German Replacement Chart for the SF Total has: .5 NRP, 6x Inf RP’s, 6x Arm RP’s, 12x Res pts. This allocation assumes that the SE Replacement Chart has only 12x Inf RP’s (not 15) for the Jan-Jun 43 period, which is a reasonable reduction if the Allies have landed in France. The SF Italian Replacement Chart is used as is. German reinforcements in Europa are a Rkt III, a Cmdo II, and 2x Pos AA. The Italians receive an AA III. The Germans rebuild the 7th Pz XX in southern France. They replace an Art III from the North Africa Replacement Pool at Tunis. They then spend another 2x Inf RP’s to convert it into 2 artillery units. They also replace a mot Inf III at Tunis. The Italians replace a Para III at Tunis. Before the end of the Axis Initial Phase the Allies stage in 4x Spit V’s, 3x D.520’s, a P-40F, 3x P-38F’s, and a P-38G and fly them as CAP over the British TF off the coast of Tunisia in anticipation of heavy naval patrol attacks.

Those naval patrol attacks start with the stack at Sassari succeeding on its contact attempt from 16 hexes away. The Allies drop 6 fighter groups out of CAP to intercept the 4 bomber groups, doubling up on the 2x code-V’s. The Allies kill a Ju88 and a He111, abort a Ju88, and return a He111. The Allies decline to fly a mission, so the stack at Cagliari attempts contact and succeeds. The Allies drop the final 6 fighter groups out of CAP to intercept these 5 bomber groups and an escorting Ju88C. The P-38G and Ju88C miss each other. The 5 Allied fighter groups kill a Ju88 and return 3x Ju88’s without loss to themselves. The British TF opens AA fire with 3 ships against the surviving Italian Z.1007, and aborts it. This time the Allies stage 2x Bftr’s from Marseille to North Africa and into a CAP over the British TF. The naval patrol stack of 3x Ju88’s at Marsala attempts contact from 16 hexes away and fails.

The Italians spend a resource pt and sortie their fleet at Napoli with the Littorio, Veneto, and Roma, a CA, a CL, and 2x DD’s. It moves 4 sea boxes in daylight to a sea box northwest of Trapani. A code-V Bftr at Valetta attempts naval patrol contact, and fails. The British TF off Tunisia attempts naval reaction contact, and fails. Also moving in this first naval step are a CL, 2x DD’s, and 10x NT’s from Palermo, which sail 2 sea boxes in daylight to rendezvous with the TF from Napoli. Now moving at the much slower speed of the NT’s, the convoy sails 2 sea boxes at night and enters Tunis, where it embarks the supported components of the 131st Arm XX, a mot Art III, and a mot Inf III, during the 2nd naval step. This uses up the damaged port’s capacity of 8. These c/m units spend 2 MP’s for the first naval step and another 2 MP’s for embarking. The convoy sails from Tunis for 2 sea boxes at night, and at dawn enters a sea box 3 hexes off the western tip of Sicily. The British TF attempts contact again, and succeeds.

During the British TF’s reaction move, the Formidable once within range flies off its TBF. The code-V TBF has its bombing strength doubled to 6 and halved for rough seas back down to 3. The code-V torpedo bombers may target specific capital ships. It targets each of the Italian BC’s [modern battleships] and misses twice but scores 1 hit on the Roma. The British TF reacts into a hex adjacent to this large Italian convoy, meaning the first gunnery round will be at long range. Due to rough sea halving their naval combat strength the 2 British and 2 Italian capital ships will fire using the 3 column. The damaged Roma, and the CA’s on each side will fire on the 2 column. The British ships all fire [with a +1 DRM due to superior gunnery radars] at the Roma and score 3 hits. The 2 undamaged Italian battleships fire at the Nelson and Rodney, and score a hit on each. The Roma and the Italian CA miss.

Faster than the older British battleships, the undamaged Italian BC’s, the CA, and a DD disengage and return to Napoli. The closing British TF enters the same hex as the convoy, defended by the damaged Roma [only able to move at the same speed as NT’s], 2x CL’s, and 3x DD’s. The Nelson and Rodney each score a hit on the Roma and sink it. The British CA, 2x CL’s, and 3x DD’s score 3 hits on the NT’s. Randomly selected they hit NT’s transporting the German 4-3-8 mot Art III and 3-10 Mot III and the Italian 2-10* Mot III sending those units to the bottom (South Theater Replacement Pool). An Italian CL scores a hit on the British CA, but the rest of the convoy escort misses. For the final round the Nelson and Rodney fire at an Italian CL and score 2 hits reducing it to a half strength CL [can not be repaired, can be combined with another half strength CL]. The Italian 2x CL’s and 3x DD’s all miss. The British score 4 hits on the NT’s, 3 of them now empty, and 1 transporting the Italian 4-3-8 Arm* III. The Italian escorts rescue 1.75 German special replacements and 1.2 Italian special replacements from the warm Mediterranean and escape back to Palermo.

Of the Axis units remaining in North Africa the little Italian Inf XX makes it to Sfax, the 21st Pz XX gets within 1 hex of Sousse, the 133rd Arm cadre gets to within 3 hexes of Kairouan, the 90th Mot XX gets to within 2 hexes of Tunis, and the 132nd Arm XX and 15th Pz cadre get to Tunis itself. There is no thought of another evacuation convoy this turn with the lightly damaged British TF sitting off the western tip of Sicily. A Ju52 transports the Italian Para III from Tunis to Palermo. During exploitation the Axis fall into a straight defense line 4 hexes long starting in Tunis and ending 1 hex in front of Bizerte. The 133rd Arm cadre and a small mot Art III can only reach Enfidaville.

In Italy there is little movement as the Italians are content with the 6x XX’s and 7x RE’s now on the French side of their border. The Italian are still not willing to risk an attack on Nice with only a 1/6 chance of a DR.

In southern France the 4x Pz XX’s and assorted c/m RE’s mount an attack on the British Guards Arm XX and the newly arrived 42nd Arm XX at 4:1, -4. The 50% chance of an AR is meaningless when all the attackers are c/m. The Allies fly in 2x A-20’s as DAS, but the fearsome German AA aborts 1 and returns 1. On a roll of ‘5’ the Germans get an EX. The 2 British Arm XX’s are reduced to cadres, and 3x US ants are eliminated. The Germans reduce the unlucky 7th Pz XX again, and eliminate an Art III. During exploitation the Germans advance a 25-pt stack into the clear hex they had just won, leaving a 17-pt stack in the hex on the south side of the Durance west of Avignon, a 15-pt stack in Avignon, and a 16-pt stack in the rough terrain east of Avignon.

Allied Turn

On a roll of ‘1’ winter continues in zone D, but clear weather breaks out in zone E, and calm seas prevail across the Mediterranean.   The supported components of the British 4th Mixed XX appear just north of Mallorca.   After 2 sea boxes in daylight and then 2 sea boxes at night, the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916 at dawn.   From 12 hexes away the naval patrol stack at Toulouse fails to make contact.   From 17 hexes away the naval patrol stack at Sassari fails to make contact.   The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to make an attempt, air losses in Italy counting towards Italian surrender conditions.

In Libya 3x Arm XX’s, 8x Inf XX’s, and 18x assorted RE’s continue chasing after the retreating Axis.   On the Jebel el Akhdar the 8th Arm XX, 2x Arm X’s, the Free French X, and the Greek X surround the Italian Mot XX.   The Allies fly in 4 air groups for GS, and at 6:1, +2 odds the Allies roll a ‘2’ for a DE.   The 8th Arm XX gets as far as Agedabia as it tries to catch up with the rest of its army, which drives on thru Sirte, historically occupied December 25th.   The British army is held up by the 21st Pz XX a hex past Buerat, where it was historically held up from December 26th until January 16th.

In French North Africa the French suddenly abandon Tunisia, falling back into a line of divisions from Tebessa to Bone.   They embark another Foreign Legion regiment at Oran (1 naval step) using 2 NT’s, sail around Mallorca to Corsica escorted by a CL and a DD (2 naval steps), disembark the regiment at Ajaccio (1 naval step).   Without missing a beat, they embark a US Inf III and Inf HQ (1 naval step), and sail it to Marseille (1 naval step), but can not disembark them until the Exploitation Phase.

In southern France the Allies scramble to form a coherent defense line around the 25-pt German bulge in the hex next to Avignon.   They keep the small French division in the swamp hex on the west side of the Rhone River.   They keep the British 78th Division in Arles.   They keep the Guards Arm XX across the river from Nimes.   They keep the US 1st Arm XX and 2 artillery units in Avignon.   They move up the 4th Mixed XX and an AA X into the rough terrain on one side of the bottom of the bulge, and CCA and CCB of the 2nd Arm XX, and an artillery unit into the wooded rough terrain on the other side of the bottom of the bulge.   The second line consists of the 6th Arm cadre behind the Durance River, a 7-pt stack, and the US 4-8* Inf III.   Taking advantage of a small gap in the German air defense, the British transfer 2x Spit IX’s into the permanent airfield completed in Port de Bouc.   WW changed the transfer range to 4x the printed range, no doubt due to the trick players were using of flying an extended range CAP and then an extended return to get to an airbase 4x the printed range away.

In GB the Allies load up WitD’s western Med allotment of 10 NT’s with the supported components of the 42nd Arm XX and the 3rd Mixed XX, and 2x US AA III’s and send them on their way to the Mediterranean.

Axis Turn

Of the German reinforcements for North Africa this turn the 334th Inf XX is already in action in southern France.   The Italians place their reinforcements in northern Italy.   The Germans replace the 2x PzG X’s that were eliminated the turn before.   The Tripolitanean garrison activates because Allied units are within 12 hexes.

The Axis retreat from Libya into Tunisia, leaving behind 2 stacks of garrison units as roadblocks.   The Italian 131st Arm XX leading the advance reaches Sousse.   It is followed by the 132nd Arm XX, the 15th Pz cadre, the 133rd Arm cadre, and the 90th Mot XX.   During exploitation the Italian 131st Arm XX occupies Tunis.   The Italian 132nd Arm XX exploits into Kasserine to threaten the southern end of the French defense line at Tebessa.   The Italian 133rd Arm cadre exploits into mountain terrain 2 hexes south of Tebessa for the same purpose.   The 15th Pz cadre exploits 2 hexes northwest of Sousse, while the 90th Mot XX can only exploit 2 hexes past Gabes.   The 21st Pz XX exploits to Zaura, still inside Libya by 2 hexes.

The Italians move a CL and 2x DD’s along with all 18 of its NT’s to Palermo for the possible evacuation of Axis units from North Africa.

In northern Italy the Italians again look at attacking Nice, but the fear of casualties causes the attack to be canceled.   The Italian continue to move units thru the northern Maritime Alps, down thru Grenoble, and closing up to the Allied line.

In southern France the Germans mass 4x Pz XX’s and 8x c/m RE’s for an attack on the US 1st Arm XX in Avignon.   With odds of 5:1, -4  the Germans roll a ‘4’ for an EX.   The US reduce their only Arm XX to a cadre, eliminate 2 artillery units, and a French c/m ant.   The Germans reduce their 7th Pz XX to a cadre.   The US retreats its Arm cadre southwest across the Durance River.   The Germans exploit the 6th Pz XX, an SS PzG X, and 2x AA III’s into Avignon.   They exploit the 10th Pz XX into the hex adjacent to Avignon, where it joins the 26th Pz XX and 3x AA III’s.   The 7th Pz cadre and a PzG X exploit northeast to fill in a gap in the Axis line, connecting up with the Italians.

Dec 1942 II VP Check:

The Allies do not get any VP’s for the major and medium cities they they hold in southern France since these were never Axis owned.   They lose 3 VP’s for excessive US losses, and 8.5 VP’s for excessive French losses, the cost of using them as sacrificial roadblocks.   The Allies have no air nor naval losses.

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘5’ meant continued winter in Zone D, mud again in Zone E, and rough sea across the Mediterranean.   The British replaced a Well1C and the 32nd Tank Brigade.   The Allies start an airfield at Toulon using 2x US Eng III that had arrived from the US the previous turn.

The Allied reinforcements from GB, joined by the CCA of the 2nd Arm XX, a mot Art X, and an Inf II coming from the US, start north of Mallorca and sail thru 2 sea boxes in daylight.   At twilight they are 2 hexes north of Menorca, 19 hexes away from Toulouse and 21 hexes away from Sassari.   The convoys sail 2 sea boxes at night, to arrive at dawn in hex 17A:4916, 12 hexes from Toulouse and 16 hexes away from Sassari.   Both German naval patrol stacks fail to make contact.   The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova declines to attempt contact knowing it would be within intercept range of no less than 12 Allied fighter groups.

In Libya the British send the 8th Arm XX and 2 Arm X’s to chase after the Italian Mot XX currently in Barce.   In the process they take possesion of Bengasi (historically recaptured November 20th).   They send 3 Arm XX’s and 7 Inf XX’s across the desert towards El Agheila.   During exploitation the British close up to the 21st Pz XX sitting in a fort at El Agheila with 2 Arm XX’s, 7 c/m X’s, and 5 c/m ants, while the 10th Arm XX closes up to the German 90th Mot XX behind the salt marsh.   Historically the British were held at this position from November 23rd until December 13th.

In French North Africa the French defend the ports of Tunis, Bizerte, Bone, Philippeville, Bougie, and Alger each with a division and a fighter group against possible enemy parachute drops.

Using 2 NT’s escorted by a French CL and a DD flotilla the French embark 2x 2-6* Foreign Legion regiments (using 1 naval step) at Oran.   The French use the same route around Mallorca, then night for 2 sea boxes, then skirting past Marseille and Toulon within range of the Allied fighters for 2 sea boxes in daylight, and then at night for 2 sea boxes to reach Ajaccio (travelling a total of 12 sea boxes using 2 naval steps), where they disembark the regiments (using 1 naval step), each with 2x MP’s left.   From Ajaccio the 2 Foreign Legion regiments rail to Bastia, while the 2 US units in Bastia admin back to Ajaccio.

In southern France the Allied defense line starts with a small French division in a swamp hex on the west side of the Rhone.   Then the British 78th Inf XX along with 2x AT II’s defend the town of Arles.   The components of the Guards Arm XX are disembarked at Port de Bouc and with a US artillery unit move up to the Rhone River opposite Nimes, where the division assembles.   The last component of the US 1st Arm XX also disembarks at Port de Bouc and assembles with the rest of that division in the minor city of Avignon along with 2 c/m ants.   The British 6th Arm XX moves into the rough hex next to Avignon.   Next to it the US 1st Inf XX defends a mountain hex.   Next in the front line are CCA and CCB of the 2nd Arm XX and a mot Art X in a mountain hex they accessed by transportation line.   Finally the US 9th Inf XX defends the town of Gap.   Small French Mtn XX’s defend passes thru the Maritime Alps.   The US 3rd Inf XX defends the fortress northeast of Nice, while a mostly French 12-pt stack defends Nice itself.   The Allied second line consists of 2x 5-pt stacks and a US 4-8* Inf III.   A US 4-pt stack defends Cannes just west of Nice.

In GB during the turn the supported components of the British 4th Mixed XX are embarked and transported towards the Mediterranean.

Axis Turn:

The German reinforcements this turn for North Africa, 2x Inf III’s, 2x mot AA III’s, and a Tiger battalion, are placed just inside the border of Germany a few hexes north of Strasbourg. The Italians place a Mixed X at Torino. The Italians also rebuild their 2nd Mot XX.

The Italian Mot XX at Barce, now U-1, can only move 1 hex in the mud of the Jebel el Akhdar. The rest of the Axis army continues retreating towards Tripoli, except the Italian 131st Arm XX which enters Tunisia. During exploitation the Axis army continues its run away. The trailing 21st Pz XX now 19 hexes away from its nearest pursuer. The Italian 131st Arm XX captures a deserted Mareth line and advances as far north as Gabes.

In Italy the Italians keep moving units out of Sicily, preferring the Allies land there than elsewhere in Italy. In northern Italy the Italians look at an attack on Nice but can get no better than 1:1 odds. The Axis player continues to move Italian units thru the northern Maritime Alps to defend in the mountain hexes along the Allied eastern flank.

The German units concentrate for an attack against the British 6th Arm XX and 3x French 1-8 mot Inf III. They use the 6th, 7th, and 26th Pz XX’s and 8 REs of assorted c/m units, including 4x AA III’s, which give each attacking stack 10 pts of AA. The odds are 6:1, -5 (+1 AECA, -1 winter, -1 rough terrain, -4 ATEC) which gives a 5/6 chance of a DR and a 1/6 chance of an EX. The Axis player rolls a ‘5’ for an EX. The Allies reduce the British 6th Arm XX to a cadre and eliminate the 3x French III’s. The Axis player eliminate 2x PzG X’s and an Aslt Gun II. The Axis advance all 3 Pz XX’s and 3 RE’s of c/m units into the hex. The Axis player could overrun the lone US 4-8* Inf III in a wooded-rough hex at 12:1 odds for 7 MPs (1 for overrun, 6 for hex), but decides not to because the denuded hexes the advancing stack left from could easily get overrun by Allied armor the next turn and leave the 3x Pz XX’s surrounded. Reluctantly the Axis exploit a Pz XX back into each hex it attacked from, leaving just a 25-pt stack in the hex it had captured.

Allied Turn

The weather roll of ‘6’ results in winter weather in Zone D, mud in Zone E, and rough sea across the Mediterranean. The US Eng III and Cons III begins quick construction of an airfield in Port de Bouc. In clear terrain but poor weather this previously took 1 turn. However, WW doubled the time to construct airfields, except in Zone F, and forts. Having seen the Axis player pair up 40 to 50 construction units and quick construct 20 to 25 forts along the eastern front and then retreat back 2 hexes to do the same thing the next turn, I agree with this basic rule change.

All the US ships are withdrawn. Historically the only US fighting ships left in the Mediterranean was a PT flotilla, too small to show up at Europa’s scale. Although the Allies withdraw the British capital ships and landing ships back to GB, they leave 2x CVE’s, 2x CL’s, and 2x DD’s as convoy escorts. The previous turn the Allied player replaced the 2 US units historically sent from GB with the CCA of the 1st Arm XX. He also changed the British units sailing from GB to the supported components of the British 6th Arm XX, the 33rd Guards Inf X, 2x AT II’s, and 2 resource pts. Joining this well protected convoy as it starts this turn at sea just south of Barcelona are an AA III and 2x Eng III’s from the US.

The convoy elects to start its first step moving 2 sea boxes at night. As dawn breaks the convoy finds itself in hex 17A:4916. The Axis naval patrol stack of 2x Ju88’s and 2x code-V He111’s at Sassari attempts a 1/6 chance of contact, and succeeds. The Allies intercept with 3x P-51’s from Toulon and a P-51 from Marseille. These kill a He111, abort a He111, and return a Ju88. In poor weather with its bombing strength rounded down to 1 bombing attack, the surviving Ju88 misses. The Axis naval patrol stack at Toulouse fails its contact attempt. The Italian naval patrol stack at Genova waits for the convoy to get closer and succeeds at contact. However, as it flies past Nice no less than 6 US fighters jump these 3 bombers with patrol attacks. They abort a Z.1007 and return 2x SM.79’s. There were still 5 long range fighter groups at Marseille and 2 fighter groups aboard the escorting CVE’s waiting to intercept if these Italian bombers had reached their target.

In the western desert the British army of 4x Arm XX’s, 7x Inf XX’s, and and 24 RE’s of non-divisional units take up the chase against the retreating Axis. The leading elements get to within 1 hex of Tobruk (historically recaptured Nov 12th). During exploitation 2x British Arm XX’s push thru Tobruk and surround the hapless Italian Mot XX at Gazala. The British send 2 armor stacks, each sporting an Arm XX, racing across the desert towards Agedabia. The Allies launch a bombing mission with 2x Liberators, 1x Halifax, 3x Wellingtons, and a Blenheim against Bengasi’s port. The Axis intercept with 4 fighters which shoot down a Wellington. The mission achieves 3 hits reducing this artificial port’s capacity to 6.

The Allies fill up the string of 7 airfields starting south of Tobruk and extending eastward along the coast of Egypt that the retreating Axis had no time to destroy. Into the El Adem airfield just south of Tobruk they transfer a code-V Bftr and a Sunderland of the anti-shipping forces, and a US B-25. To Malta they send another code-V Bftr.

In a surprise move the Allies in southern France abandon Sete and retreat to the east side of the Rhone River. They now have 1x British Arm XX, 4x US Inf XX’s, 1x British Inf XX, 2x small French Mtn XX’s 4x small French Inf XX’s, and 14x non-divisional RE’s in a shrunken perimeter. Surrounded by 3x Pz XX’s is a small French division in Lyon. The Allies make no attacks, and exploit 3x French 1-8 Mot III’s back into the defense line.

In GB the Americans load up CCC of the US 1st Arm XX, a lt AA X, 3x Art III’s, and a 4-8* Inf III substituted for the useless RR Eng X to arrive off the south France the next turn. Seeing the 4x Pz XX’s racing south to attack the Allied beachhead, the British load up the supported components of the Guards Arm XX to go to south France instead of the weak units historically sent.

Axis Turn

Of the German Nov II reinforcements for North Africa the 10th Pz XX is already in action and the Mot III and Pz II are placed just inside the German border a few hexes north of Strasbourg.   The Para III is placed at Palermo where the Axis player is still figuring out where his airborne units would be most useful.   The Italians place the 4-6 Superga Inf XX at Torino, and an Aslt Eng II at Savona.   The Germans replace a He111 and repair a He111 at Sassari, and repair a Fw190 at Dijon.   The Italian repair a Z.1007 at Genova, and replace a code-V SM.84 and repair a Z.1007 in North Africa that will transfer to Genova.

The Italians sail 7x NTs, escorted by a CA, a CL, and 3x DD from Taranto for Bengasi.   The code-V Bftr on Malta fails its contact roll.   Although the convoy enters daylight 1 hex away from Bengasi, the naval patrol stack at El Adem does not attempt contact because of 2x Me109G’s and a MC.202 that can intercept.   The convoys embarks 2 small Italian Inf XX’s and returns safely to Italy.   A single NT escorted by a DD flotilla sails to La Maddalena and embarks a Para-Inf HG, which it safely returns to Italy.

The Italian 102nd Mot XX squeezes out between the sea and the British 7th Arm XX to reach within 1 hex of Derna.   The Italian 136th Inf XX admins out of Bengasi and gets 6 hex past El Agheila.   The 21st Pz XX parks itself at El Agheila to stop any Allied pursuit, with the 90th Mot XX on the other side of the salt marsh to stop the Allies from going around El Agheila.   The rest of the Axis army, including 2x Italian Arm XX’s, an Italian Arm cadre, a Pz cadre, and an Italian Mot cadre admin back towards Tripoli.   The Axis fighters at Bengasi all transfer to the Tripoli area.   During exploitation the 102nd Mot XX gets to Barce, just 4 hexes away from Bengasi.

The Italians strengthen the defenses around the western end of Sicily.   On Sardinia they strengthen the defenses of the northern ports of that island.   On the mainland the Italians strengthen the ports along Italy’s west coast from Salerno to Genova.   In the north the Italian push units thru the northern Maritime Alps, reaching Grenoble.

In southern France the Axis mass 3x Pz XX’s against the single small French XX in Lyon, that is successfully blocking them from moving farther south.   The 10th Pz XX captures Sete, as a 6-6 Inf XX, the strongest infantry division in France, and a 5-8 Inf XX follow.   The Germans roll a ‘5’ to capture Lyon.   During exploitation they close up to the Allied line on the east side of the Rhone.   On the west side of the river the 10th Pz XX occupies Nimes.

Allied Turn

With a weather roll of ‘4’ clouds roll in and mud prevails in Zone D, while Zone E remains clear. The Mediterranean Sea remains calm. Realizing the Allies have arrived as liberators, Vichy France rolls to join the Allies. The alternative of trying to remain neutral and have German Pz XX’s overrun them was unappealing. French North Africa then joins the Allied side.

In Egypt the British rebuild both the 50th and 51st XX’s, replace the 23rd Arm X, and replace an A-30. Arriving at Suez with no movement left are the 56th Inf HQ, 2x Inf X’s, a MG X, and a Par II from GB, and 3x AA II’s from the Near East. The British use the British 5th, 50th, 51st XX’s, the Australian 9th XX, the NZ 2nd XX, and the SA 1st XX to attack the small Italian 17th Inf XX. They use the 7th and 10th Armor Divisions, the 4th and 23rd Armor Brigades, a mot AA X, and a Recon II to attack the German 164th Inf XX. Finally they use the 1st and 8th Armor Divisions, the 24th Armor Brigade, and 4x Recon II’s to attack the Italian 185th Para-Inf XX. The first 2 attacks result in DE’s, the third attack results in a DR, but now isolated the Italian Para-Inf XX is eliminated. The British use 2 Arm XX’s, an Arm X, and 2x Recon II’s to overrun the German 164th Cadre at 8:1 odds. The remaining 2 Arm XX’s exploit past Matruh and adjacent to the Italian 102nd Mot XX.

The Allies move its reserve force towards Corsica. The Italian naval patrol stack at Cagliari attempts to intercept at its maximum range of 20, and fails. The reserve force moving the last 2 sea boxes at night arrives and enters the now friendly port of Ajaccio. It disembarks a US 3-8 Inf III and the 34th Inf HQ. They both advance to Bastia, while the French Mtn II in Bastia retreats to Ajaccio.

Disembarking at Port de Bouc are 2x US Arm III’s, 2x US Arm HQ’s, 2x Inf HQ’s, and 2 c/m ants. Disembarking at Sete are a British Inf HQ, a British AA brigade, a US Inf HQ, a US AA regiment, and 2 resource pts. The Allied player moves 3x US Inf III’s and an Inf HQ to Nice, 3x US Inf III’s into the French fortress just north of Nice, the entire US 1st Inf XX and 2x Arm III’s up the Rhone river to Valence, and the entire British 78th Inf XX northwest to Carcassonne. French units drift south towards the widely separated Allied line, except 1 division holes up in the intermittent lake hex north of Lyon while a French division and cavalry brigade stay in Lyon itself. The Allies make no attacks in France, and very little exploitation.

The Allied player transfers 4x British Spit V’s from Gibraltar, thru French North Africa airfields up to Lyon, joining 2x French D.520’s. He transfers 4x US Spit V’s from Gibraltar to Nice and 2x US P-40F’s to Corsica. He then tries transferring 3x US P-38’s from GB to southern France. The Germans patrol attack with 2x Fw190’s west of Rouen, and return a P-38. The other 2 arrive at Nice. He then transfer 3x British P-51’s along the same route to Toulon. The Allies make an airfield attack on the 2 German fighter groups at Abbeville using 2x Spit IX’s, and in the ensuing air combat abort a Fw190. The way now clear, the Allied player attempts 3 rail breaking missions using combinations of long range fighters and bombers on the rail lines running south out of Paris, but they all miss. The Allied player transfers 2x Bftr’s, 2x Msqto’s, and a Canadian P-51 from GB to Marseille. Finally the Allied player transfers a Bftr from Egypt thru Malta to Marseille.

Situation on the ETO in the SF42 game. Allied positions after the Allied Nov I 42 regular turn

Axis Turn

The Axis player does not attempt to sail any German nor Italian RP’s to North Africa, hoarding them for the West instead. The Italians receiving their full allotment of 4.25 Inf RP’s and 2 Arm RP’s per SF. The Germans spend 3 ARP’s to replace a Ju88 and repair a Ju88 in North Africa.

The Italians do sail a heavily escorted convoy of 4 NT’s to Tobruk (using 3 Naval Steps), embark the Italian 80th Air Lndg XX and an Aslt Eng II (using 1 Naval Step), and get almost back to Italy (using 2 Naval Steps) before the end of the Movement Phase. British anti-shipping groups, based in the delta, are too far away to attempt contact. The Italians spend 1 of their 2 resource pts to shift their 3 modern battleships, a CA, and a CL from Taranto to Napoli as obviously any Allied naval threat will come from the west. The Axis player looks at Corsica but does not have the amphibious assets to make an opposed landing. Instead using 3x NT escorted by a single DD flotilla, he transports the 20th Inf XX to La Maddalena on Sardinia to strengthen that island’s defenses.

In North Africa the Italian 102nd Mot XX, leaving a ZOC, just manages to cross the Libyan border with its movement. All other Axis c/m units race toward El Agheila using admin movement, while 3 small Italian divisions reach Bengazi, hopeful of evacuation. With exploitation the 102nd Mot XX reaches Gazala, 13 hexes behind nearest retreating Axis stack.

In northern Italy the Axis player fills up the hex adjacent to Nice, but can only achieve 1:1, -2 odds against this partial major city hex. He looks at an attack from 2 hexes against the French fortress northeast of Nice, but gets even worse odds. He pushes a 3-8 Inf XX and a 4-8 Alp XX towards Gap, but the way is blocked by a French 3-8* Mtn XX. Success only comes in the northwest corner of Italy where the Italian advance unopposed into Savoy, a province they historically claimed.

The Axis player transfers the 2x Ju88’s from North Africa and 2x He111H6’s from Sicily to the 3-cap permanent airfield on the minor city of Sassari in the northwest corner of Sardinia, and transfers the Italian naval patrol stack at Cagliari to Genova. In their place the Axis player moves 2x Ju88’s from Sicily to Cagliari and 2x Ju88 just arriving to Trapani. The Axis player bases arriving German airborne units and transports at Palermo.

In France the 3x Pz XX’s in Paris rail south, but are blocked by the small French division in the intermittent lake hex north of Lyon. The 10th Pz XX railing down from Nantes and non-c/m forces starting from the Bordeaux area are blocked by a French 1-8 Cav X parked in a loop created by the Garonne and Lot Rivers 4 hexes southeast of Bordeaux. A single Pz III admins from Paris down toward Clermont. The Axis player shuffles Res XX’s down the west coast of France to replace the divisions advancing towards Toulouse, but can not weaken the English Channel coastal defenses too much, knowing the Allied invasion threat will only increase.

The Axis eliminate both the Cav X northwest of Toulouse and the small French Inf XX in the intermittent lake hex, and exploit the 10th Pz XX to Toulouse and the 6th, 7th, and 26th Pz XX’s down around Lyon. The Pz III occupies Clermont, into which 3x Fw190’s are transferred. The Axis player also transfers 2x Ju88, including a code-S, and a Fw190 from northern France to Toulouse.

Axis Set Up

In the West the Axis player has to set up all his c/m units on or north of the 17xx hexrow. All non-c/m units must be in coastal hexes, with only 6 divisions and 6 non-divisional REs in coastal hexes south of the 17xx hexrow. The Axis player places the 10th Pz XX in Nantes, and the 6th, 7th, and 26th Pz XX’s in downtown Paris. Also in this hex are 2 PzG brigades and a motorized AA regiment. The Axis player sets up a 5-8 Inf XX, a 6-6 Inf XX, a 4-7 Res Mtn XX, and 3x 4-5 Res XX’s south of hexrow 17xx, along with 2 Bic X’s, a Mxd X, an Art X, and 2 Pol X’s, all with a movement rating of 8.

In northern Italy the Axis player is allowed to set up only 3 divisions and 3 non-divisional REs in the border provinces of Piemonte and Liguria. He places 2 Alp XX’s and a 3-8 Inf XX in Piemonte and his only Mot XX, a 4-6 Inf XX, and a 3-8 Inf XX in Liguria. Sardinia and Sicily are set up almost identically to a normal SF Jul I 43 set-up except for 3 artillery regiments still fighting in North Africa. The Axis player has the San Marino marine regiment and 2 Para-Inf regiments in Livorno, and the 20th Inf XX in Citavecchia. The 20th XX was historically used to occupy Corsica.

Allied Nov I 42 Surprise Turn

Like other surprise turns in Europa, clear weather and calm seas are mandated. The Allied sneaked into the Golfe du Lion along the coast of Spain, just beyond the range of the 3 Italian naval patrol groups based at Cagliari on Sardinia. The US Massachusetts opens fire at long range on the level-2 CD at Port de Bouc and scores a hit. The CD fires back and misses. The 4 British capital ships open fire at long range on the level-2 CD at Sete, and only with their last shot score a hit. The CD fires back and gets a hit on Duke of York. The Allied capital ships with their escorting cruisers and destroyer flotillas advance into the same hex as these 2 major ports, and continue shooting until they reduce these CD’s. With their last shot neither CD’s hit anything. The landing ships moved in, and although the SoS naval rules allow c/m and units with HE to be amphibiously landed, these late 1942 landings ships could only land non-c/m units without HE. The US lands 4 infantry regiments, a combat engineer regiment, and a construction regiment at Port de Bouc, and 5 infantry regiments and a marine commando battalion adjacent to Sete. The British land the 3 infantry brigades of the 78th XX and 2 marine commando battalions at Sete itself. A reserve force including a regiment of the 34th Inf XX and the 34th HQ remained at sea hoping to land on Corsica.