1st Sgt Tnic
Posts: 59
Joined: 2/28/2012
From: Oh, you know, everywhere.
Status: offline
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I've been debating with myself (I always win that way) about making an AAR for this and I won out, again.
Italy 43 is IMO a great beginner's scenario. It's large enough to give you several options in maneuvering and still small enough in scale to not overwhelm a new comer to war gaming.
This was my first scenario to complete. After several false starts I hit it again from the beginning armed with some basic knowledge about rail, sea and air lift and Supply Points.
By turn 40 I was in complete control of Rome and by T 55 or 60 not a single nazi could even see the smoke from the home fires in the burbs. At T75 I had a double defensive ring with armor forward around all of Rome and the nearby Anchorages just waiting for someone to have a go at me. I also had some "rover" (quick action) divisions inside the ring to quickly throttle any potential breach.
TBH, I simply paid attention to my supply points (and theirs) and took full advantage of the 5000 Sea lift capacity between T32 & 38 to move the bulk of my armor and some infantry into position to strike at the Nazi Roman occupiers.
I also sent forth my Engineers, Airborne & Spec. Forces troops to garrison key bridges, intersections & anchorages and most importantly, their Supply Depots. So they had no place to go and nothing to wear if they did. I derived a truly morbid delight in watching them go from green to yellow to orange and then red simply because I cut off their supply access. And every time they attacked me I would ROFL as the "Unit Evaporated" battle results displayed.
Additionally, I put decoys in places to draw them away from key SPs in advance of an advance and it worked every time. Anzio (a Supply Point/Anchorage near Rome) fell into my hands without firing a shot.
I decided, why go through them, when you can go around them? So I didn't have as many epic losses in battles while they suffered heavily when attacking my defenses and rear guards during the march north.
I am extremely impressed with the Garrison troops. Once dug in the AB, SSF & Engs. are nearly untouchable unless by a very heavy and determined armor/arty assault. Not one of them were pushed out of their positions after entrenching. I had to reentrench the Engs a few times but no losses and they stayed supplied. Then I blew the bridges on withdrawal.
I ensured the enemy had to take the most difficult paths to reach Rome and they of course had little in the way of sustenance the entire journey. So by the time the Nazis arrived at the Roman AO from the south they were exhausted and starving and in no hurry to engage my well fed and fully supplied forces.
In the end I got a draw out of it. Even though there was zero chance for the Nazis to recapture Rome, the main objective in this one.
It'd be nice if the game designer could award a win for achieving the primary goal of liberating Rome instead of only scoring all those dinky little flags, which have to be left behind to achieve the main goal.
If you're a noob like me I highly recomend reading the articles here. https://sites.google.com/site/toawredux/Home/toaw-articles They proved to be the difference for me as well as all the invaluable advise given by our panel of veterans.
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