RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (Full Version)

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warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/19/2018 8:34:27 PM)

Turn 17
26th July 1943

I've decided the British have had enough recovery time and send them forward once again. The Canadians are ordered to take up position on the left flank to provide a link between the American and British armies. I make some progress at last, pushing back the German pioneer and the motorised infantry sent to assist. BUT then I fail a damn proficiency test before I have a chance to reinforce the hex....

[image]local://upfiles/28156/AC2F464194144B9F88479177B047251A.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/20/2018 5:58:48 PM)

Turn 18 - Axis Turn
26th July 1943

The Axis appear to be pulling back - although its not a wholesale retreat. There are no attacks from them this turn.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/20/2018 6:06:07 PM)

Turn 18
27th July 1943

The British advance once again with Catania as their objective, while the US forces continue to make gains in the centre - the 15th Panzergrenadier Regiment fails to its hold ground when coming to the aid of an Italian infantry brigade.


Round 3
[image]local://upfiles/28156/5A08E3DF918C4553B6F09EF186CFC561.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/20/2018 6:22:50 PM)

Turn 18
27th July 1943


Turn 6 (picture pre-attack)
Three attacks are planned plus a few bombardments - 1 by US forces, 1 Canadian and 1 British. The attacks meet with mixed results - but the British at least manage to make further headway in the east of the island. Sadly the turn then ends...
[image]local://upfiles/28156/6ACE8456A79945BC9FC39A469C741ECD.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/20/2018 7:57:28 PM)

Turn 19 - Axis Turn
28th July 1943

Again there are no attacks by the Axis - but more units pull out - seemingly without being engaged.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/EBF2D59921CD4A3DB87B95D833887EF9.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/20/2018 8:18:32 PM)

Turn 19
28th July 1943

The Allies continue to make progress - albeit at cost and its quite slow. Still, given the lack of any sort of progress initially, I'll take it! [:)]

I can't believe how useless the engineers are though. I've had about 1 repair in the the 8 attempts....

[image]local://upfiles/28156/31C83B55E0094EB0B3BDDAB08E1D4C82.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/21/2018 7:19:20 PM)

Turn 20 - Axis Turn
29th July 1943

No attack from the Axis but more pulling back. I see that the Axis now get sea transport capacity.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/21/2018 7:50:31 PM)

Turn 20
29th July 1943

The engineers are officially useless. Maybe I should have trained them to be engineers and, who knows, then they might fix stiff cos that'd be real swell [8|]....

....anyways, progress is made, and I will switch the bulk of my forces to a Traoina-Randazzo-Messina Axis.

I have managed to move most of my air assets to the island but they are all a bit of a mess. I need to go through these and see what I have got.


[image]local://upfiles/28156/935387A86C0C4E12876D1FE9633899B6.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/22/2018 5:27:03 AM)

Turn 21 - Axis Turn
30th July 1941

The British are on the receiving end of some nasty bombardments once again. But that's fine........ so long as the US can breakthrough in the centre.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/1E37E2489DD14FDAABCB923BFD4CA3FA.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/22/2018 5:43:12 AM)

Turn 21
30th July 1941

As to be expected the US forces run into some heavy units and so the British try and force the issue. 'Mamma mia of all battles' radio reports a major British offensive on the coast road southwest of Mt Etna.

In heavy fighting that cost the British dearly (more than a quarter of rifle squads destroyed and almost half lost) plus numerous tanks, and heavy weapons, they manage to push the Axis force back. Can they make it count?

Sadly not.... The losses incurred in trying to force the issue are devastating (those are big % of very big forces) and I not only expect no further progress, but the Germans should be able to counter-attack - the lone armoured brigade is certainly toast. Ho hum, rather than be enamoured with artillery, at least I tried [:)]


Forget Prokharovka...
Mt Etna - The Death Ride of the 8th Army
[image]local://upfiles/28156/6D5CD10A030149ACB51B9F693A90D3E4.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 4:11:19 AM)

Turn 22 - Axis Turn
31st July 1943

My my what a long Axis turn. The Axis have sea lift capability and they are using it. There was a couple of interceptions by my aircraft but according to the reports there was no damage to anyone by anyone.

The Axis limited themselves to bombardments and caused the Canadians and a British Division and armoured brigade into reorganisation.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 4:38:35 AM)

Turn 22
31st July 1943

The Allies seem to have lots of fighters but very few bombers....

Anyway I place a number of squadrons onto sea interdiction but there is little I can do otherwise. The Axis have a solid defensive line in the middle and the CW forces are reorganising in the east. I try and force the issue on the west coast but simply run into a brick wall and take huge losses just as I did on the other side of the island with the British.



Zorch -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 10:10:00 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 22 - Axis Turn
31st July 1943
The Axis limited themselves to bombardments and caused the Canadians and a British Division and armoured brigade into reorganisation.

Ready to start slapping soldiers yet? Now you know how Patton felt.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 10:30:14 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 22 - Axis Turn
31st July 1943
The Axis limited themselves to bombardments and caused the Canadians and a British Division and armoured brigade into reorganisation.

Ready to start slapping soldiers yet?
warspite1

No. They are doing their best - the Allies appear to have no bombers...



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 10:35:06 AM)

Turn 23 - Axis and Allied Turn
1st August 1943

Most of my air force is low on supply, most of my ground troops are low on supply and the Axis are bombarding those troops to hell. Not really sure what the answer is. My engineers fix one rail every 6 or so attempts.

With so many rail and bridges blown, at this rate they won't have finished repairing supply lines on the island until 1954.

Interception of Axis units is largely pointless - just another way to lose more aircraft for very little.

Not much I can do other than keep buggering on and hope.....



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 12:37:11 PM)

Turn 24 - Axis and Allied Turn
2nd August 1943

The Allies make further small gains - both on the west coast and south of San Fratello - before running out of steam.

That was a better turn for the engineers too - but I've got them in the wrong places and so some of what they've done has been wasted.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/F1509DB67CD14E8588D562B6D1969DEC.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 3:33:51 PM)

Turn 25 - Axis and Allied Turn
3rd August 1943

With one round to go the British have split the defenders into three pockets on the east coast road. Further gains have been made in the centre and west although the advance has largely run out of steam.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/DE640704885B4C64976ECF927D278C98.jpg[/image]



Zorch -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 6:22:10 PM)

Can you do small (regiment size) invasions as Patton did historically?



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 6:27:39 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Can you do small (regiment size) invasions as Patton did historically?
warspite1

At this stage I've got absolutely no idea. I'll worry about that if a) I can ever eject the Axis off the island and b) I get sea lift capability [:)]



Zorch -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/24/2018 7:22:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1


quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Can you do small (regiment size) invasions as Patton did historically?
warspite1

At this stage I've got absolutely no idea. I'll worry about that if a) I can ever eject the Axis off the island and b) I get sea lift capability [:)]

Patton did that on Sicily, to outflank the German line.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/25/2018 4:58:35 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch


quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1


quote:

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Can you do small (regiment size) invasions as Patton did historically?
warspite1

At this stage I've got absolutely no idea. I'll worry about that if a) I can ever eject the Axis off the island and b) I get sea lift capability [:)]

Patton did that on Sicily, to outflank the German line.
warspite1

Well hopefully I'll get amphib capability soon (unless of course I've already got it) but until I get Messina I don't want to get ahead of myself.





warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/25/2018 5:04:08 PM)

Turn 27 - Axis and Allied Turn
5th August 1943

Not too much from the Axis this turn other than a bit of unfriendly bombardment of the British. I think they are more concerned with getting units to the mainland and setting up once there.

I ran out of turn before taking pictures of the east coast, but in the west, the US forces are driving up the centre of the island toward Falcone, while the 3rd Division are doing the same on the coast. I don't think there will be much of a trap as most of the enemy have probably got away, but after the rubbish start I had (i.e. the total horlicks I made of the advance) I'm just glad to be anywhere near Messina right now.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/96ADD21E253C4D9EB08193E4ACFD34AC.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/26/2018 6:55:31 AM)

Turn 28 - Axis and Allied Turn
6th August 1943

The Axis turn was more of the same - more units escaping (there were some interceptions but nothing came up on the combat panel so I assume these were unsuccessful). There was also lots of Choo-Choo action as units on the mainland moved into position.

The Allied turn was reasonably successful - although a battalion of paratroopers at the eastern foot of Mt. Etna is delaying three British brigades...

The Engineers were slightly more successful that turn and a couple of rail lines were repaired.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/94B6D1CE243D41328134293A234F7258.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/26/2018 7:24:29 PM)

Turn 29 - Axis and Allied Turn
7th August 1943

The Germans continue to escape and my aircraft seem incapable of stopping them (although there are interceptions so who knows?).

The Fallschirmjager continues to irritate in the foothills of Mt. Etna, but the British and US armies continue slowly to push on up the two coast roads.

It looks like only Italians are left.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/654048A5BB3F4D61B4EBD7A7231AE0D5.jpg[/image]



larryfulkerson -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/27/2018 12:29:30 AM)

I just now read through the entire AAR again and I'm impressed with the troubles the Allies
are having. I'm playing as the Axis player and as such I'm not in on what goes on with the
Allied side and your AAR is informative.

And once you gain the entire island you can plan on setting up an amphibious assault on
the mainland somewhere. Have you given any thought to where you might land. I guess it
depends on what's defending where but you get the idea.

Thanks for all the detail you're including. I should start doing that. What is your theater
recon value right now? Can you see what's defending on the mainland? I have no idea what
you can do for recon. Maybe some recon airstrikes on the defenders will give you a list of
the equipment in the hex.

Good game and I'm looking forward to more.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/27/2018 4:26:18 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson

I just now read through the entire AAR again and I'm impressed with the troubles the Allies
are having. I'm playing as the Axis player and as such I'm not in on what goes on with the
Allied side and your AAR is informative.

And once you gain the entire island you can plan on setting up an amphibious assault on
the mainland somewhere. Have you given any thought to where you might land. I guess it
depends on what's defending where but you get the idea.

Thanks for all the detail you're including. I should start doing that. What is your theater
recon value right now? Can you see what's defending on the mainland? I have no idea what
you can do for recon. Maybe some recon airstrikes on the defenders will give you a list of
the equipment in the hex.

Good game and I'm looking forward to more.
warspite1

Hi Larry. I have to say I've not given any thought to what comes next - hell I don't even know how to conduct an amphibious landing at present [:)]

What I will do from next turn - and probably should have started before now - is to withdraw some of my units for R+R.

As for recon, I will show some screenshots so you can see what I can see when I write up the next turn.



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/27/2018 6:36:51 PM)

Turn 30 - Axis and Allied Turn
8th August 1943

Very much more of the same in terms of Axis withdrawals and Allied slow march up the island.

As far as what I can see is concerned - my recon capability is 10% and so I can't see a great deal - here is the 'toe' of Italy. As can be seen, there is not much here - I am sure the reality is very different....

[image]local://upfiles/28156/1497F9A9CF0E4EF8A319DAFC2F2FB5E9.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (2/28/2018 5:51:12 PM)

Turn 31 - Axis and Allied Turn
9th August 1943

I've just got no self control [:(] So much for putting units aside to prepare for the mainland. The urge to try and finish things off took hold. The result? I didn't come close to finishing anything off and rested no units....[8|]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (3/1/2018 8:47:06 AM)

Turn 32 - Axis and Allied Turn
10th August 1943

The last remaining Axis defenders prove a tough nut to crack. I begin my run down of Allied units being moved, and while this doesn't help in rooting out the last of the enemy, I think it a sensible policy.

I will be giving this game the same attention as my other AAR from next turn on and so provide more detail on what exactly the Allies have, options etc.

[image]local://upfiles/28156/0EB21E704F884B9F8DDCEE11369D7A5E.jpg[/image]



warspite1 -> RE: STBP 1943-45 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (3/2/2018 11:23:38 PM)

Turn 34
12th August 1943

Right the Axis have been ejected from Sicily. Can anyone give any pointers on how I am supposed to invade please? I don't mean strategy I just mean mechanics. Unless I've missed it there seems to be a complete lack of players notes for this scenario.

Thank-you



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