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RE: Turn 56, Sept. 3 - part 3

 
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RE: Turn 56, Sept. 3 - part 3 - 1/25/2010 5:11:07 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 56 - September 3, 1943
 
Ah crud, American armor is pushing through my lines.

BEGIN NORTHERN OFFENSIVE

[Round 1] Attack on:

(From Northern Coast) Hex 1 - [Succeeded] 1 tank (5%) for 13%

Hex 2 - [Succeeded] 4 Tigers (5%) for 29%

Hex 3 - [Succeeded] 3% for an engineering battalion (56%)

Hex 4 - [Draw] 12 Semoventes for 59%

Hex 6 - [Succeeded] 8 Semoventes (12%) for 3 tanks (42%)

Hex 7 - [Succeeded] 1 tank and 25 planes (5%) for 16 planes (5%)

Paratroopers SE of Troina - [Succeeded] 3% for 13%

US Tanks NW of Gerbini - [Succeeded] 19 tanks (5%) for 7 tanks (8%)

US SW of Gerbini - [Succeeded] 4 tanks (5%) for 28%

Br Engineers SW of Gerbini - [Succeeded] ouch; 2 tanks and half the infantry (18%) for 2 tanks(24%)

Paras and Tanks SE of Gerbini - [Succeeded] 4 planes (6%) for 1 tank and 4 planes (11%)

I CANNOT SUSTAIN LOSSES LIKE THESE FOR MUCH LONGER

The 3 PzGren Div arrived in Messina, by the way.

[Round 2] Attack on:

Br Stack on Coast - [Succeeded] 7 planes (17%) for 13%

Armored Force SW of Gerbini - [Failed] 4 tanks (5%) for 8 tanks (17%)

HQ S of Troina - [Succeeded] 2% for 6%

Troina - [Succeeded, with huge losses due to Allied air force] 2 Semoventes (11%) for 7%

Arty W of Troina - [Succeeded] 1 vehicle (1%) for 4%

Arty SE of San Fratello - [Failed] 3% for 0%

HQ and Mortars SE of San Fratello - [Failed] 7 planes (9%) for 8 planes (5%)

180 Inf Reg SE of San Fratello - [Failed] 6 Semoventes (7%) for 10%

SW of Santo Stefano - [Succeeded] 3 Tigers (11%) for 18%


_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 151
Turn 57, Sept. 4 - 1/25/2010 5:34:34 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		I got nothin' for Turn 57. Probably it was just more of me trying to push towards Catania. Oh, how foolish I was...

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 152
RE: Turn 57, Sept. 4 - 1/25/2010 5:52:42 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 57 - September 4, 1943

I am reforming the line. I'm going to bring those around Santo Stefano and Troina back to their original positions (from last turn), while south of Catania my men will pull back behind the Sideto River. The Italians suffered heavily in this offensive, losing perhaps 2 divisions worth, inluding all those that had to be left behind as the Germans withdrew. One armored battalion of the 16 SS PzGren Div is in danger of being cut off, so instead of withdrawing a large portion of the Reichsfuhrer Sturmbrigade has dug in south of the river's mouth to provide a sort of Sacred Way through which they can retreat tomorrow.

[Round 1] Attack on:

Infantry Battalion SW of Santo Stefano - [Failed] 2 Tigers and 21 planes (17%) for 9 planes (4%)

Bombardment of Orange-Warning Hex S of Gerbini - 4%




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 153
Turn 58, Sept. 5 - 1/25/2010 11:37:43 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Turn 58

To the north, my opponent has decided to try his luck at pushing back the US divisions that had been hunkered down in their trenches. Most of the attackers are Italian units, with German units in support. Although the US divisions were caught off guard, they are mounting better defenses now.

Near Gerbini, the US 2 AD has captured the town, and is pushing eastward. As you can see, there are tons of Axis units just waiting to slow me down. In Catania, that's an entirely fresh division brought in from the mainland a few turns ago. Even if I crush a few of his units in this counterattack, there isn't much hope for sustained success.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 154
RE: Turn 58, Sept. 5 - 1/25/2010 3:56:41 PM   
Andriko


Posts: 42
Joined: 12/27/2009
Status: offline 		Now that you guys are wrapping up, I have a question I wanted to ask mike; Why didn't withdraw the Commonwealth units behind the Gerbini river alot sooner? It seemed to me the most logical thing to do.

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 155
RE: Turn 58, Sept. 5 - 1/25/2010 8:31:03 PM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		If Desert didn't take my bait earlier--pulling back the US lines in the north--why would he have done so against the British? I think it actually benefited me that he chose to go with a full attack on the British. It greatly weakened his forces in the south, while I gained reinforcements.

The only problem is that he kept getting more reinforcements, which would have prevented me from landing a crucial knock-out blow.

(in reply to Andriko)
Post #: 156
Turn 59, Sept. 6 - 1/25/2010 8:35:59 PM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Turn 59

The BR 46 ID arrived and moved up to the south of the main British position. My counterattack is still slowly making progress, but again, the future looks bleak with such a massive German force waiting for me near Catania. In the north, my lines have stabilized, but still lost ground overall.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 157
RE: Turn 58, Sept. 5 - 1/26/2010 5:57:32 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 58 - September 5, 1943
 
Well, my withdrawal is going fairly well. It pains me to abandon the northern offensive, because without the 1 ID and half the 2 AD (helping the Brits around Gerbini) the Americans are quite weak there. The SS troops south of the river are ALMOST clear.

I've realized that of the estimated 12 artillery units the Allies have, 5 have 3 range, while 1 has 4 and another 5. 5 are unknown. The Br XIII Corps HQ is a ridiculously overpowered unit and has 5 range as well. I have 10 Italian arty units (all with 2 range with the exception of 2) and 10 German arty units, 2 with 3 range, 5 with 4 range, 2 with 5 range, and 1 with 7 range (I have Wespes and 170mm guns). What this means is that I can bombard a stack of American artillery W of Gerbini with impunity.

Bombardment - 7% (11 guns)

It seems the bulk of the American artillery is halftrack-mounted or self-propelled.

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 158
RE: Turn 59, Sept. 6 - 1/26/2010 5:58:30 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 59 - September 6, 1943
 
Withdrawal is 99% complete.

AS is 2/9 right now (from 1/18 yesterday), 4 of my planes have been destroyed for 27-45 of his.

The first Avalanche reinforcements have been detected.

Bombardment E of Gerbini - 21%

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 159
Turn 60, Sept. 7 - 1/26/2010 12:32:24 PM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Turn 60

British...
I am not about to send my men into a sure slaughter pen between Adrano and Catania. The British 56 ID has arrived from Siragusa and will join the BR 46 ID to replace worn out British divisions along the line. The BR 5 ID and 50 ID have pulled out and will rest for a few days (a week?) south of Gerbini. The fresh British divisions will continue to put constant pressure on the Axis line from Adrano to Catania. With the addition of four heavy artillery brigades, it might not be so difficult to soften up the Axis entrenchments.

US...
I have pulled out the US 1 ID and 2 AD from the Catania-Adrano sectors. With the fresh British troops, I have greater use for the American armor, and the best US infantry division, elsewhere in the coming days. The US 36 ID has landed in Gela, and is marching quickly north through Enna. The 36 ID will rest for a day or so near Nicosia, then fill into the line somewhere between Traoina and San Fratello. Right now, all US sectors are to remain in a defensive stance, but use artillery as opportunities allow.

Overall...
From the arrival of the BR 46 ID a few days ago, through the next few days, the Allied army will receive a huge influx of fresh infantry and armor. But most importantly, for this particular style of battle, a large contingent of both US and British artillery will land on Sicily. If I can outnumber him in the skies and in long-range weaponry, it hopefully will be enough to force some sort of breakthrough. The Axis are firmly entrenched north of Catania; a breach is highly unlikely, or will be too costly. So that brings it all back to the northern coast, and the US forces. Many of the Axis reinforcements were committed to the Catania-Gerbini offensive, so it's entirely possible that a breakthrough in the north won't be counter-attacked immediately. Then again, that's what I thought more than a month ago...




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 160
RE: Turn 60, Sept. 7 - 1/26/2010 4:25:42 PM   
Karri

 

Posts: 1137
Joined: 5/24/2006
Status: offline 		What if the Axis retreat to vicinity of Messina? It would be 1/3rd of the frontagethey now hold, and seemingly no drawbacks. Could you possibly force a breakthrough then?

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 161
RE: Turn 60, Sept. 7 - 1/26/2010 5:47:58 PM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		I'm not ready to wait him out. He has no incentive to do that. Why should he risk a large movement like that? I wouldn't.

(in reply to Karri)
Post #: 162
RE: Turn 60, Sept. 7 - 1/26/2010 9:48:20 PM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 60 - September 7, 1943
 
Well, good news first. This turn a few Italian volunteers, the 26 Pz Div, and the 71 ID arrived in Austria. Next turn I get the 16 Pz Div. They should be enough to negate the recent Allied advantage in Sicily. Unfortunately, their Avalanche reinforcements include several overpowered arty brigades. It seems they spotted one of my stacks and slammed it with their guns - I had some arty of my own there, and around 40 guns were lost.

I took my 170mm guns into the hills and hit their stack from there.

Bombardment - 5 25 pounders; they have 350 guns, and 50 Bishop SP howitzers

One issue I have with the scenario is replacement rates - they're too high in many cases. For example:

I can get 4380 Pz4 H in one year. So in one year I can get half as many Pz4 as were built during the whole war (all models).

Meanwhile, the Allies get more than 300 of various squads per day. That's every day. So in 500 turns (around Christmas '44) they get 150000 squads. Hell, even if that were individual men it wouldn't be so bad.

Another really annoying one is 2 PaK 97/38 per turn. Okay, fine, that's understandable, there weren't that many of those around. But the Germans made over 20000 of another 75mm AT gun. It's actually in the scenario as a generic 75mm AT gun (I assume). And that gets replaced at a rate of 10 per turn. Problem? There's only 50 in the scenario, almost nothing uses it. Why even give it such a high rate of replacement if no one uses it?!

Here's a funny one. I get 3 Hetzers per turn starting halfway into the scenario. But the only Hetzers I'll ever have are in the HQ for the 16 SS Reichsfuhrer - 3 of them. Why do my only Hetzers appear in 1943?

Just some thoughts.




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 163
Turn 61, Sept. 8 - 1/27/2010 12:22:54 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Turn 61

British...
The British 7 AD and BR 1 AB division has landed on the island. The Airborne will sort of just rest around Augusta until I can figure out how to use them without wasting them (remember, if an Airborne unit is destroyed and reconstituted, the replacement unit cannot recover its airborne capabilities). The BR 7 AD will move up the inland road, and take up positions with the Canadian 1 ID. The British 46 ID succeeds in pushing the German recon unit back into the enemy line. The other two attacks, north of Gerbini and southwest of Adrano, weren't successful in pushing back the Axis. However, the Allied losses were relatively light, for once.

US...
The US 1 ID and US 2 AD have successfully displaced from the front lines, and will hold on the Nicosia-Adrano road to recoup men and supplies. The US 36 ID is passing Enna. They will march north to reinforce the US 3 ID near San Fratello.

Overall...
I want to keep the pressure on the Axis line. He lost more than 40 (50-plus?) aircraft this past day, to go along with more than 50 lost artillery pieces. I've gotten word that the German Sardinien Division was withdrawn; but I haven't seen any changes. There is one Sardinien unit left, but I imagine that my opponent has accounted for this division's withdrawl, and pulled them to the rear a while ago.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 164
RE: Turn 61, Sept. 8 - 1/27/2010 1:33:40 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 61 - September 8, 1943
 
According to the news, the Sardinien Pz Div was withdrawn, but it actually wasn't. According to my reinforcements schedule that happens Turn 68.

A stack of Italian arty was bombarded. 50 100mm guns were lost.

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 165
Turn 62, Sept. 9 - 1/27/2010 3:46:10 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Turn 62

British...
More unit shifting along the front. The Canadians are consolidating near Adrano, along with the British 7 AD coming up. I doubt my opponent has better recon than I, so if I keep my main line screened with light units, he won't have a good grasp on my exact strengths.

US...
The US 36 ID is almost to the front. The US 1 ID and US 2 AD take up positions between the US 82 AB and the US 45 ID.

Overall...
Not much action anywhere; just bombardments. I figure that I can wear his line down with sustained, but moderate attacks all along the front line. I will focus my efforts back on the northern sectors.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 166
RE: Turn 62, Sept. 9 - 1/27/2010 3:48:02 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline
quote:

he won't have a good grasp on my exact strengths.


Ha! That's funny.

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 167
RE: Turn 62, Sept. 9 - 1/27/2010 3:51:51 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 62 - September 9, 1943

Some bombardments on my line. Began transporting the reinforcements to Sicily.

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 168
Turn 63, Sept. 10 - 1/28/2010 1:33:50 PM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Not much in the way of action. Just bombardments along the front. At this point, I was winding down my operations. I knew there was no way to break through, at least not any time in the next game-year or two. The Indian Division arrived from Syracuse.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 169
RE: Turn 61, Sept. 8 - 1/28/2010 3:29:42 PM   
Panama


Posts: 1362
Joined: 10/30/2009
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mike1984

Turn 61

British...
The British 7 AD and BR 1 AB division has landed on the island. The Airborne will sort of just rest around Augusta until I can figure out how to use them without wasting them (remember, if an Airborne unit is destroyed and reconstituted, the replacement unit cannot recover its airborne capabilities).


I thought you were supposed to use the Monty rule and throw the Red Devils into the ocean and against the cliffs of Sicily leaving a few left to be almost wiped out at the Petsamo bridge. Kind of a rehearsal for what he did to them at Arnhem. Monty would not be happy with your humane treatment of them.

I think he kind of hated airborne troops, the Red Devils of the 1st more than the others.

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 170
RE: Turn 60, Sept. 7 - 1/28/2010 4:51:02 PM   
Karri

 

Posts: 1137
Joined: 5/24/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: mike1984

I'm not ready to wait him out. He has no incentive to do that. Why should he risk a large movement like that? I wouldn't.


No, I meant if you do achieve breakthrough, he can just retreat to that line...what then?

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 171
RE: Turn 63, Sept. 10 - 1/29/2010 3:00:11 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 63 - September 10, 1943

Several attacks this turn. These were ant attacks, but unlike before they were accompanied by huge Axis casualtes. NE of San Fratello, the hex on the
eastern coast, N of Troina, I took massive casualties. In some cases the Allies lost a fair amount - proportionally. Those Italian artillery were hit again, 2 dozen guns lost.

The fresh 26 Pz Div was moved to the center of the line - unfortunately, the 93 PzJgr Btn wasn't provided with any transport assets and is for all intents and purposes a static unit.

It seems the British have at least 6 new arty units - all brigades, eh?

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to Karri)
Post #: 172
RE: Turn 64, Sept. 11 - 1/29/2010 3:04:08 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Turn 64 - September 11, 1943

Last turn. I have a crapload of reserves clogging up my rear areas. It occurs to me that if my opponent still kept all his units in dense frontline hexes we could have some extraordinary battles, with me coming out the victor, of course, by flooding his breaches with fresh divisions. In the end, I strongly believe the Allies should have used their paratroopers in the beginning to cut off the roads and rail lines to Messina. Back then I had no reserves and Allied optimism was strong. Now, I could probably go insane and throw all my divisions into the sacrificial fire; I would definitely win, the only advantage he has is in aircraft and MAYBE artillery. I failed the recent offensive only because I lost my nerve and couldn't stomach the losses. (Note: I may have revised this conclusion somewhat after reading about the, uh, 6? new divisions the Allies had received.)

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 173
Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 2:56:59 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		I stopped keeping track this last turn. So here's a map of the final deployments.

My opponent keeps mentioning how I should have used my air transport (which I had only for one turn, TURN 1) to drop units into the roads near Messina, and take the city that way.

I have to disagree with that idea. I play this game to recreate actual simulations of what the battles were like, and how I could have realistically fared, while faced with the same situations (with the real-life logistical restrictions) the real-life generals faced. The allies dropped the 82nd Airborne and 1st British Airland onto Sicily the day of the invasion. How would it have ever been possible to round up all of these paratroopers, reorganize them, land transport planes on a single airfield (if there was even a decent one actually near Gela), load up the troops again, and take off again on a no-rest follow up airborne drop, about 30 or 40 miles to the north, right into the headquarters city of the enemy?

The fact that I could have dropped my airborne units into Messina, and effectively ended the battle for Sicily in one or two turns, doesn't cover up the fact that this scenario does not allow the Allied player to accurately operate within the context of the historical battle.

But that's why Desert and I will play the newly-modded Sicily to Brenner Pass scenario. So stay tuned for the follow up AAR, which you can find in that sub-forum.




Attachment (1)

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 174
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 3:52:43 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Hey, I didn't say Messina, I was thinking more around Catania and Santo Stefano.

Final Positions:




Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 175
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 4:00:50 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		Ok, I misunderstood what you meant by that. I guess I could have done a small drop just to the north of my landing zones; but anything more would take away from the "simulation" of historically-accurate WWII warfare.

For full disclosure, I did do a small drop in the new game we're playing. During Turn 1, I dropped a few of the available AB units into the hills just west of Syracuse, around Vizzini. I figured that wasn't a drastic-enough operation size to take away from the scenario.

Yeah, you could have thrown all your men into my lines. But I'm not sure how far you'd get. Like you, I have a bunch of reserve divisions. Plus, your position around Catania isn't made for the attack. I have basically two lines of British, the second one being on the other side of the river. That would cause you great trouble in an offensive. In the north, my US divisions are fully rested, with fresh units available. You would have had a few breakthroughs, for sure, but nothing I couldn't close up as fast as you would had I attacked again.

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 176
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 4:01:59 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		I also think the Attrition Divider should be raised - combat and bombardments kill too men right now, which combined with reduced replacements rates could mean an early end to any PBEMs.

Yeah, well, eventually. I would have gotten new divisions within weeks, but weren't those your last available reinforcements?

Final Equipment Losses:




Attachment (1)

< Message edited by desert -- 1/30/2010 4:02:21 AM >

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 177
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 4:27:30 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		So should I change the AD in the new mod, just to see how it helps? Since we haven't even gotten through the first turn, it's doable. I'll raise it to like 14 or so. Does that sound about right?

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 178
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 4:35:05 AM   
desert


Posts: 827
Joined: 9/14/2006
Status: offline 		Heh, I already started making the AAR for Turn 1, but go ahead. Also, show them your losses. Look at how many squads the Allies lost, guys.

_____________________________

"I would rather he had given me one more division"
- Rommel, when Hitler made him a Field Marshall

(in reply to mike1984)
Post #: 179
RE: Final turn/deployments - 1/30/2010 4:45:26 AM   
mike1984

 

Posts: 476
Joined: 4/6/2009
Status: offline 		What's funny is that I didn't even download the last turn...

(in reply to desert)
Post #: 180
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