DAR: Sicily

[RERomine]

Turn 0 (Prep Fire)

I don't normally enter anything for the prep fire phase, but it was eventful. It didn't take long to find out if the enemy had aircraft. I was hit by two P-38s, one jug(P-47) and one P-39. They scored well, but none will be back. They hit my core tank company with no effect, one of my SPA batteries with considerable effect and one of my panzer grenadier companies. The SPAs in the battery were all damaged, with one destroyed. The grenadiers' headquarters section was hit destroying two support tracks and immobilizing two transport tracks. At least I have a couple of empty tracks that I can pick those squads up in. Of the four enemy planes that attacked, two were shot down and the other two damaged. They will likely have one P-47 and one P-39 left and possibly more sections uncommitted as of yet. The enemy artillery was ineffective while mine laid smoke. My smoke screen will be short since one battery involve was pretty much knocked out.

Casualties

Friendly: Two SdKfz 251/9 tracks destroyed, one PzH 18m Hummel destroyed.

Enemy: One P-47 and one P-39 destroyed.

I've attached my save before starting if anyone is interested. There really isn't any good way to set up, other than to avoid roads. The AI really likes to pound them and this time wasn't any different. I usually keep my units grouped together, with multiple units in a hex, for organizational purposes. If they hit the hex with artillery, they will do a lot of damage, but with them clustered together, it leaves more empty hexes for the enemy to drop artillery in that doesn't do any damage at all. Against aircraft, being more dispersed does help. I could have minimized my damage against them by spreading out, but the AI doesn't always use aircraft, but they will ALWAYS have artillery. Out of 37 campaign battles, this is the first time the AI has hit me with aircraft during the prep fire phase.

[RERomine]

Turn 1

The less than delicate approach is starting rough. One of my recon tracks with a scout loaded was engaged and destroyed by a 57mm ATG somewhere on hill 4. It's location hasn't been identified yet. I'm going to start dropping mortar fire on the hill to suppress units there.

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 250/10 destroyed and 4 casualties.

Enemy: zero

[RERomine]

Turn 2

That 57mm ATG got another recon track, but I've spotted it now. Artillery is plotted to come in on it and the Tigers have a clear shot. One engaged already and the other are moving into position. Scouts are trying to advance on foot now and the engineers in tracks are moving forward where possible without risking casualties.

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 250/10 destroyed and 2 casualties.

Enemy: zero

[RERomine]

Turn 3

The enemy ATG has been destroyed by my Tigers. Scouts are continuing to advance on foot in the center as well as on the flanks. I've got some heading for hill 5 to see if they can establish an OP from that location. If that is successful, I will try to push some to hill 1 since that hill overlooks my approach to hill 2. Some will also try to push to hill 3 for the same purpose.

The engineer tracks advanced without opposition this turn.

Casualties

Friendly: zero

Enemy: One 57mm ATG destroyed and estimated 4 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 4

One company of engineers has unloaded about just across the enemy deployment line behind some trees. This is in the area just South of hill 4. I was a bit careless because I crossed their deployment line without reconning it first, but I got away with it. No mines were found the hard way. The South end of this group was engaged by an enemy bunker with no effect. I popped smoke to block their line of sight. Arty will drop some smoke in front of the bunker and I'll just bypass it.

The second company of engineers are starting to unload in the woods just East of hill 4. Scouts are starting to move up the slopes of the hill. My Tigers have split up so one platoon can support each company as they look for mines.

Both companies of SS panzer grenadiers are starting to move forward. The two squads with immobilized tracks have been picked up by my two spares.

Incoming enemy mortar fire destroyed one track loaded with two MG-42 sections. I'm going to have to find and neutralize them. One mortar was a 60mm, so it has to be close.

Initial impressions of the enemy position are they have heavier defenses more forward than usual. Normally, they don't have ATGs and bunkers close to their deployment line.

Casualties

Friendly: SdKfz 250/1 and estimated 12 casualties.

Enemy: zero

[RERomine]

Turn 5

Well, it seems like the whole dang American air force is here!!! Two P-51s, two P-38s, one P-47 and P-39 made passes, effectively saturating my defensive AAA fire. One P-38 was shot down and the jug was damaged. They destroyed three more tracks and immobilized five others, one being an ammo transport. This is getting rough, but I'm hoping this means the enemy artillery or ground defenses will be thinner than what I usually encounter.

The engineers South of hill 4 are encountering platoon strength resistance right now. The enemy is deployed in front of and behind a minefield. This could be the main belt and it's located 250m behind the enemy deployment line. The tracks provided a little suppressive fire before turning back to pick up their SS infantry company. One platoon of Tigers are moving to provide support and artillery has been called in.

On hill 4, another enemy 57mm ATG was found. Tigers engaged and destroyed it. The rest of my engineer company unloaded and tracks started returning to pick up my SS infantry. Scouts are continuing to move up the hill. No infantry has been seen, but mines are on the forward edge of the peak.

Casualties

Friendly: Two SdKfz 251/9 tracks and one SdKfz 251/2 GrW track destroyed and estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: One 57mm ATG destroyed.

[RERomine]

Turn 6

No air strikes this turn. The American air force must be circling around for another pass. The enemy artillery hit with something heavier than mortars this time. There was incoming 105mm mail and it destroyed one of my empty, immobilized tracks.

Engineers are starting to clear the mines South of hill 4 while my artillery kept the enemy infantry busy. Small arms were also used to dispatch one enemy squad forward of the mines.

One more 57mm ATG was found by my scouts the hard way on hill 4. Tigers engaged and destroyed it. Engineers are working their way up to the mine field.

Counter battery has been plotted on the enemy 60mm mortar and the possible site of an 81mm mortar. It's close to where I dropped smoke, so I can't be sure if there is a target there or not. I'm going to hit it, just in case.

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 251/1 track.

Enemy: One 57mm ATG destroyed and estimated 10 casualties.