DAR: Sicily

[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.

[RERomine]

Turn 7

This time, the enemy artillery found my tank park full of PzKw IVhs. Bigger stuff was included in this barrage. None were destroyed or immobilized, but three lost their main guns and coax machine guns and two of those suffered crew casualties. I'm just going to hide them in remote wooded locations and hope the enemy planes don't find them.

My engineers have cleared a 300m breach in the minefield South of hill 4. Before doing this, they engaged and destroyed an enemy squad suppressed by my artillery. The core units will start moving towards that gap once the tracks pick up the infantry. The tanks have already started moving, if for no other reason than to clear out of the enemy artillery impact zone. The engineers will start sweeping around the Southern edge of the hill clearing any additional mines and engaging enemy infantry found.

Engineers on hill 4 have started clearing mines. More have been found across the middle of the peak. Progress is moving slowly in this area because the initial advance was slowed by the now destroyed enemy ATGs.

My counter battery hit around the enemy 60mm mortar, but not really on target. Adjustment will solve that problem. The same applies to the possible location of an enemy 81mm mortar.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties

Enemy: Estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 8

Enemy artillery came in again, but this time no one was home. There was some new track mounted 81mm mortars, but I don't know where they are. Another 60mm mortar popped up as well. I'll go after it with counter battery. The other 60mm mortar is retreating. I'll try hitting it again and maybe I can get it out of it's revetment.

No direct contact around hill 4 at this time. One scout found another section of the mine field the hard way. Engineers are clearing mines still, while other units are advancing to support. My core infantry is still linking up with their tracks.

Scouts are on hill 5 at this point. Several will set up as an OP, while others try pushing through to hills 1 and 2.

Casualties

Friendly: One casualty

Enemy: Zero

[RERomine]

Turn 9

The American air force is back! They made passes with two P-51s, one P-38 and one P-39. They caught one of my core SS infantry companies loaded into tracks. One track was destroyed and one immobilized. An enemy P-51 was damaged and will have to RTB.

Mines are still being cleared from hill 4. No additional enemy contact on the hill. South of the hill, another enemy squad opened up, so engineers popped smoke and artillery was called in. Another enemy bunker was spotted South of the first one, but is not in a position to cause any problems.

My scouts have a good observation point for hill 1 and are still moving across hill 5.

Counter battery hit one of the enemy 60mm mortars again.

Direct enemy resistance is light, but their artillery and air power is really doing some damage.

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 250/1 destroyed and estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: Zero