Italian Long Campaign

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In anticipation that the EN is in force in the forest, I plan to drop the following bombardment plan. Note the 3.1 turns for delay.

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At Turn 13, the EN infantry is spotted. I expect at least 1 platoon strength each at the 2 points of contact. The Scout OP will be displaced, as I expect my foot infantry to come up in the next 2-3 turns.

As for the tank OP, they will stay and fight. No anti-tank threats spotted from the French at this point in time, so they are safe to fight.

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A side-by-side comparison of the infantry units. Our platoons are a mix of both Heavy and Light, 2 squads each. The Light ones have only rifles and grenades. The Heavy ones have some additional support weapons.

The French units spotted are the Chass Alpins (Mountain Infantry) and are probably of higher EXP and MOR compared to my regular infantry.

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Situation at Turn 15

Along the way, more EN infantry were spotted, and I roughly gauge the EN size.

To the north, between the 1st and 2nd Company, the EN infantry is around 2 platoon size. Preferring a closer fight, I resist shooting off at range. My units move closer before squaring off at 300m. The EN infantry lacks cohesion in their movement, and are rather strung out.

Near my tanks OP, the reinforced EN company is also accompanied by tanks. The first real threat to my own units. In the initial firefight, the French tank was destroyed.

As for their infantry, they are unable to make much headway against my tanks. My artillery has also started dropping near their assembly area.

The EN has also began bombarding my tanks with some 75mm guns. Though a nuisance, they may immobilise my tanks. And so I move them away from the impact area.

The EN has also brought a couple of attack aircraft. Again, nothing more than a nuisance, unless they attack my artillery park. I lack AA weapons.

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A side by side comparison of our armour units.

Basically, the H-35 poses very little threat to our M-13/40.

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Some situation maps of Turns 17 and 19.

2nd Company has reached the objective and is clearing the EN infantry along with 1st Company on the EN flank. The EN infantry doesn't take long before breaking.



As for reinforced EN infantry, my HMG firebase on dominant ground has excellent field of fire and together with my artillery, quickly suppresses their movement. My tanks charge in to wreak more close-in destruction. I intend to move M platoon from 2nd Company towards the rear of the EN so as to cut off their line of retreat. 1 platoon from 3rd Company has also joined in the firefight south of the EN.

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Turn 25

While my 2nd and 3rd Company pursue the EN to destruction, we shift our attention to 1st Company. Earlier, I had moved J Platoon to the rear, using the road. As they sweep the rear area from N to S, they encounter the EN heavy weapons. We found at least 3 MMG sections and 1 light mortar section. With our MMG on dominant ground, we attack the EN support weapons and overcome them after a brief firefight. Most of our losses were taken in this fight as we had to move over open ground to close with the EN MMGs.