A challenge for RetLT: Invasion of Spain

[RetLT]

Land the 86th at one beach. Since we are attacking a larger force it is better to concentrate our forces and deal with the defending units one at a time. It also allows massed naval and air support.

Airborne (para and gliders) will land inland from the beachhead to cut off escape and reinforcement routes as well as to seize an airfield for follow up forces and to deny its use to the enemy.

SAS is tasked with taking out any artillery units that we have intelligence on otherwise they are to do their signature task of raiding enemy airfields.

HQ would like to link up with the paras by D+2 and have the airfield ready to receive troops and supplies by D+4. If the airfield is operational sooner additional units are to be flow in as soon as possible.

[wulfir]

There is an airfield near MANSIES, about 12 km's west-north-west of the shoreline at VALENCIA. (It is marked on US Army maps from 1943). I guess that will be your target - parachute or glider Bn?

As for the landings on VALENCIA itself - north of the city there are narrow beaches with agricultural fields behind them. South of the city there is a larger strip of beach - in some places about 200 meters wide - here the hinterland is made up of rice paddies surrounding a freshwater lake. (The rice was introduced by the Arabs in the 8th century.)

The rice paddies can screen your landing but at the same time make it hard to advance through if you need to enlarge your bridehead west...

You can assault the Valencia harbour area directly too - although you need the harbour to quickly supply your invasion force and build up your strength. Shooting up the harbour will complicate things...

[RetLT]

Let's use paras to take the airfield. More can be delivered this way than by glider. Their heavy weapons can be brought in by glider later or directly to the airfield if it is operational.

As for the landing let's go right for the harbor area. We are going to have to fight over it sooner or later so the faster it is taken the better.

Gunboat support is preferred to indirect fire to limit the amount of collateral damage.

Air and naval support can assist the paras or prevent reinforcements from reaching the combat area. B-25Hs can support the landings minus their bombs (I can turn them off). We don't want to break too much of the place.

I know this strategy failed at Diep but that was a well defended port. Hopefully our intelligence is correct and the defenses are weaker.

The commander of the 86th is also requesting some spotter planes assist in spotting targets for the gunboats.