Italian Long Campaign

[sigeena]

Turn 11

3rd Company is getting engaged with EN HMG as well. There's probably 1 EN company infantry in strength just above us.



Turn 13

3rd Company crested the ridgeline and found themselves in sudden close firefight with the EN infantry. Our HMGs work frantically to keep the EN suppressed. The plan is simple from here.

[sigeena]

Turn 17

This was nearing the end. The EN has broken in 3rd Company's sector and its more of a mop-up operation from hereon. I expect some EN resistance on the plateau but probably not more than a platoon size.



Battle Report

A rather breezy battle overall. My worst loss was a HMG section that fell prey to the EN HMGs.

[sigeena]

I've played about 3 more battles ahead. Things are rather slow going. It's just January of 1941. It'll be another 7 more months before we hit Eastern Front.

Is the same back and forth with the UK getting abit stale? If yes, I'll update this thread again once we hit a different country or else Soviets.

[Kritkeen]

I'd love to see how Italians fare against Soviets but that doesn't mean your AARs against other countries are boring or anything like that. It is up to you, as long as you enjoy writing these, I, for one, will be reading them.

[sigeena]

Advance battle against UK.

I've decided to add a section of 60mm mortars to each of my infantry companies. They can be used in either direct or indirect fire role, most likely the former, since they will be placed near to the company commander.

Usually for Advance missions, I'll plot some smoke along the route of advance, so that my leading scouts can move fast through the smoke. In this battle, my force will largely advance along the road, and upon contact, break off to engage them.

The air recon provides additional eyes over the immediate front. I don't like my air recon going too deep, in case there's EN AAA.

[sigeena]

Turn 2

Spotted EN tanks parked at the bottom edge of the map. This is going to be 3rd Company's sector. Even though my tanks are under 1st Company command, I'll probably move them to support 3rd Company later.

[sigeena]

Turn 6

2nd Company is beginning to engage the EN infantry company in their sector. I deploy the heavy weapons to support the advance. Note the HMGs and 60mm mortars.

L platoon will continue to push down the road while N and M platoon will advance directly into the EN company.



Turn 8

The EN resistance is swept away. Fighting here is short and sharp.

[sigeena]

Turn 9

1st and 3rd Company are moving along the road and preparing to advance into their respective sectors.

I expect more resistance in 3rd Company sector, with the EN tank section spotted in that area.

J platoon has found and destroyed an EN ATG. H platoon will seek and destroy the EN mortars.



Turn 12

3rd Company is ready to advance into their sector.



Turn 17

The battle in this sector is near over. The EN tank makes a late appearance.

[sigeena]

Battle Report

Another breezy Advance battle. The terrain was ideal for an Advance battle. There was alot of open space and E-W roads.

The E-W roads allow for speedy movement towards the EN rear. The open space allows for long fields of fire once I spotted the EN force.

If I was playing Delay on this map, I don't think I would have done well too. Maybe strongpoint the buildings with a company and ATGs.

[sigeena]

I made some changes to my infantry platoon set-up, basically upgraded my platoon commander to using molotov type of AT weapons. Each platoon has some improved AT capability, though the majority in the platoon still have to rely on using their hand grenades for close assaults.

Next up was a Defend mission. The map looked much improved over the previous battles. As usual, I bought the Heavy ATG emplacements (90mm) and a couple of tanks for mobile AT capability.

Guiding principle for defend battles is always plan with depth in mind. The general concept is that you want multiple lines of resistance to slow down and attrite the EN force so that when they finally reach the main line of resistance, they are no longer combat capable to overwhelm. To avoid being destroyed in detail, you must always be ready to pull back over exposed screening forces.

My Heavy ATGs are emplaced in a strategic ridgeline near the centre of the map. I also set up some minefields to prevent EN infiltration along the flanks of the map.