German Campaign using War Cab

[Imp]

Yes German Long Campaign but start date was set for Italy as I normally do Eastern Front in this time period so not tried it.
All maps as created by map generator so far, first few in my view good representation of none mountain parts of Italy.
Only adjustments' added a few Fords to a previous map to help the AI path find.

[Imp]

Turn 15
Well the Yanks have been busy fierce fighting has broken out in the North a further 14US & 8 German units have perished and several squads have been badly mauled.
Tempted fate saying I thought the AI was struggling with the map.

SOUTH FIRST

Detected more infantry but now think we have them running, only Baz team is not routed.
Had to stay of the hilltop 105 Bat & 60mm Mortar are pinning everyone.
Most now have the dangerous job of heading SE into the rear for the distant VHex & to find that 60Mtr while the rest grab the VHexes here & try to get LOS on the Northern Cliff face.

NORTH

Thought we had just about won the push West but the AI regrouped & counter attacked. Merry little dance with both sides trying to flank with fairly punishing results.

We had just about taken the buildings when the US decided to reinforce them, all tanks on both sides missed & casualties here were light.
At the same time they came over the cliff, far more than I knew were there.
Several vanished again as repulsed, got the M4 but heavy fighting much of it close quarters & on rough was costly for both sides.

Single plane flew over again but could not find a target.

Give the AI some credit I am certain the forces on the cliff were massing for a few turns, the M4 was parked for a while along with a couple of squads I knew about. Kicking everything off at once was a good effort it hurt.

[Imp]

Turn 16 start

We got a handle on the situation this turn 14 kills no losses, its been a tough battle over this bit of real estate we gained another 100m & might actually break out of here soon. It has been slow going though we have advanced less than 1000m (20hexs) since leaving the tree line on turn 3 or 4, good fun.

AT Team failed here that tank smoked then moved in to our sights during its turn. Got the others & a foot hold in the buildings but need to withdraw in case arty drifts, 17cm on full-bore (0.0) Several others plotted as expecting more units the ones we saw approaching the Fords should turn up this go.

As we lost transport & resupply for arty most are going to empty the bins in these locations as soon we will be beyond their reach.
Only 17cm & SPMortars will be able to support us by moving up.

They are still trying to come over the clifftop including near the buildings as well now.
We had a quick peak which revealed a fair bit before needing to smoke,
Sturmpanzer had LOS to the discovered units & surprised me by scoring 2 solid hits at 1000m causing disarray & destruction. Got to love this thing when it hits a packed group, the attack was light because of it more running than attacking.

Air is probably coming back which could cause problems if it attacks near the buildings where I think ground forces will appear.

[Imp]

Turn 18

Glad we traded in the Pz Grenadiers 251/9 halftracks for AAA as expect more of this, planes in numbers are a menace.
Despite most exiting straight over 2 of my AA units we only hit 1.
2 went for arty crews have left their guns.
Rest hit the North resulting in a Halftrack & MKIII immobilised & without any weapons - StuG no weapons - MkIV damaged but operational.

Due to the planes we only managed to get 1 of the tanks that turned up & more infantry arrived than expected mainly appearing North of the buildings. We have since managed to eliminate the infantry & all but one tank but lost men in the process, units damaged by the planes left holes so we could not counterattack at all against the incursion North of the buildings. More worried about protecting the damaged units & driving the ones that could to safety.
I would think this is the last hurrah anything else that turns up will get hit by artillery & they will soon be encircled.
We should take the buildings & Vhex there in a few turns, paid a higher price for it than I would have liked though.

Elsewhere things are better South force is heading for the only other VHex we do not control. Little hiccup when 2 Baz teams appeared 100m from my FOO he is okay.

Broken out to the West busy killing artillery 3 so far, now swinging round to approach the houses from the West.

Mainly I think due to the Sturmpanzers actions units on the cliff crumbled we are in hot pursuit & will arrive South of the Houses in a couple of turns.

[Imp]

Turn 22

Just mopping up last couple of turns, no drama pinned or routed only a few offered minimal resistance. They were surrounded so picked off quickly.

The AI got in one more airstrike however it was ineffective, lifted the artillery to close with enemy so placed a ring of smoke & fired all dischargers to rear.
All the planes failed to get target lock & just attacked the hex rather than the unit in it causing zero damage.

Only US units left were 2 mortars, HQ & FOO, we were 3 hex's away from HQ 5 from the FOO when it ended.

Marginal Victory pleased with that result the South was pretty boring but the North battle was great fun, the AI played well here.
Combined Arms all the way rather than unsupported tank charges.
The airstrikes caused major problems particularly the one that happened while ground combat was ongoing.
Air also hobbled my artillery, luckily there was a lack of ATGs in the rear area.

We are now approaching an average experience of 80 with close to half the force veterans, a fair amount are still mid 60's

Went with downgrading 4 StuG's to MkIV's but upgraded the other 2 to Panthers because I can & I love them, allied air probably does to
So armour now consists of 14 MkIV -2 Panthers - 2 Sturmpanzers - 2 250/11 gun halftracks

Date is now 10/43 next Battle is in Termoli against the Polish equipped with British equipment I assume, we will find out shortly.

[Imp]

Sorry forgot

[Imp]

Meeting engagement standard 70x90 map visibility 2000m (40 hexes) against the Poles.
Turn 2 No one has fired or been detected yet.

Hilly map with a small settlement along the road, plenty of rough for the artillery park though most is not safe from view till sure the area is clear.

AUX Not used planes yet so a spotter & 2 Me410A-1, surprisingly cheap at only 60 points, will try not to get them shot down

PLAN
Top force will meet any end run by the Polish then swing round to put MG fire into the enemy rear & or search for artillery.

The rest depends on what the Polish do but aim to take central VHex group while just holding ground in the South. With luck the whole force will pivot round the Southern units.
We want the top force to get ahead for the first few turns so will try setting up some kill zones with fires from different angles to get flank hits.

If the Poles make a major push in the South happy to fall back & contain them till we are ready.

[Imp]

Nothings happened I have used my Gold Spot near the map centre to send the spotter plane in twice.
Result spotted 2 Dingos, 2 Rolls RoyceAC & a squad, where are the other fast moving vehicles??
There is not a lot of cover expected to see more, loaded encyclopaedia at this point to see what they have.

Either the Poles are kicking off really late or this is going to be a slugfest as I have hordes of infantry heading my way, possibly with some slow tanks like Valentines.

Either way they are coming slow or late risking riders & full speed advance till the spotter finds something.
We can run the 250/11 around the top 5 Vhexes in the centre with low risk then scarper & see what artillery comes in.
Hope our CB fire is better than last time we might need it, only did once last battle but has 79 experience now as set it to killing stuff last few turns, 7 kills under its belt.

[Imp]

Turn 5

What a nightmare the area North of the road is pretty self contained so we threw caution to the wind & put the pedal to the metal.
At hex row 55 already here, fair way back elsewhere but with visibility 40 we can see every hilltop.
No other vehicles in sight not a one, what we can see is odd splattering's of infantry that have reached row 60 across most of the map.

Screen shows LOS to lone infantry in the far North & a couple of the vehicles which probably collected the VHexes.

Did not expect to be here yet the idea was to ambush armour letting the infantry clear the buildings. Engage them grab the Vhexes & using the woods as cover from ATGs put MG fire on the back of the hill, doing a reverse slope defence on the other side.

Against a lot of infantry this is not the ideal spot to attack we would have been better coming from the South as its open. Let vehicles & MGs poor fire in relative safety with infantry finding targets.

So options not driving all the way round
Probably take out the group North of the buildings.
Let the group advance along the road if they want to & deal with them next.
Bound to be more in the far North they can waste time heading through the woods if they desire, nice open area after let them get on the fields before taking out. Trying to take on everyone at once is probably not wise.

Normally in meetings I like to push forward but verses massed infantry need to use mobility to try & pick sensible fights. Already gained stacks of ground I will fall back if we have to.
My MG are twiddling there thumbs at the moment need places I can use them, not here way to close.

Wish I had paid attention to see if they got an arty overload penalty otherwise I am facing a lot of infantry.

We need a plan & a turn to get in position before it kicks off.

[Imp]

Turn 8 start

Delay is due to pushing in that area being a no go, we would clash head on with over 2 companies of infantry.

Screenshot is from end of turn 6 some are still visible, pulling out to try a breakthrough to the SE.
Note spotter plane plot if it goes from the gold spot it takes fire but okay 2 hexes back. Its currently plotted to do a run in the South as we have eyes here now.

This screen is start of turn 8 smoke has fallen & we have put some shots into them.

Up till now all casualties have been Polish - Patrol - Piat Team - Sniper - 2 Rolls Royce A/C & around 20 men.
Then the arty came in around 7 batteries did not count, 2 are those $#@% 5in man they hurt.
It killed 7 men a halftrack & immobilised a MkIV in a problematic place .

Anyway smoke came in OK tanks can fill in South edge, as it looks like there is no armour support we are going to risk a rush.
Bound to be a few unspotted Piat teams in there but halftracks are loaded Mech Assault has a green light if we can put some suppression in.

A good portion of my force has moved here we aim to come down the map behind them killing as fast as possible to try & avoid that artillery.

Centre has been largely cleared if possible we will close the pincer from the South once the spotter plane gives some info.

Then its hit artillery & back to deal with that infantry in the North.
We may be able to thin them if they head SW near the road which is likely, some will probably hang around the VHexes.

All tanks set to range 8 so only engage locals & have dischargers on just in case a Piat sneaks up.