A challenge for RetLT: Invasion of Spain

[wulfir]

BACKGROUND:

Following a British initiative designed to flank Festung Europa – an operation aimed against Spain is born. It is given the name Operation OXCART. The Americans have little interest in the sideshow effort they consider OXCART to be and while they provide some crucial forces to the operation it is really only made possible thanks to scraping the barrel for Commonwealth reinforcements. During the end of 43, start of 44 – the forces are slowly built up in French North Africa.

The idea is to stage an invasion from French North Africa against Spain and in doing so draw German forces from France into Spain weakening the crucial French sectors before Operation OVERLORD and ANVIL/DRAGON.

It is believed that the Spanish armed forces will only put up token resistance against an invasion and relatively quickly fold.

Much publicity is given to the build up of the British First Army in French North Africa in an effort draw attention away from France. This means the invasion has few chances of achieving surprise. Limited infrastructure in North Africa and shortage of allied landing craft, naval transport and surface escorts make the invasion impossible before OVERLORD – which is launched on June 6, 1944.

While the reason for OXCART is essentially over with OVERLORD being launched it is surprisingly still given the green light. Limited naval resources are provided in order to make a landing in Spain before OPERATION DRAGON is launched.

The forces assembled for OXCART look impressive on paper but many of the Commonwealth divisions are understrength due to manpower shortages.

[wulfir]

OPERATION OXCART OOB:

British First ARMY HQ

*US 13th Airborne Division
(High quality, full strength, Glider Regts only two Bn strong).

*British No 14 (Arctic) Commando
(High quality, Bn size)

*British 7th SAS Regiment
(HIgh quality, Bn size, jeep mounted light infantry)

*Norwegian Independent Brigade
(Mountain trained, released by the Norwegian government in exile for service in Spain after special request by Churchill.)

US Navy Construction Battalion ("Seebees")
(Not a combat formation but has the ability to build airfields, repair ports etc)

US IV Corps
*US 2nd Cavalry Division
(Made up of fleshed out garrison element, white officers leading black troops, no combat experience, full strength though with only two (infantry) brigades of two bn each)
*US 86th Infantry Division
(Average troops, full strength US Infantry Division, no combat experience)
*7th Canadian Division
(Average, infantry division, has only two infantry brigades, no combat experience)
*British 137th Armoured Brigade
(Average, equipped with Cromwell tanks, limited combat experience)
*Corps support troops
- US 499th Field Artillery Bn (155mm, towed)
- US 239th Engineer Combat Bn
- US 239th Anti-Aircraft Bn (40mm, towed)
- US 826th Tank Destoryer Bn (M10)
- US 150th Armored Cavalry Group (Bn size, previously Panama garrison)
- Logistical/medical etc units


British IX Corps
*British 42nd Armoured Division
(Armoured division, full strength, some elements have limited combat experience)
*British 55th West Lancashire Division
(Average troops, full strength infantry division, no combat experience)
*3rd South African Division
(Average troops, infantry division with only two infantry brigades, some parts of the division have seen service in North Africa)
*1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade
(Average troops full strength, equipped with Cromwell tanks, no combat experience)
*Corps Support Troops
- British 142nd Anti-Tank Regiment (Bn size, 17pdr's, towed)
- British 345th Light AA Regiment (Bn size, 40mm, towed)
- British 112th Regiment RE (Bn size, engineer unit)
- British 42nd AGRA (1 heavy Artillery Regiment, 3 medium Artillery Regiment (Regts are Bn size))

Australian V Corps

*10th Australian Division
(Average troops, infantry division with only two infantry brigades)
*5th New Zeeland Division
(Average troops, infantry division with only two infantry brigades)
*11th East African Division
(Average troops, full strength colonial infantry division, African troops led by British officers, mostly equipped with modern gear)
*1st Australian Armoured Brigade Group
(Average, full strength, equipped with Sherman tanks)
*Corps support
- 49th AGRA (9th Heavy Regiment (NZRA), 8th Medium Regiment (NZRA)
- 4th Engineer Regiment (Bn size, Royal Australian Enginners)
- 44th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Bn size, Australian Army)

Army Reserves:
*19th Indian Division
(Average troops, infantry division with two infantry brigades, no combat experience)
*98th Indian Infantry Division
(Average Troops, infantry division with two infantry brigades, no combat experience)
*36th Tank Brigade
(Full strength, equipped with Churchill tanks)

*Gibraltar Garrison


North West African Tactical Air Force

Fighter:
USAAF 27th Fighter-bomber Group (A-36 Apache)
USSAF 234th Fighter Group (P-40 Warhawk
RAF No 244 Wing (Spitfire)

Recce:
SAAF No 60 Squadron (Mosquito)

Bomber
SAAF No 3 Wing (Boston/Baltimore)
USAAF 340th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell)

Airlift:
USAAF Transport Group (enough airlift to land 1 parachute and 1 glider battalion per wave)


NAVAL

Naval Escort:
1 Battleship HMS Valiant
2 Cruisers HMS Emerald and HMS Dauntless
1 Carrier HMS Implacable
2 light Carriers HMS Unicorn and HMS Ravager
2 anti-aircraft ships
13 destroyers

Naval transport capability:
Amphibious assault lift capable of landing one division per wave.

[wulfir]

OK, RetLT - you are invading Spain. Your force is based in French North Africa. The French have agreed to deal with all Spanish possessions in Africa but will otherwise not participate in the invasion.

1)You have the sealift capability to attack with one division in the first wave. Your airlift allows you to attack with one parachute and one glider battalion in the first wave - if the invasion takes place within range of the transport planes based in North Africa. In addition to all other forces you can also use the No 14 Commando for a seaborne landing, maybe as a spearhead.

2) It is belived Spain will fold after only token resistance.

3) The American units are generally greener than some of the Commonwealth ones, but can afford to take more losses. The Americans can draw on more manpower while the Commonwealth ones will have to fight with depleated units if they take losses

4) The following operations in Spain demand a larger, intact, seaport. You do not have any artificial harbours.

5) The Spanish defences are alerted but not considered strong anywhere on the coast. The Spanish navy or air force are not belived capable of disrupting the invasion.

6) I need to know where you attack and with what units?

[RetLT]

Sorry for not responding sooner. Been away for a few days.

I think that I would want to land near Valencia and Barcelona on the west coast to quickly seize harbors. This would also allow a strike into southern France before the Germans have time to fortify the area.

13th Airborne and 7th SAS go in first to secure bridges and cut off reinforcements to the beachheads.

US landings are led by 86th Infantry. Their lack of combat experience is not an issue as resistance should be light. Follow on forces are the 2nd Cav, which can quickly break out from the beachhead.

British landings are led by 3rd South African division with the 42nd Armored and 1st Australian Armored Brigade for the follow up break out.

The Gibraltar garrison, the Norwegian Brigade and the remainder of the Australian units can break out of Gibraltar and head for Malaga and Sevilla. Perhaps our Russian allies could contact some of their friends in the area to help with intelligence and sabotage.

Looks like this will be fun.

[RetLT]

14 Commando seizes the Balearic islands to capture airfields closer to the Spanish coast.

If sealift is not sufficient for 2 landings the Americans go into Valencia and the Barcelona landing is cancelled.

[wulfir]

You have enough sealift for one division in the first wave. If you wish to split the resources up and land roughly half of the South African Division and half of the American Division to establish two different beachheads that is up to you.

At the start of the game only the Gibraltar garrison is located in Gibraltar. You can reinforce it with additional units from your bases in North Africa - this transport will require shipping. If it takes place at the same time as the other landings those other landings must be reduced in size.

You have enough air transport to drop one American parachute and one glider battalion in the first wave.

The 7th Special Air Service Regiment is a parachute capable battalion size formation, although it is smaller than a regular infantry battalion. The troops are trained to operate (in uniform) behind enemy lines to disrupt enemy communications etc. The unit is motorised with MG armed jeeps. The jeeps can also be landed from the air. Most often the idea is to use the force in smaller detachements. If needed the unit can also be used as a (motorised) line infantry formation - though it is less suited to this role. For game purposes you can parachute in this unit on the first day "without extra cost of air transport". It cannot be swapped with other airborne capable units.

In addition to all other operations the No 14 Commando can be landed from the sea without additional "cost of shipping" - this is a unique capability only true for this unit. It cannot be swapped for say the Norwegians or an armoured brigade.

1) Do you want the landings against the Balearic islands to be simultaneous with the other landings, or do you want to occupy them prior to the invasion of the mainland?

2) Divide up the naval escort - what ships are to support each landing.

[troopie]

Are you going to include the Spanish Republican forces in the FFR? They would be happy to go along.

troopie

[wulfir]

I intend to introduce pro-allied Spanish geurillas led and equipped by the British Special Operations Executive as part of the "story". In the initial stages of the invasion the only units under First Army command will be the ones listed above.

Moscow will not help out with anything related to the invasion of Spain however.

[RetLT]

Originally Posted by wulfir

You have enough sealift for one division in the first wave. If you wish to split the resources up and land roughly half of the South African Division and half of the American Division to establish two different beachheads that is up to you.

At the start of the game only the Gibraltar garrison is located in Gibraltar. You can reinforce it with additional units from your bases in North Africa - this transport will require shipping. If it takes place at the same time as the other landings those other landings must be reduced in size.

You have enough air transport to drop one American parachute and one glider battalion in the first wave.

The 7th Special Air Service Regiment is a parachute capable battalion size formation, although it is smaller than a regular infantry battalion. The troops are trained to operate (in uniform) behind enemy lines to disrupt enemy communications etc. The unit is motorised with MG armed jeeps. The jeeps can also be landed from the air. Most often the idea is to use the force in smaller detachements. If needed the unit can also be used as a (motorised) line infantry formation - though it is less suited to this role. For game purposes you can parachute in this unit on the first day "without extra cost of air transport". It cannot be swapped with other airborne capable units.

In addition to all other operations the No 14 Commando can be landed from the sea without additional "cost of shipping" - this is a unique capability only true for this unit. It cannot be swapped for say the Norwegians or an armoured brigade.

1) Do you want the landings against the Balearic islands to be simultaneous with the other landings, or do you want to occupy them prior to the invasion of the mainland?

2) Divide up the naval escort - what ships are to support each landing.

Due to the limited air and naval resources I will go with landing the US airborne and ground units at Valencia. The SAS will go in behind the lines and the Commandos will take the islands simultaneously (No need to tip off that the invasion is coming).

After airfields at Valencia are secured the 7th Canadian division will be brought in by air to reinforce the beachhead.

If enemy forces move on Valencia (and it is strong enough to hold) follow up landings can be made near Barcelona to cut of the enemy's supply lines and path of retreat (ala the Anzio operation) . If the enemy response is in force the follow up landings will have to support the initial beachhead.

4 DDs and one CA will cover the landing in the Balearic Islands and the remainder of the naval units will cover the Valencia landings.

After the Balearic islands are secure, the commandos will come ashore and a small garrison will replace them on the islands. The B-25s, Mosquitoes and P-40s will operate from here while the shorter range fighters will operate from Valencia air base.

[RetLT]

For purposes of a campaign flow chart a DV in the first 1-2 battles after the landings can lead to a Barcelona landing while less than this leads to the follow up landing at Valencia.