Italian Long Campaign

[sigeena]

60 Battles LC with Italy. Some house rules.

1. Map-Size is 80 x 120, so approx. 4 km frontage, with 6 km total depth
2. Timed Objectives at 3pts
3. Objectives will always be spread out, no cluster allowed
4. Tank Heavy Off

First battle is a meeting engagement in Southern France over the Alps in June 1940.

Here is my orbat.



Here's the map.

[sigeena]

I think it's hard to tell the actual relief on the map itself, so I hope the mini-map on the bottom right provides a better perspective.

Basically, the centre of the map is dominated by very high ground (Yellow Star) There is a road running E-W along near the top edge of the map itself. (Red Star)

Alot of forested areas, of particular interest is the large forested area in the centre nearer to the French side. (Red Star)

Bearing in mind the potential for exploitation of the road to quickly access the rear of the map.

My quick plan is as follows. (Blue lines to show approx. company boundaries)

1 Company to move swiftly down the road, to establish flanking position to potential enemy centre, before moving towards the rear of the enemy.
1 Company to move along the bottom of the map, to establish a firebase overlooking the forest in the centre, before moving to wards the rear of the enemy.
1 Company to move along the centre of the map, with intention to secure the dominant ground and the forest on the French side.

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The 1st Company is attached with motor transport to enable swift movement down the road.


The 2nd Company is attached with a Medium Tank Section to probe towards the centre of the map.


The 3rd Company is attached with HMG Section

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The pre-planned spot is for the recon airplane, to observe the centre of the map.

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At Turn 3, 1st Company has established advanced OP position with their Scout Team and AT-Guns. No sign of enemy sighted.



2nd and 3rd Company are lagging behind due to the terrain.

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At around Turn 10, the EN has not been spotted yet and our 1st Company is already in position on the flank. 1 Platoon will continue to move along the road on foot, while the rest of the company prepares to advance to secure the flank of the high ground.

The Scout Section (on motorcycles) have established an OP on the high ground.



At 2nd Company sector, the infantry is moving forward as quickly as possible and expect to reach the top of the objective in the next 5 turns. The tank section has also established an OP on the left flank of the company.



At 3rd Company sector, as they have moved quicker than 2nd Company, I intend to shift their weight towards the forest. 1 Platoon will continue to make their way to the rear of the map along the fringe of the forest.

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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.