A challenge for RetLT: Invasion of Spain

[wulfir]

Balaeric Islands

The enemy forces

Mallorca defences include:
1 oversized Infantry Regiment of 7 battalions
1 artillery regiment
1 coastal artillery regiment
1 anti-aircraft group of unknown size
1 engineer group of unknown size
1 infantry battalion with bicycles
1 tank battalion (it is unclear if it actually has any tanks)


Menorca defences include:
1 infantry regiment
1 mixed artillery/anti-aircraft regiment
1 engineer group of unknown size

Ibiza defences include:
1 infantry regiment

The Spanish Air force has a smaller number of aircraft on Mallorca - nothing believed able to endanger the invasion. It is unknown if any larger ships of the Spanish navy are dedicated to the defence of the islands.

We know the Spaniards are known to be alerted. The fighting value of the Spanish troops on the Balaeric Islands are thought to be limited – old type of equipment, low morale.

Note that during the Spanish Civil war troops loyal to Franco with Italian air support managed to beat back a Republican invasion of Mallorca about 8000 troops strong.

[wulfir]

Allied invasion force, Balaeric Islands:

No 14 Commando:
(About 460 men divided into)
HQ
Heavy Weapons Troop
A Troop
B Troop
C Troop
D Troop
E Troop

Naval Escort
HMS Dauntless
4 Destroyers

Despite previous claims of lack of transport the navy has made possible a limited reinforcement of the landing operation against the Balaeric Islands – you can choose one of the following options to reinforce the operation:

a) One Churchill tank platoon drawn from the 36th Tank Brigade.

b) One Engineer Company

c) One Rifle Company

d) One 25-pounder artillery battery, with motor transport

e) One 6 pounder anti-tank gun battery, with motor transport


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1) Pick one reinforcement option. See above, you are limted to only one option.

2) Pick an invasion beach, or several invasion beaches. You can land on one island or all three if you wish. I need to know this in order to start building the invasion map(s).

3) You can have considerable air support flying from Africa. Do you want your air power to focus on Close Air Support, Anti-Shipping, interdicting Spanish movement, "terror bomb" the cities on the island to break the enemy will to resist or somethig else...?

[RetLT]

The defenses are a bit stronger than I expected. Hopefully close air support and better troop quality can make the difference.

Use air support as close air and bring the tanks. 460 men vs a full regiment is a tough fight. We may need to divert a regiment from the Valencia landing to assist. At the minimum the US glider unit may have to assist.

Due to the fact that the invaders will be outnumbered I suggest that all landing be at one beach. This way we face only part of the defending force at once. A snake swallows an elephant one bite at a time.

[RetLT]

Land at Ibiza. It is the least defended and we only need one airfield. The SeeBees can make more for us later.

The other islands can be bypassed. Air and naval units can suppress their airfields. The Spanish airforce is not that strong anyway.

[Warwick]

No, no, no! Not Ibiza they'll go partying and forget all about the war.
Besides I thought the Brits had already occupied Ibiza.

[wulfir]

No tourists allowed in this what if campaign!

[wulfir]

Ok, jumping off!

Here is a two scenario campaign.

The first scenario is a one turn long "filler", No 14 Commando, reinforced with a tank platoon, embark the transport ships bound for Ibiza.

The second scenario represents the actual invasion.
Your mission is to secure the Ibiza town harbour and the nearby air strip.

Enough landing craft to ensure a resonable freedom of movement have been provided.

You also have some smaller naval craft to close in AA protection as it is possible Spanish air flying from Mallorca might interfere.

You have naval gunfire support on call, including the 15in and 6in guns of HMS Valiant. The Americans will fly Close Air Support with their B-25s (ignore all penalties for overuse of artillery).

The Commandos are high quality troops but weak in manpower, but with naval and air support they are belived able to beat the Spanish garrison.

However, already in Algiers it becomes evident that no surprised can be achieved for OPERATION OXCART.

[RetLT]

Lt. Col. Sparks is pleased to report that the Ibiza airfield was captured in 41 turns along with the Spanish Commander. Losses were 78 men and one landing barge. No squads were lost entirely.

I landed 1/2 my force on the north side of the peninsula and the rest on the main land just below the tip of the peninsula.

Spanish gunboats were dealt with by the Insect class gunboat.

After securing the town all units made their way towards the airfield.

4 aircraft were damaged and all the B-25Hs were held in reserve in case of a counter attack.

[RetLT]

[wulfir]

You have defeated the Spanish garrison. The remainder of the defending Ibiza regiment - a reinforced battalion deployed elsewhere on the island - surrender without a fight.

Do you wish to continue the offensive against the other two islands?

Also, feel free to select the invasion beach/beaches for the landing operation against mainland Spain!