A challenge for RetLT: Invasion of Spain

[RetLT]

Let's use psy-ops against the remainder of the island garrisons and see if we can get them to surrender or join us. If they don't we can keep them suppressed and cut off with air and naval units.

The press is having a field day over the amount of Nazi weaponry captured during the Ibiza raid and the public is calling for the ousting of the Fascist leader of Spain as soon as possible

Several op-eds (carefully placed by the OSS and MI-6) are questioning the logic of leaving a Fascist leader in place after Germany and Italy are defeated fearing that it will only rise again there after the war. Argentina is also getting the stink eye from the press.

Landings at Seville should proceed as soon as possible to prevent any fortification/reinforcement by the defenders.

While the navy gets an A+ for their support of the Ibiza raids the airforce gets a C- for failing to achieve air superiority and allowing biplanes to get through.

[wulfir]

Originally Posted by RetLT

Due to the limited air and naval resources I will go with landing the US airborne and ground units at Valencia.

The First Wave:

1) You can parachute in one US Parachute Infantry Battalion (with parachutes).
2) You can land one US Airborne Glider Battalion (with gliders)
3) You can land the complete US 86th Infantry Division.
4) You can land the British 7th SAS Regiment (Bn size light infantry unit motorised with jeeps - combination of parachutes/gliders).


You can land everything at one beach or split them up into multiple beaches.

You can stagger landings to come in at different times if you want the multiple landing options.

Airborne untis can launch their attack(s)at night and attack different locations as well.


OOB of the US 86th Infantry Division:

HQ

341st Infantry Regiment
342nd Infantry Regiment
343rd Infantry Regiment

331st Field Artillery Bn (105mm)
332nd Field Artillery Bn (105mm)
911th Field Artillery Bn (105mm)
404th Field Artillery Bn (155mm)

86th Recon Troop (Mech)
311th Engineer Bn

Divisional service and Supply units

[wulfir]

Valencia is the responsibliity of the 3a Región Militar", which also includes the provinces of Alicante, Castellón de la Plana, Murcia and Albacete. It is garrisioned by the III Army Corps.

Major commands of the Spanish III Army Corps:

31st Infantry Division
32nd Infantry Division

4th Mixed Artillery Regiment
43rd Artillery Regiment
3rd Engineer Regiment
56th Machinegun Regiment
8th Cavalry Regiment

Unknown Coastal Artillery positions - beliveved to have limited combat value.

There might also be additional forces in the region from the Spanish army central reserve.

[RetLT]

Land the 86th at one beach. Since we are attacking a larger force it is better to concentrate our forces and deal with the defending units one at a time. It also allows massed naval and air support.

Airborne (para and gliders) will land inland from the beachhead to cut off escape and reinforcement routes as well as to seize an airfield for follow up forces and to deny its use to the enemy.

SAS is tasked with taking out any artillery units that we have intelligence on otherwise they are to do their signature task of raiding enemy airfields.

HQ would like to link up with the paras by D+2 and have the airfield ready to receive troops and supplies by D+4. If the airfield is operational sooner additional units are to be flow in as soon as possible.

[wulfir]

There is an airfield near MANSIES, about 12 km's west-north-west of the shoreline at VALENCIA. (It is marked on US Army maps from 1943). I guess that will be your target - parachute or glider Bn?

As for the landings on VALENCIA itself - north of the city there are narrow beaches with agricultural fields behind them. South of the city there is a larger strip of beach - in some places about 200 meters wide - here the hinterland is made up of rice paddies surrounding a freshwater lake. (The rice was introduced by the Arabs in the 8th century.)

The rice paddies can screen your landing but at the same time make it hard to advance through if you need to enlarge your bridehead west...

You can assault the Valencia harbour area directly too - although you need the harbour to quickly supply your invasion force and build up your strength. Shooting up the harbour will complicate things...

[RetLT]

Let's use paras to take the airfield. More can be delivered this way than by glider. Their heavy weapons can be brought in by glider later or directly to the airfield if it is operational.

As for the landing let's go right for the harbor area. We are going to have to fight over it sooner or later so the faster it is taken the better.

Gunboat support is preferred to indirect fire to limit the amount of collateral damage.

Air and naval support can assist the paras or prevent reinforcements from reaching the combat area. B-25Hs can support the landings minus their bombs (I can turn them off). We don't want to break too much of the place.

I know this strategy failed at Diep but that was a well defended port. Hopefully our intelligence is correct and the defenses are weaker.

The commander of the 86th is also requesting some spotter planes assist in spotting targets for the gunboats.