Western Front 1944 - Nemo vs Heldenkaiser

[nemo]

This on-going AAR will mirror the one Dierk (Heldenkaiser) is maintaining here for our Western Front 1944 game. We won't be reading each other's AAR to keep the game interesting and open - so please use caution in the eventual comments in order to avoid cross-pollination between threads :smoke:[FONT=Courier New, monospace]
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

WESTERN FRONT 1944
Scenario version 2.63


Players
Allies: Heldenkaiser
Axis: Nemo


The overall objective for the Germans in this scenario will be to prevent the Allies from reaching the Fatherland. To this end, and taking into account the massive Allied material superiority, a forward defence strategy will have to be balanced with the needs of force preservation.


If at all possible, operations will aim at slowing the Allied tempo, disrupting any schedule they may have set by using key terrain and concentration of forces, while at the same time minimizing friendly losses and avoiding unit destruction. Fighting withdrawal should be the method of choice over static defence.


Needless to say, while this program may look sensible and workable on paper, it remains to be seen what will remain of it after the initial shock with the enemy.

 

[nemo]

Turn 1 – May 13th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]Allied air superiority is uncontested (191 to 34) throughout the theatre. While close air support can be expected to be intensive in favour of Allied troops, there is no noticeable Allied air interdiction effort.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The sole active front for the time being is southern Italy, where US 6TH Army Group arrays no less than eight corps against the beleaguered troops of 10. and 14. Armee, mustering a combined strength of four corps (LXXVI Pz Korps, I FJ Korps, XIV Pz Korps, LI Gebirgs Korps) plus the corps-sized Gruppe Baade.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]From Pescara to Cassino, German troops are in contact with :[/FONT]

• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]BR V Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]BR XIII Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]BR X Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]PL II Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]US II Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]FR I Corps[/FONT]
• [FONT=Courier New, monospace]FR II Corps[/FONT]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]and elements of the British 8th Army and the French expeditionary corps.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]At Anzio, the Allied beachhead is held by the balance of US II Corps plus an array of yet unidentified support assets.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Allies have pressed home determined attacks against the Hitler and Gustav Lines, forcing their way through the lightly held positions of the weakest infantry divisions in the line (71. ID and 334. ID)[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Pescara and Cassino have fallen and Allied armoured spearheads have pushed several kilometres into the German defensive positions.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]At Anzio, US armoured elements have broken the German defensive ring to the south, in an attempt at linking up with the Allied troops coming from Napoli.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcements were released this turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Putting to profit the absence of aerial interdiction, rail lines are intensively used for long-distance movement.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Only defensive moves are planned this turn, with makeshift fixes for the holes torn in the front lines in Italy. Army group assets (mainly anti-tanks outfits) are rushed to the front, while LXXVI. PzK and LXXV. Korps are on the move to bolster the defence there. It is doubtful that the Panzerjaeger will be able to hold for long, even on good defensive terrain, but they may gain the time needed for the heavy units to join the front before the Allied achieve a breakthrough.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]An assortment of infantry, armour, engineer and artillery units are moving from Germany or occupied Benelux to Normandy and northern France, in anticipation of the looming Allied attempt there.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]As for air units, all Kampfgeschwadern are brought back from France to the interior and ordered to rest and reconstitute, as there is little point in engaging them in a lopsided air contest with the Allies. Jagdgeschwadern, except for the ones most depleted, are all sent to southern Italy where it is expected they will be able to establish at least local air parity so that ground operations don’t get thwarted wy Allied bombers and fighter-bombers.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All moves have been made without enemy hindrance. A few units in Italy have reached the front lines with too short a movement allowance to allow for digging in and improving their defensive status.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 18 friendly / 40 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 34 friendly / 191 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0/0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 20[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 4[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2006 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 2 – May 16th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, the enemy has made substantial progress in the centre and on the southern wing, achieving a link-up with the Anzio beachhead. As a result, US II Corps now holds the southernmost end of the Allied line with the French expeditionary corps to its right.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Again, enemy advances were realised against worn-out and relatively soft infantry divisions, the LI. Gebirgs-Korps being badly mauled in the process. Two divisions (5. GbD and 305. ID) are trapped on what used to be the Gustavstellung.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcements were released this turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Units en route to the Italian front will move to front-line positions, notably the armoured and mechanised ones, with the idea of creating a strong continuous line where possible and at least exert strong zones of control elsewhere. The line Roma (inclusive) – L’Aquila (inclusive) – Pescara (exclusive) should be held in sufficient strength, at least until the northern France landing takes place.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All units are in position on the main line of resistance; some exposed positions in the line are expected to fall next turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 81 friendly / 136 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 14 friendly to 152 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0/0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 27[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 3[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2014 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 3 – May 20th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]L’Aquila has been the centre of enemy operations during the turn, with what appears as two majors attacks undertaken – to no avail at this point.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Despite this local setback, the Allies have made some progress in the centre of the line, with the Canadian I Corps pushing a combined arms force north of L’Aquila and cutting the Tivoli-Rieti road and the French repulsing the 29. PzG Division [/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcements were released this turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]34. and 162. ID will move by rail to Rome, to be dispatched to the front next turn.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Hermann Goering Panzer Division, positioned just northwest of L’Aquila, will attack the Canadian armoured spearhead, namely the 1st Armoured Brigade, left in mobile status at the end of the turn, in an effort to eliminate the Allied threat in the sector.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]90. PzG Division will retreat from its exposed situation towards more defensible positions prepared by 14. Armee’s engineer brigade.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]508. sPzrAbt and its full complement of 48 Tiger tanks will make a probe against US 1st armored and 34th infantry divisions, with long range artillery support.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Reinforcement units (mainly tank destroyers and heavy armour battalions, are pressed into front-line duty to fill the gaps in the line.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Meanwhile, forces in northern France are arrayed in anticipation of the Allied landings in the best possible way given their numbers. The Mediterranean coast defensive system for its part is, by any measure, wholesomely inadequate.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Three combat rounds.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy air interdiction, rated at 2%, has made its presence felt on the battlefield with several attacks per round.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The HG attacks went well and forced the Canadian armour to retreat in disarray. Unfortunately, no fresh units could be brought in time to reinforce the endangered sector.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]North of Anzio, several rounds of attacks by the heavy armour batallion, even when joined by the powerful 4. FJD , proved ineffective.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 64 friendly / 234 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 11 friendly / 158 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 2%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 37[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 5[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2022 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 4 – May 23rd, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]Unrelenting Allied pressure has kept German forces at a tactical disadvantage all along the line. L’Aquila has fallen and its defenders are in full retreat or altogether routed. Allied progression in the Colli Albani south of Rome now places the Italian capital city at immediate risk.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In the centre, the British and the Canadian have pushed two armoured spearheads through the thin German defensive system, with the apparent objective of surrounding German forces expelled from L’Aquila and destroying the German line as a whole.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcements were released this turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]An assault gun brigade will be railed from northern Italy to San Benedetto on the Adriatic coast to boost the sector’s defence. The newly deployed 162. and 34. ID are pressed into front-line service in an effort to block the British advance.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]A defensive line will be established further north, at the point where the Italian peninsula has the shortest width, namely from Rimini to hex 92,74 – eleven hexes only need to be held, in contrast with the current seventeen. It is hoped that it’ll be possible to establish an operational reserve to deal with Allied initiatives. General retreat will begin by turn 6, with priority given to armoured and mechanised units.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Two reserve divisions are taken from the Western Front pool – 406. and 402. ID – to prepare field fortifications in the area.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In the meantime, counter-attacks will be mounted against the base of the British penetration to see whether BR 4th and 6th Armoured divisions can be effectively cut off. The armoured reconnaissance regiment leading the Canadian advance will be subjected to probes by the engineer brigade brought in the line.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Rail movements went without problem. As for the spoiling attacks against the Allied spearheads, they both proved utterly ineffective, leaving the attacking armoured outfits further weakened and facing imminent isolation and destruction.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 41 friendly / 186 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 7 friendly / 146 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 2%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 45[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 5[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2030 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 5 – May 27th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Allies have continued their progression after the fall of L’Aquila, effectively cutting the 15. PzGD and HG PzD while creating a huge hole in the defence line. Further south, the littoral road has been cleared and Allied armour is posed to take Rome and make a vast sweeping move along the Thyrrenian shores. In the process, another pocket of German forces has been created, in which 94. ID, 26. PzD and 90. PzGD are entangled and lost for all practical purposes.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcement has been released this turn. A large proportion of forces are in reorganisation, notably among those units cut off, which renders all the more difficult an attempt at rescuing them.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]A cohesive defence is no longer a viable proposition under the current conditions. All relatively fresh division (34. ID, 162. ID, 3. PzGD) and corps or army assets are to break contact and retreat due north.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All available units in the L’Aquila pocket will make an all-out assault to the north, trying to dislodge the CA 1st Division and the dreaded armoured reconnaissance regiment. 90. PzGD will try to retake Tivoli from British hands and thus secure a wider corridor of escape.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All operational Geschwadern will be brought back to Germany to rest and re-equip.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Another reserve division (526. ID) will be railed to Firenze to bolster the makeshift defensive system that’s being established there. [/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The attacks achieved nothing but further depleting the attackers’ supply and strength, sending most of them into reorganisation. A few units have begun the retreat but it is doubtful they will manage to avoid being caught up by the Allied advance next turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 58 friendly / 177 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 6 friendly / 151 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 0%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 46[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 6[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2030 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 6 – May 30th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy progression has effectively broken the German line, with very little left in the way of organised defence from Rome to the Adriatic coast.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]US II and VI Corps are in hot pursuit of the fleeing German defenders, heading for Civitavecchia and Viterbo along the good roads north of Rome. The British and Canadian keep pushing through the mountainous terrain in the centre, backed up by the Polish and the French.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]No reinforcements were released this turn.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]26. PzD and 90. PzGD are routed and entrapped south-east of Tivoli along with the still operational 14. Pioneer Brigade and very little hope of getting out to friendly lines. Remnants of 29. and 3. PzGD, 4. FJD, 65., 92., 362., 71. and 278. ID are still in contact with the enemy on the former defensive line.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Most Luftwaffe units in Italy are reorganising.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All available units will begin to move northwards with the objective of reaching the projected defence line (most notably 356. and 162. ID).[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The engineer brigade trapped near Tivoli will make an all-out attempt at breaking the Allied lines by attacking the British armoured brigade occupying the town.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]362., 92. ID, fractions of 20. LWD and the Tigers of 508. sPzAbt will attack US 34th ID (hex 105,87 to 105,86) to try to open an escape route.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The desperate 14. Pionier-Brigade attempt at breaking free only resulted, as expected, in its total destruction. The other attack had a better outcome as US 34th ID was dislodged from its positions and forced on the retreat. As a result, the Tiger battalion was able to break free and regroup further north on the road to Viterbo while the two infantry divisions are now in Rome itself.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 26 friendly / 102 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 15 friendly / 159 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 0%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 40[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 8[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2022 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 7 – June 3rd, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]Spearheaded by special forces units, the Allies have made great progress along the Thyrrenian coast, reaching Civitavecchia and the outskirts of Viterbo. 26. PzD and 90. PzGD have been destroyed and all units still in the area of Rome and Tivoli have their line of retreat cut. In the centre, XIII Corps is reaching Terni while British troops from 8th Army and V Corps are increasing their pressure along the Adriatic littoral.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]44. Grenadier-Division is available near Regensburg.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]3. PzGD, 65. ID and 508. sPzAbt have been caught up by the enemy advance and will have to disengage before being able to retreat further north. [/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Retreat is still very much the order of the day, as well as bridge blowing wherever possible. All operational Geschwadern in Italy will be regrouped north of Firenze.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]While 65. ID and the heavy tank battalion managed to regroup north of Viterbo, 3. PzGD remained stuck between US special forces and elements of US 1st armored division.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 22 friendly / 117 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 18 friendly / 155 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 0%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 37[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 11[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2016 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 8 – June 6th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany it is! The Allies have landed en masse in Brittany, on the whole length of the available assault front, managing to establish a beachhead everywhere but Dinard. Elements of two armies (US 1st and British 2nd) and four corps (British I and XXX, US V and the I Airbourne) are ashore in strength.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Two US divisions, one British and a collection of commando units were air-dropped right behind the assault zone, causing further havoc in the thin German defence. The Allied air forces have blown up every bridge in a 300 km radius around the landing zone, to further disrupt any German counter-move.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The sea-landing wasn’t free from its own set of problems and four divisions and a combat brigade have remained afloat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, the rhythm of Allied advance intensified as the last German points of resistance on the so-called Viterbo line collapsed altogether.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Civitavecchia is in american hands while the Poles are seconding the British in the centre: Terni and Foligno have fallen, as well as San Benedetto on the Adriatic.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]485. PzJgrAbt with its full complement of 48 Marder III is available near Weimar. II/JG 53 and its 31 Me 109 are also on the reinforcements roster this turn.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The majority of German mobile forces in northern France is arrayed in front of the Normandy, Dieppe and Calais landing areas. All defence forces in Brittany proper are either fixed or with no movemement allowance left, but for 275.ID in Vannes and 265.ID in Quimper. The former will move to meet and engage the British airhead on the Vannes-Rennes road while the latter will move and engage the commando outfits blocking the Quimper-St Brieuc road.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Forces in Normandy will move towards the mont Saint Michel zone to form a solid hinge around which further forces, brought from Dieppe and Calais, will move to try to contain the Allied advance from Brittany.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All available air units will converge on Brittany, Normandy and Ile-de-France. The figthers will provide whatever measure of air cover they can for the figher-bomber and bomber units to attack the still-afloat Allied units.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, the objective will be to reinforce the Firenze line with whatever force is at hand and try to extricate the Tigers of 508.sPzAbt and the battered 65.ID, still embattled north of Viterbo.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The air raids proved to be a quite costly affair, with two-thirds of the Luftwaffe out of combat as a result. They managed to inflict some casualties on the embarked units (up to 30%) yet no decisive blow was dealt to the Allied incoming second wave.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Both 265. and 275.ID have dislodged their airbourne opponents and have assumed defensive positions. It is doubtful however that they will cause more than a slight delay to Allied operations in the area. Two divisions from LXXIV AK are blocking the St Michel exit from Brittany, while a makeshift collection of forces (mainly anti-tank and assault guns) is racing to Rennes to establish a roadblock. Further north, 13 divisions are on the move to Brittany while 9.PzD has reached Beaune from southern France.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, both the heavy tank battalion and the lone division at Viterbo were unable to disengage and will probably be lost next turn. The Firenze line is now continuous, stretching from Rimini to the south of Livorno, but it is a really thin grey line the Allies will put to the test within the next couple of turns.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 182 friendly / 715 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 11 friendly / 130 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 0%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 59[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 14[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2030 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGES[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Allied landing in Brittany - start of turn 8[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Allied landing in Brittany - end of turn 8[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The projected Firenze line[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, Allied progression continues unimpeded, effortlessly pushing in front of it the last remnants of organised German troops. In Brittany, the Allied bridgehead is in expansion, albeit still confined to the peninsula itself. More army corps are ashore (US XIX and VII in the east, Canadian II in the west). The number of Allied divisions in theatre is estimated at 16+, plus army- and corps-level brigades.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Two reconstituted divisions from Gruppe Baade are available in Germany, to be moved to Italy. Fragments of destroyed units and a Panzerjaeger battalion make the balance of reinforcements for this turn.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Brittany, all units in contact with the enemy during the previous turn are either routed or retreated with no movement allowance left. All garrisoned units are now active. The Mont Saint-Michel hinge is firmly in friendly hands, despite being under pressure from three US divisions.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Reinforce the Saint-Michel area, seal the peninsula exit from there to Rennes and then farther south following the Villaine river down to Saint-Nazaire.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brest (with the benefit of a supply point) to form a redoubt with its garrison division augmented with 343. ID and 3. FJD[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The flow of reinforcements to Brittany has kept steady, with the first elements of a defensive line established from Mont Saint-Michel to the south of Rennes.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 142 friendly / 321 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 9 friendly / 128 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 0%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 61[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 16[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2030 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany peninsula - start of turn
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Brittany, the Allies are reaching the southern end of the peninsula, reaching Lorien and Vannes but have failed so far in their attempt to seize the latter.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, Allied forces are still short of Siena and Pesaro.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]92. ID is available in Lorient. Elements of 92. PzGD and a Flak regiment form the rest of this turn reinforcements.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]92. ID will be extracted by sea from Lorient and directe to Saint Nazaire. The sealing of the Brittany peninsula will be completed, notably with I SS PzK arrayed from Mont Saint-Michel to Rennes. XLVII. PzK and LXXXII. AK will be placed in reserve on the rail line around Angers. Engineers will continue bridge repair work to reestablish full-working LOCs for theatre.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]A complete defensive line is now in place to contain the allied bridgehead, although the southern third has to be reinforced yet.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]An opportunity attack from 343. ID near Brest against XXX Corps’ 11th Hussars ends up with the division out of position and routed.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 37 friendly / 157 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 15 friendly / 125 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 45[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 15[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2015 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany defensive line - end of turn
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]
In Brittany, the Allies have unsuccessfully attacked Brest, Lorient, Vannes and Rennes as their troops fanned across the peninsula. More US unidentified divisions seem to have come ashore near Dinard.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, the French and US Rangers have established contact with the Firenze line from the Thyrrenian littoral up to Siena. Further east, the British have overcome Pesaro.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Five battalion-sized outfits, made out of reconstituted units, with curious places for the reappearance of said units: the battered remnants of 715. ID have for instance been made available right in front of the advancing Allies in Grosseto and Arezzo.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Brittany, several routed units have fallen back on the defensive line barring the exit to the Allied forces,[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Firenze line will be deepened by breaking down divisions into brigades to provide a second defensive line. Long-range artillery units will be evenly spaced to be able to lend fir support along the whole length of the front. 12. FJ StuG brigade will be railed to Firenze as a reinforcement.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Brittany, digging in will be the order of the day, with more infantry divisions placed in second line to increase the depth of the defensive system. A projected counter-strike force, centred around XLVII. PzK and LXXXI. AK will be regrouped near Nantes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Work on bridges will continue (it'll be almost complete by the end of the turn).[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All movements have proceeded without enemy hindrance.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 81 friendly / 457 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 14 friendly / 118 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 48[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 15[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2018 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany peninsula situation - start of turn
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]
The fate of the Brittany peninsula is sealed, as the Allies have taken all ports and cities but Lorient. The attack against the German defensive line, stretching from Mont Saint-Michel to Saint-Nazaire, has begun, with Rennes taking the most damage. By contrast, only a fraction of Allied forces have made contact with the newly formed ‘Firenze’ line, although Rimini has been subjected to intense attacks during the Allied turn.[/FONT]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Two reconstituted divisions (188 Res. GD and 305. ID) form the bulk of reinforcements for this turn, with another Luftwaffe infantry regiment and various Flak battalions making the balance.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Defences will be improved wherever feasible, both in Brittany and Italy, by digging in and rotating units so that those that bore the brunt of the Allied assault can be replaced with fresher units.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Lorient garrison will remain in place as long as possible: it is actually keeping busy the equivalent of four Allied divisions.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Reinforcements will move to Italy along with LXXXVIII. AK from Normandy (headquarters and 16. LWD are to be railed there).[/FONT]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All movements proceeded as planned, without enemy interference.[/FONT]

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 117 friendly / 637 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 14 friendly / 104 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 58[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 18[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2025 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany peninsula situation - start of turn[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 13 – June 24th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]
Lorient has fallen, its garrison overwhelmed by British and Canadian vastly superior forces.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Allies seem to concentrate their offensive efforts on Rimini and Rennes, with the latter nearly surrounded as Allied troops border its outskirts in strentgth.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Elements of II. SSPzK have been released in Germany, with 9. and 10. SSPzD due within three weeks. A host of smaller units (including an Italian Bersaglieri regiment) are available, along a G.55 fighter group.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Recently arrived elements of II. SSPzK will move to Brittany, the rest of the reinforcements is destined to Italy. LXXXVIII AK will continue its movement south, up to Cesena, by rail if rail capacity allows.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Rennes and Rimini will be reinforced with fresh combined arms elements (348.ID for Rennes, a makeshift assortment of Panzergrenadier, StuGs and Panzerjaeger for Rimini).[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Replacement for front line duty of worn-out units by fresher ones will continue when possible.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All movements proceeded as planned, without enemy interference.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 91 friendly / 370 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 13 friendly / 120 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 66[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 19[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2032 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 14 – June 27th, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Brittany, Rennes eventually succumbed to Allied pressure, with 348. ID and 1. SSPzD severely beaten in the process and hex 18,41 lost. Furthermore, the Villaine river has been crossed at hex 17,44 which could grant the Allies a toehold out of the peninsula and its difficult terrain.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Rimini has been repeatedly attacked but so far resisted the New-Zealanders and British assaults.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]The Allied seem to be concentrating their attention and efforts on the eastern portion of the Firenze line, as only a thin line of Rangers holds the westernmost section, from Siena exclusive to the Thyrrenian littoral.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Reconstituted elements of units destroyed in Italy are made available, as well as Fw-190 Geschwader.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]2. SSPzD will counter-attack US 30th ID at 17,44 and throw it back in the river, while 6. FJD will mount a limited attack from 19,42 to expel the Allies from the southern fringe of Rennes.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]As usual, Rimini defences will be beefed-up, most notably by inserting the newly-arrived LXXXVIII AK in the front line. Reinforcements to move to Italy.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Both Brittany counter attacks were successful, if costly in terms of readiness, supply and materiel for the attacking units. US 30th Division has been thrown back in disarray, while the hex immediately south of Rennes has been cleared of the US engineers occupying it.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All other movements proceeded without enemy interference.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 74 friendly / 422 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 10 friendly / 118 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 72[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 22[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2035 of X – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Brittany peninsula - end of turn
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Turn 15 – July 1st, 1944

[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ENEMY DISPOSITIONS[/FONT] [FONT=Courier New, monospace]The news has it that the port at Lorient is functional again, allowing for a greater flow of supply to reach the Allied lines. In Brittany, the Villaine river doesn't prevent the Allies from keeping the utmost pressure on the battered German line.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]In Italy, X Corps (New Zealanders and British troops) has been violently pounding Rimini for the better part of the turn (five combat rounds apparently), to no avail until now.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]FORCES AND REINFORCEMENTS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Front line units, both in France and Italy, are being worn out at an alarming rate. In front of Rennes for instance, 3. SSPzD, 21. PzD, 12. SSPzD and Lehr PzD have taken a beating, which shows in their readiness status and will render them useless at a later stage for eventual counter-attacks.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]A host of reconstituted units (most of them destroyed earlier in Italy) are available again, along the advance party (Headquarters) of LXXXV. AK.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]PLANNED OPERATIONS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Where possible, armour divisions will be replaced in on the front lines by fresh infantry units supported by anti-tank, assault guns or armour battalions. Armoured divisions will pull back to rest and refit, forming a the second line on which attacked units will safely fall back (at least it is assumed) - Rimini, the Mont Saint-Michel area and the Rennes sector are being specially concerned.[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]I SS PzK elements will continue their westward movement (501. sPzAbt by rail), while the balance of LXXXVIII AK will continue to Italy.[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]RESULT ASSESSMENT[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]All movements proceeded without enemy interference. All the aforementioned armoured divisions have pulled out of the front lines and regrouped one or two hexes farther (see attached image).[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]END OF TURN STATUS[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air losses: 91 friendly / 435 enemy aircraft[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air superiority: 16 friendly / 132 enemy[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Air interdiction: 0% / 1%[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy held objectives: 0[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Enemy loss penalty: 70[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly held objectives: 1990[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Friendly loss penalty: 22[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Victory level: 2033 of 1990 – Overwhelming victory[/FONT]


[FONT=Courier New, monospace]ATTACHED IMAGE[/FONT]
[FONT=Courier New, monospace]Rennes sector, with the four PzD pulled out of the line.
[/FONT]

 

[nemo]

Am I the only one seeing my attached PNG images a bit... blurry? The original screenshots certainly look good on the computer however.

 

[Bob Cross]

Am I the only one seeing my attached PNG images a bit... blurry? The original screenshots certainly look good on the computer however.

File name I see is: WF1944_Brittany_Turn015.jpg

So, it would seem that it's a .jpg, not a .png.

 

[nemo]

File name I see is: WF1944_Brittany_Turn015.jpg

So, it would seem that it's a .jpg, not a .png.

It's all the more curious as the file I uploaded is indeed a .png one, and it says so on the thumbnail legend. Maybe an automatic conversion by the forum software, with a quality loss somewhere in the process? I'll try uploading .jpg files for the following ones, to see if it solves the problem.