The Byzantine Free States have always been backed by the British Commonwealth to prevent any Italian ambition in the region, but after the disastrous 1940’s Winter War in Yugoslavia, the Commonwealth is busy licking its wounds.
Sensing an opportunity, an Italian Consul gambles among rising tensions in Albania (which may or may not have been incited by our agents) and acts! Elements of the X Legione under his command have already taken a couple fording spots on the Rubicon without any reaction from the local Byzantine troops. This area has never been of particular strategic importance until the Byzantines built a railway that connected Tirana and Valona. Here the tracks run closest to the Rubicon, and the area lies at the border of two Thema’s areas of competence, according to our intelligence.
As the Legatus in command of the operations, my orders are to cross the river in force, conquer the city of Lezhe cutting the railway and highway, and open the main river crossing at Mamurras.
The I and II Coorte will lead the way with their Centuria Divisions: elite mechanized troops, each recruited from one of the 12 most important Etruscan cities, the Dodecapolis. Their armored APCs and light tanks will provide enough punch to provide plenty of support to our assault units: the Arditi Brigades.
10/3/1941
The plan is rather simple: the I Coorte in the north will have to cross the river and move southwest, threatening the northern side of Mamurras. It has to move fast to avoid being stopped at the nearby river by the Mamurras’ defenders.
In the center, the III Coorte will feint a direct attack at Mamurras forcing the enemy XXXIII Thema to keep his units there. The bridges and crossings are well defended, but
The II Coorte will advance from the south, crossing another small river at Kurbnesh and then either attacking Patos or take Reps and help the assault on Mamurras.
Operations start smoothly: the I Coorte advances and engages a single Hoplitai Regiment inflicting high losses with a Centuria Regiment and the 25° Arditi Brigade. The 11° and 13° Bombardieri wings hit the enemy infantry in the vicinity, escorted by our Caccia wings.
Our heavy artillery starts pounding the Byzantine fortifications near the Mamurras bridge. In the south, the II Coorte is having some trouble crossing the river. Only the 24° Arditi Brigade managed to cross.
11/3/1941
After two days of shelling from our heavy 150mm artillery, the 60th Limitanei Division assaults the Byzantine fortifications at Mamurras.
In the north, the 13° Bombardieri wing has been assaulted by Greek interceptors and despite the escort fighters inflicting high losses to the attackers, the Italian bombers have been decimated. The remaining 11° Bombardieri flies in formation while my Fighters gang up on the enemy’s 3rd Peltastes Wing: those CAS planes could wreck the Arditi’s assault guns, so it’s better to down as many as I can. The I Coorte pushes back the 76th Hoplitai Division with high losses.
Down south, the II Coorte is still trying to cross the Rubicon.
12/3/1941
The 25° Arditi Brigade rushes forward taking the bridge north of Mamurras, while the 12th Divisione Motorizzata takes care of the remains of the enemy Hoplitai. The I Corps is now free to swing south.
The 60th Limitanei is suffering losses from the enemy artillery shelling from the opposite shore of the Rubicon, but thanks to our heavy artillery’s support it’s slowly fighting its way through the enemy fortifications.
The II Coorte has built a second field bridge across the river, so the Corps can finally cross it en masse. With the 7th “Arretium” Division establishing a perimeter around the bridgehead, the 24° Arditi is free to advance and engage the 16th Koursorses Division that lies ahead.
13/3/1941
I Coorte’s 5th “Veio” Division moves south and together with the 25° Alpini Brigade attacks the 36th Koursorses Division guarding the northern side of Mamurras. Meanwhile, the 61st Limitanei Division comes to the aid of the 60th as the enemy keeps reinforcing the fortifications with fresh troops. The heavy artillery battalion stops firing and rests the barrels for the day.
The II Coorte engages the 16th Koursorses Division, crushing one of its Battalions and crippling another. The enemy motorized troops had briefly isolated the 24° Arditi Brigade, but the Corps has now entirely crossed the Rubicon and is deploying its full strength.
