Allied Operations: Italy - Meager Replacements Run

[Tassadar]

After a bit of a struggle with imgBB, I am finally able to start the ARR for the latest DLC. As it is a longer series, I was thinking hard how to best represent the idea behind the campaign and still risked massively missing the mark once the actual DLC launches. Still, some unpredictability should make this a fun attempt. I won't be doing any very historical adjustments to the core force this time, as it really only does work in series like Elite: Ghost Division. Some inspiration for unit naming will come from history, as tribute to Allied troops who fought in the war.

British side will represent the more infantry-focused, siege element of my army, relying on massive towed artillery and precision tactical bombers in the air. The American element will be more mobile and focused on self-propelled units, punching through weak points or trying to exploit openings, while in the air should rely on more massive-scale, strategic bombing runs. I'll start with the British force, then continue with the American side.

Difficulty - Generalissimus

Traits - Auxiliary Force, Delayed Reinforcements, Inefficient Supply, Liberator, Old Guard, Terrain Expert

The idea for the challenge this time is simple - use Delayed Reinforcements (a fist attempt at this trait) to represent the challenge of transporting men and equipment over the Mediterranean. This is combined with Inefficient Supply to signify the logistical strain of having a combination of British and American cores. As for positive traits selected, I have chosen Liberator to improve prestige and add flavor, Terrain Expert to slightly decrease losses taken while I won't be able to repair mid-mission, Old Guard to have a failsafe in case I mess up, and Auxiliary Force to have some "volunteers" that will support most dangerous assignments and take the hits for the team.

I was thinking of also using Limited Supply, but there is frankly no real point. Delayed Reinforcements already makes my replacement situation lean towards taking as few losses as possible, so the effect would be negligible. It could affect my ability to use Auxiliary Force, that's true, but for that, I plan to try and rely on some captured equipment in addition to regular (when it is available) and see how it works out.

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Operation Ladbroke

Hero:


Starting off with not a very powerful hero. I would probably add him to some air unit normally, but for the time being I have none. Thus I grant a small bonus to recon 56th Recce Rgt that I plan to upgrade to armored cars as soon as I have the chance. It will help snipe valuable targets over the first few turns of each mission.

Starting Prestige: 600

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry)
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - Willys Jeep - Thorough Preparation
No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - Willys Jeep

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Lorry)

Artillery

64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - QF 25 pdr (Lorry)

Highlights


First focus is this small, isolated coastal battery. No challenge thanks to an overwhelming attack by infantry.


It's just too tempting not to isolate this peninsula with my infantry and make life so much easier in the following turns. There's some risk these forces will be attacked from two directions, but I am willing to take it.


Ah, an even better place to encircle the entire Italian defense in the area. This gives me two lines of units that isolate a massive part of the map. Clearly the scenario was designed like this on purpose.


Paratroopers land around Putney. The mission is dangerous, possibly requires their sacrifice, but the possible benefit is far greater than the loss of a few auxiliary units.


If I took the encirclement power traits, this mission would have been a breeze!


Real fighting only happens around Ponte Grande. A few auxiliary infantry units give their lives for the success of the operation.


My heavily damaged core forces spend their time dealing with low-risk targets, like the local bunkers.

Summary

Final Prestige: 4692 (up 4092)

Overall

I feel this was a solid start to the campaign. Usually I am not a fan of missions designed to be beaten in a very linear, specific way, but in the case of Operation Ladbroke this setup works. It's likely since that is only the first scenario and thus extremely satisfying to pull off such a large scale encirclement with just a few units. I'd go as far as to call this a very well designed tutorial. Even by pure accident it can teach new players the importance of cutting off supply in an organic way, supported by the map construction. A solid start that gives me hope for the missions to come.

As for the difficulty with the selected traits, things were not too bad so far. Abundance of auxiliary units and reliance of encirclement suppression meant that I could minimize the damage to my core army, but as seen on screens, even then the losses were quite high. Ironically, the final massive prestige gain only occurred since I did not spend a single point on mid-mission replacements. This represents an unusual dilemma, where replacing losses only at the start of a new scenario will cost less, but potentially might mean that my units take more damage than they would have at full strength. The long-term effect on prestige balance remains unknown for now.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - British Landing

Hero:


Now that's an actually massively useful hero given my circumstances. Between the choice to select an infantry hero and a tank class hero, I went for infantry. In return, I got an ability that will be quite handy given the Delayed Reinforcements general trait. It is not groundbreakingly powerful, but those single points of replacements given freely each time I don't attack will add up and allow the unit to be much more efficient in longer scenarios.

New Units Commissioned:

501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry)
7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB HW Inf 43 (Lorry)
44th Royal Tank Rgt - M3 Stuart
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine III
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I
58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry)
52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry)

The game basically made the choice for me when it comes to unit selection, but it's actually not too bad. While I prefer more player freedom, the plan was for an infantry heavy British core anyway, thus this selection works well. There's also a fine choice of tanks, extra artillery and a subtle AA cover.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

5th CA Infantry 43 (Truck)
26th CA Infantry 43 (Truck)
75mm 75/27 (Truck) - OS12

Canadian forces join the fight to assist! Some infantry, as well as captured Italian 75mm 75/27 artillery. Why bother using my own equipment when I have viable spares?

New Equipment Provided:

56th Reconnaissance Regiment - Humber AC Mk.IV

Jeeps are fine, but a bit too squishy for my liking. I change one to a proper armored car with decent stats.

Starting Prestige: 3351

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry)
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry)
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - First Aid
7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - *

Tank

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M3 Stuart
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine III
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - * - Thorough Preparation
No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - *

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 6 pounder (Lorry)

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry)
64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry)

Highlights


Extra slots after the capture of Pachino airfield are spent on a fighter unit. No. 92 Squadron RAF joins the two auxiliary gifts.


Commando raid on the road near Cassibile allows me to secure an extra airfield and distract the Italians.


German fighter planes appear and are immediately a much more significant threat than the Italian forces. Luckily they are still under full strength and thus more manageable.


Recon cars take some significant damage, but overall the mission goes well so far. I am especially happy about my extra infantry, which helps clear minefields much faster.


Moving along the coast, Sherman tanks and some support aim to relieve the command forces further north. Some Italian armor on the way is not significant enough to pose a real challenge.


Cassibile under siege. While its defenses are decent, ultimately no reinforcements in the area mean that I can take my time and approach the village from a few directions, completely cutting it off.


Ispica suffer the same fate. Italian defenders are scattered around the area and not cooperating with each other well. I can pick my fights and minimize losses.


I don't mind additional air support, this could come in handy in future scenarios. Especially having another fighter early will allow it to gain some experience, as they are notoriously slow to level.


Who would have thought there are some decent hidden caches around the map? I won't go over each and every one of them, but it is nice to see this element is here to stay.


Valuable advancement for my infantry hero. The Rapid Fire 1.5x trait is certainly a very powerful one to have!


Of course I will offer the enemy general dinner, that's the most British thing I have ever heard of. Hopefully we captured some decent bottles of Cerasuolo di Vittoria to go with the meal!

Summary

Final Prestige: 8308 (up 4957)

Overall

Mission two proved to be a balanced experience, expanding the core force size and upping the stakes appropriately compared to the pervious scenario. That said, it was not free of a few controversial decisions, at least in my mind. First of all, I strongly prefer to buy my own units, especially at the start of the mission. I'd much rather add custom core forces than have them pre-assigned at the start. There is of course nothing stopping me from dismissing them and getting different ones, but it does feel like it railroads the player into a specific army composition. This goes double for getting the two planes upon the capture of an airfield later down the line. Not a horrible choice, but I'd prefer to get that many units on my own terms entirely and maybe only occasionally get such gifts and only when I am clearly aware of them coming. The second issue I noticed is the fact that the enemy general meant to be captured is not clearly flagged in the UI. The player needs to guess what unit is the general hiding in, and while not too difficult to do, it represents a shift in the game's design so far. An argument can be made for this being more realistic, awarding attention to detail and respecting the freedom to fail. I feel that just naming the unit clearly after the general would have been better, simply since the game so far treated the objectives in a straightforward way. Departing from this approach in DLC might be slightly confusing at first. That said, I'll give this idea the benefit of doubt, see if it is used more often and has the chance to convince me.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Assault on the Eastern Shores

Hero:

None granted in this scenario.

New Units Commissioned:

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB
No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry)
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry)

Planes are carried over from the earlier scenario. Additional new units involve heavy artillery and have AA guns. This should greatly increase the firepower of my core force, making the men more capable of fighting high level threats.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

28th GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)
31st GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)
29th Daimler Dingo
27th QF 25 pdr (Lorry)

As the Canadians take a break in this mission, I assign auxiliary British units to help bolster the ranks.

New Equipment Provided:

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV

Small improvements to my tanks force. Nothing major, but at least these new vehicles should stand up to heavy infantry better.

Starting Prestige: 5825

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry) - *
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry)
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - *
7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)

Tank

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - *

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - * - Thorough Preparation
No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - *

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 6 pounder (Lorry)

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry)
64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry)

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry)
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry)

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - Shock Tactics

Reserve:

2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - *

Highlights


I don't feel the need for this exchange. Since core forces will get merged later anyway, I feel that I will get my share of American stuff. I'm keeping things as they are, especially since I checked this offer by agreeing and reloading and it does not increase my core slot capacity.


Approaching Syracuse would have been easier if I managed to encircle the location, but there's a massive fort guarding it as recon revealed. Trying to block the port with the ships might be too risky, but thinking back, I probably missed an obvious blockade by setting up the zone of control further away using the fact I had three destroyers at my disposal.


This new bonus is a tricky one. Extra soft attack is great with Rapid Fire 1.5x, but I feel like extra initiative has better potential to be combined with other powerful heroes later in a longer campaign.


Onwards to Floridia and Solarino! A small battle group is perfectly capable of securing these targets.


An extra hero for a special objective? Don't mind if i do! Even more so if the traits for the hero can be selected!


I end up with an Evasive plus First Strike combination for a powerful paratrooper hero. Both traits should greatly increase survivability of a unit meant to be dropped behind enemy lines.


At least this time I do not miss using my ships to cut of enemy forces! Lesson learned.


Same situation around Augusta. Getting such a large area surrounded really makes the whole fight trivial at this point.

Summary

Final Prestige: 12585 (up 6760)

Overall

Relatively straightforward mission with the timer for the special objective not that challenging despite whit it may seem at first glance. A convoy really can't run to fast and too far just on foot, so pursuing it does not present a major challenge. I did have some doubts initially, but after checking that the unit has no organic transport, I immediately felt more at ease. Too bad I wasn't so attentive when working with my naval forces, as there was surely a better way to deal with defenses around Syracuse! At least I will know better next time.

With three fights done using the current set of general traits, I can say with confidence that Delayed Reinforcements is not as backbreaking as I thought it will be. For sure there are elements that help with that, such at tanks at this stage of the war being able to defend against infantry on open ground with no, or close to no losses. This only starts to show in the last 25% of the mission time, when losses begin to pile up and the effect of my other negative trait, Inefficient Supply, also starts to slow down my advance. However, the best counter to these negative effects is by far Auxiliary Force. Having disposable allied forces that can take on the most dangerous missions lessens the pressure on my main units and greatly reduces risk. I can freely fill in any gaps I notice and this trait also is boosted in Allied Operations: Italy, as newly bought forces already start with some experience. If this trend continues, it might prove to be one of the more powerful selections I could have went for. At this point I believe Green Army from my Fall of Poland campaign to be much more irritating than the current negative characteristics. I probably was a bit too cautious in the past about trying out Delayed Reinforcements.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Operation Fustian

Hero:


Welcome a new member of the 40th Royal Tank Rgt. Now I just need to get my hands on some Sherman Firefly tanks!

New Units Commissioned:

None

New Equipment Provided:

None

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

28th GB Paratroops 43
29th GB Paratroops 43
31st GB Paratroops 43
32nd Spitfire Mk.IX
33rd Spitfire Mk.IX
34th Hurricane Mk.IID

Extra paratroopers to use the four air transports available. With some additional planes this should be more than enough to support my army.

Starting Prestige: 10867

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry) - *
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Lorry) - *
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Lorry) - *
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - *
7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry)
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - * - Evasive, First Strike

Tank

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart - Steamroller
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV - Steamroller
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - * - AT Support, Steamroller

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - ** - Thorough Preparation

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 6 pounder (Lorry)

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry) - *
64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry)

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry)
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry)

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - Shock Tactics

Reserve:

No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - *

Highlights


This greatly reminds me of the Warsaw scenario from Axis Operations 1939 and the search for planes. Must be worth the trouble!


Four paratrooper units can cooperate with each other and help get an important airfield.


Oh my, this is quite serious. The Italian AT vehicles aside, Tiger tanks are certainly much better than anything I have available. I need to be careful about how to approach them.


Possible gift, but I think there's something better awaiting me if I try to search further.


A solid defense against the Tigers. I doubt they will try to attack in this situation, but the rain might limit visibility and mask my AT support fire. I'll try to set up a trap.


It seems greed does not pay!


Time to deal with some infantry with the power of encirclement. Having paratroopers in this mission really helps with the challenges encountered so far.


It paid off after all! Not that I plan to use the StuH 42, but it results in an experienced unit and extra core slots. I immediately convert it to a BL 5.5 Inch artillery piece.


While a capture is tempting here, I prefer the valuable experience. Such is the sad tale of Tiger tanks, which stumble into infantry in close terrain.


Another promotion for the customizable hero. I go for soft attack, as it's a better choice for my intended use for the unit.


Yet another paratrooper deployment, this time very costly and risky, but it does quickly soften up dangerous German tanks. It is a sacrifice that helps with the advance, as the timer is running low and I cannot afford to be picky.


Johnny hills almost secure, and Primosole bridge is now also in sight. I should be able to capture all objectives on time, but with not that many turns to spare.

Summary

Final Prestige: 21494 (up 10630)

Overall

The larger the maps are and the longer the missions go on, the bigger the impact of my negative traits. Entire advance slowed down to snail's pace after crossing Malati bridge, both to fuel problems and damage sustained along the way. Luckily paratrooper sacrifice and air support made a difference. Once enemy armor was dealt with, the remaining few defenders did not have enough support to resist for long. I also did not attempt to seize the bridges immediately, but patiently waited for my ground troops to arrive, which meant I still had a few healthy infantry units at that stage of the battle. Overall, it was a very enjoyable scenario, with a nod to the Axis Operations unit search, a well planned map and a balanced challenge. What more to say, I really seem to notice an improvement by the same team compared to Frontlines: Cyrenaica. Even the upgradable hero system, while certainly powerful, is more limited and balanced, not wrapping the entire gameplay around itself. It is great to see the devs learned from earlier feedback.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Securing the Plain of Catania

Hero:


Hero for 61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA. I hope this will allow my AT guns get experience faster, as they usually struggle with accumulating it at the same pace as other units.


Now here's a hero I have a very special use for. Since I took the +2 initiative on 2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers, this suddenly can turn the unit's bonus into a No Retaliation ability versus other infantry. Sometimes it is not about what the highest initiative is with this hero, but what the threshold is against most common targets.

New Units Commissioned:

74th Medium Rgt, RA - BL 5.5 Inch (Lorry)
No. 682 Squadron RAF - OS12 - Spitfire PR

Due to some extra core slots, I am finally able to invest in a recon plane (some to think of it, with Auxiliary Force I should have been getting these as extra support much earlier!). The BL 5.5 Inch is simply the converted StuH 42 from the earlier mission. It leaves me with a few more core slots, which I use to overstrengthen the heavy BL 7.2 inch unit and add some Bren Carriers.

New Equipment Provided:

Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Bren Carrier) - transport upgraded
214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - transport upgraded
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - transport upgraded
61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Bren Carrier) - transport upgraded

Time to get better mobility for at least some of my units. Engineers, heavy infantry and towed AT have priority here.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

28th CA Infantry 43 (Bren Carrier)
14th Tiger I
15th SdKfz 232 8Rad
16th StuH 42
27th Breda 20/65 M35 (Truck)
29th Spitfire Mk.IX
31st Spitfire Mk.IX
32nd Wellington Mk.X

Canadians are back, this time crewing serious captured equipment!

Starting Prestige: 18256

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - Hit And Run, First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - *
7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - *
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - * - Evasive, First Strike

Tank

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart - * - Steamroller
50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV - * - Steamroller
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - * - AT Support, Steamroller

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - ** - Thorough Preparation
No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - *

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Bren Carrier) - Aiming Assistance

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry) - *
64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *
74th Medium Rgt, RA - BL 5.5 Inch (Lorry) - *
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - OS11 - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry) - *

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry)
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry)

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX - *
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB - *

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - * - Shock Tactics
No. 682 Squadron RAF - OS12 - Spitfire PR

Highlights


As tempting as this may be, I am not sure if I want to spend points on prototypes with limited parts. I think I prefer to keep them in case some opportunity appears later. The game really should clarify if in Allied Operations as long as you get all possible Commendation Points, you are able to get all the awards or not. This would prevent such dilemmas.


Canadian soldiers may be polite, but they are still professionals and giving them Tiger tanks will certainly make the enemy fear the maple leaf!


So far so good, part of my army meets up with the Canadian auxiliaries in the center of the map with just limited resistance encountered on the way.


With the help of heavy artillery, a portion of my force crosses Primosole bridge towards the north and overcomes the heavy fortifications there.


Lemon bridge falls as its defenses get surrounded.


After a long and difficult trek, the Canadian forces with some support finally reach Leonforte and Assosro. I did not rush them to attack immediately since I would not be able to replace losses. Instead, I waited until I was able to get some more units in the area and secure air dominance.


Great! This fresh 20 strength unit will be ideal to replenish the losses sustained by the Canadians.


Hills around Regalbuto are crowded and the fighting is intense. I deliberately use my auxiliary Tigers as bait to save one of my core infantry units. Losing a temporary tank, even if an excellent one is nothing compared to the loss of experienced soldiers.


Agira is also secured by the Canadians. They really did a great job here!


Finally, mission accomplished! The final battle was brutal and I really did not have many turns to spare.

Summary

Final Prestige: 29340 (up 11804)

Overall

This mission confirmed all my observations so far, both about the traits I selected for my army, as well as the overall impressions about the campaign's design. Maps feel more nuanced and interesting than in Frontlines: Cyrenaica, with the historical objectives providing much needed context behind the events. They play out with a higher degree of freedom with few or no elements railroading the player into specific decisions. Hopefully I will be able to say the same about the American path and the later merge of both core forces.

As for the overall difficulty and impressions about the specifics of this scenario, it confirmed yet again how difficult long battles can get and how risky operating damaged units with fuel and ammo issues can become. Luckily, it also proven that adding Hit and Run on 2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers worked exactly as intended, allowing me to clear many tough encounters with lower losses than I would normally have to suffer. To top it all of, the flavor of giving auxiliary forces heavy German equipment was really enjoyable and I feel this approach will keep things fresh over the course of this DLC.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - American Landing

Hero:


Solid choice to start with, as this hero will quickly boost experience gained by one of my units. Assigned to 58th Armored Field Artillery Bn.


Second good option, I will assign this hero to heavy infantry in HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US. Thinking it as not only a heavy weapon, but also mortar team.

New Equipment Provided:

753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound
58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8
433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

Since American forces are expected to be the more mobile element of my army, I decide to upgrade the tanks and switched towed artillery and AA to self-propelled variants.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

None for now due to limited prestige.

Starting Prestige: 246

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers
1st Engineer Combat Battalion - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck)
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack)

Tank

753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1

Recon

82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound

Artillery

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7

Anti-Aircraft

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

Highlights


Defenses of Licata are quite poor. Even some bunkers are not manned at all. Thus, my limited force in the area is able to deal with the task easily.


Central beaches are in enemy aircraft range, so the combat there immediately becomes intense. Luckily I am given some auxiliary fighters to help.


Near Scoglitti, I have fewer troops than I'd ideally want. This requires a slower, more careful advance.


Minefields cleared. With many combat of engineers at my disposal this was not a difficult task.


Comiso airport is my next target and getting to it takes some time.


Luckily, capturing it is well worth the effort. Two bomber units will greatly help to speed up the remaining part of the battle.


Ragusa is next to fall, despite the Italian's best attempts at mounting a defense.


Gela secured with the help of a naval blockade. Isolated enemy infantry cannot pose a serious challenge.

Summary

Final Prestige: 5923 (up 5677)

Overall

It will be an interesting change of pace to play as the Americans with a amore mobile force, being less reliant on artillery and more on air support. I still need to add a few more units to achieve the intended composition, but hopefully it is something possible with extra core slots next scenario. The first mission of the American path was more difficult than the British, both due to the tighter timer, at least in my opinion, as well as slightly sub-optimal initial landing placement of individual groups. If I were to play this next time, I'd un-deploy my units and reorganize them to better fit the terrain and expected obstacles.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Battle of Gela

Hero:


Between the AA and AT option I decide to go for the AT hero. I plan to have a more mobile force and thus AA will probably be limited to light halftracks, not benefitting as much from extra abilities.


How fitting! The extra speed will prove useful for the intended gameplay style.

New Units Commissioned:

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - OS11 - M20 LAC
601st Tank Destroyer Battalion - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Battalion - M10 Wolverine
64th Fighter Squadron - P-40F
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G
11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder
343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator

Finally I am allowed to get a strategic bomber! I would even buy two, but might not have the core slots, so just need to rely on one for now. Overall, new army units are mostly aircraft and a few ground AT vehicles. An extra recon car will also be useful.

New Equipment Provided:

None

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

31st M4 Sherman
32nd M3A1 Scout Car
33rd M3 75 GMC
34th T28E1 CGMC

With all the extra units I should be fine with just limited support to help secure my left flank.

Starting Prestige: 2193

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck)
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack)

Tank

753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1

Recon

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - *

Anti-Tank

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Bn - M10 Wolverine

Artillery

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - * - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7

Anti-Aircraft

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

Fighter

64th Fighter Squadron - P-40F
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G

Tactical Bomber

11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator

Highlights


Extra units will go to Biscari, this can potentially help get the special objective.


Auxiliary forces start near the road from Licata, ready to move if the need appears.


The Biscari group is also fully auxiliary, but with slightly heavier equipment.


All my core units start in Gela and can intercept the enemy from there directly.


First Italian push easily dealt with. Attacking with R35 tanks in 1943 is bravery combined with desperation! Bonus points for being historically accurate.


With the situation stabilized, I split my core into two groups. One, slightly weaker, will intercept Italians attacking from the northwest and west, who got spotted by the freshly acquired recons planes.


In the meantime, the auxiliary team on the eastern side part of the map is threatened by vicious air raids. My fighters are not in range to assist, and a single 40mm AA gun is barely a deterrent.


My strongest units push northeast all the way to the northern edge, the then turn and attack the Biscari airfield. Italian forces are not a threat. The R35 is outclassed even by heavy infantry!


Some enemies try to sneak up on Gela, but are spotted and intercepted near the port.


Camouflage is a massive promotion! I did say the campaign does not railroad the player into a specific approach, but is certainly one exception. After all, we got to have a few powerful abilities in the force to make progress felt.


I've watched enough episodes of the JAG TV show back in the day to know what needs to be done here.


Maybe not the cleanest airfield capture out there, but it counts!


I need to be wary of attempts to retake my other airfields, but luckily I left some defenders near key bridges.

Summary

Final Prestige: 7096 (up 4903)

Overall

Best defense is a good offense! Aggressive counterattack to push the Axis away from the beaches worked out well. My significant air support achieved great success against ground targets, even as dangerous as Tiger tanks. It allowed my own troops to advance with ease, at least in the areas in range of my own planes. Difficulty was not that high since German forces were limited and Italian underequipped. Aside from a few niche cases I was never really in danger of taking serious damage, at least to the units that count. Things will surely get more difficult as the American path progresses, but so far I enjoy a bit of respite from the grind of the final British missions.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - March to the West

Hero:


Perfect choice for a strategic bomber pilot! I am happy to assign this new hero to 343rd Bombardment Squadron.

New Units Commissioned:



756th Tank Battalion - M4A1 (field mod)
191st Tank Battalion - M4A3 (field mod)

Two extra tanks are great news for expanding the armored focus of my core force. That said, I cannot purchase strategic bombers anymore and instantly regret not getting a B-17G when I could have earlier.

New Equipment Provided:

None

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

17th US Infantry 43 - (Studebaker Truck)
18th M3A1 Scout Car
21st 105mm M2A1 - (Studebaker Truck)
19th T28E1 CGMC
31st P-40F

I set up a relatively flexible group of support units. Spoiler alert - it turns out not enough and I have to get a few more to cover some gaps in my air cover.

Starting Prestige: 6107

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck)
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - * - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - *

Tank

191st Tank Battalion - M4A3 (field mod)
753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3 - * - Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - M4A1 (field mod)
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1 - Steamroller

Recon

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - *

Anti-Tank

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Bn - M10 Wolverine - Camouflage

Artillery

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - * - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - *

Anti-Aircraft

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

Fighter

64th Fighter Squadron - P-40F
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G

Tactical Bomber

11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - *
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - Shock Tactics

Highlights


Italian vehicles may be squishy, but I dare not fight them with recon cars only, that would not end well!


A really strange choice. Aiming Assistance is obviously the correct option, as this will not only speed up the rate of experience gains, but also add a bonus that stays relevant also later in the game. Fast Learner is OK, but has lower relevance as time goes on.


The armored train decides not to retreat and is therefore easily trapped.


Massive Luftwaffe presence calls for additional auxiliary support in the form of two more fighters and two more AA halftracks. I would manage without them in a more standard playthrough, but with Delayed Reinforcements I am not able to battle the enemy air power with my core fighters alone, at least not without some powerful heroes. These I do not have yet.


After dealing with the train's escorts, all that is left to make it surrender is a gentle poke from infantry.


Wow, defenders of Caltanissetta must have a really soft spot for 10.5 cm howitzers!


Agrigento and Porto Empedocle only have token garrisons, so this should be a quick and easy battle.


Time to get some value out of Camouflage while I can.


All sulfur mines secure. I wonder what type of bonus this will result in exactly.


With all side objectives done, I just handle the remaining few defenders at my leisure.

Summary

Final Prestige: 11655 (up 5548)

Overall

This was a mission with varied and interesting objectives, which I greatly appreciated. Difficulty was not too high, aside from the fact that with my selected traits battling the Axis planes required a massive auxiliary investment. American fighters are for the time being simply way too fragile to sustain the damage in continuous combat and require eager volunteers to take the most dangerous hits for them first. On the ground it is easier to isolate units, possible to encircle them and slowly suppress even the most dangerous foes, taking minimal losses. In the air, enemy planes if damaged but not destroyed, will simply flee, repair and come back, with each encounter being progressively tougher while my own machines get damaged. Once again Auxiliary Force trait proves to be the best counterbalance to Delayed Reinforcements, although the men in those brave almost sacrificial units would probably disagree!

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - The Fall of the West

Hero:


Second Artillery Support is a strong option. I add the hero to 191st Tank Battalion. Long term plan is to use a Sherman Jumbo on this unit and add Provocator to it if possible.

New Units Commissioned:

102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck)
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

A few extra core slots mean I can afford an extra AA unit. Previous mission clearly showed I need this type of support badly, else I'll spend excessive prestige on auxiliary planes. I also buy a bridge engineering unit, as I see an opportunity to use it on the map.

New Equipment Provided:

None

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

31st US Infantry 43 (Studebaker Truck)
32nd US Infantry 43 (Studebaker Truck)
33rd 105mm M2A1 (Studebaker Truck)
19th T28E1 CGMC
21st T28E1 CGMC

Lessons learned, I get some extra AA immediately. Might also need additional planes, but I will see how this mission plays out.

Starting Prestige: 9347

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers - *
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - *
102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck)
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - * - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - *

Tank

191st Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A3 (field mod) - * - Artillery Support
753rd Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A3 - * - Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A1 (field mod) - *
66th Armored Regiment - OS11 - M5A1 - * - Steamroller

Recon

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC - *
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - **

Anti-Tank

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M10 Wolverine - Aiming Assistance, Camouflage

Artillery

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - ** - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - *

Anti-Aircraft

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC

Fighter

64th Fighter Squadron - OS12 - P-40F
94th Fighter Squadron - OS12 - P-38G

Tactical Bomber

11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - *
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - Shock Tactics

Highlights


Now that's a bit of a dilemma. Powerful fighter plane would be a useful addition, but that's just prototype parts. Since I do not know if a more permanent and better award will appear later and might require more points, I choose not to go for the Corsairs.


Infantry has more base power and tends to be damaged more. It is a clear choice for me given damage sustained so far.


Capturing the home town of a fictional mafia boss would certainly be a memorable start!


Narrow pathways in the east are perfect for infantry and light tanks.


Sciacca and its airfield are key to securing air superiority. It is one of my main targets and fortunately the map authors decided to give out an auxiliary P-47 fighter unit to help with the struggle.


I did not expect Corleone to last as long as it did, but I had other, more pressing matters to attend to first, so could not focus my forces there until a bit later in the fight.


Just in time to cut off German units that tried to flee the area! Now that the road is blocked, they have nowhere to run.


Just a few lighter units move west. Since expected defenders are mostly Italians who are not as well equipped as Germans, I can afford to spread my army out a bit.


Special objective completed, time to set-up another custom hero.


My choices focus on a mobile, harassment style light tank hero for 66th Armored Regiment.


That is music to my ears, Luftwaffe is a real pain to deal with as the Americans, especially compared to the British path.


Trapani is the last target remaining, but with just some basic defenses there is no way the town will hold out for long.

Summary

Final Prestige: 18937 (up 9590)

Overall

This was a mission where map design was key, and it proved to be planned well. The long road circling around the entire western part of the island was indeed a tempting path in theory, but one that would not allow to do the side objective in time. Thus, some though choices had to be made on how to split the army, and try to get both goals at the same time. Bridge engineers were of great use, saving me time to reach the key map points. The ability to destroy enemy airfields to reduce aircraft operational options also played out well. Simple capturing would serve a similar goal, however, so I am not exactly sure why this specific choice was made. Not a complaint, just an honestly curious question.

Overall, I am starting to get a hang of my American core force and feel how to play it to its strengths. For the time being I am still forced to rely more on air power as my ground vehicles lack punch, but it should hopefully change in volume two of the DLC, once better equipment appears. I'd especially appreciate specialized tanks units I had in the the Frontlines series for a somewhat similar approach to the one I used there.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - The Hautkampfline

Hero:


Excellent hero immediately assigned to 1st Engineer Combat Bn. Last few rolls were really powerful!

New Units Commissioned:

None

New Equipment Provided:

None

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

19th US Infantry 43 (Studebaker Truck)
21st US Infantry 43 (Studebaker Truck)
31st Panzer IVF/2
4th 100mm 100/17 (Studebaker Truck)
5th 17 cm K 18 (Studebaker Truck)
7th 90mm M1A1 (Studebaker Truck)

Time to invest in utilizing some captured equipment. I could really use a decent tank and some extra artillery. Luck has it, there's some available in stock.

Starting Prestige: 14933

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers - *
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - * - No Retaliation
102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck)
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - * - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - *

Tank

191st Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A3 (field mod) - * - Artillery Support, Steamroller
753rd Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A3 - * - Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - OS11 - M4A1 (field mod) - * - Steamroller
66th Armored Regiment - OS11 - M5A1 - * - Hit and Run, Phased Movement, Steamroller

Recon

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC - *
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - **

Anti-Tank

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M10 Wolverine - * - Aiming Assistance, Camouflage

Artillery

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - *** - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - *

Anti-Aircraft

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *

Fighter

64th Fighter Squadron - OS12 - P-40F - *
94th Fighter Squadron - OS12 - P-38G - *

Tactical Bomber

11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - *
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - * - Shock Tactics

Highlights


Attack on Bompietro makes some use of terrain. Cliffs shelter my artillery, while bridge engineers set up a river crossing to sneak past main defenses and attack from the flank.


Last promotion for the special hero and again the choice is really strange. With default Camouflage, extra Air Defense will rarely even matter, while additional Hard Attack is very valuable.


Rugged terrain north of Enna means the advance will be quite slow!


My maneuver near Bompietro pays off as I am able to strike at the more vulnerable part of German defenses.


That sure hurt! Fortunately only an auxiliary unit was damaged, so no long term consequences.


The prototype units did not peak my interest much, but the extra core slots sure did! That's a bonus I will take for sure.


Nicosia requires some decent effort, but slowly falls as key enemy units get taken out one by one.


Surprise artillery counterattack! I have some units in the area, so this does not disrupt my advance by much.


Santo Stefano is strangely empty, as if the Axis already left the area, leaving only a token garrison to defend the town.

Summary

Final Prestige: 21411 (up 6478)

Overall

Terrain is starting to get really rough and mountainous, with the importance of heavy artillery increasing. Sadly, my American core does not have many heavy guns, and relies on aircraft instead, but their operations are limited by AA cover, increased in range by high ground. The 8.8 cm FlaK is especially deadly. This made some of the approaches tricky, if not for the auxiliary units I was able to employ. The extra 17 cm K 18 paid an important role in the mission, striking targets well beyond the range of my other weapons. Certainly the more mechanized US force I have is not suited as well to combat in such an environment. Joining up with the British should help cover weaknesses of both armies with the advantages of each other. It should result in a more balanced composition, capable of dealing with any possible threat. I am however curious how the question of heroes will be dealt with? Will they be only pre-assigned, or will they randomly appear for one of the sides? I guess I will learn soon enough, as the merge is happening next mission.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Piercing the Etna Line

Hero:

None.

New Units Commissioned:

None. With the core force merge I now have fewer core than combined army supply requirement, so I need to put some units in reserve.

New Equipment Provided:

None, looks like no major upgrades on the horizon units volume two of the DLC.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

40th CA Infantry 43 (Truck) - *
38th Tiger I - *
39th Panzer IVF/2 - *
44th AB 41 - *
51st SdKfz 232 8Rad - *
43rd 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Truck) - *
42nd 8.8 cm FlaK 36 (Truck) - *
52nd Breda 20/65 M35 (Truck) - *
49th Spitfire Mk.IX - *
50th Spitfire Mk.IX - *
47th Fw 190F - *
48th Fw 190F - *

Canadians are back with captured German equipment! This extra support will as per usual plug in some gaps and add units that serve a more sacrificial role to counter my negative general traits.

Starting Prestige: 45535

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - Hit And Run, First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - *
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - * - Evasive, First Strike

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers - *
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - * - No Retaliation
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - * - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - *

Tank

50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV - * - Steamroller
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - * - AT Support, Steamroller

191st Tank Battalion - M4A3 (field mod) - * - Artillery Support, Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - M4A1 (field mod) - * - Steamroller
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1 - * - Hit and Run, Phased Movement, Steamroller

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - ** - Thorough Preparation

82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - **

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Bren Carrier) - Aiming Assistance

701st Tank Destroyer Bn - M10 Wolverine - ** - Aiming Assistance, Camouflage

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry) - *
74th Medium Rgt, RA - BL 5.5 Inch (Lorry) - **
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry) - *

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - *** - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - **

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry) - *

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX - *
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB - *

64th Fighter Squadron - P-40F - *
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G - *

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - * - Shock Tactics
No. 682 Squadron RAF - OS12 - Spitfire PR

11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - **
438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - * - Shock Tactics

Reserve:

7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - *
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck) - *

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart - * - Steamroller
753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3 - * - Steamroller

No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - **
81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC - **

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC

64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *

97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry) - *

440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

Highlights


Scripting mechanics that go as for back as the original Panzer Crops 2 base campaign should really be used more. Glad to see them appear, even if it occurs occasionally.


Those brave Canadians in their armored cars are making a sacrifice to get an important encirclement online.


Fierce combat up north, with minimal progress made. This will not be my main angle of attack, I just want to keep the enemies busy.


Single Entity as a hero trait is scary! Unless I suppress this infantry fully, it will still deal huge damage.


Using auxiliary artillery as bait to lure a recon car into a trap might have been costly, but still worth the trouble. It will unlock a path forward for my men.


Another example of luring enemies into a trap. This Auxiliary British fighter serves as bait to get the Bf 109's into AA range.


8.8 cm FlaK guns on hills are massive pain in this mission, as all key objectives are protected by their support. I cannot keep taking the hits since I have no option to repair.


Defenses of Catania finally dismantled. Now it's just a case of taking out the last "red" German unit before it tries to retreat.


With Canadian forces crossing the river in the south of Troina, defenses of this fortified location finally begin to crumble.


Not so tough now without those heavy 8.8 cm guns!


Acireale is nothing compared to some of the other locations. Should fall quickly with basically no risk.


Narrative event makes me wonder if it was possible to change the course of history in this case, or was this a fully scripted event. I might check in the files out of curiosity once I complete the run.


Bronte captured by the British...


...and Cesaro by Americans, all as planned.


Cleaning up San Fratello is the last part of the mission. Now that everything else is secure, I can bring all the heavy equipment I need to assist.

Summary

Final Prestige: 58243 (up 12708)

Overall

Combined British and American core forces worked well in the mission, but did not have many chances to prove the advantages of their compositions, as the map was entirely decided by terrain restrictions, with hills affecting almost every angle of approach besides the southern plains around Catania. I deployed my armies in historical positions, but should have really swapped them around for optimal setup. Most likely only future scenarios in volume 2 will allow me to fully pick and choose the deployment in a more flexible way, tailored to the specific objectives.

Overall, the scenario was mostly about making some initial cracks in very well positioned defenses, which provided a lot of ample cover both from long-range artillery and heavy FlaK, meaning there were almost no gaps that I could have exploited. The designers did provide some hints on how to overcome these obstacles, most important of which was a bridge laying units in the center of the map. There were also some weak points in the south that can be easier to exploit, but not much more. At this stage of the game it is unlikely that they player will accumulate many game breaking heroes with combo potential, so the fight required some solid planning and attention to little detail. It was almost like a small puzzle, but I did not mind it, since there was more than one answer to the riddle.

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Race for Messina

Hero:


An argument can be made for every option. Infantry heroes are always good, since infantry remains relevant and with my traits the extra abilities will increase survivability. Tank hero would be a solid choice, given that Western Allies have tanks weaker than German counterparts, especially later in the war. However, I choose to go for artillery, as a campaign set in Italy will continue to be all about mountains, hills and other unfavorable terrain, meaning that artillery and aircraft will have probably the biggest impact on breaching entrenched defenses.


Wow, that's an impressive set of abilities for this American artillery hero, commendation points well spent! I would argue that the set of traits is even too powerful, since Rapid Fire 2x is one of the best options available. Just the extra range, speed and Fast Deployment would have been enough to make the hero worth his weight in gold.

New Units Commissioned:

989th Field Artillery Bn - 155mm Long Tom (Studebaker Truck)

Since Raymond L. Hawkins is an American hero, at least based on the portrait, he needs a new unit to properly utilize his skills. I get a new towed heavy artillery piece. While American core will still focus on mobility, there is no rule about not using towed pieces at all. With Fast Deployment, this actually fits the intended gameplay focus even better.

New Equipment Provided:

64th Fighter Squadron - P-47B

Only one upgrade, but a relevant one. P-47B has a lower air attack then the P-40F, but all the other relevant stats are much better. A welcome change to keep my planes more competitive against German fighters.

Auxiliary Units Commissioned:

51st GB Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - *
50th US Engineers 43 (Lorry) - *
48th Daimler Dingo - *
49th M3A1 Scout Car - *
52nd QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *
42nd Spitfire Mk.IX - *
43rd Spitfire Mk.IX - *
44th P-47B - *
47th P-47B - *

As per usual, my main focus is extra air power. Some additional artillery and engineers will hopefully help with entrenched positions, and extra recon cars are added so that each battle group has a scout unit.

Starting Prestige: 54526

Starting Army Composition:

Infantry

7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - *
214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - Hit And Run, First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - **

1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - * - No Retaliation
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - * - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - *

Tank

50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV - * - Steamroller
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - ** - AT Support, Steamroller

191st Tank Battalion - M4A3 (field mod) - * - Artillery Support, Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - M4A1 (field mod) - ** - Steamroller
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1 - * - Hit and Run, Phased Movement, Steamroller

Recon

56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - ** - Thorough Preparation

82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - ***

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Bren Carrier) - * - Aiming Assistance

701st Tank Destroyer Bn - M10 Wolverine - ** - Aiming Assistance, Camouflage

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry) - *
74th Medium Rgt, RA - BL 5.5 Inch (Lorry) - **
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry) - *

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - *** - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - **
989th Field Artillery Bn - 155mm Long Tom (Studebaker Truck) - * - Fast Deployment, Rapid Fire 2x

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry) - *
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry) - *

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX - *
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB - *

64th Fighter Squadron - P-47B - *
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G - *

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - * - Shock Tactics
No. 682 Squadron RAF - OS12 - Spitfire PR - *

440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - **

Reserve:

501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - * - Evasive, First Strike

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers - *
102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck) - *

44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart - * - Steamroller
753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3 - * - Steamroller

No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - **
81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC - **

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC

64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *

438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - * - Shock Tactics

Highlights


Due to a choke point in the north, I divert some of my American infantry further south and find this unexpected artillery unit almost behind my lines! Luckily it is just in range of the extra infantry granted for the mission and is thus easily dealt with.


Crossing the river east of Sant'Agata is not an easy task, but as per usual, auxiliary units take on the most dangerous task. Then, to my surprise, German engineers start laying additional mines! That's some cool use of scripts for sure.


In the south, around Riposto, the enemy suddenly goes for an attack and almost fully defeats an auxiliary infantry in one hit. I need to be careful about advancing in this mission and remember to always lead with expendable forces.


Luckily, aside from this unexpected surprise, Riposto is not that well defended and is the first main objective to fall into my hands.


Randazzo is second, blasted into submission by intense artillery fire.


Tortorici is slightly more difficult, as its location in a forested valley and the target being a supply hex limit my options for safe approach. I ultimately overcome the defenses by sheer numbers.


Tiger tanks around Taormina airfield are scary only in theory. They have little room to operate in, so are unable to threaten my forces.


Motorbike troops strike at 58th Armored Field Artillery Bn and deal a lot of damage. That was a close call, almost could have been the first case were my Old Guard general trait could have been useful. Fortunately I do not loose the unit due to this placement mistake.


Spy planes reveal that Messina will be a bit tough to capture, but also shows a weak point. If I can get a unit to the hex directly west of Messina port, I should be able to encircle all the units north and northwest.


The plan is a solid one. With a few deliberately placed units I am able to isolate and suppress a large portion of the German army.


Americans are the first to reach Messina. I guess Patton's focus on speed over safety was better after all. For my trouble 701st Tank Destroyer Bn hero gets the Famous attribute and an additional +1 speed. More prestige does not matter much, but extra movement is always useful.

Summary

Final Prestige: 69637 (up 15111)

Overall

A fitting end to volume 1, this last mission summarized all lessons taught to the player over the course of the DLC. It emphasized the importance of encirclement, focus on artillery and infantry operations, or how to deal with narrow passes and restricted angles of approach towards main targets. While difficulty was not too high, the time restriction was certainly not that generous. Due to Inefficient Supply I started to face fuel trouble around turn 15 onwards, considering all the rough terrain and how narrow the mountain passes were. Fortunately I was able to get all the objectives with still two turns to spare, but all things considered it was a narrow margin. I am now eager to see what volume 2 brings to the table.

My general trait choice proved to be quite fun and flavorful, so I will stick to it for the remaining two volumes of the DLC. It added a challenge but the negative and positive options balance each other out well and thus the campaign did not feel punishing.

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Summary

Starting Prestige: 600
Final Prestige: 69637 (up 69037)

Final Army Composition:

Infantry

7th Bn, Ox and Bucks - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - *
214th (North Midland) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - **
501st (Wessex) Field Coy, RE - GB Engineers 43 (Bren Carrier) - *
2nd Bn, Parachute Rgt - GB Paratroops 43 - * - Evasive, First Strike
Support Coy, 1st Bn, Royal Sussex Rgt - GB HW Inf 43 (Bren Carrier) - **
2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers - GB Infantry 43 (Lorry) - Hit And Run, First Aid, Rapid Fire 1.5x - ***

1st Ranger Bn "Darby's Rangers" - Rangers - *
102nd Engineer Combat Bn - OS17 - US Bridge Eng (Studebaker Truck) - *
1st Engineer Combat Bn - US Engineers 43 (Studebaker Truck) - ** - No Retaliation
HW Coy, 1st Bn, 26th Infantry Rgt US - HW Inf 43 (M3 Halftrack) - ** - Artillery Support
1st Bn, 16th Infantry Rgt - US Infantry 43 (M3 Halftrack) - **

Tank

50th Royal Tank Rgt - Valentine IV - * - Steamroller
40th Royal Tank Rgt - Sherman Mk.I - ** - AT Support, Steamroller
44th Royal Tank Rgt - M5 Stuart - * - Steamroller

191st Tank Battalion - M4A3 (field mod) - ** - Artillery Support, Steamroller
753rd Tank Battalion - M4A3 - * - Steamroller
756th Tank Battalion - M4A1 (field mod) - ** - Steamroller
66th Armored Regiment - M5A1 - ** - Hit and Run, Phased Movement, Steamroller

Recon

No. 1 Air Landing Recce Sq. - OS11 - Willys Jeep - **
56th Recce Rgt - OS11 - Humber AC Mk.IV - *** - Thorough Preparation

81st Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M20 LAC - **
82nd Armored Recce Bn - OS11 - M8 Greyhound - ***

Anti-Tank

61st (West Highland) AT Rgt, RA - QF 6 pounder (Bren Carrier) - ** - Aiming Assistance

601st Tank Destroyer Bn - OS11 - M3 75 GMC
701st Tank Destroyer Bn - M10 Wolverine - *** - Aiming Assistance, Camouflage

Artillery

58th (Suffolk) Medium Rgt, RA - BL 4.5 Inch (Lorry) - **
64th (7th London) Field Rgt, RA - OS11 - QF 25 pdr (Lorry) - *
74th Medium Rgt, RA - BL 5.5 Inch (Lorry) - **
75th (Highland) Heavy Rgt, RA - BL 7.2 inch (Lorry) - **

58th Armored Field Artillery Bn - OS11 - 75 mm HMC M8 - **** - Aiming Assistance
62nd Armored Field Artillery Bn - M7 - ***
989th Field Artillery Bn - 155mm Long Tom (Studebaker Truck) - ** - Fast Deployment, Rapid Fire 2x

Anti-Aircraft

52nd (East Lancashire) Light AA Rgt - OS12 - 20 mm Oerlikon (Lorry) - *
97th (The London Scottish) Heavy AA Rgt, RA - QF 3.7 inch (Lorry) - *

433rd AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *
531st AAA Automatic Weapons Bn - OS11 - M15A1 MGMC - *

Fighter

No. 92 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.IX - *
No. 111 Squadron RAF - Spitfire Mk.VB - *

64th Fighter Squadron - P-47B - *
94th Fighter Squadron - P-38G - *

Tactical Bomber

No. 680 Squadron RAF - Mosquito Mk.IV - * - Shock Tactics
No. 682 Squadron RAF - OS12 - Spitfire PR - **

438th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
440th Bombardment Squadron - B-26C Marauder - *
11th PR Squadron - OS12 - F-4 - ***

Strategic Bomber

343rd Bombardment Squadron - B-24 Liberator - * - Shock Tactics

Thoughts

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 has to be one of the better DLC for Panzer Corps 2, up there with Elite: Ghost Division and the best parts of Axis Operations series. The quality jump from Frontlines - Cyrenaica by the same team is significant, with obvious evidence that the key player feedback was taken into consideration and applied to the series, as well as the best elements of other DLC incorporated into the game for a complete and satisfying experience. It still has its flaws, but these are mostly minor nitpicks, and in volumes 2 and 3 I feel no revolution is needed.

Main positive points are:

• Excellent historical research, backed up by detailed briefings, events and maps for every mission.

• Detailed map design with intentional use of terrain in every area. This showed in Frontlines - Cyrenaica as well and is further expanded.

• Creative use of scripting for events causing enemy suppression or adding mine by retreating pioneer units. What is more, I have not encountered a single scripting error, which is a noticeable improvement over Cyrenaica and its many scripting bugs.

• Toned down hero system that made the campaign more about skill and planning on the player side instead of abusing powerful units.

• Split paths merging into a combined core force was a fresh and welcome addition. We really need Panzer Corps to embrace this approach more where it makes sense to do so.

• Commendation points allowed for varied and interesting awards.

Things that could use improvement include:

• Core force merge issue apparently caused by split units. I have not encountered it in my playthrough as I happened to read about it in advance and was able to prevent it from occurring, but it was a noticeable bug that slipped past QA apparently.

• Commendation point awards were not always described clearly as to what the effect will be. There was also no clear indication that all bonuses can be acquired as long as the player gets all commendation points across the campaign. It made me skip a few awards where I could have taken them after all. More clarity would be welcome.

• While the hero system was improved over Cyrenaica, it still had a few issues. There was no consistency over when the random heroes are granted - sometime 1, sometimes 2, sometimes none. It invalidates the hero randomness slider and could be simply standardized to 1 per mission.

• While the two special heroes were not overpowered, the final one sure was. All CP award heroes in Race for Messina are a bit too strong. I also checked what the tanks and infantry ones do and while not as broken as the artillery hero, they still are a tiny bit too good. No shame in toning this down a smidge further.

• Some strange hate of strategic bombers by the team. I was barely able to use them due to lack of airfields. Hopefully this till be addressed in further volumes as such planes operated in this terrain, initially from Africa and really should have been allowed more.

[armedevil]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Operation Fustian

A bit of a surprise, it seems you missed the 'Historical objective: Capture Malati Bridge with No.3 Commando Division unit' (with as a reward a nice Commando Unit + Hero). It was mentioned in the briefing. So you miss out on a valuable unit for the rest of the 'Allied Operations: Italy' Vol 1-3 DLC sequence. Captured the bridge with another unit by mistake. That's where the 'Undo' option is for

[Tassadar]

Allied Operations: Italy: Vol.1 - Operation Fustian

A bit of a surprise, it seems you missed the 'Historical objective: Capture Malati Bridge with No.3 Commando Division unit' (with as a reward a nice Commando Unit + Hero). It was mentioned in the briefing. So you miss out on a valuable unit for the rest of the 'Allied Operations: Italy' Vol 1-3 DLC sequence. Captured the bridge with another unit by mistake. That's where the 'Undo' option is for

Ah, you are right, I totally missed that somehow! Not by any fault of the game or the briefing, it must have slipped my mind in the heat of battle. Just had a look in the game files now that I've finished the campaign and there's indeed a nice hero here. Zero Slots would be useful for larger core force, but what's done is done, I won't replay the campaign to get him. The army was doing fine even without such and award and similarly I did not cash in all my Commendation Points as well as I was not sure if there will be enough of them for all the best options.

Thanks for letting me know, I will need to be more wary of such things in part 2!