Slitherine

Beta 1.2

Difficulty: FM

Prestige (Start/End): 1623/670

DV 14/25

Core at this point:
2x HW 43; 1x Eng.; 1x US Para; 1x Commando
2x Churchil MkV; 3x Sherman Firefly; 1x MA3(76)W; 1x Wolverine M10
1x M7 Priest; 3x Bl 7.2 inch; 1x 155mm M12; 1x 8 inch
3x Tempest MkV; 3x SE Tempest MkV; 2x Mosquito MkVi S2; 1x B26 Marauder; 2x Lancaster MkIII

This was a very nice scenario which I would definitely like to reply to optimize my strategy. I was lucky that the AI did not really move the Elephant (is there a trigger to "release" it?)and used the Panthers rather passively. That allowed me to destroy them largely with aircrafts before they could do any significant damage.
Reduction of turn count is a good idea, I guess. Would it be an idea to make clearing of the mountain path in order to connect top and bottom part an optional objective?

After two amphibious landings, i've decided to try Cassino. Remembering the Cassino-Scenarios within the grand campaigns, i did not expect an easy fight. Well .. it has been balanced well enough. Some difficult moments, but overall, yep, it's ok.

- Crocodiles worked very well against fortifications
- some aux losses - bad weather kept my bombers down. May have been avoidable with better planing.
- lot's of air defense and artillery behind Monte Cassino
- some german counter attacks spiced things up, giving my fireflies a hard fight (especially those panthers)
- german elephant had to be attacked by mosquitos .. no chance for my tanks

Still not a single captured unit .. is this intended? But 4 SEs, 2 infantry, 2 fighters ... in some way, all four are almost useless .. anyways

DV @ 17/22 - Air Port near San Goivanni still occupied by a german AA

RC01. General. Starting Prestige 17979, ending 4371. Triumph on 20/22.

This was a very tough battle requiring much patience. Once I was able to take Cassino and Monte Cassino, I was able to turn the flank of the German defensive line. The armored counter attacks shredded my Shermans and Hellcats, but I was able to re-strengthen them (several times). Good thing I had plenty of prestige going in, since this was a massive prestige drain. Even after turning the Axis flank, the AI fought hard and made me pay a dear price for my gains.

This seems balanced enough and ready for release.

RC1
FM with no OS
Start pp 48155, End pp 57663
Triumph 21/22, all pp hexes captured, 23 core step losses, 120 auxiliary step losses.

A good meaty scenario.
Challenging scenario from turn 1 to the last. Various German kampfgruppe made of combined arms make for solid opposition. Interesting new German equipments.

See my AAR :
viewtopic.php?f=145&t=42984&p=406626#p406626