[BnW- Ita vs Byz] 4- Operation Guillotine

[StuccoFresco]

Operation Alae has shattered the enemy’s left flank and allowed us to concentrate enough forces to try cutting off Tirana from its supply routes. The enemy has frantically brought up reinforcements to stop this attempt, and will probably try its best to grind our assault troops down instead of outright stopping us.

The usual Byzantine defense in depth will feature fortified towns, minefields and small groups ready to counterattack against our flanks. As usual, keeping our flanks secure to avoid nasty surprises will be crucial.

The other big challenge will be managing our supplies: the staging area of the offensive lacks any meaningful infrastructure, so we had to create temporary depots and accept seeing them dwindle as the battle goes on. Supply flow WILL decrease during the battle, and the only way to not find ourselves starving by the end of this Operation will be to conquer the Byzantine’s own supply depots along the way. This however will mean dedicating resources and troops to that task, which means less focus on the primary objectives. You can see why this can be very challenging: remember how I failed Operation Alae’s secondary objective? Yeah.



14/7/1941
This time I have two powerful Coorti Corazzate: the VIII and the VII again; they will spearhead the assault with the veteran 3rd “Caere'' and 11th “Volsinii” Centurie, as well as the combat-proven 4th Clibanari Division and the fresh 11th and 15th Clibanari Divisions. Three Arditi Brigades will provide much needed close artillery support, led by the veteran 20° Arditi.

A small auxiliary Coorte, the XIV, will support the offensive with the 2nd “Clevsin” Division and the 10° Arditi Brigade.

It’s a very, very powerful army , basically the entire V Legione is here. Tirana has to be cut off or the entire campaign can become a quagmire. I will use the Centurie to storm enemy lines trying to get to the enemy’s inevitable AT screens and open the way for the tanks. The road south is kinda clear: I will evaluate the chances of taking Bilisht for its supply point, but the main drive will happen west of the town, directly against Kovorode.

Gramsh will likely be the lynchpin of the enemy defense, so I will try to encircle it and achieve a breakthrough either west or east of the town. But that will have to wait.

First, I send forward motorized elements to spot the enemy’s positions. The 50th Motorizzata identifies the 21st Hoplitai Division entrenched with AT support around a village SE of Berat, so I decide to send both my Coorti Corazzate west, where the terrain is open. The 41st Motorizzata and my Engineer Battalions chart the enemy first line of defense, and I push forward my Centurie accordingly, positioning my artillery for the next assault.

The 16°, 17° and 22° Bombardieri Wings bomb the enemy 10° Varangian Brigade, which is then attacked by the 3rd “Caere” Division. The 41st Motorizzata and the 11th “Volsinii” open fire against the 19th Hoplitai Division at the western end of the enemy defensive line. There seems to be a gap there between the enemy lines and the woodlands to the west. If I manage to roll my armored forces in this gap I can flank the entire enemy defensive formation.



15/7/1941
The Byzantines have launched a ferocious aerial counterattack, almost annihilating the 16° Bombardieri Wing despite my fighter escorts. Their Peltastes Wing fought through the AA fire to attack the tanks of the 4th and 11th Clibanari, leaving many of them burning in the fields or otherwise out of action.

In the east, an unexpected counterattack of the enemy’s 14th Katafraktoi Division inflicts heavy casualties to a Regiment of the 2nd “Clevsin” Division. The enemy armor has however advanced unsupported, so I call in my remaining Bombardieri Wings and hammer at them, softening them up for the upcoming assault of the 10° Arditi Brigade. The enemy tanks crumble under the heavy assault guns’ short range fire, and the 2nd “Clevsin” pushes both enemy armored Regiments back with crippling losses.

On the main front, repeated mechanized and infantry assault carve a path in the middle of the enemy formation, allowing the 15th Clibanari Division to drive in the gap and cut the enemy forces in two. Infantry and Arditi troops start crushing the pockets of resistence, but a series of flanking maneuvers on the western side are frustrated by the (costly) discovery of several well-placed minefields. Dozens of tanks and assault guns blow up or are immobilized in the fields.

The enemy CAS planes are attacked by the 10° and 32° Stormo Caccia, which wipe out an entire enemy formation. AA Guns attached to the VIII Corazzata’s HQ as well as the main Legione HQ decimate another Peltastes Wing.




16/7/1941
The enemy infantry defense line has dissolved, so the Byzantine has pulled up with reinforcements. The 66th and 67th Kourorses race forward to close the gap and counterattack supported by the 13th Katafraktoi Division and the L Thema’s HQ. The attack shatters the poor 4th Clibanarii Division, that takes the brunt of the mass of the enemy forces. I promptly pull back most of the Division save for a single Regiment, and organize my moves.

The enemy has struck hard, but it’s on open ground and without AT support. After the 3rd “Caere” and the 11th “Volsinii” destroy the last enemy anti-tank troops, the 11th and 15th Clibanarii surges forward with their thickly armored tanks and smash through the advancing Byzantine forces. Our guns aren’t very big, but the ability to withstand all kinds of enemy fire outside of very close range makes our advance unstoppable. With the 40th and 41th Divisioni Motorizzate ready to mop up any straggler, the enemy is thrown back several kms and suffer catastrophic losses to 4 Motorized and 2 Armored Regiments.

In the east, the XIV Coorte has pushed back the enemy 14th Katafraktoi Division and has engaged the 114th and 118th Hoplitai Division, trying to break out west to link up with the rest of the advancing V Legione. I’m currently focusing my Bombardieri on this front, hitting hard on an enemy artillery Regiment that could hamper my efforts in the area.

I can see the 68th Koursorses Division trying to organize an attack on the VII Corazzata’s left flank, supported by two Regiments of the 14th Katafraktoi Division.

[StuccoFresco]

17/7/1941
The enemy has stopped trying to counterattack the VII and VIII Coorti Corazzate, trying to entrench in front of them and pull up enough AT guns to resist the inevitable push. I’m not going to give them the opportunity: the 3rd “Caere” and 11th “Volsinii” lead the charge and with the help of the 11th Clibanarii they smash the enemy front. The 13th Katafraktoi ad 67th Kourorses Divisions are all but annihilated. The 7° Arditi Brigade helps the 15th Clibanarii Division to shatter the enemy flanking attack, pushing back the 14th Katafraktoi before it could strike.

In the east, the enemy is attacking the XIV Coorte from all sides, but the 2nd “Clevsin” and the 10° Arditi have enough firepower to inflict serious losses while still defending their perimeter.

The 50th Divisione Motorizzata has suffered losses from the 21st Hoplitai Division trying to push against its lines and threaten the V Legione’s supply routes, but the situation is under control.

Overall, losses are considerable but the enemy lines have been breached.



18/7/1941
The V Legione advances further, encircling the 66th Koursorses Division. The enemy’s 13th Katafraktoi Division has been wiped out for good and only fragmented companies of the 67th Koursorses are still around.

The 14th Katafraktoi tried to outflank us again, but we pushed it back with high losses. With the plains northwest of Bilisht full of destroyed Byzantine light tanks and trucks, the breakthrough is in full effect. This battle has been a disastrous wake-up call for the Byzantine tank industry: their light designs just can’t compete against the Italian ones. Their superior mobility can’t be leveraged easily and the low production costs are nullified by the need to produce many more due to high losses. The Italian heavier tanks pack enough of a punch to easily dispatch them, and their thick armor allows them to tank hits on the frontal arc at most fighting ranges. On the brighter side, the survivability of the crew is decent thanks to a big evacuation port on the back of the tank and the innovative wet storage for ammunition.

The XIV Coorte is still trying to break out of its bridgehead, but the enemy infantry in the nearby woods has held fast despite high losses; the Coorte’s units are very tired and low on ammo, so I’ll probably suspend any further attack until I can rest and reorganize them.




19/7/1941
The 66th Koursorses Division tries to break the encirclement, but fails. The 22° Arditi Brigade crushes one of its Regiments, and the 15th Clibanarii Division executes an encirclement against one of the enemy’s 14th Katafraktoi Division’s regiments.

Most of my troops are in need of rest and reorganization, so very little progress is made overall. The 11th Clibanarii Division heads south, but suffers 14 tank losses to mines at a crossroad west of Bilisht. A single Regiment of the 41st Motorizzata heads southwest.

The XIV Coorte has stopped its attacks and will rest for today.

My air forces are ambushed right after take-off by four enemy Interceptor Wings. My airfields’ AA guns join the battle in the sky, but the enemy still manages to decimate one of my Bombardiere Wings. In the resulting furball, however, an entire Anachaitistis Wing is wiped out. Dozens of planes are shot down and litter the landscape.


20/7/1941
The 2nd “Clevsin” Division can’t seem to get some r&r due to constant enemy pressure, so I take the decision to retreat the entire XIV Coorte behind the river where its offensive started. It’s a disappointing end to its operations, but keeping them there to be slowly ground down by waves of enemy infantry wasn’t an option. The 10° Arditi Brigade covers the retreat.

The enemy forces northwest of Bilisht have been crushed for good: only isolated companies are still fighting, and they should surrender tomorrow at best. Both VII and VIII Coorti Corazzate start to move southwest.



21/7/1941
My forces encounter resistance in a village SW of Kovorode: the 111th Hoplitai Division ambushes the advancing 41st Motorizzata, almost destroying the leading Regiment. A swift and brutal counterattack is organized by the VII Coorte Corazzata’s HQ as soon as it reaches the area, featuring the 11th Clibanari and the 3rd “Caere” Divisions.

The 10° Arditi Brigade is still fighting in the east while the rest of the XIV Coorte finally manages to get some rest and receive reinforcements.

The road to Bilishte is wide open but I’ll probably leave it to the 50th Motorizzata once (and if) it manages to mop up the Byzantine remnants in the area.



22/7/1941
Finally rested, the XIV Coorte goes straight back to the front and pushes back the advancing Byzantine infantry on its front. A breakout is now possible, and I’ll get to put the troops to the siege of Bilisht.

The VII and VIII Coorti Corazzate have dispersed the 111th Hoplitai Division, but has now taken contact with other Byzantine forces around Kovorode: the 121st Hoplitai Division and the 28° Varangian Brigade. The mass of Italian armor, motorized and mechanized infantry has filled the plains and traffic jams are developing along the lone highway heading south. The 4th Clibanari Division has suffered very high losses and two of its depleted Regiments are now tasked with patrolling the supply routes.



23/7/1941
The higher-ups recognize the need to protect the supply lines without sacrificing the offensive push, so they send us the 90th and 91st Limitanei Divisions. The infantry is put to work immediately, leaving the 50th Motorizzata free to drive south. I will mop up the Byzantine remnants and take Bilisht. Taking the city will stall our supply crisis: another drop in the supply rates have finally put us in the red, which means the entire offensive will inevitably slow down.

Meanwhile, the XIV Coorte has broken the enemy front and cut off the enemy’s 114th Hoplitai Division from supplies.

The main offensive has shattered the Byzantine defenses around Kovorode: the 121st Hoplitai Division and the 28° Varangian Brigade have surrendered or dispersed, and the 123rd Hoplitai Division is retreating. The enemy’s LII Thema’s HQ is now on the frontline. Italian tanks are roaming in the countryside, and the 40th and 41th Divisioni Motorizzate are helping set up encirclements.

The last enemy Peltastes Wing is brought down by our Legion HQ’s SPAA vehicles as it tries to attack our artillery, but the enemy has pounced on our biggest remaining Bombardieri Wing and has eliminated it. The 10° Caccia Wing tries to avenge its downfall by shooting down no less than 30 enemy planes.

[StuccoFresco]

24/7/1941
The enemy infantry holds well against our massed assaults both at Kovorode and against the XIV Coorte: the Byzantine soldiers make good use of hastily dug trenches and terrain undulation to escape the punishment dished out by our tanks and the machineguns of our APCs, grinding down our forces with constant attrition. Night counterattacks are the norm, and while we are slowly crushing them, our own losses are mounting.

The lack of ammo is starting to hamper our leading elements’ efforts, and fuel is becoming a problem for our tanks. Many tanks are kept in reserve for lack of either, diminishing our attacks’ strength.

Despite those difficulties, the VII and VIII Coorti Corazzate push forward, entering Kovorode’s outskirts. The 11th “Volsinii” heads south but it’s intercepted by the 77th Hoplitai Division as it tries to flank the fortified town of Gramsh on the western side. Most of the 11th and 15th Clibanari Division are still engaged around Kovorode, so I send the 7° Arditi Brigade and the 3rd “Caere” Division to help the “Volsinii”.



25/7/1941
The 11th Clibanarii Division has cleared the area around Kovorode of enemy presence: only the LII Thema’s HQ is still active. The VII and VIII Coorti Corazzate roll further south, engaging the Byzantine defensive lines around Gramsh. My plan is to break through the 77th Hoplitai Division’s lines, outflanking the Gramsh fortified line and attacking Korçe directly. Refusing to engage the numerous enemy forces around the fortified town would save so much resources…

In the north, Bilisht has been surrounded and it’s under artillery fire from the last two days. The Limitanei are slowly advancing on the town, while the XIV Coorte has finally mopped up the enemy resistance in the northeast. So far, the Coorte’s performance has been very poor: the troops are exhausted again, their advance slowing down to a crawl.

The front has moved past our Fighters’ operational range. The only hope to keep up would be to conquer the airfields near Bilisht.



26/7/1941
The 20° Arditi Brigade and the “Volsinii” lead the way and break right through the 77th Hoplitai Division’s ranks. A full breakthrough is achieved there and my forces start passing through the gap. The 4th and 11th Clibanari Divisions guard my right flank against any intervention from the enemy forces east of Gramsh.

In the north, the 10° Arditi has launched an assault against Bilisht, busting several bunkers in the outskirts. The Brigade’s artillery has joined the heavier ones pounding the town, and with my infantry and Motorized troops joining the assault next turn I expect the town to be conquered swiftly.



27/7/1941
Byzantine forces southwest of Berat seem to be trying to cut off our supply routes. An unknown number of enemy units are marching through the forests toward my right flank: among them the 33° Varangian Brigade. The threat is serious, but I have the entire XIV Coorte still in the area, and with the fall of Bilisht I can spare them to face this new threat. The 90th and 91st Limitanei Divisions are ready to take up defensive positions as well.

Kovorode is still garrisoned by the lone LII Thema’s HQ: I’m trying to force it to surrender but the stubborn Byzantine officers refuse to give up. This means the town’s supply depots are still out of reach right when I need them the most.

Enemy forces at Gramsh are unable to prevent my units from outflanking them entirely: mechanized, armored and assault units are entering Korçe’s outskirts.

My last Bombardieri Wing, left without fighter cover, is brought down by the enemy Interceptors.




28/7/1941
Our pre-operation supply depots are now completely empty: the entire Legion has to rely on daily supply runs through abysmal infrastructure. I have to hurry up and get enough Byzantine supply points or my entire force will be forced to stop in its tracks.

To make things worse the enemy has pulled out a veteran Katafraktoi Division from the Tirana front to counterattack. The 3rd Kataftaktoi Division immediately shows up southeast of Korçe right as a Regiment of the 11th Clibanarii was starting to move against Shijak. It seems the 24th Koursorses Division is supporting the enemy tanks’ advance.

In the south, the assault on Korçe can start and its massive supply output could solve all my problems. A Regiment of 44th Hoplitai Division has suffered enormous losses but is still holding the city center, supported by their 34th Tagma’s HQ. The battle rages in the narrow streets, and my precious ammo reserves are depleting very fast.

The 15th Clibanari Division tries to storm Milot, but the rest of the 44th Hoplitai is entrenched all around it.

Enemy infantry is pushing from Gramsh, trying to cut off my offensive, but I think I can resist. The 2nd “Clevsin” Division is rushing south to help on that front.

In the north the 17th Hoplitai Division’s attack is pushing back my undersupplied 90th and 91th Limitanei Divisions. The 33° Varangian Brigade hasn’t moved from a nearby peak, but sooner or later it will try to cut the road leading south.

[StuccoFresco]

29/7/1941
Another Hoplitai Division, the 18th, is spotted moving in the north together with another Varangian Brigade (the 9°). I am frantically deploying my infantry to protect that flank, but I don’t think the enemy can make much gains in the area. Not before the scenario’s end.

At Gramsh, a Byzantine infantry push from the 78th Hoplitai Division has been isolated and will be beaten back in a timely manner. With the 2nd “Clevsin” Division about to come down on the enemy from Kovorode (just liberated from the last remnants of the enemy Thema HQ), I’m not concerned in this area.

The 3rd Katafraktoi Division has split its forces, which allows me to try and destroy it piecemeal: one of its Regiments has rushed for Korçe, but elements from various Clibanarii Divisions have surrounded it and almost annihilated it. Losses have been higher than usual: due to the lack of ammunition my tanks had to close the distance to minimize misses, which meant the enemy could rush in and flank some of them.

The 20° and 7° Arditi Brigades are supporting the 11th “Volsini”’s advance on Shijak. Another Katafraktoi Regiment is there, but at least we managed to surround a Koursorses Regiment. I’ve sent a depleted Regiment of the 40th Motorizzata to scout ahead toward the town.




30/7/1941
The enemy pressure in the north intensifies, but my air force has been relentlessly attacking their artillery, so they lack the punch to truly break through. My Limitanei are holding the line, albeit barely, so I send all available mobile forces south.

The 2nd “Clevsin” finally conquers Kovorode and joins the battle around Gramsh, containing the enemy push toward the lake and setting up the possibility of a counterattack.

Milot’s defenders have been ground down by armored and infantry assaults; the rush to take the small town has exhausted our troops, but it has to be done. The town is likely to fall tomorrow. The road to Shijak is still troublesome: the enemy tanks are hitting our vanguards and the motorized unit I sent ahead has been destroyed by an enemy infantry counterattack: elements of the 119th and 124th Hoplitai Division hold the town with artillery and anti-tank support. A regiment of the 3rd Katafraktoi Division is garrisoning the town proper. It won’t be easy at all.




31/7 - 2/8/1941
It’s a bloodbath. In the north and at Gramsh the Byzantine troops hopelessly push against my lines, trying to buy time or cut off the crucial supply lines. Italian logistic workers break their backs trying to deliver enough supplies to the frontline to avoid a total collapse of our leading elements’ fighting capabilities. Fights and altercations break out at the frontline depots as multiple units’ general staff officers try to secure enough ammo, fuel and food for their own units. Meanwhile, a ragtag collection of armored, mechanized and motorized troops led by both VII and VIII Corazzata’s HQs desperately try to break the enemy lines around Shijak.

Korçe’s captured depots are finally brought up to speed in the morning of the 2nd of August, ensuring enough supplies for everyone. With renewed determination, the exhausted Arditi and Centurions break into Shijak engaging the Byzantine armored units. Bloody and furious fights turn the once lovely town into a maze of ruins choked by fire and smoke. The Italian assault troops use their artillery at point blank range and throw their assault guns against the enemy anti-tank positions: at least 70 assault guns are lost in the desperate assaults, but the sheer volume of fire has shaken the defenders to the core. Elements of the 3rd “Caere” and 11th “Volsinii” Divisions launch a final assault, breaking the enemy’s morale and torching much of the town’s center.

With the anti-tank guns destroyed and most of the infantry killed or driven away, only 30 Byzantine tanks and a couple infantry companies held the central square and the couple municipal buildings. In the late afternoon of the 2nd of August, a Regiment of the 11th Clibanarii Division launches a direct assault at the last enemy stronghold. The tanks lead the way, suffering many close range hits on their turrets and frontal armor, but pushing through against a demoralized and thoroughly exhausted enemy. As soon as the Byzantine tanks start blowing up under the Italian tanks’ fire, the accompanying infantry decides to flee. As the sun starts to set, the Italian flag is hoisted over the plaza.

The battle is over: the last desperate pushes of the Byzantine infantry inflict more losses, but ultimately fail to turn the tide. I am completely blindsided by a Varangian Brigade showing up near Bilisht coming from the southeast, and a Katafraktoi Regiment manages to cut off my troops at Shijak, but it’s too late: the road and railway to Tirana have been cut off for good. It has been exhausting, but this is also due to the utter failure of the XIV Coorte in the northeast of the map in the first few turns. Maybe it would have been better to completely ignore that front and use the XIV as a mobile reserve for the main offensive in the center of the map? That’s a possible strategy…