Slitherine

Hi all, this is the fourth full campaign of my mod (version 3.5: viewtopic.php?t=108116). New version included a new campaign and a new Faction, but this AAR still concerns only Byzantines, Italian and British units.


The Varangians’ attack at Arta has originated from the Kozani Valley, which we managed to hold against last year’s Italian advance. Now the enemy is determined to flush us out of this region and probably use it to attack Arta again, this time from the south.

We have Themas in place to defend the valley, obviously, but not enough to keep the Italians completely out of it: I need to concede ground and build up several defensive lines to slow down the enemy’s advance. The nonstop winter rains will help by making offroad movements much slower.

I have been assigned several Engineer Battalions: I can use them to plant minefields in strategic locations, both for slowing down the enemy now AND receiving bonuses in another scenario down the line.

Italian troops are also trying to cross the mountains that protect the eastern side of the Valley; it’s unclear if and when they will break through, but again I can use my Engineers to build fortifications in two key towns and try to close off the mountain passes.



9/2/1942
I have 2 Defensive Operations and an Offensive one, but only 2 Thema are present in the battle. One of the HQs has been wounded in the last battle (they were employed by the Byzantine AI side), but since I can’t deploy it, it doesn’t matter.

My forces are distributed along two defensive lines: one stretches from Makri to Erythraia, the other further north from Tavros to Drapetsona. The 201st Hoplitai Division has been deployed further south to slow down the Italians, and it has already been engaged: the Regiment holding Eliniko has been overran already.

The first line won’t be able to stop the invaders, but the second line must hold. The 205th Hoplitai Division is blocking the road from Erythraia and Drapetsona, between the two defensive lines. I can’t defend everything, but to secure a secondary objective I have to hold at least two “silver flags”. Saving the northernmost two is an obvious choice.

I decide to move the 8° Varangian Brigade from Makri to bolster the 205th Division’s flank. Makri’s defense will be provided by the 204th Division instead.

Drapetsona has an Artillery Regiment supporting the defense, but I’ll move it toward the main line that I’ll form southeast of Tavros. Tavros itself will not be defended initially: I intend to block the main approach routes and use the woods to bolster my defenses. The 35th and 38th Koursorses Divisions will drive south and provide a much needed mobile reserve. Southwest of Drapetsona there are some hills that can be useful.

My new Interceptors have enough range to spot the advancing Italian columns: the 18° Brigata Arditi is leading the way so I launch the 16th Peltastes Wing against it, torching dozens of Italian assault guns.

I decide to use my Engineers to build all the available minefields, but only the northernmost Fortress to hold off an eventual Italian attack from the mountains.



10/2/1942
Two enemy Corps (XXII and XXIII Coorte) approach Erythraia; I use my two artillery batteries to soften up the leading elements of the 6th “Vatluna” Centuria while my aviation keeps hitting the 18° Brigata Arditi and the rest of my forces move into position. The winter mud is here and it’s making moving towed equipment an arduous task.


11/2/1942
The 11° Brigata Arditi and a fresh Regiment of the 6th “Vatluna” breaks through the ranks of the 200th Hoplitai Division in front of Erythraia, and good luck to my plans of holding this line for several turns. Italian Bombers target my artillery guns, but I manage to down 18 with my AA batteries; my Interceptors are forced to go back and refuel.



12/2/1942
The Italians troops led by the 6th “Vatluna” take Erythraia by storm, collapsing the southernmost defensive line, and two Divisioni Motorizzate enter the valley to exploit the breakthrough. The 200th and 202nd Hoplitai are still fighting in the outskirts and so far two Italian HQs have been shattered, significantly hampering the enemies’ offensive coordination.

I start retreating the XL Thema’s HQ north. My Engineers are completing the planned minefields and have fortified a village that guards the northernmost of the mountain passes.


13/2/1942
The 35th Koursorses Division is starting to form another strongpoint in the hills south of Tavros, and the Tavros-Drapetsona defensive line is almost completed. My air force hits a Regiment of the 88th Clibanari Division inflicting significant casualties and my Interceptors down almost 40 enemy light bombers. The enemy is pushing north, slowly eating up my Hoplitai Divisions.



14/2/1942
The Italians have sent more Arditi Brigades to exploit the breach, but there is already a mass of Regiments and Brigades trying to push past Erythraia, so their supply efficiency is quite reduced. Enemy units are trying to encircle what’s left of the 203rd Hoplitai Division east of the town as well as remnants of other units, so I’m falling back toward Drapetsona.

The 6th “Vatluna” has tried to flank the 205th Hoplitai’s roadblock by passing through the woods northwest of Erythraia, but the 8° Varangian Brigade has stopped its advance. Two enemy Fighter Wings have jumped on the 16th Peltastes Wing, decimating it despite my Interceptors’ escorts.

15/2/1942
Enemy troops swarm north; the 203rd Hoplitai Division is almost fully encircled; it fights bravely trying to hold back the tide. The defensive lines further north are complete. The last Peltastes planes are downed by the enemy Fighters, but we finish off a Bombardieri Wing on our own.



16/2/1942
The Italians have reached the 205th Hoplitai Division’s roadblock, and are trying to flank it. The 11° Arditi Brigade is probably going to lead the charge, and the 8° Varangian Brigade is unlikely to be able to stop them. A Regiment of the 45th Divisione Motorizzata has already traversed the woods and is approaching my 35th Koursorses Division’s positions northeast of Makri. A reserve Regiment of the 38th Koursorses has been sent to protect Makri’s rear.


17/2/1942
I retreat the 8° Varangian toward Makri, where I’m building another defensive line to protect the town. The lone Reggimento Motorizzato has been encircled and decimated. The Italians will probably overrun the 205th Hoplitai Division in a day or two so I’m withdrawing the XL Thema’s HQ further north.



18/2/1942
The 11° Arditi lead the charge and break through the 205th Hoplitai’s ranks despite my AT guns taking a sizable toll out of them. Motorized troops exploit the breach and thus my roadblock is done in a single day. Kinda disappointing.

Enemy Engineers approach Makri from the south and they are swiftly pushed back. Italian infantry advances through the southern mountain pass. Enemy Bombers shell my artillery positions north of Makri but my Interceptors make them pay a heavy price for it.



19/2/1942
Enemy forces are approaching Drapetsona. The 35th Koursorses Division launches a counterattack against advancing Italian troops north of Makri, pushing them back with the help of two Artillery Regiments. The 205th Hoplitai Division has been annihilated.



20/2/1942
The 11° Arditi Brigade is advancing between Drapetsona and the 35th Koursorses Division’s positions, followed by motorized troops; I’ll let it pass and I’ll try to cut it off later. The 88th Clibanarii Division, however, is headed directly against the Koursorses and I’ll have to resist the inevitable armored push without any Voitho (support) Regiment. I shell the enemy armored units to soften them up and follow up with a motorized counterattack that inflicts heavy losses to the enemy’s leading elements. The 8° Varangian launches an attack in the evening as well.

The 130th Hoplitai Division launches a counterattack against Italian motorized elements advancing on Drapetsona, helped by strafing runs from my Interceptors.



21/2/1942
All the minefields are in place, but the enemy keeps advancing: the 30° Arditi Brigade led the charge at Drapetsona and broke the 130th Hoplitai in two. The 9° Varangian Brigade pushes back a Motorized Regiment that was heading toward the bridge east of Tavros.

The 204th Hoplitai Division decimates a Regiment of the 98th Limitanei Division that was advancing toward Makri from the south, and the 35th Koursorses Division pushes back the 88th Clibanarii Division with heavy losses.



22/2/1942
Drapetsona has fallen, another “strongpoint” that disappoints me, but alas the Centuria/Arditi combination is just straight up murder when assaulting. The Italians have probably the hardest-hitting mechanized regiments in the world and they know it.

On the other hand, my main defensive line at Tavros pushes back another motorized push, and the 88th Clibanarii Division has been almost destroyed after three days of bombardments and motorized/mechanized counterattacks northeast of Makri.



23/2/1942
The 68th Limitanei Division has broken through a mountain pass southeast of Kozani; the fortified area I built earlier in the village overlooking the pass has engaged the enemy, but it can still be bypassed so I have to pull back the 38th Koursorses Division to address the issue. Maybe other units will be needed but the enemy has made contact with the Tavros Defensive Line and I can’t pull back safely.

The enemy has driven the 6th “Vatlunia” Division north, but its leading Regiment has been heavily shelled by my artillery and immediately counterattacked; the furious battle has left behind a hundred among light tanks, IFVs and APCs and the enemy troops are in disarray.

The defenses around Makri are holding well, but they are separated from the Tavros line and won’t be able to be extricated to help elsewhere.

My Interceptors are trying to down as many Italian bombers as possible, but only the 22nd and 24th Anachaitistis Wings are still operational.

24/2/1942
The leading Italian units crash against the Tavros defensive line, but the 21° Arditi Brigade is spotted advancing as well. My troops for now are pushing back every attack, but that could change quickly if the enemy starts concentrating its forces for a breakthrough.

For now, the 68th Limitanei Division’s advance has been contained: two of its Regiments haven’t advanced beyond my fortified area, and the other one has advanced too far and is now cut off from supplies. A Koursorses Regiment from the 38th Division is trying to intercept it, and I have two Engineering Battalions entrenched outside the Kozani fortified area. I’m withdrawing the 21° Varangian Brigade from the Tavros defensive line, I’ll pull it back toward Kozani as well.


25/2/1942
Ok we got a problem: an entire Coorte is fording the river at Drapetsona, led by three Arditi Brigades. That’s just way too much to handle, and can annihilate the Kozani defenses, so it’s time to retreat northeast to protect the primary objective.

But how? Enemy troops are pushing against the Tavros Line as well: the 21° Brigata Arditi leads the charge and only a concentration of artillery fire and determined counterattacks have stopped it. The Italians are also renewing their attacks against the Makri Line from the east and south.

8 turns to the end of the scenario: I have to put faith in the mud slowing the Arditi down before they can bring their assault guns near Kozani and shell its bunkers to dust.



26/2/1942
The pressure against Makri from the south is mounting, and the 204th Hoplitai Division’s losses are mounting. The Tavros line pushes back another wave of Italian attackers, but the enemy Coorte spotted south of Kozani has now forded the river in numbers and is advancing down the main road. The 21° Varangian Brigade takes up defensive positions in a wood next to the road, blocking 23° Brigata Arditi’s path.



27/2/1942
I’m still trying to run back to Kozani with all the units I can spare: I’m even pulling back part of the 35th Koursorses Division north of Makri. The town itself is still safe, but the 204th Hoplitai is crumbling under the Italian attack. The Tavros line looks like it will resist until the end, so I “only” have to ensure Kozani’s survival for another week or so.



28/2/1942
The Italian’s attack on the Tavros Line and north of Makri seem to have collapsed, so I’m starting to move all the troops north of Makri north. Makri itself has a respite from enemy attacks today.

The situation south of Kozani is bad: three Arditi Brigades are still marching north using the main road, and I’m trying to reach Kozani before them by going offroad. This is going exactly as well as it sounds. At least, the lone Regiment from the 38th Koursorses Division has taken up positions in front of the city in time and is fending off the first Italian motorized vanguards. Two minefields are also forcing the enemy offroad south of the city.



1/3/1942
All available units are moving northeast to protect Kozani. Enemy units are amassing south of the city, but the assault hasn’t begun yet. There’s still time.



2/3/1942
The 18° Arditi Brigade has intercepted the bulk of my units moving toward Kozani, stopping their march. I have to deal with this heavily armed units and I’m not likely to bypass it.

On the other hand, another Regiment of the 38th Koursorses Division has slipped through, as well as the 21° Varangian Brigade. The former has also cut off two Regiments of the Italian 44th Divisione Motorizzata that were flanking Kozani from the west. A mass of Italian units is concentrated southeast of the city, but the minefields are restricting their movements.


3/3/1942
The Italians keep pushing, but the chaotic fighting southwest of Kozani may have saved the day: the enemy is hesitant and Kozani is still untouched. My Interceptors are relentlessly strafing the advancing columns and with all the bombers shot down the enemy has no mean to support the final offensive from the air.


4/3/1942
The Arditi surge forward and reach the outskirts of Kozani. A mass of infantry engages my forces trying to reach the city. A crucial series of violent fights will decide the fate of the battle as the Varangians of the 21° Brigade try to charge the advancing Arditi head on.



5/2/1942
My troops south of Kozani are being ground down by the enemy forces, but the Varangian gamble up north works: the Arditi have to maneuver away from Kozani to avoid a flanking attack and a Motorized Regiment that was positioned on the outskirts is left vulnerable to a sortie from the town. The Varangians and the heroic Regiment of the 38th Kourorses Division link up west of the city.

The battle is over: the Italian offensive loses steam and peters out right outside Kozani. I also managed to keep three secondary objectives and plant all the planned minefields so the battle ends with a clear victory.