1939 Campaign, Field Marshall difficulty, scenario Cassino Breakthrough, may 1943
This is one of the big scenarios from Allied Corps. This is the very first time I play this scenario.
Introduction:
After securing a foothold in Italy during the previous Salerno scenario, we are now heading north to Cassino and it's fortified positions.
The original Panzer Corps game already had a scenario depicting combats for the Gustav line, however it was at a more strategical level. Here in Allied Corps the scenario depict operation Diadem at a lower scale, and as the name suggest it focus on the breakthrough in the Aurunci mountains and the Liri valley.
The new scenario area compared to the original Panzer Corps map.
From a game point of view both approach are valid, and the PanzerCorps Gustav Line scenario was actually one of my favourite standalone scenario from the first game. Nevertheless the zoomed in scale, used in Allied Corps is a better match for the game combat engine mechanisms, it gives a better historical, or simulation, feedback. For me it's one of the improvements from the original game which depicted strategical situations with a tactical combat engine.
Situation analysis:
Not only should we break the formidable defences of the Gustav Line, but we must also breach the next fortified Von Senger Line. Initially this line was called the Hitler Line but it was renamed after the XIV Panzer Corps leader, in an attempt to frustrate allied propaganda.
German defence around Cassino, with two elite 5 stars Fallschirmjäger units.
Beside heavy fortifications, strong and experienced combined arms German formations are expected, with ample artillery support. There should be very few enemy aircraft, as the Allies as an almost total air superiority, historically they have around 3000 air planes for this operation. Nevertheless I should be careful with my own planes because of the number of Flak assets deployed.
Beside the scenario objectives, I will also try to capture every single enemy flag hex to gain some extra prestige, including the remote one in the far north.
Allied Forces:
The 1939 campaign start with the British in the desert, US units only become available in 1943 for Tunisia. So my core is currently made of ¾ of British units and ¼ of US units. My units experience average around 2 to 3 stars, and a pair of veteran 4 stars (Sexton and Mosquito), The US being still less experienced.
For this play-test campaign, and for the sake of the challenge, I use only units with the basic 10 strength and no OverSrength. However the AI starts to field more and more units with strength 12 or more.
For this scenario, a number of exciting new equipments are available for purchase. In particular the much awaited improved Shermans, with better armour and long barrelled guns, the British Firefly should stand up versus most German Panzer. I upgrade my fighters to the new Tempest, and purchase an 8 inches M1 Howitzer, which might be very helpful versus the heavy fortifications.
For this scenario, I'm authorized to field 26 units from my reserve. I also gathered along the campaign, 4 Special Edition (SE) bonus units, that are free to deploy. But 30 units is not much for such a big map. Hopefully the GHQ generously provides me with extra units for this specific scenarios: thirteen infantry, three Shermans and, twoB17 Bombers.
This kind of auxiliary units cannot keep on the campaign with my core units. So to be efficient in the campaign it is important to make the most out of the auxiliary units you have to protect your precious core units. It doesn't mean you should sacrifice them aimlessly, yet I expect them to take the brunt of enemy fires.
Initial Planing:
British 8th Army sector:[/b]
One thing I absolutely want to avoid, is to attack Cassino head on. So I send The Polishs beefed up by my British Commando, in a large (and slow) right hook to attack the Monastery from behind.
Meanwhile, my resilient Churchills tanks, will cross the Rapido river in force, to make a left pincer. Once both pincers have cleared the supporting artillery, I'll try to capture the Monastery.
In front of Sant Angelo I will try to slowly wear down the enemy, then cross the river with the supporting Commonwealth Shermans.
French Expeditionary Corps sector:
The French only have four infantry divisions, they don't have impressive values. However they have an extremely useful feature for this scenario, they have the Alpine movement type. So they can move 3 hexes per turns in the mountains, while all over units are limited to only one hex per turn in mountain. So my intention is to use them to spearhead trough the mountains and to outflank the German fortifications in the valley. Unfortunately the French lack support assets, So I'll divert Some US Tanks and artillery to help their breakthrough.
US 2nd Corps sector:
The first task for the Americans, will be to clear the valley around Minturno. Then I will split them in two. One task force will follow along the coast until Gaeta, while the other force will move north along the Aussonia road to support the French, and join the battle for the Von Senger Line.
Here we go!
Note: the text immediately behind a picture refers to this pictures, however some additional text mentio secondary actions not illustrated by any pictures.
Turn 1:
In front of Cassino, I Boldly move my Churchills into the Rapido river, with heavy artillery support.
In Sant Angelo, I sent the weak bridge engineer, again with artillery support, they will probably take some losses, but when the German defenders will attack they'll receive return fire twice, one by the engineer and one by the artillery, hence reducing their entrenchment by two. Dealing damages in the opponent turn is an important technique. Your following attacks will be that much easier, as it usually involves taking some casualties too, auxiliary units are perfect for this task.
The Americans have set up mostly armoured forces against the 94th German infantry division, to cancel its heavy artillery supports. The Air force will reduce the artillery first, then I will overpower the German methodically one by one.
Turn 2:
Oops, Rain! no air supports!! I can hear the German laughing in their trenches.
Never mind, I patiently put some pressure on the Fallschirmjäger defending Cassino.
Turn 3:
After intense shelling I send my British infantry to finish the German holding Cassino.
Meanwhile the Americans finish the initial German position.
Turn 4:
A lone Focke Wulf 190 dashes through the sky, this new aircraft is much tougher than the Bf 109. I need three fighters to destroy it.
I capture Sant Angelo across the river. However the auxiliary Shermans are much weaker than my veteran Churchills, and a strong German armoured counter attack kill one Sherman and prevent any breakthrough.
The Americans discover a second Kampfgruppe in the valley. I now split the US forces in two, one will follow on along the coast, the second will turns north to provide some needed heavy support to the French. The French made good progress in the mountains clearing the 71th German Infantry division, albeit at the price of heavy losses.
Turn 5-6:
I use heavy air support and divert units from Cassino to help my badly mauled forces in Sant Angello as my initial tanks here are almost destroyed.
The Americans joins the French, to clear the Aussonia Bottleneck, blocking the important road through the mountains.
To the South The US Forces encounter another blocking position.
Turn 7-9:
The rock solid Churchills start to attack the batteries supporting the Monastery.
At last, the situation in the centre is under control, and I capture Pignatro.
The Americans repel a small sneaky armoured counter attack around Formia.
Turn 10:
Attacking from all directions at once, I capture the Monastery.
Turn 11 -12:
Not to be intimidated, the Fallschirmjäger, immediately repulsed the Indian Division, as a result I found myself with no infantry around the Monastery, so in an emergency I must send back my paratroopers there.
Finally coming out of the mountains, the French-US team is now in view of the Von Senger line.
Turn 13-14:
Now moving to attack the Von Senger line.
A Panther tank is spotted hidden in the trenches
Turn 15:
After intense fighting (I started only 4 hexes away!) the Monastery is finally under control.
Meanwhile, the swift French are outflanking the final enemy defensive line.
Turn 16:
The Americans reach Gaeta the coast is completely cleared.
Turn 17-18:
Trying to open national road # 6, The British fight a very strong resistance in Aquino. Those German assault guns enjoy a combat bonus vs tanks making them tough to handle.
Turn 19:
Having turned the Von Senger Line the US-French team is now in view of the final objective, problem, the bridge is guarded by a schwere Panzer Jäger Abteilung, those Elephant can destroy most of my tanks in one single attack.
Turn 20:
After encircling the last StuG, the British launch the final assault on Aquino.
Turn 21:
In the end, I use the popular river trap to dispose of the formidable Elephant. Unit in a river hex suffer penalties both on offenses and on defense, so finding way to lure enemy units in river hexes is an efficicnet tactic.
Appraisal:
Despite an initial setback around Sant Angelo, most things gone according to plan. This was a tense scenario from the first turn to the very last one. The new Germans equipment came as a surprise, hopefully they were used in a static defence role, this time at least.
All objectives, as well as every single flag hexes, captured.
Core units step losses limited to 23.
A massive 120 auxiliary step losses.
Final comments:
As a final not I would like to mention one of the most welcome addition of the new 1,20 game engine, the new Advanced Options tab, those new options allow you to customise the game difficulty with great precision, moreover some popular cheat codes now become easily accessible options.
Finally here is the replay of the scenario
