True, that said, if we produce a few more wings of interceptors (maybe two/three more groups of 3 each) we could provide true round-the-clock coverage over the front lines.
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True, that said, if we produce a few more wings of interceptors (maybe two/three more groups of 3 each) we could provide true round-the-clock coverage over the front lines.
Response feedback for the last chapter, Part 1:
to be continued ...
The Axis is putting up a pretty good fight all told, I think, given they've been hard at it in Europe since September 1939 and against the USSR and UGNR for much of that time. The Leningrad breakout is a bit of a worry and Finland possibly entering could make it very messy, but otherwise things have gone well enough elsewhere. You will soon see what the last few days of December 1942 bring - then 1943 should prove a very interesting year indeed! Threats and opportunities, as they say.
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It's great to know we have such rock-solid support from the GRU in particular and our Soviet allies in general. The loss of Leningrad struck us to our hearts and we knew we had to pitch in again for the greater good. Forward, to victory - not a step back!
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I think this rings very true. Actual useful Soviet allies who won't owe their existence simply to Stalin. Should make for a qualitatively different post-war order - assuming the freedom-loving (ahem) Comintern creates it, of course!
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A good summary. Having to switch supply through the west for any length of time would be a bit of a pain, but as you say would provide a lifeline. You shall soon see if the Germans succeed in cutting the eastern corridor along the Sava.
It could be manpower in part, though most of them show to be pretty much up to strength when they first attack/defend. I think in many cases it is their templated structures as well, with fewer front line and more support brigades (only 1,000 men each) than I would be comfortable with.
It does. Let us hope it is a noose and not a lasso for the Soviets. My main worry is Finland too. It's already very thin up there ... if it led to a more firmly based and stronger hook around and down towards Moscow, it could upset the relatively stable (if active) balance of the Patriotic Front these last few years.
We're hoping so. The Germans will get an injection of manpower with their event on 1 Jan 43, but even without that, they seem to be sustaining themselves pretty well. They may have had their losses, but nothing like the 1941 Winter campaign or the loss of 6th Army in Stalingrad in OTL. And that Japanes eSecond Front in the east has also helped them mightily. I think their manpower deficit is comparatively small compared to their total strength, so it only means some units are a bit short some of the time. I hope it gets worse for them quickly - before Finland jumps in, Japan overruns India and the US sleepwalks and misses the war entirely!
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Could be! I like to think it was our valiant interceptors carving up their attacks.Clearly, what happened here is that the Italians deployed their fighters to do the bombing, and their bombers to do the fighting. Brilliant, we'd never expect it!
It is at that - a good observation. And one of the reasons I've been giving snippets of the OTL Stalingrad battle as comparison re timing and respective stages of the war.
Always wise advice with this rather active German AI.
I think it does seem to be, though it's hard just from anecdotal observation to gauge any measurable effect.
Yes, either we will need more troops - or for the Axis line to begin to wither and thin. And this was a bit more opportunistic than the earlier large offensives: part because their line thinned enticingly, part because I was worried about the effect of the loss of Leningrad.
Well, Turkey and the Soviets have been providing plenty of distractions elsewhere in the line, as will be clear in the end-of-month summaries. But as you say, not enough to save Leningrad. I hope it is enough to hold the line and stabilise there, as the Germans may find it hard to fully sustain a northern push. At least without Finnish support.
That one was for him and other readAARs of his work.Quick, someone get that guy from the Italian AAR in here!
to be continued ...
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Response feedback Part 2:
I'm always concsious of the fragility of the UGNR when up against substantively German units. Especially if the Luftwaffe gets involved
So, the next episode is pretty much ready to go. Not sure if I can publish it all tonight - might have to wait to the morning (my time). Thanks everyone once more for your much-appreciated comments, observations, advice and discussions. They are my life's blood for this AAR.
We do the best we can and with the the best timing we can manage.
I'm always concsious of the fragility of the UGNR when up against substantively German units. Especially if the Luftwaffe gets involved They set the scene for the Frost Wolf to be let loose, especially from Banja Luka.
There is an event, but I think they need to lose more than they have so far (which of course I'd rather didn't happen). It's a bit like it being far worse not earning enough to pay tax than paying it on what you do earn.
And always very much appreciated. Credit where it's due.You're spoiling me
Maybe not a big gig yet, but I'm sure their time will come again.
Thanks! I think they will change a bit, but will see what they do with them once they're upgraded. Will consult then.
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I agree in both assessments. I'd like to have done more/bigger, but for an impromptu probe it has done quite well so far. At least it is something for our hard-pressed (in the north at least) Soviet allies.
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More below on fighters. Re the marines: yes, but remember that naval test run I did where a few hours in the Adriatic almost saw my (puny) Navy's ass busted by Italy's massed air power, even with me trying to provide some fighter cover. Not willing to risk it yet, especially given how strong their air effort has been so far in countering the offensive.
I agree with both of you here. There are a couple of wings of Mustangs further down the queue, but I keep checking to see if the US upgrades its base export fighter from the F4F. I know quantity is the main thing, but given I can never hope to upgrade them myself, I do kinda want something a little more modern before I splash the cash again.
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So, the next episode is pretty much ready to go. Not sure if I can publish it all tonight - might have to wait to the morning (my time). Thanks everyone once more for your much-appreciated comments, observations, advice and discussions. They are my life's blood for this AAR.
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Chapter 188: The Frost Wolf Bites (27 to 31 December 1942)
Chapter 188: The Frost Wolf Bites (27 to 31 December 1942)
AuthAAR’s Note: This chapter finishes off the last days of December 1942 – an eventful year. If anything, the frantic pace of the Frost Wolf offensive and the Axis response intensifies even further as the Turks push hard to close off the pocket at Karlobag on the Adriatic coast, while the Axis tries desperately to break the encirclement of its two stranded divisions. It proved a busy month at sea as well in South East Asia and the Pacific.
Achtung! Tiger: 26-27 Dec 42
Three battles continued in the Turkish sector as 26 December began. The Axis attack on Novi Grad was starting to weigh heavily [46% progress] on 17 Inf Div as it tried to resist two German panzer divisions attacking them across the Sava River. The Turkish cross-river spoiling attack by 15 Inf Div on Sisak [35%] tried to distract 2 Pz Div from its own assault on Novi Grad.
And the pinning attack on Rommel’s 50th Infanterie was proving difficult [27%] but continued: at 9am Wehib Pasha sought to balance Rommel’s ambush tactics with a blitzing attack by his 1 Armd Div (in Otocac), which should help things somewhat. 1 Mot Div, which had joined the attack in reserve from Ogulin, had not yet been able to reinforce. Axis air attacks persisted across the sector.
Ground Damage Report – 26 December. Axis air efforts had switched from Ubdina and Novi Grad but remained on Otocac (three raids, 247 casualties). Raids started on Ogulin, which was also hit three times for 316 ground casualties, while Vrnograc became the new target on the Sava, one raid so far causing just 61 casualties that evening.
By 9am on 27 December, the Sisak and Novi Grad attacks had both progressed – it was a race to see if 17 Inf Div’s position could be saved. The menacing presence of German Tiger tanks had been detected in Karlovac, just north-west of Vrnograc – and well placed on the west bank of the Sava River. Clearly, the Germans had something more brewing to try to break the almost-complete encirclement.
The Operation Frost Wolf encirclement was completed at 5pm that evening, with 2 Mot Div securing Karlobag – and in good order, with only another 34 hours left before they would be ready for another attack, if called for. The Sisak [45%] and Novi Grad [53%] attacks both inched forward for the respective sides. The now trapped 50th Infanterie fought on in Perusic [26%] while their comrades in the 60th Infanterie were still retreating from Bosanski Petrovac north-west to Bihac – now unoccupied but closed off within the pocket.
But Axis pressure on the lightly held eastern flank of the encirclement increased at 7pm with a new two-pronged assault by Hungarian infantry on Sanski Most, against 11 Inf Div – which only had an acting commander. HQ 2nd Corps had moved to reinforce them a few days before, but their movement was slowed by the poor weather.
As Axis air raids hammered the northern flank of the advance and three battles now raged on its eastern flank, at 10pm the Italian 133rd Armoured Division decided on a perilous night-time, cross-strait attack on Karlobag from the island of Lussino, in poor weather. Fortunately, the pinning attack already under-way on 50th Infanterie in Perusic meant it was unable to take part from the landward flank. The Italian attack was rated as having virtually no chance of success, but was still given air support. They really must have been desperate to rescue the trapped German troops in the newly-formed Adriatic Pocket.
Ground Damage Report – 27 December. After one more raid on Vrnograc (85 killed), those aircraft switched back to Novi Grad, where two raids only killed 45 defenders in total [I wasn’t checking closely, but TAC clearly wasn’t being used for those ones – CAS perhaps]. The pressure was kept up on Otocac (three raids, 185 casualties) and Ogulin (three raids, 201 casualties).
Fighting for the Right to Party: 28 Dec 42
It became clear that in future, more ‘standard’ infantry divisions would be needed to both hold the defensive line and support the flanks of hoped-for future breakthroughs. A new division therefore began training on 28 December. A fifth brigade would probably be added from existing ‘spares’ (maybe some engineers) once it deployed in April 1943.
Yet another Axis attack came on the eastern flank of the advance at 7pm, but it wasn’t from the Tigers lying in wait in Karlovac. The Germans launched an attack across the Sava from Zagreb on Vrnograc – an apparent attempt to spoil the Turkish spoiling attack by 15 Inf Div on Sisak. That attack continued to progress [it had been at 76%, but that reduced to 56% when the 93rd attacked – curses!], though now not as quickly as that of the Germans on Novi Grad, where the situation was deteriorating. At this point, six battles continued across the Adriatic Sector.
In Istanbul, Calixte ‘Romeo’ Charron continued to live the high life in service of his ‘lone wolf’ master, David Callan, the regional MI6 station chief based in Baghdad. It was perhaps just a coincidence [indeed, it was], but since his arrival, the espionage scene in Turkey had fallen eerily silent [not a single incident in Turkey or Italy for the entire month].
Without any suspicious events or possible betrayals by the suspected Soviet moles within MI6 (whether in London or MI6’s Turkish operation itself) to be sniffed out, Agent Romeo was left at something of a loose end.
But he hung tough and – with a healthy expense account at his disposal – continued to cut a dashing figure and cultivate his contacts among the French and British expatriate communities and local Turkish officials and politicians.
“What else am I left to do for now – but party!?” Romeo thought to himself.
“What else am I left to do for now – but party!?”
Ground Damage Report – 28 December. Vrnograc was targeted again an Italian raid at the beginning of the day caused 43 casualties; but then the Luftwaffe took over to grim effect, killing 297 defenders in a single raid that evening. Otocac (three raids, 232 casualties) and Ogulin (three raids, but only 75 casualties) were again struck by the Italians, and Karlobag was added to the Italian target list (three raids, 282 killed).
From the Jaws of Defeat: 29 Dec 42
An important scientific leap was taken into the modern military age by Turkey on 29 December with the development of their first home-grown radar design. A new station (likely to be deployed in Beograd on completion) was commenced immediately. With so many projects to fund and supply production eating into industrial output, Turkish researchers concentrated next on improving industrial production techniques.
The station was put to the top of the production queue. Though it seemed like it would take an inordinate amount of time to build – 243 days! The line might well have advanced by then – or so it was hoped.
In Novi Grad, by that afternoon 17 Inf Div could hold out no longer: they broke at 4pm and fled north-west to Vrnograc, having suffered heavy casualties from the enemy armoured attack, despite a river to defend behind and the spoiling attack on 2 Pz Div. 15 Inf Div’s attack on 2 Pz Div in Sisak had been quite effective by itself, but not enough to break them from their assault on Novi Grad or rescue 17 Inf Div – it was called off when the battle for Novi Grad was lost.
Fearing the trapped German divisions might be rescued after all and wanting to expand the western corridor of the advance as the Sava corridor came under threat, 222 SD and 2 Mtn Div in Ubdina were added to the attack on Perusic [still only 28% progressed] an hour later. And at 7pm, the still-forming 2 Armd Div was sent up to Sanski Most (still under Hungarian attack) from Banja Luka to add their small (LArm + SP Arty brigade) contribution to the fight.
Then everything seemed to come to a head between 9 and 10 pm that night. The forlorn German spoiling attack on Vrnograc was called off first, where ridiculously high enemy casualties had been incurred. Then at 10pm, Sanski Most was won comfortably. The addition of the two new divisions attacking from the south had also sent Rommel’s stubborn defence of Perusic to flight (towards Bihac), though that had been a harder fight. And the foolhardy Italian attack on Karlobag was also called off – where they had lost over 900 men while the defending Turks had only four men killed.
The fight was far from over, but after the shock of Novi Grad earlier in the day, there was much relief at this news at HQ 2nd Corps and 1st Army. And new action was taken promptly. 1 Inf Div was tasked with regaining Novi Grad from 6 Pz Div, which had quickly slipped into the province after 17 Inf Div had routed. Orbay’s masterful execution of a blitz attack was partly offset by an attempted ambush from his German opposite MAJGEN Schaal, but Orbay had the edge on the ground in the initial contact. Interestingly, 1 Inf Div’s IS-1 tanks found themselves evenly matched against the German Panzer IVs in terms of piercing attack vs armour strength. But Orbay’s men were fresher, attacking in open terrain and against an enemy which had been given no chance to dig in yet. Though the weather remained poor and hampered the attackers somewhat [-7.9%].
This counter-attack was imperative, as both of the trapped German divisions were fleeing to neighbouring Bihac, which 15 Inf Div had been diverted from some days before due to the German Axis attack on Novi Grad. The race to cut them off again was on in earnest.
And just to reinforce the fact that the Axis could still generate significant threats elsewhere, they began a full corps-sized attack on Tuzla at 11pm that night, complete with air support (the casualties would be reported the next day, when the raid finished). The Soviet MAJGEN Ryzhow again took command of the defence.
Ground Damage Report – 29 December. The Germans launched two more vicious raids on Vrnograc, killing 631 defenders. Otocac (three raids, 216 casualties), Ogulin (three raids, but 152 casualties) and Karlobag (three raids, 217 killed) remained under the Italian hammer, but those raids would finish with the late night victories in Perusic and Karlobag.
Tooth and Claw: 30-31 Dec 42
The fourth brigade of heavy tanks (more IS-2s) for the Turkish Army was delivered to Banja Luka on the morning of 30 December. They would work up to combat readiness for now, then be added to a new formation when up to speed.
1 Mot Div took Perusic at 1pm, but that left a gap in the line at Ogulin [I had forgotten to halt them after the attack was won the night before], so they were ordered back there on arrival. They could at least reorganise as they counter-marched. 1 Armd Div was halted in Otocac to finish post-attack reorganisation and 222 SD was diverted north-east to Bosanski Petrovac and the threatened eastern flank of the advance. But 2 Mtn Div would continue on to the hills of Perusic – and perhaps Bihac after that.
With that short initial contact report from 15 Inf Div to HQ 2nd Corps, the 'Clash of the Predators' was on: Tiger vs Wolf. The IS-2s of 15 Inf Div were an even match for the Tigers, though 1 Inf Div’s older IS-1s lacked in fire-power and armour by comparison. 1 Inf Div was also still attacking south to Novi Grad, which also put them at a tactical disadvantage. This would be a difficult attack to repel without breaking off the Novi Grad counter-attack.
Ground Damage Report – 30 December. The enemy air attacks eased somewhat during the day. The Italians took over again in Vrnograc, with two raids killing 152 defenders there. Tuzla was also attacked twice by Italian aircraft, suffering 265 casualties.
Entertainment News: US. Frank Sinatra performed his first solo concert at the Paramount Theatre in New York City. Sinatra later recalled being "scared stiff" when the audience of 5,000 bobby soxers shrieked and screamed continuously for America's new teen idol. The musical film Star Spangled Rhythm featuring an all-star cast including Victor Moore, Betty Hutton, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby premiered in New York City.
Midnight on the early morning of 31 December brought victory in Tuzla, as the Axis attackers took mounting casualties and realised they were unlikely to succeed.
1 Mtn Div arrived in Bosanski Petrovac at 8am: they were immediately sent to reinforce the attack on Novi Grad. HQ 2nd Corps made it to Sanski Most an hour later, and LTGEN Artunkal had no hesitation in adding his reinforced HQ into the same attack and taking over its prosecution. Though both units would have to reinforce to actually take part in the combat, their mere presence – and the conversion of the attack to a multi-front assault – added a lot to its potency [up to 83% by 10am], putting 7 Pz Div under great pressure.
That morning’s Istanbul Times was edited personally by Perse, with the aid of a personal photo of the President thoughtfully provided by COL E. Diskoerekto of 6 Bde, 3 Mtn Div. It capitalised on the success of Operation Frost Wolf to finish the year on a high propaganda note. The Turkish High Command hoped it would actually prove true - it would be embarrassing if the Germans now escaped!
Even though they had the recent example of Italy’s failed attempt to attack across the strait between the island of Lussino and Karlobag, when 2 Mot Div finished is post-attack reorganisation at 11am, it responded in kind. While the circumstances were still difficult, they had guessed that the Italian 133rd Armoured Division would be in a bad way after their recent foray. It was daylight and the poor weather had abated, so the ever-adventurous Toüdemür chanced his arm. The Italians were indeed exhausted, but it remained to be seen whether this would be enough to force the crossing.
1 Armd Div was still reorganising in Otocac and was waiting for 1 Mot Div to return to Ogulin. But when both were reorganised and in place, they would be able to advance line abreast along the Adriatic coast to extend the incursion and create the opportunity for a renewed breakthrough - if the pocket could be closed and eliminated.
Aerial footage of the town of Lussino (1) on the island of the same name under artillery fire from 2 Mot Div.
The addition of the new forces attacking from the south proved decisive in Novi Grad: 7 Pz Div began retreating at midday. It looked like the encirclement (and the cut Turkish supply lines in the east of the salient) would be restored after all.
Given the attack of the 5th Heavy Panzer Division on Vrnograc, 1 Inf Div halted its advance on Novi Grad at 1pm to concentrate on the defence of the advance’s key pivot point. HQ 2 Corps and 2 Mtn Div would be left to reoccupy the river bank and secure it against further inroads. The effect in Vrnograc was immediate, with the odds for the defence suddenly improved [attack progress down to 37%].
As 1942 drew to a close, only the cross-strait attack by 2 Mot Div on Lussino [yet to really get off the mark at 0% progress] and the German attack on Vrnograc [34%] continued.
Ground Damage Report – 31 December. The Italians kept up their raids on Vrnograc all day, with three raids killing 253 Turkish troops. Tuzla was also attacked twice by Italian aircraft, who broke off after the attack failed after inflicting 166 more casualties. During the entire month of December 1942, and mainly in the three weeks since Operation Frost Wolf began on 10 December, Axis air attacks had killed an estimated 9,369 Comintern – mainly Turkish – soldiers. But air power alone had been unable to prevent the encirclement.
News Report: Berlin, Germany. Hitler issued an Order of the Day to the German Wehrmacht declaring: "The year 1943 will perhaps be hard but certainly not harder than the one just behind us." On reading this in his daily summary, Inönü remarked to his 1st Army intelligence chief that he was determined to once again prove the Nazi leader: “Wrong, wrong, wrong! They died hard in 1941, harder in 1942 and they will find it hardest of all in 1943!”
Intelligence Committee Meeting – Ankara, 31 Dec 42
Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Interior Minister Şükrü Kaya; Foreign Intelligence Chief Şükrü Ögel; Foreign Minister Tewfik Rüstü Aras and Supreme Commander Field Marshal Fuad Calistar met in the Cabinet room for the final Intelligence Sub-Committee meeting of the year.
“Gentlemen, after this quiet month on the espionage front, we meet to consider our intelligence settings to start the coming year,” began PM Bayar. “Ögel, you begin with a report on the current situation in Italy.”
“Of course, Bayar. You will see from the document in front of you that the Italians remain thoroughly cowed. They only retain one team in the field and none in reserve, while we have ten and four in reserve. Our tech espionage mission remains in force, but has seen scant rewards of late. I seek the views of this committee as to whether we should consider switching our efforts to undermining Italian national unity instead, in preparation for the anticipated invasion of their homeland next year. Whether by land, sea or both.”
“I see they are producing many destroyers – presumably because the British keep sinking them,” noted Calistar. “And mountain divisions – probably wise, given the terrain in Italy and the approaches through Croatia. For my part, I would support a switch of this nature. Who knows what tech, if any, we may acquire and whether it will be of any substantive use for us.”
“I can see that the notable lack of success in acquiring any useful technical information would be a disappointment to you, Şükrü,” chimed in Kaya, with a deprecating smirk. And to us all, he added under his breath – but just loudly enough for the others to hear. Ögel’s eyes narrowed and his face became as frosty as the winter of 1942 was proving to be for the Axis.
“So I therefore support your suggestion that we move to something that may prove more … fruitful, Şükrü,” he continued, giving a nasty little false smile that never reached his eyes.
Unable to criticise Kaya without risking his support, Ögel was forced to acknowledge this pledge with as much grace as he could muster – which wasn’t much: “Why thank you, Şükrü,” he responded acidly. Kaya smirked further. “Though I hope our own secrets remain safer than they have proved in the past from those dastardly foreign infiltrators. A real risk with this semi-mythical ‘Rose’ agent still lurking our streets. I do wish you better luck with all of that, Şükrü.”
It was Kaya’s turn to redden, as was his wont when furious. He said nothing, simply reaching for one of his apoplexy tablets from a small gilt case and downing it with a sip of water.
“Yes, thank you both for that admirable display of mutual support and cabinet solidarity, gentlemen,” remarked Bayar sardonically, keen to keep the meeting on track. “Your views, Aras?”
The ‘bottled spider’ of the Turkish Cabinet – with a seemingly benign exterior that masked his devious and scheming ways – sidestepped offering any definitive opinion. “I can see merits in both approaches – or even in setting up a covert operations project in Italy for later use when they are under direct military pressure. I would like more time to have my staff consider the possibilities.”
“Very well then,” nodded Bayar. “We will convene again early in the new year after our respective departments – and the War Ministry – have had time to consider this.”
The meeting adjourned. [Your collective views are welcomed on this one. I have an open mind.]
Monthly Reports
On the Patriotic Front, despite some broad Soviet advances further south, the loss of Leningrad had been a major blow to Soviet morale. And it remained an operational threat as the German advance was not yet contained. And a strategic one should Finland, already firmly in the Axis corner politically, should feel emboldened enough to join them in 1943. It was a small mercy they had not yet done so.
What was being informally called the Minsk Offensive had pushed to within two provinces of the Belorussian capital. Vitsyebsk and Homel were certainly safe enough from German threat for now.
In Ukraine broad advances had also been made during the month, with Kyiv (once in German hands) now well behind the front.
As ever, Romania was a mixed bag, but remained largely secure. The Axis had retaken Orsova and Baja de Arama on the Danube just north of the eastern end of the Turkish line, but a strong Comintern counter-push looked to be in progress. Brasov remained in Romanian hands but an encounter battle looked like it would soon begin there, while further north Iasi had been reoccupied by a German division but was being counter-attacked.
The Eastern Front remained broadly stable, some small gains (including Bishkek in the south by Turkey) made by both sides.
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The British had advanced in North Africa, although really only by 2nd Armd Div with little other support. It did revive the ‘Marine lobby’ in Turkey though and their plans for using the US marine divisions under Turkish command to make an opposed landing on Bengasi, where it appeared a couple of garrison brigades held the key Italian supply base. This was a risk though, especially as many were dubious about Britain’s ability or will to keep advancing. [Another issue the Cabinet would be happy to receive updated advice on.]
The Allied position in South East Asia was grim. There had been no movement in the Dutch East Indies or on Borneo and Singapore still held out. But the front in Burma had almost collapsed.
Mandalay and the Burmese eastern hinterland had been captured by the Japanese and their Thai accomplices. Only light forces screened the way to India and it looked like Chittagong would be next to fall, though the Japanese would have to advance over rugged jungle and mountain terrain to get there. One of Turkey’s strategic nightmares was a Japanese breakout into India and a threat to Iran and beyond opening a second front for the Glorious Union. And with Britain not allowing Turkish troops on their soil, any implosion by them in India would have to be met at the border.
But at least Singapore remained in British hands – for now. Only one carrier, one battleship, four light cruisers and some destroyers and a submarine flotilla remained there – and some of them were very heavily damaged: the HMS Malaya (BB) and some of their destroyer screens had barely made it to port. There must have been a major naval battle quite recently.
In the Pacific, the US had unfortunately lost Midway Island again.
Naval Report
It had been a busy month at sea and a predominantly bad one for the Allies, with confirmed evidence of a major battle or battles in the Far East and the Pacific. The Japanese had had their revenge for earlier losses.
In minor ship losses, the Germans lost a U-Boat flotilla and the Italians a destroyer flotilla, as had the Japanese. The British had lost two submarine flotillas and a destroyer flotilla, the French two destroyer flotillas.
But there had been a grim toll in major fleet units – especially among the Royal Navy’s heavy cruisers. All had been lost to the action of Imperial Japanese Navy.
HMS Kent (top) and HMS Berwick (bottom).
HMS Shropshire (top) and HMS Hermes (bottom).
(40s)
WW2 Japanese footage of the HMS Hermes and the HMAS Vampire being sunk (in OTL in the Battle of Ceylon, April 1942).
Lorraine (top) Naka (bottom).
AuthAAR’s Note: Well, 1942 certainly came to a typically bloody end! I plan to do a bit of a yearly summary/round-up report next, showing changes in the major fronts since 1 Jan 42, an annual naval report, etc. Broad strategic issues may be canvassed and views on what should lie ahead for the Glorious Union in 1943 will be welcome.
Coming Up: Will Turkey be able to close out the Adriatic Pocket without any more serious problems and eliminate the two German divisions trapped there? Can the gamble to force Lussino across the strait from Karlobag succeed, or will it prove a costly folly? How much further can (or should) the advance be carried forward, presuming the pocket is closed out in coming days?
The next period will prove crucial for the Soviets, as they try to contain the breakout by the Germans in the north and sweat on any Finnish reaction to the fall of Leningrad: will they attempt to gain revenge for their loss in the Winter War? Will the successes in the centre and south of the Patriotic Front and Turkey’s latest offensive be enough to balance the Soviets' reverses in the north?
Should Turkey intervene in North Africa? Or keep the marines in strategic reserve? They would probably have been used in the Adriatic by now if not for the prior experience of Italian air power pounding any Turkish surface fleet that dared to remain at sea there for any period of time. Air parity – superiority, really – was almost mandatory where any major amphibious landing was being contemplated, other than a quick raid.
Will the new year bring a renewal of dormant espionage activity in Italy and back home in Turkey? Will the British double agents reveal themselves to ‘Calixte Charron’ if they sell out any more British agents in Turkey? Will Mike Ceylan, Cennet and their network in Italy receive new orders for a more active intervention in Italian politics?
1943 is sure to pose as many questions as it answers – what will the world look like a year from now?
AuthAAR’s Note: This chapter finishes off the last days of December 1942 – an eventful year. If anything, the frantic pace of the Frost Wolf offensive and the Axis response intensifies even further as the Turks push hard to close off the pocket at Karlobag on the Adriatic coast, while the Axis tries desperately to break the encirclement of its two stranded divisions. It proved a busy month at sea as well in South East Asia and the Pacific.
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Achtung! Tiger: 26-27 Dec 42
Three battles continued in the Turkish sector as 26 December began. The Axis attack on Novi Grad was starting to weigh heavily [46% progress] on 17 Inf Div as it tried to resist two German panzer divisions attacking them across the Sava River. The Turkish cross-river spoiling attack by 15 Inf Div on Sisak [35%] tried to distract 2 Pz Div from its own assault on Novi Grad.
And the pinning attack on Rommel’s 50th Infanterie was proving difficult [27%] but continued: at 9am Wehib Pasha sought to balance Rommel’s ambush tactics with a blitzing attack by his 1 Armd Div (in Otocac), which should help things somewhat. 1 Mot Div, which had joined the attack in reserve from Ogulin, had not yet been able to reinforce. Axis air attacks persisted across the sector.
Ground Damage Report – 26 December. Axis air efforts had switched from Ubdina and Novi Grad but remained on Otocac (three raids, 247 casualties). Raids started on Ogulin, which was also hit three times for 316 ground casualties, while Vrnograc became the new target on the Sava, one raid so far causing just 61 casualties that evening.
By 9am on 27 December, the Sisak and Novi Grad attacks had both progressed – it was a race to see if 17 Inf Div’s position could be saved. The menacing presence of German Tiger tanks had been detected in Karlovac, just north-west of Vrnograc – and well placed on the west bank of the Sava River. Clearly, the Germans had something more brewing to try to break the almost-complete encirclement.
But Axis pressure on the lightly held eastern flank of the encirclement increased at 7pm with a new two-pronged assault by Hungarian infantry on Sanski Most, against 11 Inf Div – which only had an acting commander. HQ 2nd Corps had moved to reinforce them a few days before, but their movement was slowed by the poor weather.
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Fighting for the Right to Party: 28 Dec 42
It became clear that in future, more ‘standard’ infantry divisions would be needed to both hold the defensive line and support the flanks of hoped-for future breakthroughs. A new division therefore began training on 28 December. A fifth brigade would probably be added from existing ‘spares’ (maybe some engineers) once it deployed in April 1943.
Without any suspicious events or possible betrayals by the suspected Soviet moles within MI6 (whether in London or MI6’s Turkish operation itself) to be sniffed out, Agent Romeo was left at something of a loose end.
But he hung tough and – with a healthy expense account at his disposal – continued to cut a dashing figure and cultivate his contacts among the French and British expatriate communities and local Turkish officials and politicians.
“What else am I left to do for now – but party!?” Romeo thought to himself.
“What else am I left to do for now – but party!?”
Ground Damage Report – 28 December. Vrnograc was targeted again an Italian raid at the beginning of the day caused 43 casualties; but then the Luftwaffe took over to grim effect, killing 297 defenders in a single raid that evening. Otocac (three raids, 232 casualties) and Ogulin (three raids, but only 75 casualties) were again struck by the Italians, and Karlobag was added to the Italian target list (three raids, 282 killed).
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From the Jaws of Defeat: 29 Dec 42
An important scientific leap was taken into the modern military age by Turkey on 29 December with the development of their first home-grown radar design. A new station (likely to be deployed in Beograd on completion) was commenced immediately. With so many projects to fund and supply production eating into industrial output, Turkish researchers concentrated next on improving industrial production techniques.
Then everything seemed to come to a head between 9 and 10 pm that night. The forlorn German spoiling attack on Vrnograc was called off first, where ridiculously high enemy casualties had been incurred. Then at 10pm, Sanski Most was won comfortably. The addition of the two new divisions attacking from the south had also sent Rommel’s stubborn defence of Perusic to flight (towards Bihac), though that had been a harder fight. And the foolhardy Italian attack on Karlobag was also called off – where they had lost over 900 men while the defending Turks had only four men killed.
And just to reinforce the fact that the Axis could still generate significant threats elsewhere, they began a full corps-sized attack on Tuzla at 11pm that night, complete with air support (the casualties would be reported the next day, when the raid finished). The Soviet MAJGEN Ryzhow again took command of the defence.
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Tooth and Claw: 30-31 Dec 42
The fourth brigade of heavy tanks (more IS-2s) for the Turkish Army was delivered to Banja Luka on the morning of 30 December. They would work up to combat readiness for now, then be added to a new formation when up to speed.
“Two this is One-Five India. Contact, Tigers, out!”
With that short initial contact report from 15 Inf Div to HQ 2nd Corps, the 'Clash of the Predators' was on: Tiger vs Wolf. The IS-2s of 15 Inf Div were an even match for the Tigers, though 1 Inf Div’s older IS-1s lacked in fire-power and armour by comparison. 1 Inf Div was also still attacking south to Novi Grad, which also put them at a tactical disadvantage. This would be a difficult attack to repel without breaking off the Novi Grad counter-attack.
Entertainment News: US. Frank Sinatra performed his first solo concert at the Paramount Theatre in New York City. Sinatra later recalled being "scared stiff" when the audience of 5,000 bobby soxers shrieked and screamed continuously for America's new teen idol. The musical film Star Spangled Rhythm featuring an all-star cast including Victor Moore, Betty Hutton, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby premiered in New York City.
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Midnight on the early morning of 31 December brought victory in Tuzla, as the Axis attackers took mounting casualties and realised they were unlikely to succeed.
1 Armd Div was still reorganising in Otocac and was waiting for 1 Mot Div to return to Ogulin. But when both were reorganised and in place, they would be able to advance line abreast along the Adriatic coast to extend the incursion and create the opportunity for a renewed breakthrough - if the pocket could be closed and eliminated.
Aerial footage of the town of Lussino (1) on the island of the same name under artillery fire from 2 Mot Div.
The island of Lussino (Lošinj) is part of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago in modern-day Croatia. The city of Lussino (Lošinj) is the second largest in the region. This is an actual archive photo of Lussino being attacked from the air, but in 1945.
The addition of the new forces attacking from the south proved decisive in Novi Grad: 7 Pz Div began retreating at midday. It looked like the encirclement (and the cut Turkish supply lines in the east of the salient) would be restored after all.
Ground Damage Report – 31 December. The Italians kept up their raids on Vrnograc all day, with three raids killing 253 Turkish troops. Tuzla was also attacked twice by Italian aircraft, who broke off after the attack failed after inflicting 166 more casualties. During the entire month of December 1942, and mainly in the three weeks since Operation Frost Wolf began on 10 December, Axis air attacks had killed an estimated 9,369 Comintern – mainly Turkish – soldiers. But air power alone had been unable to prevent the encirclement.
News Report: Berlin, Germany. Hitler issued an Order of the Day to the German Wehrmacht declaring: "The year 1943 will perhaps be hard but certainly not harder than the one just behind us." On reading this in his daily summary, Inönü remarked to his 1st Army intelligence chief that he was determined to once again prove the Nazi leader: “Wrong, wrong, wrong! They died hard in 1941, harder in 1942 and they will find it hardest of all in 1943!”
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Intelligence Committee Meeting – Ankara, 31 Dec 42
Prime Minister Celal Bayar, Interior Minister Şükrü Kaya; Foreign Intelligence Chief Şükrü Ögel; Foreign Minister Tewfik Rüstü Aras and Supreme Commander Field Marshal Fuad Calistar met in the Cabinet room for the final Intelligence Sub-Committee meeting of the year.
“Gentlemen, after this quiet month on the espionage front, we meet to consider our intelligence settings to start the coming year,” began PM Bayar. “Ögel, you begin with a report on the current situation in Italy.”
“Of course, Bayar. You will see from the document in front of you that the Italians remain thoroughly cowed. They only retain one team in the field and none in reserve, while we have ten and four in reserve. Our tech espionage mission remains in force, but has seen scant rewards of late. I seek the views of this committee as to whether we should consider switching our efforts to undermining Italian national unity instead, in preparation for the anticipated invasion of their homeland next year. Whether by land, sea or both.”
“I can see that the notable lack of success in acquiring any useful technical information would be a disappointment to you, Şükrü,” chimed in Kaya, with a deprecating smirk. And to us all, he added under his breath – but just loudly enough for the others to hear. Ögel’s eyes narrowed and his face became as frosty as the winter of 1942 was proving to be for the Axis.
“So I therefore support your suggestion that we move to something that may prove more … fruitful, Şükrü,” he continued, giving a nasty little false smile that never reached his eyes.
Unable to criticise Kaya without risking his support, Ögel was forced to acknowledge this pledge with as much grace as he could muster – which wasn’t much: “Why thank you, Şükrü,” he responded acidly. Kaya smirked further. “Though I hope our own secrets remain safer than they have proved in the past from those dastardly foreign infiltrators. A real risk with this semi-mythical ‘Rose’ agent still lurking our streets. I do wish you better luck with all of that, Şükrü.”
It was Kaya’s turn to redden, as was his wont when furious. He said nothing, simply reaching for one of his apoplexy tablets from a small gilt case and downing it with a sip of water.
“Yes, thank you both for that admirable display of mutual support and cabinet solidarity, gentlemen,” remarked Bayar sardonically, keen to keep the meeting on track. “Your views, Aras?”
The ‘bottled spider’ of the Turkish Cabinet – with a seemingly benign exterior that masked his devious and scheming ways – sidestepped offering any definitive opinion. “I can see merits in both approaches – or even in setting up a covert operations project in Italy for later use when they are under direct military pressure. I would like more time to have my staff consider the possibilities.”
“Very well then,” nodded Bayar. “We will convene again early in the new year after our respective departments – and the War Ministry – have had time to consider this.”
The meeting adjourned. [Your collective views are welcomed on this one. I have an open mind.]
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Monthly Reports
On the Patriotic Front, despite some broad Soviet advances further south, the loss of Leningrad had been a major blow to Soviet morale. And it remained an operational threat as the German advance was not yet contained. And a strategic one should Finland, already firmly in the Axis corner politically, should feel emboldened enough to join them in 1943. It was a small mercy they had not yet done so.
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The British had advanced in North Africa, although really only by 2nd Armd Div with little other support. It did revive the ‘Marine lobby’ in Turkey though and their plans for using the US marine divisions under Turkish command to make an opposed landing on Bengasi, where it appeared a couple of garrison brigades held the key Italian supply base. This was a risk though, especially as many were dubious about Britain’s ability or will to keep advancing. [Another issue the Cabinet would be happy to receive updated advice on.]
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Naval Report
It had been a busy month at sea and a predominantly bad one for the Allies, with confirmed evidence of a major battle or battles in the Far East and the Pacific. The Japanese had had their revenge for earlier losses.
In minor ship losses, the Germans lost a U-Boat flotilla and the Italians a destroyer flotilla, as had the Japanese. The British had lost two submarine flotillas and a destroyer flotilla, the French two destroyer flotillas.
But there had been a grim toll in major fleet units – especially among the Royal Navy’s heavy cruisers. All had been lost to the action of Imperial Japanese Navy.
HMS York was the first of two York-class heavy cruisers built for the British Royal Navy in the late 1920s. Laid down 16 May 1927; launched 17 July 1928; commissioned 1 May 1930. Displacement 8,380 t (standard); complement 628; main armament six (3 × twin) 8-inch (203 mm) guns. Sunk by the IJNS Yamashiro (BB) December 1942.
HMS Kent (top) and HMS Berwick (bottom).
HMS Berwick was a County-class heavy cruiser of the British Royal Navy, part of the Kent subclass. Laid down 15 September 1924; launched 30 March 1926; commissioned 12 July 1927. Displacement 9,750 t (standard); complement 700; main armament eight (4 × 2) 8-inch (203 mm) guns. Sunk by the IJNS Ryujo (CV) December 1942.
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HMS Shropshire and HMS Sussex were British Royal Navy heavy cruisers of the London sub-class of the County-class cruisers. HMS Shropshire was laid down 24 February 1927; launched 5 July 1928; commissioned 24 September 1929. HMS Sussex was laid down 1 February 1927; launched 22 February 1928; commissioned 19 March 1929. Displacement 9,750 t (standard); complement 690; main armament eight (4 × 2) 8-inch (203 mm) guns. HMS Shropshire was sunk by the IJNS Haguro (CA) and HMS Sussex by the IJNS Haruna (BC) in December 1942.
HMS Shropshire (top) and HMS Hermes (bottom).
HMS Hermes was an aircraft carrier (CVL) built for the British Royal Navy and was the world's first ship to be designed as an aircraft carrier, although the Imperial Japanese Navy's Hōshō was the first to be launched and commissioned. Laid down 15 January 1918; launched 11 September 1919; commissioned 18 Feb 1924. Displacement 10,850 t (standard); complement 566 (excluding aircrew); aircraft carried: 20. Sunk by the IJNS Akagi (CV) in December 1942.
WW2 Japanese footage of the HMS Hermes and the HMAS Vampire being sunk (in OTL in the Battle of Ceylon, April 1942).
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Lorraine was a battleship of the French Navy of the Bretagne class. Laid down 1 August 1912; launched 30 September 1913; commissioned 10 March 1916. Displacement 22,860 t (standard); complement 1124–1133; main armament ten (5 × 2) 340mm/45 (13.4 in) guns. Sunk by the IJNS Chitose (CVL) in December 1942.
Lorraine (top) Naka (bottom).
Naka (那珂) was a Sendai-class light cruiser in the Imperial Japanese Navy. Laid down 10 June 1922; launched 24 March 1925; commissioned 30 November 1925. Displacement 5,278 t (standard); complement 452; main armament seven (7x1) 140 mm (5.5 in) guns. Sunk by the USS Lexington (CV) in December 1942.
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AuthAAR’s Note: Well, 1942 certainly came to a typically bloody end! I plan to do a bit of a yearly summary/round-up report next, showing changes in the major fronts since 1 Jan 42, an annual naval report, etc. Broad strategic issues may be canvassed and views on what should lie ahead for the Glorious Union in 1943 will be welcome.
Coming Up: Will Turkey be able to close out the Adriatic Pocket without any more serious problems and eliminate the two German divisions trapped there? Can the gamble to force Lussino across the strait from Karlobag succeed, or will it prove a costly folly? How much further can (or should) the advance be carried forward, presuming the pocket is closed out in coming days?
The next period will prove crucial for the Soviets, as they try to contain the breakout by the Germans in the north and sweat on any Finnish reaction to the fall of Leningrad: will they attempt to gain revenge for their loss in the Winter War? Will the successes in the centre and south of the Patriotic Front and Turkey’s latest offensive be enough to balance the Soviets' reverses in the north?
Should Turkey intervene in North Africa? Or keep the marines in strategic reserve? They would probably have been used in the Adriatic by now if not for the prior experience of Italian air power pounding any Turkish surface fleet that dared to remain at sea there for any period of time. Air parity – superiority, really – was almost mandatory where any major amphibious landing was being contemplated, other than a quick raid.
Will the new year bring a renewal of dormant espionage activity in Italy and back home in Turkey? Will the British double agents reveal themselves to ‘Calixte Charron’ if they sell out any more British agents in Turkey? Will Mike Ceylan, Cennet and their network in Italy receive new orders for a more active intervention in Italian politics?
1943 is sure to pose as many questions as it answers – what will the world look like a year from now?
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I hope we can successfully bag those divisions and hold our ground. What a mayhem! Speaking of which, is Tyler around? He would probably enjoy being there now.
Vur ha!
All I ask from Santa is USSR researching the next level of Heavy Armor and us procuring those
I believe the 15th can hold their own against those bratwurst munching fascists
Hahaha I knew you'd use the trick shot photo at a perfect moment!
Is Lussino also connected to another province to its north? I don't think so but if it's only Karlobag where it's connected to mainland, this could be it for the Italian armored division there!
It's been some time we've seen those bunch
I would've made a comment on this, but all my game experience on intelligence is that it is too mysterious for me. I once attempted a coup, but no matter how many agents I planted it failed. Tech espionage is too random to rely on and I don't know how will decreasing national unity work so I'll leave this to people who has more successful experiences with espionage. My in-game character would've supported a coup attempt though.
My go to move in these situations is just land unopposed at a non-port province next to the port and make a land attack so we have less casualties. If the victory is sure, supplies last enough until the port province is controlled. My stance strategically about this is the same, good opportunity to gain some experience to our Marine divisions and paint some map but afterwards we shouldn't bother garrisoning Libya as we'll need the divisions elsewhere.
It seems eventually the Japanese will take the entire Raj and threaten us but hopefully the immense number of provinces to take will set them back a year or two in which we'll be in a better position to respond.
facepalm
Wow, a real bloodbath for the RN to suffer :/ The Japanese are becoming unchecked in the eastern half of the world except Siberia!
Looking forward to a brighter 1943, in which USSR researches the 1943 model Heavy Armor and USA 1943 Interceptor. I hope they even go for Jet engines
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Speaking as someone whose used the "Lower National Unity" effectively, while expensive in terms of agents (I think it is one of the missions that tends to get the counterespionage going), it can be significant, especially if there is a cabinet minister that enhances NU changes. I brought France basically down to 20% in my AAR, before thinking things were going too easily, and the UK was down to 50%.
That said, I think we should reconsider SMELT ops for Benghazi, if only to pick off Italian units and gain experience for our eventual invasion of the Boot. We can't count on the British to actually advance very far (logistics and their approach to warfare clearly prohibits them from doing so), and I'm concerned that the Italians may choose to evacuate and then we'll be facing those units from a place where they have access to supply, rather than at the end of an absolutely tenuous link through the Mediterranean.
That said, I think we should reconsider SMELT ops for Benghazi, if only to pick off Italian units and gain experience for our eventual invasion of the Boot. We can't count on the British to actually advance very far (logistics and their approach to warfare clearly prohibits them from doing so), and I'm concerned that the Italians may choose to evacuate and then we'll be facing those units from a place where they have access to supply, rather than at the end of an absolutely tenuous link through the Mediterranean.
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Self reply: Home now, fired up the game; no they can escape North to Pola
UNLESS we put a ship in the Northern Coast of Dalmatia tile at the exact moment the land battle is won. So we put our fleet there for like half a day or so, and the Italian armor division is captured because they cannot move to Pola when there's a hostile fleet the moment they have to flee. Please let's do this it's not that big of a risk
At least let's talk about it in the war room.- 1
Good to see the cracks continuing to appear in the Axis war machine though.
...The German army has been pushed back all along the front and been pocketed twice by Turkey. Unless the Fins join the war early next year, we'll be pushing into Western Poland by next year's end at least.
The rag-tag bunch of random intelligence and army officials and agents loosely collaborated around SITH andthe Turkish war effort were also having their annual end of year meeting, which generally took the form of a drinking contest because of how often the same thing kept happening. This was why Kelebek always ensured they used Ogel's office instead of his own.
"We have in fact killed anyone in Italy capable of whispering or looking remotely shifty. They only have ambitious public school leavers and loose canon cops to recruit from these days," Kelebek mused. "The Mafia basically run Italy's secrets now, and for some reason they seem willing to sell that information for various prices."
Just like last year, a lot had been said and fought around the table about whether or not to invade Italy or North Africa. Or both. Or neither. Sadly the end result was still the same, that Turkey didn't have the manpower or fleet to pull it off. They were interested however in how Italy's industry seemed to be working on a more defensive outline. It seemed they were trying to build a wall of mountain men and cheap small ships around their peninsula. This bore watching closely.
It seems like the current strategy, moving slowly up the Adriatic and pocketing when we can, is working really well. We must therefore be cautious about opening any new front for the next few months, when we are already slowly advancing along our own border and potentially may have to shore up the Sovet lines as they fend off and defeat Finland.
In my opinion, it seems fairly clear that next year is going to be the breaking point for the Nazis, and the only thing that might buy them six more months in roughly the same place as they are now is Finland joining the war and distracting Stalin. What we have to do is either stop Finland joining the war or figure out what we're going to do when they do enter. Because, here's the thing. If the Germans are smart, they'll take the chance of gutting their soviet line whilst Finland try an initial push, come south and kick Romania or Turkey out of Europe. They can't fight all of us at once anymore, but if the Russians aren't there for a few weeks to months, they could still probably take us, if the Italians also show up.
So no new fronts for us, some defensive and aggressive ideas for what happens if Finland joins and if they don't, more of the same until we arrive at Hungary.
Take a shot
Take a shot
Take a shot
Take a shot
Hmm...well I think we must realise tht the Japense probably don't have the manpower to take all of India, and they'll be committing suicide if they just smash through to get to Persia and try to fight tree different and huge fronts at once. I suspect they'll be bogged down somewhere in the north east just as they are in Siberia right now.
Oh is that all?
Take a shot!
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In a test game of mine where I was USSR but too strong so Germany didn't dare declare war on me, Japanese took the entire subcontinent easily, only the vast distances slowed them down. It's not the same situation but UK AI usually decides to put no speed bumps on Japan's way unfortunately.
We can only move along Adriatic so far, at one point Adriatic will end and also we'll have a very thin but long front alongside the sea. I agree though we need to arrive at Hungary. Maybe one more step westward along the coast but then we should find an opening somewhere to go north. Little pockets alongside some rivers until we take Budapest.
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It's worth noting that if we can push up into Hungary, not only from the Balkans but also along the Romanian front, that will start shortening the line the Soviets must man in the south, allowing them to redeploy more divisions to the center. I would consider this a necessary pre-condition for a full-front assault with the strategic objective of Berlin.
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That's the point. We get to our pre war borders in the Balkans for both turkey and Romania. This locks Italy out of the land war (though they can still send huge air attacks our way) across a really narrow and easily defended front, and really puts pressure on Germany to defend Hungary, whilst shortening our own patriotic line considerably.
At this point, we smash into Hungary. One Axis member down and the potential for some massive pocketing of German armies if they are still in eastern Poland or Russian lands.
After that, it really depends on Russia. We could just sit behind a nice defensive line and watch the Axis kill themselves with ever weakening attacks by land and air. Or if Russia needs help or is in Poland already, we can push northwards some more.
The other strategy is to take Hungary but then somehow invade Italy itself by ourselves, leaving Poland and Germany to Russia. Now this would be the ideal circumstance, as it would mean a nice land split in peace talks. However, in practice, we don't really have a way to launch a full naval invasion of the peninsula, and launching all our armies through the alpine kill zone is the same sort of idiocy the Axis AI is going to try and do (hopefully). Like it or not, we'd need the British and Americans to land there first, which would probably lead to them installing their own democratic gov there anyway.
I think with Italy, containment before killing it when we have the chance later makes more sense than a big invasion plan and campaign which we couldn't possibly pull off ourselves.
At this point, we smash into Hungary. One Axis member down and the potential for some massive pocketing of German armies if they are still in eastern Poland or Russian lands.
After that, it really depends on Russia. We could just sit behind a nice defensive line and watch the Axis kill themselves with ever weakening attacks by land and air. Or if Russia needs help or is in Poland already, we can push northwards some more.
The other strategy is to take Hungary but then somehow invade Italy itself by ourselves, leaving Poland and Germany to Russia. Now this would be the ideal circumstance, as it would mean a nice land split in peace talks. However, in practice, we don't really have a way to launch a full naval invasion of the peninsula, and launching all our armies through the alpine kill zone is the same sort of idiocy the Axis AI is going to try and do (hopefully). Like it or not, we'd need the British and Americans to land there first, which would probably lead to them installing their own democratic gov there anyway.
I think with Italy, containment before killing it when we have the chance later makes more sense than a big invasion plan and campaign which we couldn't possibly pull off ourselves.
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I'm still of the opinion that a quick strike into Messina will hold against any takers, while some of the other Marine divisions clean up the rest of the island. Italy will bash its head against a strongly held crossing and in the meantime, we can build up our amphibious capabilities. With Sicily this controlled, we dictate the pace of operations. It would not be out of the realm of possibility to strike at Sardinia or Corsica. Basically, it would overwhelm Italy's ability to concentrate their air power against any one point decisively, and especially with Sicily, cause them to withdraw forces that might be otherwise better employed elsewhere.
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In any case though, it's Hungary first Italy later, right?
And then there's the question of method against Hungary. One thing that comes to my mind time to time is, to create a salient only a few provinces westward from our border with Romania. The front makes a northernly turn there so for a pocketing we do not need to sweep 180 degrees but rather 120 or less while half of the anvil will be manned by Romanian and Soviet troops. After that small pocket another one and another once just like we've been doing in Balkans lately until we make it to Budapest.
Another thing might be to go north from Beograd sandwiched between 2 rivers and try to make it to Budapest ASAP. After knocking Hungary out, make a big pocket from that long salient going either East or West depending on how the situation is shaped.
And then there's the question of method against Hungary. One thing that comes to my mind time to time is, to create a salient only a few provinces westward from our border with Romania. The front makes a northernly turn there so for a pocketing we do not need to sweep 180 degrees but rather 120 or less while half of the anvil will be manned by Romanian and Soviet troops. After that small pocket another one and another once just like we've been doing in Balkans lately until we make it to Budapest.
Another thing might be to go north from Beograd sandwiched between 2 rivers and try to make it to Budapest ASAP. After knocking Hungary out, make a big pocket from that long salient going either East or West depending on how the situation is shaped.
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Good show saving operation Frost Wolf from the annoying interference of 7 PzD... Despite that setback, Turkey continues to run the show in the Balkans. Vur ha!
To the subject of spies in Italy, I believe tech espionage or covert operations is the way to go. Driving down National Unity will make Italy harder to run for whomever ends up taking it over. (I feel like driving down National Unity is kinda gamey. It works for the AI because it's so bad at keeping up it's spy numbers, but as a player, piling it all into a single country, it's overpowered imo)
More IS-2s is definitely good news. Please don't hesitate to continue to shop for tank licenses in the Red Army catalogue. We're all too happy to provide Turkey with the best Rodina has to offer.
The question now is what comes after Frost Wolf?
I tend to agree with the other advisers. Keep piling on the pressure and retaking lost ground in Yugoslavia, and aim to take Hungary out of the war eventually.
A side-show in Sicily is a high risk operation, but if pulled off, the advantages of having this massive island in the middle of the Med in Turkish hands cannot be understated. North Africa seems a bit too hot for a landing to work, but things can change. Of course, the Marines could also be of more use attacking across rivers in the Balkans.
Looking forward to your look back on the year 1942.
Happy new year,
SkitalecS3
To the subject of spies in Italy, I believe tech espionage or covert operations is the way to go. Driving down National Unity will make Italy harder to run for whomever ends up taking it over. (I feel like driving down National Unity is kinda gamey. It works for the AI because it's so bad at keeping up it's spy numbers, but as a player, piling it all into a single country, it's overpowered imo)
More IS-2s is definitely good news. Please don't hesitate to continue to shop for tank licenses in the Red Army catalogue. We're all too happy to provide Turkey with the best Rodina has to offer.
The question now is what comes after Frost Wolf?
I tend to agree with the other advisers. Keep piling on the pressure and retaking lost ground in Yugoslavia, and aim to take Hungary out of the war eventually.
A side-show in Sicily is a high risk operation, but if pulled off, the advantages of having this massive island in the middle of the Med in Turkish hands cannot be understated. North Africa seems a bit too hot for a landing to work, but things can change. Of course, the Marines could also be of more use attacking across rivers in the Balkans.
That seems like the sensible way to do things. Turkey doesn't have the resources to make a massive pocket and knock out Hungary in one blow, but several small pockets, shortening the front a bit each time, that definitely seems doable.
Looking forward to your look back on the year 1942.
Happy new year,
SkitalecS3
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Chiming in on the NU and spies question: Given the immediacy of the question, i.e. we don't have four years to drop Italian NU into the cellar, the answer to that question has to be determined by military considerations. That is, we need to work out how many VPs must be taken to force a surrender currently, develop an invasion plan to take those, and then see if lowering NU by a few points would actually make any difference. Of course, such a plan should also estimate the future NU change if we don't interfere, and if a counter-effort would serve military goals as well.
Ultimately, the answer must come from the military assessment, not purely intelligence considerations.
Ultimately, the answer must come from the military assessment, not purely intelligence considerations.
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As the American liaison, I'll always pump up the capabilities of the USMC... there's no one better on the planet for kicking in a door on a beach. I also think that as we get deeper into the ground game in the Balkans, we're going to stretch our forces to the limit. We need a way to:
As I proposed the SMELT operations before of "leapfrogging" into various North African locations (and thus meeting points 2 and 3), we want to deprive the Italians of the use of any forces that still exist in the field. The British aren't going to be much in the way of help if they just send one division along the coast road at the leisurely pace that they have been (and if I recall correctly, the Germans so courteously provided their Italian allies a schwere-Panzer-Division for their use there) and we do need to (somewhat, but not really) think of the future. That said, NA is definitely a "side show" and could really be permitted to wither upon the vine.
Sicily definitely meets all three of my recommendations. Italy will freak out because the territory we would be removing from them is actual Italian lands, not conquered areas. Forces will likely undergo the same schizophrenic rearrangement our Soviet allies endured, giving us more opportunities to engage in the primary theater of operations. Mussolini is unlikely to be able to support forces abroad and sufficient forces to garrison his entire coastline, and as his units congregate around Messina and Reggio Calabria (the toe), we could likely be in a position to strike behind them and capture more hostile forces. Sicily also gives us an unsinkable aircraft carrier which would require that the Italians divert their air forces away from the Balkans, reducing attacks and giving our own forces the edge they need to defeat them in detail. The other factor is that thanks to the Royal Navy--the only fully offensive arm of those pompous Brits--we would be unlikely to face any significant naval opposition to those landings.
1) take pressure off the Soviets' and our Glorious Republic's forces, while
2) providing actionable locations to threaten locations beyond the front line, and
3) doing it in such a way that we don't overstretch our own forces.
2) providing actionable locations to threaten locations beyond the front line, and
3) doing it in such a way that we don't overstretch our own forces.
As I proposed the SMELT operations before of "leapfrogging" into various North African locations (and thus meeting points 2 and 3), we want to deprive the Italians of the use of any forces that still exist in the field. The British aren't going to be much in the way of help if they just send one division along the coast road at the leisurely pace that they have been (and if I recall correctly, the Germans so courteously provided their Italian allies a schwere-Panzer-Division for their use there) and we do need to (somewhat, but not really) think of the future. That said, NA is definitely a "side show" and could really be permitted to wither upon the vine.
Sicily definitely meets all three of my recommendations. Italy will freak out because the territory we would be removing from them is actual Italian lands, not conquered areas. Forces will likely undergo the same schizophrenic rearrangement our Soviet allies endured, giving us more opportunities to engage in the primary theater of operations. Mussolini is unlikely to be able to support forces abroad and sufficient forces to garrison his entire coastline, and as his units congregate around Messina and Reggio Calabria (the toe), we could likely be in a position to strike behind them and capture more hostile forces. Sicily also gives us an unsinkable aircraft carrier which would require that the Italians divert their air forces away from the Balkans, reducing attacks and giving our own forces the edge they need to defeat them in detail. The other factor is that thanks to the Royal Navy--the only fully offensive arm of those pompous Brits--we would be unlikely to face any significant naval opposition to those landings.
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The European Axis nations seem doomed to me. Only a matter of time. As for Japan....ignore them. They're harmless.
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Well I think we are all agreed on a Hungary-First principle, but there is some debate over whether or not invading Sicily is possible, and if holding it will distract the Italians enough to make up for all the losses we made taking it plus the garrison (something we have to worry about given how small our overall armed forces are).
I think in an ideal world, if we could retake Yugoslavia and invade Sicily at the same time, it would be best. Italy would freak out and focus on their own southern lands rather than helping in the Balkans, and having italy and Hungary garrison up their own lands is far better than having them helping a struggling Germany across the huge patriotic front.
In practice, I suspect we can certainly take the Balkans back with our current methods, unless Finland joins the war and does well enough as a distraction that Germany turns south and crushes us. At the point where we make pre-war borders, Italy and hungary garrison heavily their own borders and make probing attacks whilst we dig in. At that point, Sicily might be taken or attacked, because either its underdefended or itll at least cause the Italians to leave the Alps in force, which means we can safely smash through Hungary.
But, and I must make this clear, conquering sicily and hungary is best case scenario material and nowhere near as important as Just reclaiming up to the old border. having the two axis partners park their armies on their own lands would probably be enough to lose Germany the war against Russia in the long run.
So Hungary is a medium term goal, Sicily is a nice idea if we get some more allies or opportunity comes calling, but reclaiming Yugoslavia is a strategic necessity.
I think in an ideal world, if we could retake Yugoslavia and invade Sicily at the same time, it would be best. Italy would freak out and focus on their own southern lands rather than helping in the Balkans, and having italy and Hungary garrison up their own lands is far better than having them helping a struggling Germany across the huge patriotic front.
In practice, I suspect we can certainly take the Balkans back with our current methods, unless Finland joins the war and does well enough as a distraction that Germany turns south and crushes us. At the point where we make pre-war borders, Italy and hungary garrison heavily their own borders and make probing attacks whilst we dig in. At that point, Sicily might be taken or attacked, because either its underdefended or itll at least cause the Italians to leave the Alps in force, which means we can safely smash through Hungary.
But, and I must make this clear, conquering sicily and hungary is best case scenario material and nowhere near as important as Just reclaiming up to the old border. having the two axis partners park their armies on their own lands would probably be enough to lose Germany the war against Russia in the long run.
So Hungary is a medium term goal, Sicily is a nice idea if we get some more allies or opportunity comes calling, but reclaiming Yugoslavia is a strategic necessity.
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I would say on the question of Hungary that it would be the most difficult of the Axis powers to knock out because of its central location. I doubt that it draws the number of forces off that the Sicily offensive does, especially because Sicily is way down south, it will also take them awhile to reposition their forces appropriately. Going after Hungary just creates a giant salient in their line, and possibly over extends us. Frontage in Italy will be narrow and therefore easier to control, easier to bypass or fix to destroy. The Sicily option is no different than and semi-offensive version of the Calistar line, with the added benefit that it opens up more opportunities rather than restricts them.
More to @nuclearslurpee 's point about the NU, since we already have a significant network there, we can lower their NU driving home the morale impacts of the losses overseas, and making knocking Italy out of the war easier.
More to @nuclearslurpee 's point about the NU, since we already have a significant network there, we can lower their NU driving home the morale impacts of the losses overseas, and making knocking Italy out of the war easier.
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