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Kangra
May 7, 2012



After spending several years of the war in the heat of Africa, we are headed for a very different destination. In fact, we needed to wait until spring to even attempt it. Our forces returned home to train for an invasion that Churchill is convinced we can pull off.



Having dealt effectively with one member of the Axis, it is time for us to strike at the soft overbelly prefrontal cortex protruding brow of Europe.

British Campaign: Jupiter
March 21,1944
20 Turns


Minor: (Alesund), Andalsnes, Trondheim, Lillehammer, Elverum, Oslo, Stavanger, Namsos, Mo-i-Rana, Narvik
Major: All objectives by Turn 16



The map represents quite a wide area -- the whole of Norway -- and all of it is in difficult terrain. Note the brightly outlined hexes on the map. These represent the neutral territory of Sweden. Neither side is allowed to move forces in or over these hexes.

The objectives are all around the country. The central ports and roads (the Trondheim-Oslo axis) will be where we can assemble the most forces, but is also likely to be where the strongest defenses are. Taking the far-flung points all the way up the coast to Narvik will be no easy matter as they are not easy to move to over land, and even the far southern ports will require splitting off some of the invasion force to secure the whole country.

OOB
pre:
Unit Name             Unit Type [Transport]        Exp [OS] 
1.2nd GB Bridge Eng     GB Bridge Eng [Bren]          516[12]
2.The Silent 7th        GB Commandos [Bren]           300[13]
3.3rd GB Para 43        GB Para 43 [Bren]             261[12]
4.23rd GB Inf 43        GB Inf 43                     144  
5.4th GB Church IV      GB Church IV                  521[12]
6.10th GB Church IV     GB Church IV                  443[14]
7.13th GB Sherman       GB Sherman                    392
8.34th GB M5 Stuart     GB M5 Stuart                   40
9.9th GB Daimler SC     GB Daimler SC                 576[15]
10.22nd GB 17 Pdr ATG   GB 17 Pdr ATG                 247[11]
11.14th GB M7 Priest    GB M7 Priest                   31
12.5th GB 6             GB 7.2" Gun [Bren]             42
13.11th GB 6            GB 6" Gun [Bren]               45

Aux (quantity)

1                        GB Para 39                   200
2                        US Inf 43 [M2]               300
1                        US Inf 43                    100
1                        US HW Inf 43 [M2]            200
1                        US Rangers                   100
1                        US Bridge Eng [M2]           100
1                        FFR Infantry [M2]            200
1                        FFR M4A1                     100
3                        US M4A3                      200
1                        US M8 Ghd LAC                300
1                        US M20 LAC                   100
1                        US M10                       200
1                        US M8 HMC                    100
1                        US 105mm Gun [M2]            100
1                        FFR 105mm Gun [GM Truck]     100

Air Units
1.8th GB Spit IX        GB Spit IX                    332[13]
2.20th GB Spit IX       GB Spit IX                    137
3.6th GB Mosq VI        GB Mosq VI                    599[11]
4.21st GB Lancaster     GB Lancaster                   51
                                                      
Aux (quantity)                                 
1                        US P38 Ltng                  300
1                        US P38 Ltng                  200
1                        US P51d Mustg                200
1                        US P47d Tbolt                200
1                        US A26 Inv                   200
1                        Us B17g FF                   200
1                        Us B17g FF                   100
                                                      
Naval Units (quantity)                         
1                        AF Destroyer                 300
7                        AF Destroyer                 200
2                        AF Destroyer                 100
1                        AF Battleship                100
1                        AF HvyCruiser                300
1                        AF LtCruiser                 200
2                        AF LtCruiser                 100
1                        AF Carrier                   200
Core Slots: 0
Aux Slots: 0
Starting Prestige: 7653 (7843 before upgrades)

The auxiliary sees a handful of new American units that we'll get to when the American core gets their hands on them, but for the most part they aren't anything remarkable. Notably absent are any M7's for mobile artillery; instead they opt for 105mm towed guns and the weaker if faster M8. In the air their fighters should ably assist us, especially the veteran P38's and the Mustang.

On the seas, we have a lot of destroyers to protect a few capital ships, but there is one ship of a type we haven't seen yet. This is the Carrier, as in aircraft, and is our most important ship right now. The Carrier acts as a mobile air base which is excellent since we don't have any airfields, and won't be able to capture one until some time into the invasion.

Operation Jupiter is a massive sea invasion. It's much bigger than what we saw in any earlier battle, and we actually have complete freedom as to where to land. Our units start well away from shore, and there is the possibility of significant naval battles to come. The Axis are restricted entirely to U-boats in the water. But those subs are some of their most experienced, and as seen before not many are required to become a real headache for the Allied forces.



We'll need to get ashore quickly, then, and can't expect to use the seas to re-transport unless we adequately control them. Our forces begin at sea fairly close together, but not all of them are heading for the closest shore. The bulk will land in the broad open area between Namsos and Mosjoen. Another contingent will take the shores north of Trondheim to hold the southern end of Namsos. The third group will move north, toward Narvik, but they'll be landing outside the fjord at Bodo. The paratroops have boarded their planes and will be making a drop at Mo-i-Rana to distract the enemy while we move up from the south.

Securing the Namsos airfield is top priority. From there our main force can split, with some moving on Mo-i-Rana and the bulk taking Trondheim. Additional units will be procured to help out the northern forces to storm Narvik once the ports outside it are secure.

As for the auxiliary, one group of Americans will move south toward Stavanger. They'll need to grab the airfield there and then sweep through the eastern port towns on their way up to Oslo. The rest of the Americans will need to move fast, so they'll ignore Trondheim and drive straight on toward Lillehammer, Elverum, and Oslo once they get ashore. The French will guard their rear at Trondheim, and we can link up with them from the other side to capture it.



One quick note about our paratroops. In order to start them in air transport, we had to 'upgrade' them. Not to add air transport, but to remove land transport. Units that board transport at an airport must get rid of their transport if they wish to do so, and this includes airborne units. The special ability of core paratroops is that whenever they start a mission without any transport, they automatically are loaded into a plane. This allows them to be dropped early in the battle where they can be useful instead of only after airfields are captured. The 'upgrade' then is simply to convert them from a unit with a Bren to one without one. Thankfully this does not cost any prestige.

They begin with a Spitfire escort, a little away from the initial reach of the German fighters.



As mentioned previously, I'm playing this battle with 'supply rules' (described in a previous post). I won't be doing too much to call out their use, but if you look at what's going on in battles, it may be noticeable. Damaged units will typically be pulled back instead of left in place to recover, or will fight a longer time at reduced strength. Also, it's entirely possible I forgot to stick to the rules at some point, so errors might have occurred.

Allied Turn: March 21, 1944
Clear (Dry)
The weather is crisp and the skies are clear as we prepare to land.


One last feature of carriers is that they don't register with the 'dangerous fuel' indication. The reason should be hopefully obvious -- if the carrier moved away from the plane, then it would no longer be safe, so there's no good way to convey that information. As it is, our planes aren't in that much danger of crashing, especially if we manage to capture one of our airfield targets soon.


Submarines present the biggest danger to our landing craft. The destroyers seek to block the mouths of the fjords and prevent any subs from slipping out. The bigger ships can act both as blocks and offshore artillery. Our planes provide cover for now.


It can be hard to score a hit when attacking submarines, so it's fortunate for us that we damaged one of them early on.


The Americans seek to land in the safety of the fjords around Adelsnes and Molde. Constant bombing and shelling will clear the way.


As the Americans make for Stavanger, a sub pops up in their way. Suprise Contact is the naval equivalent of ambush, and is resolved in the same way (moving unit is forced to attack with a big bonus to the defender).

Axis Turn: March 21, 1944


The Germans have a crack FW190a squadron here, and it wipes out a P38 in one go.


Determined to stop this invasion on the beaches, a Panther comes out of hiding and attacks us before we've even landed.
I've played this scenario several times and I know the Panther is in this area, but I've never once seen it come after the landing craft. :yarr:


As expected, the sub at Stavanger strikes the destroyer, and that puts the whole operation down here in jeopardy.

Allied Turn: March 23, 1944
Clear (Dry)


The air force in Norway features some Axis planes not seen before. Here is the He219("Uhu"), designed for night fighting, but it's a dangerous machine on par with the FW190.


The Me410a ("Hornisse") is an improved Me210. It's tactical bomber that can do just about everything with some competence.


Our first wave has unloaded and we should be getting everyone off the transports safely. Two destroyers fail in the hunt for an overstrength sub.


The advance force of American rangers drives the defenders out of Adelsnes in a bloody fight.


Unable to take their first choice of landing zone due to the presence of enemy subs, the Americans attempt to make their beachhead northeast of Stavanger in Hjelmeland.


In the north, our fighters take down some of the enemy planes. At Harstad, which was occupied by British paratroops in preparation for the amphibious assault, we commandeer the anti-air guns in order to protect the soldiers. Meanwhile, our own 3rd Paras await their chance to make the drop.

Axis Turn: March 23, 1944


It seems that most of the Axis interceptors were sent to the south after the Allied bombers, while their bombers stay in the north to hit our ships.


As good as the Churchill IV is, it's not much of a match for the Panther.

Allied Turn: March 25, 1944
Clear (Dry)


We make rapid advances toward Namsos.


The 4th Churchill blasts this flak gun out of its entrenchments, and the Daimler rushes in after. Like that, we've taken the airfield.


There's a lot of fighting going on in the skies as the fighters swing south to protect our bombers. The FW190 goes down thanks to a fantastic showing from the Mosquitos. The rest of the enemy planes are left too weak to damage us, although the Spitfires took it on the nose from the Uhus. With the skies safe, our bombers suppress the Panther and allow the landing forces to establish the beachhead.


The Americans and the French are safely ashore, and ready to move out.


At Stavanger, the Americans rush to land the boats anywhere they can.

Axis Turn: March 25, 1944


There is almost no ground combat. The Germans seem to only now be realizing the magnitude of this invasion and are staying on the defensive. Only the subs manage to score a near-kill on a destroyer, but with everyone ashore here, they are less of a danger to us.

Allied Turn: March 27, 1944
Clear (Dry)


Bodo is captured easily, in part thanks to naval bombardment. The airdrop of the 3rd goes off without a hitch.


AT guns are very good at clearing out forts, I've discovered. This one was across the way from Trondheim and is now out of action.


The Churchills team up to finish off the Panther, while the Engineers take on Namsos itself.


The German soldiers there do not stand a chance.


As the rest of the force pushes north, Mosjoen, too, collapses.


The Americans get underway on the road to Oslo.


The Stavanger force gets onshore without further incident. Supplies are airdropped on the beaches to get them ready for the attack. Local Norwegians, at first confused by the landings, are excited to see the Allies here and assist them as best they can.

Axis Turn: March 25, 1944


The naval battle continues, and the Germans may be winning, but that's about the only place they are going to do well.


The 3rd come under heavy fire shortly after landing.

Allied Turn: March 29, 1944
Clear (Dry)


We spend some time gaining control of these ports in order to establish supply routes, but we need to make speed toward Mo-i-rana or the 3rd will not be able to hold out. The Namsos airfield, at least, is already in working order, and that takes the pressure off our carrier.


The Stavanger force has shaped up rather quickly and should be able to assault. Scout units will make sure no new units will arrive from the east.

Axis Turn: March 29, 1944


The Germans only seem to have a Lynx available to attack at Lillehammer, and it doesn't inflict much damage.


The 3rd take more casualties, but the pursuit of them around the city has caused the enemy to shift their positions, creating a chaotic formation ideal for us to assault.

Allied Turn: March 31, 1944
Clear (Dry)


As the Lancaster suppresses the flak, the Mosquito finishes off the artillery at Mo-i-rana. To the north, our forces can be seen preparing to make their way through the mountainous terran on the way to Narvik.


Lillehammer is cleared out. Unfortunately the French ran into difficulty containing Trondheim and some of the American units will need to hang back for a bit to protect the advance on Oslo.


Ground combat so far has been easy, but American reconnaissance reveals much tougher opposition lies in wait.


After the difficulty making it onshore, operations in the south are going smoothly. The armor at Stavanger is destroyed, and the ports to the east appear unoccupied.

Axis Turn: March 31, 1944


The American engineers do suffer high casualties for rushing at Stavanger in their transports, but it does block the arrival of any reinforcements.


The subs destroy a light cruiser, and at this point our capital ships, including the carrier, will need to find a safe harbor.


The 3rd fend off another attack as they take to the more defensible high ground farther from Mo-i-rana.

The first stages of our plan have gone quite smoothly. The core is making good ground after capturing Namsos, and the Americans are moving on Oslo without meeting much resistance. The Stavanger landing was a slight setback, but it looks like things will turn in our favor soon.

As for the supply rules, they've mostly not been too much of a hindrance. The landing at Stavanger needed the air-drop, but elsewhere few losses were taken as we went forward. The one place it could be noticed is at Trondheim -- there, instead of holding their ground, the units needed to pull back in order to be in range of a supply point.