"What's this you say, OPO? Operation FIELDSTONE? Never read about that one in my history books...."
Well, true, because it's fictional. It's loosely based on Op FUSTIAN, but there were no FUSTIAN maps big enough, so I heavily modified the "East of Menfi" master map (3000x2000m) to accommodate a mini-campaign "inspired by FUSTIAN: British 5th Infantry Division is trying to advance and relieve an Air Landing force that has captured some critical bridges - before they can be crushed by a combined German and Italian force.
I don't believe there are any Brit campaigns for Sicily, so this is filling a particular niche.
This is a Series II mini-campaign, based on all my learning from the prior mini-campaigns - especially those that I recently posted for CMCW. It's all here: the thrill of a complex major operation, realistic TOE/OOB, units that people don't use much in H2H play, and:
1) Meaningful recon - Recon impacts intelligence level and briefing details for subsequent battles
2) The importance of observation posts (OPs) - Establishing OPs on suitable ground confers TRPs, and improved intel.
3) Use of engineers, which build fortifications (foxholes, wire, mines) between battles.
4) The value of HQ and logistics targets - Killing enemy HQ and logistics units impacts reinforcement schedules, reinforcement organization, morale, and even unit availability.
As always, casualties are tracked by me through the campaign, and I do the set-up for subsequent battles based off prior battle endpoints and a 'script.'
Hit me up if interested in giving this one a spin! @guardsman
The bridges in question:
The full map. Brit advance is from upper left (SW) to lower right (NE) along the river.
Speaking of OPs - I expect conflict for the views from Borgo San Giovanni:
View up the valley:
This looks great.
One of the most horrible features of war is that all the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, comes invariably from people who are not fighting.
- George Orwell, Homage To Catalonia
as per pm, definitely interested in fighting this one out 🙂
@Guardsman has claimed the Allied side. Any takers for the Axis?
@onepingonly @guardsman I'm more than happy to play, but I completely understand if Guards would prefer a different opponent. I'm admittedly not the quickest when it comes to taking my turns!