Caltagirone H2H - Combat Mission: Fortress Italy

A really hard fight for the allies though my opponent almost pulled it off

Caltagirone – The True Story

Caltagirone was captured by the Canadian 48th Highland Regiment and not by the Americans. In fact, there was no battle. The Canadian regiment walked into the town unopposed on the 16th of July 1943, after pursuing the Hermann Göring Division there following a battle the previous day. Allied air bombardment had reduced Caltagirone to a total ruin. The Canadians spent that day and the next few providing medical care to the wounded civilians and left behind German soldiers. That same day, the Americans captured Agrigento. Story goes that the Canadian regiment 'hijacked' a road that was allocated for American traffic. Otherwise the 'Yanks' might have been at Caltagirone after all. The scenario is a fiction.

Having played this scenario H2H a few times as the Americans, I agree that it is pro-Axis, and I would add 'more than a little'. With nearly equal forces, the German player occupies a fortified mountain with restricted access that enfilades a valley of death from both flanks. How much pro-Axis the scenario is depends on whether or not the American can eliminate at least all four German 88s and two Inf guns early in the Game. That still leaves a few German tanks.

To balance this scenario requires more turns, another platoon or two of American infantry, and two or three TRPs.

IMO ... allies have tons of arty and more than enough firepower to get er done ... I was hanging on skin of by the hair of my chinny chin chin in this one as the axis ...

A tough assault against a very strong fortified enemy position on high ground with excellent fields of fire.

Difficult to assess, but if well played as the US, then the game seems quite balanced overall, with good chances on both sides.

I played Allies against Axis by Mad Mike, a VERY tough opponent indeed. True, the allies have lots of arty, OK, a HUGE amount of arty.

Spoiler follows :

But, you have only two approaches, up hill, against a fortified position, MANY Axis hiding places, anti tank mines, anti personnel mines, wooden MG bunkers, concrete MG bunkers, Axis armor, etc, etc. etc. (I blasted a MG concrete bunker with 25 rounds of HE and armor piercing from a Sherman at 50 yards, and STILL didn't knock it out.) My infantry was cut to pieces by all the Axis MGs, it seemed like every other one had an MG42 or an MP 40. Allied Shermans is the only thing can go against them, and you only start out with five,until reinforced at turn 30 with five more.

Slightly pro-Axis for sure. Should either give the Allies a little more ... or the Axis a little less. Briefing talks about a river, and I saw no river. Briefing also said Axis had Panzerkampfwagem MkII and MK IV short barrel. Nope. Had MK III J with long barrel, Mk III N with 75mm, and MK IV with long barrel.

Still a very fun (and challenging) scenario, and I highly recommend as H2H !!!

BTW, has ANYONE won as the Allies ???

KanduCaltagirone – The True Story

Caltagirone was captured by the Canadian 48th Highland Regiment and not by the Americans. In fact, there was no battle. The Canadian regiment walked into the town unopposed on the 16th of July 1943, after pursuing the Hermann Göring Division there following a battle the previous day. Allied air bombardment had reduced Caltagirone to a total ruin. The Canadians spent that day and the next few providing medical care to the wounded civilians and left behind German soldiers. That same day, the Americans captured Agrigento. Story goes that the Canadian regiment 'hijacked' a road that was allocated for American traffic. Otherwise the 'Yanks' might have been at Caltagirone after all. The scenario is a fiction.

Having played this scenario H2H a few times as the Americans, I agree that it is pro-Axis, and I would add 'more than a little'. With nearly equal forces, the German player occupies a fortified mountain with restricted access that enfilades a valley of death from both flanks. How much pro-Axis the scenario is depends on whether or not the American can eliminate at least all four German 88s and two Inf guns early in the Game. That still leaves a few German tanks.

To balance this scenario requires more turns, another platoon or two of American infantry, and two or three TRPs.

Having just read Kandu's review, I agree totally with ... "this scenario requires more turns, another platoon or two of American infantry, and two or three TRPs."

I think I second guessed my opponents setup and so he had a very tough game. At that point the result may be a fluke for me - hard to tell.

Needs rebalancing towards Allied attacker in some way IMNSHO :)

sorry to criticize somebody else work but the game is quite unbalanced (maybe i am a bad player but sure not so bad)