AO Spanish Civil War - Teruel
Starting Prestige (after purchases and replacements): 13857
This is a welcome trade I am more than willing to take. Another tank unit would be useful - not compulsory, but in some scenarios could serve the army well, especially since I'm stuck with Panzer I otherwise by not employing the captured equipment.
Hero:
I'd consider Daniel Richter to be Galland Junior for the sake of the provided benefit. He will therefore join II./JG 61 and help achieve air dominance by increasing the efficiency of attacking air targets with multiple fighters as well as sometimes benefiting ground units as well. Later with tactical bombers that have active air attack this can also help them shoot down weaker air units with this assist, allowing I./JG 61 focus on fighter vs. fighter combat.
New Units Commissioned:
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
JG 61 finally gains the fourth and final unit now that more efficient machines are available and can be introduced easily with less issues due to no actual combat experience. With He 51 or even He 112 it would be much harder. Two towed AT gun battalions are an experiment. I was planning on using them at one point anyway, so I deploy them here with the hope to use them to provide cover to charging cavalry and reduce their potential losses.
New Equipment Provided:
I./JG 61 - Bf 109B
II./JG 61 - Bf 109B
III./JG 61 - Bf 109B
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 231 6Rad
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 231 6Rad
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 10/4
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4
Several important upgrades are now available. New Bf 109B fighters fresh from Messerschmidt factories finally provide something that is not just on par to Republican machines, but is simply better. With experienced pilots things in the sky are expected to change. AufkAbt 21 and AufkAbt 22 receive heavy recon cars. Other two battalions will continue to use lighter vehicles, as they provide superior air defense at the cost of hard target stopping power. Finally, tow AA battalions switch towed equipment for self-propelled. It is more costly to maintain and supply, but the superior mobility more than makes up for it, being able to not only cover armored columns, but also actively seek out and suppress targets before fighters have a shot at them.
Starting Army Composition:
Tank
PzAbt 401 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 402 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 501 - Panzer IB - ** - Steamroller
PzAbt 502 - Verdeja 2 - * - Steamroller, Survivor
PzAbt 411 - Panzer IIA - to join during the mission
Recon
AufkAbt 11 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Envelopment
AufkAbt 21 - SdKfz 231 6Rad - **
AufkAbt 22 - SdKfz 231 6Rad
Anti-Tank
Panzerjäger Abt 201 - Panzer I Breda - * - Field Repairs
Panzerjäger Abt 202 - Panzer I Breda - * - No Retaliation
Panzerjäger Abt 211 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Panzerjäger Abt 212 - 3.7 cm Pak 36 (Horse Transport)
Artillery
Artillerie Abt 601 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 602 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 701 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 702 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport) - *
Artillerie Abt 611 - 10.5 cm leFH 18 (Horse Transport)
Fighter
I./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Fast Rebase
II./JG 61 - Bf 109B - * - Leadership
III./JG 61 - Bf 109B - *
IV./JG 61 - Bf 109B
Tactical Bomber
I./SG 7 - Ju 87A - * - Double Move
III./SG 7 - Hs123a - *
Reserve
After new equipment is added, there is again some more supply costs to consider. This would be an ideal occasion to deploy the full air force, but with potential weather issues, I decide to only bring in fighters and two tactical bombers in favor of much more artillery.
AufkAbt 12 - SdKfz 221 - ** - Field Repairs
FlaK Abt 271 - 8.8 cm FlaK 18 (SdKfz 7) - * - Fast Learner
FlaK Abt 272 - SdKfz 10/4
FlaK Abt 273 - SdKfz 10/4
I./AG 9 - He 70 Rayo - * - Prudent
I./KG 43 - Ju 86 - *
II./SG 7 - Ju 87A - *
II./KG 43 - Ju 86
III./KG 43 - Ju 86
Highlights
First layer of defenses is breached easily north of Caude.
III./JG 61 joins the aerial aces club, inspiring IV./JG 61 to provide good results as soon as possible and not be left behind.
Obvious fact - No Retaliation while powerful, will not work on defense, so losses are not unheard of. Point to consider for the future when providing Panzerjäger Abt 202 with new equipment and need to find a good balance between offense and defense, or at least make sure to place the battalion in such a way to minimize the chance of getting into trouble.
Republican forces try to sneak towards the north airfield. Good I have PzAbt 411 freshly deployed there.
The massive cavalry charge absolutely smashes through enemy positions.
Medical transport escapes Teruel via the roundabout way, capturing some towns and airfields while at it. I guess the wounded can wait.
We might have gotten a bit too confident. Time for an organized, but fast retreat.
While heavy fighting continues around Teruel, the southern Republican camp is silent. It remains guarded by a few Little Tanks, just in case of any nasty surprises.
Summary:
Final Prestige: 13223 (down 624)
CP gained: 2 (up to 11, with 3 spent)
Equipment captured in scenario:
Trubia - 6 (up to 27)
BA-6 - 3
AAC-1937 - 2 (up to 11)
20mm M33 - 4 (up to 38)
70mm Schneider M08 - 5 (up to 17)
Other equipment gained:
Panzer IIA - gift unit
Overall:
That was a truly spectacular, powerful cavalry charge. There is really no other scenario like this one and the unique feel makes for a memorable experience. This is at the same time quite costly, as cavalry is bound to face severe losses, even if supported from every angle. I perhaps could even attempt an attack on the southern camp, but that would be pointless and wasteful in terms of resources. The medical unit evacuation is another thing. Something almost surely must have changes since I played the scenario earlier, as evacuation went swiftly without encountering any infantry and before I could have sworn that there were some marauders far east. Teruel also had a much harder time previously, while here even under endless artillery salvos the Nationalist forces stood strong. While it made things easier it helped shift the focus to the main selling point of Teruel, which in my mind was a good decision.