T031: Third Reich 42-45 - Mike (Allies) vs Ken (Axis)

T031. 4 December 1942.

North Africa - Morocco
Operation Torch
Operation Vice

Assuming this is what Patton himself would have thought about doing, I've crushed the Vichy French forces by conducting an end-run amphibious landing, code named Operation Vice, directly into the Port of Algiers. First off the landing craft was the 3rd Carpathian Division of the Polish II Corps, followed immediately by the 2nd US Armored Division. As luck would have it, one of the two Vichy divisions in Algiers was still embarked on trains. The Poles fought their way into the city and cleared the way for Patton's tanks.

Once the landing force was safely ashore, the push west to link up with the main Allied army was underway. That force was pushing east already on the same turn. The amphibious task force slammed into the rear of the Vichy main force, destroying nearly half of it in a single turn. An added bonus was the Nazi 704. Division that was hiding in reserve west of Algiers. The 2nd Armored inflicted nearly 70 percent casualties on it over two assaults, and now the Nazis are surrounded with some Vichy stragglers.

This victory will conclude Operation Torch. But now the difficult work begins of pressing east toward Tunis. Once the mop-up is complete, the Allied army in Algeria will need to rest for at least two full turns. It's been extremely frustrating to know that supply is going to hamper quick progress. The delay will also allow Ken to react more swiftly, possibly transferring more Nazi units into the area.

Eastern Front - Orel
Plans for Operation Pickaxe

The entire Eastern Front has been a staring contest since the failed Operation Tuning Fork south of Leningrad. But now winter has arrived, and with it the chance for an offensive to help shake things loose. The preliminary plans, code named Operation Pickaxe, are to capture the key road intersection at Orel. A diversionary attack from the north to misdirect the Axis and pin down some reserves there, will be launched one turn in advance of the main attack just south of Orel. I've begun transferring artillery into the region, combined with a targeted bombing campaign of the bridges and rail network leading into the sectors to be attacked. To make it somewhat less obvious what I'm planning, the bridge bombing mission has been also spread to other sectors along the Eastern Front. Units for this offensive have also been massed outside of the area, and will transfer to the staging points right before the attacks begin.