Combat Phase

The first move of is by the Axis as they commit the three Me 109s at Palermo and the two Me 109s from hex 3720 to DAS over Catania. The two remaining P-38Gs at Gozo intercept and, with all Me 109s flying as bombers, succeed in returning the Me 109G2.

The three 3-8 and two 2-8 breakdown brigades of 5th and 50th Divisions that have landed in hex 3628 are quartered for the amphibious landing and halved for being unsupported, a total strength of 1.625 against a total Axis strength of 6. By flying in the Albacore and Seafire from CG-1 and three A-36s from Tunis for ground support, 11 tactical bombing points are added.

In hex 4029 there are four 3-8 and one 2-8 breakdown brigades of 1st Canadian and 78 1h Divisions, quartered for the amphibious landing, and 2nd RM (3-8) Commando brigade, halved for the amphibious landing, a total of 5 points. Supporting them and providing 12 points is WNTF-1. In addition the two airdropped units in hex 3930, halved for being disrupted and halved for being unsupported, provide another 1.75 points for a total of 18.75 that can attack Licata. With eight REs of non- artillery units participating, the Allied player can use eight air units for ground support. Into Licata he flies three P-40Ks from 3409, staging through Pantelleria, three P-381's from 3310, and a P-38F and A-20B from Tunis, adding 17 points.

In hex 4126 there are three 3-8 breakdown regiments and a 3-8 engineer regiment of the 1st and 45th Divisions, quartered for the amphibious landing, 1st and 3rd Ranger battalions, halved for the amphibious landing, for a total of 4 points. Supporting them and contributing 12 points is WNTF-2. For ground support the Allied player flies in three P-39Ns from Pantelleria and two Beaufighters from Bizerte, adding 8 points.

Finally, in Catania there are a 4-8 and three 3-8 breakdown regiments of the 3 d and 9" Infantry, quartered for the amphibious landing, 4th Rangers and 6th amphibious assault battalions, halved for the amphibious landing, for a total of 4.25 points. Supporting them is ENTF-1, adding 13 points. The Axis units in the hex have a strength of 7, and the four Me 109; add another 3.5 points. The Allied player flies in the A-30A from Tunis, the three A-20Cs from hex 3711, the A-30 from Sousse, all staging through Pantelleria, and three B-25Ds from hex 3311. Only five air units units may provide ground support, but the Allied player flies in extra units to cover any AA losses.

In hex 3628 at 2:1 odds, with -2 for the AECD and -2 for the terrain, the Allied player rolls a I for an AE. Keeping a stiff upper lip, he flies the A-36s back to Tunis. He disbands the CAP and, flies the P- 51 and P-400 to hex 3409 and the Spit 5s to Pantelleria. With 5:1 odds against Licata, the Allies roll a 3 for a DR. The two Axis divisions retreat into Agrigento.

The three brigades of British 78th Division, the RM brigade, and the two airdropped units all advance into Licata. The three P-40Ks fly to 3509, three P-381's to 3508, and the remaining P-38F and A-20B back to Tunis. With 6:1 odds in hex 4126, and -2 for the AECD, the Allied player rolls a 5 for a DH, which eliminates the PzG regiment. The Allied Beaufighters; fly back to Bizerte, two of the P-39s to hex 4631, and the other P-39 to Valletta. At Catania the Allies have no AA, but the Axis AA returns a B-25 and aborts a A-20C. Five of the surviving air units add 15 points, enough for 3:1 odds with -1 on the die roll for the terrain. The Allied player rolls a 4 for a HX. The Axis stack is eliminated and the Allies lose a regiment of the 3rd Division and a Ranger battalion. The three Me 109G6s fly back to Palermo, the other two Me 109s land at hex 3720. The B-25s go to hex 3310, the A-30s to Lampedusa, and the A-20Cs to Valletta.

The Exploitation Phase

After the debacle in hex 3628 the Allied player moves all the LCs and NTs in this hex around Sicily to hex 4029 joining the LCs and NTs already there to begin disembarking. NT-2 returns to Tunis with the engineer regiment and disembarks it there. The CG-1 also moves to hex 4029, while WNTF-1 slides over to 4030, replenishes, and again prepares to provide NGS. At the US beaches the LCs and NTs also begin disembarking onto now-friendly beaches. WNTF-2 and ENTF replenish and prepare to provide NGS again.

The Allied player must withdraw 14 NTs, but by turn's end he wants the remaining NTs loaded and in a port where they will have the maximum AA and their embarked units will be in supply. Note that embarked units at sea or off one of the landing beaches will not be in supply at the beginning of the next turn. At Tunis NT-22 and NT-24 keep their 7-10 armor brigades embarked, while NT-23 embarks the Canadian armor after unloading the I Dragoon Guards recon unit. The British now have three armor brigades ready to land at Licata next turn.

At Sfax NT-I and NT-7 embark the 3-10 armor regiment, NT-21 the 4t' (3-10) AA, NT-11 and NT-16 the 5 (2-3-10) Motorized Artillery, NT-17 the 753 (2-1-10) Light Tank, and NT- 18 the 601 (1-2- 10) motorized AT. These all sail for Malta. NT-26 and NT-27 arrive at Malta and keep their armor regiments embarked.

While this may seem complicated, the Allied player leaves himself with six REs embarked at Malta and ready to disembark at Catania the next turn. NT-12 and NT-25 unload their cargo at Malta, an HQ and an engineer regiment, as do NT-6, NT- 10, and NT-15, coming from Sousse. These all then sail to Tunis.

All the LCs from hex 4029 head for Tunis except LC-7 which, used up all its MPs disembarking a third unit. It must remain off the beach. It also becomes U-1 because it never replenished. LC-4 is damaged on the roll after disembarking. All the LCs from the US beaches sail for Tunis except for LC-16, which, because it disembarked a third unit, must remain in hex 4025 and becomes U-1. It also became damaged on the roll after its last disembarkation.

During this phase the Allied player air transports the two engineer units from hex 4013 to Catania, which has a capacity of one air unit left from the pregame airfield destruction. The two C-47s return to hex 4211. From hex 4211 he uses his Amarle to airlift the 61 RPC (0- 1 - 4) construction unit to Gozo. The Amarle returns to hex 3911.

The Allies disband the CAP over hex 4126, landing one Spit 9 at Catania and returning the other and the four Spit 5s to Valletta. He will be two units over capacity at Valletta, but is willing to accept this.

Finally, the Allies bomb the airbase at Palermo. The line-up is a Hurri, flying at extended range, the remaining Beaufighter from Bizerte and the P-40M from hex 3911, staging through Pantelleria. The AA of Palermo returns the Hurricane, but the remaining two squadrons, each of their strengths increased by one, combine to use the 5-column and achieve a hit. The Allied player chooses to abort the Fw 190F. The Hurricane and Beaufighter return to Bizerte, the P-40M to hex 3409.

Last up are the three breakdown brigades of the British 78th division, the two airdropped units, and the RM brigade in Licata, supported by WNTF-1. Note that a TF must be in the same hex to provide support, although its gunnery points can also defend adjacent units. The assembled 1st Canadian Division, along with a breakdown brigade and HQ of the 5th division, 231st Brigade, and an engineer brigade hold hex 4029. Four breakdown regiments, two Ranger battalions, an engineer regiment, and an artillery regiment occupy hex 4126. Catania is held by the assembled 9th Division, a breakdown regiment, three engineer regiments, an artillery regiment, and the 6th Amphibious Assault Engineers.

The Allies are happy because they are ashore and have captured two ports. The Axis player is satisfied because he already has 28 victory points if he picks the "Hold" strategy and 24 if he takes the "Withdraw" strategy.

Victory Point Count	Hold	Withdraw
Palermo	+4	+4
Palermo	+4	+4
Allied air units aborted	+4	+4
Hits on Allied naval units	+18	+18
Allied strength pts. elim.	+24	+24
Axis air units eliminated	-4	-4
Axis air units aborted	-7	-7
Italian strength pts. elim.	-7	-7
German strength pts. elim.	-4	-8
Total	28	24

More Operation Husky

Operation Husky 1943: Introduction
Operation Husky 1943: Allied and Axis Set Up
Operation Husky 1943: Movement Phase
Operation Husky 1943: Combat and Exploitation Phases
Operation Husky 1943: Allied Naval Movement Table: Jumbo (111K)