The campaign for Sicily continues...
1 March
Switzerland adopts the idea of Expert Foraging
3 March
Wellesley's Force of 54,779 men meets the smaller 20,600 men of the the primary Sicilian army under the command of the Conde de Damas, on the hills around Palermo. Victory is pretty comprehensive despite suffering from being out of supply. The superior tactical options chosen for our army see us through with a succession of favourable battle events. The defeated Sicilian army retreats into the relative safety of the fort. As a result Sir Stapleton Cotton gained the Massed Tactic trait.
A breakdown of the battle is recorded below by event. Seems fairly logical if somewhat repetitious.
Day 1
Hour 10: Centre - cavalry charge
Hour 12: Right flank – raid, Sicilians used screen
Hour 13: Sicilians used screen
Hour 14: Left flank – Aggressive probe, Right flank - raid
Hour 16: Centre – Guard assault
Hour 17: Centre – Major assault, Right flank - raid
Hour 18: Centre – Ready the Guard
Day 2
Hour 7: Guard assault, Right flank – raid
Hour 8: Left flank - harass
Hour 9: Right flank – raid
Hour 10: Centre - cavalry charge, Left flank - Aggressive probe, Right flank – Raid
Hour 11: Centre – Guard assault
Hour 12: Centre – Major assault, Left flank – harass, Right flank – raid
Hour 13: Centre – Readied the guard
Hour 14: Centre – Guard assault, Right flank – raid
Hour 16: Centre - cavalry charge
Hour 17: Right flank – raid
Day 3
Hour 8: Left flank – harass
Hour 9: Right flank – raid
Result: GB victory.
Losses: Sicily – 9184 men; GB – 1727 men.
Unfortunately because of our army's high attrition weight and 105.55k for 53k troops in a province that has a supply limit of 14k, the situation is not a good one. Especially if the siege of Palermo proves to be a protracted one. Two days later however, the survivors of the first battle march out of the fort rather than wait for the inevitable assault. The first battle for Palermo begins.
6 March
Surprisingly the Ottoman Empire strides forward and takes a new dominance objective – the Austrian province of Temmeschburg. To help out with the offensive against the Sicilians, Malta force is transported from the island to Siracusa on the southern coast of Sicily.
The battle for Palermo is concluded. Sir Arthur Wellesley, Robert Ross and Robert Scheaffe gain new traits. The Sicilian survivors fleet eastward towards the straits of Messina.
Result: GB victory.
Losses: Sicily – 2460 men; GB – 146 men.
7 March
Tripolitania adopts the idea of Close Blockade. Seeing their fellow comrades fleet, the garrison at Palermo sally forth. All 2,000 of them. The second battle for Palermo begins.
8 March
Reports of a worrisome development filter in. Portugal's independence is now guaranteed by France. A move that will see us likely have to fight the French once more in the future. Maybe we should have bitten the bullet and taken on Spain in a short war for the two dominance targets in Portugal.
The Prussians adopt a new idea of Prussian Discipline.
9 March
By the morning of the 2
nd day, we decide to withdraw our superior force as the casualties we are taking are not in proportion to acceptable levels. Being out of supply really has had a dramatic effect on the capacity of Wellesley's force to fight.
Result: GB defeat/
Losses: Sicily – 246 men; GB – 3626 men.
10 March
Austria takes one of their own dominance objectives from Ottoman Empire – Belgrad.
11 March
Two days later Wellesley's force reaches Agrigento and links up with Malta force who landed and now occupy Siracusa. A quick look at Siracusa shows that it can support up to 20k worth of attrition weight. More than enough for the small Malta force. Agrigento though will in no way be able to support Wellesley's 50,000 or so troops. Therefore it is time to split out larger force into two. Which we do using the Split Army button.
The Peninsula army is formed and given some average commanders. On inspecting Wellesley's force, we see that the Left flank is down to one functioning brigade and is unable to use the assigned HOLD tactic. So we some light infantry, cavalry and artillery brigades and switch to the FEINT tactic. With this done we send the army back to Palermo. One of our dominance objectives.
12 March
Portugal adopts the Co-ordinated Moves idea. Morocco adopts Volley Fire. It looks like Spain and Tunis agreed a peace treaty, though I'm not entirely sure of the terms. No territory seems to have been given up. So maybe it was a white peace. Malta force without suffering attrition and being in supply begins to move north towards Enna.
14 March
The Sicilian force defeated at the first battle for Palermo reaches Messina. We instruct Malta force to cancel its move and instead move the Peninsula army under Sir Samuel Auchmuty toward Enna. That should form a solid frontline as we push towards the mainland.
15 March
Wellesley's force reaches Palermo. It now has 4% of its supply, approximately 1 days worth. But due to its attrition weight being supportable by the province, the force is receiving 100% of supply and will in a few weeks be up to 100% supplied.
16 March
Enna is occupied by our Peninsula army. Italy adopts Close Blockade idea. A quick look at the war score shows we are ahead by 10%. No where near enough needed to bargain for Naples or Palermo.
22 March
Baden takes Coordinated Moves idea. Standing between Wellesley and Malta forces, the Peninsula army is given the March to the Sound of guns order. In case it is needed during combat.
25 March
The siege of Palermo continues albeit slowly. After the 11
th day, the fortress has sustained light damage and the garrison lacks supplies. It is also suffering 5% attrition. Perhaps now is the time to lead an assault!?
28 March
Peninsula force captures up with Wellesley and together defeat the Palermo garrison with ease. The siege is over. The survivors move eastward to join the Sicilian army at Messina. We have captured and now occupy Palermo – one of our Land Dominance objectives.
Result: GB victory.
Losses: Sicily – 396 men; GB – 490 men.
As the province of Enna belongs to Messina, control of this province is lost when the Peninsula army moved to Palermo. So we move Malta force from Siracusa to secure that location.
30 March
With the city lost the two Sicilian transport squadrons move out of Palermo harbour and right in front of the waiting guns of the Mediterranean fleet. All ships are sunk on sight. The country of Wuttemburg adopts the Coordinated Moves idea.
31 March
As the combined forces of Wellesley's and the Peninsula army approach Messina, the Sicilians there turn tail and look to cross the straits in earnest. We take the decision to hold back Wellesley's force in Palermo. At the same time the Red Transport Fleet anchored at Malta harbour is recalled to the gulf off the coast of Palermo.
The second prize of Naples looms on the horizon...