This week in the AvA

[soda72]

Operation Strangle

Time Frame - March 1944

    "Operation Strangle" was conceived by Allied commanders to reduce the flow of enemy supplies in Italy below requirements by attacking their supply system. It was determined that the enemy's abilities to supply, reinforce, and shift forces could be so weakened that the Gustav Line could neither withstand determined ground attacks nor withdraw in order.

    Beginning in March, Allied Medium and Fighter Bombers struck targets from the Gustav Line to the Swiss frontier. While the Medium bombers wrecked marshaling yards and repair facilities, the Fighters and Fighter Bombers of the XII Air Support Command cut rail lines and bridges. The Fighter Bombers in particular, proved surprisingly successful as bridge busters.

    Heavy Bombers borrowed from the air war over Germany hit distant rail centers in the northern Italian cities. This scrambled enemy troops and supplies from beyond the Alps, as trains stacked up north and south of Rome. No trains were able to run from the Po Valley, and substantially all supplies had to be moved by truck south of Florence.
 


Allied Planeset
B-25H
B-26B         
P-38J
P-47D-25
P-51B   
Spit IX
Typhoon     
Jeep
M16
M8
M4(75)

Axis Planeset
Bf 109G-6
Bf 109G-14   
Bf 110G-2     
Fw 190A-5
Fw 190A-8
Fw 190F-8
Ju 88A-4
C.205
Jeep
PanzerIV
Ostwind

Field Order
    Knight - Axis
    Rook - Allied