PacGen Scenario: Operation Thors Hammer

Background:

This is a strictly fictional scenario based on a what-if situation.
Three changes in history apply:
1) The Germans stole secretly the whole plan for Operation Husky, the 
   invasion of Sicily. They know when and where it will happen and
   have time to plan countermeasures and deploy them.
2) A big part of the German and Italian forces in North Africa was 
   successfully evacuated (though without most of their equipment).
3) Operation Citadel, the battle of Kursk, was a partial success (not a
   complete one, else the Germans would have mostly got rid off the Russians)
   Therefore they have the forces to successfully defend Sicily.

Story:

After the evacuation of the North African Corps the units were rearmed and 
outfitted in Italy. Now the Axis powers have a Veteran core for the defence
of Italy. Spies stole the plan of Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily,
from the Allies and gave it to the Germans. Since the indecisive situation
on the Eastern Front with a severely weakened Red Army, Germany was able to
relocate troops and materiel to Italy for Operation Thors Hammer.
(The name stand for the goal to crush the 1st invasion attempt of the Allies
into Europe once and for all to demoralize them completely)

Two plans were in consideration:

Plan A (favored by Hitler): To stop the allies on the beaches and even prevent
a successful landing, with all the fortifications and troops concentrating on
the beaches. It would hit the allies at their weakest point.
This plan had two weaknesses:
a) If the Allies did spot German preparations they would either cancel the 
plan or land on another beaches, which with all fortifications would be 
rendered useless.
b) If anything went wrong and the Allies broke through there would be no 
fortifications to fall back to.

Plan B (favored by Rommel)
The German armored spearheads would wait concealed outside the beaches ready
for an offense. As soon the allies would have landed they would move in, 
encircle the invasion force and crush it. The fortifications would be built
at the narrow passes of the mountain ranges, prohibiting and slowing Allied
advance. If the initial attack showed to be a failure, German forces would 
regroup on the northern part of the island and continually counterattack
over the fortification line.

Plan B was actually adopted.
Three armored spearheads were formed, the Northern and Eastern one consisting
of German elite armor and mechanized infantry. The Southern one are the
refitted Italian forces from North Africa. All ways to the north are blocked
by fortifications, combined with AA and artillery support.


Scenario Information:

The map used for this scenario is Bill Haerings work. Its a translation of
the Sicily map of Allied general.
Steve Strayers unit roster was used as well. (the scenario wont work without)
Bill Haerings Order of Battle was used for the Allied and Italian force
strengths (though some units do not appear in the roster). Positions, 
experience, fortification levels and transports have been freely distributed.

This scenario is actually a beta version. It needs a lot of fine tuning, play
testing, and balancing. I would be grateful for any advice, change suggestions
or refinements.
Its actually my first try at a scenario. I hope youll like it.

Oliver Korpilla
korpo@01019freenet.de

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

