Incursion into Turkey

[allanryan]

CEF Headquarters
Aleppo, Syria

Colonel Phillippe Leclerc sat on the top of his Souma S-37 Tank looking over the plan of attack for the 9e Armoured Division. The Objective of the CEF was to take the city of Antioch and then push to the section of the Euphrates in Turkey and in the process capture and secure key roads through the mountains. Eventually they would recive reenforcements and meet up with the Germans near Ankara if at all possible. The plan was good, it was simple and by now the CEF has been well trained by now, seeing combat against the Turks through out Syria. The CEF along with the Germans had been responsible for the Liberation of Damascus.

The 9e Armoured, the 42e Infantrie Division, along with the 18e Infantrie and 10e Armoured, would be moving out to secure Antioch with in a couple of hours. The 7e Armoured and the 3e Infantrie would be moving to Iksenderun just north of Antoich. After Iksenderun fell, the CEF would begin their trek north and secure the roads leading through the mountains.

ORBAT

Antioch Attack Force
9e Armoured
42e Infantrie
10e Armoured
18e Infantrie

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured
3e Infantrie

[Eric Skrevski]

2nd Turkish Army Headquarters
Gaziantep, Turkey.

Lieutenant General Fadi Hakura sighed as reports starting coming in from the front. "So the French are making the first attack? So be it."

"General, should we pull the 1st Mechanized Division south?" asked the General's aid.

"Negative. Not this early in the battle. We will just have to hope our anti-tank guns are up to the job."

"Aye sir."

*Two Corps holding along the border in front of the French, and three corps in front of the Germans. There is no way we can hold them back..* Fadi thought as more messages came in.

"I want the 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment and three AT Battalions to head for the main front with the French. The rest we hold in reserve."

"Yes sir."

"And make sure we have air cover over the battlefield." Fadi added, scornfully.

"Yes sir!." the aide replied, going out to carry out the generals orders.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Along the Border, only two Divisions covered the Border from the coast to about 100 miles north, as they had orders to just delay the French in event of an attack. Now they laid down minefields and took up delaying positions, as a Regiment of the 3rd Air Division flew air cover. Also moving from the City of Gaziantep were the 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment and three Anti-Tank Battalions, along with a Anti-Aircraft Battalion (motorized). The rest of the 2nd Army stood by in their positions waiting for the next phase of operations.

================================================

Order of Battle:

Border Defenses:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Delaying French Advance
- 24th Infantry Division - Delaying French Advance
- 26th Infantry Division - In Reserve at Iksenderun
- 6th AT Battalion (24 37mm ATGs) - In reserve at Iksenderun.

-- Other Elements --

4th Heavy Artillery Regiment - Moving on road towards Ceytian ETA: Two Hours
17th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Ceytian ETA: Two Hours
18th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Ceytian ETA: Two Hours
19th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Ceytian ETA: Two Hours
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (24 20mm AAGs) - Moving on road towards Ceytian ETA: Two Hours

-- Air Elements --

1st Regiment/3rd Air Division - 48 Hawker Hurricanes pulling CAP duty, 15,000 Feet.

[gm]

As the French units advance, they are met by the Turkish 16th and 24th Infantry Divisions. Because of their entrenched state, the Turkish units recieve less damage this time around as they have positions already established and will have to be dislodged. The French infantry takes damage from this, but due to the lack of sufficent anti-tank weapons to stop three armored divisions, these units do not take as heavy losses.

French Units:
Infantry units suffer between 3-5% losses (Disperse the damage amongst the units. All units have suffered at least 3% damage, but no greater than 5%)
Armored units suffer 2% losses

Turkish Units:
Both units suffer 5% losses

((Bitchlog me if I totally just FUBAR'd this. -Nick))

[allanryan]

CEF Headquaters

General Baker listened intently to the radio reports of his Forces as they continued their advance into Turkey. It looked like a couple of Infantry divisions had held themselves up infront of the advance, it was just a minor inconvience however, the tank forces along with the Infantry were more than capable of routing them out from their trenches. What had disturbed the General was the reports of Enemy aircraft, Hurricanes weren't much to deal with, but it was a nonetheless irritating aspect, he wanted to obtain Air Superiority as quickly as possible. He had just ordered planes Groupment De Chasse 42 and 43 to take off and dispatch of the threat, the French Hawk 75s and D.520s wouldn't have too much trouble with the Hurricanes.

In the field the French forces continued with their onslaught, the Infantry advanced behind the tanks as cover. The tanks themselves drove at a slower speed but continued to fire on the enemy positions. The two Artillery Regiments from each Infantry division opened up on the Turkish positions as well.

Orbat
Antioch Attack Force
9e Armoured -98%
42e Infantrie -97%
10e Armoured -98%
18e Infantrie -96%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -98%
3e Infantrie -97%

Groupment De Chasse 42 (ETA 40 mins)
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (30)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (30)

Groupment De Chasse 43 (ETA 40 mins)
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (30)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (30)

[Eric Skrevski]

The Turkish Sixth Corps knew they couldn't hold up the French advance for long. Thus they pulled back ever so slowly, leaving minefields, roads blocked by trees, wells poisoned or destroyed, anything they could to delay the advancing French. In the air, the 1st Regiment of the 3rd Air Division was relieved by the 2nd Regiment about thirty minutes after their patrol begin, giving the 1st the chance to return to base and refuel. The 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment and the three AT Battalions were directed to pull down the outskirts of Iksenderun and try and hold up the French advancing on the city with the support of the 26th Infantry Division and the 6th AT Battalion.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OOB:

Border Defenses:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Delaying French Advance (15,200 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Delaying French Advance (15,200 Men)
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in
- 6th AT Battalion (24 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.

-- Other Elements --

4th Heavy Artillery Regiment - Moving on road towards Iksenderun ETA: One Hours
17th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Iksenderun ETA: One Hours
18th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Iksenderun ETA: One Hours
19th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Moving on road towards Iksenderun ETA: One Hours
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (24 20mm AAGs) - Moving on road towards Iksenderun ETA: One Hours

-- Air Elements --

2nd Regiment/3rd Air Division - 48 Hawker Hurricanes pulling CAP duty, 15,000 Feet.

[allanryan]

G.C. III/1
15,000 feet

Capitaine Etinne Montclair smiled has he picked out the large squadron of enemy Hawker Hurricanes, the Turkish didn't seem to have noticed the Large French Formation coming out of the sun, which was good, they might be able to down alot of them on their first pass.

"Attention everyone, enemy fighters 12 o'clock, pair up and attack the enemy everyone!"

Montclair almost immediately picked out an enemy Hawker and lined the sight up and let out a burst from his Hawk's 6 .30 Calibur machine guns. The sky filled with tracers as the French Pilots began their attack, the 40 Hawks of Groupment de Chasse 42 engaged the enemy first, exploiting the supierior Maneuveribility of the Hawk over the Hurricane. Behind the Hawks the 40 Dewoitines of Groupment De Chasse 43 entered the fray as well at 20,000 feet. They dived down on the Hurricanes and tore into them with thier 4 .30 calibur Machine Guns and their 20mm Cannons. Now they outnumbered the Turks almost 2 to 1.

On the ground below, the French Soldiers continued to fight their way through the Turkish Defences. Now both forces were held up by the minefields and and the blocked roads. Still, the Artillery was having an effect, they continued to rain heavy fire down onto the retreating Turks.

Orbat
Antioch Attack Force
9e Armoured -96%
42e Infantrie -95%
10e Armoured -96%
18e Infantrie -94%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -96%
3e Infantrie -94%

Groupment De Chasse 42 (ETA 40 mins)
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (20)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (20)

Groupment De Chasse 43 (ETA 40 mins)
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (20)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (20

[Eric Skrevski]

Over Turkish Skies:

The Turkish 2nd Regiment was taken by surprise and quickly lost twelve of their number in the first pass. They then quickly reacted and began moving in pairs to try and take down what they could of the French fighters. Below them the twenty-four 20mm Anti-Aircraft Guns of the 10th AA Battalion along with four-eight guns of the combined Antioch and Iksanderun Defense batteries opened fire on the French planes hoping to help out their comrades in arms.

The whole of the Turkish Sixth Corps was now concentrated before the town of Iksanderun, having given up Antioch. With support from the 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment and the Division's artillery support the Turks began firing a counter-battery program to help lesson the French artillery fire landing among the Infantry. Also set up now were the three Battalions of 37mm ATGs which would now fire on any advancing French tanks. Also reports were that General Hakura was dispatching two more Divisions of the IV Corps and a couple more Battalions of AT Guns to help bolster the defense of the line. They just had to hold on for a few more hours...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OOB:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,800 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,900 Men))
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in
- 6th AT Battalion (24 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.
- 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment (24 155mm Howitzers) - Firing counter battery on French Artillery
17th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
18th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
19th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (24 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Iksenderun Defense Battalion (24 20mm AAGs)
Antioch Defense Battalion (24 20mm AAGs)

-- Air Elements --

2nd Regiment/3rd Air Division - 36/48 Hawker Hurricanes = Engaging French Planes.

[allanryan]

CEF Headquarters

General Baker was pleased to see that the French Forces have taken Antoich and the French Forces were converging on Iksenderun with everything they had. Unfortunatley the Turks were putting up heavy resistance against the French attack. The General considered talking to Admiral Defarge about calling in an Airstrike from the Marquis De Laffayette but, the French Army was still more than capable of routing the enemy.

The Armee De'l Air forces were reporting 12 enemy kills for the loss of four of their own. The D.520s and Hawk 75s were holding thier own against the British built fighters, still the Military's new training programs had been paying off.

Antioch Attack Force -Assisting on the attack against Iksenderun
9e Armoured -93%
42e Infantrie -93%
10e Armoured -94%
18e Infantrie -92%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -92%
3e Infantrie -93%

Groupment De Chasse 42
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (20)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (19)

Groupment De Chasse 43
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (19)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (18

[Eric Skrevski]

With all of the Sixth Corps now defending the town of Iksenderun the going was tough for the French. The infantry used every trick they could think of to try and hold the town. In the rear of the defending troops engineer units worked non-stop to form a second defense line if the first one was lost. The 108 75mm Howitzers and 36 105mm Howitzers of the Divisions roared in helping the infantry hold the line. So far the French were hitting everywhere and thus the Turks were hard pressed but still holding, though losses were mounting...

In the Air, the 2nd Regiment knew they were out-numbered and thus pulled back to the north, where they hoped to meet up with more of their comrades. They still lose a couple more planes to the French as they pulled back, but made sure they they flew over the AA guns that were supporting them to help knock out a couple of the French Planes.

==================================================
OOB:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,500 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,500 Men))
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in (15,100 Men)
- 6th AT Battalion (20 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.
- 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment (24 155mm Howitzers) - Firing counter battery on French Artillery
17th AT Battalion (20 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
18th AT Battalion (19 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
19th AT Battalion (22 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (24 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Iksenderun Defense Battalion (24 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Antioch Defense Battalion (24 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes

-- Air Elements --
28/48 Hawker Hurricanes = Pulling back to the North.

[allanryan]

Outside of Iksenderun Turkey

Colonel Leclerc ordered his tanks foreward. Commanding the S-35 Force was hard work, between firing, Aiming, and Commanding, the stress was on. Still, giving in now would be disasterous. He picked out a building that was held down by the Turks and fired his tank's Machine gun into it.

His driver took the S-35 closer to the line, now the tanks were leaping behind cover with French Infantry following close behind. The S-35 next to him took a hit and blew apart. "Merde!" He turned around to the radio and called in for the infantry to scout foreward and disable the Anti Tank Guns if it was at all possible.

Above him the Armee De'l Air began it's onslaught against the enemy ground forces. It was a dangerous operation, the Dewoitines dove in at high speeds and made strafing runs against the Enemy Anti Air Craft guns, lighting them up with 20mm High Explosive rounds. The Hawk 75s moved in at a lower angle and made strafing runs against the Artillery guns.

Antioch Attack Force -Assisting on the attack against Iksenderun
9e Armoured -89%
42e Infantrie -90%
10e Armoured -91%
18e Infantrie -88%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -89%
3e Infantrie -90%

Groupment De Chasse 42
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (18)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (17)

Groupment De Chasse 43
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (17)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (16)

[Eric Skrevski]

The fighting was furious among the French and Turks. While some of the Anti-Tank guns were knocked out by the intrepid French infantry, many more were still operational and firing on the advancing French S-35s. The AA Guns also began taking some losses but not to many as the fighters weren't really built for this kind of intense work. Shells exploded and men died, but still the Turks held, hoping reinforcements would arrive soon.

==================================================
OOB:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,100 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (14,200 Men))
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in (14,800 Men)
- 6th AT Battalion (15 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.
- 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment (20 155mm Howitzers) - Firing counter battery on French Artillery
17th AT Battalion (18 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
18th AT Battalion (15 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
19th AT Battalion (20 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (20 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Iksenderun Defense Battalion (20 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Antioch Defense Battalion (20 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes

[allanryan]

Iksenderun, Turkey

Phillipe Leclerc continued to shout orders into the radio. The French S-35 Tanks continued to advance, gunning down any enemy infantry, while the French Infantry moved to take out the enemy Anti Tank Guns, It was a long and hellish process but it was fielding some results.

The Air Force continued to make strafing runs against the enemy Artillery and Anti Aircraft guns.


9e Armoured -87%
42e Infantrie -88%
10e Armoured -89%
18e Infantrie -87%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -86%
3e Infantrie -88%

Groupment De Chasse 42
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (16)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (15)

Groupment De Chasse 43
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (15)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (14)

[Eric Skrevski]

The VI Corps continued to hold the line before the town, but it was starting to be come stretched as they just didn't have the same amount of troops as the French, and more losses were received from the Air, though reports were coming in that a couple of Regiments of Fighters were being dispatched to assist in the operations. In order to try and hold out longer and give the engineers move time to fortify a new line, the infantry of the Line Divisions began using molotov cocktail's and throwing them at the French tanks as the Anti-tank guns continued to fire, though more had been lost in the action. Some of the heavy guns of the 4th Artillery shifted to firing on the advancing Infantry, trying to slow them down. As this was going on the AA Guns of the three battalions continued to fire at the French planes hoping to drive them off...

==================================================
OOB:

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (13,800 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (13,900 Men))
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in (14,500 Men)
- 6th AT Battalion (10 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.
- 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment (10 155mm Howitzers) - Firing counter battery on French Artillery - 8 155mm Howitzers firing on infantry.
17th AT Battalion (15 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
18th AT Battalion (1045mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
19th AT Battalion (16 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (18 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Iksenderun Defense Battalion (16 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes
Antioch Defense Battalion (18 20mm AAGs) - Firing on French Planes

Second Line Defenses: 30 Percent finished.

[allanryan]

Iksenderun, Turkey

Sensing the tide turning in their favor, the French Force advanced faster and harder into Iksenderun. The Infantry continued to hunt out Anti Tank guns while the Tanks moved in and cleared out Anti Aircraft guns and enemy infantry. The French Artillery Fired another Barrage this time into the Second Turkish Line, hoping to delay it's construction.

The Aircraft of the French Air Force made a total all out assault into the enemy Artillery, emptying the plane's remaining ammuntion into the artillery sites.


9e Armoured -85%
42e Infantrie -86%
10e Armoured -88%
18e Infantrie -86%

Iksenderun Attack Force
7e Armoured -84%
3e Infantrie -86%

Groupment De Chasse 42
G.C. III/1 Hawk 75 (15)
G.C. III/3 Hawk 75 (13)

Groupment De Chasse 43
G.C. II/2 Dewoitine D.520 (14)
G.C. II/6 Dewoitine D.520 (13)

[Eric Skrevski]

Iksenderun, Turkey

Cheers could be heard from the Turkish lines as reinforcements finally arrived. The 10th and 56th Infantry Divisions quickly moved into the line, with the 10th extending the lines and the 56th taking over the battered 16th Division's place, giving the Division a rest and allowing them to help form new defensives. Also the 18th and 19th AT Battalions pulled back and were replaced by the 30th and 31st AT Battalions, while the 45th AA Battalion moved into the line as well using it's twenty-four 20mm AAGs to fire on tanks and infantry. A couple of 75s and 105s were put out of action, as were a couple more 155s but now reinforced the artillery shifted targets to begin hitting some of the French Artillery as well. The Turks set in for a long battle.

==================================================

OOB:

IV Corps:
- 10th Infantry Division (16,000 Men)
- 56th Infantry Division (16,000 Men)
- 30th AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs)
- 31st AT Battalion (24 45mm ATGs)
- 45th AA Battalion (24 20mm AAGs) - Firing on Infantry/Tanks

VI Corps:
- 16th Infantry Division - In reserve line, working on defenses. (13,600 Men)
- 24th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, digging in (13,700 Men))
- 26th Infantry Division - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in (14,200 Men)
- 6th AT Battalion (9 37mm ATGs) - Outskirts of Iksenderun, dug-in.
- 4th Heavy Artillery Regiment (14 155mm Howitzers) - Firing counter battery on French Artillery
17th AT Battalion (14 45mm ATGs) - Dug-in on line.
18th AT Battalion (9 45mm ATGs) - Second Line
19th AT Battalion (14 45mm ATGs) - Second Line
10th AA Battalion (Mot) (14 20mm AAGs) - Firing on Infantry/Tanks
Iksenderun Defense Battalion (14 20mm AAGs) - Watching for Planes.
Antioch Defense Battalion (16 20mm AAGs) - Watching for Planes

Second Line Defenses: 42 Percent finished.