Back to the desert!

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 5:58 am

We are back to the desert, guys. I've noticed that no new North Africa scenarios have put in an appearance in some time, so I am out to remedy that.

Even now, Rick Cloutier (Tankhead) has posted a hot one one of Rommel's numerous forays in early 1942 ("Backlash"), prior to Gazala.
http://members.tripod.com/tankhead__1/main.html

And in the next few days, our good friend Fabio Prado, with his own top notch support site will be featuring a Tunisian conflict "Enough is Enough," as American reeled back from their first major encounter with the Afrika Korps.

Wear your goggles, cover your mouth. The sands of the desert are blowing fiercely in your direction!

Wild Bill

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:15 am

Man, this dropped down the list fast!...WB

Possum · Post by **Possum** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:20 am

Hello Wild Bill!
Did you still want to do something on the New Zealanders?

zombie · Post by **zombie** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:21 am

How about one with the Austrialians at tobruk? Just watched a movie about that and it might be cool to see?

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:29 am

Possum, yes!

Any data or literature you can point out to me would help. I have some things but a little more would always help.

You got possums in NZ?

The Aussies at Tobruk would make a great one, Zombie. Let's see what we can do.

Wild Bill

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Possum · Post by **Possum** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 6:59 am

Here is a paste of my previous e-mail if you had missed it, Wild Bill
Hello Wild Bill

Sorry for the delay in response, but I only have internet access through my work
computer!
I have been trying to find more about the NZ division.
What i have found so far.
Dec 1940 Last components for the 2nd NZ division arrive in Egypt.
Dec 40 to April 41, in training, Egypt.
April 41, deployed to greece.
April 41, delay v/s XVII Korps
April 41, Evacuated to Crete
May 41, Malmo, Defend v/s 1 FJ Div + 5th MTN Div
Jun 41 - Oct 41, Rebuiling, in Egypt
Nov 18 -1941, operation "Crusader" Commences
Nov 21, Advance to Sidi Azeir, v/s XV Pz Div
Nov 23, Advance to Hill 175, v/s XV Pz Div
Nov 27/28, Advance to Tobruk perimiter, v/s Italians
Dec 1, Delay at Belhamed, v/s XV Pz & XXI Pz Divs
Jan 1942 - Jun 1942 garrison duty in Syria
August 1942 returns to Egypt
At this time the 8th (UK)Armored Brigade replaces the 4th (NZ) Infantry Brigade.
the 4th (NZ) Brigade is reformed into an Armored Brigade of 3 regiments ( the 3
former inf Bns.)
31st August, Defend at Alam el Halfa (1st El Alamein, v/s 90th Light Div
Oct 23 to 26, 1942, operation "Lightfoot" (2nd El Alamein), assault v/s XV Pz Div
Nov 2, operation " Supercharge", pursute of DAK initiated.
Dec 16, 1942, Div is used to flank the El Agheila Line.
Jan 15, 1943, Div is used to flank the Buerat Line.
Mar 6-1943 operation "Capri" A giant, Div size ambush of the 21st PZ & 164th
Light Divisions is initiated. NZ losses are 1 Sherman and 130 men. German losses
are 52 tanks and 640 men.
Mar 26, 1943, Opperation "Pugilist", advance at El Hamma, v/s 21st Pz & 164th
Light Divs
April 19, 1943, Advance to Takrouna, Tunisia.
May 1943 - Dec 1943. Conversion of 5th Brigade into a Mech. Brigade, 4th
Brigade rejoins Div. ( Div now has 2 Arm Brig., 1 Mech, and 1 Mot brig.)
Jan 1944, Arrive in italy, aqquire an unknown 5th Brigade. ( a Ghurka Brigade?)
Feb 13-14, 1944, 2nd Casino, Assault v/s 1 FJ
March 15 to 23, 1944, Casino, Assault v/s 1 FJ
sept 29, 1944, Fiumico River, Battle for Rout 9, River crossing v/s germans.
April 9, 1945, Santerno river at Massa Lomb, River crossing v/s 98th and 362nd
Divs.

References
The History of World War II, Orbis. 1984
pp 344, 363, 379, 390, 395, 565, 613, 622, 623, 788, 868, 875, 926, 928, 1082,
1085, 1086, 1395, 1399, 1401, 2125, 2127, 2139.
Purnell's history of the world wars, special, "The desert War"
Web Sites
HTTP//pages.chome.net/dryan/orders/nz.html
HTTP//www.kithobbyist.com/AMPSNewZealand/KiwisInArmor
HTTP//www.regiments.org/tfm
the three above where probably the best of a bad bunch, I spent most of my
work day today brousing the web, looking for some good references, but allas I
could find none.

I hope the above information will help.

PS for BruceAZ, I couldn't find any maps either, sorry.

PPS Belated Happy birthday Bill!!

I haven't come across much more unfortunately
BTW, I live in Adelaide, South Australia.
I got interested in the New Zealanders , after doing some checking out of the Australians in the desert. The new Zealand division, because it spent the entire war in the mediterranian front seemed a better choice for doing a combine arms force campaign; As the Australian armored force never saw any prolonged campaigning.
Also there is somthing appealing, I thing in following the adventures of an infantry division as it transforms itself into an ad hock Armored Corps.

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 7:56 am

Yep, that should be enough to get me started, Possume

Thanks so much. I'll begin doing a little researching...WB

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Joe Osborne · Post by **Joe Osborne** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 8:22 am

Originally posted by Wild Bill:
Yep, that should be enough to get me started, Possume

Thanks so much. I'll begin doing a little researching...WB

Could this mean...maybe...please...hold my breath....(down on one knee).....a North African Campaign??? oooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh.......

Joe Osborne

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 9:34 am

Hey Anakin!

Let's add that one to the list for big Joe!

Wild Bill

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

Dedas · Post by **Dedas** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 2:27 pm

A North african campaign would be great!
Looking forward to play it soon, yes! (please.....)
And of course, keep up the good work...

Gavin · Post by **Gavin** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 3:30 pm

Just to answer the Possum question. Possums are one of Australia's more successful exports to New Zealand I think. free breeding pare provided in the 1800's Now New Zealand is the proud owner of millions of Possums running round at high speed inside their house roofs all night and mating in their beadroom ceilings. Next project is poisonous snakes.

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POW & Repulse
"Great idea rotten ships"

pops · Post by **pops** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 7:48 pm

...how about early '41 British against Italians....a little respect for the British who were in this theater long before the Americans...

cjpaul · Post by **cjpaul** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 8:08 pm

Here's an idea for a mini-campaign like Watchword Freedom: 2nd El Alamien as part of the 21st or 15th Panzer division. Your engaged in a number of defensive and counter-attack actions during the 3? day battle and at the end you have to execute a successful withdraw with the remnants of your command. If I recall correctly, both divisions had only a total of 20 some functioning tanks by the end. You would get a minimal number of repair points to reflect the poor supply situation for the DAK and the attrition that had occurred in the battle. Since the AI would be the commonwealth forces, it could employ overwhelming numbers, which is what Monty did do.

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 9:39 pm

Possume are in plentiful supply here in Ga. More jokes about possums than I can remember!

Pops, have you played "Just in Time" yet? It is the British and Italians at Beda Fomm.

I like that smaller unit level campaign, CJPaul. We need more small campaigns with an occasional big one. I would agree.

Very nice ideas guys. That is a help to know what interests you.

Wild Bill

LeibstandartePzD · Post by **LeibstandartePzD** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 11:47 pm

Just downloaded Backlash Wild Bill. Should dive into it in a day or two. I'll let you know how it goes although I'm sure it will be excellent. I just started "Watchword Freedom" and "The Victors" as well. Still on the first battles but they are wonderfully difficult to say the least! I'll keep you posted.

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Former member of the 8th US cavalry and a grandson of a Leibstandarte tanker. Former name on these boards was Leibstandarte.

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 12:53 am

I'll be watching Jason. Keep me posted. Thanks for the update!

WB

panda124c · Post by **panda124c** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 4:04 am

A Campain based on Gazala 1942 would be great. Everybody in it including the French.

Wild Bill · Post by **Wild Bill** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 4:29 am

That is one that has been in my mind for awhile, PB! Great minds, huh?

WB

Christophe Jaureguiberry · Thu Jan 18, 2001 5:29 am

Originally posted by pbear:
A Campain based on Gazala 1942 would be great. Everybody in it including the French.

I am planning to make a scenario with the French at Bir Hakeim, but since I am working on my campaign, it is still a long way off (after April).

Concerning my campaign (sorry, off-subject but I can't resist this shameless plug

), playing through it will take around 14-15 scenarios. Each scenario will be relatively small, with the occasional big one (you start out as a company commander).

Regards,

Christophe

Christophe Jaureguiberry · Thu Jan 18, 2001 5:32 am

Originally posted by pbear:
A Campain based on Gazala 1942 would be great. Everybody in it including the French.

Whoops! Sorry for the double post...

[This message has been edited by Christophe Jaureguiberry (edited January 17, 2001).]