Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[warspite1]

Turn 14 - Axis Turn
25th January 1941

The Italian air superiority is a real issue. O'Connor is just hoping that destruction of the airfield at El Adem helps somewhat. But for now the Free French fighters have been destroyed on the ground.

If there is any comfort, it is perhaps that that was the only Axis attack - hopefully meaning they are struggling to maintain their air force....

[Olorin]

I do think artillery feels a bit overpowered in this scenario, if I'm honest.
30% losses to a unit due to an artillery barrage seems high?

Regarding the Air War:
I'm having similar results against the AI (i.e. the Reggia Aeronautica mops the floor with the RAF). If I was to start again, I'd pull everything back and suffer the resulting interdiction, until I had 80-100 hurricanes in good condition. Then I'd move the RAF forward and attack THEIR airfields.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Olorin

I do think artillery feels a bit overpowered in this scenario, if I'm honest.
30% losses to a unit due to an artillery barrage seems high?

Regarding the Air War:
I'm having similar results against the AI (i.e. the Reggia Aeronautica mops the floor with the RAF). If I was to start again, I'd pull everything back and suffer the resulting interdiction, until I had 80-100 hurricanes in good condition. Then I'd move the RAF forward and attack THEIR airfields.

warspite1

Yes irl the Regia Aeronautica simply wasn't a factor at this stage. I think generally the bombardments have been lower. In this case I am hoping the high numbers reflect the undug-in nature of the units - in open terrain - most are fleeing - and the number of attacking regiments. But you may be right.

[warspite1]

Turn 15
29th January 1941

So lets have a look at Tobruk.

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - Royal Navy
29th January 1941

Admiral Cunningham sails from Alexandria to provide naval gunfire support to any attack on Tobruk that may develop.

Naval Support Force
Battleship
HMS Barham (Flagship)

Cruisers
HMS Euryalus
HMS Dido
HMS York

Destroyers
HMS Jervis
HMS Airedale

AA and ASW Screen
Destroyers
HMS Partridge
HMS Ledbury
HMS Lance
HMS Bedouin

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - Round 1
29th January 1941

The turn starts with a massed bombardment ordered. The big guns of the Royal Navy concentrate on the Italian airfield, while the smaller ships target the port which contains the old cruiser San Georgio.

The fortified positions around Tobruk are targeted, along with the 10th Army HQ that is surrounded by the Kiwis.

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - Rounds 1-4
29th January 1941

The results against the Italian airfield is disappointing...

The losses are much lower than Olorin pointed out previously - I suspect that being fortified has a influence on the result - which is good.

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - Rounds 5-7
29th January 1941

The Kiwis finish off the 10th Army HQ, but the Italian battalion south of Tobruk, and outside the fortified area, holds on. There is little choice but to order the mixed Australian/British/Polish force to attack again. Meanwhile more bombardments are ordered against the dug-in infantry and the airfield.

Disappointing play on my part [&:] The follow-up attack against the battalion from the Italian 87th Infantry Regiment had an excellent chance of success. But I've run out of rounds...

[warspite1]

Turn 15 - Axis Turn
29th January 1941

The naval 15, 8 and 6-inch guns may have had a limited effect against the aircraft on the ground, but the AA guns of the Royal Navy, has hurt the Regia Aeronautica.

To the south of Tobruk, the Italian concentrate their remaining efforts, with two bombardments and an attack. The Allied units hold, but their holding off of the Italian infantry comes at a cost.

[warspite1]

Turn 16
1st February 1941

The Italian High Command need better reconnaissance. A Tank battalion is sent to the airfield at Rotunda Segnali southwest of Tobruk. Unbeknown to the tankers, the British 2nd Armoured Division have already taken the place.

[Olorin]

I could be talking complete nonsense ofc, it may be the case that such casualty figures happened in historical arty bombardments. 10% certainly seems more sensible to me, but still a bit high.

Come to think of it, the units on the receiving end are small in size and the ground is very open, which affords experienced artillery crews plenty of clear targets to shoot at.

[warspite1]

Turn 16 - Round 1
1st February 1941

The turn opens with more bombardment of the Tobruk defences. The Royal Navy switch their target and all guns are pointed toward the 3rd Marine Battalion on the coast.

The attacks meet once again with various degrees of success. Two rounds are used up.

[warspite1]

Turn 16 - Rounds 3&4
1st February 1941

The 2nd Armoured destroy the Italian tanks. All eyes switch back to Tobruk. The 87th Regiment battalion finally yields, but better news greets the attackers on the coast. The joint 6th and 9th Australian Division attack succeeds in pushing the defenders out of their fortified position. The 2nd Battalion pushes into the vacated territory and attacks again, destroying the last remaining defender, and unhinging the Italian position.

[warspite1]

Turn 16 - Rounds 5-10
1st February 1941

Following the breakthrough on the coast, every piece of ordnance in range was ordered to fire on the marines next door. An attack was then launched by the New Zealanders. Sadly the turn ended before they could exploit their victory and only one brigade has occupied the recently vacated hex. With the pulverising the units next door received, Lt-General Bernard Freyberg is confident that his single brigade can hold its ground....

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 15 - Rounds 1-4
29th January 1941

The results against the Italian airfield is disappointing...

The losses are much lower than Olorin pointed out previously - I suspect that being fortified has a influence on the result - which is good.

If it really was your intention to attack just the aircraft in the hex, you could have ordered an "Airfield Attack". That concentrates on the aircraft.

[warspite1]

Turn 16 - Axis Turn
1st February 1940

Freyberg was right to place confidence in his 6th Infantry Brigade. Despite a pounding from the Italian artillery, the Kiwis stand strong. As hoped, the remaining Italians defending the eastern approaches to Tobruk are not strong enough to launch a counter-attack.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 15 - Rounds 1-4
29th January 1941

The results against the Italian airfield is disappointing...

The losses are much lower than Olorin pointed out previously - I suspect that being fortified has a influence on the result - which is good.

If it really was your intention to attack just the aircraft in the hex, you could have ordered an "Airfield Attack". That concentrates on the aircraft.

warspite1

I cannot see a way to do that with naval units. What am I missing please?

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 15 - Rounds 1-4
29th January 1941

The results against the Italian airfield is disappointing...

The losses are much lower than Olorin pointed out previously - I suspect that being fortified has a influence on the result - which is good.

If it really was your intention to attack just the aircraft in the hex, you could have ordered an "Airfield Attack". That concentrates on the aircraft.

warspite1

I cannot see a way to do that with naval units. What am I missing please?

Place the cursor over the target and right-click. The Combat popup appears:

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay



If it really was your intention to attack just the aircraft in the hex, you could have ordered an "Airfield Attack". That concentrates on the aircraft.

warspite1

I cannot see a way to do that with naval units. What am I missing please?

Place the cursor over the target and right-click. The Combat popup appears:

warspite1

I must have missed that. I can't check it now because the aircraft have flown - but checked it with a bomber and I can see airfield attack. Thanks.

[warspite1]

Turn 17
5th February 1941

The Regia Aeronautica have flown from Tobruk and it looks like the bombers have headed for Gazala where an airfield exists. Lt-General Willoughby Norrie is ordered to head his division north to take the airfield and trap any enemy from leaving Tobruk.

Edit: Sorry I got so engrossed with that turn I forgot to take pictures as I was going on! [8|]

So what happened?

Well a Norrie sent a regiment of tanks to Gazala, but the aircraft had flown - so the tanks headed west to the next airfield - same story - so went south - whereupon the tanks have run out of moves. So a whole regiment is stuck deep in enemy territory with no AA cover and er... no cover at all really [&:] The rest of the division did as commanded and headed for Gazala.

Better news was to be found southeast of Tobruk. The fortified line no longer exists.