Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[Vease101]

Thank You for this excellent tutorial/AAR. Just shows that if one is prepared to apply some effort even a relatively complex game system can be 'brought to heel'.

As an aside, if you played Desert Rats on a Spectrum, did you ever play 'Vulcan' by the same designer? It may be the greatest computer wargame that nobody has ever heard of....

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Vease101

Thank You for this excellent tutorial/AAR. Just shows that if one is prepared to apply some effort even a relatively complex game system can be 'brought to heel'.

As an aside, if you played Desert Rats on a Spectrum, did you ever play 'Vulcan' by the same designer? It may be the greatest computer wargame that nobody has ever heard of....

warspite1

Consider them studies in what not to do [:)]

Edit: Yes I played Vulcan, although not so much as Desert Rats which I kind of went nuts on [:)]

[warspite1]

Turn 36
12th April 1941

I take a look at the recent news and see this:

The CW lost Benghazi some time ago so I've no idea what that is about....

Anyway, the shock values for the air force and army have gone back up which is not good. General O'Connor has been captured. I don't know if that is what has caused the shock event, but suspect there is nothing otherwise that affects the game and that announcement, like the attack on Yugoslavia, is for historical purposes.

I shall check the documentation just in case there is some mention of it in there.

Edit: No mention. Hopefully the shock penalties will end on Turn 37 i.e. next turn.

[warspite1]

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The 1st Army Tank Brigade is ready for action this turn. This force of 50 Matilda IIs is too large for the rail line and so will need to be sent by ship or road.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The 1st Army Tank Brigade is ready for action this turn. This force of 50 Matilda IIs is too large for the rail line and so will need to be sent by ship or road.

Unless it's enormous, you can split it into 2 or 3 pieces to move by rail. Depending on where the ports are sea might be better, but via rail over 2 or 3 turns would beat burning up all the supplies on the road.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The 1st Army Tank Brigade is ready for action this turn. This force of 50 Matilda IIs is too large for the rail line and so will need to be sent by ship or road.

Unless it's enormous, you can split it into 2 or 3 pieces to move by rail. Depending on where the ports are sea might be better, but via rail over 2 or 3 turns would beat burning up all the supplies on the road.

warspite1

What a klutz. I never even considered that [&:] Thank-you, yes, if I break the unit down then I can get (just about!) one company on the train per turn. So that good piece of in game advice got me looking more closely at what the British have here.



Historical
Although this unit is a Tank Brigade*, the actual TO&E seems to suggest its just a battalion's worth at present (50 tanks). The other two battalions (8th and 44th RTR) follow later.
* Note, generally speaking British Armoured units were provided with the faster, lighter tanks such as the Crusader or later Sherman and Cromwell. The Tank units were fitted out with the heavier, infantry support tanks such as the Matilda and later the Churchill.

The British Army was a quirky beast [:)] - generally speaking other countries Regiments are the British Brigades, and others Battalions are British Battalions - unless we are talking tanks - in which case its a Regiment!! Got that? [;)]

The 1st Army Tank Brigade should be made up of three regiments (battalions) and I can see from the Formation Report (top left) that there are three under the 1st Army Tank Brigade - 8th, 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiment. Of these, only the 42nd has arrived at present - and I have to wait another circa 17 turns for the rest of the brigade and its HQ.

In 1941 each tank brigade should contain about 178 tanks (although I have seen different numbers quoted) including HQ units. In game (top right) we can see 50 tanks for this regiment. I have seen 58 as the authorised numbers of tanks for a regiment in 1941 - but again sources seem to vary and maybe there is a tank expert here that can fill in the gaps? The main strength of the regiment would be its three squadrons, each containing 5 troops of 3 tanks. I have now split the regiment into three squadrons (as per the bottom picture). There would be a regiment HQ too so the 17 tanks per squadron seems reasonable.

Note: In the picture below I have broken the unit down into three. The rail transport capacity is 390 and so by splitting into three the weight of 380 per company allows rail transport from the Nile Delta to Sidi Barani. There is however, also an option to split the unit into two instead - but not for the purposes of rail for this unit [X(].

[OxfordGuy3]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Vease101

Thank You for this excellent tutorial/AAR. Just shows that if one is prepared to apply some effort even a relatively complex game system can be 'brought to heel'.

As an aside, if you played Desert Rats on a Spectrum, did you ever play 'Vulcan' by the same designer? It may be the greatest computer wargame that nobody has ever heard of....

warspite1

Consider them studies in what not to do [:)]

Edit: Yes I played Vulcan, although not so much as Desert Rats which I kind of went nuts on [:)]

I played many, many hours of Desert Rats on my Spectrum, and before that Arnhem - probably my first two computer wargames. I also had Vulcan, but Desert Rats was always my favourite and is one of the reasons I still enjoy the North Africa setting.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: OxfordGuy3

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Vease101

Thank You for this excellent tutorial/AAR. Just shows that if one is prepared to apply some effort even a relatively complex game system can be 'brought to heel'.

As an aside, if you played Desert Rats on a Spectrum, did you ever play 'Vulcan' by the same designer? It may be the greatest computer wargame that nobody has ever heard of....

warspite1

Consider them studies in what not to do [:)]

Edit: Yes I played Vulcan, although not so much as Desert Rats which I kind of went nuts on [:)]

I played many, many hours of Desert Rats on my Spectrum, and before that Arnhem - probably my first two computer wargames. I also had Vulcan, but Desert Rats was always my favourite and is one of the reasons I still enjoy the North Africa setting.

warspite1

That screen brings back happy memories indeed [:)]

[warspite1]

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The pull back continues. Amazingly the three battalions of 70th Infantry Division, that were cut-off on the first day of the Axis offensive, continue to survive. They take up position on the southern track between Ben Gania and Bir Tengeder to try and protect the reorganising tanks. The 20th Australian Brigade prepare to launch an attack against the isolated 528th Artillery north of the track.

As for the bulk of the 2nd and 7th Armoured, all they can do is hunker down and hope for the best.

A battalion of Leicesters join up with a battalion of Australians at Mechili - just beating the Ariete's 9th Tank Battalion to the punch. They are joined by an anti-tank regiment from Tmimi.

A mixed infantry, anti-tank and artillery force, led by the 22nd Guards Brigade from Tmimi, heads southeast to engage a Bersaglieri Regiment that has sought to block the coast road at Gazala. To the east, in Tobruk, two anti-tank units are fed into the front line.

Reinforcements continue to make their way from the Nile Delta, but Neame needs infantry in Tobruk - and there is not a lot of that coming through....

The turn will be light on action. The RN will be called upon as will the Australian infantry. The unknown, until Neame knows the odds, will be at attack at Gazala.


The attacks go well - the road to Tobruk is opened up once more...

[warspite1]

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The turn fizzles out after a couple more bombardments of the panzer forces south of Tobruk. The need to conserve stocks takes precedence over shooting up more German lorries....

The garrison in Tobruk is bolstered by additional units from the Staffordshire Regiment and Gazala airfield is occupied.

Finally the Australians move north once more to try and block any infiltration by Italian armour along the northern track.

[warspite1]

Turn 36 - Axis Turn
12th April 1941

Strange, the Axis battle report didn't appear.....

Anyway it looks like the Axis have sprung a few nasty surprises. They have begun attacking the Tobruk garrison. Disappointingly the units at Mechili look to have been totally wasted. The Australians are all reorganising [:(] as is most of the British armour still. All four Blenheim squadrons at Tobruk have disappeared too.

This is not great....

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 36
12th April 1941

The 1st Army Tank Brigade is ready for action this turn. This force of 50 Matilda IIs is too large for the rail line and so will need to be sent by ship or road.

Unless it's enormous, you can split it into 2 or 3 pieces to move by rail. Depending on where the ports are sea might be better, but via rail over 2 or 3 turns would beat burning up all the supplies on the road.

warspite1

What a klutz. I never even considered that [&:] Thank-you, yes, if I break the unit down then I can get (just about!) one company on the train per turn. So that good piece of in game advice got me looking more closely at what the British have here.

Historical
Although this unit is a Tank Brigade*, the actual TO&E seems to suggest its just a battalion's worth at present (50 tanks). The other two battalions (8th and 44th RTR) follow later.
* Note, generally speaking British Armoured units were provided with the faster, lighter tanks such as the Crusader or later Sherman and Cromwell. The Tank units were fitted out with the heavier, infantry support tanks such as the Matilda and later the Churchill.

The British Army was a quirky beast [:)] - generally speaking other countries Regiments are the British Brigades, and others Battalions are British Battalions - unless we are talking tanks - in which case its a Regiment!! Got that? [;)]

The 1st Army Tank Brigade should be made up of three regiments (battalions) and I can see from the Formation Report (top left) that there are three under the 1st Army Tank Brigade - 8th, 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiment. Of these, only the 42nd has arrived at present - and I have to wait another circa 17 turns for the rest of the brigade and its HQ.

In 1941 each tank brigade should contain about 178 tanks (although I have seen different numbers quoted) including HQ units. In game (top right) we can see 50 tanks for this regiment. I have seen 58 as the authorised numbers of tanks for a regiment in 1941 - but again sources seem to vary and maybe there is a tank expert here that can fill in the gaps? The main strength of the regiment would be its three squadrons, each containing 5 troops of 3 tanks. I have now split the regiment into three squadrons (as per the bottom picture). There would be a regiment HQ too so the 17 tanks per squadron seems reasonable.

Were these Churchill's 'Tiger Cubs'?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: DanNeely




Unless it's enormous, you can split it into 2 or 3 pieces to move by rail. Depending on where the ports are sea might be better, but via rail over 2 or 3 turns would beat burning up all the supplies on the road.

warspite1

What a klutz. I never even considered that [&:] Thank-you, yes, if I break the unit down then I can get (just about!) one company on the train per turn. So that good piece of in game advice got me looking more closely at what the British have here.

Historical
Although this unit is a Tank Brigade*, the actual TO&E seems to suggest its just a battalion's worth at present (50 tanks). The other two battalions (8th and 44th RTR) follow later.
* Note, generally speaking British Armoured units were provided with the faster, lighter tanks such as the Crusader or later Sherman and Cromwell. The Tank units were fitted out with the heavier, infantry support tanks such as the Matilda and later the Churchill.

The British Army was a quirky beast [:)] - generally speaking other countries Regiments are the British Brigades, and others Battalions are British Battalions - unless we are talking tanks - in which case its a Regiment!! Got that? [;)]

The 1st Army Tank Brigade should be made up of three regiments (battalions) and I can see from the Formation Report (top left) that there are three under the 1st Army Tank Brigade - 8th, 42nd and 44th Royal Tank Regiment. Of these, only the 42nd has arrived at present - and I have to wait another circa 17 turns for the rest of the brigade and its HQ.

In 1941 each tank brigade should contain about 178 tanks (although I have seen different numbers quoted) including HQ units. In game (top right) we can see 50 tanks for this regiment. I have seen 58 as the authorised numbers of tanks for a regiment in 1941 - but again sources seem to vary and maybe there is a tank expert here that can fill in the gaps? The main strength of the regiment would be its three squadrons, each containing 5 troops of 3 tanks. I have now split the regiment into three squadrons (as per the bottom picture). There would be a regiment HQ too so the 17 tanks per squadron seems reasonable.

Were these Churchill's 'Tiger Cubs'?

warspite1

No. The 'Tiger Convoy' was launched in May in response to Rommel's offensive and reports that further German reinforcements were on their way to North Africa.

In view of the urgency of the situation the decision was taken to send reinforcements of tanks and Hurricanes through the Mediterranean rather than around the Cape. The operation was successful with 4 out of 5 MT vessels delivering 238 tanks and 43 Hurricanes to Alexandria on the 12th May 1941.

The tanks were to be used to re-equip the 7th Armoured Division. A check of the Expected Reinforcements form shows these replacements as well as reinforcements to the Mediterranean Fleet in the form of the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth and the cruisers HMS Ajax and HMS Naiad.

[warspite1]

Turn 37 - The State of Play
16th April 1941

Well I think the situation can be described best by Captain Edmund Blackadder on Lt-General Neame's staff:

"We are in a sticky situation. In fact the stickiest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun".


Captains Darling and Blackadder discuss the dreadful news. The situation is pretty grim, bordering on catastrophic; England have lost 2 wickets on the first morning of the crucial 4th Test in Adelaide. Time for a cup of tea.

[warspite1]

Turn 37
16th April 1941

The British forces appear somewhat hamstrung. Here are some examples of what Lt-General Neame is facing at present. Axis forces are now growing outside Tobruk, the Italians are surrounding the Australians and British south of the Jebel Akhtar, and reinforcements are not arriving in any fit state to assist.

These are the current reinforcements in the Nile Delta (including the two squadrons of the 42nd RTR that were unable to travel by rail last turn. As can be seen, all are reorganising and unable to move. The situation is repeated everywhere and of course means desperate problems for those facing the enemy....

[warspite1]

Turn 37
16th April 1937

With not a single bomber available, the depleted allied fighter squadrons prepare for the fight.

The RAAF Hurricanes at Martuba (Nos. 1 and 459 squadrons) and Tobruk (Nos. 8 and 10 squadrons) are withdrawn to Sidi Barani and placed on 'Rest'. They are replaced by the RAAF (Nos. 3 and 73 squadrons) from Buq Buq and the RAF (Nos. 6 and 73 squadrons) from Sidi Barani. Two new RAF squadrons (Nos. 112 and 274) fitted out with American built P-40's are sent to Fort Capuzzo.


Four over-worked RAAF squadrons are redeployed to the rear area under 204 Group command. Two new RAF squadrons arrive in 204 Group, replacing four squadrons sent to reinforce 202 Group in Tobruk, and are deployed at Fort Capuzzo.

[warspite1]

Turn 37
16th April 1941

So what is the plan? Well the plan remains the same as it was at the beginning - albeit its not going as intended.

Lt-General Neame still hopes to extract some of his forces from south and west of Tobruk - but its going to be difficult in light of the last few turns. If it looks like the route into Tobruk will be closed, then the units at Gazala/Tmimi will try and get into the fortress - but they will try and keep the door open for the Australians and the armour units as long as possible. Meantime, the plan is to try and hold Tobruk while building up XIII Corps in the Bardia area to protect against an advance into Egypt.

Tobruk appears to be the key to stopping that.....but for now, there is no other major moves this turn.

And its back to the Axis....

[warspite1]

Turn 37 - Axis Turn
16th April 1937

The AI turn has literally just started and I'm hating it already........[:(]

Mmmmm.... the Combat Results for the Axis failed to appear again. This is really spoiling things. I'll post in the main thread in case I have done something silly to turn this off.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 37 - The State of Play
16th April 1941

Well I think the situation can be described best by Captain Edmund Blackadder on Lt-General Neame's staff:

"We are in a sticky situation. In fact the stickiest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun".


Captains Darling and Blackadder discuss the dreadful news. The situation is pretty grim, bordering on catastrophic; England have lost 2 wickets on the first morning of the crucial 4th Test in Adelaide. Time for a cup of tea.

A sticky wicket? Or 2?

[warspite1]

Turn 37 - Axis Turn
16th April 1941

Okay so armed with reports after each attack, I can report on events as they happen - much better for following what in the name of Bonaparte's Balls is going on! (Note the nos. may be inaccurate as I will probably lose count).

1. Attack on RAF Tobruk - 21 Hurricanes lost!! [X(]
2. The Bersaglieri Regiment of the Trento Division attacks the Kings Dragoon Guards and a squadron of the 5th RTR near Ben Gania. The attack is beaten off.
4. The 149th AT Regiment are ejected from Mechili and all CW units in Tmimi are ejected too.
5. Another attack on RAF Tobruk - 15 aircraft more destroyed. Four squadrons practically wiped out.
8. Another attack - 4 Hurricanes left - can't they like, you know? Fly????
11. RAF Tobruk is completely decimated. So that explains why the two Blenheim squadrons disappeared last turn [8|] This is brutal.
15. With the RAF eliminated, the artillery units of the 21st Panzer switches attention to the infantry defenders. The Poles and the Durham Light Infantry manning the western end of the cordon are the first to come under fire, but the results are desultory and the German gunners have yet to find the range.
17. The Australian 15th Bn is assaulted by elements of the Brescia Division on the northern track, forcing the Australians into retreat.
19. The German gunners switch to Tobruk's eastern defensive zone and cause some losses to the Polish infantry and supporting anti-tank battalion.
21. After repeated, deadly accurate bombardments, brigade HQ announce that the Australian 24th Battalion has ceased to exist....
23. More pressure is applied to Tobruk's defences but again there is little to show for the attack against well dug-in infantry.

Well that wasn't too bad with the counting. There were actually 28 attacks listed. Despite the inaccuracy, this is a much better way of watching the action and actually understanding what is going on. If I had done this before I wouldn't have just lost four bloody squadrons!