Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 48
24th May 1941

So can Neame take advantage of the double turn? Well with Italian units south of Bardia seemingly unwilling to move (supply issues?) it should be more than possible to remove the final Axis unit near Sidi Azeiz.

There will be no intention to take any offensive action against those Italians (occupying Fort Maddelena and Sidi Omar) until the 7th Armoured have recovered, let alone making any relief effort toward Tobruk.

Worryingly, the Royal Navy are having Fiji + York withdrawn next turn - but the much better news is the HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Ajax and HMS Naiad are now available. In all the excitement I seem to have missed the arrival of the Tiger Convoy.

Perhaps the biggest cause for concern though is the loss, next turn, of the Durham Light Infantry. They are in Tobruk! Another battalion - the 1st Essex - will be disappearing but they are at Buq Buq so that is no problem. Another unit in Tobruk - the 1st Cheshire MG Bn. - is to exit stage left on turn 55 so Morshead really needs some replacements there.

You are missing something. The rate of '1' is for normal replacements being added to the onhand pool. You'll get 1/turn added (in addition to any damaged tanks being added to the pool after combat). How they are transferred them to your deployed units is complicated, IIRC (unit?) supply and (formation?) proficiency are involved; but over the next few turns you should see the stockpile go down rapidly assuming you've got open slots in your armored units to take them.

PS you haven't posted a map since T46 and it's not entirely clear what's going on outside of Tobruk as a result.

warspite1

Okay thanks.

I will post a shot when the AI turn ends. Essentially nothing much is happening though - and I assume this is because of supply concerns. But after the loss of the Savona Division there has been no attempt to take Bardia back.

[Zorch]

The AI doesn't know when to stop attacking, that's for sure. A human would also concentrate attacks better.
You will probably kick them back to Gazala or El Agheila ahead of the historical timeframe.

[warspite1]

Turn 49
28th May 1941

A full appraisal to come but here is the overview with Tobruk about to fall to Rommel. Conserving the Italians for the advance into Egypt makes sense now that Tobruk has fallen.... There is but one infantry battalion in Tobruk itself....


Note: Crete is now active (as the Royal Navy just found out).

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The AI doesn't know when to stop attacking, that's for sure. A human would also concentrate attacks better.
You will probably kick them back to Gazala or El Agheila ahead of the historical timeframe.

warspite1

You might want to read post 579.....[:D]

Anyway, I need some sleep so I can look at this impending disaster afresh tomorrow....

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 49 - Axis Turn
28th May 1941

The Axis get back the initiative and I detect movement on Crete! I shall look that up when the AI turn stops.

The first round opens with an attack on HMS Valiant's group. HMS Arethusa is damaged and not less than 14 Hurricane fighters are lost. In return the Axis lost just under 50 aircraft.... The Germans panzers then lead an attack against the southwest strongpoint. 41% losses are taken against only 13% inflicted on the Allies.

Heinkels flying from Crete attack the RN with poor results. No damage is inflicted but 10 of the Crete based bombers are lost along with 7 fighters. The British lose 4 Hurricanes. The Germans follow this up with another assault on the southwestern strongpoint. Another 41% losses are taken and only 15% dished out. A battalion from the 90th Light Division is destroyed.

A third attack goes in and, worryingly, this time the losses are starting to even out - 26% v 23% - although still in the Allies favour. A panzer battalion is lost.

A fourth assault is made as Rommel becomes ever more impatient for results. The Brescia Machine Gun Battalion is destroyed as losses are 17% vs 12% in the Allies favour. Although these attacks have been massively costly, the small number of defenders in this southwestern sector have also been hit hard.

A fifth attack goes in and for the first time the Axis actually achieve more losses dished out than they have to take 10% vs 13%.

Round 8 and another attack goes in and the pressure is becoming intolerable. The 65th Anti-Tank Regiment is completely overrun and the strongpoint falls! 14% losses for the Germans and 86% for the Allies. It looks at the moment like only the Polish Brigade survived in any way shape or form.

Worse follows. The approaches to the port are also taken and the defenders of the western strongpoint are cut-off, while those in the southeastern strongpoint are now isolated.

The turns ends with Tobruk about to fall!!!

While not going to be of much help now, looking back at screenshots from a few turns ago I noticed that a large portion of your garrison were mobile and set to minimize/limit losses.

The defensive multipliers for being Dug-in/Entrenched (2.5x) or Fortified (5x) are large enough that you generally want to end your turn with all of your units dug in/etc and at ignore losses; because once they're pushed back they're mobile losing the defensive bonus and reduced to minimize losses leaving them wide open to be pushed back repeatedly until out of movement points, forced to reorganize, or even wiped out. This goes double when your unit density is so high that units would be destroyed because they don't have anywhere to retreat to.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The AI doesn't know when to stop attacking, that's for sure. A human would also concentrate attacks better.
You will probably kick them back to Gazala or El Agheila ahead of the historical timeframe.

warspite1

You might want to read post 579.....[:D]

Anyway, I need some sleep so I can look at this impending disaster afresh tomorrow....

Enemy losses must be very heavy in order for you to have an over whelming victory. Even with Tobruk, how is Rommel going to advance any farther?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

The AI doesn't know when to stop attacking, that's for sure. A human would also concentrate attacks better.
You will probably kick them back to Gazala or El Agheila ahead of the historical timeframe.

warspite1

You might want to read post 579.....[:D]

Anyway, I need some sleep so I can look at this impending disaster afresh tomorrow....

Enemy losses must be very heavy in order for you to have an over whelming victory. Even with Tobruk, how is Rommel going to advance any farther?

warspite1

Don't forget that Rommel has one important secret weapon..... he is facing me as the commander of the Allied forces [:D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: DanNeely

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 49 - Axis Turn
28th May 1941

The Axis get back the initiative and I detect movement on Crete! I shall look that up when the AI turn stops.

The first round opens with an attack on HMS Valiant's group. HMS Arethusa is damaged and not less than 14 Hurricane fighters are lost. In return the Axis lost just under 50 aircraft.... The Germans panzers then lead an attack against the southwest strongpoint. 41% losses are taken against only 13% inflicted on the Allies.

Heinkels flying from Crete attack the RN with poor results. No damage is inflicted but 10 of the Crete based bombers are lost along with 7 fighters. The British lose 4 Hurricanes. The Germans follow this up with another assault on the southwestern strongpoint. Another 41% losses are taken and only 15% dished out. A battalion from the 90th Light Division is destroyed.

A third attack goes in and, worryingly, this time the losses are starting to even out - 26% v 23% - although still in the Allies favour. A panzer battalion is lost.

A fourth assault is made as Rommel becomes ever more impatient for results. The Brescia Machine Gun Battalion is destroyed as losses are 17% vs 12% in the Allies favour. Although these attacks have been massively costly, the small number of defenders in this southwestern sector have also been hit hard.

A fifth attack goes in and for the first time the Axis actually achieve more losses dished out than they have to take 10% vs 13%.

Round 8 and another attack goes in and the pressure is becoming intolerable. The 65th Anti-Tank Regiment is completely overrun and the strongpoint falls! 14% losses for the Germans and 86% for the Allies. It looks at the moment like only the Polish Brigade survived in any way shape or form.

Worse follows. The approaches to the port are also taken and the defenders of the western strongpoint are cut-off, while those in the southeastern strongpoint are now isolated.

The turns ends with Tobruk about to fall!!!

While not going to be of much help now, looking back at screenshots from a few turns ago I noticed that a large portion of your garrison were mobile and set to minimize/limit losses.

The defensive multipliers for being Dug-in/Entrenched (2.5x) or Fortified (5x) are large enough that you generally want to end your turn with all of your units dug in/etc and at ignore losses; because once they're pushed back they're mobile losing the defensive bonus and reduced to minimize losses leaving them wide open to be pushed back repeatedly until out of movement points, forced to reorganize, or even wiped out. This goes double when your unit density is so high that units would be destroyed because they don't have anywhere to retreat to.

warspite1

Two things on that. Firstly the loss status. Yes I don't think I looked at that at all - which was pretty dumb.

As for the Dig-in order, that I did remember but found that for no apparent reason the status on some units changed from time to time and I kept having to amend to 'Dig-in - entire group'.

[warspite1]

Turn 49
28th May 1941

Strangely, in Recent News for 28th May 1941 I am told that Bismarck sinks Hood (which happened on the 24th), but not that Rodney + KGV sinks Bismarck (which happened on the 27th). I'll look to see if the latter is mentioned....

But more pertinent to the game, the Victory Status has now reduced to a Significant Victory once again.

General Wavell sacks Lt-General Neame VC - well let's face it there is not much of Cyrenaica under British control left for Neame to actually command is there?

Wavell assumes direct control of all forces in the Western Desert and tells Winston Churchill that he will hold Tobruk!


Nice reinforcement - but where are my ******* tanks?!?!? [:)]

[warspite1]

Turn 49
28th May 1941

Operation Brevity is speedily prepared and is about to be put into operation.

Firstly, every squadron, every plane, every pilot is put on alert, regardless of status - air superiority for fighters and combat support for bombers. (Interestingly many have the orange symbol to suggest they are reorganising but this is not reflected in the Air Unit Report - although I cannot amend their status?).

Secondly, if she floats and has a gun, then she sails for Tobruk. 3/5ths of the old 5th Battle Squadron are now off the port of Tobruk . "Leave nothing in the magazines men - every shell we possess will be fired into the Axis lines today."

[warspite1]

Turn 49
28th May 1941

The surviving German unit that has penetrated the defences of Tobruk appears to be some kind of HQ from the 15th Panzer Division, but I am not exactly sure what it contains - motorised infantry perhaps, although it has a mechanised symbol?

There are two panzer battalions to the southwest of the southeastern strongpoint - one battalion from each of the 5th and 8th Regiments. The second battalion from the 5th Regt. is to the east and has with it a number of motorised infantry units.


Allied units in the two strongpoints - all out of supply - will attempt to dislodge the Germans from the approaches to Tobruk. The trouble is, even if they do, two of the strongpoints have gone for good....

[warspite1]

Turn 49 - Round 1
28th May 1941

The RN open the ball with bombardments against the German armoured formations east and west of the southeastern strongpoint.

The initial bombardment, led by Queen Elizabeth and Barham's 15-inch shells rip into the exposed armoured vehicles and infantry. Under the wall of steel raining down on them the 2nd Battalion of the 8th Panzer Regiment simply ceases to exist. 39 tanks are lost. The Valiant group then account for another 23%, although the German armour appears to have been unscathed this time.

Round 3

Valiant's group continues to focus on the armour to the east, but Queen Elizabeth's group now focus on the German formation threatening Tobruk. Another 20% losses are dished out to the former, while the smaller target is untroubled by the RN's wayward shells.

Round 5

Queen Elizabeth's target remains the same while Valiant's moves to the armour to the south west. Disappointingly, both attacks fail to achieve anything.

Round 7

With the turn running away, the time has come to try and dislodge the Germans from the approaches to Tobruk. At large cost (29% vs 25%) in the Axis favour, the attack succeeds in pushing the Germans out and they retreat to the southwest. The 3rd Polish Bn then try and inflict further damage by pursuing the Germans, but only succeed in advancing into the teeth of the enemy and cannot move any further. There is no infantry manning the western strongpoint and so the Coldstream Guards are moved there, but nothing can mask the lack of infantry available....

Round 8

The ability to attack has gone and so the RN resume their bombardments against the units threatening the southeastern strongpoint once more. The first barrage is again ineffective (2%) but the second inflicts another 28% losses and the machine gun battalion of the Pavia Division evaporates. The turn then ends before Morshead can give the order for the troops to dig-in once more....


The Poles are caught in no man's land. The British just have to hope and pray that the Germans have nothing left in the tank....

[warspite1]

Turn 50
31st May 1941

The Commonwealth get the initiative back! And all is right with the world - the Bismarck being sunk is reported in the News Summary [:)]


Meanwhile, chez Tobruk, the Allies are back in supply - but the RN went through a ton of shells....

[warspite1]

Turn 50
31st May 1941

The ever reliable Australian 9th Division are asked to plug more holes. Two infantry battalions are shipped from Alexandria and they are joined by a third from Bardia - along with an anti-tank regiment. The expected assault from the air via Crete or indeed anywhere is not forthcoming and the units land in Tobruk safely.

The exposed Polish battalion is able to withdraw, although is shot-up in the process. All units are set to Dig-in and Ignore Losses.

[warspite1]

Turn 50
31st May 1941

The air force remains at 20 squadrons, although the Beaufighters appears to have disappeared and replaced by Wellington bombers. The Beaufighters were not withdrawn and there is nothing in the Inventory and Replacements to suggest they were shot down.... strange.

[warspite1]

Turn 50 - Round 1
31st May 1941

The realisation that Tobruk could fall anytime means that Wavell really needs to get a grip on the rest of his forces, where they are, what they are doing and what they need to do.

Firstly the good news. There does not appear to be any major withdrawals for a while at least. Furthermore there are reinforcements coming along that should help the situation in Egypt even if Tobruk is lost sooner or later. On the downside, the re-supply of the armoured units appears to be taking forever.

That being the case there is not that much to do. All squadrons are on Combat Support or Air Superiority missions except the newly arrived Wellingtons which are on rest.

The massive expenditure of shells over the last few days means that there is little ordnance available for the RN. However, now is not the time to be mucking about. Once again the targets for the two RN squadrons are those formations to the east and west of the southeastern Strongpoint. The results are excellent; at least two battalions are destroyed during the barrage that costs the Axis 48% losses. Surely there can be no resumption of the attack on Tobruk? The second attack nets only 2% losses.

Round 3

The effectiveness is dwindling rapidly and no losses are recorded against either target. Time to stop wasting further ammunition. Most ships with critical supply are sent back to Egypt. Those that remain won't be taking part in any naval gunfire support for the foreseeable.


Instead, and with a sense of general foreboding, General Wavell brings the turn to a close. Its time to see what the Axis has left.....

[warspite1]

Turn 50 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

The Axis attention switches to the southeastern and western strongpoints. Losses of 1% against the former is soaked up, and once again, in the west, although 3% losses are inflicted, the Germans lose 2% themselves. The attack is then switched to the Royal Navy. The attack fails to hurt the enemy ships but 39 Axis aircraft are lost for only 16 Commonwealth fighters.

And sure enough the attack - when it did come - was directed against the south. Losses were pretty evenly split which Morshead knows from last time, is a worrying development.... In Tobruk's HQ you can cut the tension with a house brick.

The Axis continue to mix it up. Tobruk is the next target and 9% losses are meted out to the defenders for only 1% in return, 2% losses are registered to the south and 4% to the west - although the latter costs the Axis 2% themselves.

A third barrage against the south is unsuccessful, but another 6% loses are recorded in the west. Maybe this will be the object for the next infantry/tank assault?

Mmmm another 8% loss is inflicted for each strongpoint - and for only 1% in return. We still haven't reach halfway in the turn....

The halfway point is reached and although there is nothing to report against the south, the defences of the west are again being steadily eroded (7%) for a 2% return.

3% in the south jumps to 13% in the west. Surely an attack must come here imminently - although as far as Morshead can make out, Rommel's main formations are in the east....

A bombardment of the west proves to be more painful for the Axis this time (4% vs 2%) and then a second assault is mounted in the south. Again losses are similar (15% vs 13%) in the Allies favour, but the Germans are clearly building up for the big one.

The round begins with a bombardment in the centre, but this results in 5% losses for the Axis only, and there is little joy in the west where 1% losses are recorded for each. The big one in the south proves to be a false dawn for Rommel. 9% losses are inflicted but these cost 20% to the Axis forces and they break off the attack.

This signals the end of the turn. Wavell breathes a sigh of relief, Morshead quickly changes his pants, and everyone settles back down to life in the hell-hole that is Fortress Tobruk.

[warspite1]

Turn 51 - Round 1
4th June 1941

The Australian reinforcements sent to Tobruk the previous turn move up to the frontline i.e. the Western and Southern (previously Southeastern) strong points. This leaves space in Tobruk for further reinforcements in the form of the Australian 18th Brigade; 18th Brigade HQ, 10th Battalion and 1 company of the 12th Battalion.

The New Zealanders, returning from Crete, start arriving in the Nile Delta and as many as possible are railed to Mersa Matruh.

The Royal Navy and one of two functioning artillery regiments attack the Germans to the west of the southern strong point, while the other bombards to the east. Unsurprisingly the latter barrage is a failure, but the other inflicts 16% losses on the Axis motorised and panzer forces.

That ends the turn. Once again, let's see if the Germans can take advantage of that light barrage and make an attack count.

[warspite1]

Turn 51 - Axis Turn
4th June 1941

The Germans order the first barrage of this turn against the unfortified centre but fails to trouble the scorers. In the south 3% losses are inflicted and another 2% in the west. Another unsuccessful attempt to damage the Royal Navy then occurs - the Allies lose 17 fighters but the cost to the Axis is 22 bombers, 13 fighters and 3 fighter-bombers.

4% losses in total following three barrages. The Germans suffer no loss.

Two barrages this time, and whilst no loss is recorded in the south, another 7% loss is taken in the west. This appears to be the weakspot but the Axis assault troops and panzers are all to the east....as Depeche Mode once sang "Thank the Lord, for small mercies".

Interesting - men in the forward trenches and aerial reconnaissance detect there is a movement of some troops to to the centre - maybe on their way to the west but out of movement? or maybe an assault in the centre to follow? Another 6% loss to the Western defenders - and no less than 10% in the south....

Halfway and another 5% loss in the west and 3% in the centre.

To attacks this time 4% vs 2% in the Axis favour in the west, but in the south its another 9%. There has to be an attack in the offing in a round or so.

A slightly better round 8% loss - 6% of which is in the west.

Mmmm three barrages. It starts well with no loss in the centre but then another 6% loss in the south is followed by 10% in the west. This is all getting a bit too tense.

Thankfully the turn then starts to fizzle out with only very limited damage caused during the final three barrages. The turn ends without a major assault taking place thank-goodness.

[devoncop]

Warspite.

You are a dangerous man (living up to HMS Warspite herself). I had decided OAW IV would not be for me having read the convoluted stuff re timestamps etc and as I am deeply involved with FOG2 ......Now this superb AAR has me reaching for my battered post Christmas wallet.......great job. It is no fun watching an expert play flawlessly....much more fun watching someone learn through the odd "minor error" [;)]

How intuitive do you find the air war side?