Turn 60
5th July 1941
And the Axis get a double move!
They kick things off against Tobruk as usual and its more worrying news for the Allies. The second minefield effect evaporates as 16% loss is dished out to the port by the artillery from the 90th Light Division. The Axis then waste their time sending about 150 aircraft to attack the Royal Navy. They destroy 6 Hurricanes and lose 20 aircraft of their own. The Italians are making a real fist of things in the last pocket. They attack the 18th KEO Cavalry, forcing it to retreat. But in attacking the Bologna's 39th Infantry Regiment is destroyed.
The Germans claim a major victory against the RN off Tobruk; they attack and only lose 5% losses.... The two follow up attacks net 11% losses on the Allies. The Italian Bologna Division will go down in the annals of military history - the launch an attack that forces the Rajputana Rifles and the Maori battalions to withdraw.
The Bologna Division go back to bombardment and inflict 6% losses on the Sikh and Punjab infantry. The barrage against the western strong point inflicts 6% losses, but the Axis take 7% in return.
The Bologna Division follow up the bombardment with an attack that almost succeeds. The Punjab battalion is forced into retreat - but the Rajputanas hold firm. The attack is costly for the Italians - 24% vs 15%. The Tobruk bombardments remain ineffective.
More artillery fire is rained down on the Rajputanas (17%) in order to try and make them break but still they hold. Tobruk's southern strong point loses 8%.
Another 15% losses for the Indian infantrymen - but still they cling on and refuse to yield. Two attacks on Tobruk just creep into double figures.
The continuous bombardments are starting to yield results The Australian 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment evaporates under the sheer weight of shell (13%).
The Bologna infantry continue to throw themselves at the Indians - this time the Sikhs, but the Sikh battalion has not intention of quitting the battlefield and gives better than it gets. A battalion of the 40th regiment ceases to exist as the attack is repulse with 19% losses for the Indians but 55% for the Italians.
Things are now getting serious at Tobruk. The 107th Royal Horse Artillery Regiment is no more. 21% losses are suffered in the barrage and the defenders of the perimeter are gradually being thinned out....
The Axis cannot follow up their success at Tobruk, but the Italians can. The Sikh battalion is destroyed under heavy bombardment.
The Axis dish out 10% losses to the Punjab battalion, but the Tobruk attacks are damp squibs - and so the turn ends.
