Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[warspite1]

Turn 61
9th July 1941

That brings the CW turn to an end. All practicable routes to Egypt (marked in red) are covered. Wavell's attention is now drawn to the matter of trying to relieve the garrison at Tobruk......

[warspite1]

Turn 61 - Axis Turn
9th July 1941

Right so the attack on Tobruk, despite making gains, does not seem to be working. The Italian screen for the advance on Egypt has been destroyed. What does the AI do now?

Well, so far its more of the same. Three weak attacks on Tobruk netting 5% loss vs 3% in the Axis favour, followed up with an attack on the RN that achieves nothing but the loss of 21 aircraft.

Round 2 is better - 12% losses on the strong points - but 31 aircraft loss attacking the RN - and only 3 Hurricanes lost in return.

Only two attacks this time, but better results still - 18% vs 3% and no attacks on the RN to waste aircraft.

Better still - 22% over three attacks and 12% losses to the western strong point. A bit of pressure being applied now.

As we reach halfway its two attacks and 14%.

Not so good 7% vs 4% in the Axis favour. Counter-battery fire proving effective the the Allies here.

Interesting that my barrages always take 2 rounds and the Axis only 1

12% vs 1% over 2 attacks. The attacks continue to be liberally spread out and no single concentration.

Three more attacks yield 13% for no loss.

The last round yields 10%.

[warspite1]

Turn 62 - Axis Turn
12th July 1941

The Axis get a double turn.

Standard German opening attack, three on Tobruk and one on the RN - with entirely predictable results for both the RN (no damage) and the RA/Luftwaffe (almost 40 aircraft destroyed).

Mmm I don't think the AI has been appraised of the new reality. An HQ on its own presents itself in front of an entire Australian Division - as does a tank battalion.....

Back to Tobruk and the western strong point gets a beating again. A company of the 1st Australian Machine Gun Battalion is destroyed as part of 16% losses.

Halfway is reached and another double figure haul over two attacks.

12% over two attacks

The pressure cranks up. The 1st Polish Anti-Tank Battalion is destroyed in the southern strong point. Its even worse to the west; 18% losses and the 8th Field Artillery is wiped out. Surely the German armour must attack?!?!

But no, the effort seems to have sapped the Axis strength and the three bombardments provide 1% loss to the CW but 3% to the Axis....

A final low-key bombardment brings the turn to a close. Painful for the Allies, but no follow up.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
12th July 1941

I think its time for a house rule or two.

1. I think the RN needs limiting because a) its so powerful in offence and b) its diverting Axis aircraft for no reason whatsoever. There appears little chance of causing any damage to the ships and the numbers aircraft lost is faintly ridiculous. Since the start of the game I have been ensuring that the RN ships go back to Egypt to re-supply and I will continue that. But I will also limit the number of vessels that can be off Tobruk. I will also use up smaller ships on 'escort' duty for any reinforcements to Tobruk. These ships cannot then take part in bombardment.

Admiral Cunningham informs General Wavell that due to the deadly accuracy of the Luftwaffe, he will not risk his battleships off Tobruk any longer.

2. I have tried not attacking HQ when the AI leaves them vulnerable to attack. I will continue with this policy and only break it when I need to attack because the unit is in the way.

[Szilard]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 62
12th July 1941

I think its time for a house rule or two.

1. I think the RN needs limiting because a) its so powerful in offence and b) its diverting Axis aircraft for no reason whatsoever. There appears little chance of causing any damage to the ships and the numbers aircraft lost is faintly ridiculous. Since the start of the game I have been ensuring that the RN ships go back to Egypt to re-supply and I will continue that. But I will also limit the number of vessels that can be off Tobruk. I will also use up smaller ships on 'escort' duty for any reinforcements to Tobruk. These ships cannot then take part in bombardment.

Admiral Cunningham informs General Wavell that due to the deadly accuracy of the Luftwaffe, he will not risk his battleships off Tobruk any longer.

2. I have tried not attacking HQ when the AI leaves them vulnerable to attack. I will continue with this policy and only break it when I need to attack because the unit is in the way.

I wonder about those A/C losses esp. in shipping attacks. Think you might find that the losses are just estimates, usually inflated.

But anyway, the effectiveness of naval bombardment & the invulnerability of ships don't seem very realistic.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
12th July 1941

Time for a look at the 'big picture' - which looks a lot healthier for Wavell and his command than it did about a month ago!

There is no let up for the defenders of Tobruk - two of the strong points have gone as has the minefield effect in the port itself.

However, the threat to Bardia and Egypt has been, at least temporarily, ended with the annihilation of four Italian divisions - Ariete, Bologna, Sabratha and Savona.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
12th July 1941

The previous losses at Tobruk can only be partially addressed. One of the problems is stacking, which means that in order to free up space for reinforcements Morshead has had to put unready units in the front line. The only replacement this time around is the addition of the Australian 7th Cavalry, although more replacements are earmarked and being readied at Bardia for the purpose.

The RN has withdrawn the capital ships and the Tobruk Support Force consists of just four vessels.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
12th July 1941

The number of air units available has now risen to 15 (28 squadrons) although 5 (10) of these are reorganising and a further 5 (10) have been ordered to stand down and take some R+R. This leaves just a third of the units (but just 8 squadrons) operational - 4 RAF Blenheim bomber squadrons, 2 RAF Hurricane squadrons, 1 Greek Hurricane squadron and 1 FAA Albacore Squadron.

Recap: The addition of squadrons is just a bit of immersion on my part and has no effect on the game. Each air unit generally has 24 aircraft (so I've taken that as roughly 2 squadrons per unit). A couple of units; the Free French and FAA have less than 24 aircraft so I've given each one squadron. The Greek unit has 24 aircraft so I should have used a second squadron for that one. I will have a look at this later to see if there was a second historical squadron I can add.


Fairey Albacore....

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 62
12th July 1941

The previous losses at Tobruk can only be partially addressed. One of the problems is stacking, which means that in order to free up space for reinforcements Morshead has had to put unready units in the front line. The only replacement this time around is the addition of the Australian 7th Cavalry, although more replacements are earmarked and being readied at Bardia for the purpose.

The RN has withdrawn the capital ships and the Tobruk Support Force consists of just four vessels.

HMS Dido is a very attractive ship.

[larryfulkerson]

Double post, sorry.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
12th July 1941

Okay so the CW have some tantalisingly tempting targets i.e. Italian units that have put themselves in harms way. It's too easy to simply try and destroy these one at a time so I will leave them alone while their chums come up and join them.

In the meantime the RN bombards the German armour, joined by a battery of the 64th Field Regt. Unsurprisingly perhaps, only the RN score a hit, the gorgeous Dido inflicting 10% losses on the armour stack.

A second bombardment yields 13% before a final strike costs the Germans 9%. Then its supplies conservation mode and the turn ends.

[warspite1]

Turn 63 - Axis Turn
16th July 1941

An attack on the RN is pretty even, 5 Axis aircraft are downed for the loss of 4 British Beaufighters. The three barrages south of Tobruk inflict just 5% loss and the Germans incur 2% in so doing.

The next round is worse for the Germans 7% vs 3% in total...

This time its 3% vs 9% in the German favour.

Better - 3% vs 17% this time, the southern and western strong points taking similar levels of battering.

Counter-battery fire is proving effective this turn (14% vs 3%) a so far the Germans have suffered a loss with every round.

Moving over halfway and three bombardments give a combined total of 2% each..

A better round - 8% for no loss, but Tobruk must seem as far away as ever for the Desert Fox.

5% vs 1% in the Axis favour is followed with 6% vs 0% in the final round.

[Zorch]

No 'White Flag' from HMS Dido. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fWDrZSiZs
See the part about 'mess and destruction 1:10 in.

[warspite1]

MMmm I'm struggling to decide how to play this now. The AI is doing some pretty dumb things (see below), but I don't want to just sit and wait forever - there's limited fun in that.

So I think I will just continue on with the relief of Tobruk (hopefully). I have counted at least two German panzer regiments and plenty of Afrika Korps artillery so I will need to be careful.

Let Operation Crusader begin!

[warspite1]

Turn 63
16th July 1941

First though, we turn to the Saharan interior where the Germans have a number of Oasis battalions. The 9th Indian Brigade, part of 5th Indian Division, has been tasked with seeking out and destroying these pesky German infantry companies. The Indians have four battalions of infantry, a cavalry regiment and an artillery regiment so should have the measure of the defenders.

Sadly they have run out of puff this turn though.

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 63
16th July 1941

First though, we turn to the Saharan interior where the Germans have a number of Oasis battalions. The 9th Indian Brigade, part of 5th Indian Division, has been tasked with seeking out and destroying these pesky German infantry companies. The Indians have four battalions of infantry, a cavalry regiment and an artillery regiment so should have the measure of the defenders.

Sadly they have run out of puff this turn though.

Are there VPs involved? Sounds like a diversion of forces.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 63
16th July 1941

First though, we turn to the Saharan interior where the Germans have a number of Oasis battalions. The 9th Indian Brigade, part of 5th Indian Division, has been tasked with seeking out and destroying these pesky German infantry companies. The Indians have four battalions of infantry, a cavalry regiment and an artillery regiment so should have the measure of the defenders.

Sadly they have run out of puff this turn though.

Are there VPs involved? Sounds like a diversion of forces.

warspite1

No diversion of resources as I am using units that are due to be withdrawn in the near future.

As for victory points I've no idea, but the AI likes these hexes. If Rommel ever does march into Egypt it would be useful to own these hexes and use them as bases from which the LRDG can operate perhaps.

[warspite1]

Turn 63
16th July 1941

As soon as the four divisions of XIII and XXX Corps are ready and re-supplied then I will look to launch Crusader. Who knows, hopefully the South Africans will have awoken from their hibernation by then. I want to use them as a covering force for the other four divisions who will attack the Axis, east south and west of Tobruk.

[DanNeely]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

MMmm I'm struggling to decide how to play this now. The AI is doing some pretty dumb things (see below), but I don't want to just sit and wait forever - there's limited fun in that.

So I think I will just continue on with the relief of Tobruk (hopefully). I have counted at least two German panzer regiments and plenty of Afrika Korps artillery so I will need to be careful.

Let Operation Crusader begin!

FWIW the odds are against Elmer responding better if you wait. The Italians you killed the previous few turns were probably everything assigned to guard the eastern flank, the German's will remain fixated on Tobruk until/unless a fall back trigger is reached.

[warspite1]

Turn 63
16th July 1941

So while the CW forces re-stock in preparation for the offensive,I will limit the rest of this turn to bombardments into the ring around Tobruk. None of the artillery within the perimeter are in any fit state to fire and so gunfire support will come solely from the reduced naval task force - currently just one cruiser and two destroyers. The results were amazingly consistent!

The only other action taken this turn has been to move the special forces units to Gazala and Tmimi to try and disrupt supply.