CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - no devoncop please

[warspite1]

Turn 73
28th May 1941

The attack works and the panzers and the flak unit are destroyed - thanks in part to heavy RAF support. Now. Please. Just. One. More. Round. Please.

[warspite1]

Turn 73
28th May 1941

AAARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!!!! I do regret the decision not to use the artillery...

To be fair, if that had happened two rounds earlier then it would have been disaster. As it is, I have at least a fighting chance - but that depends of course on what other surprises devoncop has in store.....

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

The Axis continue their attack. Every Commonwealth unit is now out of supply. A very bad mistake on my part as I left the route north of Sofafi open thinking it was impassable. Further west, the coast road is cut at Zawyet Shammus.... There is one road available. I'm surprised the enemy wasn't engaged but doesn't always happen I guess.

Just to add to the gloom, one of the few pieces of reconnaissance I did pick up was that a consignment of Ju-87 are on their way....

As I watched the Axis turn unfold I made a note in my diary, it simply says: Bugger.....

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

The main consideration - as always - is that I can't guarantee the number of rounds I will get. Given the situation I have little choice but to assume the worst and so try and make an initial attack as effective as possible (relatively speaking!).

I have been completely outplayed here. My screen, set up at each major junction has been insufficient and the Axis have simply walked through the gap. I find this out when I send a battalion from the 3rd Motor Brigade east.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

It now becomes something of a desperate dan situation. Every unit moves to try and get supply back, but the Axis have infiltrated with so many units. I had no idea reconnaissance was this bad.

The Rajputana's run into a German anti-tank battalion and suffer accordingly, the Royal Fusiliers are blocked by a Flak unit. The only good news is that the Polish Cavalry Regiment, coming from the east, pushes a flak unit back.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

Not only have I completely mis-judged the reconnaissance situation, but I've also failed to grasp how many units the Axis actually have at this stage of the campaign!

The Indian forces continue to pull back and with each move, so the extent of the Axis infiltration becomes apparent. Although I'm at fault here, I'm not really sure what I could do about it. The CW just don't have the spare forces to garrison every single town and airfield.

I've destroyed a couple of tank battalions but there are at least three more that I can see, and two of them are south of Zawyet Shammus....

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

The two remaining Indian battalions run into trouble and fail to get away. The Punjabi's try escaping east and find what I suspect is the 'hole' through which the Axis forces swept through. To the west the Mahratta's take one for the team, attacking an Italian tank unit but then failing to get away.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

As the air force base units try to flee so even more Axis units - even further east are discovered.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

I try to get away with everything I can but there are always those unable to make it - the 1st RTR and the 7th Armoured Division HQ were engaged, as was the 51st Field Artillery Regiment, the New Zealand 6th Brigade HQ and the 27th Light AA Regiment. When I say 'get away' of course, that is relative and all units remain out of supply and with a ton of panzers, artillery and motorised infantry blocking their way to Alex.....

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

I'm pretty convinced I will get one round only. So the exhortation goes out. To all Englishmen, Scotsmen, the Welsh, the Irish, the Aussies, the Kiwis, the Indians, to the Poles, the Czech and the Free French - show what the Empire means [:D] and if you can pick up a rifle, man a gun, lob a brick, whatever, just get shooting!!

The battles commence.

The Punjabis push the Italian cavalry off the road east of Bir Khamsa, but the Maharatta to the west can make no impression on the Italian infantry. A detachment of Bersaglieri are also dislodged by the Lancers of the 3rd Motor Brigade.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

At Zawyet Shammus, perhaps the most important battle takes place. Firstly the German unit north of the airfield is attacked and is forced to retreat. The main force is then attacked and the Germans suffer terrible losses - including a tank battalion. The third and final shot shows the remaining German anti-tank battalion refusing to budge....

Bottom right shows the Axis being evicted from the main junction to the south.

[warspite1]

Turn 74 - Axis Turn
31st May 1941

A second round is available - Round 8 actually.

An Italian reconnaissance unit is destroyed on the coast road by an improvised force scratched together, and he anti-tank unit to the north evaporates too at the hands of the RN.

The last Axis unit at Zawyet Shammus is destroyed - although the infantry to the east remains intact.

I can't take a picture sadly as the turn ends.....

[Curtis Lemay]

It still bugs me that you're playing with Possession Invisible. Any source of intel should not be wasted like that.

And it would be much easier to see what's going on if your screenshots would display combat strengths instead of movement remaining.

[Cfant]

Isn't it a houserule in this scenario to turn possession visible off? Otherwise any surprise might be very hard to achieve.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Cfant

Isn't it a houserule in this scenario to turn possession visible off? Otherwise any surprise might be very hard to achieve.

No. It is recommended to play with "No Borders" turned on, however. They are doing so.

Now, maybe they agreed to turn possession invisible. I don't know about that.

[Zorch]

Curtis, would you care to explain the rational for Warspite's 'furballs'? [&:]

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Curtis, would you care to explain the rational for Warspite's 'furballs'? [&:]

A "furball" is Norm/Ralph's slang term for an air v. air battle - I think.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

1. It still bugs me that you're playing with Possession Invisible. Any source of intel should not be wasted like that.

2. And it would be much easier to see what's going on if your screenshots would display combat strengths instead of movement remaining.

3. No. It is recommended to play with "No Borders" turned on, however. They are doing so.

warspite1

1. How does playing with Possession Visible and FOW work? Does one not cancel the effects of the other or is there something more subtle in play. BTW in a PBEM how does one know if one's opponent has cheated on this?

2. Okay I will try and remember to post pictures as you prefer

3. Can you confirm where in the Scenario Briefing or the Documentation that that recommendation can be found please?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Curtis, would you care to explain the rational for Warspite's 'furballs'? [&:]

warspite1

I asked the doctor the same thing - but he just rolled his eyes and muttered something that sounded like filly plucker....

[warspite1]

Turn 75 - Axis Turn
4th June 1941

Yet another tough turn - the Axis mop up all the units that were unable to get away, including the 1st Royal Tank Regiment.