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

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 108
27th September 1941

With Tobruk about to fall to the evil Axis, the turn is spent trying to work out what the hell I am going to do....

I'm still working this through but have started to move units to where I think some kind of stand may be possible.....details to follow (assuming I can work something out before I'm consumed by impregnable PzKwIII and IV's [X(]

Have you started entrenching El Alamein?

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 108
27th September 1941

With Tobruk about to fall to the evil Axis, the turn is spent trying to work out what the hell I am going to do....

I'm still working this through but have started to move units to where I think some kind of stand may be possible.....details to follow (assuming I can work something out before I'm consumed by impregnable PzKwIII and IV's [X(]

Have you started entrenching El Alamein?

warspite1

I've begun to think about it [:D]

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 108
27th September 1941

With Tobruk about to fall to the evil Axis, the turn is spent trying to work out what the hell I am going to do....

I'm still working this through but have started to move units to where I think some kind of stand may be possible.....details to follow (assuming I can work something out before I'm consumed by impregnable PzKwIII and IV's [X(]

Have you started entrenching El Alamein?

warspite1

I begun to think about it [:D]

While you're at it, the pyramids would make a good observation point for artillery.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: Zorch



Have you started entrenching El Alamein?

warspite1

I begun to think about it [:D]

While you're at it, the pyramids would make a good observation point for artillery.

Which is why I put them in the scenario!

[warspite1]

Turn 109 - Axis Turn
1st October 1941

The Axis (Italians) destroy my commando unit that stuck its head in the noose too long. That aside there was plenty of movement - well over 2,000 - but its was all obscured. I can only assume he is moving units east pending the fall of Tobruk. Speaking of which the Allies lose an AA unit in the Western Strongpoint at Tobruk and the infantry are thinned out further with the loss of the 1st Polish Battalion.

[warspite1]

Turn 109
1st October 1941

Amazingly the number of rifle squads in Tobruk is actually net up on last turn! However that is no real comfort as the number of units available is now barely enough to cover the two inner fortifications. My air units continue on rest / reorganisation as they try and recover.

[warspite1]

Turn 110 - Axis Turn
4th October 1941

The Axis continue to turn the screw at Tobruk. All action this turn is centred on the fortress and the participation of the Free French Marines, a company of 13th Australian Battalion, the British 2nd Heavy AA Regt, and the 27th New Zealand MG Battalion are all now at an end...

[warspite1]

Turn 110
4th October 1941

No change to the MO. The air forces remain inactive - hopefully the Hurricane squadrons will soon be up to full strength.

Bombardments of the Italians on the coast west of Tobruk continue but with little gained....

[warspite1]

Turn 111 - Axis Turn
8th October 1941

I can't describe how tense it is watching the playback and hearing the darkly ominous rumble of tanks and the drone of aero engines - but can't actually see who is moving where, and what will pop up when. Then, every now and then one sees a flicker on the map. Its bloody intense this game!

The situation is really confusing. I assumed most/all Axis units were in place, but there still seems to be a lot coming through the Jebel????

Have I given my opponent (or more accurately his panzers) too much respect? Should I, could I, have done more to save Tobruk?

I guess until I play the Axis at this stage of the game I simply won't know. As can be seen there are shed loads (military term) of Axis units around Tobruk - although a lot of these will disappear from view when I click for my turn....

[Zorch]

It's time for a Sandstorm random event. No move/attack for a whole turn.

[warspite1]

Turn 111
8th October 1941

The losses in rifle squads vs reinforcements is neutral this turn. The Kiwis are reorganising which ordinarily would be an issue, but frankly there is little more to do here. An Australian battalion is landed in Tobruk and both the port and the Eastern Strongpoint remain fully stocked in terms of max no. (although the units within are obviously less than full strength).

The turn is once again limited to bombardments from Tobruk.

[warspite1]

Turn 111
8th October 1941

It's amazing how quickly the Allied air forces went from comfortable - with plenty of reserves - to completely not comfortable. I will need to watch this closely going forward, maybe set up a rotation policy with my fighters so that not all are exposed to action at any one time.

This could be risky (not sure of the comparative strengths) and depending how far the Axis penetrate east, it may be not possible (as the program will fly resting units anyway) but it may be worth a go. If the Axis had not been diverted by trying to take Tobruk I would have been in a bit of a mess with my fighters....

[warspite1]

Turn 112 - Axis Turn
11th October 1941

The Southwestern Strongpoint can withstand the beating no longer and falls to the Axis. It is pleasing to see that some casualties were inflicted in them achieving this.

1. The Italians on the coast begin with an attack on the Western Strongpoint. They are rudely rebuffed and lose an engineer and motorcycle unit, in fact whole manner of equipment including 54 rifle squads, 80 machine guns, 31 mortars, 3 AT guns, 2 field guns, 8 AA guns and 153 trucks.

2. A largely German force attack to the south and three more Italian units are destroyed at even higher cost - but the last of the Allied troops are forced to retreat. Its only the Strongpoint left for the Axis to overcome.

7. The Axis finally take the Southwestern Strongpoint.

The remaining attacks are bombardments which take their toll on the defenders and the Minefield effects a and b in Tobruk. The Axis suffer some counter-battery fire.

[warspite1]

Turn 112
11th October 1941

And just as this happens the Poles and Australians decide to reorganise.... thanks lads [8|].

To be fair, there is no chance of a counter attack anyway. And so the last remaining 170 rifle squads - just 25% of the original (excluding the Australians), 49 tanks, 5 AT guns, 14 AA guns and 14 artillery pieces prepare for the end. If I'm lucky I'll get 2 more turns - depending on what he can hit Tobruk with once he reduces the Eastern Strongpoint. Might only be 1 but I'm hoping for 3 - essentially any time is good as it gives more recovery time for the air forces - and he RN come to that.

[warspite1]

Turn 112
11th October 1941

The CW try hitting back but the minefield effects are almost spent and little damage is done - and hardly anything to the seemingly invulnerable panzers....

[warspite1]

Turn 113 - Axis + Commonwealth Turns
15th October 1941

My opponent decides to take the cautious approach and instead of launching a pre-emptive attack, he bombards positions at Tobruk - although a stack of Italians are caught out by return fire it seems and suffer some heavy casualties. Another 11 rifle squads are removed from the OOB and guns of all types continue to be whittled down.

For the Commonwealth, the good news is that the RN is back to strength (although the three battleships are withdrawn in 2 months anyway so I might as well start using them).

The air situation improves with every turn. I have 4 fully up to strength Blenheim squadrons and reserves equivalent to just under 3 squadrons. I have almost 2 full-strength Wellington squadrons and almost another 2 in reserve. The concern remains around fighters as although the units are gradually coming back to full strength, there are only 7 Hurricane reserves, 2 Tomahawks and 5 Beaufighters.

[warspite1]

Turn 114 - Axis Turn
18th October 1941

Well that turn was about as brutal as it gets! The Southeastern Strongpoint falls and the majority of units in Tobruk itself are wiped out through a massed bombardment!

1, 3, 7 and 8 are bombardments of the Eastern Strongpoint. The last attack saw 17 bombers fly to no effect, losing 3 aircraft (1 destroyed), but the first three inflicted heavy losses on the defenders.

5 and 6 saw a bombardment against the Southeastern Strongpoint (5) and then an attack by a mixed German/Italian force that captures the position, evaporating the New Zealand AA Regiment, the Polish AT battery and a company of the Australian 13th Battalion.

2, 4, 9, 10 and 11 are bombardments against Tobruk itself. The first of these sees the minefield effect a destroyed, the second evaporates the second minefield. The fourth barrage spells the end for the 16th Light AA Regiment, while the fifth destroys all three New Zealand battalions in the port.

[warspite1]

Turn 114
18th October 1941

The Commonwealth and their Polish comrades in arms remains entirely confident in their ability to hold onto Tobruk......[:D] Just the net 82 rifle squad reductions that turn.... there are no AA or AT guns left either.

[warspite1]

Turn 114
18th October 1941

The air force situation continues to improve. Up to 25 squadrons now, although bombers are at a premium - just 4 Blenheim squadrons....

13 (0 operational) Hurricane sqns - 309/312 aircraft - 7 in reserve - 6 replacements per turn 
4 (0 operational) Blenheim sqns - 96/96 aircraft - 65 in reserve - 3 replacements per turn 
3 (0 operational) Tomahawk sqns - 71/72 aircraft - 4 in reserve - 2 replacements per turn 
1 (0 operational) Albacore sqn - 8/10 aircraft - 0 in reserve - 0 replacements per turn 
1 (0 operational) Beaufighter sqn - 24/24 aircraft - 6 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn 
1 (0 operational) Gladiator sqn - 23/24 aircraft - 0 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn?? This should have ended on Turn 98 
2 (0 operational) Wellington sqn - 47/48 aircraft - 45 in reserve - 2 replacements per turn 



What to do?

[warspite1]

Turn 115 - Axis Turn
22nd October 1941

Just before looking at the Axis turn I have been told I have theatre options.

13. The “Crusader” respite from the Desert Fox (DF) penalty that was scheduled for turns 123-124 has now been revised so that it can be delayed indefinitely at the option of the Commonwealth player. A TO is available on turns 113-122 for him to opt to delay. If selected, a new TO will appear on turn 123 giving the option to begin the respite. Once selected, the respite will last for two turns, as before.

This appears to refer to the "Desert Fox" rule whereby the Axis recon level rises from 0% to 35% and stays there until turn 191 (whereupon it falls to 15%. It also includes a CW shock penalty that lasts until Auchinleck takes over on turn 185 and a 4% shock bonus that lasts until the arrival of Monty on Turn 201.

I choose not to invoke this at this stage.