CfNA 40-43 (GeneralJCL [DAK] v Hellen [CW])

[StuccoFresco]

How the...

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 197 (August 5, 1942)

French Engineers repair the bridges at AlQanitir al-Qahiriya,
paving the way from Qalyub, Baktim, Al Mansuriya, and ... CUC-a-MON-ga!

Codeword of the 8th Armored is broadcast: "GO!!!"
The 8th Armored and 4th Infantry are fresh and full divisions,
finally sobered those chaps up after their adventures in Cairo.

They lead the left hook, 4th Infantry provides jabs to the body,
9th Australians ready their right cross ....
POW!!!!
1st SA and the FR Foreign Legion hold the Nile.

Early reports of 10 Italian Caro Veloce tanks destroyed,
(it was only about 100 German tanks we got last time,
there are a couple dozen more, looks like they are retreating....

hundreds of British Valentines are racing through the desert at top speed,
while German and Italian infantrymen and mortarmen are dropping like flies.

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 199 (August 12, 1942)

The 51st Infantry (Highlanders) join the fray!!

I need that airfield at the Wadi Natrun.
My kitty cat like to sit in my lap while I move,
he likes to watch the little chits move around.

So I put a little sand kitty on the map for him LoL
He says, "SERPENTINE!! SERPENTINE!! Move like cat in desert!"

Germans / Italians are having a rough time out there.
I figure, with all those engines and the heat of battle....

must be a good 130F in the shade out there.
LoL WHAT shade??
Brits bring camels of waters from Cairo,
put them out there on hill tops,
just barely where Rommel can see them from afar,
and dream of all the water over there.

[Hellen_slith]

Churchill visits the troops, inspiring them on toward the Natrun airfields.

"A Bloody good stroke of a blow, give 'em Hell, Boys!"

On a more somber note...he pays respect to the fallen at their final resting place....
lights another cigar .... and says, "Give 'em Hell."

Then, it is back to London.

"HEY THERE GENERAL! You gonna stay for supper w/ us?"

"GO TO BLAZES, SOLDIER!!"

a silent newsreel, but gives good idea of environs. Sand. Sand EVERYWHERE!
AND WHAT'S THAT SMELL????
Oh ... camels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTY6sgFV-s0

[StuccoFresco]

Neat encirclement, but the northern side seems a bit too weak.

[Hellen_slith]

Fr. Foreign Legion is stocking the Nile up there with ferocious ... and hungry ... CROCODILES!!

They have trebuchets, are launching camel meat over to over there side, luring the crocodiles onto Germans.

CHOMP CHOMP a crocodile video (couldn't find an oldie from the 40s, but this one pretty good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uIqlD7lANA

[Hellen_slith]

"In jungle, strong always win."
----------------------------------Tarzan


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cwh_PBB5OU

Shermans appear!!!!!!
US is sending help!!!!!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW 203 (August 26, 1942)
zoomed out, you can see where
Monty is beginning to get that Wadi Natrun
and its airfield

[Hellen_slith]

near end of CW203, Greeks come on line.

A daring raid (cannot see here)
by SaS RAT PATROL does significant damage to German air outside Alexandria

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 206 (Sept. 5, 1942)

American B-24s rain Death From Above ....
Alexandria is re-taken!!
but can it hold....

[Hellen_slith]

CW turn 208 (Sept. 12, 1942)

The mysterious desert seems to have turned against Rommel,
the British continue to hold the recently liberated ancient city of Alexandria!
(Axis supply = -20)

American B25s obliterate a German airfield at El Hamman.

Approx. 35 turns remaining,
CW has clawed their way back from the abyss!!
Is now only a marginal defeat!
NEVER SURRENDER!!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 212 now (Sept 26, 1942)

Greeks fight along the coast and grab Burg El-Arab.
44th Inf. slips into airfield at El Hammam

8th Armored continues toward Alam Halfa Ridge,
El Alamein lies beyond the ridge....

only 30 or so moves left to go. Hard to believe we've been going at it
almost 10 months in real time .... time flows quickly in the desert!

is still a defeat by points against CW,
maybe if I can get back El Alamein might get back to draw.

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 214 (October 3, 1942)

51st Infantry breaks through to the Halfa ridge,
forward elements re-occupy El Alamein!

but still not enough points, still a CW marginal defeat!

CW is running out of troops and tanks! How much longer can they fight?

[StuccoFresco]

Seems you have encircled a lot of Axis units, destroying them will not be enough for a victory?

[Hellen_slith]

No, I don't think so. Just got a new move, noticed that I have now clawed back to a draw. Barely. To get back to marginal victory, I need to get back all along the coast line, probably all the way to Bardia needed for more than draw. But draw will be hard to hold in itself--there is a German / Italian tankers dug in like a Alabama tick north of Cairo, dug in like a crocodile laying eggs in mud nest there. Can't hardly scratch it. I am having to throw everything at them. Is Banha, very tough hex, there is like a moat all around it teeming with Arianized Crocodiles. CHOMP CHOMP.

[StuccoFresco]

Attrition hasn't eaten them alive yet?

[Hellen_slith]

No, they've got plenty of water and crocodiles; crocodile for lunch, crocodile for dinner. and CAMELS!
CW is really low on big anti-tank guns. I just can't hit them. I think I got about 5 of their tanks last turn,
but there are still 40 or so dug in under all that mud. They absolutely murder infantry trying to get in.
Banha pretty hard hex to take. is a pretty good sized city and heavy fortifications.
But they've got to run out of ammo SOMETIME!

[Hellen_slith]

CW turn 217

Across the face of the desert,
there moves a swarming mass of men!

The emboldened Allied army races toward Hell Fire Pass,
capturing tens of thousands of Axis belligerents along the way!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d5_X4wnCes

[Hellen_slith]

The advance continues.

More Nazi steel for the scrap heap:

[Hellen_slith]

CW turn 221 (Oct. 28, 1942)

Approaching Bardia.
There are about 20 moves left in this one, at current pace of advance,
I may be able to recapture Bardia and that complex of points,
if so then that might be enough for marginal victory.

The supply chit though, is stuck around Cairo ....
It must stay on improved road per house rules ....
or on railroad ...
but I do not have enough railroad point to get it rolled out of Cairo

Have to use camels for now.
I am never going to look at a camel quite the same way after this game!