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

[warspite1]

Turn 215 - Axis Turn
7th October 1942

The turn marches on and the Victorypointometer ™ [;)] nudges inexorably back in favour of the Axis. The Axis seem to evaporate at least one unit per turn through bombardment - and this turn was no different.

There were four bombardments and one attack - my cut-off unit south of the Quattara Depression being destroyed.

[warspite1]

Turn 215
7th October 1942

The first thing I do is to continue my rotational policy with my aircraft and place any aircraft not dark green to rest. This leaves me with an 8 vs 3 air superiority score.

My armoured forces have come in for something of a battering so I next check my overall tank position:

This is a bit difficult to read but essentially confirms that around the 1,300 mark, my tank forces are keeping up with replacements. However, that masks the fact that reserves are dwindling fast and also it has to be remembered that Sherman replacements stop in 3 turns and Crusader III's in 2 turns..... I can only hope the German/Italian situation is similar...

[warspite1]

Turn 215
7th October 1942

I organise a number of bombardments along the line and then look to attack two hexes - one in the north on the rail line and the other south of Alam Halfa. I also order three subsidiary bombardments.

[warspite1]

Turn 215
7th October 1942

Next up I continue with one attack just south of Alam Halfa (and a subsidiary bombardment to the south of that) and a main attack east of El-Alamein where the road and rail lines converge. Artillery and air support are ordered for the latter attack - just artillery for the former.

[warspite1]

Turn 215
7th October 1942

The third and final round saw attacks south of the rail line - the two tank regiments that advanced previously can't be supported and are toast - an infantry only attack against the Italian machine-gun battalion on the coast in impassable terrain, and south of Alam Halfa.

The attacks are successful - although annoyingly the infantry on the coast can't advance - but this entire turn has been massively costly. I just have to hope - despite the evidence to the contrary - that devoncop's forces are in as bad a state as mine....

Butchers bill to follow (and this is going to make very grim reading).

Pretty much as expected on the Luftwaffe/Regia Aeronautica front sadly - the enemy fighters are totally outnumbered (just look at the numbers involved per battle) and - plane for plane - are outclassed, but of course the CW take more losses and more destroyed. Natch.

But the biggest problem - and one its difficult seeing the CW recover from is the tank losses. Given the lack of replacements available that is a big blow - especially as I'm about to lose at least 2 exposed regiments.

[warspite1]

Turn 215
7th October 1942

It's not possible to see a way through here. The CW have taken so many losses and each hex is so well defended. My advance along the coast has pretty much run out of steam.

[warspite1]

Turn 216
10th October 1942

No attacks from the Axis this turn as a pull back of sorts begins. The number of reinforcements piling through the Jebel and beyond is incredible - another 4,000+ turn for the Axis....

[warspite1]

Turn 216
10th October 1942

The Long Range Desert Group get in behind enemy lines for a little fun and take out two flak units

[Orm]

Flak is nice but shouldn't they wreck havoc on airbases and supply instead?

Edit: Although it seems more than a little fun. [:)]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Orm

Flak is nice but shouldn't they wreck havoc on airbases and supply instead?

Edit: Although it seems more than a little fun. [:)]

warspite1

Its very difficult to cut supply in this game. The LRDG journey too them through a couple of airbases - that is where the Flak units were. I don't think any aircraft were lost though - I think they just fly away but unfortunately we don't see the results....

[warspite1]

Turn 216
10th October 1942

Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of the Axis pull back [:-].

This has left a rather confused picture - or at least its confused the hell out of me

I try and make the best of the situation I can as the units moved won't have had a chance to dig-in. Sadly after three rounds the CW fail yet another proficiency check [8|]

I managed to get 7 attacks in though and CW forces gained ground in each - including along the coast road. Sadly I had some plans to surround some enemy units but these have come to nought with the early ending of the turn. This means a few of my stacks are pretty big and we know how Axis artillery love that scenario

Lets look at what the 20 battles cost:

The air war goes from baffling to bizarre - to put this statement into context, in the second battle (260 Allied fighters vs 35 Axis fighters) two thirds of the Axis fighters were biplanes. In the second battle (175 vs 11) all 11 were biplanes...

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 216
10th October 1942

The air war goes from baffling to bizarre - to put this statement into context, in the second battle (260 Allied fighters vs 35 Axis fighters) two thirds of the Axis fighters were biplanes. In the second battle (175 vs 11) all 11 were biplanes...

[warspite1]

Turn 217
14th October 1942

The Axis forces make short work of the LRDG units. There are two bombardments and these have limited effect.

[warspite1]

Turn 217
14th October 1942

devoncop has done a great job of disguising his withdrawal of forces in the south...damn him [;)] - I still assumed they had not moved and everytime I sent a scout forward that seemed to be confirmed.....

I move my forces forward in the south now..... and they've largely disappeared! This is the picture at (what is hopefully) the halfway point of the turn.

The CW take the hex directly south of El Alamein as well as the eastern portion of the Ruweisat Ridge.

[warspite1]

Turn 217
14th October 1942

Round 6

I move as many units as possible toward the coast having gone through the gap created by the retreating Axis. I don't know what and where the Axis units are west of El Alamein so this is something of a gamble but.....

Three attacks (one in the mountains out of picture north of Quattara) planned plus bombardments.

The bombardments aren't great - the enemy artillery seems able to pick off my artillery in counter-battery fire, while my fire destroys a bunch of trucks, thirteen civilians and an army brothel.

[warspite1]

Turn 217
14th October 1942

I was able to get a fourth round in and was able to reduce the pocket further. I say pocket, but the units around Sidi Abd el Rahman are very light and so the pocket is not exactly secure. Even so, I have to be pleased with this (subject to the butchers bill reading which I'm about to check.....).

[warspite1]

Turn 217
14th October 1942

Some interesting things here. Not least is that not a single Axis aircraft flew.

The losses of Axis infantry was high - especially if engineers/HQ/Support and Command units are also factored in. The CW lost a lot of tanks again though and this is a real concern.

[Orm]

This looks positive for you.

But what do I know? [&:] [:)]

[warspite1]

Yes, as it appears here it does. However the caveat is "what does devoncop have west of El-Alamein and how close is it to the action?"

If he can't get at my units on the coastal road then the enemy will have to break out using units (that I hope are out of supply) in the pocket. This will still probably be doable but will cost the enemy in doing so (in theory!). If he's able to launch a rescue mission from the west then my thin layer of troops on or near the coastal road will quickly be dispatched to meet their maker.....

[Orm]

But if he tries to break through to his trapped units, then there is an opportunity for you to capture more units.