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

[Richard III]

"More Nazi steel for the scrap heap"

Good one[;)] Don`t send it to Japan like the US did pre 1940.

Enjoying the AAR

[Hellen_slith]

hee oh no, british puts scraps on ships to US
in payment for the Shermans and planes,
or the little pieces the desert peoples collect
and they make armor protection or decoration for the camels! Heh, j/k
we are making quick work of the scene now, I think
both of us are eager to see the final outcome ....

CW Turn 222 (Oct.31, 1942)

British continue their advance ....

are now rolling through Halfaya Pass,
Bardia is occupied now by advance units,
Axis still holding Fort Capuzzo,

even occupying Bardia and some nearby points
are still only a draw point system,
I will have to retake Tobruk --
about 20 turns left still, so that is possible
depending on his S&Ts / reinforces that he can get on station.

This one has gone back and forth, back and forth, back and forth ....
Pretty cool scene! One of my favorites! I actually used to have the original
boxed game, back in early 1980s but (alas) it was lost long ago so I am glad computer and TOAW came along!

[StuccoFresco]

Long columns on the coastal road.

[Hellen_slith]

CW turn 224 Nov. 7, 1942

In the home stretch now, coming down to the wire,
neck and neck, approximately 19 turns remaining.

Still a draw; I need only a few points
to stretch across for the marginal victory!

If I can attain the marginal, I will stop there and just try to hold.

Elsewhere, Tarzan say, "CHEETAH! Use Nazi radio, send confuse chatter to Rommel!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiQ-RKVp4Lo

LoL also, the USO there was just an artifact from drawing on the picture.
I hope the advise "Axis convoy level = A(12) / Malta interdiction = 3"
will not give me trouble .... not sure the effects of those yet.

[Hellen_slith]

CW228 (Nov. 21, 1942)

Winding down, only 15 or so moves left.
Brits are almost at the Libyan border.

I think this one will probably end a draw.
It was a real nail-biter there for a while!
Might still be.

And now ... for a commercial break:

What do the troops out in the desert enjoy,
when they get a break in the fighting?

Why, CAMELS, of course!

[Hellen_slith]

CW turn 231: Dec. 2, 1942

Still a draw, but I think if I can get
Bardia and a few other points along Libya border,
I might be able to squeak out a marginal victory.

Inset: from the Nov. 1942 issue of "Chess Review" magazine,
noted a "European" Chess Tournament planned in Munich....
of course, no Allied GMs were invited.
Alekhine (a Soviet ex-pat) won, I think.
The tournament was lampooned in a series of cartoons,
this one of an American bomber "making ITS move!" LoL.

It has been alleged that Alekhine (once World Champion)
was murdered by the Soviets in retaliation for his collaborations
with the Nazis. The cause of his death remains in dispute.

[StuccoFresco]

Never heard of this, interesting trivia.

[Hellen_slith]

Yeah, it was pretty interesting to find, leafing old Chess Review and it was quite the hub-bub in chess world that Alekhine "went over". There was talk then to "ban" his games, strip him of world title, make him pariah, etc. In the end, after several heated letters to editor, the editors of Chess Review stated, in effect: NO POLITICS--this discussion is closed. Funny how so much later Fischer also kind of "went off the rails" with same kind of reaction. Those chess players are funny lot! LoL okay now I go back to reading Informant. I enjoy finding those tidbits in magazine etc. of WWII era.

[Hellen_slith]

CW236 (Dec. 19, 1942)

at the movies: Irving Berlin's "Holiday Inn" with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire

At the Libya / Egypt border, the battle of Halfaya Pass,
nearing the end (about 7 moves left)
is possible perhaps to get marginal victory if I can get Bardia and nearby points (Fort Cappuzo etc.)

[Hellen_slith]

Meanwhile, across the border in Libya,

[StuccoFresco]

A lot of Axis troops encircled near Sidi Umar, I see. Infantry?

[Hellen_slith]

Looks like Italian infantry and heavy weapons, I think

[Hellen_slith]

THE CHARGE OF THE NICKLES BRIGADE---ON TO TOBRUK!!

Better late than never, right?

[Hellen_slith]

Armored Engineers have seized the outer defenses of Tobruk ....

Can they hold long enough for XIII Corps??

[Hellen_slith]

Per the instructions given him personally by Churchill, Sgt. Nickles completes his mission,
and hands Sir Winston the photographic evidence of the complete destruction of Tobruk.

"Well done, Sergeant! Here, have a cigar. No, have a BOX of cigars!"

Nonplussed, all the Sergeant can think of is to blurt out: " GO TO BLAZES, GENERAL! "

And so ends the story of our intrepid hero, Sgt Nickles of the Armored Engineers!

Next week: a final wrap up and ending thoughts. Have a great day! <PFSHEW!!!!!!>

[StuccoFresco]

Just in time indeed!

[Hellen_slith]

It is finished. Final report will follow when time permits.
I have asked Gen. JCL to provide comment; not sure if he
logs in here, I hope that he will chime in.

We clocked in at almost exactly one year of beginning the game.
It was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoyed this AAR as much as I
enjoyed posting it. Have a great gaming day!

Over and out.