First Operation Torch Preview! Torch to Tunisia AAR

[Nico165b165]

Turn 12 - 26 January - 2 February


A promising week for the allied forces in North Afrika !

The tunisian frontline looks a little bit better. Surrounded units won't be there for long anymore. Only one small new breakthrough from a lonely panzer regiment. The southern breakthrough just north of the Tbessa mountains is isolated. The Kasserine pocket is firmly relieved.



Another good news : the airbase level 3 is nearly ready in Bone. This with the fully repaired port means that offensive air operations will start soon. Note the engineers attached to the city to make sure every work here is a top priority job.



A not-so-good-news though : constant axis breakthrough in our lines have made a complete mess of our rail system. Every single line to the front is cut at some point. That's bad for our supply situation in the front line. More work for our brave engineers...




A great victory in Libya : Tripoli is ours ! Throwing everything against the defenders worked from the first attempt. X corps is now advancing towards Gabes and the Mareth line. 8th army's reinforcements begins to arrive in Al Khums where the port is already repaired. Engineers are now moving to Tripoli, the closest available port to the Mareth line.

[loki100]

reads like a fun game ... I like situations where there are gaps in the front as you simply can't cover everything, gives a much more cat and mouse feel to the game play

[Nico165b165]

ORIGINAL: loki100

reads like a fun game ... I like situations where there are gaps in the front as you simply can't cover everything, gives a much more cat and mouse feel to the game play

Yes the feeling is totally different. There are no more than 3 or 4 ground battle every week, everything else is going for the gaps and plugging the holes.

There may be some stabilization in a few weeks, when the 1st army will rest before the big push and the 8th army will be facing the Mareth line. Not sure it will happen in this game though. But that's the starting situation from the Tunisian scenario if you prefer playing with a more solid line.

[Nico165b165]

Turn 13 - 2-9 February


Mixed feelings this turn.

The main tunisian frontline looks better each turn. The arrival of the 1st US armored brigade helped a lot. The german airlanding brigade around Beja finnaly surrendered. Thoses guys spent more than a month behind our lines ! Our lack of troops made it difficult to tackle the problem soon enough. And their lack of supplies was our best ally. The panzergrenadier regiment further west had the same fate, and a panzer regiment from the 21st panzer just joined the list of isolated axis units, a very good news !



But the germans didn't stay inactive. An attack in front of Bizerte nearly succeeded. Bizerte is a very important objective in the scenario, not only for its VP but also as a supply source for the Panzer Armee Afrika. Beieng able to threaten it from an adjacent hex is a good starting point for the future. Our infantry brigade did not retreat but lost a level of fortification... Not good for next week.



And further south, we lost Gafsa. This southern part of the front didn't look like anything interesting untill now but this is about to change. For the first time, you can see units from 1st and 8th army on the same screen. The attack on the Mareth line is going to happen in a few weeks. Then 8th army can link up with 1st army and make the final push against axis forces in north Africa. One possible junction point is Gafsa. But it is now in german hands and they have at least a panzer division and a infantry division in the area...




As you already saw, Libya is no more an isolated front far from the main theater. The goal here for the next few turns is simple : bring more men, bring more tanks, bring more planes, repair and construct more infrastructures, recon the enemy, let everyone have enough rest then defeat the Mareth line.

[Nico165b165]

Turn 14 - 9-16 February


Seems like it is expansion day !

So what are the latest news on the front ?

Not a lot of movement this time in Tunisia. More axis units surrendered, only the panzer regiment stays behind our lines but is solidly trapped.



We lost the second battle and retreated in front of Bizerte. Not a surprise and I don't think the axis will be able to go much further. Stil, it's lost territory that we will have to regain later.



In the south it doesn't look that good. Lot of good german forces. From their position, they can threaten the flank of the 1st army or reinforce the coming fight with the 8th army. We identified where the enemy decided to make a stand aginast the 8th army. Their line is anchored in Gabes on the coast and probably to the mountains in the west. Not a lot of ground to manoeuvre, some bloody battles in perspective.

[Nico165b165]

Turn 15 - 16-23 February


More action this turn !

First, the level 3 airbase is ready in Bone. Offensive operations have begun. The main goal is to disrupt axis supply. First targets : the ports of Bizerte and Tunis. Bizerte is down, Tunis damaged. Good but there's still a lot more to do.



While the allies attack in the air, the axis replicates on the ground. Four attacks against our main line. Two succeeded, two failed. The axis has the intiative in the north, we have to do something in the south...




... but it won't be easy. Axis used the gap they created last week in Gafsa to turn once more our right flank and threaten Tozeur. All those Chott are impassable terrain. They have a very secure territory between 1st and 8th army now. No better news after further recon of the Mareth line : only 3 hex wide, two very well defended, maybe one weak point on the left but with reserves just behind. No easy way.

[whoofe]

just curious - is this AAR going to continue?

[Nico165b165]

Yes ! Had some good job news which also mean less gaming time, but expect updates this week [:)]

[Nico165b165]

Turn 16 - 23 February - 2 March


A transition turn before the storm. In the north, there are no more axis pocket on our rear. Time to think about how to go forward again. There are some gaps in the mountains in front of Keirouan, that's a good starting point. And the bombings of the port continues.




In the south, we need to improve 8th army's supply situation to be able to attack the Gabes line. The first attack has to break through the line and surround enough axis forces. Otherwise, we'll need to wait a few turns again to refit our units for a second attempt and we won't have enough time left.



While we prepare for the attack, axis picks his fights and gain some ground in the mountains. Ouch...

[whoofe]

where are you at VP-wise on this battle?