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

[warspite1]

Turn 61 - Axis Turn
16th April 1941

The Axis turn their attention to Tobruk once again. Ouch! I will need to review the damage. No attack is made against the Halfaya Pass, but Italian units are spotted heading south down the track toward Sofafi.

Reconnaissance remains at 0% so I've no idea where either a) the artillery attacking Tobruk is, or b) where the German forces previously around Bardia have gone.

[warspite1]

Turn 61
16th April 1941

The air forces now number 10 squadrons.

4 (4 Operational) x Hurricane sqns - 88/96 aircraft with 30 reserves (6 per turn).
3 (2 Operational) x Blenheim sqns - 66/72 aircraft with 29 reserves (3 per turn).
1 (1 Operational) x Tomahawk sqn - 20/24 aircraft with 2 reserves (2 per turn).
1 (1 Operational) x Gladiator sqn - 18/24 aircraft no reserves (0 per turn).
1 (0 Operational) x Morane-Saulnier - 1/2 aircraft no reserves and no more replacements

Overall not too bad a situation I think as there is still a reasonable reserve of aircraft.

The Royal Navy are back to organised. The dilemma now is where are they to operate? Off Halfaya Pass or Tobruk or split?

Finally I take a look at the units defending the southwestern strong point that received such a pounding.

Southwestern strong point - Rifle Squad losses last turn
6 x infantry battalions
9th Aus - 7
10th Aus - 9
12th Aus - 5
23rd Aus - 10
24th Aus - 8
48th Aus - 10

1 x machine gun battalion
1st Cheshire - 1 and 11 machine guns

1 x anti-tank regiment
3rd Aus - 0 further losses of 2-Pounder AT guns

[warspite1]

Turn 61 (cont)
16th April 1941

This was a turn of bombardments only - still lots of units reorganising.

I'm pleased to see its not just the Allies that get furballs - an Italian fighter and German bomber squadron evaporate - and 92 aircraft 'lost' apparently (have to treat that figure with caution). Lots of German ground striking though sadly....

[warspite1]

Turn 62 - Axis Turn
19th April 1941

Well that is something of a blow. The Axis forces have descended in force on Sofafi, destroying a battalion of infantry and surrounding my main defending force there. An attack is also made on Tobruk which results in the loss of a third of all rifle squads!

That was a distinctly bad turn. Its interesting that Curtis Lemay said, against a human player, Tobruk can't be held. That being the case I wonder if I've put too much into its defence rather than saving those precious infantry units for the Egyptian border where I have nothing.....

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Huge losses in the air that turn, leaving me with the following:

3 (1 Operational) x Hurricane sqns - 60/72 aircraft with 31 reserves (6 per turn).

That is a reduction of 28 aircraft and one Australian squadron has disappeared. Not sure why as it was only involved in one combat and total losses for that squadron could not have taken out the squadron. This aspect of the air war remains something of a mystery. 1 operational squadron this turn.

3 (0 Operational) x Blenheim sqns - 69/72 aircraft with 27 reserves (3 per turn).

This is very disappointing. All three squadrons - almost all at full strength - are reorganising just as the Axis breakthrough, but I can't see that the Blenheims took any part in the last Axis turn.

1 (1 Operational) x Tomahawk sqn - 22/24 aircraft with 2 reserves (2 per turn).

I can't see that this squadron got involved last turn. It has increased its strength by the 2 reserves and is operational

1 (1 Operational) x Gladiator sqn - 18/24 aircraft no reserves (0 per turn).

This is my only bomber unit available.....

1 (1 Operational) x Morane-Saulnier - 1/2 aircraft no reserves and no more replacements


What to do this turn?

I could fight it out with 7th Armoured but get them trapped as the Axis take the coast road.

Or

I could try and retreat with 7th Armoured - except that some will be unable to and also get 2 fighter squadrons overrun...

Meanwhile I can try and keep Tobruk for as long as possible - but lose all the units within (I don't know which units are not re-constructed as I can't see that the rules actually say - it refers to 'seven other brigades' so may include the Polish???).

OR

Try a phased withdrawal and ship the survivors out. Given the limit to sea lift capability its probably too late for this option.

Not a pretty picture....

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Not sure that I have any option really. Without any reconnaissance capability the strength of the Axis units around Sofafi could be anything. At Sofafi I can see elements of:

15th Panzer Division
21st Panzer Division
Brescia Division
Pavia Division
Trento Division
Sirte Division
2nd CCNN Division

At Bardia there is the:

Catanzaro
Bologna
4th Libyan

Now I know all units of these divisions can't be at Sofafi because I can identify some of these at Tobruk. Trouble is I don't know how many are where and there is at least the Sabratha and Savona Divisions unaccounted for.....

I have to try and save as many of the trapped units at Sofafi as possible and that will mean trying to withdraw 7th Armoured and sacrificing so many units I successfully saved from the last surrounding!

[Zorch]

Victory status? Defeat status, more likely. [8D]

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

Victory status? Defeat status, more likely. [8D]

warspite1

Winston Churchill [to the House of Commons 19th April 1941]

I must confess I put that 24-carat twat warspite1 in charge. I must take full responsibility for what is about to unfold. Let's face it gentlemen, we is ******

[warspite1]

Sorry about that.... just had an FA Cup induced absence from WWII, although frankly being taken to the cleaners by the Axis is preferable to watching Tottenham Hotspur [:(]

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

I had dreams of catching the Axis forces in a pincer - but the chances of the southern pincer actually working - and also giving the northern arm any chance of success at all (by being sufficiently powerful) I figured is close to zero.

So I've opted to try and put all my eggs in one basket and
- hope there is sufficient firepower to at least halt the offensive
- give the surrounded troops a fighting chance of withdrawal
- hope that I don't suffer a force proficiency test - though accept that this is likely...

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

The turn gets underway with bombardments of Italians forces west of Tobruk.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Round 3

I repeat the bombardments west of Tobruk and bring in the available artillery northeast of Sofafi to attack the German positions there. The bombardments are reasonably successful.

Round 5

There is no real attack available to the units at Sofafi - if they are to be rescued they will need to rely on the troops at Bir Emba. Artillery will be used to attack the units from the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions guarding the flank of the main column and the Italian Bersaglieri unit west of Oxford Circus. Meanwhile elements of 7th Armoured and anything else I can scratch together will target the main main column and the Italian unit bringing up their rear.

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Round 5 (cont)

The first attack, against the Italian Bersaglieri of the Trento Division to the south of the main column, is a success and the enemy forces are pushed into retreat to the northwest.

The main attack then goes in led by the 2nd Armoured Brigade and with the 2nd Armoured in support. The enemy units retreat - with the exception of the II Battalion of the 5th Panzer Regiment. However further attacks go in, this time with British units from the west joining in and the German tanks too head southwest in retreat. The Germans lose almost half their precious MkIII tanks....

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Round 7

The attacks northwest of Sofafi continue. The 7th Hussars and the 1st South Staffordshire push on on the right flank of the British line and force a German regiment into retreat.

The main concentration of German/Italian armour is too strong to receive a direct attack and so the artillery are ordered to open up. Two companies of the Trento Bersaglieri are destroyed in the maelstrom.

The position at the start of round 9

[warspite1]

Turn 62
19th April 1941

Round 9

The last round will see the armour targeted, while the artillery pound the units to the southwest.

The Germans and Italians are once again forced into retreat, but not before the II and III Battalions, the 5th Panzer Regiment are destroyed - along with units from the Trento and Sabratha divisions.

[warspite1]

Turn 63
23rd April 1941

The Axis response is to attack the units surrounded at Sofafi but this fails to dislodge the British troops.

Efforts are then made to exploit the capture of the Halfaya Pass and the 13th Light AA Regiment is forced to retreat in the face of Italian tanks.

In the absence of any reconnaissance capability I had previously placed a Special Forces unit at El Hamra, to the southwest of Sofafi. This unit is quickly surrounded and destroyed.

There is then the usual, highly concentrated attacks on the southwestern strong point before the enemy air forces turn their attention to the Royal Navy. The navy are unharmed but 18 Hurricanes out of 25 are lost (11 disabled and 7 destroyed).

[warspite1]

Turn 63
23rd April 1941

A quick check on the aircraft situation shows:

2 (2 Operational) x Hurricane sqns - 44/48 aircraft with 19 reserves (6 per turn).

That is big reversal of fortune - just 2 squadrons remaining and the reserves have been slashed to just 19 aircraft. I can't afford this level of losses but at present have to keep both squadrons in the air (air superiority) despite one squadron on 'light green'.

3 (3 Operational) x Blenheim sqns - 70/72 aircraft with 29 reserves (3 per turn).

All 3 Blenheim squadrons are back in play. Almost at full strength and with a reasonable reserve (all assigned to combat support).

1 (1 Operational) x Tomahawk sqn - 24/24 aircraft with 2 reserves (2 per turn).

As before, I can't see that this squadron got involved last turn. It has increased its strength by the 2 reserves and so is now at full strength. This squadron is assigned to help the Hurricanes and is given air superiority duty.

1 (1 Operational) x Gladiator sqn - 18/24 aircraft no reserves (0 per turn).

No change to this squadron. With Me-109's about I keep this in combat support mode

1 (1 Operational) x Morane-Saulnier - 1/2 aircraft no reserves and no more replacements

He's still there!

[warspite1]

Turn 63
23rd April 1941

I can't be too critical given the performance last turn, but once again, at a really crucial juncture, the 7th Armoured go walk about (reorganising). This means that for this round I am going to need to rely on artillery.

I make a mistake. The best thing to do I think is keep Sofafi dug-in. But I get all excited and the 3rd Coldstream Guards attacks a lone Italian company - forcing the Italian to retreat but meaning the guardsmen advance....

There are a number of Italians at Bir Khamsa to the south and I send the Indians to investigate.

[warspite1]

Turn 63
23rd September 1941

I need to check the situation in Tobruk. The 10th Battalion, 18th Australian Infantry Brigade has disappeared.

I'm not too sure what has happened here. I re-check the withdrawals report and there is no mention. Knowing there is a problem with the two Aussie Divisions I check the documentation but can't see anything. I check the bombardments for the last turn and it looks like the 10th was never engaged.

I'm not too sure of the position but can't see this is the start of further 18th Brigade withdrawals so instead engage in a bit of re-jigging. I move a battalion of Poles to the southwestern strong point and an Australian battalion to aid the Poles (no direct route).

[warspite1]

Turn 63
23rd September 1941

Round 1

It looks like the Axis air forces have been reinforced. I am struck by wave after wave of air strikes....

The first round sees bombardments at Tobruk in addition to those shown in the picture above.

Round 3

The bombardments continue. At Bir Khamsa the Indians have mixed success but what is clear is that the Axis forces are there in strength.... There is no way that the Indians are strong enough to fight through, indeed they need to be careful they don't over-extend themselves.

Round 5

Heeding my own advice I pull back with the Indians - but the 18th KEO Cavalry are attacked in doing so. Bombardments continue as before but this time the most northerly German panzer forces are attacked by the 2nd Armoured and whatever else can be called upon. The Germans retreat and a unit from the 15th Panzer Division is evaporated.

Round 7

At last the bombardments around Tobruk net one evaporated Italian infantry. Meanwhile the Italians southwest of Oxford Circus are forced back in the face of pressure from the 4th Indian Division, supported by tanks of the 42nd RTR. It looks like another panzer unit has been destroyed to the north - although I thought I had already accounted for the 5th Panzer Regiment?


Position at the start of Round 9. The Indians in the south have been pulled back. I stupidly left it too late to try and rescue the Coldstream Guards...