How the Axis could have won II. Allied AAR

[warspite1]

15th July 1941

United Kingdom

I have paid insufficient attention to the aircraft modes. I keep having my aircraft carriers use their precious aircraft to escort and intercept RAF bombers....

I send in the Blenheim bombers of 202 and 204 Group as a prelude to an attack against Rommel's infantry on the coast. 14, 45 and 55 Squadrons are sent into the attack in two waves escorted by the Hurricanes of 3, 73 and 274 Squadrons. The squadrons are badly shot up but cause the enemy considerable casualties.

The enemy is given no let up, once the light bombers are finished, the 1st and 104th Regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery direct their 25-pounders toward the German infantry, while J Battery of the RHA turn their 2-pounder anti-tank guns on the lead elements of the German reconnaissance units.

But the German infantry is made of stern stuff. The plan was for the infantry of II Corps to destroy the remaining Germans, thus allowing 7th Armoured to exploit behind the German front. However, II Corps were repulsed with heavy losses and the Desert Rats were needed, not to exploit, but to destroy the remaining infantry. The Germans repulsed this attack too. Finally the Canadian I Corps was brought in - but once again the German infantry held and inflicted losses on the attackers.

I could do with getting the Maritime Bombers to Greece but I do not have the MPP to spare at present...[Edit - hang on - they can reach Crete [:)]]


The position at the end of the 2-day battle and after reinforcement of rear area troops has been carried out.

[warspite1]

15th July 1941

Soviet Union

Not much to show as nothing much has changed from the pictures above other than strengthening units where I can

United Kingdom

I thought I would unleash Bomber Harris. He orders his Wellington bombers to bomb Dusseldorf at a cost of 3 points and 4 MPP. It looked like there was damage inflicted on the enemy fighters too but I cannot tell for certain.

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

Once again we start with the position in the Mediterranean, where the Italian Fleet has sortied off the North African coast and the German/Italian forces in Egypt have, as feared, fought back.

The Italian Fleet, which had been stationed off western Greece, seems to have reacted to the presence of the 1st Submarine Flotilla and attacked it with only limited success.

In Egypt the battle of El-Alamein continues with a flanking move by the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions which has seriously depleted 12th Corps south of El-Alamein. The RAF have taken further punishment from the Luftwaffe and a newly arrived Regia Aeronautica unit.

Meanwhile, and ominously, the infantry of the Afrika Korps has been brought up to strength....

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

If I had a brain I would be dangerous.....

In my excitement over the happenings in the desert and the Ostfront, I forgot that the Axis suddenly remembered that Greece had still to be conquered [8|]

Accordingly, I did not reinforce the depleted Greek HQ - which was destroyed as a result and Salonika was taken.... Eastern Greece is pretty much gone thanks to my incompetence. III Corps will retreat to Kavalla.

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

Before looking at the Eastern Front, here is a summary of the German turn, and as can be seen, the Soviet losses are starting to stack up.

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

The German effort in the Northwestern Front area remains lacklustre, limited to attacks by 14th Army alone - and on this occasion they were bested by the defenders of Kaunas.

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

There is nothing to show for the Western Front. The remaining pockets of resistance around Bialystok have all been liquidated and FOW means that I cannot tell what is where. That state of affairs won't last long no doubt.....

[warspite1]

22nd July 1941

In the extreme south in the Black sea port of Odessa 4th Corps have done an outstanding job of repulsing attacks - without loss - by the Romanian 2nd Army and the German I Corps.

Further north, panzer and fallschirmjager forces advance on Rovno, while the fortress of Przemysl was captured. The garrison of Vinnitsa has been destroyed but German forces have not had the ability to cross the Southern Bug to create a bridgehead.

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

France

French partisans do their thang in German occupied France.

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

Reinforcements

None

MPP Expenditure

UK - Reinforcing as many units as possible in Egypt
USA - Nothing
USSR - 1 x HQ, 1 x Army, 2 x Corps and 2 x Garrison (one not upgraded)

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

The Royal Navy, alerted to the sortie by Admiral Campioni, decides its time to send the Mediterranean Fleet into action. The first action was undertaken by land based Canadian Swordfish and Skua squadrons from Crete. They had orders to get in amongst the Italian battleships and hits were recorded against both Andrea Doria and Conte di Cavour.

Two submarines of the 1st Flotilla - HMS Torbay (Lt-Cdr Anthony Miers) and HMS Upholder (Lt-Cdr Malcolm Wanklyn) attack Cavour and then retire to await any targets that may present themselves as the Italians withdraw.


Phase 1

[warspite1]

29th July 1941 (Cont)

The Mediterranean Fleet (Admiral Andrew Cunningham) orders Vice-Admiral Henry Pridham-Wippell's 3rd Cruiser Squadron, comprising HM cruisers Arethusa, Coventry, Galatea and Penelope, in the van. At 0915hrs they fall upon Campioni's destroyer screen - but before Arethusa and Penelope can open up their 6-inch weapons, they are themselves attacked by the Italian battleship Caio Duilio, whose ten 12.6-inch guns open fire from 25,000 yards with deadly accuracy. The light cruisers make smoke to try and evade the onslaught.

Cunningham has already ordered a strike by carrier aircraft and this is delivered first by the Fleet Air Arm Skuas of 803 Squadron flying from HMS Glorious, which attack Caio Duilio and relieve the punishment being meted out to Pridham-Wippell's cruisers. The second strike, by the Swordfish of 811 Squadron from HMS Courageous, is targeted toward the X Destroyer Flotilla to ward off any thought of a torpedo strike against the cruisers.


Phase 2

[warspite1]

29th July 1941 (cont)

The heavy cruisers of Rear-Admiral Frederick Wake-Walker's 1st Cruiser Squadon, Devonshire, Kent, Shropshire and Sussex was ordered to head northwest to assist the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. In so doing they were able to use their 8-inch armament against the X Destroyer Flotilla, still reeling after the earlier air attack.

At the same time - 1010 hrs - the carriers Illustrious and Invincible were called upon to launch strikes against the 1st and 3rd Italian Cruiser Divisions. Swordfish from Illustrious' 810 Squadron were launched against the 1st Division - Zara, Fiume and Pola - achieving some success, but the attack from Victorious' 820 Squadron was a failure, the aircraft being repulsed without causing any damage to the Italian ships.


Phase 3

[warspite1]

29th July 1941 (cont)

At 1048hrs the Greek Squadron, consisting of the cruiser Helle, the old battleship Georgios Averoff and the Australian heavy cruiser Perth were ordered to join the 1st and 3rd Cruiser Squadrons in order to finish off the Italian destroyers. The attack succeeded in sinking the destroyers Libeccio and Scirocco but the other two destroyers, Grecale and Maestrale were able to evade the British guns.

Admiral Cunningham brought HMS Warspite and her sister Barham into the battle at 1104hrs, sinking the heavy cruisers Pola and Fiume. The third cruiser of the 1st Division, Zara, already aflame amidships, was finished off by torpedoes from the 1st Destroyer Division.


Phase 4

[warspite1]

29th July 1941 (cont)

In the final phase of the battle Cunningham sends in his final reserves. The venerable old battleships Ramillies and Malaya, on the right flank of Cunningham's fleet enter into a long range dual with Andrea Doria. In the heavy smoke of battle the engagement becomes a confused slug-fest with all three ships giving, and receiving blows. The Italian battleships is eventually overcome, but has acquitted herself bravely and both British battleships have to withdraw.

The 9th Destroyer Flotilla, following the two battleships, engages the remaining destroyers of the X Flotilla and sinks them both with torpedoes before withdrawing to cover the two cruiser squadrons to the north.

The old, slow Battleships Resolution and Royal Sovereign, bringing up the rear, were only able to get into the battle thanks to the damage inflicted by the air strikes. They both engage the hapless Caio Duilio and send the Italian battleship to the bottom of the sea before withdrawing.


Phase 5

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

The British now have a problem getting fully up to strength units to the front line. II Corps (9-strength is the best they can do if they want to hold the El-Alamein line....

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

United Kingdom

The Admiralty decide its time to bring the 1st Submarine Flotilla off patrol (having survived a destroyer attack previously). Strangely in the middle of the North Sea the returning flotilla runs across a flotilla of German destroyers. The British submarines take a big hit but survive the encounter. The German destroyer is not so lucky.

Three destroyer flotillas are put to sea, two to search for other enemy vessels and the third, to hunt down the German destroyers. A combination of gunfire and a torpedo attack from 825 Squadron flown from Ark Royal, seals the Germans ships fate.

[warspite1]

29th July 1941

Soviet Union

Again nothing to show here as the Soviets simply reinforce whatever they can, but no units have moved.

[warspite1]

5th August 1941

The 1st Submarine Flotilla did its job. One of the withdrawing Italian battleships was surprised and was badly damaged before getting away.

I believe the Germans are using their Desert Air Force to attack British convoys in the Red Sea. The Afrika Korps attacked El-Alamein again but still cannot break through. They have seemingly withdrawn some units too.

The Kriegsmarine have attacked the USSR lend lease convoys too.

[warspite1]

5th August 1941

The Axis renew their offensive against Greece. They are close to a breakthrough on the Greek right flank, but the Greek Macedonian Army manage to hold on.