Campaign For North Africa 40D-43

[goodwoodrw]

It appears the Commonwealth Forces lack a decent airforce.

[warspite1]

Turn 31 - Axis Turn
26th March 1941

To the north and northeast the sorry tale really swings into gear. The most obvious problem being that the Ariete Division has got teeth. Its fought back and delivered a blow to the 3rd Armoured Brigade. Many units are reorganising - as are all of the infantry from the Australian 9th Division. Not sure if extraction from this is possible...

The 7th Armoured remain reorganising and elements of the Afrika Korps has moved around them and are heading for Tobruk.

There are some Italian units heading north parallel to the coast road, but these seem to lack armour and infantry at present.

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: goodwoodrw

It appears the Commonwealth Forces lack a decent airforce.

warspite1

The CW problems are profound - which is 'good' from an historical perspective [;)]. The air force at this stage of the war did a decent enough job - there was I think good co-operation between Collishaw and O'Connor. In this game the Regia Aeronautica seemed a bit strong in phase one, but of course I can only really see one side. The Axis are certainly receiving a lot of losses - but I don't really know what they have.

In real life the CW's problems at this stage were that their best infantry has gone to Greece, the armour 'divisions' are under-strength (I think one battalion iirc relied on captured Italian tanks) and in this game are hampered by the penalties (Allied) and bonuses (Axis) which I guess is needed to allow Rommel to kick the CW all the way back to Egypt as per real life.

[warspite1]

Turn 31
26th March 1941

A high level view of the state of play as the British turn is about to start.

[warspite1]

Turn 32
29th March 1941

Two possibilities face Brigadier Latham's support group. He could take his battalions southeast to attack the German artillery harassing the 7th Armoured, or he could move northwest to assist the rest of the 2nd Armoured and the Australian infantry. Norrie orders Latham to assist his own division - 7th Armoured will have to fend for itself.

So let's look at a battle as it unfolds:

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

First things first, Norrie orders all units to fall back on the HQ. The 102nd AT Regiment is split into three and parcelled out to defending 'stacks'. Not all can be provided with cover.

Round 1
Blenheims from Mechili and Tobruk are ordered to attack the VIII Tank Battalion and a battalion of Bersaglieri east of Msus.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 1 - results

The two attacks meet with mixed results. Some Italian tanks are shot up in the first attack, but no damage is caused against the Bersaglieri - and for the loss of 1 Blenheim bomber.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 3

Following on from the successful air attack, the tanks go in - again supported from the air. A company of the 102nd AT Regiment covers the advance of the A-13 cruiser tanks of the 5th Royal Tank Regiment. The losses to the RAAF are heavy (12 aircraft lost to all causes) but the tank attack starts to make headway. Flank support is then provided by the 6th RTR and CW units to the east. This causes the VIII Battalion to retreat. The British anti-tank gunners occupy the ground vacated.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 3 - results

Note: there was another furball: apparently a Ju-88D evaporated [&:]

You can also see another attack. This will be detailed separately

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 6

The northern attack is at an end, the anti-tank company are ordered to head back north to provide support to the tanks during the counter-attack that is no doubt to come.

Attention moves a little to the south and the Bersaglieri regiment threatening the British left flank. The RAAF are once more called upon to support the attack, led by the 6th RTR and supported by the two motorised infantry battalions of the 2nd Support Group - the 1st Rangers and the 1st Tower Hamlets Rifles.

The tank units with the motorised infantry do not attack as they were in no fit state to attack having previously escaped encirclement (i.e. in game terms their movement allowance was almost used up and so too many rounds would've been wasted). The attack is successful, the damage to the air force is light (a couple of aircraft) and once again the Italians retreat. The Tower Hamlets Rifles pursue.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 6 - Results

Although the Italians retreat, their losses are pretty light.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 7

The British are keen to follow-up the attack; it is a big mistake. For the loss of 6 Blenheims and 4 Hurricanes the attack, carried out by only one of the motorised infantry battalions, fails to achieve anything of note and the attack is halted with the Italians holding their ground.

[warspite1]

Battle of Msus 29th March 1941

Round 7 - Results

The British units cannot move back and so have left themselves exposed with no AT cover. Not a great way to end the battle, that began so promisingly.

[warspite1]

Turn 32
29th March 1941

The other attacks seen in the Combat results above relate to the action in the desert around Giarabub. I will post a picture after the AI turn, but essentially the German infantry reinforcements sent to the area - Oasis battalion? - has been badly mauled by the RTR.

[warspite1]

Turn 32 - Axis Turn
26th March 1941

As a great philosopher once wrote - Naughteeeee, naughteeeee, veeerrry naughteeeee

[warspite1]

Turn 33
2nd April 1941

There really is no good news anywhere. On the approaches to Benghazi most of the 70th Infantry are reorganising, the whole of the 2nd Armoured are reorganising and the Hurricanes at Mechili are..... yep, reorganising and about to be attacked.

The biggest problem is that 21st Panzer are concentrated and bearing down on Tobruk. Neame orders all reinforcements in the Nile Delta to head for Alexandria and for any and all artillery, AA and AT units to be shipped to Tobruk regardless of cost. Cunningham has been asked to ready the Royal Navy too. The Valiant, two cruisers and supporting destroyers are already on hand.

The Poles are dug-in but need reinforcement urgently. But where from?

[warspite1]

Turn 33 - RAF, RAAF and FF
2nd April 1941

The latest returns for the air forces are as follows:

202 Group RAF
Mechili
RAAF Hurricanes (19 aircraft)

Tobruk
RAAF Hurricanes (22)
RAAF Blenheims (21)
RAF Blenheims (21)

204 Group RAF
Buq Buq
RAAF Hurricanes (16)

Fort Capuzzo
RAF Blenheims (23)

Menastir
FF Morane-Saulniers (2)

[warspite1]

Turn 33
2nd April 1941

The big uncertainty running through Neame's mind is what to do with 7th Armoured. Their retreat path is blocked by 21st Panzer. They could stay where they are and try and stop reinforcement for the German forces - but this has not proved successful so far.

Neame decides to go for broke and try and save as much of the 2nd Armoured as possible. The entire division leaves the southern track and heads northwest to engage two battalions of the Ariete Division.

The turn gets off to a good start. The sideshow battle in the deepest desert looks like it is finally and irrevocably swinging in favour of the Commonwealth and the 7th RTR and the Czech brigade annihilate further units of the Saharan detachment. Post the picture below Giarabub was taken - tanks of the 7th RTR swinging south to take the unsuspecting Italians in the rear. This leaves just an artillery unit left. All this has taken up less than one round.

[warspite1]

Turn 33 - Round 1
2nd April 1941

Off Tobruk the RN is ordered to give the Germans notice that they are there. An HQ and a machine gun battalion stray into range of the guns of Valiant and Arethusa.

Meanwhile the action continues around the hotly contested airfield at Msus. The 4th Armoured Brigade's two tank regiments, the 7th and 11th Hussars attack the 12th Bersaglieri Motorised Infantry Battalion. The attack succeeds but the elite infantry, dug-in, refuse to yield and the whole turn is taken up [X(]

[Zorch]

Orders from the PM, marked 'Action This Day'. You have just been sacked! [:D]

[larryfulkerson]

Replaced by Montgomery no less.