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

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Edit: Oh, I forgot, the fleet goes into garrison once El Alamein falls. You should have tried it before that.

NOW you tell him. [:D]

[warspite1]

Turn 166 - Axis Turn (in real time)
18th April 1942

The turn starts in the south with the evaporation of a air base unit. The Italians start moving up to the frontline with plenty of artillery in tow. The same MO from devoncop as in the north. Italians to soak up any potential counter, plenty of artillery and the Germans on hand when required.

A couple of bombardments are launched - I can't see where yet - ah I think its on the coast - an RAF base unit evaporates

More concerted bombardments in the north then a number of invisible moves and then aircraft reinforcements - I'm surprised the airfields have anymore room

Back to the bombardments once again

The axis launch an attack and an LAA evaporates - then more bombardments in both the north and south. Another base unit evaporates - a panzer battalion moves along the coast road

More bombardments - and unsurprisingly a South African infantry battalion evaporates - the recce company with it retreats - and the panzers move in - more bombardments

More aircraft being flown in before moving back to more bombardments

All my aircraft are grounded, rested and out of the way. Yep, all of them.... but somehow a Kittyhawk squadron evaporates.... of course [8|]

Another LAA evaporates

More bombardments and yet another battalion evaporates

[warspite1]

Turn 166 - Axis Turn
18th April 1942

Its really difficult to see what can be done. We are not even at the point of the game where the Axis get their final big push. If I stand I get destroyed, if I move back I get destroyed and if I attack I get destroyed. Mmmm... there's a running theme here....

I will have to see if I can understand what happened to my fighter squadron too and how that managed to get evaporated when the aircraft were purposely held out of the way...

I'll do a quick check on the losses but this will be UGLY.

Those losses in infantry are bad enough, but the artillery losses are just devastating. The Axis lost a third of the infantry squads and the rest of their losses were not even worth mentioning. The only exception was their field gun losses which numbered 20.

As suspected, the loss of the Kittyhawk nonsense was just that. It wasn't lost on an airfield attack it was lost in a combat at the front. This despite orders to rest and no squadron being anywhere near the front. Thanks [8|]. At least the Axis appear to have lost more aircraft this turn - 39 (8 destroyed) compared with 30 (7 destroyed).

[warspite1]

Turn 166
18th April 1942

Sadly the situation gets even worse when I move onto my turn. The remaining units of the 2nd South African Division (already lost are the HQ, 3 infantry battalions, the AT regiment, 2 reconnaissance regiments (less 1 company) and which doesn't get reconstituted is now reorganising - right in front of the advancing Axis on the coast road....it's looking grimmer by the minute...

[warspite1]

Turn 166
18th April 1942

A check on the air situation show a slightly improved position - certainly from the nadir of Turn 161 when I was able to field just 205 operational bombers.

Even so, the fighter nos. are only creeping back up and losing a squadron for no good reason is really irritating. I guess when placing aircraft to rest and away from the front, I will also need to reduce their range to zero in the hope that they won't fly.

In the next three turns I get 6 fighter squadrons. Its a tall order but if I can not lose anymore aircraft in that time, then by the time the enemy is at El Hammam (I need to stop him getting this forward airfield) then I can pack Amirya with anything that flies for an armoured counter attack. I will continue to ensure my armour is dispersed as they won't have fighter cover in the meantime (but the armour has not been devoncops target to now anyway).

[sapper32]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 165 - Axis Turn (in real time)
15th April 1942

Next the Axis set about the units in the mountains to the north of Quattara.

Italian units now engaging with the western from along the coastal plain

Lots of reinforcement manoeuvres around the Bardia area taking the moves up to 1,094 and then the action switches back to the mountains

My commando unit in the south is destroyed - annoyingly I can't see where the enemyare going as the camera hasn't panned out far enough [:@]

My commando unit in the west retreats

The bombardments start along the coastal road

Back to the west my commando unit then retreats and is destroyed on the 3rd encounter

Massed artillery is ranged against the western front and I spot more artillery being moved in the south and in the mountains.

Large numbers of reinforcements moving along the coastal road just behind the front lines - some continuing east and some heading south before going out of sight

The enemy units in the west that destroyed my commando unit are now heading along the track through the depression. This really is a major effort below the depression.

Aircraft reinforcements now heard - the coastal airfield are filling up

More bombardments - and a HAA unit evaporates

Hmmmm a large battle occurring in the Depresion surely that can't be right it should be a no go area for all but special forces

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: sapper32

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 165 - Axis Turn (in real time)
15th April 1942

Next the Axis set about the units in the mountains to the north of Quattara.

Italian units now engaging with the western from along the coastal plain

Lots of reinforcement manoeuvres around the Bardia area taking the moves up to 1,094 and then the action switches back to the mountains

My commando unit in the south is destroyed - annoyingly I can't see where the enemyare going as the camera hasn't panned out far enough [:@]

My commando unit in the west retreats

The bombardments start along the coastal road

Back to the west my commando unit then retreats and is destroyed on the 3rd encounter

Massed artillery is ranged against the western front and I spot more artillery being moved in the south and in the mountains.

Large numbers of reinforcements moving along the coastal road just behind the front lines - some continuing east and some heading south before going out of sight

The enemy units in the west that destroyed my commando unit are now heading along the track through the depression. This really is a major effort below the depression.

Aircraft reinforcements now heard - the coastal airfield are filling up

More bombardments - and a HAA unit evaporates

Hmmmm a large battle occurring in the Depresion surely that can't be right it should be a no go area for all but special forces

warspite1

There's no large battle in the depression. There is large scale - inc panzers - south of the depression (which I question) but couldn't say definitely to what extent that should be impossible/limited. It strike me that if it were possible then its the sort of thing Rommel would have tried but he didn't so.....

[warspite1]

Turn 166
18th April 1942

The turn is spent evaporating one of the Italian companies seeking to outflank me south of the Quattara Depression and then bombarding the unit to the southeast.

Now all that is left to do is build the coffins for the South Africans...

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: warspite1

ORIGINAL: sapper32

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Turn 165 - Axis Turn (in real time)
15th April 1942

Hmmmm a large battle occurring in the Depresion surely that can't be right it should be a no go area for all but special forces

warspite1

There's no large battle in the depression. There is large scale - inc panzers - south of the depression (which I question) but couldn't say definitely to what extent that should be impossible/limited. It strike me that if it were possible then its the sort of thing Rommel would have tried but he didn't so.....

Sufficient quantities of Prozac will empower the troops to fight in the Depression.
Failing that Scotch and Whisky will do.

[warspite1]

Turn 167 - Axis Turn (in real time)
22nd April 1942

The turn begins with the German Oasis battalion(s) moving into the gap left by the destroyed Italian unit. The main stack of German units in that area - including the panzer battalion - move west. I can't see where they went but that is an interesting development.....

There are then a lot of reinforcement moves through the Jebel area before attention switches to the western front. Massed artillery move up and the bombardment of the hapless South African forces begins. An entire field artillery regiment evaporates (note this is a 1st South African unit 4 hexes behind the lines)...

Reinforcements move into the southern front too and the bombardments continue all along the front. To the southwest of the Quattara Depression an RAF airbase unit evaporates.

I understand from devoncop he suffered a proficicency test fail... thank goodness. Who knows what the bill would have been otherwise? There were no losses to the Axis ground forces, although AA accounted for 13 bombers (3 destroyed).

[warspite1]

Turn 167
22nd April 1942

My turn is almost a mirror of the previous one. I decide not to withdraw further to see what happens. I have to keep Alexandria from falling - and before that I need to ensure my airfields to the southwest are not only intact but away from enemy bombardment range.

I keep my aircraft out of range and resting and my only action is to attack the Oasis battalion that replaced the Italian unit south of Quattara. Sadly I did not manage to evaporate the German but I still forced him back.

[warspite1]

Turn 168 - Axis Turn (in real time)
25th April 1942

The turn starts with a lot of invisible moves and moves I have no detail on. The after 740-odd moves my commando unit that I tried to sneak behind enemy lines is obviously spotted as its surrounded.

The on the southern part of the western front an AA unit is forced to retreat. The Axis forces move up to the front line all the way along the front.

The bombardments commence - and then a number of artillery pieces move to the centre of the line - the Axis are obviously looking to put pressure on all over the place

More reinforcements and invisible moves and then its back to the bombardment of my forces

An attack on the coast road see an infantry battalion retreat and an AA unit evaporate

To the south the same thing happens - although the AA retreats - panzers moving into the gap

More intense bombardments - 17 in total and the % are colossal. This proves what I've said previously. As soon as the Allies try and make any stand the enemy artillery simply destroys them where they stand.

It would appear from this that there were no land attacks, so the two retreats were purely the result of bombardment???? Something weird going on with the results. It must have left off the attacks because those units did not retreat as a result of bombardment. The numbers below are there likely to be much less than actual losses.

[warspite1]

Turn 168
25th April 1942

I intend to employ the same tactic in a bid to stall the retreat rate....

This gets off to a rubbish start as a South African AA unit evaporates on the coast.... as does a second, British unit.

I then try some hit and run tactics - using my artillery and then falling back. I get 16 bombardments in - although the units in the south did not run and so now may get hit.... as could the units that ran in the north if devoncop employs his air units....

[warspite1]

Turn 169 - Axis Turn (in real time)
29th April 1942

The turn begins with a lot of reinforcement movement in the Bardia area and then switches to the western front and a lot of Axis manoeuvrings in the centre of the line, where my AA units in front of the main line are sent packing.

Enemy forces now spread out all along the north and central area - and then devoncop does the same in the south. I had hoped that his extending of his front would lessen the effect of the artillery - but there is so much of it, that hasn't really made any difference.

More aircraft now appear in the Bardia area heading east

Then the bombardments begin. These take place all over the line

A South African battalion and its supporting AA retreats south of the coast road. The enemy move straight in like before so this is obviously an attack - I hope the combat table reports this this time....

Lots of Axis movement in the mountains now

More bombardments - along the line and the rear area too, presumably aircraft

Another South African unit - this time to the north - retreats and massed artillery follow-up behind

The bombardments come in thick and fast now - an LAA unit evaporates along with a South African infantry battalion.

[warspite1]

Turn 169 - Axis Turn
29th April 1942

20 attack/bombardments carried out. Time to look at the damage.

Another bad turn for the infantry with losses outstripping replacements. The one anomaly was bombardment 6 where the Axis bombardment failed completely and counter-battery fire was pretty good! Shame there aren't more like that [:)]

devoncop made a comment his artillery is getting 'tired'. Let's hope so, and there were certainly a few bombardments that registered no loss....

[warspite1]

Turn 169
29th April 1942

So as the Commonwealth enter another turn, I see the South Africans have reorganised again (can't say I blame the poor lads)....

But before we look at that, lets look at the big picture.

Turns remaining: 74
Enemy held objectives value: 249; Enemy loss penalty* 87 = 162
Friendly held objectives value 201; Friendly loss penalty* 47 = 154
= -3 + the Net victory point award: -25 (this was for capturing Tobruk and is permanent)
Our victory level is -33 of 450. This is currently a draw (this is a 5 point swing to the Axis in the last 6 turns).

Victory Levels are as follows:

Margin of Victory less than 90 = Draw
Margin of Victory between 90 and 179 = Marginal
Margin of Victory between 180 and 269 = Substantial
Margin of Victory 270 or greater = Overwhelming

* The objectives are listed in the documentation and relate to placed on the map to be taken. I've done a word search but can't see what the definition of the Loss Penalty is though.

[warspite1]

Turn 169
29th April 1942

I've been trying to carefully husband my armour, aircraft and artillery, while withdrawing as little as possible. This of course has meant the infantry has taken a beating but while I've been keeping an eye on losses per taken I haven't been looking at the wider picture. I will now be monitoring infantry (and small arms) on a daily basis.

So here are the current nos. These won't mean much in isolation but what I do know is that losses are regularly out-stripping replacement rates and my rifle squads are of big concern....

[warspite1]

Turn 169
29th April 1942

My tanks have increased by 68 (although some of this has come from the reserves which now number barely more than 200). My replacement rate has fallen to just 4 tanks per turn (the Crusader II is no longer available).

Despite the word Division, the forces below struggle to be much more than 6 brigades. The next reinforcement here is not until Turn 173 when it looks like I receive two regiments of an armoured brigade (as part of 10th Armoured).

[warspite1]

Turn 169
29th April 1942

The artillery position continues to cause concern and the replacement rates are woeful. At least the 6-pdr has now come on stream which helps.

AT guns are up by 16 in the last 6 turns, AA too has risen by 6 - not altogether sure how - maybe new units? But field guns have dropped by 10 in that time.

[warspite1]

Turn 169
29th April 1942

And that brings us to aircraft. Despite the best efforts of the program (that cost me two squadrons), I have been carefully keeping these units grounded to try and bring them up to strength (or in the case of the Hurricanes, someone approximating full strength...ish....).

I am debating one more turn grounded; I have two fighter squadrons next turn and I need to use the aircraft before the Axis take El Hammam.