Episodes: Gotts way -Argument within British High Command

[OlegHasky]

It was a hot May eavening in Egypt ´41..

Allied offenssive codenamed: "Brevity" was under way for about a day.
So far evrything went right for the British. They´ve advanced 20 km´s without any problems, and tooked control of both -lower, and upper Halfaya passes - crippling the Italian Bersagilieri companies in the process.
They have established the positions along the front, and soldiers awaited for another orders.
But William Gott (commander of the operation) was about to suprise many..

[/img]
His plans would abut to put a dubtious atmosphere within the British lines.


The situation.

As for general plan. All have agreed that the main British push (and the clash with Axis) will take a face of a push for the center line (including objectives like -Fort Capuzzo, Point 208, and Bir Mussaid).
"The push was to be taken by night.."
So the preparations (initial positioning, gear check, regrouping, coffe, cigarates..) was ordered trough out the day.

At 21:32 almost all forces was in place.

[/img]
awaiting for the night to fall..

Here came Gott.. Gathering all his commanders in the eavening meeting. Saying: "Tactical plans for the push has changed".[:-]

Initial Allied plan (in very shorth brief) was about to laud on carefull line advance, with monstrous artyllery barrage.
Gott jawboned that the deep penetration schould be lunched with "Armoured 7" command to split the Capuzzo and Point 208 in two. Reaching Capuzzo airfield and cutting the highway leading North.

That became a fury factor within other commanders (especially commander of 7th Armoured) who claimed:
"I rather face the field court, than send my men to sure death"

He did got the point there. As it was a vvery ambitious plan. The position of tanks from Kampfgruppe von Heff
was still unknown.
Tanks could easily be there waiting at the rear for the deadly strike.
Other arguments was that -"..When right wing activated for the advance.. The forces of 7th Armoured will not have enough Infantry -to soupport, and cover the deep advance. -The tanks will get exposed on early morning for any potential hit!"

Forces was assigned for the sectors 7th Support Group provided Inf support for the "Armour 7", and Armour , along AT for 1st Durham (of 22Guards).

[/img]

Night Recon mission orders was spread. And this was the only sure thing that will happend during this nigt.7th Support The assignments guaranteed that all the three group sectors (left,right,cener) will have a force mixed of Armour and Inf in good maner ( right wing had Matildas from 4RTR)

The distances are pretty big so any potential mistake , or suprise , could be a big problem.


[/img]

But Gott was far from breaking , and admiting to the commanders their right. It was HE, that was in charge in this operation, and damn he feelt good in this role.
His argument was: "the night". And that this is a perfect opportunity for such armour penetration.
The problem was, that his officers -22Guards, and 7th Armoured was in the same rank as he (Brigadier). And that was painfull enough.

So do you support Gott in his plan, or do you think that the commander of 7th Armour is right.

I can say, that I personally support his plan. With one exception. The 7th ARmour after reaching Capuzzo airfield schould turn West (to point 208 direction) before sunrise - to gain distance, and avoid any potential hit. Also the main preassure from both: -center, and left flank must be directed to Capuzzo.

I can roleplay both, Ive made my statement here. No turn and back.

Both.. 1. Gott forcing his plan.
2. Misterious car accident on his way back to HQ after the meeting [8|] / or D3[:'(] category soldier assassination in his HQ as a painfull mistake by British military commision.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

Congrats to Brigadier Gott on reducing the Italian presence at Halfaya Pass. I hope that he liquidated the garrison in the process, particularly that pesky 105/27 battery that began the game there. This battle is small enough that significant losses to either side, early in the game, can effect the outcome at the end. One side or the other may be too thin, force wise, to cover the requisite AP locations to win.

Were I "Strafer" Gott...

I'd play night with an eye towards ambushing any Axis sortie in the direction of Halfaya. I'd setup anti-tank screens along the tracks, backed by tanks, and even 25-pounders. About 6AM, I'd concentrate my forces south and east of Capuzzo, and fight a battle that it's  really hard for the Axis to win, a slow, methodical advance of Matilda backed by 25-pounder HE. By the end of Day 2, I'd hope to be close enough to the big AP there, that the thrust would also kill off the Axis points to be had for securing Capuzzo Airfield. Along with picking up some minor AP to top off my point totals, the ability to DEFEND Capuzzo should do it for Gott.

[OlegHasky]

So I gues youre on for the initial tactic.. that Gott has hammered[:D]..
I also value such acting in the desert. But here Gott.. just feeling the heat of the night, and want to do a flyer on Capuzzo.[;)]

There is a possibility that the dragon will gonna try to close his maw on this.
And indeed.. even if succed, it could be a jigsaw to cover "all wanted".
So good outcome here = good number of kills on his manover.

[Prince of Eckmühl]

While I agree with the "blunt-force" approach as a fundamental way to win the scenario, that may not be enough. The Allies have a wide array of armored/mobile formations that can force the Axis to spread their forces over a very wide area. At any one point, the Allies can exploit these skirmishes and win a local superiority. When the Allied player patches together enough such "little victories," combined with the coup de main at Capuzzo, victory is VERY likely.