CfNA 40-43 (GeneralJCL [DAK] v Hellen [CW])

[Hellen_slith]

Just started this one on-line
on Turn 5 now (cease-fire just hit)

IMHO, Axis should always cancel the cease-fire
(by dis-banding the cease-fire unit)

At any rate ...
The General has captured the three cities
El Hamra / Sufafi / Sidi Barani

and so, we are now in the cease-fire stage.

I plan to lift the cease-fire as soon as possible.

Also, I tried to capture a screen shot, but the scene cycled before I could do that...

seemed to be some weird activity with the game,
I hope that my move cycled and was transmitted properly.

Ok, next go, I will post a screen shot.
Seems to be a good scene for head-to-head play,
we shall see!

[Hellen_slith]

Okay, I remembered to take a screen shot
We are on CW turn 7, and I am on move.

Cease-fire is in effect until I can lift it.
I abandoned the "key" cities of El Hamra / Sofafi / Sidi Barani

so as to pull those ground forces back ... no need to sacrifice them
for a lost cause ...
Will use them later.

The fleet is in the water.
Will be interesting to see what I can do w/ the fleet this turn ...
Otherwise, I will be moving CW troops forward during the cease-fire.

[Hellen_slith]

Cease fire is lifted now,
Brits and Indians are pushing forward
to rescue a few chaps that were stuck in the desert
and surrounded. Breaking them out now.

Of course, I forgot to get a screenshot before I cycled the turn,
except that I did get the recent news blurb

[Hellen_slith]

Here it is @CW turn 11

Breaking out the chaps who were stuck
there in the rocks south of Buq Buq

just slowly marching along the coast,
I sent the NZ division down toward the Oasis

[Hellen_slith]

Here is same area at CW turn 14 ...
I could not save the remnants of 1st Rifle,
they have been buried w/ honors in the desert.

Have moved up a significant amount of NZ and Poles now.

[Hellen_slith]

Couple things going on here...
I've gotten the 70th Inf/1st A&S into a bind
(they are stuck in the rocks there,
with a major escarpment to their backs...)
they can't retreat backwards up that escarpment,
so they are a bit en prise since

the folks behind them, are ON that major escarp,
and cannot advance over that to reinforce. A bad spot there for the 1st A&S.

Also, in this game, DAK did not cancel the cease-fire;
so when I opened O'Connor's Raid early,
his requirement to keep Barrani / Sofafi / Hamra was canceled.

Now I am kind of in a bind w/ sketch reinforcements;
just a little Czech unit and more navy next turn,
then not much else for a few turns.

At least I got the Oasis, which was 4 VP for me.
Still a draw. Interesting how that cease fire works;

In another game I'm DAK against BK, and I cancelled the cease fire...
and he's about to take Barrani / Sofafi / Hamra back ...
which can win the game for him early in that one.

[Hellen_slith]

@beginning of CW turn 18,

he has gotten some troops into El Alamein ...
His Saharan division, I think.

From what I can see here, he has retreated
a bunch of Italians to around Hell Fire Pass.

Some of my front line troops are dangerously low on supply
(around 6% for some units)
So that slows my roll a bit.

Sending some NZ troops to El Alamein to get the fleet back in action.

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Hellen_slith

In another game I'm DAK against BK, and I cancelled the cease fire...
and he's about to take Barrani / Sofafi / Hamra back ...
which can win the game for him early in that one.

Learning some hard lessons, it sounds like.

Canceling the Cease Fire as the Axis is a bad decision. The initial Italian manpower edge is quickly countered by the CW motorization and reinforcement edge.

Opening fire early (especially extremely early) as the CW is a bad decision. You p*ssed away all the shock bonuses you received on the first turns of the Open Fire because you weren't ready for it. You'll probably be able to hold on, but Rommel will be gifted a bunch of extra Italians - especially Italian artillery.

[Hellen_slith]

Ah, well, live and learn!

Meanwhile, we turned a quick move today ...
and I was like, why is my railroad busted?

Oh! He snuck on me! He's got some sneakies deep into Egypt.
Good thing I had some Aussies show up back there!

I wonder what else he has up his sleeve?
This is a pretty fun scene.

[Hellen_slith]

Getting some turns in these days,

got my Rat Patrol into the backfield,
taking out AA sites and airfields

Also, if you DON'T cancel the cease-fire,
you won't get to play Rat Patrol ...

b/c you'll spend 10 or so turns with most of your units garrisoned
while CW builds up and then easily steamrolls for an early win.

Sitzkrieg = not fun.

This? THIS is fun: Cancel cease fire, initiate early O'Connor's Raid.

YMMV

[Hellen_slith]

I am a bit confused about the "Commonwealth Boundary Penalty" w/re/to Axis reinforcements ....
Seems to me, that if that boundary abides, then Axis reinforcements will be "penned up" behind the boundary?
Not sure.

If (as Commonwealth) I decide NOT to take Tobruk / Derna,
then will that keep his reinforcements penned up?

Perhaps then (OTOH) there will not be enough VP hexes for me (as CW) to score a victory?

Seems like I need to take Tobruk / Derna ... but not too quickly.

Or maybe I can think up a different strategy?

E.g., like driving across the desert to Benghazi instead, soaking up all the VPs that I can from that, and THEN take Tobruk?

or would that suddenly unleash hell on me from the Axis side?

This is a really fun scene.

[Hellen_slith]

Looks like we got us a war going now!

Going to have to watch these upcoming withdrawals of some of my units.

Trying to get through that Halfaya Pass

[Curtis Lemay]

ORIGINAL: Hellen_slith

I am a bit confused about the "Commonwealth Boundary Penalty" w/re/to Axis reinforcements ....
Seems to me, that if that boundary abides, then Axis reinforcements will be "penned up" behind the boundary?
Not sure.

No. It penalizes the CW for crossing it prematurely - no penalty for the Axis. (I don't think you need to worry about it, though - you'll be doing good to get to Benghazi before Rommel is on you.)

If (as Commonwealth) I decide NOT to take Tobruk / Derna,
then will that keep his reinforcements penned up?

No. If you take both fast enough, the penalty will be canceled - this forces the Italian player to make some effort to hold you up a bit instead of just running for the map edge. Again, this won't be an issue for you.

Perhaps then (OTOH) there will not be enough VP hexes for me (as CW) to score a victory?

There is only a smattering of VPs in the map edge area, and the prohibition only lasts for a few early turns prior to Rommel.

Seems like I need to take Tobruk / Derna ... but not too quickly.

No. Take them as fast as possible. But, as I said, you're not going to need to worry about that.

[Hellen_slith]

Thank you for the input!

I am already seeing the stiff Italian resistance you mentioned coming into play,

so now, I am going to have to really drive harder and make better use of resources to have a chance in this one.

I really like this scene, we've got quite a battle going now.

I have done a job so far on his air forces, so there is that!
(Rat Patrols drive rebasing of Axis air to airfields that I can then bombard ...)
32 to 40 Axis air destroyed last turn ....

Still deciding what I want to do at the Oasis.

Very fun scene! This is a good scene to play in conjunction w/ FitE scene, sort of a global war on two fronts.

If in PBEM you could "coordinate" the time stamps (for example, keeping the turns together)
it would be very fun making a "global war" out of them.

I hope that makes sense!

[Hellen_slith]

@CW 27 now...

pretty crazy move coming up,
I managed to get some FR Marines into Sidi Azeiz,
hoping to cut off more Axis reinforcements ....

but, at same time, news says
Restriction Zone 2 [Axis] has been lifted.

Not sure what to make of that yet. Doesn't sound good, though.
All I can do right now, is keep driving on Bardia.

And hope for the best

[Hellen_slith]

near end of 1940 now,
seems like a good time to take stock

nearing a MV for CW;
getting more "Rat Patrols" behind the Axis lines.

Threw 4th Indians / Punjab at Tobruk;
they will be withdrawn next turn,
so I put them out there to soak up bullets.

[Hellen_slith]

@CW turn 36. I think I understand now the nature of the "protected zone" ...
So I need to keep those NZs back a bit ...
glad I did not race them across the map.

Getting into more mobile desert movement now ...

[Hellen_slith]

CW40 ... much progress toward Tobruk,
but not quite enough soldiers / supplies
to punch in there yet.

Had to pull back the 2nd Armored,
which I had planned to use to punch through...

locals reported German patrols seen rolling into Egypt.
2d Armored is stretched pretty thin, seeking them out.

[Hellen_slith]

CW49 now, finally into Tobruk ...
but for how long?

Not sure what means "Axis Convoy Level = E (25)"
but it can't be good.

Panzers are on the way it seems.

[Hellen_slith]

@CW54:
Rommel appears.
Lots of Axis units heading for Tobruk.