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Session 4 report
Well, despite the best efforts of the indigenous wildlife to disrupt the game (sudden influx of pestiferous centipede like things in my basement) the 4th session went off. (Due largely to the application of chemical weapons)
Period ending with Feb 8th
The early Australian and Indian infantry attacks, with a supporting flank attack by the 7th armored stove in the outer defenses of Benghazi. Sadly, the british chose the spearhead the assault into Benghazi with the now battle hardened and clearly exhausted Indian 4th infantry division. After many bloody wave assaults by the Indians, supported by the Austalians and 2nd armoreds support brigade, Benghazi eventually fell. (Some truely incredible bad die rolls in here on my part as well as some nice foraging rolls by the Italians made this very messy indeed)
End result? All remain Italian forces killed or captured, including Gen. Maletti - who is now being handed over to the Senussi for playtime..umm trial...
Two Indian brigades suffered damage and the 7th armored lost 2 battalions of their medium tanks to breakdowns and overhauls.
Meanwhile lots of troop redeployments are taking place and the LRDG along with some Indian armored cars cleared out the last of the Oasis garrisons.
Overview of Commonwealth positions at the end:
Frontline near El Algheila: Support Bde, 2nd Arm; one BN of motorized inf from the 7th Arm and the LRDG
Behind the front: Supply dump, remainder of 7th Arm
Benghazi: 6th Australian Inf, BN of italian tanks
Tobruk: 5 fortress Bdes, BN of italian tanks, remainder of 2nd Arm, lots of artillery and the independent infantry tank BNs
Bardia: 4th Indian Inf
Sollum&Halfaya: 2 AC BNs, 2 AT BNs, 1 independent infantry Bde, lots of artillery
Mersa Matruh and moving up: elements of 2nd New Zealand Inf and an infantry tank BN
Senussi+Libyan battalions are scattered around, wrecking old Italian airbases/hedgehogs and slowly moving towards Benghazi to hole up in the hills/passes.
Comments: Heavier than expected casualties, but an acceptable rate over all. Total for the campaign was 7 infantry steps (2 of which would have been withdrawn anyways) and 6 armor/ac steps ( 2 to withdrawals and one which would have been) Not bad for the entire italian army basically.
I feel at this point that I am in a pretty good position, I am a little ahead of schedule - I'm not overcommitted forward, so I can redeploy and set up as I wish to await developements. I do have some great dilemmas facing me though, where and in what strength I base my forward armor is a grave concern as is the degree to which I try and hold benghazi.
It is tempting to mount a strong defense, build some hedgehogs and make a real fight of it for benghazi - we will have to see how much the impending troubles in greece weaken me.
Re: Session 4 report
Time covered: 5 Jan 41 thru 8 Feb 41
Eric summed it up pretty well. 5 Jan kicked off with a probe of the sector north of Benghazi on the coast road by the 4th Indian. They were opposed by a battalion and a half of motorcycle infantry. The first assault was repulsed. 8 Jan saw a renewal of the attack on that front, as well as the 6th Australian entering the fray for the first time in the central mountains against a motorcycle battalion and light tanks and the 7th AD active on the southern permieter against a lone MG battalion. The northern and southern blocking forces were crushed, while the center forces repulsed the Australian attack. The Italians withdrew to the vicinity of Benghazi, evacuating their last airfield. 12 Jan saw the Commonwealth pursuing to the outskirts of Benghazi, withthe assault opening on the 15th. After 11 days of hammering, the Benghazi garrison fell fighting on 26 Jan. At this point, the only Italians left were off-map in Tripoli.
Rear Areas: January saw the ferrying of various forces from Sicily to Tripoli, including parts of the Ariete AD. Malta was active, but shipping losses were about average for the month. February saw the release of the Ariete's light armor as well as a number of high-quality Italian AT units and the assorted crap that Il Duce sees fit to send. With the collapse of Benghazi, the Malta garrison has been more active on shipping. On 12 February, the first German units of the DAK become available in Sicily: elements of the 5th Light and some independent battalions.
Right now, I am concentrating on building up a counter-attack force. Cross-Med shiping doesn't increase until March, so it will be slow going. The Italians have advance a few hexes east of the Marble Arch and set up defensive positions in the salt marshes; they await more forces.
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