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Session 5 Report
This session we covered a lot of time, ending at the end of May, 1941.
Commonwealth high command learned a great many valuable lessons this time around, among them the folly of trying to mount a forward defence.
The greek theater opened more or less on time and began to draw off troops rapidly. Action in the near east also heated up.
As the Axis counteroffensive began, it found the badly deployed remnants of the 7th Armored easy pickings as they attempted a rash counterattack and were pounded unmercifully by the Italian/German airforces. (Not without losses, one lucky hit on a German Ju-88 unit). After the demise of the 7th Armored, the Senussi/Libyan forces were easy to outflank, surrond and destroy. The 6th Australian barely escaped down the coastal tracks from Benghazi. The only "good" point of the defense was the loss of a single german unit during a rash attack by Rommel. At least Benghazi was thoroughly wrecked before being abandoned.
The Desert Airforce provided the only glimmers of good fortune here, as a lucky air raid caught most of the German/Italian fighters on the ground and punished them heavily. (Hits on no less than FOUR axis fighters, including a german Me-110)
Learning the harsh lessons of the Benghazi debacle, the CW high command decided to dig in extensively around Tobruk. A defensive line was established stretching a long ways south into the desert. This line is held by pretty much the entire CW force, consisting of: the 6th, 7th and 9th Australian infantry divisions, 2nd NZ infantry, elements of the 1st SA infantry, 5 fortress brigades, the reconstituted 7th Armored and a bunch of assorted independent tank and AC battalions with lots of artillery support.
Aggressive action by the Desert Airforce operating from Tobruk against the advancing Axis forces has paid off handsomely. Two units of Italian fighters have been totally destroyed and some damage done to advancing german units in return for minor losses to a single Blenheim unit.
The wrap up of the Greek campaign was exceptionally disappointing, the entire 4th Indian Infantry Division will never be returning, along with an independent infantry brigade and some armored cars. A handful of other units were destroyed, but can be rebuilt. Only a single independent infantry brigade + a detached battalion returned intact.
Meanwhile, a full divisions worth of independent brigades are tied down in the Near east.
Despite that, the current SW position is very very strong. The Tobruk line is very well defended, with mobile reserves + strong artillery support and ample supply. A fall back position in Bardia/Sollum/Halfaya is already prepared. The Desert airforce has nearly unchallenged domination of the airspace over the front.
It will take a prolonged Axis build up and a tough fight to dig the CW out of this position., barring of course unforeseen weird events.
Re: Session 5 Report
If you don't post it, no one will read it
One way to get people to look at these boards is to increase the reasons why people would want to look here. On alot of sites (EN World, ConsimWorld, The Forge), AARs and story hours are very popular and will help generate a fair amount of traffic.
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)Re: Session 5 Report
Thank you both for these reports.
Almost as good as being there!
(In return, I suppose I could post a narrative about my victory in Round 2 of the 16th Star Fleet Battles Online Rated Ace Tournament, but nobody wants to read silly stuff like that...)
-DC
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)Re: Session 5 Report
Session 5
Game Period: 12 Feb 41 thru 29 May 41
Abbreviations used:
ID=Infantry Division
LD=Light Division
PD=Panzer Division
AD=Armor Division
Ground Ops
The beginning of this period saw the first Germans available for shipment to Africa, elements of the 5 Le (Light) Division. The Maltese were active in the latter period of the month, so shipment was slow. I expanded my hold on the map, advancing as far as El Agheila.
March saw an upsurge in cross-Med shipping. I brought across the rest of my new troops, including the first panzer battalions of the 5 LD. The British withdrew their forward postings and set their mobile elements away from the coast, threatening my flank should I drive on Benghazi. As I slowly advanced out of the salt marshes, the CW attempted to isolate and hit one of my forward battlegroups, as entioned by Eric above. The Axis air forces were able to disorganize the attack and counter-attack on my next turn. I slowly continued my advance (slowly, because supply wasn't exactly plentiful); the Axis forces tended to leap forward and then build up some more. A gap in the allied lines allowed me to occupy Benghazi unopposed, isolating the Senussi battalions in front of the city, who quickly surrendered. By this time, my second German division, the 15 PD, had begun to arrive, minus its tanks. By the beginning of May, the DAK HQ was in Benghazi and starting to repair the port damage, as well as building up some supply for the next stage of operations.
May saw the arrival of more tanks, and continuing supply buildup. In the beginning of May I staged the the DAK HQ and the 5 LD and 15 PD to my right flank. A double turn allowed me to sprint for the coast; sadly I fell short by one hex of bagging the 6 Australian, although the remainder of the Arab forces and 7th AD were destroyed. I advanced as far as the line Derna-Mechili, with the 15 PD and Ariete AD near Derna, and the 5 LD near Mechilli.
Air Operations
Axis air ops have been hampered by the lack of airbases. I built a L3 base at El Agheila to handle the ops for the advance on Benghazi; this isn't very useful at the moment. I don't have the spare HQ to build a new forward base until July.
Future Prospects
Build up of supplies at Benghazi proceeds apace; unfortunately, I will eventually need to rebase those supplies forward. Some supplies are making their way in at Derna, which has a small 2t port. I will likely have to rebase some/most of my trucks to Benghazi and begin to ship forward.
I'd like to assault the CW line in the near future, but several things make that inadvisable. First, the primary problem will be having enough supply. There is a common random event that can cause me to burn 2 SPs while "training"; needless to say, a few turns of that and I won't have much of a stockpile. Another problem is lack of forward air cover for my troops. This can be remeded, but is yet another black hole for my supply. Third, my Germans haven't yet acclimated to the desert. Their action ratings are 1 lower until 1 October. I am also suffering, oddly, from a lack of troops. Effectively, I have three armor/motorized divisions. This makes me dangerous in a mobile engagement, but considerably less useful attacking a fortified line. I will need some time to bring up more infantry.
Anyway, the future is definitely interesting; we will have to wait and see what the summer of '41 holds for us.
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