RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW)

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/13/2018 4:59:25 AM

warspite1

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Turn 147 - Axis Turn (in real time)
11th February 1942

Air base unit on the coast retreats then evaporates

Mersah Matruh falls to the evil Axis!

Usual drill � Italian units move up to the western front in large numbers.

AA units destroyed and 2nd Camerons surrounded

Wahey! One AA battery survives!

Units start moving in the east now

An air base unit heads for the northern banks of the Qattara Depression � while an Italian unit heads directly east and then disappears from sight. The Germans send out another one and it too disappears from view. I wonder how far they've moved? A third finds the Commando unit on the northeastern corner � and tank and mechanised forces are despatched to destroy them.

The company � what�s left of it � retreats numerous times to the north
More Germans are sent to destroy the company of 5th Division infantry to the west. I wonder if devoncop knows there is now nothing between his forces and Cairo�.?

He then sets up a screen to cover off my forces to the north.
The number of units available to the Axis player at this point seems ridiculous�. He now has a solid line of units stretching from east of Mersah Matruh to the eastern end of the Qattara Depression....

Large numbers of aircraft are seen flying in - including Ju-87D's

The 2nd Camerons, and the LAA unit with it, evaporate.

End of playback.

Hahahahahahahahaha � Just as devoncop makes a potentially war winning move, my armour in that area reorganises � and of course the final 3 battalions and one AT regiment of the 70th Division withdraw!! Only 4 more turns until the 4th Indian start to disappear too�.

Playing the CW is just sheer, unremitting fun�in fact, I haven't had this much fun since I had open heart surgery.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/13/2018 6:05:02 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 601

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/13/2018 7:02:04 PM

warspite1

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Turn 147
11th February 1942

The air situation - I will decide what to do with these in due course but one again, given how far away his airbases are (except the newly taken Mersah) I should be able to give his air forces a bloody nose - although why does that fact not fill me with confidence?

18 (0 operational) Hurricane sqns - 354/408 aircraft - 6 in reserve - 6 replacements per turn - 14.8 sqns�
6 (0 operational) Blenheim sqns - 144/144 aircraft - 85 in reserve - 3 replacements per turn�- 6 sqns
3 (0 operational) Tomahawk sqns - 36/72 aircraft - 3 in reserve - 0 replacements per turn�- 1.5 sqns
1 (0 operational) Albacore sqn - 6/10 aircraft - 1 in reserve - 0 replacements per turn�- 0.3 sqns
1 (0 operational) Beaufighter sqn - 23/24 aircraft - 28 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn�- 1 sqn
1 (0 operational) Gladiator sqn - 11/24 aircraft - 1 in reserve - 0 replacement per turn�0.5 sqns
3 (0 operational) Wellington sqn - 72/72 aircraft - 63 in reserve - 2 replacements per turn�- 3 sqns
5 (0 operational) Kittyhawk sqn - 120/120 aircraft - 104 in reserve - 4 replacements per turn - 5 sqns
1 (0 Operational) Boston sqn - 24/24 aircraft - 29 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn - 1 sqn
1 (0 Operational) Baltimore sqn - 14/24 aircraft - 38 in reserve - 0 replacement per turn - 0.6 sqns

Nominal Strength 40 Squadrons - actual strength 33.5

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/13/2018 7:10:50 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 602

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/13/2018 7:11:56 PM

warspite1

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Turn 147
11th February 1942

I have no choice but to continue trying to retreat and just hope its not as costly as the last two turns....

Typical. I could have got away by about five hexes as I didn't lose any infantry in the retreat. However, in addition to the 2nd Armoured Division, the 22nd Guards Brigade are reorganising too. As it is I have has to leave the Staffs behind, but I want to give them a fighting chance and so don't retreat further. Once again my AA units get whittled away - I lose one regiment and two batteries in the retreat.

Once again, here is the position post retreat but before sorting the units. Note: two more airfields have been yielded.... In those four Axis squares alone are 16 artillery pieces.....

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/13/2018 7:25:26 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 603

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/14/2018 7:20:52 AM

warspite1

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Turn 147
11th February 1942

Right let's see if I can make sense of the air war. I decide to concentrate my air assets to the east. There is no point in using the forward airfields anymore as if the units end up reorganising (as per with the CW) then they will simply be lost - assuming they're not lost in the air anyway.

All six Blenheim squadrons - full supply and readiness and with proficiency at between 71% and 82% (except one on 66%) are deployed on the western fringes of the Delta. They have interdiction orders and range sufficient to worry the Axis forces north of the Qattara Depression. There is no possibility therefore of them raiding airfields or getting involved where the enemy has air superiority. The same orders are given to two of the three Wellington squadrons and the Boston squadron.

That's 9 bomber squadrons - all on interdiction and all nowhere near close enemy airfields.

For fighter cover 3 Hurricane squadrons are deployed at Qotifya. They have a range of just 10 so won't get drawn into fighting in the west.

One Hurricane and two Kittyhawk squadrons are based at Sidi Abd el-Rahman.

Further east, at El Hammam there are three South African Hurricanes and then comes three Tomahawk squadrons - low on numbers but excellent stats - at Burg El Arab. Finally, at the aircraft park at Amiriya there are 3 Hurricanes, a Kittyhawk and a Gladiator squadron.

All other squadrons are at rest:

1 Albacore
1 Baltimore
1 Beaufighter
8 Hurricane
2 Kittyhawk
1 Wellington

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/14/2018 8:57:54 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 604

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/14/2018 9:27:21 PM

warspite1

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Turn 147
11th February 1942

I am still miffed that I couldn't retreat further in the west thanks to the 22nd Guards Brigade reorganising. But nothing I can do about that now. I take the opportunity of pulling back one hex in the south. I can't afford to retreat too far because I need to keep a channel open for units to retreat in the west.

I spend the turn making a few bombardments against 4 Axis hexes in the centre of my southern facing units.

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 605

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 8:18:41 AM

warspite1

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Turn 148 - Axis Turn in real time
14th February 1942

Usual start - the Italian infantry are moved forward in the west. A company of the 15th LAA Regt. retreats and then evaporates as does the 89th HAA, but a company of the 57th manages to make it back to the CW lines.

The South Staffs are pressured pending an attack - and in the south an airbase unit that was caught out also manages to retreat to the southern line.

More probing by his recce airbase units in the east - they worryingly go out of site (I never did find those other two.....).

More aircraft noises - no doubt taking up the forward airbases I had to withdraw from

There are then some manoeuvres north of the Qattara Depression which looks like devoncop is just ensuring possession of all hexes but so far no move north by the forces there.

Now the bombardments starts...

There are three - one an air attack on my southern defence that costs relatively light casualties - but costs the Axis 7 bombers (2 destroyed) - glad to see my aircraft did not get involved.

In the northeastern corner of the line another air raid costs slightly more damage - but 5 bombers are lost too (1 destroyed). Really pleasing to see no intervention from my fighters as planned. What is very annoying though is there does not appear to have been a single interception attempt?!?!??

The other bombardment was in the southwestern corner and resulted in few casualties.

There was no attack attempted against the lone Staffs Bn. Maybe a clever move by devoncop. This way the unit does not retreat and so more chance of being engaged this turn... clever

.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 8:31:21 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 606

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 8:38:34 AM

warspite1

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Turn 148
14th February 1942

We simply can't have a turn without a CW unit reorganising can we? This time its the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade.

This is interesting. According to the air briefing I lost 19 aircraft this turn?

So there must have been some interdiction attempts??? I can see I've lost a number of Boston, Wellington and Blenheim aircraft. Sorry but in my opinion the Game designers really need to get this sorted. This is an important part of the game and I have no idea what just happened. Did I lose those aircraft to AA? Did I lose an air battle? Did I do any damage to the enemy? What? The air briefing says the enemy lost 22 aircraft. Now I know that 12 were lost (3 destroyed) in ground strikes so that suggests there were further losses in interception attacks?

I do a check on my squadrons and I find - as per the briefing - I lost almost a squadron's worth of aircraft - for what benefit I have no idea. I will look to keep the same plan going this turn - albeit reduced as my Boston and two Wellington squadrons are reorganising - and see what happens. But first.... its back to trying to extricate my forces from the west once more....

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 8:58:32 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 607

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 6:37:51 PM

warspite1

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Turn 148
14th February 1942

Here goes - the moment (or one of them

) that I dread each turn; trying to dis-engage my forces from the front line.

Losses to the AA units remain unsustainable but the big casualty was the battalion of the Royal East Kent Regiment. However I have to be practical about this. Losing the units through retreat costs the numbers below*. But staying around and being bombarded by, I don't know how many, artillery pieces and aircraft would be significantly worse.... (replacement rate in brackets)

40 rifle squads (75)
4 SMG squads (15)
10 heavy machine guns (23)
6 medium machine guns (36)
5 3-inch mortars (9)
8 50mm mortars (14)
12 tracked carriers (7)
108 trucks (98)
2 2-pounder AA guns (2)
2 2-pounder AT guns (2)

*In addition there will be some losses from interdiction and I will have lost some further men and equipment when trying to disengage.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 7:04:00 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 608

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 7:07:45 PM

warspite1

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Turn 148
14th February 1942

As I start to organise my units so the interdiction efforts by devoncop make themselves known. This is another unpleasant new twist to have to contend with.....

Having dealt with my land units its over to the air forces - and no surprises for guessing the position (RAF unless stated)....

After one turn, of my three forward-most fighter units:

Hurricane b has just 8/24 aircraft left
Hurricane d has just 7/24 aircraft left
RAAF Hurricane b has 11/24 and is reorganising

At the next airfield to the east, Sidi Abd el-Rahman

Hurricane c has 19/24 (readiness down to 79%)
Kittyhawk a has 15/24 and is reorganising
Kittyhawk b has 20/24 (readiness down to 73%)

At El Hammam the position is not as bad as the airfields are some way from the Germans - but even so is hardly brilliant

SAAF Hurricane a has 16/24 (readiness down to 51%)
SAAF Hurricane d has 17/24 (readiness down to 91%)
SAAF Hurricane e has 16/24 and is reorganising

At Burg El Arab - all the way back almost to the Delta

Tomahawk a has 8/24 (readiness down to 47%)
Tomahawk b has 6/24 and is reorganising
Tomahawk c has 9/24 (readiness down to 49%)

Of the five squadrons at Amiriya

FF Hurricane a has 12/24 (readiness down to 42%)
Kittyhawk c has 22/24 with the only decent readiness of all the fighters on operations last turn..... and is reorganising
Hurricane h has 18/24 - I can only assume this squadron never managed to engage anytime with anybody....
Gladiator has 9/24 and is reorganising
SAAF Hurricane b has 15/24 (readiness down to 67%)

The air briefing is telling me I've lost 33 to 147 enemy.... but I suspect the enemy nos. are exaggerated. Anyway there is little point placing fighters anywhere near the front as I have insufficient squadrons at anywhere near full strength/readiness to go through a turn like that again....

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 8:26:46 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 609

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 9:33:47 PM

warspite1

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Turn 149 - Axis Turn (in real time)
18th February 1942

The turn begins with air force reinforcements heading east around Bardia.

There are then circa 1,300 invisible moves

The Italians then turn their attention to the western front. A battery of the 2nd HAA Regt. evaporates - as does a second after surviving the initial attack.

As usual the Italians pull up to the western front adjacent to my units.

A plucky battery of the 13th Light AA finds sanctuary - even if only temporary - in my front line

The Buffs are surrounded and the last remaining AA battery evaporates

The enemy then begins to probe my units to the east using a motorcycle battalion - I wonder what action he will take as a result?

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 9:34:29 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 610

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 9:37:54 PM

warspite1

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Turn 149 - Axis Turn (in real time)
18th February 1942

Further probes are conducted to the east of the Qattara Depression using his air base units and a panzer battalion follows them.... A second battalion from the 5th Regiment follows his tank buddy as does an Italian mechanised unit.

About a billion artillery units then set up on the western front as per usual and it looks like devoncop is bringing in the panzers to deal with the surrounded Buffs.

More units head east

Then the bombardments start. A battery of HAA evaporates - this was one that was badly shot up last turn and I couldn't move him out of the front line. Will devoncop now exploit the gap?

Well that's concerning - there is now a hole in my line - where did the infantry go???

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/15/2018 9:46:43 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 611

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 9:56:55 PM

warspite1

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Turn 149 - Axis Turn (in real time)
18th February 1942

More aircraft weirdness - at the end of the playback I got this message from devoncop....

Note: I went through the Axis turn one by one and there was no mention of air unit evaporation at all.....

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 612

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/15/2018 10:02:53 PM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

How the hell are the CW supposed to win this thing??? For the second time in about 3 turns, the 2nd Armoured reorganises - they are nowhere near the front, they haven't been attacked I mean what is the point of this useless unit? ...the 1st French Brigade are reorganising (no where near the front either) and worst of all - the 8th Army assets are reorganising so to retreat this turn and not get bombarded to hell I have to lose 9 AA units and 2 artillery regiments in addition to whatever I lose trying to disengage.

Air Force situation

18 (0 operational) Hurricane sqns - 342/408 aircraft - 17 in reserve - 6 replacements per turn� 14.3
6 (0 operational) Blenheim sqns - 141/144 aircraft - 90 in reserve - 3 replacements per turn� 5.9
3 (0 operational) Tomahawk sqns - 29/72 aircraft - 5 in reserve - 0 replacements per turn� 1.2
1 (0 operational) Albacore sqn - 6/10 aircraft - 1 in reserve - 0 replacements per turn� 0.3
1 (0 operational) Beaufighter sqn - 16/24 aircraft - 34 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn� 0.7
1 (0 operational) Gladiator sqn - 9/24 aircraft - 2 in reserve - 0 replacement per turn� 0.4
3 (0 operational) Wellington sqn - 70/72 aircraft - 68 in reserve - 2 replacements per turn� 2.9
5 (0 operational) Kittyhawk sqn - 110/120 aircraft - 117 in reserve - 4 replacements per turn 4.6
1 (0 Operational) Boston sqn - 23/24 aircraft - 28 in reserve - 1 replacement per turn 1.0
1 (0 Operational) Baltimore sqn - 21/24 aircraft - 35 in reserve - 0 replacement per turn 0.9

So of a paper strength of 40 squadrons (39 available for operations), my actual strength is equivalent to 32, although this is mis-leading as the Tomahawk squadrons are single figures with no replacements and of course these nos. include Albacore and Gladiator aircraft.

I'll try and work out what to do once I know what troops have managed to escape.

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 4:26:35 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 613

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 4:16:30 AM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

Before looking at reinforcements and possible placements I need to go through the usual routine of trying to extract as many units as possible. Here goes....

Losing this number of AA guns is a disaster - but losing the artillery.....

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 4:27:26 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 614

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 4:34:14 AM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

Right let' try and look for some positives. I do have some decent reinforcements in terms of number of units and type - namely precious infantry and tanks - there are even two artillery regiments!

Sadly, nothing is ever easy and the tanks of the 10th Armoured are reorganising and so not available....

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 615

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 4:50:47 AM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

...but no matter. I have the Royal Scots Greys (annoyingly spelt with two t's on the unit report) so there

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 5:05:04 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 616

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 5:05:18 AM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

On a more practical note I get the other two brigades of the 50th Division. I fall off my chair at the realisation that the British actually have a full division employed - three infantry brigades (with three battalions each) + a machine gun battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, three field artillery regiments, an AA regiment and an anti-tank regiment

I take the existing brigade out of the line to join up with their comrades coming from the Delta. They will be tasked with shoring up the position southeast of El-Alamein.

A look at the reinforcement schedule shows these are the only appreciable infantry reinforcements for 8 turns and before I get those - I lose another 5 battalions....

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 6:12:42 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 617

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 6:38:36 AM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

I've almost finished placing my land units - the turns take a long time as there is soooo much to think about; the stacks needs to be strong but not 'overstacked', not too many units from a single formation is to be placed in the front line - because if that unit reorganises that is then a big problem, there needs to be an armoured reserve maintained in case of breakthrough, the second line of the most threatened sectors need infantry too and of course movement takes longer as I try and avoid the road (because this attracts more chance of air strikes).

I've still got fine tuning to do and of course I have to decide what to do in the air....

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 6:40:46 AM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 618

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 7:07:34 PM

warspite1

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Turn 149
18th February 1942

The air forces are deployed (RAF unless stated) as follows. All other squadrons are placed to rest. The maximum range of all air units is no further than the western defence line.

Qotifya
Hurricane f - 22/24
Kittyhawk b - 20/24
SAAF Hurricane d - 21/24

Sidi Abd el-Rahman
SAAF Hurricane f - 20/24
SAAF P-40 - 24/24

El Hammam
Hurricane g - 18/24
Kittyhawk c - 23/24
RAAF P-40 - 23/24

Burg El Arab
Hurricane a - 16/24
Hurricane c - 21/24

Amiriya
SAAF Hurricane b - 17/24
RAAF Hurricane c - 21/24

Baltimore a - 21/24
Albacore - 7/10
Boston - 23/24
Blenheim c - 24/24
Blenheim d - 23/24
SAAF Blenheim a - 24/24

Also at Amiriya are 3 squadrons with awful proficiency. They've been given lesser ranges to ensure that if they are called into battle it will be at the eastern fringes of the army - and thus in theory less likely to encounter too much opposition.

Hurricane e - 24/24
SAAF Hurricane c - 23/24

Wellington a - 24/24

Dekheila
Wellington b - 23/24
Wellington c - 23/24

Wadi Natrun
Blenheim a - 22/24
Blenheim b - 24/24
SAAF Blenheim b - 24/24

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 7:32:09 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 619

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 9:11:15 PM

warspite1

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From: England
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Turn 150 - Axis Turn (in real time)
21st February 1942

The turn starts with the Italians beating up the units left behind. A battery of the 87th HAA Regt. survives two retreats and then evaporates in site of friendly lines, but a battery of the 57th HAA makes it. A second battery evaporates and then a third - soon six have been destroyed.

The Axis then push north in the south and at the northeastern edge of the Quattara Depression they surround my commando unit.

Aircraft are flown into the advanced airfields.

Yet more reinforcements come piling through the Jebel....

Another four batteries gets back to 'safety'

There is lots of movement now in the east but disappointingly there is no sign of my bombers....

Lots more armour units heading east now.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 9:27:47 PM >

_____________________________

England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805

(in reply to warspite1)

Post #: 620

RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/16/2018 9:34:40 PM

warspite1

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Turn 150 - Axis Turn (in real time)
21st February 1942

My surrounded commandoes in the east are attacked and evaporate as does the battalion of 'Buffs' in the west and the sole remaining AA battery.

I'm not sure where but the next message is that one of my field artillery battalions evaporates but I couldn't see a bombardment or air strike....

More moves up to the front - how many units do the Axis have!?!?!

Then in the south the company of Worcesters retreat and now have their backs to the Quattara Depression.... but not for long as they then evaporate.

The moves continue interspersed with bombardments sounds.

During the playback there was no mention of any airstrikes whatsoever but according to devoncop there was lots of interdiction going on

and the Air Briefing suggests losses were 43 aircraft vs 67. Once again the end result is that despite what is being said, the Axis air superiority has widened.....

Right....

Let's see what the state of each squadron is after that turn and compare to the position just prior (current actuals in brackets):

Qotifya
Hurricane f - 22/24 (23)
Kittyhawk b - 20/24 (22)
SAAF Hurricane d - 21/24 (20)

So at my furthest west airfield I've got more aircraft than last turn - presumably the replacements have kicked in here so I've no idea what I lost in the last round.

Sidi Abd el-Rahman
SAAF Hurricane f - 20/24 (18)
SAAF P-40 - 24/24 (21 - now reorganising)

This fighter group seems to have been involved quite a bit

El Hammam
Hurricane g - 18/24 (17 - now reorganising)
Kittyhawk c - 23/24 (18)
RAAF P-40 - 23/24 (22 - now reorganising)

As does this one. Losses and resulting reorganising

Burg El Arab
Hurricane a - 16/24 (13)
Hurricane c - 21/24 (12)

This fighter group - even though some way from the front - has taken a right pasting

Amiriya
SAAF Hurricane b - 17/24 (17 - now reorganising)
RAAF Hurricane c - 21/24 (19 - now reorganising)
Hurricane e - 24/24 (15 - now reorganising)
SAAF Hurricane c - 23/24 (21)

Baltimore a - 21/24 (21 - now reorganising)
Albacore - 7/10 (6 - now reorganising)
Boston - 23/24 (17)
Blenheim c - 24/24 (21 - now reorganising)
Blenheim d - 23/24 (22 - now reorganising)
SAAF Blenheim a - 24/24 (23 - now reorganising)
Wellington a - 24/24 (21)

Pretty standard fare. After one turn the British bombers are a total mess - as are the fighters with them....

Dekheila
Wellington b - 23/24 (19)
Wellington c - 23/24 (20)

The Wellingtons took some pain but frankly that is par for the course everytime they take-off - I'm amazed they weren't evaporated.

Wadi Natrun
Blenheim a - 22/24 (20 - now reorganising)
Blenheim b - 24/24 (21 - now reorganising)
SAAF Blenheim b - 24/24 (23)

More of the same for the CW bombers here too.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record I would be very interested in understanding why the game is designed in this way. To have 100% accurate details of what damage was done to enemy aircraft and ground units would not be realistic - but this mechanic is far, far more damaging to the game. This is the historical equivalent of Longmore asking his squadron commanders the following questions and (in game terms) getting the following answers:

How many squadrons took off? - We don't know
How many sorties did each make - we don't know
Where did the bombers fly too - we don't know
Which fighters escorted which bomber squadrons - we don't know
Did you make contact with the enemy air forces - we don't know
Did you manage to attack enemy ground units - we don't know
How many of your own planes were downed as a result of the action taken part in - we don't know
On the basis you found some enemy ground troops can you give a rough idea of where they were and their composition - we don't know

Right. Taxi for the Air Chief Marshall

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/16/2018 10:38:37 PM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 4:48:12 AM

warspite1

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Turn 150
21st February 1942

Okay so next turn I lose the three infantry battalions of the Indian 7th Brigade (part of 4th Indian Division).

These units are part of my southern front and so the first thing I do is move them out of the line - the last thing I want is them disappearing from the front line just as the Axis attack.....

Next up its the usual game of retreat and hope I don't lose too many units through engagement..

I get all infantry battalions away - and an artillery Regt. and even the two AT units in the front line. But then a battery of the 25th LAA Regt. evaporates trying to extricate itself from the southwest corner of the line. A battery of the 87th HAA is caught and will be swallowed up next turn. Two recce companies of South Africans (1st Division) share the same fate. A battery from the 57th HAA was reorganising anyway so they are lost.

All told that is not too bad.

As I start moving my extricated and other units east, so they start to come under interdiction attack.

The question is where to stop running?

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< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/17/2018 5:22:12 AM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 5:41:10 AM

warspite1

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Turn 150
21st February 1942

Too late... the Axis forces are already at the edge of the mountains. But it gets worse. There is actually a track through the Quattara Depression... really?

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< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/17/2018 5:43:04 AM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 7:05:58 AM

warspite1

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Turn 150
21st February 1942

I decide to keep my aircraft flying - what I have to spare that is:

Paper strength: 40 Squadrons (actual strength is the equivalent of just 27.7 squadrons. I am almost 100 Hurricanes short of authorised strength and am missing almost 50 Blenheims, 30 Kittyhawks - not to mention my Tomahawk squadrons which are now at just 43% of authorised.

Squadron breakdown
Operational (Fighters) - 12
Operational (Bombers) - 3
Rest - 10
Reorganising - 15

Just the tidying up to do, but these are the dispositions. I have gradually moved the armour east. 50th Division have been moved south with 4th Armoured Brigade behind. 1st Army Tank Brigade takes their place in line and 1st Armoured shuffles along to take over that brigade's position. That leaves 22nd Armoured Brigade and 2nd Armoured Division (well one brigade of it) to cover the west.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/17/2018 7:30:14 AM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 7:23:55 AM

Szilard

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His supply situation down south has to be crap, doesn't it?

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 10:19:19 AM

warspite1

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Szilard

His supply situation down south has to be crap, doesn't it?

warspite1

I hope so

but sadly I can't tell. And I don't know what effect taking Tobruk has.

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 12:06:01 PM

warspite1

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Turn 151 - Axis Turn (in real time)
25th February 1942

The Axis start as usual with the Italians in the north. A battery from the 57th HAA Regt. is no more and another from the 87th is quickly dispatched to the next world.

To the east of the Quattara Depression an RAF base unit gets the 'treatment' before evaporating at the second time of asking. Interestingly the units that attacked then seemed to move back west having done so....

Although there are panzers in the east, there remains a lot of heavy German units on the coastal plain too

The sound of more aircraft being brought up is unwelcome

There are then a great many reinforcements heading east around Tobruk

They're up to move 3,406 now and attention switches back east.

More aircraft moving up before the Italians attack the last surrounded unit - a South African Recce company.

That brings the turn to an end. devoncop tells me he was more cautious this turn because of some Indian troops he'd seen and was wary of a flanking move.

Not sure which he's referring to but that's okay with me!

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/17/2018 12:22:37 PM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 12:26:18 PM

warspite1

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Turn 151
25th February 1942

You couldn't make it up

. I get a breathing space which I am looking to exploit this turn and...... the 1st South Africans go into reorganisation mode....

I lose an air unit which must've evaporated but got no message as usual. A look at the Air Unit Report shows its the Albacore squadron. The air briefing suggests I lost 17 aircraft that turn (to the Axis 20) but I don't know any details for reasons moaned incessantly about previously.

My multi-national force continues to grow more diverse - I now receive the Royal Yugoslav Guards

I don't really know what to do right now. I can't afford to write-off two battalions of infantry and the AT and AA units with them. But if I stay and face his artillery and aircraft I'll lose a damn site more. I also need to be mindful that I lose two British Battalions and the three Indian Battalions of the 5th Brigade in the next few turns....

Right. The decision is made - to try and stand and fight to allow the reorganising battalions the possibility of getting away. It's a risky move but then again so is every option at present. Ho hum....

< Message edited by warspite1 -- 3/17/2018 2:19:42 PM >

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 3:50:07 PM

Curtis Lemay

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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

There is actually a track through the Quattara Depression... really?

But not through the escarpment. Look carefully.

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RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) - 3/17/2018 3:56:28 PM

Curtis Lemay

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quote:

ORIGINAL: warspite1

quote:

ORIGINAL: Szilard

His supply situation down south has to be crap, doesn't it?

warspite1

I hope so but sadly I can't tell. And I don't know what effect taking Tobruk has.

Taking Tobruk will not have any effect at all now. That's because you must not have read my post #4 here:

http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4444651

And you didn't follow the "gentleman's agreement" I suggested there. Perhaps you can get your opponent to give Mersa Matruh back to you? (Seriously).

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