Last stand in Africa (Full Version)

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FaneFlugt -> Last stand in Africa (12/11/2007 8:07:57 PM)

*Last stand in Africa*

FANEFLUGT vs. PHILMAIL

None of us have played the scenario before.

Game Notes taken from the gamefolder.

1. The Allies

Straight up, the Allies have the advantage in this scenario, especially in terms of replacements and the number of reinforcements. Although at this point in time the British 8th Army was an experienced and effective fighting force, it was largely tired and somewhat depleted after its costly victory at El Alamein, and the subsequent pursuit across North Africa. The British 1st Army, fresh and fully equipped, is for the most part untried and inexperienced. The US II Corps’ initial performance was nearly disastrous, while the ad-hoc French XIX Corps provided a small yet effective formation. Speed is of the essence in the first several turns if the Allies are to gain a victory before the crippling winter weather. As the game ends at any point with the capture of Tunis, a quick and well placed strike at the German line can mean the difference between early victory, or a desperate battle of attrition.

2. The Axis

Despite clear deficiencies, especially in Italian formations, the Axis player has the advantage of quality, both in formations and equipment, and in particular armour. If the Axis can delay the capture of Tunis, sufficient reinforcements will be shipped into the theatre to allow the possibility of dealing the Allies a significant blow. With careful deployment of armour and clever mobile tactics, the Axis will be able delay the Allies long enough to perhaps gain a victory. The Mareth Line defenses are one of the keys to their strategy. Played well, the Mareth Line will delay the 8th Army long enough to allow the preparation of strong defenses further north, as well as biding time for the DAK to rest and somewhat rebuild. The major weakness in Axis strategy is the possibility that the Allies will cut-off the DAK’s escape route, by driving through central Tunisia to the sea.


[image]local://upfiles/17545/22F8B90BF3AE472BB0538915658933B8.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 1:23:03 AM)

Axis turn 3.

Some logistical genius have convinced the OKW, to send 20 brand new Tiger tanks all the way from Germany, down through Italy to the port in Syracuse and then across the Mediterranian to Tunis. Its not that Im complaning Im just happily surprised. Now Ive ordered them to go and wreck havoc on those yanks! When they finish offloading their mobile toilets and show up on the frontline.



[image]local://upfiles/17545/1F0D161D88B84CE19F39A77B91B049EC.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 1:31:52 AM)

Axis turn 3 (part 2)

The Allies launched an attack on my central positions in the Mountains.
Amazingly the fieldline telephone to the Italian troops in tactical reserved,
was picked up by a competent Italian officer.

Even more amazingly he ordered reinforcements sent to the battle.
In the general chaos of retreating German Mot. Inf. troops.
The Italians managed to retake our positions and throw back the attackers.


Red arrows indicate allied attack.



[image]local://upfiles/17545/BBDE3213D3DA4E24B9255B0301CE76C1.jpg[/image]



cesteman -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 7:41:11 AM)

Where did this scneario come from? RD? Thanks.



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 3:00:13 PM)

Its in the WWII mediterranean folder that shipped with the game, 12th from the buttom in my folder.




FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 3:20:36 PM)

I found these maps of the Tunis campaign on the net.
http://www.secondworldwarhistory.com/maps_tunisia.asp

MAP A

[image]local://upfiles/17545/EE42EB4BF8D742CEBAF9DA7D75275C96.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 3:21:14 PM)

MAP 2

[image]local://upfiles/17545/7F2E712570BC4B6E8B1369A143E113EC.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 3:22:34 PM)

MAP 3

Lets hope I fare better [sm=duel.gif]

[image]local://upfiles/17545/361DBA20DAE74F14BD7D57E39C0623F8.jpg[/image]



desert -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 10:45:27 PM)

It would be interesting if you could pair up the game maps with these maps, so we could visualize the similarities.



cesteman -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/12/2007 11:22:37 PM)

Guess I should look in that folder some time. For some reason battles in the med never interested me much [&:]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:21:03 AM)

Axis turn 4.

More happy news. Someone in Berlin likes me. Check out the new airforce that just arrived.
Bombers with Enhanced targeting and fighters with night/all weather capability.

Ive decided to give the Yankee airforce a taste of these babies...

[image]local://upfiles/17545/3F3C4E50BAEA422B8BE669C6D4F8DD55.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:24:59 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)

My arab spies have informed me of an airfield full of Yankee planes.
My newly arrived bombers are ordered to make an airfield attack.
It will proberbly be like shooting "fish in a barrel" like they say in the
Hollywood gangster movies the men enjoy.

[image]local://upfiles/17545/D6CBF4E7CDDF4A4E8A49347372786ADC.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:29:11 AM)

Verdammt. Those US flyers were quite capable of defending themself.

Ach...

[image]local://upfiles/17545/A661CF47C39E4BF7B77503B91769C401.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:36:10 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)

Account of Egon Keller. Flak gunner.

"Jah es war ganz wunderbar...

We where zdriving through thez desert when suddenly out of the Blue
Came some allied Planes. Little did they know that they had picked
the wrong target. We scattered out in the desert and quickly deployed our guns.
When they swung around and made their attack run we opened fire on them withz
all we had. Afterward we gave one of the surviving pilots a some warm beer and and
some italian sausage, he needed it

He he..."

[image]local://upfiles/17545/776ADF1EEEDF451489CDDA20C37C2102.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:46:34 AM)

I must admit that I had no idea what to do about the situation on the frontline.
I was sitting in my tent. Reading Schiller, when a young staff officer leaned over
the map of the front line and mumbled something about Napoleon and the need
for keeping your internal lines open. After a quick look at the map I saw what he meant.

I informed my officers lay of my plan. we had retreated too far and the northern
Frontline was badly connected with the rest of the front. An attack to regain the road
connecting them was put in motion.

Area indicated with the black and red arrows

[image]local://upfiles/17545/1DD52E78CABC4A1C84BFBB4744D1D63C.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:52:31 AM)

The attack began with a five day artillery bombardment.

23 x 75 mm. Guns.

12 x 100 mm. Howitzer.

12 x 150 mm. guns.

Shelled the heavily fortified British postion.

Before on the fifth day our aufklarungs boys said that
all minefields and barbwire was destroyed.


[image]local://upfiles/17545/395CFC874FAA40728C206C9600A99585.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 1:56:45 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)

2 Italian Inf battalions, 1 german Mot. Inf Battalion in a limited support role.
And all of our artillery where ordered to attack. There wasent really any of us
who believed the Italians would be able to make a succesfull attack.

[image]local://upfiles/17545/1485A8CB0CC74EE2A640C81C33598511.jpg[/image]



desert -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:02:38 AM)

Let's see how that turns out.



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:04:42 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)

Du liebes gott. They did it!?! the Italians actually took the british position.
I reprimende my junior officers, with several quotes from Nietzsche.
For having on several occasions uttered negative opinions about
the Italian troops will to succes.

I had my doubts about the current situation though. As I had no reinforcment
to send into the gap in the line the gallant italians had made.

[image]local://upfiles/17545/6491546760C24C268E5A2DCD5B68306A.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:13:43 AM)

Axis turn 4.

Before I had any chance to stop Him one of the Italian
Battalion commanders decided to excersice some personal
Initiative, Something we offcourse value highly in the
Wehrmacht.

He overan the village of Bedja, and routed an allied
Armourd artillery postion, an HQ and a Flak postion.

What a HERO!!

Offcourse that put him in a very dangerous position of being
cut off by that annoying british panzerunit, to the south east.

[image]local://upfiles/17545/E1AF94016E5E4A9AB261E1270F1CC2B0.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:20:56 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)


I must admit that the athmospere in our HQ was a bit
Eurphoric. Blinded by our intial succes an all out attack
on the British amoured unit and its support troops where
Issued by me! Everything that could drive, walk or creep
Where ordered into the attack. The men where in such a high
Spirit that they would have tolerated heavy causilties in the
attack.



[image]local://upfiles/17545/B4FBF62383A34822978C0DDBF2B08F27.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:22:39 AM)

Axis turn 4.

I submit the units orded to attack.



[image]local://upfiles/17545/08EB1A8F1BCF4009A96CA138D25DA186.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:52:19 AM)

Axis turn 4 (continued)

Its amazing. My eyes are full of tears Im so
Gooddamn proud of my boys. A complete Allied
Rout and not a single of our guys dead. It looks like
the situation is stable. But Im affraid the initiative
has passed to the allied.

And our startegic objective have been accomplished.
Our internal lines are open. Now we just need to push
back the allies so they cant shell the road. And hamper
our movement.


[image]local://upfiles/17545/C4125A8FFDA14E88B32AE5D245248908.jpg[/image]



desert -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 2:52:48 AM)

That didn't turn out too well, did it?


EDIT:Imagine my chagrin when I saw that you posted news of your victory mere seconds before.



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 3:02:49 AM)

END OF AXIS TURN 4

Frontline.

[image]local://upfiles/17545/F5206547DBC94375AD77025342B44392.jpg[/image]



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/13/2007 3:05:03 AM)

quote:


In reply to Desert.

That didn't turn out too well, did it?


EDIT:Imagine my chagrin when I saw that you posted news of your victory mere seconds before.


Im as surprised as you are [:D]


Though that Italian Battalion In Bedja Is likely to be cut of and annihilated. [:(]



philmail -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/16/2007 10:29:33 PM)

I have only played against PO and a couple of games pbem. So this will be interesting.

After my turn 3, I remembered that I planned to use that armoured unit in reserve ... doooh. So I thought next turn I will pull it out into reserve. As usual, when I thought this it ends up attacked and routed. Splendid reserve unit. If I can get it out.

Well let us see what happens now.

Philmail



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (12/19/2007 4:01:57 AM)

-AXIS TURN 5-

Another turn and the allies are in complete control of the skies.
Luckely for our movements behind the front line, The enemy bomber crews
seem to be sipping tea, rather than harrasing our troop movements.

We recieved 3 geman artillery units by ship. They where placed in camoflage positions

I have personally called the commander in charge of the Luftwaffe in N. Africa
To ask him why his planes arent in the air, supporting our men. His adjudant
Told me he was in Tunis for the week, with his wife! Imagine that, sending wives
to N. Africa, when what we need is more men! Luftwaffe Abschaum!

[image]http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6923/5airbriefingjt5.jpg[/image][image]http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1662/5flyerfederdenji1.jpg[/image]

On the ground the Allies have dealt a heavy blow to my Italian allies.
Bedja has been retaken and all radio contack with the Italian Battalion defending the village
has stopped! Lets hope they havent surrendered!
And they have retaken the road area held by the other Italian battalion, The unit came
under heavy attack But managed to disengage an retreat in good order through our lines.
The Battalion is currently being resupplied with ammunition and wine.

[image]http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/8370/alliedattacksul3.jpg[/image]

So the allied commander is a Dummes Huhn I order a limitedflank attack by a Mot. Inf
Battalion to the north of the Allied postion.

[image]http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/9058/turn5langrebeu0.jpg[/image]

The attack is stopped, but it was only a diversion. Suddenly german tanks come crashing
through the allied defense routing the tommies.

[image]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4817/turn5andetangreguk8.jpg[/image]

Once more we are in control of the road.

[image]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/5403/turn52attackresultia2.jpg[/image]


My Scouts in the central tunisia reports the presence of a large convoy of american
amoured units approaching through the desert. They are ordered to blow all bridges
to slow them down.


[image]http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2841/reconblowsbridgesqc4.jpg[/image]


-END OF TURN 5-



FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (1/5/2008 2:50:07 PM)

-AXIS TURN 6-

[image]local://upfiles/17545/A5223C34734942AFA3EBC98B05DE863E.jpg[/image]


Not much to report from the frontline.
The rain have started in N. Africa.
Making it harder to get ammunition and
gun grease to the men in the foxholes.


The americans didnt turn south towards Maktar
But tried to cross the river at Oued Silianah.
We set up some improvised defensive lines.
with our mobile 10. pz. corps. Hopefully they can
delay long enough for the inf. to arrive and dig
in.

[image]http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7711/turn6amercanattackinthesz0.jpg[/image]

END OF TURN 6





FaneFlugt -> RE: Last stand in Africa (1/5/2008 8:53:48 PM)

-AXIS TURN 7-

The Yanks launch an assault across the river.
They are repulsed. Situation could become
unfavorable.

Rest of the front: Quiet...

[image]local://upfiles/17545/4DAD225055034514B6277CA9872E1A0F.jpg[/image]

End of turn 7



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