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warspite1 -> RE: Campaign For North Africa 40D-43 (12/24/2017 11:13:31 AM)
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Turn 43 - Axis Turn
7th May 1941
Before the Axis turn (Rounds) start, the company of Camerons north of Sidi Omar are destroyed.
The first attack is an air attack against Menastir. This causes little damage for the loss of 3 bombers.
A follow-up attack is made to the west and there are losses for both sides, although the Axis come off slightly worse.
The Axis continue their bombardments and losses are incurred at Tobruk, Sidi Omar and then two more attack against Tobruk....
The Indian infantry brigade HQ southwest of Sidi Omar is destroyed and, inexplicably, the Savona battalion west of Menastir attacks, and forces to withdraw, an Australian machine gun battalion.
Losses from artillery are really starting to increase at Tobruk, and the Mahratta battalion is forced to retreat toward Fort Capuzzo.
The only crumb of comfort at Tobruk is that there have been two bombardments to the west - and both have resulted in more Axis casualties than those received. Maybe its not all plain sailing for their artillery....
The retreating Mahrattas are destroyed not far from Fort Capuzzo.
Four more attacks are launched against Tobruk, but only in the southeastern corner are the losses in anyway concerning.
The action now moves to south of Gabr Saleh. An attack by Italian infantry is rebuffed by the 11th Hussars - but its more of a slogging match and both sides are hurt. A second weak attack here is again knocked back - and these two attacks sandwich another bombardment of Tobruk.
Back to Tobruk now, and the Axis launch another all out attack against the southwestern strongpoint. The enemy attack includes units from both panzer divisions, the Trento Division and the Brescia Infantry Division. The losses are very bad for the Axis and in the melee, a whole battalion of Brescia infantry is destroyed.
Two more bombardments are then meted out by the Axis - both of which fail to hurt the Allied forces in the front line.
The Italians are not giving up south of Gabr Saleh and they dislodge the 11th Hussars from their defensive position.
Three more bombardments against Tobruk are launched - but these inflict little pain and are more damaging to the Axis than to the Allied forces.
Attention switches back to Gabr Saleh once more and a bombardment of British positions to the south of the 11th Hussars. This sees the end of the turn - and not a moment too soon...
The number of attacks are roughly half what they have been, and the second major re-buff at Tobruk is heartening for Lt-General Neame's mind.
[image]local://upfiles/28156/70D47794C3E841D7AF31B7D3E211F205.jpg[/image]
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