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

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

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warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/13/2018 5:12:18 PM)
Turn 36 18th January 1941 The Australians are proving brittle and are reorganising once more. I start with a series of bombardments, but first push the rest of the Polish brigade onto the coastal road to try and continue impeding the Italian retreat. I do the same with the Australian 20th Brigade further to the west and have the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers guarding their rear south of the escarpment. [image]local://upfiles/28156/BF5111EF421D419FB545A0E1B6ACEB3F.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/13/2018 5:32:52 PM)
Turn 36 - Round 3 18th January 1941 Another mix of bombardments and a couple of combats are planned. These are largely successful but I can't help the thought I've played this pretty badly. There are a number of Italian divisions that appear to not be engaged at all and that is not good - e.g. I haven't seen the Sirte, Savona or Sabratha divisions. Round 5 Not bad results this time in that I've cleared the last remaining Italians from the El Adem area. The next Round will almost certainly be the last so this is all about anything I can do to trap as many units as possible. Round 7 This round saw the Italians pushed back further - but the only thing that matters now is the extent to which the units around Tobruk can be trapped and destroyed..... Position pre-Round 7 [image]local://upfiles/28156/0DDEC273BFB8485AB280CC9E5D482436.jpg[/image]

Zorch -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/13/2018 6:08:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 36 - Round 3 18th January 1941 Another mix of bombardments and a couple of combats are planned. These are largely successful but I can't help the thought I've played this pretty badly. There are a number of Italian divisions that appear to not be engaged at all and that is not good - e.g. I haven't seen the Sirte, Savona or Sabratha divisions. Historically you are behind in terms of territory, and probably in losses, too. Is it time to think about fortifying before Rommel comes?

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 4:34:19 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zorch quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 36 - Round 3 18th January 1941 Another mix of bombardments and a couple of combats are planned. These are largely successful but I can't help the thought I've played this pretty badly. There are a number of Italian divisions that appear to not be engaged at all and that is not good - e.g. I haven't seen the Sirte, Savona or Sabratha divisions. Historically you are behind in terms of territory, and probably in losses, too. Is it time to think about fortifying before Rommel comes? warspite1 I am probably about a week behind in terms of territory (depending on when I can actually get Tobruk) but in terms of digging in I can't think about that because I still try and need to get as many Italians as possible. So my current priority list is: - Take Tobruk - Destroy as many Italian units as possible - Head west to try and take Derna and Benghazi and destroy as many Italian units as possible - Remind myself of what happened in the game vs the AI. There is something wrong with the withdrawals table and I need to be clear in my mind when the Aussies start disappearing. I then need to come up with a plan for facing Rommel.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 7:33:37 AM)
Turn 37 22nd January 1941 There were no attacks that turn but I did detect a lot of Luftwaffe activity.... Turn 37 22nd January 1941 Here is a New Summary I received. I will try and explain if I can, to those not au fait with this scenario, what the latest developments mean: Firstly, there is an Axis reinforcement hex on the western edge of the map. The CW cannot go within 20 hexes of that or they receive massive penalties (and they don't want to go there). I as the CW player (if I was any good or my opponent was rubbish) could have voided this restriction had I taken Tobruk by turn 35 and Derna by turn 37. I failed miserably and so that is not an option and I have to stay away from the reinforcement hex. But the Luftwaffe mentioned above appear to be available because of this (taken from the scenario documentation): 4. Luftwaffe formations that have units that arrive prior to Rommel have been placed in reserve, to be released on turn 53 (arrival of Rommel). But the Axis player can immediately release them by exercising his [theatre option] to remove restriction zone 2 from protecting the Axis reinforcement area. I can't see that Restriction Zone 2 is defined and I note the grey hexes have gone missing. So not really sure what all this means to be honest..... [image]local://upfiles/28156/182D8159871F4DD18A019015B9A5C049.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 8:46:40 AM)
Turn 37 22nd January 1941 Not really sure what to do now. I feel the need to press on but Tobruk still looks formidable and then there is the nonsense with units that are invulnerable to attack on the coast. Little choice but to begin with bombardments. There is time for just three attacks. The units south of Tmimi are successful in pushing back some Italian infantry and to the east, Gazala is taken by an Australian brigade - though at a cost. Pre the round the Italian on the coastal road are pushed back and then the one major assault pushes the main Italian line back further. [image]local://upfiles/28156/B5B8EDEDECF0435B99436C0022F5D620.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 8:52:03 AM)
Turn 37 22nd January 1941 The turn ends with a final attack along the coast road. [image]local://upfiles/28156/3839DE51C3C247FCA594CD47D43C9DBB.jpg[/image]

Zorch -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 1:17:14 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 quote: ORIGINAL: Zorch quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 36 - Round 3 18th January 1941 Another mix of bombardments and a couple of combats are planned. These are largely successful but I can't help the thought I've played this pretty badly. There are a number of Italian divisions that appear to not be engaged at all and that is not good - e.g. I haven't seen the Sirte, Savona or Sabratha divisions. Historically you are behind in terms of territory, and probably in losses, too. Is it time to think about fortifying before Rommel comes? warspite1 I am probably about a week behind in terms of territory (depending on when I can actually get Tobruk) but in terms of digging in I can't think about that because I still try and need to get as many Italians as possible. So my current priority list is: - Take Tobruk - Destroy as many Italian units as possible - Head west to try and take Derna and Benghazi and destroy as many Italian units as possible - Remind myself of what happened in the game vs the AI. There is something wrong with the withdrawals table and I need to be clear in my mind when the Aussies start disappearing. I then need to come up with a plan for facing Rommel. How about stopping at Gazala, even if it means letting the eyeties get away?

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 1:19:11 PM)
Turn 38 - Axis Turn 25th January 1941 No attacks but four bombardments against the Australians east of Gazala - who once again go into reorganisation mode.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/50780F5CAD9E4951A7C1F2C9953131AC.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 1:43:20 PM)
Turn 38 25th January 1941 The strength of the Italian air force at this stage of the game is really annoying.... The Italian infantry around Tmimi are destroyed and as are most of the units caught between Tobruk and Gazala. The Antipodean troops meanwhile edge closer to Tobruk itself... [image]local://upfiles/28156/2BCB1903DC4645B39B7D63B6B0E85C1E.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 3:25:15 PM)
Turn 39 - Axis Turn 29th January 1941 The Polish Anti-Tank Battalion is mauled west of Tobruk while two bombardments are also carried out against the Australians [image]local://upfiles/28156/796367EE3353440891D8B2649C1A3F49.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 3:44:01 PM)
Turn 39 - Axis Turn 29th January 1941 Mmmm... the air situation is spoiling the game somewhat. The CW can't move without being ground struck - another furball causes the loss of an entire Hurricane unit.... It doesn't seem to matter what orders I give either. A unit immolates itself attacking an airfield.... Ho hum.... In (slightly) better news - Tobruk falls but there are still three stacks to try and destroy...

Zorch -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 3:56:50 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 39 - Axis Turn 29th January 1941 another furball causes the loss of an entire Hurricane unit.... It doesn't seem to matter what orders I give either. A unit immolates itself attacking an airfield.... Have you asked the developers for an explanation? Perhaps it is a real bug.

larryfulkerson -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/14/2018 10:26:07 PM)
quote: Have you asked the developers for an explanation? Perhaps it is a real bug. I'm confused about what's going on......is it a problem that a unit get shot down attacking an airfield? Sounds normal to me.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 7:20:47 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: larryfulkerson quote: Have you asked the developers for an explanation? Perhaps it is a real bug. I'm confused about what's going on......is it a problem that a unit get shot down attacking an airfield? Sounds normal to me. warspite1 Yes that is always a problem [:D] No, I was just letting off some steam. The furball thing has really got under my skin - I should just do an Elsa and let it go as it is what it is - but.... I have no confidence in the air assistant (can two players have different settings in a PBEM?) as every time I check my air units at the start of the turn in some cases their orders have seemed to change.... Ho hum....[:)]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 7:27:37 AM)
Turn 40 - Axis Turn 1st February 1941 Ha Ha that was clever - I pressed the wrong button and missed the Italian turn [8\|] But it looks like there were no Axis attacks. Turn 40 1st February 1941 Sadly the game goes from bad to worse. Because there is still an Italian artillery unit west of Tobruk it looks like I've lost the western strong point. That means Tobruk isn't going to last very long.....[:(] [image]local://upfiles/28156/E11CEDD65EA1430CB71B6F56F5E63BC1.jpg[/image]

Olorin -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 10:31:40 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 39 - Axis Turn 29th January 1941 Mmmm... the air situation is spoiling the game somewhat. The CW can't move without being ground struck - another furball causes the loss of an entire Hurricane unit.... It doesn't seem to matter what orders I give either. A unit immolates itself attacking an airfield.... Ho hum.... In (slightly) better news - Tobruk falls but there are still three stacks to try and destroy... Better get used to it.[;)] I'd pull every air unit back to Alexandria at this stage of the game. quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Sadly the game goes from bad to worse. Because there is still an Italian artillery unit west of Tobruk it looks like I've lost the western strong point. That means Tobruk isn't going to last very long.....[:(] I may be wrong, but I think your "strongpoint" will appear when you take that hex. Bob Cross should chime in to confirm.

Telumar -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 10:39:56 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Sadly the game goes from bad to worse. Because there is still an Italian artillery unit west of Tobruk it looks like I've lost the western strong point. That means Tobruk isn't going to last very long.....[:(] Not necessarily. As I understand it, the stronpoint will come in when the hex is cleared.

Curtis Lemay -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 2:44:52 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Olorin I may be wrong, but I think your "strongpoint" will appear when you take that hex. Bob Cross should chime in to confirm. Correct. Like any reinforcement, if its arrival hex is enemy occupied then it will backlog till that hex is cleared. Of course, a long way down the road, those things are withdrawn (assuming they still exist), so if you wait that long to take the hex then it never will arrive. But that doesn't appear to be an issue here.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 5:44:20 PM)
Turn 41 - Axis Turn 5th February 1941 I think I will simply disband the RAF and create RAF Field Divisions. Sorry but that is rather pathetic. As advised, I will move all air units to Alexandria and place on rest. [image]local://upfiles/28156/039DE1C956574E92BE0F32DE01783176.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 6:25:10 PM)
Turn 41 5th February 1941 Looks like this game is going to be a short one! A lot of air attacks by the Italians against anything that moves. The 7th Armoured and 70th Divisions then take huge losses in trying to take on a couple of seemingly weak Italian units. The Italians have been able to form a solid line 2 or 3 lines deep from Derna to Mechili and they all look to be fortified. If the British wait for units to be in full supply then the Australians will have disappeared, so they attacked early after a few rounds of bombardments and get mullered. Mmmmm [image]local://upfiles/28156/9A4C463DC7FA4A75B7FF7EBEFEBD276F.jpg[/image]

Zorch -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/15/2018 6:28:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 41 - Axis Turn 5th February 1941 I think I will simply disband the RAF and create RAF Field Divisions. Sorry but that is rather pathetic. As advised, I will move all air units to Alexandria and place on rest. What a jolly great idea! You could form the Warspite para panzer armored division.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 7:10:23 AM)
Turn 42 - Axis Turn 8th February 1941 I can only assume I wasn't bold enough at the start of the game, although was only fractionally behind historical timing. The Italians have a thick wall of well dug-in infantry in the Jebel which are totally impenetrable, and that massively out-number the CW units. All of the latter need time to re-supply. I have only four basic units, and I lose one of those shortly and a second within the next 10 turns. I can't move without being attacked from the air and my air force has been forced to retreat to Alexandria in order to stop being destroyed. Something of a challenge! I guess I will just have to just throw whatever I have at the Italian lines WWI stylee and see what happens. If I sit and wait for the Germans then I get destroyed anyway, so I might as well make a game of it and allow the Italians the honour [:)] [image]local://upfiles/28156/2C7BB04BFCAD4A1F950458AF08CA7324.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 7:18:04 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zorch quote: ORIGINAL: warspite1 Turn 41 - Axis Turn 5th February 1941 I think I will simply disband the RAF and create RAF Field Divisions. Sorry but that is rather pathetic. As advised, I will move all air units to Alexandria and place on rest. What a jolly great idea! You could form the Warspite para panzer armored division. warspite1 Panzer? We're British... and I was talking about the RAF....and they would have neither tanks nor be paratroop trained, but apart from that you've come up with exactly what I was thinking of? [:D] The Germans had the Luftwaffe Field Divisions. I was thinking of something more snazy, more immediate, more punchy. How about: The RAF ground and air crew that became redundant because the Regia Aeronautica suddenly got the best air force in the world and so the Desert air force personnel were turned into footsloggers to help the desperate situation on the ground... Divisions [:)].

IainF -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 8:18:32 AM)
Don't do it Warspite, it would mean that they all become Rock Apes, and that would be a bad thing for the world!! On a more serious note, switch off the Air Assistant if you haven't already. It just loves attacking enemy airfields and that might be why you are losing so much kit in furballs - they are probably being intercepted over enemy airspace on the way in or back from such missions. I know it is a bit of extra work but maybe limit the range of your fighters and bombers to just cover the front lines for air support whilst the Italians have superiority? I'm loving both of your AAR's by the way, I'm playing a PBEM of this campaign (but we started in the version after the ceasfire ends) at the moment and they are helping out a lot.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 9:06:05 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: IainF Don't do it Warspite, it would mean that they all become Rock Apes, and that would be a bad thing for the world!! On a more serious note, switch off the Air Assistant if you haven't already. It just loves attacking enemy airfields and that might be why you are losing so much kit in furballs - they are probably being intercepted over enemy airspace on the way in or back from such missions. I know it is a bit of extra work but maybe limit the range of your fighters and bombers to just cover the front lines for air support whilst the Italians have superiority? I'm loving both of your AAR's by the way, I'm playing a PBEM of this campaign (but we started in the version after the ceasfire ends) at the moment and they are helping out a lot. warspite1 Hi Iain. Yes I have the Air Assistant to off (I like to be in control [:)]) but I've noticed that when I get the turn back, all my orders have changed. So for example last turn my units were all at rest. At the start of the next turn I find they all have new orders and I have to switch back. I don't mind doing that - what I do mind is that during the Axis turn my units may not be resting but being furballed or suffering losses for no good reason i.e. I want them on the ground. I hope my AAR are useful in showing you how a numpty goes to war and so what not to do! If you fancy a PBEM of this scenario anytime please let me know.

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 9:20:56 AM)
....and here is an example of what I mean. Air Assistant was off - all units at rest, I then get the turn back and.... [image]local://upfiles/28156/A0390580E8174590B7ABED3231068918.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 9:40:45 AM)
Turn 43 12th February 1941 The Italians continue to pound the troops in the trenches and foxholes but that is nothing compared to the Regia Aeronautica. I've stopped all non-essential movement but Private Tommy Hapgood of the Coldstream Guards accidentally farted and the entire RA descended upon him and his regiment.... A battery of anti-tank gunners was wiped out by an attack too. [image]local://upfiles/28156/251971BEFCB448F6B8E2EE3CA55466D0.jpg[/image]

warspite1 -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 9:48:05 AM)
Turn 43 12th February 1941 At Mechili I try and maintain the pressure but the losses being suffered are huge. A mixed force of Kiwis and 7th Armoured units push the Italians back from Mechili - only for a mechanised unit to move back in.... That battalion then single-handedly holds off the entire Kiwi and armoured divisions attack with more heavy losses. I'll post a picture of the position next turn. I keep forgetting to do it which means you can't go back and get one in a PBEM once you've sent the turn back.

larryfulkerson -> RE: CFNA 1940-43 devoncop (Axis) vs warspite1 (CW) (1/16/2018 11:12:43 AM)
quote: you can't go back and get one in a PBEM once you've sent the turn back. Are you guys using the PBEM++ system or are you using the old fashioned way? The reason I ask is that the new way writes a file on your hard drive in the saves folder when you do your turn and the old fashioned way writes an END_OF_TURN_DO_NOT_SEND.pbl file when you end your turn. Unless something has changed. Am I wrong?

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