The issue with the Australian withdrawals is potentially game-changing and needs to be addressed in a patch. To base a defence (or even attack) on units that one expects to be in place - only to find they disappear - can really spoil one's day!!
Must be some sort of bug that cropped up. The 6th Australian division's withdrawal dates ARE shown on the Expected Reinforcements dialog in TOAW III.
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Turn 29 19th March 1941
The Scenario Briefing states that this campaign can be split into 6 phases. We have now finished the first phase (I notice it says O'Connor launched his "Five day raid" in November - but this was December) which historically ended with the rout and destruction of the Italian 10th Army.
The second phase - here called Rommel's First Offensive - historically began in March following Rommel's landing in North Africa - which coincided with the British sending forces to Greece.... This is the phase we have just started, so I can expect Rommel and the Gang to 'Get down on it' anytime soon.
During this phase: Turns 31-37, the Commonwealth receive Shock Penalties - although these aren't specified as to what they are exactly. Maybe they will say in the situation briefing at the start of each turn. Either way, the fact is the CW are in for a hard time....
All that said, I don't think the Aussies really need to be sat at El Agheila with only the infantry of 70th Division to back them up. Big question is, where do I make a stand - and what with?
Retreating into the Jebel Akhtar sounds sensible, but I don't want my forces cut off if Rommel sprints across the desert.
Where, and with what, do you suggest I stop Rommel sir?
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Turn 29 - Royal Navy 19th March 1941
Right, after that brief soujourn, let's see if I can remind myself of what is going on with who...
Mediterranean Fleet (Admiral Andrew Cunningham)
Tobruk HMS Valiant - Flagship HMS Fiji HMS Arethusa HMS Marne HMS Mohawk
Alexandria and nearby anchorages at the head of the Nile Delta HMS Barham HMS York HMS Euryalus HMS Dido HMS Bedouin HMS Partridge HMS Jervis HMS Ledbury HMS Lance
Proficiency, Readiness and Supply generally good. I assume the Luftwaffe is going to be a different proposition but am only guessing. I can't see the RN venturing into the Gulf of Sirte anytime soon.
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Turn 29 - British Commonwealth + Allied Armies 19th March 1941
The Australian 6th Division appear to have been removed for service in Greece. I don't know whether the 9th Division will carry on disappearing but I can't take that chance and need to move them out of the front line.
Divisions do not appear to be part of specific corps in game (but I may be wrong)
General Officer Commanding & Military Governor of Cyrenaica (Lt-General Philip Neame VC)
XIII Corps HQ (Lt-General Richard O'Connor) - Not currently on map 7th Royal Tank Regiment (three sections) 1st Royal Horse Artillery Regiment 57th Light AA Regiment 2nd Heavy AA Regiment
XXX Corps HQ (Major-General William Ramsden) 8th Medium Artillery Regt 64th Medium Artillery Regt 106th Royal Horse Artillery AT Regt 52nd Light AA Regt 74th Heavy AA Regt
70th Infantry Division HQ (Lt-General Ronald Scobie) 16th Infantry Brigade HQ 2nd Queens Bn 2nd Leicestershire Bn 1st Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Bn 1st Essex Bn 1st Royal East Kents (the 'Buffs') 2nd Kings Own Royal Regiment
That's a lot of battalions in one brigade!
Since the start of the game there has also been something called 70th Infantry Division +. Not sure why they are designated like this but there are currently on map the following:
2nd Scots Guards Bn (Should be 22nd Guards Bde?) 11th Czech Bn 107th Royal Horse Artillery Regt 13th Light AA Regiment
2nd Armoured Division HQ (Lt-General Willouhby Norrie) 3rd Armoured Brigade HQ 5th Royal Tank Regiment 6th RTR 2nd Support Group HQ 1st Tower Hamlets Rifles Bn 1st Rangers 2nd Royal Horse Artillery Regiment 102nd AT Regiment Kings Dragoon Guards Bn
7th Armoured Division HQ (Major-General Michael Creagh) 4th Armoured Brigade HQ 7th Hussars 11th Hussars 7th Armoured Brigade HQ 1st Royal Tank Regiment 3rd Hussars 8th Hussars 7th Support Group HQ 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps Bn 2nd Rifle Brigade Bn Divisional Assets 3rd Royal Horse Artillery Regt 4th Royal Horse Artillery Regt
18th Australian Brigade HQ (Part of 7th Division not in game) 9th Bn 10th Bn 12th Bn 7th Cavalry Regt 1 Machine Gun Bn 1st AT Regt 3rd Field Artillery Regt
Polish Brigade HQ (Colonel S Kopanski) 1st Bn 2nd Bn 3rd Bn Kopanski MG Bn 1st Polish Cavalry Regt 1st Polish AT Company 1st Polish Artillery Regt
3rd Indian Motorised Brigade HQ (Brigadier EWD Vaughan) 2nd Royal Lancers Bn 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry Bn 18th King Edwards Own Cavalry Bn
Special Forces Layforce Commando (Colonel Robert Laycock) Long Range Desert Group (Brigadier Ralph Bagnold)
< Message edited by warspite1 -- 12/7/2017 5:59:51 AM >
_____________________________
England expects that every man will do his duty. Horatio Nelson October 1805
Since the start of the game there has also been something called 70th Infantry Division +. Not sure why they are designated like this ...
Formations are removed by event. But there is no "Return Formation" event. So, if the division leaves then comes back, the scenario has to provide a duplicate of the original. It can't have the exact same name, so a "+" is appended.
There are some units that leave and come back more than once. Another "+" every time.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Curtis Lemay
quote:
ORIGINAL: warspite1
Since the start of the game there has also been something called 70th Infantry Division +. Not sure why they are designated like this ...
Formations are removed by event. But there is no "Return Formation" event. So, if the division leaves then comes back, the scenario has to provide a duplicate of the original. It can't have the exact same name, so a "+" is appended.
There are some units that leave and come back more than once. Another "+" every time.
warspite1
I'll check that out but I thought this 70th Infantry + has been around since the start. Maybe not.
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Turn 29 - The 'Plan' 19th March 1941
I can see only the 21st Panzer at present - and only one regiment of tanks - but there appears to be a strong Luftwaffe presence and plenty of Italian assistance; Ariete Armoured and Pavia, Brescia and Sabratha Infantry Divisions.
With the shock penalties the British have, and the fact that their divisions are not fully up to strength, there appears little hope of containing Rommel in Tripolitania. So I will accept that he will take Cyrenaica and push to the Egyptian frontier and beyond.
That said I would like to conduct a fighting withdrawal - making life difficult but not getting units surrounded and destroyed - not an easy task. Holding Tobruk is a key aim and for that I need infantry to have survived the pursuit across the desert.
Importantly the defence needs to be sufficiently strong that the units in the Jebel Akhtar don't find themselves suddenly cut-off.
The Polish are already in Tobruk and I want the Australians to support them (if they are not withdrawn - and haven't been lost in the fighting retreat!).
I have no idea on the Axis capability but will not want to leave any key areas undefended in case of a breakthrough. The newly arrived Indian Brigade will remain at Bardia/Sollum, having arrived by a mixture of sea and land.
Benghazi will be held by the 70th Infantry. This will leave 2nd and 7th Armoured Divisions to try and act as a fire brigade for the infantry.
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Turn 29 19th March 1941
Well this is going to be fun... As I start to move units east from El Agheila they come under vicious air strikes....
All units start to move toward their assigned positions. An adhoc infantry brigade from 70th Division - three battalions - attempt to hold a pass east of El Aghiela, along with a mixed force of Australian cavalry, anti-tank and artillery.
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Turn 29 - Axis Turn 19th March 1941
Oh dear.... I think my blocking force may have been a little too optimistic... That is not a good start. I sit here watching the AI turn and the British/Australian units are going to be surrounded.... That's a heavily reinforced brigade down the pan on the first turn....
Post turn. All the Australian units which were hit by artillery are reorganising - but so too are those stacked with the British battalions. A big chunk of the 18th Australian Brigade is toast. An anti-tank regiment further up the road is out of supply too.
The only good news about that turn is that a unit of the Saharan Detachment wiped itself out making a desperate attack while out of supply.
Oh dear.... I think my blocking force may have been a little too optimistic... That is not a good start. I sit here watching the AI turn and the British/Australian units are going to be surrounded.... That's a heavily reinforced brigade down the pan on the first turn....
Post turn. All the Australian units which were hit by artillery are reorganising - but so too are those stacked with the British battalions. A big chunk of the 18th Australian Brigade is toast. An anti-tank regiment further up the road is out of supply too.
The only good news about that turn is that a unit of the Saharan Detachment wiped itself out making a desperate attack while out of supply.
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Turn 30 22nd March 1941
As I look around the map to see the situation I notice that things are even worse for the Australians. In Agadabia, three 18th Brigade units are reorganising there too, including the Brigade HQ.
This is very much a case of leaping into the dark here, I have absolutely no idea what I should be doing in this situation so lets just see what happens.
As said, the poor Australians of 18th Brigade in the picture below are all in the same boat - all are reorganising and so none can move. The artillery regiment from 9th Division tried to and promptly got stopped in its tracks by accurate fire from German and/or Italian gunners.
This leaves the three British battalions of the 70th Infantry Division. They cannot escape as their retreat is blocked by tanks of the Ariete Division. An option would be to simply stand and fight, however that would - I think - make life easier for the slow moving Italian infantry and just give them a bigger target. So instead Lt-General Scobie gives orders for all three to try and break-out to the south east. One battalion takes up position in reasonable defensive terrain at El Gtafia, while to the north, two battalions attempt to reach the track at El Hosaiet but come across a German supply unit. They will attempt an attack if possible.
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Turn 30 22nd March 1941
There appears to be three main tracks that the Axis may use to get to Egypt - the coastal road and two tracks to the south. Lt-General Neame notices there is nothing on the southern, most direct route, to block any German advance. He orders an immediate change to the plan. 2nd Armoured are moved south to guard the northern track, while 7th Armoured will guard the southern track.
The 2nd Armoured take up initial position northwest of Msus airfield, while 7th Armoured centre on Ben Gania. Both come under air attack while moving.
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Turn 30 - RAF, RAAF + FF Air Force 22nd March 1941
The Hurricane fighters are once again reorganising. Collishaw orders all Blenheims and the French fighters on rest to avoid the bombers having no fighter support and the French being outnumbered and shot out of the sky for no purpose.
The stats show air superiority and interception both in the Axis favour unsurprisingly.
There appears to be three main tracks that the Axis may use to get to Egypt - the coastal road and two tracks to the south. Lt-General Neame notices there is nothing on the southern, most direct route, to block any German advance. He orders an immediate change to the plan. 2nd Armoured are moved south to guard the northern track, while 7th Armoured will guard the southern track.
The 2nd Armoured take up initial position northwest of Msus airfield, while 7th Armoured centre on Ben Gania. Both come under air attack while moving.
I do so like yr AAR's, Warspite! The narrative adds a lot to the game - Matrix/Slitherine should pay you :)
But is it wise to disperse yr forces like this, unable to support each other?? Let's see.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Szilard
quote:
ORIGINAL: warspite1
Turn 30 22nd March 1941
There appears to be three main tracks that the Axis may use to get to Egypt - the coastal road and two tracks to the south. Lt-General Neame notices there is nothing on the southern, most direct route, to block any German advance. He orders an immediate change to the plan. 2nd Armoured are moved south to guard the northern track, while 7th Armoured will guard the southern track.
The 2nd Armoured take up initial position northwest of Msus airfield, while 7th Armoured centre on Ben Gania. Both come under air attack while moving.
I do so like yr AAR's, Warspite! The narrative adds a lot to the game - Matrix/Slitherine should pay you :)
But is it wise to disperse yr forces like this, unable to support each other?? Let's see.
warspite1
Thank-you sir!
I agree splitting forces has dangers of its own, but IF (big IF if the loss of the 18th Aussie Bde is any measure) I do it properly, I can use these as mobile obstacles to slow the Axis and impede progress.
The ideal would be concentrating - but I'm not sure where? There seem to many places that Rommel can simply outflank the CW.
As you say, let's see
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Turn 30 22nd March 1941
In the desert a squadron of Matildas from the 7th RTR overrun an Italian anti-tank battalion and bear down on the Saharan Detachment's infantry battalions - which they also put to the sword.
The important thing here is to know where the Axis get a Supply Point. I think El Aghela, Benghazi and Derna are Axis Supply Points. Which means that your choice of battlefield is good, imho. It's closer to you supply (Benghazi and Tobruk) and away from Axis supply (El Aghela).
If you stand your ground for a few turns, Rommel's forces will be red very soon.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Olorin
The important thing here is to know where the Axis get a Supply Point. I think El Aghela, Benghazi and Derna are Axis Supply Points. Which means that your choice of battlefield is good, imho. It's closer to you supply (Benghazi and Tobruk) and away from Axis supply (El Aghela).
If you stand your ground for a few turns, Rommel's forces will be red very soon.
warpspite1
Sunburn?
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Turn 30 - Axis Turn 26th March 1941
While the bulk of the Italian infantry toil away at Mersa Brega, the motorised units push east at a rate of knots. The 7th Armoured reorganising could hardly have come at a worse time....
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Turn 31 26th March 1941
The Germans have taken to the northern and southern tracks Neame suspected they would. The news filters through that the bulk of the 21st Panzer are heading along the southern track. News of 7th Armoured's predicament is received around the same time.
The decision is made that to assist the British armour, an attack should be made on the Ariete Division west and south of Msus. There are a number of problems with such a move - not least that the 2nd Armoured Division (which would be needed to spearhead the attack) is not concentrated.
The plan is for the motorised infantry of Brigadier Harry Latham's 2nd Support Group to head south of the northern track to cover any attack from the 21st Panzer in the south. This releases the Australian 15th and 23rd Battalions to move north onto the road.
Meanwhile the actual attack on the Italian tanks of the 132nd Regiment is to come from the 3rd Armoured Brigade.
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Turn 31 26th March 1941
The Germans appear to have advanced up the coastal road with two Luftwaffe units on their own. Three battalions of the 70th Infantry are ordered to attack these units. The attack is opened by a bombardment from the 107th Royal Horse Artillery based at Soluch, and followed up by an infantry attack - specifically the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders which are given orders to pursue the Germans to their end.
To the east around Msus the 2nd RHA launch their 25-pdr's at the Italian tanks west of the airfield. This assault is followed by an attack by the entire tank strength of the 3rd Brigade (such as it is). The attack is a success and the Italians retreat to the south. There is nothing more that Lt-General Norrie would like than to pursue the retreating enemy, but the need to conserve their armoured units means Norrie's battalions must satisfy themselves with this short term win.
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Turn 31 - Axis Turn 26th March 1941
Bloody Hell!!! The British armour is screwed
I had to end the game last night as it was getting late and unfortunately that means I can't now call up the detail. I'll run through what appears to have happened as best I can.
This seems like a strange thing to say considering I am being hammered, but I'm not sure about the AI. Last turn it sent the LW units toward the enemy alone, and now its moving Supply units, HQ and ART (without infantry or tank support) deep into enemy territory.
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Turn 31 - Axis Turn 26th March 1941
At Mersa Brega the Australian units were destroyed, but the cavalry and field artillery regiments to the east were left unmolested and have now recovered. The British brigade at El Gtafia has also been left alone while the Italian infantry charge off to Agadabia. The artillery join the British 'Buffs' battalion at El Gtafia while the cavalry tries to join up with the other two retreating battalions of 70th Infantry east of Giuf el-Matar. Both are attacked from the air along their journey.
At Agadabia the the Australians are reduced to the 18th Brigade HQ and the 12th Battalion. They are cut off but are at least not reorganising. They retreat northwest to the coast - although one company of the 12th Battalion are badly shot up and fall behind.
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