WW2 Western Desert - campaign turn 3

From a gaming perspective I will be playing a couple of American War of Independence (AWI) games this weekend. Possibly more of that in another post.

This post is however about the next WW2 Western Desert campaign turn. In the last turn, turn 2, we had the Allies win two of the three games played to decide the winner of the campaign turn.

AWI game setup for play.

Because Axis forces were the attacking in turn 2, the Allies do not move forward a zone on the map. Armies can only move forward if they were the ones launching an attack, and win two of the three games. (A bit like the sport Badminton where you can only score a point on your serve.)

Campaign map at the end of turn 2. Axis attacks were defeated. Their one win was by the 21st Panzer division.

Having failed to make a breakthrough in the last turn, the Axis army was in need of resupply and a refit. Unfortunately the supply D6 dice roll was a 2 and no supplies arrive at the front line. The Allies were more fortunate and a roll of 2 has them supplied. They can now choose to attack, and do so rather than direct their supplies to refitting or preparing defences.

Note - this approach has been modified from my original idea to use a D10 dice and a quick reminder of the choices for directing supplies (when they arrive):

1. Prepare defences - No battles occur for the month other than when battle comes the defending player’s units will have prepared positions and minefields.
2. Reequip units - No battles occur for the month. Players attempt to recover lost units and refit  all their divisions.
3. Launch attacks - When both players decide to attack roll the dice to decide which player attacks, if drawn the Axis player is the attacker. The losing player’s supplies will instead be directed to reequipping units.

Map set up for turn 3 and first attack decided.

The Axis counters are mixed up and placed face down on the map. Allied forces can reposition their counters and select their first attack. After the attack is declared the Axis counter is revealed.

The defender is revealed.

The ORBATs for each side is a representation of the forces involved and not the whole division, and the games are key engagements which decide a campaign turn's outcome. A list of these ORBATs can be found later in this post.

I had originally though about recorded the individual units status for each division, but soon found this level of bookkeeping too finicky for my wargaming tastes, and I lost the sheet of paper I wa tracking them. An alternative and simpler approach was needed to reflect the general wear and tear, battle loses and refits.

A unit receives a -1 for each game loss and a +1 for each supply refit. When preparing for a battle the units are setup as per their ORBATs and a D6 is rolled for each of the units. On a score of 1 or less they are removed and do not take part in the battle. For example, a division which has lost a battle and has not benefited from a supply refit will remove any units scoring a 1 or 2. However, if the army had chosen a supply refit then the refit would eliminate the impact of a recent loss. A score of 1, regardless of the number of refits, always removes a unit.

The campaign map in full.

ORBATs

German Panzer Armoured Force
3 x Reconnaissance -(2 x AC and M/C Infantry)
6 x Tank (1 x PzII, 4 x PzIII, 1 x PzIV)
2 x Armoured Infantry
2 x AT Guns (one SPG)
1 x Artillery (SPG)
1 x 88mm Gun

Italian Armoured Force
2 x AC
8 x Tanks (1 x L6/40, 5 x M13/40, 2 x Simovente)
2 x Infantry
2 x AT
1 x Artillery (1 x 105mm, 1 x 150mm)

Italian Infantry Force
2 x AC
4 x Tanks
4 x Infantry
3 x AT (2 x SPG)
2 x Artillery

Allied Armoured Force
2 x Reconnaissance (Stuart tanks and Carrier)
6 x Tanks (A13, Crusaders, Valentines, Stuarts, or Grants)
3 x Infantry
2 x AT (Portee)
2 Artillery (2 x 25 Pounders which can be used as AT)

Allied Infantry Force
2 x Reconnaissance Units (A/C and Carriers)
4 x Infantry
3 x AT (no more than half can be 6 pounders)
4 x Matilda and Valentine Tanks
2 x Artillery (25 Pounder and 5.5” Gun)

Notes:
As a general rule I allow 3 HQs for German forces and 2 for British and Italian forces to represent the better coordination of armour, AT and infantry.