Turn 5 of the Western Desert campaign has elements of the 21st Panzer division up against forces of the NZ infantry division with supporting infantry tanks. The order of battle can be found in the previous
post, both sides were effected by air interdiction and the wear and tear of the desert. The 21st divisions workshops had been working hard and they arrived with a distinct numerical advantage.
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| Opening moves |
I ended up playing this game twice. The first time was an absolute romp by panzer forces which as a game I found most unsatisfactory, and after the game tried to workout what had gone so horribly wrong. I had with the scant NZ division forces spread them across two objectives: the escarpment and the central hills. In the second game, which this battle report covers, I decided to concentrate most units in the central hills with two units behind the hills ready to stop any wide flanking moves, and possible move on the escarpment.
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| The game has 3 objectives: town, centre hills and escapement. |
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| Defending forces are concentrated on the central hills |
The Axis forces moved swiftly forward to engage the defending forces around the hills, while armoured car and m/c units swept around the left flank. Initially the attack went well and cleared away some of the defenders from the hill, but a combination of slow moving Matilda tanks and artillery blunted the attack.
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| The slow moving Matildas blunt the attack of PzIIIs |
While the Matilda tanks pushed forward and got the better of the PzIIIs. They were held at bay by an 88mm and artillery. While armoured cars on the left flank and armoured infantry on the right flank were able to capture the hills.
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| Allied armour was proving a handful. |
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| 88mm AT and artillery hold off Allied tanks. While their armoured infantry can be seen racing for the hills. |
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| Axis forces are able to secure the centre hills |
Finding the hills occupied behind them. The remaining Matilda tanks back tracked and made a finally but unsuccessful attack. This saw the end of the game and victory the Axis forces.
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| Axis forces finally control the hill. |
The second game was much more enjoyable and a closer game and proves I need to think more about deployment of forces.
Deployment is an art that sadly few of us master, based upon my experiences!
ReplyDeleteI will have to remind myself to take a little more time when setting up a game.
DeleteThanks for another enjoyable post to brighten up the weekend as I'm now back working at home and week-days and weekends sort of roll into one - hate it.
ReplyDeleteBTW, if the result of the 2nd game had been different, which result would've applied to the campaign?
Glad you enjoyed the report. If the result was different I would have flipped a coin to determine which game to record for the campaign.
DeleteExcellent.
ReplyDeleteI think the thing we see here as the games progress, is the gradual erosion of effectiveness, and the careful requirement for managing logistics and even maintenance.
It changes out mindset with regard to how we play wargames.
It explains a lot more with regard to historical precedent and actions as compared with 'stock' wargames rules for the period.
This is great stuff Peter.
Thanks. The effects of logistics and the mounting effect of losses on the tabletop does mean there are more lopsided games. But these do present their own challenges.
DeleteGood game report. I don't blame you for replaying the game. There's no satisfaction in a walkover.
ReplyDeleteWalkover games are fortunately often quick and allow you another game, or reply, with the rest of the evening.
DeleteWow, great game Peter, and very interesting. I think it was always going to be difficult for the Allies, but they put up a heck of a fight, and hopefully the Axis casualties and supply issues will have a telling effect in future fights.
ReplyDeleteAnd I understand wholeheartedly about having a stinker of a game when playing solo, happens to all of us. But I tend to post them and just keep moving, figuring one-sided victories happen in real life, so why not on my tabletop?
Great stuff, looking forward to this all-important second fight.
V/R,
Jack
Thank you. The Allies were in a difficult starting position. Some shockingly poor wear and tear dice rolls put them there. I will be giving more thought to deployment in future and hopefully improve the enjoyment of these one side games when they occur.
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