WW2 Western Desert campaign turn 7 game 2

In the first game of campaign turn 7 the 21st Panzer division fail to make a breakthrough, and their mobile reserve waits patiently. A second attack by the Italian Pavia infantry division hopes to make that breakthrough. The defenders of this attack will be the New Zealand infantry division.

Campaign map

Order of battle:

Attacking Italian Forces

• 2 x armoured car units
• 4 x Infantry units
• 3 x M13/40 tank units
• 1 x 47mm AT unit
• 2 x Semovente units
• 2 x Artillery units

Defending forces

• 1 x armoured car unit
• 3 infantry units
• 2 x 2 pounder portee units
• 1 x 6 pounder AT unit
• 1 x Matilda tank unit
• 2 x Valentine tank units
• 1 x 25 pounder unit
• 1 x 5.5" Artillery unit

The defending New Zealanders have about a third of their units in reserve. The remaining forces have taken up a defensive line along a series of hills, escarpment, and town. Additionally AT guns have been positioned forward in an area of scrub in the centre.

Tabletop and planned attacks

An initial Italian force of armoured cars, infantry, and artillery arrive with the aim of eliminating the AT gun threat. Two reserve forces: an infantry force will strike along the road, and a second armoured force will attack on the defenders left flank.

The opening battle moves had initial Italian forces attacking the AT guns. The defending AT guns proved to be very tenacious and eventually air support was called in to help.

Allied AT guns prove very effective and delay the Italian advance.

Italian infantry reserves arrive.

Air support help to dislodge the AT units.

Once the Allied AT guns were dislodged, there was a pause in the battle as reserves were moved up along the road. These attacking preparations were disrupted by Allied air support. 

AT guns are finally dislodged and both sides take the opportunity to reorganise and bring up reserve units.

Allied air support attack Italian reserves as the move along the road.

After a brief pause in the battle the Italian flanking force of tanks arrive. After some initial success the Italian attack was slowly worn down and eventually stopped. At which point a last ditch attack along the road was made with the remaining Italian infantry units. This proved futile and was soon called off.

Italian tanks attack on the flank.

Reserves are called upon to repulse the flank attack.

A final strike along the road by Italian forces.

The final attack on the town fails to make any headway.

This victory for the defending New Zealand infantry division is the second Allied victory of the campaign turn, and now means the initiative moves to the Allies who will be the attackers in the next campaign turn.