WW2 Western Desert campaign turn 8

This post covers three games from turn 8 of the WW2 Western Desert campaign. All these games were played using the updated rules mentioned in last weeks post (see here). Where I have moved to using a combat resolution table for determining outcomes and included a disordered status for units, rather than just no effect and elimination.

The campaign turn started well for both sides, each scoring 3 with their supplies on a D3 dice. This meant all units sustaining losses in the pervious turn were able to resupply and are back to operational strength. The Allies were rather hoping for Axis supply problems as they started their counterattack after halting the Axis advance in the previous campaign turn. In terms of Allied supplies they had surplus after resupplying one unit, so I allowed them to use their supply points for intelligence gathering. Allowing them to reveal one Axis unit prior to deploying their units (the idea came from some comments on the campaign from a while ago). This intelligence gathering revealed the 15th Panzer in the centre of the Axis lines, and would be avoided in the attacks.

The first phase of the turn has two games, in the south the Allied 1st Armoured division launching attacks against the Italian Pavia infantry division and further north, along the coast, an armoured force attacking the 21st Panzer division positions.

1st Game Report

The first game report is the southern attack with the 1st Armoured division attacking the Pavia infantry division. The Italians have taken up defensive positions along a series of hills and escarpments. The Allied plan was to send the bulk of its armour towards the hills on its left flank in the first phase of the attack. The second phase would attempt to push onwards from the hills, while on the right the light armour, mainly Honeys, would move along the road. The Allied objectives are the road exit, escarpment, and hills.

Allies planned attacks, the palm trees indicate objectives.

The first objective, the hills, are easily taken by the main Allied attack.

The second phase of the Allied attack was successful pushing along the road, but the left flank attack was unable to push on to the escarpment and had to retire back to the hills.

An Allied victory with the capture two of the three objectives.

2nd Game Report

Elements if the 21st Panzer have taken up positions on hills around a small town, and left a small reconnaissance force out by the escarpment. The Allied plan is to sweep around the right towards the hills to the left of the town, while a second force pushs down the road.

Allied attacking plans. The objectives are the two sets of hills and town (all objectives are marked with palm trees)

An early and unwelcomed arrival of German air support greeted the first Allied moves along the road.

The attack progresses along the road.

A timely air attack for the Allies causes disorder in the defending German units.

In the centre German tanks counterattack and stymie the right-hand Allied attack. 

Allied forces fail to make any headway in the centre and retire.

The assault down the road after good progress fails to dislodge the defenders.

A victory to Axis forces with the Allies failing to capture any objectives.

Final Campaign Turn 8 Move

After the setback to the north the final Allied attack follows up on the success in the south.

The 3rd Game Report

The third game turned out to be an encounter battle between a blocking force of the Ariete armoured division and the Allied 7th Armoured division. Both forces start the game with a third of their units in reserve. The plan of both forces are to take and hold the line of central hills which contain the three game objectives.

Allied and Italian plans to seize and hold the central hills.

Allied air support delays the Italian advance

Both sides gain foot holds at various positions along the hills. The Italians on the right of the road and the Allies hold the centre. At this stage of the battle the Allies held the better position.

Both sides rush up their reserves.

A tense series of actions saw both sides gain and lose positions. The Italians were in a better attacking position as Allied reserves were delayed by Italian air support.

As the day ended Italian forces were able to secure two hill areas and two objectives.

With this Axis victory, the second in this campaign turn, the Allied counter offensive is halted and the next campaign turn will see the Axis resume their attacks.