Mainland Europe off-map holding box [end of turn]:
3 Italian inf replacement points [ER-II at start]
2 Ger ARPs [ER-II at start]
In Sicily [end of turn]:
Licata (18A:0102) [point city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
SM 79-1 2B3 1-5/22 [inop., strat bombed Malta Status late in the M. Phase; Hit; at-start @ Misurata (18A:1022), in Libya]
Coast hex 18A:0403:
3-cap permanent airfield
G 50 3F3 0/9 [inop., transferred to here from Tripoli late in the E. Phase]
Ca 309 2B1 1/L/9 [inop., tac bombed Malta Status late in the M. Phase, returned by flack; at-start @ 18A:0403, in Sicily]
Coast hex 18A:0603:
3-cap permanent airfield
Syracusa (18:0702) [reference city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Augusta (18A:0701) [reference city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Mar II 41 Axis end of Movement Phase Malta Status attacks (2)
Malta Status:
At the beginning of the Scenario: 10, +1 for Malta Status hit late in the M. Phase = 11 at the end of the turn
Libya [end of turn]:
Tripolitania Garrison Box:
0-1-6* Inf III 280 GaF
0-1-6* Inf III 290 GaF
0-1-6* Inf III 340 GaF
0-1-6* Inf III 350 GaF
0-2-6* Inf III 330 GaF
Tripoli (18A:0121) [clear terrain dot city/major port transportation line junction coast hex]:
Axis Standard Supply marker
fort marker
1 resource point
0 pos flk unit AA=3 [Italian]
Br 20M 3NB4 2-5/24 [inop., strat night-bombed Malta Status late in the M. Phase; Miss; at-start @ 18A:0701 (Sicily)]
18A:0122 [Castel Benito; clear terrain secondary rail line hex; S of Tripoli]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Homs 18A:0522 [rough terrain point city/minor port road junction coast hex]:
1 step of attack supply [began turn at Tripoli; in E. Phase spends 4 SMPs to move along the coast road to here]
18A:0923 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
3-6 Inf XX 55 Sav [admin moved here from Garian (18A:0125)]
1 step of attack supply [began turn at Tripoli; in E. Phase spends 8 SMPs to move along the coast road to here]
Misurata (18A:1022) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap temporary airfield
He 111H4 4B4 2-7/S/22 (Ger LW) [inop.; bombed Malta Status late in the M. Phase, returned by flack; at-start @ 18A:0603 (Sicily)]
Sirte (18A:1727) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
fort marker (completed in the Mar II 41 Axis initial phase)
3-cap permanent airfield [began turn as 1-cap permanent airfield; in the M. Phase enlarged by 0-6 Cons III 5A by spending four MPs in the hex]
3-4-6 Art III 5A [admin moved along road from Misurata]
1-6 Hv AA II 29 [admin moved along road from Misurata]
1 resource point
2 x Ju 88A1 3B5 2-5/26 (Ger LW) [both inop.; both bombed Malta Status late in the M. Phase; both Missed; at-start @ 18A:0603 (Sicily)]
18A:1927 [sand coast road hex]:
0-6 Cons III 5A [regular moved 2 hexes to here from Sirte after enlarging 1-cap permanent airfield there to a 3-cap permanent airfield]
18A:2529 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
1 x 4 pos flk AA=1 [Italian, admin moved along road from Sirte (18A:1727)]
18A:2730 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol [admin moved along road from Sirte (18A:1727)]
3-6 Inf XX 17 Pave [admin moved along road from 18A:1927]
2 x 1-8* Inf III 61, 62 [admin moved along road from 18A:1927; in M. Phase broke down from the 102 Trn Inf XX]
2-3-6 Art III 24 C [admin moved along road from 18A:1927]
2-3-8 Art III 16 C [admin moved along road from 18A:1927]
Me 110D 5HF5 4-1/12 (Ger LW) [inop.; did GS mission; began turn here]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; did GS mission; began turn here]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; did GS mission; began turn here]
one step of attack supply [never moved]
18A:2829 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs [moved to here from 18A:2629]
El Ageheila (18A:2930) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
CR 42 3F3 0/9 [inop.; air transferred to here late in E. Phase from 18A:0403 (Sicily)]
Agedabia (18A:3327) [clear terrain point city road junction hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
1 step of attack supply [began at 18A:2730; in E. Phase spends 7 SMPs to move along the road to here]
CR 42 3F3 0/9 [inop.; air transferred to here from Sirte late in the E. Phase]
18A:3427 [clear terrain road hex to Gialo]:
1-8 Mot Art III 2 AC [exploited to here from 18A:2730; at-start @ 18A:1927]
18A:3426 [clear terrain road hex to Msus]:
1-8 Mot Art III 3 AC [exploited to here from 18A:2730; at-start @18A:1927]
18A:3425: [clear terrain road hex to Msus]:
1-10 Mot AT II 605 (Ger) [began @ 18A:2730; ended M. Phase @ 18A:2930; entered El Agheila in C. Phase after combat; exploited to here from El Agheila]
18A:3424 [clear terrain road hex to Msus]:
2-1-8* Lt Arm III 32 [began @ 18A:2629 assembled w/ the 132 Ar Lt Arm XX, but broke down at the start of the M. Phase; ended M. Phase @ 18A:2829 and reassembled into the 132 Ar Lt Arm XX; entered El Agheila in C. Phase after combat; broke down again at the beginning of the E. Phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
18A:3423 [stony desert road hex to Msus; SW of Zaulet Msus]:
2-10* Mot Inf III 8B [began @ 18A:1927 assembled w/ the 102 Trn Inf XX, which broke down at the start of the M. Phase; ended M. Phase @ 18A:2829, where it assembled into the 132 Ar Lt Arm XX; entered El Ageheila in C. Phase after combat; broke down again at the beginning of the E. Phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
1-10 Mot MG II 2 (Ger) [began @ 18A:2730; ended the M. Phase at 18A:2829, where it assembled into the 7 Le Pz XX; entered El Agheila in the C. Phase after combat; broke down at the beginning of the E. phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
18A:3324:
1-8 Mot Art III 1 AC [began @ 18A:2629; ended M. Phase @ 18A:2829; entered El Ageheila in the C. Phase after combat; exploited to here from El Agheila]
18A:3223 [clear terrain road hex to Bengasi; S of Soluch]:
2-10* mot Inf III 7B [began @ 18A:2629 assembled w/ 132 Ar Lt Arm XX, but broke down at the start of the M. Phase; ended M. Phase @ 18A:3030; entered El Agheila in the C. Phase after combat; exploited to here from El Agheila;]
1-10 Mot MG II 8 (Ger) [began @ 18A:2730; ended the M. Phase @ 18A:2829, where it assembled into the 7 Le Pz XX; entered El Agheila in the C. Phase after combat; broke down again at the beginning of the E. Phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
Soluch (18A:3222) [clear terrain point city secondary rail terminus hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
10* Pz XX HQ 5 Le (Ger) [began @ 18A:2227; ended the M. Phase @ 18A:2829, where it assembled into the 7 Le Pz XX; entered El Agheila in the C. Phase after combat; broke down again at the beginning of the E. Phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
5-3-10 Pz III 5 (Ger) [began @ 18A:2227; ended the M. Phase @ 18A:2829, where it assembled into the 7 Le Pz XX; entered El Agheila in the C. Phase after combat; broke down again at the beginning of the E. Phase and exploited to here from El Agheila]
1-10 Hv AA II AA=2 1/33 (Ger LW) [began @ 18A:2227; ended the M. Phase @ 18A:2829; entered El Aghelia in the C. Phase after combat; exploited to here from El Agheila]
one step of attack supply [formerly Allied; successfully captured here by the Ger Pz III 5 in the E. Phase]
MC 200 3F4 1/8 [inop., air transferred to here from 18A:0403, in Sicily, late in the E. Phase]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-2/8 (Ger LW) [inop., air transferred to here from Augusta (18A:0701), in Sicily, late in E. Phase]
Ju 87R 2D3 4-1/13 (Ger LW) [inop., air transferred to here from Syracusa (18A:0702), in Sicily, late in E. Phase]
Mar II 41 Axis end of Movement Phase dispositions: Libya and Sicily
On Scarpanto:
Scarpanto (19A:0701): [rough terrain minor port point city hex]
3-cap permanent airfield
At Rodi:
Rodi (20A:2230): [clear terrain major port point city coast hex]
3-cap-permanent airfield
20A:2331: [rough terrain coast hex]
3-cap permanent airfield
In Iraq:
Iraq is still pro-Allied neutral.
WW Optional Rule 39E4-Fawzi al Qawuki action die roll: 1; does nothing.
H-1 Pump Station (21A:4717) [stony desert road hex]:
0-1-8 Inf II Fawzi (Bandit) [Guerilla; in combat mode; never moved]
Turn Activity:
No reinforcements or replacement builds.
Fort at Sirte completed in Initial Phase by the 0-6 Cons III 5A.
Late in the M. Phase one Malta Status air hit is done by Valletta hex daylight bombing mission (Rule 37I2a.). A BR 20M air unit does a Malta Status night bombing air mission; a miss. At the end of the turn the Malta Status is 11.
At Sirte, the 0-6 Cons III 5A spends 4 MPs to repair/upgrade 1-cap permanent airstrip to a 3-cap permanent airfield, then it moves West two coast road hexes to 18A:1827.
In the combat phase the British 3-2-10 Arm X 3 and the 1-10* Mot SG X 2 El Agheila stacked together at (18A:2930) are eliminated at 9 to 1, -1. They are attacked by the Axis stack at 18A;2829, minus the 3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs also there, along with the 2-10 Mot* Inf III 7B at hex 18A:3030 and also GS. The Allied units are isolated and so they generate no special replacements for the Allied side.
In the exploitation phase Axis capture the Allied step of attack supply at Soluch.
Mar II 41 Axis Combat Phase: immeddiately after the combat die roll
Detail of pertinent or close-by Axis dispositions of the attack in the Combat Phase prior to the combat die roll:
Sirte (18A:1727) [clear terrain point city coast road hex];
Fort marker
3-cap permanent airfield
one resource point
1-6 Hv AA II 29
3-4-6 Art III 5 A
CR 42 3F3 0/8 [operative]
2 x Ju 88A1 2-5 3B5 2-5/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; both did Malta Status strat bombing mission late in the M. Phase]
18A:1927 [sand coast road hex]:
0-6 Cons III 5 A [regular moved 2 hexes along road to here from Sirte]
18A:2127 [sand coast road hex]:
one step of attack supply [spent 4 SMPs moving to here from Sirte; provides attack supply for Axis units in hex 18A:2829]
18A:2529 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
4 pos flk AA=1 [Italian; admin moved 8 road hexes from Sirte]:
18A:2730 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
3-6 Inf XX 17 Pave
3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol
2 x 1-8* Inf III 66, 62
2-3-6 Art III 24C
2-3-8 Art III 16C
2 x 1-8 Mot Art III 2 AC, 3 AC
two steps of attack supply
18A:2829 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
This is the attacking stack. All attacking ground units are in attack supply.
3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs [does not participate in the attack]
8-7-10* Pz XX 5 Le (Ger)
5-8 Lt Arm XX 132 Ar
1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/33 (Ger LW)
1-10 Mot AT II 605 (Ger)
1-8 Mot Art III 1 AC
18A:3030 [clear terrain hex; SE of El Agheila]:
This unit also attacks. It is in general supply, but not in attack supply.
2-10* Mot Inf III 7 B
El Agheila (18A:2930) [currently Allied owned; clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap permanent airfield
1-10* Mot SG AA=1 2 [British unit]
3-2-10 Arm X 3 [British unit]
2 x Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [on GS air mission over hex; began at 3-cap permanent airfield at 18A:2730 ]
Me 110D 5HF5 4-1/12( Ger LW) [on GS air mission over hex; began at 3-cap permanent airfield a 18A:2730]]
All three LW air units make it through the Allied flack shot.
Die roll is a 4 at 9 to 1 -1: DE.
All attacking Axis ground units move into the El Agheila hex after combat. The 3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs, not participating in the attack, remains at hex 18A:2829. The three LW air units on the GS air mission return to base inoperative at the Arco dei Feline airfield at 18A:2730.
WW ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario
Commentary:
Hard core Europa Western Desert campaign gamers may want to compare the various possible Axis end of turn movement results of the WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario Mar II 41 Axis at-start set-up with what they perceive to be the optimum Axis end of turn movement results of F. Watson’s classic ER-II Scenario Mar II 41 Axis at-start set-up, using the generic and more often used 9-10 Pz XX 21, and search for game design deficiencies and chain-hobbles in the alternate Axis at-start set-up done here. For now we will not delve into the particular differences between the two Scenarios’ optimum end turn dispositions in the Cyrenaica, but may do so later if an EA discussion begins. Although there are admittedly some differences in the Axis Mar II 41 EOT maximum penetrations between the two set-ups, this singular fact in and of itself is not the decisive thing, I think, in evaluating the new Scenario’s at-start set-up. I think the main thing in a critical analysis would be detection of a decisive difference in the odds of a possible Axis attack on Tobruch on either the May I or May II 41 turns, depending on things, such as the availability on those turns of sufficient Axis air units in the Tobruch zone as opposed to say, at Sicily.
I admit to also air transferring the LW Ju 87 B and LW Ju 87R D type air units from Sicily to Soluch, in Libya, a strategy which some may question. Some strategists might say that they should have stayed in Sicily and done the Malta Status bombing. In another game I might indeed have done this, too, but not in this one.
Mar II 41 Axis EOT dispositions
Mar II 41 Axis EOT: off-map display details
Off-map display of reinforcements, etc.
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