EOT Dispositions
Malta [end of turn]:
The Br Hurri 2 F type air unit is in the Aborted Air Units Box of the Malta Command Replacement Pool.
Malta Status: 9, end of turn [at turn’s start 10, – 1 repair this turn = 9]
Malta Repair Rate: 1 repair point each turn.
Valletta (18A:0407):
3-cap permanent airfield; one hit of damage
Valletta hex flack factor: 5 (3 intrinsic, + 2 for the 0-1-8 hv AA II)
3-6* Inf X 1 M
2-6* Inf X 2 M
1-8 MG II 2 Ch
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 10
0-4 Cons X MC
4 gsp’s generated on the Jun II 41 Allied turn I. Phase [these were successfully sea transported from Gibraltar, using 1 W Med NTP in the naval movement step of the M. Phase; in checking for Axis anti-shipping effects, the 9 column was used on the Naval Table, per WW Rule 31E1]
Note: This turn all ground units on Malta are still technically Allied U-2 in the current Allied I. Phase, due to the presence of the 4 gsp’s at the start of the turn.
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: Libya, Sicily, Malta, Crete, and the Aegean
In Libya [end of turn]:
Tobruch (18A:4817) [clear terrain improved fortress/standard port]:
improved fortress; construction of the improved fortress was completed in the May II 41 Allied I. Phase.
3-cap temporary airfield
0-1-4 Cons X 66 RPC (Col) [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 51 [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
7-8 Inf XX 9 (Aus) [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
2-8 Inf X 16 [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
2-1-6 Tnk II 7 RT [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
3-8 Art X 13 [never moved; this turn becomes technically Red U-4]
2-8 Inf X 23 [never moved; technically still Black U-3]
one step of attack supply [began turn here; never moved]
Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 SAAF [operative; began turn here; never moved; technically still Black U-2]
12 gsp’s [generated on the Jun I 41 Axis I. Phase from a step of attack supply present in the Tobruch hex; these provide special general supply this turn and in the following Jun II 41 Axis turn; they will be removed from the map at the end of step 23 of the Jun II 41 Axis I. Phase, after the supply determination step of that turn]
4 gsp’s [generated in the current I. Phase; all were sea transported into Tobruch in the naval movement segment; two are from Suez, two are from Alexandria; two others from Suez were sunk in transit to Tobruch]
In Egypt [{beginning of turn}/end of turn]:
Matruh (19A:1218) [clear terrain point city/minor port road-major rail junction coast hex]:
railhead marker [EA game report note: in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario the Matruh-Tobruch railroad construction does not begin until the Aug II 41 Allied turn, per the WitD Allied OB booklet]
3-cap permanent airfield
fort marker
8 INf XX HQ 50 Nth [turn reinf; disembarked at Suez; railed to here]
2-8 Inf X 2 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Suez; railed to here]
2-8 Inf X 5 (SA) [began turn here; never moved]
2-8 Inf X 6 (NZ) [began turn at Alexandria; admin moved to here]
1-8 MG II 1 RNF [began turn here; never moved]
0-8 Lt AA II AA=1 57 [began turn here; never moved]
5 pos flk unit AA=1 [Br; began turn at Limassol, on Cyprus; in I. Phase still Black U-1; sea transported to Port Said, then railed to here]
P-40C 5F5 1/13 SAAF [inop.; began turn here; in the naval movement step performed Intercept air mission to the Sidi Barrani target hex; returned to base here]
A-22 3A3 2-1/19 [inop.; began turn at Tel Aviv (20A:5011), in Palestine; air transferred to here late in the E. Phase]
19A:1418 [clear terrain major rail coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Glad 3F3 0/8 [inop.; began turn at Haifa, in Palestine; air transferred to here late in the E. Phase]
19A:1319 [clear terrain major rail line coast hex, SW of Matruh]:
1-2-10* Mot SG X AA=1 7 [began turn at 19A:1320; moved to here]
6-4-6 Tnk X 1 T [turn reinf; disembarked at Suez; railed to here]
1-10* Mot Inf X 3 (Ind) [began turn at 19A:1320; in M. Phase it regular moved along the Siwa road to 19A:0725, regaining Allied hex control of the road all the way to Siwa; exploited back to here]
19A:1419 [clear terrain hex]:
1-10* Mot SG X AA=1 2 [began turn at 19A:1219; in M. Phase it regular moved along the coast road to the Halfaya Pass hex (19A:0419), gaining Allied hex control of the road to here, exploited back to here]
3-2-10 Arm X 7 [began turn at 19A:1219; moved to here]
19A:1520 [clear terrain hex]:
2-8* Inf X 5 (Ind) [began turn at 19A:1521; moved to here]
19A:1620 [clear terrain hex]:
2-8* Inf X 11 (Ind) [began turn at 19A:1621; moved to here]
19A:1721 [clear terrain hex, adjacent to Qattara Depression]:
3-8 Inf X 22 G [began the turn at 19A:1420; moved to here]
El Alamein 19A:2119/20A:5033 [clear terrain point city major rail coast road hex]:
2-cap temporary airfield
two-turn fort under construction, beginning this Allied I. Phase; projected to be complete on the Jul II 41 Allied I. Phase
0-1-4 Cons X 43 RPC (Col) [began turn here; at step 19 of the I. Phase it begins building a 2-turn fort in the hex; the single resource point at the Alexandria hex is expended]
Alexandria (20A:4930/19A:2416) [major port/full city hex/major rail line coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 68 [began turn here; never moved]
Glad 3F3 0/8 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Well 1C 3NB4 1-6/28 [inop.; began turn at Matruh; in C. Phase staged to Alexandria and performed GS air mission at 20A:4707, in the Vichy French Levant; rebased at Alexandria at the end of the C. Phase]
{one step of attack supply [began turn at Alexandria; railed to Haifa, then spent 3 SMPs moving along secondary rail line to 20A:4808, in Palestine; the step of attack supply is expended at the end of the C. Phase for the 2 Allied combat attacks in the Vichy French Levant]}
{1 resource point [expended at step 14 of the I. Phase for the 0-1-4 Cons X 43 RPC (Col) to build a 2-turn fort at El Alamein]}
{4 gsp’s, generated in the current turn’s I. Phase; two were successfully sea transported to Tobruch in an E Med NTP; the other two were railed to Haifa and then air transported in the E. Phase to Lattique, in the Vichy French Levant}
Cairo (19A:3320) [clear terrain partial city hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Suez (19A:3718) [clear terrain reference city/major port major rail line terminus coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker
{4 gsp’s, generated in the current turn’s I. Phase; each gsp was sea transported to Tobruch in a single E Med NTP, two were sunk in transit, two made it to Tobruch}
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: the Western Desert region, the Delta zone, Crete, Greece, the Aegean, and Cyprus
In Palestine [end of turn]:
Tel Aviv (20A:5011) [clear terrain dot city/minor port major rail line junction coast hex]:
[vacant at the end of the E. Phase]
Haifa (20A:4710) [clear terrain dot city/major port transportation line junction coast hex]:
railhead marker [per WW Rule 41B1a-Western Desert Campaign Starting Conditions, “the transportation line from Haifa to Tripoli (20A:4005) is a road, not a railroad.” This stipulation is used in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario. More later on its construction.]
0-8 Hv AA II AA=1 2 (Aus) [began turn at Tel Aviv, in Palestine; moved to here]
Bombay 1T2 1-2/15 [inop.; began turn at Haifa; in the E. Phase air transported 2 gsp’s to Lattique, in the Vichy French Levant; the gsp’s had been railed to Haifa from Alexandria; rebased at Haifa]
Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 [inop.; began turn here; performed escort air mission for the GS air op to 20A:4707, in the Vichy French Levant; rebased at Haifa at the end of the C. Phase]
Blen 4 3B3 1-2/23 [inop.; began turn at Alexandria; in C. Phase staged to Haifa and performed GS air mission to 20A:4707; rebased at Haifa at the end of the C. Phase]
20A:4609 [clear terrain transportation line coast hex, N of Haifa]:
1-8 Cav X 5 [began turn at Safad (20:4608); moved one hex to here]
Safad (20A:4608) [rough terrain point city hex]:
2-8 Inf X 9 (Ind) [turn reinf; sea transported to Haifa, after disembarkation regular moved to here]
20A:4808 [clear terrain secondary rail hex]:
1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) [began turn at Haifa; moved to here]
Considerations regarding the Allied invasion of the Vichy French Levant in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario on the Jun II 41 Turn:
- Per Rathe’s “Troupes Francaises du Levant” (TFL) article in TEM#81, beginning on the Jun II 41 Allied turn, “Beyrouth and Damas have an intrinsic unsupported defensive strength of 1 until their hex is captured.”
- Just in case it’s unclear to EA readers unfamiliar with his TFL article, “each TS [Troupes Speciales] unit has a letter-strength, in all cases equal to a[n unsupported] combat strength of 1, and a Cohesion level (CL) as listed in the [TFL] OB.” Furthermore, “C or D-strength units involved in a combat must check their cohesion before the combat die roll.” And finally, “A or B-strength units must check their cohesion whenever they receive an AH/DH, EX, or HX combat result.” There is a somewhat complicated array of CL modifiers for affected TS units when using the Cohesion Table. There are some other TS unit stipulations, but these less important occasional ones will be discussed when and if they arise in the EA game report.
- Rathe’s discussion of the BANP railroad is interesting. This is the major rail line in Syria and Turkey running from the northwestern Syrian border hex 20A:2932-Alep-21A:3213, which is the major rail line border hex (w/ Iraq) in the northeastern Syrian “duckbill.” This is found on p. 47 of his TFL article. His stipulations could and should be included in the new Scenario, and could have a certain impact on an Axis Intervention in Iraq, per WW Optional Rule 38J6, in the final worked draft of the new Scenario’s rules.
- Right now I’m thinking that only the D-8 Cav III PTch (TS) ought to be Removed on the “1st Turn of Invasion (Jun I 41),” just as Rathe has indicated in his TFL article. Also, on the May I 41 Axis turn, certainly prior to the Allied invasion of the Levant, 2 or 3 of the remaining TS units would then be required to be scrapped. For the new Scenario those few TS units excluded from the list of those available for the required scraping on the May I 41 turn would be the D-8 Cav III Djez and the A-8 Mot Cav III Lev, which are in effect required Vichy French TS at-start units on the projected turn of the Allied invasion of the Levant in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario. The reason I want to do this “required” scrapping on the May I 41 Axis turn is that it presently appears to me that the full contingent of TS units on the map at the Allied turn of the invasion makes the Vichy French Levant army too strong.
- Mention ought to be made regarding the peculiar blend of ZOC effects present in the SW zone of the Vichy French Levant, comprising the southern part of Lebanon and the SW extremity of Syria. This southwestern part of the Vichy French Levant, more or less close to its Mediterranean coastline, is in the E weather zone, as is also the northwestern part of Palestine along the same coastline. In the E weather zone only divisions “exert ZOCs into adjacent hexes,” per Rule 5A-Zones of Control (ZOCs). Since the E weather zone is the northern, and therefore is what might be called the dominant weather zone at the definite blue weather line, the stipulation about “only divisions” exerting ZOCs into adjacent hexes goes for those particular hexes there in Palestine and the French Levant where the light blue E weather line goes through, in addition to those hexes specifically north, or above, the blue weather line. Brigades, regiments, and cadres exert ZOCs through their adjacent hexsides in those particular hexes exclusively and specifically south, or below, the E weather line. This is all clarified in Example 1 in Rule 5A, which covers the same peculiar ZOC situation occurring on WD map 18A in the Cyrenaica, in the eastern part of Libya.
- The Dice Roll Modifiers stipulated for the Variable Levant Surrender Table compel the Allied player to capture Beyrouth, Damas, and Alep. The Allied player rolls for the Variable Levant Surrender Table “each Axis initial phase after the Allies invade the Levant and the Levant has not yet surrendered.” No mention was made of this on the prior Jun I 41 Axis initial phase because there were not enough + modifiers in effect at that time to enable the “13 or more” dice roll needed for Levant Surrender.
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: Palestine, the Vichy French Levant, western Iraq, and Cyprus
Activated Allied Task Force in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Zone:
20A:4409 [all-sea hex, adjacent to Lebanese coast hex Saida (20A:4408)]:
RN-1 4 pt TF (RN) [activated at step 14 of the I. Phase and placed at the Haifa great port hex; in the naval movement step of the M. Phase it moved to all-sea hex 20A:4409, adjacent to Saida, in Lebanon; in C. Phase it participated in a combat attack against the Vichy French Levant units in the Saida hex; remained here until the end of the Allied turn, when it was deactivated and removed from the maps.
Allied Units in the Vichy French Levant [end of turn]:
Sour (20A:4509) [clear terrain point city transportation line coast hex]:
[vacant at the end of the M. Phase]
Saida (20A:4408) [rough terrain point city transportation line coast hex]:
8* Inf XX HQ 6 [began turn at Matruh; sea transported to Haifa in the naval movement step, after disembarkation it regular moved 2 hexes north to Sour; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; after combat it moved into Saida]
3-8* Mtn X Karp (Pol) [began turn at 20A:4609, in Palestine; moved one hex north to Sour (20A:4509); in the C. Phase participated in an attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; after combat it moved into Saida]
2-8 Eng X 1 (Aus) [began turn at Sour (20A:4509), in Lebanon; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; after combat it moved into Saida]
2-8 Inf X 14 [began turn at Safad (20A:4608); moved north one hex to 20A:4508; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; after combat it moved into Saida]
20A:4508 [rough terrain hex]:
7-8 Inf XX 7 (Aus) [began turn here; never moved; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; after combat it remained here at 4508]
20A:4708 [rough terrain hex]:
1-8 Art II 1 (Aus) [began turn at Sour (20A:4509), in Lebanon; moved two hexes to here; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at hex 20A:4707; remained here after combat]
2-1-6 Tnk II 4 RT [began turn at Sour (20A:4509), in Lebanon; moved two hexes to here; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at hex 20A:4707; remained here after combat and in the E. Phase]
20A:4707 [rough terrain hex]:
3-8* Inf X 1 FL (FF) [began turn at Safad (20A:4608), in Palestine; moved one hex to 20A:4708; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at hex 20A:4707; moved into the hex after combat]
20A:4706 [clear terrain secondary rail hex]:
2-8* Inf X 7 (Ind) [began turn at 20A:4708, regular moved to here; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at hex 20A:4707; remained here after combat]
20A:4807 [rough terrain secondary rail line hex]:
1-8 Cav X 6 [began turn at 20A:4808, in Palestine; moved to adjacent hex 20A:4807, in the Vichy French Levant; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at hex 20A:4707; remained here after combat]
Lattique (20A:3405) [clear terrain reference city/minor port road terminus coast hex]:
0-8 Marine Cmdo II ME [began turn at Haifa; did amphibious sp op landing at Lattique in the naval movement segment of the M. Phase; landed undisrupted]
2-8 Inf X 19 (Aus) [began turn at Alexandria; in the naval movement step sea transported to the Lattique beach hex, in the French Levant; remained at-sea in the Lattique beach hex until the E. Phase, when it did an amphibious landing at a friendly beach hex; landed undisrupted]
Blen 4 3B3 1-2/23 [inop.; began turn at Tel Aviv (20A:5011), in Palestine; in C. Phase staged to Rutbah (21A:5023), in Iraq, and performed the GS air mission at the Hassetche target hex (21A:3218), in the Vichy French Levant; rebased here at the end of the C. Phase]
2 gsp’s [generated at Alexandria in the current turn’s I. Phase; railed to Haifa; air transported to here in the E. Phase by the Br Bombay T type air unit]
21A:3213 [clear terrain major rail line hex, just inside the Vichy French Levant border]:
8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind) [began turn at 21A:4507; admin moved 16 hexes along transportation line hexes to here]
1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind) [began turn 21A:4507; admin moved 16 hexes along transportation line hexes to here]
21A:3116 [clear terrain road hex, NE of Deir er Zoir]:
2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab [began turn at 21A:3116, in northeastern Syria; in the M. Phase regular moved to 21A: 3217, E of Hassetche; in the C. Phase it attacked the Vichy French TS unit in the Hassetche hex, advancing into Hassetche after combat; exploited to here]
On Cyprus [end of turn]:
Limassol (20A:3615) [clear terrain point city/standard port coast road hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
Famagusta (20A:3411) [clear terrain point city/standard port coast road hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: Iraq and the eastern part of the Vichy French Levant
Middle East (ME) Command Replacement Pool [end of turn]:
2-8 Inf X 150 [turn reinf; sea transported to Haifa; after disembarkation regular moved to Sour (20A:4509); in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; eliminated in the HX combat result]
1-8 AT II 65 [began turn at Safad (20A:4608); moved north one hex to 20A:4508; in the C. Phase participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; eliminated in the HX combat result]
3-2-10 Arm X 3 [eliminated in combat on the Mar II 41 Axis turn C. Phase of the EA game report]
3-2-10 Arm X 4 [in the Scenario at-start in the ME Replacement Pool, per ER-II]
Eliminated Air Units Box:
Blen 4 3B3 1-2/23 [in the previous Jun I 41 Allied C. Phase it participated in the first Allied attack in the Vichy French Levant, flying the GS air mission at 20A:4607; it was killed in air combat there by the bypassing Vichy Fr D 520 F type air unit, flying the Interception air mission to the target hex]
In the Allied Near East Command:
In pro-Alled Iraq [end of turn]:
- Iraqi coup collapse occurred in the May II 41 Axis I. Phase, per the dice roll done then using the Variable Iraqi Coup Collapse Table. At that time all Iraqi forces/production are removed from the map and the Iraq Replacement Pool. By the end of the I. Phase all Iraqi territory is Allied owned; except in our case the Mosul hex, which at the time contained the Axis Conditional Reinforcement Ger LW Mxd A type air unit.
- At the beginning of this turn the new Allied Iraqi railnet-cap is 3 1/2.
Allied Conditional Reinforcements
Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces
Coup Turn 5/Jun II 41 Allied Turn
Near East:
Arrive:
1-8 Inf X 17 (Ind)
two steps of attack supply [per F. Watson’s “Iraq: Rashid Ali and the Golden Square” Europa battle scenario, published in TEM#81]
Rutbah (21A:5023) [stony desert point city road junction hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip [Allied owned]
1-10 Mot Cav III AL (T-J) [Arab Legion; began turn here; never moved. This is a provisional new unit introduced in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario on the May I 41 Allied turn. For more details, see that posted EA game report.]
Habbaniya (22A:2828) [clear terrain point city road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-4 Static II 1 As (Col) [began turn here; never moved]
Audax 1A1 1/8 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Baghdad 22A:2825 [clear terrain partial city transportation line junction hex]:
one hit marker on airbase
21A:4819 [stony desert Pump Station road hex]:
2-8 Inf X 21 (Ind) [began turn at 21A:4109; admin moved 16 hexes along transportation line hexes to here]
22A:2833 [stony desert Rutbah-Ramadi road hex]:
2-8 Inf X 25 (Ind) [began turn at 22A:3022; admin moved 16 hexes along transportation line hexes to here]
22A:3423 [canal intensive secondary rail line hex]:
2-8 Inf X 24 (Ind) [began turn at Basra; admin moved 16 hexes along the secondary rail line to here]
22A:4021 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:
one step of attack supply [began turn at 22A:4217; in E. Phase spent 5 SMPs exploiting to here along the secondary rail line hexes]
Shaibah (22A:4314) [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-4 Static II 2 As (Col) [began turn here]
Basra (22A:4313) [clear terrain dot city/major port, w/ a major river hexside]:
Allied Supply Terminal marker
1-8 Inf X 17 (Ind) [turn Conditional Reinforcement; disembarked at Basra; afterwards remained here]
one step of attack supply [never moved]
two steps of attack supply [turn Conditional Reinforcements; disembarked at Basra; afterwards they remained here]
Axis Southeast Command
At Rodi:
Rodi (20A:2230) [clear terrain major port point city coast hex]:
3-cap-permanent airfield
3-4-6 Inf XX 50 Reg [Dodecanese Garrison]
1-2-5 Art X 35 [Dodecanese Garrison]
1-2-5 Art X 36 [Dodecanese Garrison]
0-6 Lt AA II AA=1 Rodi [Dodecanese Garrison]
1-0-6 Lt Tnk II 312 [Dodecanese Garrison]
Mxd F 2F2 0/8 [operative; Dodecanese Garrison; began turn here; never moved]
Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (Ger LW) [inop.; Axis Conditional Reinforcement; flipped to its inop side at step 21 of the I. Phase due to airfield capacity]
MC 200 3F4 1/8 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Mxd A 2A3 1-1/16 (Ger LW) [operative; Axis Conditional Reinforcement; never moved]
20A:2331 [rough terrain coast hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
1-6 Hv AA III AA=2 Rodi [Dodecanese Garrison]
Ju 88A1 3B5 3-5/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; performed the Naval Patrol air mission; returned to base here]
Ju 88A1 3B5 3-5/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; performed the Naval Patrol air mission; returned to base here]
Ju 88A1 3B5 3-5/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; performed the Naval Patrol air mission; returned to base here]
Mxd B 1B2 1-2/21 [inop.; began turn here; Dodecanese garrison; flipped to its inop side at step 21 of the I. Phase due to airfield capacity]
On Scarpanto:
Scarpanto (19A:0701) [rough terrain minor port point city hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-6 Lt AA II AA=1 Scar [Dodecanese Garrison]
Me 110D 5HF5 4-2/12 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
Ju 87R 2D3 4-1/13 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; performed the Naval Patrol air mission; returned to base here]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
On Samos:
Samos (20A:1432/15B:1400) [rough terrain point city minor port coast hex]:
6 Inf XX HQ C [an unsupported breakdown component of the 4-6 Inf XX 6 Cno]
On Melos (15B:1610):
Melos (15B:1610) [clear terrain point city minor port Aegean islet hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
Do 17Z 3B4 3-4/13 (Ger LW) [operative.; began turn here; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
On Crete:
- At the start of the Allied turn there are no Allied forces on the island
Khania (18A:4403/15B:2115) [rough terrain reference city/standard port road terminus coast hex]:
2-cap temporary airfield
2-6 Eng III 685 [any] (Ger) [becomes technically Black U-1 this turn]
7-8 Mtn XX 6 (Ger) [becomes technically Black U-1 this turn]
Me 110C 5HF5 1/12 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; still technically Red U-1; never moved]
Me 109E 7F5 1/7 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; becomes Black U-1 this turn, as it is not an Axis stipulated reciprent of special general supply from the available gsp’s at Khania; never moved]
He 111H 4B4 2-7/S/22 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; becomes Black U-1 this turn, as it is not an Axis stipulated reciprent of special general supply from the available gsp’s at Khania; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
12 gsp’s [generated in the Jun I 41 Axis I. Phase]
18A:4504 [mountain coast hex]:
7-6 Para XX 7 (Ger LW) [still technically Red U-1]
Rethymnon (18A:4603) [rough terrain point city/standard port coast road hex]:
1-5 Glider II 1 St (Ger LW) [still technically Red U-1]
2-5 Para III 1 St (Ger LW) [still technically Red U-1]
1-6 Marine Cmdo II Gr/SM [still technically Red U-1]
{Suda Bay} (18A:4503) [rough terrain coast hex; formerly a port upgrade major port and an Allied standard supply terminal]:
3-8 Mtn III A (Ger) [becomes technically Black U-1 this turn]
Erakleion (18A:4903) [rough terrain reference city/standard port coast road hex]:
hit marker on the reference city airbase
3-8 Mtn III A (Ger) [still technically Red U-1]
Hagios Nikolaos (19A:0203) [rough terrain point city/minor port coast road terminus hex]:
1-6 Inf III C [becomes technically Black U-1 this turn]
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: eastern Libya, western Egypt, Crete, Greece, and the Aegean
Mainland Greece:
15B:1415 [southeastern Peloponnese rough terrain coastline hex]:
3-cap temporary airfield
2 x 5 pos flk AA=2 (Ger LW)
G 50bis 3F3 0/10 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Do 17Z 3B4 3-4/13 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
Do 17Z 3B4 3-4/13 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; assigned to Naval Patrol air mission; never flew the mission]
Kalamai (15B:1118) [clear terrain reference city/standard port secondary rail line terminus coast hex]:
2 x 5 pos flk AA=2 (Ger LW)
15B:0914 [eastern Peloponnese rough terrain coastline hex; E of Nauplion, SE of Korinthos]:
3-cap temporary airfield
5 pos flk AA=1 (Ger LW)
15B:0813 [rough terrain secondary rail line coast hex, E of Korinthos]:
3-cap temporary airfield
Athenai (15B:0911) [great port/full hex city transportation line junction coast hex]:
2 x 5 pos flk AA=2 (Ger LW)
2-6 Eng III 690 [any] (Ger)
1-8 Ski II MC
8 Mtn XX HQ A (Ger)
Me 109E 7F5 1/7 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; never moved]
2 x Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (Ger LW) [operative; both began turn here; both never moved]
Z 506B 2B3 2-4/F/22 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
15B:0811 [clear terrain secondary rail line coast hex, NW of Athenai]:
3-cap permanent airfield
5 pos flk AA=1 (Ger LW)
3 x Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (Ger LW) [all operative; all began turn here; all never moved]
15B:0711 [clear terrain transportation line junction coast hex, 2 hexes N of Athenai]:
3-cap temporary airfield
5 pos flk AA=1 (Ger LW)
3 x Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (Ger LW) [all operative; all began turn here; all never moved]
Levadia (15B:0612) [clear terrain major rail line hex]:
3-cap temporary airfield
5 pos flk AA=1 (Ger LW)
3 x Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (Ger LW) [all inop; all began turn here; all never moved]
Jun II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: off-map display details
Turn Activity:
At step 11 of the Initial Phase the Allied units at the isolated Tobruch hex beginning the turn at technically Red U-3 now become technically Red U-4. But all are in special general supply due to the 12 gsp’s in the hex, generated from a step of attack supply present in the hex on the Jun I 41 Axis I. Phase. At Malta the Allied ground units there are technically Red U-2, but draw general supply from the 4 gsp’s in the hex, generated on the Jun I 41 Allied I. Phase at Gibraltar and then sea transported to Valletta. All the Axis units on Crete beginning the turn at Red U-1 now become technically Red U-2. Several other Axis units on Crete become technically Red U-1 in the current Allied I. Phase. There are 12 gsp’s present at the Khania hex, on Crete, generated on the Jun I 41 Axis I. Phase from a step of attack supply then present at Athenai; in the Jun I 41 Axis E. Phase these 12 gsp’s were air transported to Khania. With these 12 gsp’s the Axis player is able to designate all Axis ground and air units on Crete as in special general supply, except for the Ger LW Me 109 E and the He 111H4 air units, both based at Khania. These two Axis air units become definitely Red U-1 this turn.
Jun II 41 Allied near the end of the Initial Phase dispositions:
At step 14 of the I. Phase the Allied player activates the Br RN-1 task force naval unit, per WW Rule 27A4, removing it from the Unused portion of the Royal Navy Availability Box and placing it at the major port of Haifa, in Palestine. Because the Jun II turn is at the very end of of the 2nd “quarter year,” it will be available again the next Allied I. Phase, on the Jul I 41 turn, at the beginning of the 3rd quarter year. In the C. Phase this unit participates in the combat attack at Saida (20A:4408), in the Vichy French Levant. At the end of the Allied player turn it is returned to Used portion of the Royal Navy Availability box.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Initial Phase dispositions
In the Initial Phase, at step 16, the Allied player generates 4 new gsp’s at the Suez and Alexandria Allied Standard Supply sources.
At step 22 neither side executes any CAP air missions, but the Axis player assigns a number of Naval Patrol air missions, utilizing Axis air units in the SE Command on Crete, the Dodecanese, Melos, and at mainland Greece airbases. Also assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission are the three Axis Med/NA Command air units based at Ain el Gazala, in the Cyrenaica. See the Commentary below on these Axis air missions in the new Scenario and WW Rule 3E2-Axis Commands.
Jun II 41 Allied near the end of the I. Phase dispositions
In the Initial Phase, at step 24, the 4 old gsp’s at at the Valletta hex, on Malta that were generated on the Jun I 41 Allied Initial Phase are removed from the map. The four old gsp’s at the Suez hex that were generated on the Jun I 41 Allied Initial Phase are removed from the map, as are also the four old gsp’s at the Alexandria hex that were generated on the same I. Phase.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the I. Phase dispositions: Iraq and eastern Vichy French Levant.
Movement Phase
In the M. Phase’s initial naval movement step, the Allied player executes a number of naval actions in the vast eastern Mediterranean Sea basin. The naval actions are listed below in sequential order. Those that are indicated by a # are indicated as such in the naval action step activities picture included below in the game report.
Jun II 41 Allied naval movement step of the Movement Phase activity details
#1. An E Med NTP is used to sea transport the Br 5 pos flk unit (AA=1) from Limassol on Cyprus, to Port Said, in Egypt. Because of its remoteness and the relatively unimportant cargo, the Axis player declines to attempt a Naval Patrol Contact attempt.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the naval movement step: Central Mediterranean
#2. An E Med NTP is used to sea transport 1 gsp from Suez, in Egypt, to Tobruch, using the largely coastal hex sea route and particular day and night movement chronology indicated in the related picture below. Several of the sea transport hexes are in all-sea hexes, such as at 19A:2317-2217-2118, and the final night-time leg to Tobruch are through all-sea hexes 19A:0617-0518-0417-0317-0216-18A:5117-5016-4917, and then Tobruch. The Axis player, sensing what the Allied player is up to and noticing his daylight sea movement beginning again at Egyptian coast hex 19A:4922, is compelled by the demands of the war to commence the running aero-naval battle of attrition that the Royal Navy is daring. Taking into account the interception ranges of the Br Glad F type air unit based at Alexandria and the longer-range SAAF P-40C fighter unit at Matruh, and analyzing the Naval Patrol ranges (regular and extended range) of his preferred available air units assigned to the Naval Patrol mission, the Axis player picks the remote Egyptian Delta coast hex 19A:4922 to attempt Contact. He utilizes one of the three SE Command Ju 88A2 air units based 21 hexes away at the Rodi island airfield at 20A:2331, and rolls for Contact on the Success Table. The modifiers are +3 for calm seas and -4 for the 21 hex range, for a -1 modifier. To be sure, this means only a roll of 6 brings Success. He rolls a 2: Failure. The Axis player dutifully flips to inoperative the Ju 88A1 air unit at the airfield at 20A:2331, on Rodi, and then lets the gsp to sail onwards towards Toburch, again under the cover of night for 10 naval movement points, with nightfall beginning at all-sea hex 19A:2317 and enduring to the 2nd point expenditure done inside coast hex 19A;1719, which must be in daylight. Then the NTP carrying the gsp from Suez expends the required minimum 20 naval movement points in daylight per WW Rule 34B2, spending 2 points per coastal hex, per the Naval MP Costs Summary, thereby hugging the coastline as far away as it can get from the Axis Naval Patrol air units until the Sidi Barrarini coastal hex, from which it may again commence night movement, upon entering adjacent all-sea hex 19A:0617. Using this possibly standard sea voyage hex route, Allied shipping is safe using night movement in the last 9 map hexes until entering the Tobruch coast hex, costing 2 naval movement points to enter, and thus completing the last leg of the voyage entirely at night into the safety of the Allied improved fortress harbor. But by now the Axis player knows the voyage route and timing, too.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Movement Phase: the eastern Mediterranean Sea basin
#3. An E Med NTP is used to sea transport 1 gsp from Suez to Tobruch,using the same Allied voyaging method along the North African coastline. The Axis player keeps to the plan also and picks again the Egyptian coast Delta hex at 19A:4922 to attempt Contact, and utilizes the second available Ju 88A1 air unit based at 20A,2331, at Rodi. But the Axis player rolls a 3 on the Success Table, when he needs a 6; and so the Allied NTP goes its way and the Axis player must flip to inoperative the ineffective second Ju 88A1 air unit based at Rodi.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Movement Phase dispositions: Central Mediterranean
#4. Not wanting to fix something that’s working right, the Allied player again sends an E Med NTP with the third available gsp at Suez on the same route to Tobruch, and like an old friend the Axis player requests a Contact die roll at the same Egyptian coastal hex 19A:4922. But this time the Axis player rolls better and finally comes up with the 6 needed on the Success Table. The Allied player rolls high on the Antiaircraft Fire Table and misses the Ju 88A1 air unit. Since the target hex is only 21 hexes away from the Rodi airfield at 20A:2331, the Ju 88A1’s full 3 tac factor is used; three dice are rolled, looking for 6’s only, and a 6 shows up: a Hit! And so the E Med NTP and its cargo of 1 gsp from Suez is sunk. The third and last SE Command Ju 88A1 air unit from the Rodi airfield at 20A:2331 rebases there, inoperative.
Jun II 41 end of the Movement Phase dispositions
#5. The Allied player then sends the 4th and last gsp from Suez in an E Med NTP on its voyage to Tobruch. By now the Axis player has used up the three available Ju 88A1 air units at Rodi assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission. What will he do now, under the circumstances? The Allies go their merry way for a long while, perhaps thinking that Fritz has tired of this chasing after such tiny sardines with his best bombers. Then, at the last hex of daylight of the long voyage, at Sidi Barrani hex 19A:0718, the Axis player declares that one of the two Ger LW Med/NA Command Ju 87 B D type air units based 16 hexes away at Ain el Gazala and assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission, wants to roll for Contact at that coastal hex, at extended range. The modifiers are +3 for calm seas and -3 for the 16 hex range, for 0 modifiers, and the Axis player rolls a 5: a Success. Forthwith the long-ranging SAAF P-40C F type air unit based at Matruh flies the Intercept mission to the Sidi Barrani target hex, seeking to put a quick end to the Axis raids on the Allied shipping. But this time the likely doesn’t happen, and both air units roll (-) results per the Air Combat Results Table. The formidable but this time unlucky Allied P-40C air unit rebases inoperative at Matruh, and after its close shave the Ju 87B air unit now gets to face the E Med NTP’s 2 factor flack shot. The Allied player rolls an 8, a miss. The extended range Ju 87B D type air unit, with a normal tac factor of 4, here reduced to effectively a 1 due to the extended range, rolls on the Bombing Table, but with a +1 modifier for being the D type, and comes up with a 6: a Hit! And so the E Med NTP sinks into the sea, the second one sunk so far, along with its gsp cargo, from Suez, making it the second gsp to be sunk this turn. The jubilant Ju 87 B air unit rebases at Gazala, inoperative.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the M. Phase dispositions
#6. Undaunted, the Allied player now sends two gsp’s from the Alexandria standard Supply Terminal on one E Med NTP, utilizing the same westward voyage route and day and night chronology. This time at the Sidi Barrani coastal hex the SE Command’s Ger LW Ju 87R air unit assigned to the Naval Patrol air mission and based at the Scarpanto airfield (19A:0701) calls for a Contact attempt die roll, again on extended range in spite of its 13 hex range. Since the SAAF P-40C F type air unit is now inoperative, the Axis player feels that he can risk another of the SE Command’s air units. To the Allied player’s chagrin this 2nd Stuka dive bomber unit also rolls a Success result, and just like the other it also gets through the NTP’s flack shot, too. But its luck changes when it rolls a 3 on the Bombing Table, modified to a 4: for a Miss. And so the relieved E Med NTP makes it alive to Tobruch, along with the 2 gsp’s from Alexandria and a big war story to tell; and the hapless Ju 87R air unit returns to Scarpanto, and there perhaps packs its bags, for Russia.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Movement Phase dispositons
#7. But as suddenly as the harrowing Allied gsp voyages to Tobruch began, now they stop. One reason is that the Allied player is following a fairly rigid protocol, and wants to avoid sinking more E Med NTPs than he can immediately replenish his next Jul I 41 turn, per WW Rule 35D. And so next he embarks the Br 8* Inf XX HQ 6 unit at Matruh on an E Med NTP and sends it away on a northeasterly direction, the first 10 all-sea hexes done at night. The first daylight hex is at all-sea hex 19A:4530, four hexes away from Alexandria and its operative Glad F type air unit, which may be why the It SM 79-2 2B3 type (V code) air unit based at Ain el Gazala (along w/ the two Ger LW Ju 87 B D type air units) declines a Contact attempt at extended range. The Br 8* inf XX HQ unit continues to Haifa, in Palestine, where it disembarks its ground unit cargo. This naval transport was important because in so doing the Allied unit still had some MPs left after disembarkation; if it had been railed from Matruh to northern Palestine it would not have been able to get where the Allied player wanted it to be.
#8. Then the Allied player embarks the Br 0-8 Marine Cmdo II ME, at Haifa, on the single available E Med ANTP, per WW Rule 31A2 (at the end Note), and sends it to the unoccupied Vichy French Levant clear terrain reference city/minor port Lattique hex, at 20A:3405, on an amphibious special op, duly planned one turn in advance. This was the only Allied sp op planned this turn. The Allied player picked Lattique mostly on a lark, but of the three available French Levant ports, it alone has the clear terrain hex, is remote from the colony’s rail lines, and there was some possibility that it might be unoccupied this turn. The Allied battalion rolls a 4 on the Disruption Table, which modifies to a 3: still a No Effect, and so enters and thereby gains control of the Syrian coast hex.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Movement Phase dispositions: Iraq and eastern Vichy French Levent
#9. Afterwards, the Allied players embarks the Aus 2-8 Inf X 19, beginning the turn at Alexandria, on an E Med NTP and it, too, voyages northeast to the Lattique coast hex; but since no amphibious sp op was planned for it, it and its ground unit cargo must remain in the coastal hex for the rest of the M. Phase and the duration of the C. Phase. The Allied NTP in the Lattique hex does not disembark its non-c/m cargo until the E. Phase, when it disembarks it on the now bona fide friendly Lattique beach hex, thereby suffering only the -3 Disruption modifier. For being a lark of an amphibious operation scheme, the Allied player rolls a skillfully high die roll of 5, which modifies to a 2: a very lucky No Effect; and so the Allied player has successfully landed completely undisrupted a small amphibious force in a remote beach location in Vichy Syria, and also captured intact a reference city airbase. Looking back in retrospect from the edge of the gameboard, the amphibious operation has all the earmarks of a rash venture, and even with its initial success it may only amount to a drain from the main and evidently decisive Allied effort at the southwestern Lebanese front, or perhaps elsewhere where it might now be.
Next the Allied player sea transports his turn reinforcements, using the turn reinforcement naval transport ability, disembarking the Br 8 Inf XX HQ 50 Nth, the SA 2-8 Inf X 2, and the primo Br 6-4-6 Tnk X 1 T at Suez. The Br 2-8 Inf X 150 and the Ind 2-8 Inf X 9 are disembarked at Haifa, in Palestine.
Finally, the Allied player moves the recently activated Br 1-RN task force from Haifa (20A:4710) to nearby all-sea hex 20A:4409, adjacent to enemy-occupied Lebanese coast hex of Saida, at 20A:4408, at the battle line in the Vichy French Levant.
Jun II 41 Allied C. Phase dispositions: Allied air units performing the GS air misison have staged
In the C. Phase the Allied player does three attacks in the Vichy French Levant. The first is at the point city of Hassetche (21A:3218), located in the northeastern Syrian “duckbill” zone. The Br 2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab has steadily moved towards this distant angle in the Fertile Crescent, intending to clear the remote area of Vichy French influence and gain control of the region’s cities and transportation lines. The Br c/m X attacks the Hassetche hex from adjacent eastern road hex 21A:3217. Defending Hassetche is the Vichy French TS unit D-8 Cav III Djez, which in the new Scenario is essentially a garrison unit of this remote hex, unable to move out of the hex unless and until it is pushed/moved out in a C. Phase. The Br Blen 4 2B3 1-2/23 air unit, beginning the turn at Tel Aviv (20A:5011), in Palestine, stages to the Rutbah 1-cap permanent airstrip (21A:5023) in Iraq and flies the GS air mission over the Hassetche target hex. Per Rathe’s Troupes Speciales Rules, found on pp. 44-45 of his Europa#81 article, “C or D strength TS units involved in a combat must check their cohesion before the combat die roll.” The C-8 Cav III Djez (TS) already has a relatively low CL rating of 3, and with the +1 modifier for the Allied GS air support and the high die roll of 5, the unit seems predestined to be Dispersed and placed in the Nord-Syrie territory box, as it is. After implementing the results of the cohesion check die roll, “if no defender remains, attacking units may advance after combat”; and so the Allied player does just this and advances the 2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab into the now vacant Hassetche hex. For attack supply the Allied player invoked WW Advanced Rule 12D3-Minimal Attack Supply. Interestingly, the Blen 4 B type air unit on the GS air mission overhead Hassetche returns to base not at Rutbah, in Iraq, but rather to the recently occupied (in the M. Phase) Lattique reference city airbase (20A:3405), on the northwestern Vichy French Levant coastline.
Jun II 41 Allied Combat Phase action details
Next the Allied player attacks the Vichy French 2-6* Inf III 17 TS (Col) at rough terrain hex 20A:4707, in the SW zone of the Vichy French Levant. Attacking it are the 2-8* Inf X 7 (Ind), at 20A:4706; the 3-8* Inf X 1 FL (FF), the 2-1-6 Tnk II 4 RT, and the 1-8 Art II 1 (Aus), all at 20A:4708; and finally the 1-8 Cav X 6, at 20A:4807. Adding their GS tac factors are two Allied air units: the Br Well 1C 3NB4 1-6/28 air unit, beginning the turn at Matruh and staging to Alexandria, and the Br Blen 4 2B3 1-2/23 air unit, beginning the turn at Alexandria and staging to Haifa. Escorting the air op mission to the target hex at 20A:4707 is the Br Hurri 1 F type air unit, based at Haifa. The Vichy French D 520 5F5 0/11 air unit, based at nearby Damas (20A:4505), flies the Intercept air mission, and opts to bypass the escorting Br F type air unit, just like the last time. But the Hurri 1 5F5 air unit rolls a 4 on the Air Combat Results Table: an Abort; and so the Fr D 520 F type air unit is placed in the Aborted Air Units Box of the Vichy French Levant Replacement Pool. All Allied units receive attack supply except for the 1-8 Cav X 6. In the end, the Allied player rolls the die on a straight up 5 to 1 combat, -1 for rough terrain and +1 for attacking with 1/10th AEC, and comes up with a 5: DE. And so the 2-6* Inf III 17 TS (Col) is also placed in the Replacement Pool, along with the brave Vichy French fighter unit.
Jun II 41 Allied Combat Phase action: the 2nd and 3rd Allied attacks in the Vichy French Levant
Finally the Allied player attacks the formidable Vichy French Levant stack at rough terrain coast hex Saida (20A:4408), containing the 3-6* Inf III 24 MC (Col) and the 2-1-6* Lt Arm III 7 CdA. Attacking the Vichy Levant units at Saida are the 8* Inf XX HQ 6, the 3-8* Mtn X Karp (Pol), the 2-8 Eng X 1 (Aus), and the turn reinforcement 2-8 Inf X 150, all at Sour (20A:4509). Also attacking the Saida hex are the Allied units at 20A:4508, containing the 7-8 Inf XX 7 (Aus), the 1-8 AT II 65, and the 2-8 Inf X 14. The RN-1 4 pt TF (RN), at all-sea hex 20A:4409, adjacent to the Saida coast hex, contributes its 4 attack factors. All Allied ground units are in attack supply except for the 8* Inf XX HQ 6 and the 1-8 AT II 65. The odds are a 5 to 1, -2; there’s a -1 for the rough terrain and there’s another -1 for the Vichy French stack’s 1/10th AECD, because of the Fr 2-1-6* lt arm III’s armor effects. This time the Allied player rolls with perhaps the greatest skill yet seen so far in a turn with a roster of illustrious rolls: a 3, which modifies to a 1, for a HX. And so the two primo Vichy French Levant ground units are placed in their Replacement Pool, and the Allied player picks the 1-8 AT II 65 and the newly arrived Br 2-8 Inf X 150 to place in the Middle East Replacement Pool.
In the E. Phase the Allied player air transfers the Br Glad F type air unit at Haifa and the Br A-22 A type air unit at Tel Aviv, both in Palestine, to airfields in the Matruh zone, in Egypt. The Allied player feels that the Western Desert Force’s front line shield, anchored at Matruh, is threatened by the menacing forward position of the formidable Axis mobile force at 19A:0219, spearheaded by the powerful Ger 9-10 Pz XX 15. Although the Axis player may not yet realize it, the Allied player currently feels that either of the two westernmost anchor hexes of his Matruh stop line are in effect an Axis attack waiting to happen.
At the end of the turn Allies have the following accumulated replacements: 10.5 Br inf, 2.5 Br arm, 0 Br ARPs, 3.5 Aus, and 3.5 NZ RPs. All items are stored at the Alexandria hex.
Jun II 41 Allied end of the Combat Phase dispositons: Palestine, the Vichy French Levant, Iraq
Commentary
In both the projected 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario and in the relevant standard WW Scenarios there is a kind of built-in Ultra for the Allied player regarding the occurrence of Axis air-droppable special operations in the SE Command (see WW Rule 33C) prior to the Axis ceasing operations in the Balkans. In WW wargames an Axis air-droppable unit cannot execute a planned sp op “if it is in an enemy ZOC, attacks, or is attacked at any time between the planning and the execution of the operation,” per WW Rule 33A2. Thus in the EA reported new Scenario, both sides knew per the rules that by the end of the May II 41 Axis Combat Phase no Axis airborne landings would happen on the upcoming Jun I 41 Axis turn, nor will any Axis airborne landings occur on the upcoming Jun II 41 Axis turn, due to the combats done on Crete in the Jun I 41 Axis Combat Phase by all the available Ger LW air-droppable units. That is why this turn the Allied player leaves Cyprus undefended and Alexandria defended only with the Br 0-2-8 hv AA II. He already knows there is no need to defend Nicosia, on Cyprus, or fear a Ger LW air landing assault at vulnerable hex 19A:2417, adjacent to Alexandria, or at the back-door retreat hex at 19A:1318, behind Matruh; he knows that all these risky hexes are safe by following the previous action on the maps in the Axis turn Combat Phases. In fact, right now in the EA game report, the earliest the Axis player may execute a new airborne landing sp op would be on the Jul I 41 Axis turn, after duly planning it on the still to come Jun II 41 Axis I. Phase.
And so, what about the very important WW Rule 3E3-Player Control of Commands, where it says “Axis SE Command forces … may never leave that command unless directed to by the OB.” And what precisely is this Europa map hex territory of the SE Command, which its designated forces “may never leave”? Per WW Rule 3E1&2 it is, for our limited discussion here, the Dodecanese, Greece, Italy (excluding the Italian Central Mediterranean Islands), the hexes in the Adriatic Sea and the Aegean Sea zones, and also the South Aegean Islands (eg., those Greek islands indicated on WD maps 18A & 19A). Focusing just on the Aegean Sea zone hexes on maps 18A and 19A, which in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario are placed on top of BF map 15B, we identify as inclusive parts of the southern edge of the Aegean Sea zone on 18A: hexes 18A:3901-4001 (both these hexes including the Greek island of Kythera)-4103 (the Greek isle of Andikythera)-4104-4204-Crete coast hex 4304, and then all the southern Crete coast hexes up to and including the map’s east edge hex at 18A:5104, and presumably including also the Greek isle of Gavdos hex (18A:4605). Proceeding to WD map 19A, the Aegean Sea zone continues eastwards along the remaining southern coast hexes of Crete, including the coastal hexes of 19A:0304-0403-0402, then to all-sea hex 19A:0502, and then includes all the hexes inside the Dodecanese Islands territory borderline on maps 19A and 20A, “plus that [small] portion of The Med on the northern half of map 20A,” eastwards to Turkish coast hex 20A:2526, inclusive.
Well, the above paragraph might expose a WW Rules dilemma in the games utilizing both the WD and the BF map groups, as it appears the WW Rules can be interpreted to prohibit necessary, realistic, and historical Southeast (SE) Command forces game play action from occurring in the nearby hexes of the adjacent East Med and Central Med sea zones that are per the Rules in the Axis Med/NA Command, because “Axis SE Command forces … may never leave that command.” In at least the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario the “minimum program” WW rules (as written) solution would be to allow Axis SE Command Naval Patrol air missions and directly related air missions (eg., escort and interception) to include those East and Central Med sea zone hexes in range of SE Command’s affected air units, at both regular and extended range, as long as the SE Command’s air units return to base in their respective SE Command operational area hexes. This is certainly how we currently play the new Scenario in the EA game reports, apparently in spite of WW Rule 3E3. If these SE Command Axis air units are aborted or eliminated in Med/NA Command hexes, they are placed in the SE Command Replacement Pool, because they “may never leave [the SE Command].” Frankly, once we begin allowing SE Command Naval Patrol missions to Med/NA Commmand target hexes if the said Axis air units dutifully return to base in the SE Command, then logically all other air missions follow, using the same criterion. So, where do we exercise discrimination and draw the line, once the tinkering and dickering begins with WW Rule 3E3? And what about the SE Command’s air-droppable Ger LW ground units? For the present, in the WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario game report done at the EA, we allow Axis SE Command air units to perform Naval Patrol and directly related air missions anywhere in the Mediterranean sea zones, as long as they rebase in SE Command hexes. To recapitulate, by default of the game play we have allowed the SE Command’s air-droppable Ger LW air units to operate only in SE Command hexes, although we’ve admittedly talked some about maybe allowing Axis SE Command airborne sp ops at Cyprus.
Finally, it appears that in both the new 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario and evidently in the standard WW Scenarios utilizing at least both the WD and BF map groups (i.e., the WW Desert and the Balkans Scenario), it is likely that sometimes (eg., maybe in about 50% of the games) an Assault on Crete segment will continue beyond the “historical” Jun I 41 Axis I. Phase cessation of Axis operations in the Balkans (per WW Rule 3E5a). In view of this, is there some plausible way in Europa to nevertheless better assure the historical at-start Barbarossa Axis OB, in particular regarding the Scorched Earth Surprise Turn air unit provisos (SE Rule 31F2), in say, a hypothetical 1941 WW/Scorched Earth (SE or FitE) link-up Scenario? To get to the point, it appears to me this could be accomplished by a stipulated German OB Withdrawal at step 14 on the WW Jun I 41 turn’s I. Phase, assuming the Axis player has not already voluntarily ceased operations in the Balkans, per WW Rule 3E5b, at step 4. This is perhaps already done per the WW Marita-Merkur Scenario Axis OB on the Jun I 41 turn, at p. 21 of the WW OB booklet, but unfortunately it has not ever been explained as such, as far as I know. Adding to its present obscurity, this pertinent German LW withdrawal is for some reason omitted from the WW Assault on Crete Scenario Axis OB, found on the same page; and the WW Assault of Crete Scenario Axis OB was used as the basis of the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario. Using the SE Luftwaffe Air Order of Battle Chart, found on p. 11 of the SE Axis OB booklet, and comparing it with the at-start German Luftwaffe air units for the WW Assault on Crete Scenario Axis OB, I believe one might come up with a more focused WW Jun I 41 German Luftwaffe air unit SE Command withdrawal consisting of the three Do 17Z air units, a Me 109E air unit, and a Ju 87B air unit. If the Axis player still did not voluntarily cease operations in the Balkans at step 4 of the following WW Jun II 41 Axis I. Phase, then 5 Ju 52 air units probably ought to be withdrawn from the SE Command, to be available on the regular Jun II 41 turn on the Russian front, per the SE Luftwaffe Air Order of Battle Chart. Right now tonight I’m thinking these LW SE Command withdrawals will likely be somehow included in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario project. Perhaps more on this issue later, if an EA discussion develops.
