• Per the WW Master Sequence of Play, early in the Axis initial phase the Allied player for the first time checks for an Iraqi Coup Collapse by a dice roll done using the Variable Iraqi Coup Collapse Table to determine results. There is a +1 Modifier for the Allied-owned dot city of Basra; but the roll isn’t done, because the best result could only be a 13, still not enough for a Coup Collapse, which requires at least a 14.

Allied dispositions:

In the Central Iraq region:

Habbaniya (22A:2828):

3-cap permanent airfield

1 x 0-1-4 Static II 1 AS (Col)

1 x Audax 1A1 1/8 [operative]

  • Both the above units are still Red U-1 this player turn.

1 x Glad 3F3 0/8 [operative]

  • The Glad becomes Black U-1 this player turn.

In the Southern Iraq region:

Basra (22A:4313):

Allied standard Supply Terminal marker

1 x 0-1-4 Static II 2 As (Col)

Shaibah (22A:4314):

3-cap permanent airfield [Allied owned]

22A:4218 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:

1 x 8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind)

1 x 1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind)

In Trans-Jordan:

22A:5128 [at the ravines road Trans-Jordan/Iraq border hex]:

1 x 2-1-8 Cav X 4

1 x transport counter (1 RE)

Iraqi movement, end of turn dispositions, and commentary:

In the Central Iraq region:

Baghdad (22A:2825) [end of turn dispositions]:

Iraq capital marker

1 x1-6* Inf XX 2 [admin moves 12 hexes along transportation lines from Kirkuk (21A:3904)]

1 x Mxd 1A2 1/8 [operative; never moved]

22A:2826 [canal intensive major rail line/road junction hex W of Baghdad (22A:2825); end of turn]:

1 x 0-1-6* Inf XX 4 [admin moves along transportation lines from Diwaniya (22A:3623)]

22A:2928 [the hex SE of Habbaniya (22A:2828); end of turn dispositions]:

1 x 1-2-6 Inf XX 3 [regular moves from Baghdad (22A:2825)]

1 x 1-6* Inf XX 1 [regular moves from Baghdad]

1 x 1-0-8 Lt Arm X 1 [regular moves from Baghdad]

Commentary: I’m currently thinking that the key to Iraqi Coup success is finding an end to the initial Iraqi Unsteadiness, rather than relying exclusively on the actions of the WW OB booklet’s Optional Axis Near East Forces. Accordingly, this turn the Iraqi Army first assembles in the Baghdad zone the two Inf XXs from Kirkuk and Diwaniya, respectively. Then from the Baghdad hex an Iraqi attack group stack sallies forth to 22A:2928, adjacent to Habbaniya from the SE. A possible Iraqi alternative strategy this turn would be to somehow maneuver probably the 0-1-6* Inf XX 4 into a blocking position in the Southern Iraq region (say, at one of the two secondary rail line salt marsh hexes) against a possible Allied advance from Basra up the secondary rail line leading to Baghdad.

Allied air unit activity in the Habbaniya zone in the Axis initial and combat phases:

1 x Glad 3F3 0/8 [at Habbaniya; in the initial phase flies the CAP mission over the hex]

1 x Audax 1A1 1/8 [at Habbaniya; in the combat phase flies the DAS mission over the hex]

Iraqi ground attack from 22A:2928 against the Allied stack at Habaniya hes 22A:2828:

  • Allied defense total: 0-1-4 Static II 1As (Col) @ ½ + Audax tac fac @ 1 = 1.5.
  • Axis ground unit attack factors add to a total of 3, halved for Unsteadiness = 1.5.
  • The Iraqi decide not to send their Mxd A type air unit on the GS mission because of the Br Glad air unit on the CAP mission over the Habbaniya hex.
  • Iraqi attack is at 1 to 1 odds. The die roll is 4: AS.

Allied air unit activity in the Habbaniya zone late in the Axis combat phase and at the end of the Axis turn:

  • After the ground combat, the Audax air unit returns to base at the Habbaniya hex (22A:2828).
  • At the end of the Axis turn, the Glad air units returns to base at the Habbaniya hex.

Allied air unit activity in the Basra/Shaibah zone late in the Axis exploitation phase:

Basra (22A:4313):

Allied standard Supply Terminal marker

1 x 0-1-4 Static II 2As (Col)

1 x Bombay 1T2 1-2/15 [air transfers to Iraq from Egypt/Palestine]

  • Optional: F. Watson’s “Iraq” battle scenario Allied OB has the Well 1C NB type air unit “Arriving” from the Middle East along with the Bombay T type air unit on the May I 41 Allied turn. I have the Bombay coming in now in the special ME/“Iraq Campaign Scenario demonstration. Watson’s “Iraq” Allied OB has the Well 1C air unit “Withdrawing” on the May II 41 Allied turn; so here’s another possible Allied air unit for use in this special ME/“Iraq” Scenario attempt. But right now I’d rather keep it in the ER-II Western Desert map group.