Iraqi Coup force and Axis/German Iraq intervention force dispositions [at the turn’s start]:

In the Central Iraq region:

Baghdad (22A:2825) [all forces here are in general supply]:

Iraq capital marker

1 x 1-2-6 Inf XX 3

1 x 1-6* Inf XX 2

1 x 0-1-6* Inf XX 4

1 x 1-0-8 Lt Arm X 1

1 x Mxd 1A2 1/8 [operative]

21A:4803:

1 x 1-6* Inf XX 1

  • Still Black U-2; the unit cannot trace a supply line to the Baghdad hex.

Axis Intervention in Iraq [Optional Rule 38J6] air units and gsp’s currently in Vichy Levant enroute to Coup Iraq:

Vichy Levant:

Alep (21A:3231) [partial city hex; up to end of movement phase]:

3-cap temporary airfield

{1 x 0-1-5 Cons X Lev (Col) [Vichy French Unit]}

1 x Me 110C 5HF5 1/12 (LW) [operative]

Deir el Zoir (21A:3922) [reference city; up to end of movement phase]

1 x Ju 52 1T2 0/20 (LW) [operative]

2 [Axis] gsp’s, generated in the Jun II 41 Axis initial phase

  • Both LW air units technically become Red U-1 this turn, but the LW Ju 52 T type air unit at Deir el Zoir is in general supply via the Axis gsp’s with them in the reference city hex.

Allied movement, end of turn dispositions, and commentary:

In Palestine:

Haifia (20A:4710) [dot city/major port]:

1 x Well 1C 4NB3 2-6/28 [operative; end of movement phase]

  • In the combat phase this unit does the GS air mission in the Syrian campaign.

In Iraq:

In the Northern Iraq Region [end of movement phase]:

21A:4104 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:

1 x 2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab [regular moves 5 hexes to here from Erbil (21A:3605)]

  • In the initial phase this unit becomes Red U-1. The Iraqi 1-6* Inf XX 1 at 21A:4803 blocks w/ its ZOC the road trace supply line farther south at vacant major rail hex 21A:4804. On the way to 4104 the Br c/m X Hab enters Kirkuk 21A:3904 and captures this important reference city secondary rail line/road junction hex for the Allies.

In the Central Iraq region [all Allied units in this region are in general supply in the initial phase]:

Rutbah (21A:5023):

1-cap permanent airstrip [Allied owned]

Habbaniya (22A:2828) [early in the movement phase]:

3-cap permanent airfield

  • Using both the WitD Allied OB’s Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces and its core Middle East OB, and also F. Watson’s “Iraq” Europa battle scenario Allied OB, there is some Allied air unit OB activity this turn relevant to the special ME/“Iraq Campaign” Scenario that needs explaining to EA wargamers who may want to know. First, both OBs maintain that the Bombay T type air unit is “Withdrawn” from the NE Command and “Arrives” at the ME Command. We’ve gone ahead and already done this on the Jun II 41 Axis turn, even though in the ME/“Iraq Campaign” Scenario’s case it is voluntary. We will not tangle with EA members on the issue of whether the Bombay T type air unit might ought to be present either in the Syrian campaign or in the Western Desert map group (we agree), and last turn transferred the Bombay air unit over to the ME Command. F. Watson’s “Iraq” Europa battle scenario gives the SAAF P40C 5F5 1/13 air unit as an arrival from Palestine, and we happily take this primo air unit on his suggestion. It air transfers from Palestine to the Habbaniya hex airfield in the movement phase and becomes inoperative upon landing. Regarding the arrival of Watson’s Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 air unit reinforcement (from Palestine) in the “Iraq” Europa battle scenario, we play a trick. Looking at the WitD Allied OB for Jul I 41 we see a ME Command Conversion of a Glad F type air unit to a Hurri 1 air unit. And so in the initial phase we convert the NE Command’s Glad F type air unit based at the Habbaniya airfield to the Hurri 1 5F5 1/8. This is possible by Rule 3E4 in general and specifically sanctioned at Rule 25H2-Command Restrictions on Conversions/Withdrawals. This conversion at Habbaniya conveniently keeps Watson’s original “Iraq” Europa battle scenario Allied OB Hurri 1 F type air unit “Arrival” (probably the one used in the Syrian campaign per F. Watson’s “Syria” Europa battle scenario) operative in the Palestine/Syria region and makes the converted Hurri 1 F type air unit at the Habbaniya airfield operative in the NE Command. So we do this, for the wargame expediency.

1 x Audax 1A1 1/8 [operative]

1 x P40C 5F5 1/13 (SAAF) [inoperative; movement phase air transfer from Palestine]

1 x Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 [operative; WitD Allied OB Reinforcement initial phase conversion of the Glad air unit]

1 x 0-1-4 Static II 1 As (Col) [regular moved from 22A;2826]

22A:2725 [canal intensive secondary rail line hex; NE of Baghdad, end of movement phase:

1 x 8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind) [regular moves from 22A:2726]

1 x 1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind) [regular moves from 22A:2726]

1 x 2-8 Inf X 24 (Ind) [never moved]

22A:2726 [clear terrain hex NW of Baghdad; end of movement phase]:

1 x 2-8 Inf X 25 (Ind) [regular moves from Hindiya (22A:3025)]

22A:2826 [clear terrain major rail/road junction hex W of Baghdad; end of movement phase]:

1 x 0-1-4 Static II 2 As (Col) [regular moves from 22A:2926]

22A:2926 [canal intensive major rail/secondary rail nexus hex SW of Baghdad; end of movement phase]

1 x 1-8 Inf X 17 (Ind) [regular moves to here from Habbaniya]

one step of attack supply [spent 1 smp moving from Hindiya (22A:3025)]

22A:2824 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex E of Baghdad]:

1 x 2-8 Inf X 21 (Ind) [never moved]

In the Southern Iraq region [end of movement phase]:

Near East:

Arrive [per the WitD Allied OB for the Jul 1 41 Allied turn]:

1 x 2-1-10* Lt Arm X 252 (Ind)

  • This Ind c/m X disembarks at the major port of Basra and then admin moves 16 hexes northwards up the secondary rail line to 22A:3423, ending the movement phase there.

22A:3423 [canal intensive secondary rail line hex]:

1 x 2-1-10* Lt Arm X 252 (Ind) [admin moves 16 hexes up transportation line to here]

Basra (22A:4313) [end of movement phase]:

Allied standard Supply Terminal marker

three steps of attack supply

Shaibah (22A:4314):

3-cap permanent airfield [Allied owned]

Allied air action late in the movement phase:

  • The Hurr1 5F5 1/8 and the Audax 1A1 1/8 air units perform a tac bombing mission on the Baghdad partial city hex 3-cap airbase. On these bombing air missions the Hurri 1 F type’s tac factor is increased by 1, to 2, per Rule 20G2a. Note per the WW Airbase Summary found on Game Play Chart 2, major city hexes have an airbase cap of 3. Neither the Baghdad hex nor the Iraqi inf XXs in the hex have intrinsic flack. The Hurri 1 rolls a 5 on the Bombing Table, and the Audax misses. A hit marker is placed on the Baghdad partial city hex for the airbase damage; the Iraqi Mxd A type air unit is placed in the Aborted Air Units box of the Iraq Replacements Pool found on the WitD Neutrals Game Chart. The Hurri 1 and Audax air units rebase at Habbaniya, inoperative.

Allied c/m ground movement in the exploitation phase:

21A:4504 [clear terrain hex 5 hexes NNE of Baghdad]:

1 x 2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab [moves 5 hexes to here; Red U-1]

22A:2925 [canal intensive hex E of the Tigris River; SE of Baghdad]

1 x 2-1-10* Lt Arm X 252 (Ind) [exploits to here from 22A:3423]

22A:2826 [clear terrain major rail/road junction hex W of Baghdad]:

one step of attack supply [expends 4 smp’s moving from 22A:2926]

  • The step of attack supply stacks with 0-1-4 Static II 2As (Col).

Axis air unit activity late in the Allied exploitation phase:

  • Seeing that the Allied F type air units are inoperative at the Habbaniya airfield, the Me 110C HF type air unit based at the Alep dot city airbase (21A:3231) does a transfer air mission to the Baghdad hex.

Commentary: To the Allied player’s dismay, he still cannot execute the needed final assault on the Baghdad partial city hex and crush the defiant Coup Iraqis. And now the LW Me 110C HF type air unit is based at the Baghdad hex! What next? London calls from afar on the shortwave, wondering what could be the problem preventing the prompt finish of the Mesopotamian sideshow campaign. Are things starting to unravel?