Off-Map Campaign in Greece Considerations on the Apr II 41 Allied Turn
Per the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario draft OB the Allied East Med naval transport ability is reduced by 9 REs (but not below 0 REs) for this turn. This is based on the bullet indication for this player turn in the WitD Allied OB booklet.
Non-Phasing Axis Air Activity Late in the Allied Initial Phase:
Late in the Initial Phase the non-phasing Axis player sends one of the LW Ju 87B D type air units based at the Derna 3-cap permanent airfield (18A:4116) on the Harassment air mission to clear terrain hex 18A:4521. It is escorted by the LW Me 109F F type air unit, also based at the Derna airfield. The British Hurri 1 F type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield (w/ 2 hits of damage) at 18A:4818, just south of Tobruch, declines to intercept. The Ju 87B air unit delivers its 4 tac bombing factors to the target hex, good for 2 harassment hits there. The harassment marker is duly placed in hex 4521 and the German LW air op mission returns to the Derna airfield base. Per Rule 20G2d-Harassment, the Ju 87 B air unit doing the harassment air mission will be inoperative for both the remainder of the current Allied player turn and also the following Axis player turn. Then the BR 20M NB type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent air field at 18A:3617 flies the Harassment air mission to clear terrain hex 18A:4122, where it delivers its 2 tac bombing factors into the target hex, good for 1 harassment hit there. After the 1 harassment hit marker is placed in hex 4122, the Br 20M air unit returns to the air field at 18A:3617.
Apr II 41 Allied turn, at the end of step 21 of the Initial Phase
Following the Harassment air missions described above, late in the Allied Initial Phase the non-phasing Axis player flies two CAP air missions. The G 50 F type air unit based at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 18A:3617 flies the CAP air mission over the Derna hex, containing the It 2-10* Mot Inf III 7B ground unit and also three LW air units. The CR 42 F type air unit flies the CAP air mission over the Axis stack at 18A:4318, containing Ger 8-7-10* Pz XX 5 Le and the 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/33 (LW) ground units. At the end of the Allied E. Phase these two Italian F type air units return to base at the airfield at 18A:3617.
Apr II 41 Allied end of step 22 of the Initial Phase dispositions: eastern Libya and western Egypt; Axis CAP and Harassment air missions
Malta [end of turn]:
Malta Status: Begins turn at 11, but -1 for the Malta repair rate = 10 at the end of the I. Phase/Allied turn.
Malta Repair Rate: 1 repair point each turn.
Valletta hex flack factor (intrinsic + hv AA II): 5.
Valletta (18A:0407):
3-cap permanent airfield
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 Apr II 41 Allied turn initial phase. [from Gibraltar; using W Med NTPs]
Note: All units are technically Allied U-2, but are in special general supply due to the gsp’s.
Apr II 41 Allied end of Movement Phase dispositions: eastern Libya and western Egypt
In Libya [end of turn]:
Tobruch (18A:4817) [clear terrain point city/standard port/fortress road junction escarpment coast hex]:
unimproved fortress
Constructions begins this I. Phase on improving fortress; projected to be complete on the May II 41 Allied I. Phase.
1-cap temporary airfield
0-1-4 Cons X 66 RPC (Col) [never moved; begins fortress improvement in the I. Phase]
0-1-8 Hv AA II 51 [never moved]
2-8 Inf X 16 [sea transported from Alexandria to here using the single available East Med NTP]
7-8 Inf XX 9 (Aus) [assembled at the end of the M. Phase]
8 Inf XX HQ 9 (Aus) [moved from 18A:4618]
2-8 Inf X 20 (Aus) [moved from 18A:4618]
2-8 Inf X 24 (Aus) [never moved, began turn at Tobruch]
2-8 Inf X 26 (Aus) [moved from 18A:4818; but first did final hit of damage on 3-cap airfield there]
2-8 Inf X 16 [sea transported from Alexandria]
2-1-6 Tnk II 7 RT [admin moved along road from 19A:0618]
3-8 Art X 13 [moved from 18A:4818]
one step of attack supply [began turn here; never moved]
one step of attack supply [spends 2 SMPs moving along road from 4618]
Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 [inop., air transferred to here from 18A:4818 in the M. Phase]
Apr II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: eastern Libya and east and central Egypt region
In Egypt [end of turn]:
19A:1018 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
1-10* Mot Inf X 3 (Ind) [moved from 18A:4819]
1-10 Mot Inf II 1 M (FF) [moved from 18A:4819]
19A:1019 [clear terrain hex]:
1-2-10* Mot SG X 7 [(AA=1) moved from 18A:4819]
3-2-10 Arm X 7 [moved from 18A:4819]
19A:1118 [clear terrain coast road hex. NW of Matruh]:
3-8 Inf X 22 G [admin moved to here along road from 19A:0319, S of Porto Bardiya]
19A:1219 [clear terrain Siwa road hex; S of Matruh]:
7-8 Inf XX 4 (Ind) [turn reinf; disembarked unassembled @ Suez and railed to Matruh, then the unassembled component units regular moved to here; here they assembled into the division at the end of the M. Phase]
19A:1120 [clear terrain Siwa road hex]:
7-8 Inf XX 7 (Aus) [admin moved to here along road from Halfaya Pass (19A:4920); comprised of the 21st, 25th, & 18th Aus inf Xs]
Matruh (19A:1218) [clear terrain point city/minor port transportation line junction coast hex]:
railhead marker
3-cap permanent airfield
unfinished fort marker [began this I. Phase; projected to be completed in the May II 41 Allied I. Phase]
2-8 Eng X 1 (Aus) [never moved; begins building 2 turn fort this turn]
1-8 MG II 1 RNF [admin moved along road to here from 18A:4618]
2-1-6 Tnk II 4 RT [began at 18A:4819; admin moved along road to 19A:0818, then exploited to here]
Glad 3F3 0/8 [operative, never moved]
Blen 4 3B3 1-2/23 [inop., air transferred to here from Tobruch in the M. Phase]
Apr II 41 Allied end of Movement Phase dispositions: eastern Egypt, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, and western Iraq
19A:1418 [clear terrain major rail line coast hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
1-8 AT II 65 [admin moved to here along road from Porto Bardiya]
Alexandria (20A4930/19A:2416) [full hex city/major port/major rail line coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker
3-cap permanent airfield
0-2-6 Hv AA X AA=4 MNBDO 1 (RN) [never moved; per the 1941 ME Scenario Allied OB this unit is required to transfer to Greece on the May I 41 Allied turn]
2-8 Inf X 23 [admin moved to here along transportation lines from Cairo (19A:3219)]
one step of attack supply [never moved]
1 resource point [never moved]
4 gsp’s generated here in the I. Phase [never moved]
Glad 3F3 0/8 [operative; never moved]
Blen 4 3B3 1-2/23 [inop., air transferred to here from Matruh late in the E. Phase]
Cairo (19A:3320) [partial city hex; SE of Cairo full hex city hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Ismailia (19A:3516) [sand reference city/standard port/Suez Canal transportation line junction hex]:
1-8 Marine Cmdo X Layf [never moved; per the 1941 ME Scenario draft OB this unit is required to transfer to Greece on the May I 41 Allied turn]
Suez (19A:3718) [clear terrain reference city/major port/Suez Canal transportation line junction coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker
4 gsp’s generated here in the I. Phase [never moved]
Apr II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: eastern Egypt, Palestine, Trans-Jordan, and eastern Iraq
In Palestine [end of turn]:
Gaza (19A:4211) [clear terrain point city major rail line coast hex]:
1-8 Cav X 5 [never moved]
Tel Aviv (20A:5011/19A:4308) [clear terrain dot city/minor port major rail junction coast hex]:
1-8 Cav X 6 [never moved]
Haifa (20A:4710/19A:4305) [clear terrain dot city/major port major rail junction coast hex]:
railhead marker
3-8* Mtn X Karp (Pol) [never moved]
0-8 Marine Cmdo II ME [never moved]
Trans-Jordan [end of turn]:
21A:5128 [ravines road border hex]:
2-1-8 Cav X 4 [admin moved to here along road from 19A:4608, NE of Jerusalem]
one transport counter (1RE) [turn reinf; disembarked @ Haifa and admin moved along road to 20A:5016/19A:4906, then moved to here in E. Phase]
Greece Off-Map Holding Box [end of turn]:
4-3-10* Arm X 1
3-8 Inf X 5 (NZ)
2-8 Inf X 16 (Aus)
2-8 Inf X 17 (Aus)
2-8 Inf X 19 (Aus)
2-8 Inf X 4 (NZ)
2-8 Inf X 6 (NZ)
2-8 Inf X 14
8 Inf XX HQ 2 (NZ)
8 Inf XX HQ 6 (Aus)
3-2-28 Art X W
0-8 Lt AA II AA=1 57
0-1-4 Cons X 43 RPC
5 pos AA AA=1
1 step of attack supply
Well 1C 3NB4 1-6/28 [remains here this turn per the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario OB]
Blen 1 2B3 1-2/16
Hurri 1 5F5 1/8
Apr II 41 Allied end of Movement Phase dispositions
In pro-Axis coup Iraq:
Habbaniya (22A:2828) [clear terrain point city road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-4 Static II 1 AS (Col)
1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) [began turn at Suez (19A:3718); railed to Haifa (20A:4710); air transported by the Bombay T type air unit from Haifa to the Habbaniya airfield hex near the end of the Allied E. Phase]
Audax 1A1 1/8 [Red U-1 this turn; operative]
The Br Audax air unit here at the turn’s start becomes Red U-1 in the Allied Initial Phase. Per Rule 38J4, “if a coup occurs, Iraq territory is no longer Allied-owned and is treated as being Axis controlled.” Per Rule 38B2-Habbaniya/Shaibah Airbase Guards, the two Allied 0-1-4 static IIs (Col) in Iraq may trace an overland-element supply line to either the Habbaniya or Shaibah hexes, if neither have been enemy owned.
Bombay 1T2 1-2/15 [inop., did extended range air transport air mission of the 1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) at Haifa in the E. Phase]
The Bombay air unit begins @ Haifa (20A:4710), where the 2 1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) was railed. Near the end of the Allied E. Phase the Bombay T type air unit, with the Czech inf II as cargo, does an extended range air transport air mission to the Habbaniya airfield.
Shaibah (22A:4314) [clear terrain point city secondary rail line hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Apr II 41 Allied EOT disopsitions: Iraq and eastern Trans-Jordan
Allied Conditional Reinforcements
In the 1941 WW ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario the Iraqi coup automatically occurs on the Apr I 41 Axis turn, in the Initial Phase. Afterwards in the new Scenario the Allied player obtains the Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces, found under the Conditional Reinforcements in the WitD Allied OB, on p. 5. In our Scenario Iraqi Coup Turn 2 = the Apr II 41 Allied turn, Coup Turn 3 = the May I 41 Allied turn (including the important Habforce conversion), Coup Turn 5 = the Jun I 41 Allied turn, and so on. Note that this Allied Coup Reaction OB coincides with the Allied OB found in F. Watson’s “Iraq: Rashid Ali and the Golden Square” Europa battle scenario, found in TEM#81.
Per Watson’s Europa battle scenario no Allied East Med NTP use is allowed in the Near East Command (eg., in the Persian Gulf on map 22A) on both the May 1 41 and the Jun I 41 Allied turns, and our new Scenario Allied draft OB will likely follow these stipulations.
The two steps of attack supply indicated for the Jun II 41 Allied turn in Watson’s “Iraq” Europa battle scenario are also included in the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario draft OB, although these aren’t indicated in the WitD Allied OB for the Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces. For now it is assumed here that these two steps of attack supply did not come from the Middle East Command.
In the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario, all the Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces called for in the WitD Allied OB booklet, p. 5, along with the additions from the “Iraq” battle scenario Allied OB mentioned above, that come from the on-map forces of the Allied ME Command are, per WW Rule 3E4-Player Control of Commands, “under his [the Allied player’s] command as a unified whole” and “he uses his forces there [eg., on the new Scenario’s Western Desert and Near East map groups] as he wishes.”
Apr II 41 Allied EOT dispositions: off-map display detail
Iraqi Coup Reaction Forces
Coup Turn 2/Apr II 41 Allied Turn
Near East:
Arrive:
8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind)
1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind)
Basra (22A:4313) [clear terrain dot city/major port transportation line junction hex]:
Allied Supply Terminal marker
The new Allied standard supply terminal is opened in the Movement Phase per Rule 12C1a, after the Ind 1-8 Inf X 20 disembarks at Basra and thereby gains Allied hex control. I suspect that after this the Basra hex has an intrinsic flack factor of 1.
0-1-4 Static II 2 As (Col) [moved one hex to Basra from Shaibah (22A:4314)]
22A:4218 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:
8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind) [after disembarkation, used its remaining 6 MPs to regular move from Basra to here]
1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind) [after disembarkation, used its remaining 6 MPs to regular move from Basra to here]
ME Command Replacement Pool:
3-2-10 Arm X 4 [in ER-II, begins “at-start” in ME Replacement Pool]
1-10* Mot SG X AA=1 2 [eliminated in combat in Mar II 41 Axis Combat Phase]
3-2-10 Arm X 3 [eliminated in combat in Mar II 41 Axis Combat Phase]
Turn Activity:
Weather: Clear in all Scenario weather zones (D and E); Calm Sea conditions.
4 gsp’s @ the Valletta hex (18A:0407) on Malta generated on the Apr I 41 Allied Initial Phase are removed near the end of the Apr II Allied Initial Phase.
In the Initial Phase the Allied player generates 4 gsp’s at his Alexandria supply terminal and 4 gsp’s at his Suez supply terminal.
In the Initial Phase construction is begun at Tobruch in improving the fortress and at Matruh in building a fort. Each construction effort requires an expenditure of a resource point in the I. Phase. Construction of each is projected to be completed in two turns, which would be in the May II 41 Allied Initial Phase.
Sea transport: One East Med NTP is used to sea transport Br 2-8 Inf X 16 from Alexandria to Tobruk. One West Med NTP is used to successfully sea transport 4 gsp’s generated in the Apr I 41 initial phase from Gibraltar to Malta.
Rail movement: The broken down components of the Ind 7-8 Inf XX 4 turn reinf disembark at Suez duly broken down into its unsupported elements and are then railed to Matruh, for a total expenditure of 4 REs of railcap. The 1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) beginning the turn at the port hex of Suez is railed to Haifa, for a total of .5 REs.
At the end of the M. Phase, with the Allied capture that phase of the Iraqi dot city/major port hex of Basra, both sides’ Iraq rail net capacity has changed. At the beginning of the upcoming Apr II 41 Axis turn the Iraqi coup rail net capacity will be 3. Beginning on the May I 41 Allied turn the new Allied-controlled Iraqi rail net capacity will be 1, with Basra being the Allies’ sole rail marshaling yard.
The Allied accumulated Replacement Point inventory is as follows: Br inf = 7, Br arm = 2, Aus inf = 2, NZ inf = 2. All Allied RPs are stored in the Alexandria hex.
Commentary:
The Allied player continues significant strategic maneuvers of his forces in the Western Desert zone, bracing up in Tobruch and creating this turn the initial shield core of the Western Desert Force in central Egypt, a little west of Matruh.
Much maneuvering is done in the periphery of the Iraq zone to protect the British cantonments at Habbaniya and Shaibah and begin the Allied offensive march against the pro-Axis Iraqi Coup stronghold at Baghdad. Late in the Exploitation Phase the Blen 4 B type air unit is air transferred from Matruh to Alexandria, just in case it is needed next turn in the Iraq zone.
To his chagrin, after his earlier player turn the Axis player now feels he has accidentally exposed the Axis stack at 18A:3921 to a possible Allied mobile attack, and so in the Allied Initial Phase nervously sends two of his tac bombing capable air units on the costly non-phasing harassment air mission. I say “costly” because in doing the harassment air missions, the two primo Axis tac bombing capable air units will be inoperative during the subsequent Apr II 41 Axis turn.
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