Axis EOT Dispositions
Mainland Europe off-map holding box [end of turn]:
1.5 Italian inf Replacement Points (RPs) at the beginning of the Axis turn, but 1 It inf RP was transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, at step 14 of the I. Phase, per WW Rule 37C2a-Mainland Europe, and then air transported from there to Tripoli, in Libya, in the M. Phase, by the SM 79-1 B type air unit beginning the turn at Licata. At the end of the turn there was .5 It inf RP in the mainland Europe off-map holding box.
2 German inf RPs at the beginning of the Axis turn, but 1 Ger inf RP was transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, at step 14 of the I. Phase, and then air transported from there to Tripoli, in Libya, in the M. Phase, by the SM 79-1 B type air unit beginning the turn at Licata. At the end of the turn there was 1 Ger inf RP in the mainland Europe off-map holding box.
1 Ger ARP at the end of the I. Phase and the Axis turn: 3 Ger ARPs at the start of the Axis turn, -2 to rebuild the Me 110D 5HF5 4-2/12 (Ger LW) air unit in the Eliminated Air Units Box of the Med/NA Command Replacement Pool; it was placed at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 18A:3617, in Libya, at step 14 of the Axis I. Phase.
3 It ARPs at the start and end of the Axis turn; there are no Italian ARP expenditures this turn.
In Sicily [end of turn]:
Licata (18A:0102) [point city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
SM 79-1 2B3 1-5/22 [inop.; began turn here; early in the M. Phase it flew an air transport air mission, per WW Optional Rule 23E3, carrying 1 It inf RP and 1 Ger inf RP from Licata to Tripoli, in Libya; returned to base here]
Coast hex 18A:0403:
3-cap permanent airfield
Coast hex 18A:0603:
3-cap permanent airfield
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 [inop.; Italian; began turn here; at the very beginning of the M. Phase it flew the Malta Status tac bombing air mission; used the 2 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table; Miss; returned to base here]
Syracusa (18A:0702) [reference city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Augusta (18A:0701) [point city/minor port]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Malta on the Aug II 41 Axis turn:
Malta Status: 11, at the start of the turn, + 0 for Malta Status bombing hits done prior to the naval movement step of the M. Phase, = 11 during this turn’s naval movement step and at the EOT.
Valetta hex (18A:0407) flack this turn: 5 (3 intrinsic + a total of 2 only for the two Br 0-1-8 hv AA IIs’ 2 flack factors each, as their unit flack factors were both halved because of being definitely Red U-2, due to the lack of gsp’s present at Malta at step 11 of the I. Phase)
On this turn Malta Status air missions to the Valletta hex would roll on the 2 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table, Per WW Rule 37I2a.
There were no gsp’s present in the Valletta hex at the start of the Axis player turn.
Libya [{beginning of the turn}/end of turn]:
Tripolitania Garrison Box:
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 hex transportation line junction coast hex]:
Axis Supply Terminal marker
fort marker
0 pos flk unit AA=3 [Italian]
3 steps of attack supply [all began turn here; never moved]
3 Ger arm Replacement Points (RPs) [began turn here; not expended or moved this turn]
3 It inf RPs [began turn here; not expended or moved this turn]
1 It inf RP [began turn in the mainland Europe off-map holding box; in the I. Phase this It inf RP transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily; in the M. Phase the It inf RP was air transported to here in the It SM 79-1 B type air unit, along with a Ger inf RP]
1 Ger inf RP [began turn here; not expended or moved this turn]
1 Ger inf RP [began turn in the mainland Europe off-map holding box; in the I. Phase this Ger inf RP transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily; in the M. Phase the Ger inf RP was air transported to here in the It SM 79-1 B type air unit, along with an It inf RP]
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]:
one step of attack supply [began turn at Tripoli; spent 4 SMPs in the E. Phase exploiting along the coast road to here]
Misurata (18A:1022) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap temporary airfield
18A:1023 [clear terrain road hex, S of Misurata]:
one step of attack supply [began turn at Misurata; spent 1 SMP in the E. Phase exploiting along the road to here]
Sirte (18A:1727) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
fort marker
3-cap permanent airfield
one step of attack supply [began turn at Buerat el Hsum (18A:2116); spent 5 SMPs in the E. Phase exploiting along the road to here]
18A:2730 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
El Agheila (18A:2930) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
Agedabia (18A:3327) [clear terrain point city road junction hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip
Bengasi (18A:3121) [clear terrain reference city/major port transportation line junction hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
12 port damage hit markers
4 pos flk AA=1 [Italian; began turn here; never moved]
{3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol [began turn here; early in the M. Phase it broke down into the unsupported component parts of the “A” Inf XX]}
1-6 Inf III A [unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol, which began the turn at Bengasi, this breakdown component remained here]
one step of attack supply [began turn here; never moved]
Ju 88A4 4B5 3-7/26 [inop.; began turn at Sirte (18A:1727); in the C. Phase it staged to 18A:3618 and flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
Ju 88A4 4B5 3-7/26 [inop.; began turn at Sirte; in the C. Phase it staged to 18A:3618 and flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
Ju 88A4 4B5 3-7/26 [inop.; began turn at Sirte; in the C. Phase it staged to 18A:3618 and flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
He 111H4 4B4 2-7/22 [inop.; began turn here; late in the E. Phase of the previous Aug II 41 Allied turn it did a non-phasing air transfer to here, from Derna (18A:4116); in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
Soluch (18A:3222) [clear terrain point city secondary rail terminus hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
G 50 3F3 0/9 [inop.; began turn at 18A:0403, at Sicily; air transferred to here late in the E. Phase]
18A:3617 [rough terrain road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
18A:3618 [Maraua; rough terrain road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
18A:4119 [stony desert road hex, NE of El Mechili]:
{one step of attack supply [began turn at 18A:3328; in the M. Phase it spent 13 SMPs moving along the road to here; expended in the C. Phase for the ground attack against Tobruch]}
18A:4218 [stony desert road hex]:
{one step of attack supply [began turn here; expended in the C. Phase for the ground attack against Tobruch]}
Derna (18A:4116) [rough terrain point city/minor port coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
3 port damage hit markers
6 Inf XX HQ A [unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol, which began the turn at Bengasi; this unsupported breakdown component admin moved 11 hexes along the road to here]
0-6 Lt AA II AA=1 38 [began turn here; never moved]
CR 42 3F3 0/9 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
BR 20M 3NB4 2-5/24 [inop.; began turn at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518); in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
Br 20M 3NB4 2-5/24 [inop; began turn at Ain el Gazala; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
{CR 42AS 3F3 1/8 [began the Aug II 41 Axis turn based at Derna (18A:4116), in Libya; late in the E Phase of the previous Aug II 41 Allied turn it did a non-phasing air transfer to here, from Sicily; in the C. Phase of the Aug II 41 Axis turn it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; aborted by the Tobruch flack shot and placed in the Aborted Air Units Box of the Axis Med/NA Replacement Pool]}
18A:4216 [stony desert coast road hex, SE of Derna]:
1-6 Inf III A [unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol, which began the turn at Bengasi; this unsupported breakdown component admin moved 12 hexes along the road to here]
{one resource point [began the turn here; expended at step 19 of the I. Phase to quick-construct a 1-turn fort at hex 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch, using the two Axis cons IIIs there]}
Ain el Gazala (18A:4518) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
3-cap temporary airfield
8* Inf XX HQ 9 LA (Ger) [began turn at Derna (18A:4116); moved to here]
2-8 Inf III 361 (Ger) [turn reinf; began turn in the mainland Europe off-map holding box at step 14 of the I. Phase; sea transported to Libya in a turn reinf NTP and disembarked at the clear terrain Ain el Gazala beach hex; became Disrupted by the beach landing]
MC 200 3F4 1/8 [inop.; began turn at 18A:4718, SW of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
CR 42 3F3 0/9 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Ca 311 2B2 1/L/14 [inop.; began turn at 18A:0403, at Sicily; air transferred to here late in the E. Phase]
18A:4618 [clear terrain coast road hex, SW of Ain el Gazala]:
8 Inf XX HQ 102 Trn [began turn at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518); regular moved to here]
18A:4620 [clear terrain hex]:
3-6 Inf XX 17 Pav [began turn at 18A:5018; regular moved to here]
18A:4719 [clear terrain hex]:
0-1-6* Inf III 280 GaF [began turn at 18A:4618; regular moved to here]
1-8 Inf III 62 [began turn at 18A:4819; moved one hex to here]
18A:4720 [clear terrain hex]:
1-8 Inf III 61 [began turn here; never moved]
2-8 Inf III 155 (Ger) [began turn at 18A:4620; moved one hex to here]
18A:4819 [clear terrain hex; 2 hexes S of Tobruch]:
1-6 Tnk II 4 [began turn at 19A:0219; in the M. Phase it regular moved two hexes to 18A:4819, remained here]
1-8 Mot Art III 2 AC [began turn here; in the M. Phase it regular moved to 18A:4718, SW of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited back to here]
18A:4718 [clear terrain coast road hex; SW of Tobruch]:
fort marker
3-cap temporary airfield
3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs [began turn here; never moved]
3-6 Inf XX 55 Sav [began turn here; never moved]
1-8 Aslt Eng II 31 G [began turn here; never moved; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
1-6 Hv AA II 29 [began turn here; never moved; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
2-3-6 Art III 24 C [began turn here; never moved; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
Ju 87B 2D3 4-1/8 (LW) [inop.; began turn here; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
SM 79-2 2B3 3-4/V/20 [inop.; began turn here; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
18A:4818 [clear terrain road hex; S of Tobruch]:
1-cap temporary airfield [w/ 1 cons III MP done for the next cap increase]
7-6-8 Arm XX 132 Ar [began turn here; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; remained in the hex]
0-6 Cons III 5 A [began turn at 18A:4819; regular moved one hex to here, where it spent its remaining 5 MPs constructing a 1-cap temporary airfield, plus 1 MP for the next cap increase]
2-3-8 Art III 16C [began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; spent 5 MPs regular moving to here; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
3-4-8 Art III 221 (Ger) [began turn here; never moved; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
Me 110D 5HF5 4-2/12 (Ger LW) [inop.; ARP build; at step 14 of the I. Phase it was removed from the Eliminated Air Units Box of the Axis Med/NA Replacement Pool and placed at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 18A:3617, in Libya; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; rebased here]
one step of attack supply [began turn here; never moved]
18A:4918 [clear terrain coast road hex; SE of Tobruch]:
3-capacity temporary airfield [completed on the Aug I 41 Axis turn]
fort under construction marker [began this I. Phase; quick-construction used w/ the two 1 RE cons units; projected completion is the Sep I 41 Axis I. Phase]
0-6 Cons III 10 A [began turn here; used for the quick-construction of the fort in the hex; never moved]
0-8 Cons III Afr (Ger) [began turn here; used for the quick-construction of the fort in the hex; never moved]
3-4-6 Art III 5 A [began turn at 19A:0219; in the M. Phase it regular moved to here; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
9-10 Pz XX 15 (Ger) [began turn here; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; remained in the hex]
Me 109F1 6F6 1/8 [inop.; began turn here; in the C. Phase it flew the Escort air mission along w/ the Axis air units involved in the big GS air mission to the Tobruch hex; participated in air combat over the Tobruch target hex w/ one of the intercepting Allied fighters; returned to base here]
Me 109E 7F5 1/7 [inop.; began turn at Derna (18A:4116); late in the E Phase of the previous Aug II 41 Allied turn it did a non-phasing air transfer to Derna, from Sicily; at step 22 of the I. Phase of the current Aug II 41 Axis turn it flew the CAP air mission over the Tobruch target hex; in the C. Phase it switched to the Escort air mission after the two Allied Hurri 1 F type air units based at Tobruch flew the Intercept air mission against the big Axis air op flying to the Tobruch target hex; participated in air combat over the Tobruch target hex w/ one of the intercepting Allied fighters; returned to base here]
MC 200 3F4 1/8 [inop; began turn here; in the C. Phase it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; returned to base here]
18A:5018 [clear terrain hex]:
2-1-8 Lt Arm III 32 [began turn at 18A:5119; in the M. Phase it regular moved eastwards along the coast road to Sidi Barriani (19A:0718), and then double-backed along the road to 19A:0519, where it ended the M. Phase; exploited to here]
1-8 Mot Art III 3 AC [began turn 18A:5119; in the M. Phase it regular moved to 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited to here]
18A:5119 [clear terrain hex]:
9-10 Pz XX 21 (Ger) [WW OB booklet Aug I 41 Axis turn reinf conversion unit; began this turn at 19A:0219 at step 14 of the I. Phase, when & where the Aug I conversion was finally done; in the M. Phase it regular moved to 18A:4918; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited to here]
2-3-8 Art III 16C [began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; spent 5 MPs regular moving to here; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack]
2-10 Mot Inf III 7 B [began turn at 19A:0219, in Libya; in the M. Phase it regular moved southeastwards to 19A:0822, capturing two Siwa road hexes (19A:0923 & 0823) w/ its ZOCs, and then double-backed to 19A:0420, ending the M. Phase here; exploited to here]
1-10 Mot Hv AA II AA=2 I/33 (Ger LW) [began turn at 19A:0219; breakdown component of the 2-10 Mot Hv AA III AA=4 135 (Ger LW); in the M. Phase the Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/33 regular moved to 18A:4818, S of Tobruch, where it assembled into the 2-10 Mot Hv III 135 (Ger LW) at the end of the Phase; in the C. Phase the Ger LW 2-10 Mot Hv AA III 135 unit participated in the Tobruch attack; at the beginning of the E. Phase the 2-10 hv mot AA III broke down into its two 1-10 hv mot AA II components and the Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/33 unit exploited to here]
19A:0219 [clear terrain hex]:
{8-7-10* Pz XX 5 Le (Ger) [began turn here; converted to the 9-10 Pz XX 21 at step 14 of the I. Phase]}
vacant at the end of the M. Phase
Porto Bardiya (19A:0318) [clear terrain unimproved fortress/point city/minor port road terminus coast hex]:
unimproved fortress
5 port damage hit markers
3-10 Mot Inf III 115 (Ger) [began turn at Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); in the M. Phase it regular moved to 18A:4818, S of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited to here]
1-10 Mot Hv AA AA=2 I/18 (Ger LW) [began turn at Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); in the M. Phase the Ger LW 1-10 Mot Hv AA II I/18 unit regular moved to 18A:4818, S of Tobruch, where it assembled into the 2-10 Mot Hv III 135 AA=4 (Ger LW) at the end of the Phase; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; at the beginning of the E. Phase the Ger LW 2-10 hv mot AA III unit broke down into its two 1-10 hv mot AA II components and the I/18 Ger LW mot hv AA II unit exploited to here]
1-10 Mot AT II 605 (Ger) [began turn at Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); in the M. Phase regular moved to 18A:4718, SW of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited to here]
1-8 Mot Art III 1 AC [began turn at Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); in the M. Phase it regular moved to 18A:1918, SE of Tobruch; in the C. Phase it participated in the Tobruch attack; exploited to here]
Crete [end of turn]:
Khania (18A:4403) [rough terrain reference city/standard port road terminus coast hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Erakleion (18A:4903) [rough terrain reference city/standard port coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
On Scarpanto [end of turn]:
Scarpanto (19A:0701) [rough port point city minor port hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
At Rodi [end of turn]:
Rodi (20A:2230) [clear terrain point city/standard port coast hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
20A:2331 [rough terrain coast hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
Med/NA Replacement Pool [{beginning of turn}/end of turn]:
1 x 2-6 Inf XX 60 Sbr
1 x 2-10 Mot Inf III 10 B
1 x 2-1-8 Lt Tnk III 3
2 x 1-8 Lt Tnk X 1,2
5 x 1-6 Tnk II 1, 3, 5, 6, 21
1 x Para Inf III Tonini
3 x 0-1-6* Inf III 300 GaF, 310 GaF, 320 GaF
1 x 3-4-6 Art III 24 dM
3 x 2-3-6 Art III 10 C, 20 C, 21 C
1 x 1-6 Art III 23 C
1 x 3-4-6 Art III 8 A [Jun I 41 Axis turn reinf; sunk in sea transit to Libya that turn by Allied anti-shipping, per the Naval Table]
4 x 0 pos flk unit AA=1 [Italian]
Med/NA Aborted Air Units Box:
CR 42AS 3F3 1/8 [began the Aug II 41 Axis turn based at Derna (18A:4116), in Libya; late in the E Phase of the previous Aug II 41 Allied turn it did a non-phasing air transfer to here, from Sicily; in the C. Phase of the Aug II 41 Axis turn it flew the GS air mission to the Tobruch target hex; aborted by the Tobruch flack shot]
Med/NA Command Eliminated Air Units Box:
{Me 110D 5HF5 4-2/12 (Ger LW) [in the Jul II 41 Allied M. Phase it performed the Escort air mission at the 19A:0717 target hex, escorting the Naval Patrol air mission at the hex; killed in air combat; this turn the Allied player spent 2 Ger ARPs in the I. Phase to rebuild the HF type air unit]}
Axis Near East Command
On the Jul II 41 Axis turn the Vichy French Levant surrendered to the invading Allies, per the Allied player’s Variable Levant Surrender Table dice roll, done at step 13 of the Axis I. Phase. By the end of the following Aug I 41 Allied turn, all cities in the Levant were Allied-owned save one, namely the point city of Idib (21A:3333), two hexes SW of Alep in the NW region of Syria. Idib did not become Allied-controlled until the following Aug II 41 Allied turn. So at the start of this Axis turn all cities in the Levant are now finally Allied-owned; and there are no remaining Axis forces in the Levant or in the Near East. In the EA reported Scenario and also in the WW ME and WD Scenarios, I think, all Syrian and Lebanese land hexes that are Axis-controlled at the time of the Vichy French Levant surrender continue to be Axis-owned until either captured by the subsequent movement of Allied units and/or all cities in the Levant are Allied-controlled in an I. Phase, at step 12, essentially via WW Optional Rule 5B5. These conditions appear fulfilled at step 12 of the I. Phase of the current Axis turn, and so at that time all land hexes in Syria and Lebanon are declared Allied owned.
Non-Phasing Allied air unit activity near the end of the Exploitation Phase:
Late in the E. Phase the Allied player transfers the Hurri 5F5 1/8 (RAAF) air unit from Basra (22A:4313), in Iraq, to Alexandria, in Egypt.
Late in the E. Phase the Allied player transfers the Audax 1A1 1/8 air unit from Basra, in Iraq, to Rutbah (21A:5023), also in Iraq.
In pro-Allied neutral Iraq [end of turn]:
In the 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario the pro-Axis Iraqi coup automatically occurs in the Apr I 41 Axis I. Phase.
The Iraqi coup collapsed at step 4 of the I. Phase of the May II 41 Axis turn, when the Allied player rolled the dice checking for an Iraqi Coup Collapse, using the Variable Iraqi Coup Collapse Table, per WW Rule 38J5.
This Axis turn, At step 2 of the I. Phase, the Axis player did the Fawzi al Qawukji action die roll, per WW Optional Rule 39E4, and came up with a 4: “Fawzi does not change mode and moves randomly during the upcoming movement phase.”
21A:4621 [stony desert hex]:
Guerrilla unit Fawzi (Bandit) [guerrilla-capable inf II bandit unit, in guerrilla mode; began turn at 21A:4722; in the M. Phase the random die rolls moves this guerrilla unit to here]
21A:5020 [stony desert road hex]:
Guerrilla unit Fawzi (Bandit) [dummy guerrilla-capable unit, in guerrilla mode; began turn at 21A:5016; in the M. Phase the random die rolls moves this guerrilla unit to here]
Turn Activity
At step 2 of the I. Phase the Axis player does the Fawzi al Qawukji action die roll, per WW Optional Rule 39E4, and comes up with a 4: “Fawzi does not change mode and moves randomly during the upcoming movement phase”, Per WW Optional Rule 39E4.
At step 4 of the I. Phase the Allied player does the dice roll checking for Iranian surrender, per WW Rule 38I4, using the WW Iranian Surrender Table, found on Game Play Chart 8–Political Events. There is a +1 modifier “for each Allied-owned city in Iran (except Tehran) south of the ‘D’ weather line.” Iran surrenders if the dice roll is 10; and the Allies own 10 cities in Iran, excepting Tehran (which fetches the Allies a +6 modifier) and so per WW Rule 38I4, “Iran surrenders and its forces are removed from play. The Allied player gains 5 VPs for Iranian surrender.” Per the corollary WW Rule 38A5-[Neutral Nations] Surrender, Iran’s “formerly neutral territory does not change ownership upon surrender (this affects various mechanics such as administrative and rail movement, capture of rail capacity, and airfield and port usage).” Possibly more later on this interesting side issue in regards to Iran.
At step 11 of the I. Phase the Allied forces at Tobruch are still isolated and most all the ground units there are all at U-4 supply status, except the recently arrived Br 3-8 Inf X 22 G, which now becomes black U-1. The recently rebuilt Br Hurri 1 F type air unit also now becomes Black U-1. But all forces in the Tobruch hex are in special general supply due to the gsp’s available there at the supply determination step of the I. Phase.
At step 12 of the I. Phase all hexes in Lebanon and Syria are deemed to be Allied-controlled, as all cities in the Levant are now definitely Allied-owned. There are no Axis forces on the maps in the Axis Near East Command area.
At step 14 of the I. Phase the Axis player spends 2 Ger ARPs to replace the Me 110D 5HF5 4-2/12 (Ger LW) air unit in the Eliminated Air Units Box of the Med/NA Command Replacement Pool. At this time the Axis player transfers 1 It inf RP and 1 Ger Inf RP from the mainland Europe off-map holding box, where they were stored, to the Licata port/airfield hex at 18A:0102, in Sicily, per WW Rule 37C2a, in anticipation of air transporting them over the Cent Med sea zone to Tripoli, in Libya. The Axis player also converts the 5th Leichte Pz XX unit, replacing the 8-7-10* Pz XX 5 Le with its 9-10 Pz XX 21 conversion unit. I believe it is quite rules-legal in this case to simply switch the two pz XXs, which are themselves paired conversion units, and not have to break down the Pz XX 5 Leichte in the Axis turn prior to the conversion and then replace each particular converted component. On the other hand, it appears to me that in order to accomplish the Sep I 41 Allied turn reinforcement conversion of the Br 6-4-6 Arm X 32 T unit, its 3-2-10 arm X conversion component must be broken down from a Br arm XX (in virtually all cases the 7th) it might be assembled with and the said 3-2-10 arm X specifically stacked together with the two Br 2-1-6 Tnk IIs 4 & 7 RT conversion components. In other words, I don’t believe that this conversion can be rules-legally done if the two 2-1-6 tnk IIs are instead stacked together with a Br arm XX containing the 3-2-10 arm X intended to be used in the conversion. The reason is that this would in effect amount to necessarily breaking down the Br arm XX in the I. Phase, which appears to be against the rules, in order to both achieve the Br 6-4-6 arm X conversion and also retain the other component parts of the arm XX in the hex that are not involved in the conversion.
At step 16 of the I. Phase the Allied player converts the single step of attack supply at Tobruch into 12 new gsp’s, per WW Rule 12C4b.
At step 22 of the I. Phase the Ger LW Me 109E 7F5 1/7 air unit based at Derna (18A:4116), in Libya, flies the CAP air mission over the Tobruch target hex. For the time being the Allied player declines to intercept the Axis CAP air mission over the improved fortress with either of the two Hurri 1 F type air units based there. In this same I. Phase step the Allied player sends the two A-22 3A3 2-1/19 (one Br & one SAAF) air units based at El Alamein (19A:2119) on the Harassment air mission to the Egyptian target hex at 19A:0922. At the end of step 22 the two A type air units rebase at El Alamein, having delivered their total of 4 tac factors to the 0922 target hex, good for two harassment marker hits.
At step 24 of the I. Phase the Allied player removes from the map the 12 old gsp’s at Tobruch that were generated there on the earlier Aug I 41 Axis phase from a step of attack supply then at the hex.
The first thing the Axis player does in his M. Phase is send the Italian Ju 87B 2D3 1/8 air unit based at 18A:0603, at Sicily, on the Malta Status tac bombing air mission to the Valletta hex (18A:0407), at Malta. The Axis air unit has the luxury of rolling on the 2 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table, Per WW Rule 37I2a. The It Ju 87B D type air units gets past the Valletta hex’s flack, but it rolls low on the Bombing Table, for a Miss. It rebases at 18A:0603, in Sicily.
Next, the SM 79-1 B type air unit based at Licata (18A:0102), at Sicily flies a bomber on an air transport air mission, per WW Optional Rule 23E3, carrying 1 Ger inf Replacement Point (RP) and one It inf RP to Tripoli (18A:0121), in Libya. It returns to base at Licata.
After that the Axis player sea transports his turn reinf Ger 2-8 Inf III 361, the final unsupported component of the Ger 5-8* Inf XX 90 La, from the mainland Europe off-map holding box to the Libyan clear terrain point city coast beach hex at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518). Rolling on the 11 column of the Naval Table, it seemingly easily avoids contact with Cent Med sea zone Allied anti-shipping forces. However, the unsupported ground unit does suffer a Disruption die roll on the Disruption Table done for its beach disembarkation, certainly due to suffering the -3 modifier for not being amphibious-capable, as the Axis player has no available Mediterranean sea zone ANTPs.
In the M. Phase the Axis player moves the It 0-6 Cons III 10 A unit at 18A:4819 one hex N to 4818, at the overlooking ridge hex S of Tobruch, and spends the unit’s remaining 5 MPs constructing a 1-cap permanent airfield there, w/ the last MP spent beginning the next cap increase. The original plan was for this unit to move to Porto Bardiya, but later there was a change in plans, in part due to the menacing advance forward of the Allied Egyptian desert shield done on the Aug II 41 Allied turn. The two Axis cons IIIs at adjacent hex 18A;4918, SE of Tobruch, begin the quick-construction of a fort there. At this point in the game the Axis is pondering what his subsequent short-term construction unit policy should be, eg., where will he move his three available Axis construction units and what will they do? What do you think?
In the C. Phase the Axis player instigates another large ground attack against the Tobruch improved fortress hex. This is the third big Tobruch attack in the game, the last one being on the Jul I 41 Axis turn and the first done on the May I 41 Axis turn, the final Axis turn that Tobruch was still an unimproved fortress in the WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario. For the second time the Axis player executes a “specialist” attack, centering the improved fortress assault around the Italian 1-8 Aslt Eng II 31 G, in order to get the +1 combat die roll modifier when attacking a fortification hex, per WW Rules 14A2&3. In addition to the It aslt eng II, the Axis player utilizes all his available heavy AA and artillery units, both of whose attack strengths are not halved when attacking fortifications. In order to hopefully attain the better straight up 2 to 1 odds on the combat die roll, he again throws into the Tobruch attack virtually all the available Axis air tac factors (halved against the improved fortress) in the zone, except for those of the two Ger LW Me 109 F type air units, which are necessarily used for escort of the big GS air op. To be sure, if the Allied 3 flack factor shot at Tobruch proves unusually effective, then the Axis player will be forced to settle for the raunchy 3 to 2 odds, but even in that case he has the consolation of no AH result possibility. The two Allied Hurri 1 F type air units based at Tobruch opt to intercept, but both sides’ involved F type air units survive the ensuing air combats.
The following Axis ground units attack from hex 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch: the Ger 9-10 Pz XX 15, the Ger 9-10 Pz XX 21, the 3-4-6 Art III 5 A, the 1-8 Mot Art III 1 AC, and the 1-8 Mot Art 3 AC. From 18A:4818, S of Tobruch, these Axis ground units attack: the 7-6-8 Arm XX 132 Ar, the Ger 3-10 Mot Inf III 115, the Ger LW Mot Hv AA III 135, the 2-3-8 Art III 16 C, and the Ger Art III 221. From 18A:4718, SW of Tobruch, the following Axis ground units participate in the combat: the 1-8 Asslt Eng II 31 G, the 1-8 Hv AA II 29, the Ger Mot AT II 605, the 2-3-6 Art III 24 C, and the 1-8 Mot Art III 2 AC. This constitutes a ground unit adjusted attack factor total of 32.5, with at least 1/10 of the REs of the attacking ground units (excluding the attacking artillery REs) being combat engineers, thereby enabling the +1 combat resolution die roll modifier, per WW Rules 14A2&3. Added to this ground unit adjusted attack factor total of 32.5 are an additional 8.5 adjusted (eg., halved, due to the improved fortress) Axis air unit GS tac factors, which survived the Tobruch AA flack dice rolls, for an Axis attack factor grand total of 41. The Allied player has a total of 19 defense factors at Tobruch, and so the attack equates to a straight up 2 to 1, with the -1 modifier for the Allies’ improved fortress being off-set by the Axis +1 combat/assault engineer capability modifier. At the gameboard the attack procedure proceeds to the combat die roll, which stops rolling at a 3: AS, just like the last time! The certainly resolute but frankly bitter Axis player duly expends the two steps of attack supply used in the combat, admittedly slips for a moment into a blue funk in the privacy of his tent, and ponders what to do next in the world war, in the proven circumstance of being scorned by Victory for the present in the ancient sands of Libya.
Commentary
For the Axis player at the end of the turn, the name of the game might be what to do next in North Africa, in the midst of the third quarter of 1941, seeing that this turn’s big attack against Tobruch has failed. For those hard core Europa desert game fans, there is the near-term Axis construction unit policy in Libya to consider, along with the policy of the turn-by-turn movement of steps of attack supply. A significant strategic consideration is the availability of the German 1941 Special Operations Forces (see WW Rule 33D), in our particular game beginning on the Sep II 41 Axis turn. That turn also maybe the “best chance” turn for an Axis 1941 airborne assault on Malta in Europa, and this player serves notice now that he will not “proof” Malta from any chance at all of a successful Axis airborne assault by some convenient rules interpretation of the Europa rules as written. Beginning on the Nov 1 41 Axis turn the possibility of Mud weather again rears its unwelcome head in the Western Desert campaign in the curious E weather zone notch in the Cyrenaica, containing the Libyan cities of Benghazi, Barce, and Derna, along with all the rough terrain territory there. Also, in the WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario, there might be the game board consideration of whether or not to open Bengasi as an Axis standard supply terminal in 1941. But we will probably not attempt this admittedly home-brew rule variant in the EA reported Scenario, as its wargme implications extend well into 1942 and even the first quarter of ’43, longer than the reported Scenario will be played.
Insofar as the short term Axis strategy in the current reported wargame, right now it appears that it will spin around the preparation of yet another big assault on the Tobruch hex, done with the conviction that speed is of the essence so as to not be preempted by an Allied Crusader type Western Desert offensive, which is coming and will likely dash all pending Axis schemes.
Right now, I’m not sure how many more turns of game reports will be done for the present wargame. Although I confess to having great fun so far with the Scenario project, there are other pressing issues at hand that could and perhaps eventually should require my fuller attention. We might stop with the fall of Tobruch, if that should happen, which would seem to be a fitting end of a 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario, or we may continue to the Jan I or Jan II 42 game turn, thereby including in the Scenario project the end of the Operation Crusader epoch and one of the WW Victory Point Jan II turn Schedule dates for determining control of territory for VPs. Implied in the first part of the previous sentence is my growing conviction that the Operation Crusader epoch is more closely associated with the 1941 “Enter Rommel” period than it is with the latter 1942 Operation Cauldron/El Alamein historical period. In any event, a deliberate aim of the WW 1941 Scenario project all along has been both a later beginning and an earlier ending to either of the standard WW WD or ME Scenarios, with their conventional Dec I 40 beginning and Jan II 43 end dates. A Jan II 42 ending of the 1941 Scenario would also be better for an eventual incorporation of the WW East African Campaign into the project, which might closely coincide with the cessation of the world war campaign down there. From the project’s very start, it has been envisioned here as a scaled-down mini-scenario of the larger WW “Wavell’s War” Scenario, from which many exquisite truncated variants could be conceived, and which in my opinion is a WWII board wargame classic and a quantum leap in 20th century wargame design conception. Someday it should be reworked, revised, updated, and placed into a new game box, encompassing in many interlocking Scenarios the Balkans, the Mediterranean and North African campaigns, the Mid and Near East Campaigns, the West African and the obscure sub-Sahara campaigns of 1940, the East African campaign, and the Madagascar campaign of ’42.
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