Jul I 41 Allied Turn

 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: 10, end of turn [at turn’s start 10, – 2 repairs this turn = 8]
• Malta Repair Rate: beginning on the Jul I 41 turn, 2 repair points each I turn and I repair point each II turn, per the WitD Allied OB booklet.

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
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 4 [turn reinf; successfully sea transported from Gibraltar, using 1 turn reinf 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]
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.

In Libya [end of turn]:

Tobruch (18A:4817) [clear terrain fortress/standard port]:

• Note that per WW Optional Rule 12E, U-4 is in effect the most severe general supply state for a unit, and therefore in the EA reported Scenario we will not note w/ markers further turns out of general supply than the U-4 status.

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 is technically Red U-4]
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 51 [never moved; this turn is technically Red U-4]
7-8 Inf XX 9 (Aus) [never moved; this turn is technically Red U-4]
2-8 Inf X 16 [never moved; this turn is technically Red U-4]
2-1-6 Tnk II 7 RT [never moved; this turn is technically Red U-4]
3-8 Art X 13 [never moved; this turn is technically Red U-4]
2-8 Inf X 23 [never moved; technically still Black U-4]
one step of attack supply [turn reinf; successfully sea transported into Tobruch in the M. Phase]
Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 SAAF [operative; began turn here; never moved; technically still Black U-3]
12 gsp’s [generated on the Jun II 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 Jul I 41 Axis turn; they will be removed from the map at the end of step 23 of the Jul I 41 Axis I. Phase, after the supply determination step of that turn]

In Egypt [end of turn]:

Matruh (19A:1218) [clear terrain point city/minor port road-major rail junction coast hex]:
railhead marker
3-cap permanent airfield
fort marker
8 Inf XX HQ 50 Nth [began turn here; never moved]
2-8 Inf X 150 [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; admin moved to here]
2-8 Inf X 151 [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and then railed to here]
3-8 Inf X 22 G [began turn at 19A:1721; regular moved to here]
1-8 AT II 65 [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; admin moved to here]
0-1-8 Hv AA II AA=2 68 [began turn at Alexandria; admin moved to here]
P-40C  5F5  1/13 SAAF [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 [inop.; turn conversion of the Glad F type air unit beginning the turn at 19A:1418, done at step 14 of the I. Phase; air transferred to here in the E. Phase]
Hurri 1 5F5 1/8 [inop.; turn ARP build, placed at 19A:1418 at step 14 of the I. Phase; air transferred to here in the E. Phase]

19A:1418 [clear terrain major rail coast road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-8 Lt AA II AA=1 57 [began turn at Matruh; moved to here]
Blen 4  3B3  1-2/23 [inop.; began turn at Alexandria; on Jun II 41 Axis E. Phase did a non-phasing air transfer to Alexandria from Lattique; in the current E. Phase it flew a strat port bombing air mission to Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); Hit; returned to base here]
Well 1C  3NB4  1-6/28 [inop.; began turn at Alexandria; in the E. Phase staged to 19A:1418 and flew a strat port bombing air mission at night to Derna (18A:4116); Miss; returned to base here]
Well 1C  3NB4  1-6/28 [inop.; turn reinf, placed at Alexandria at step 14 of the I. Phase; in the E. Phase staged to 19A:1418 and flew a strat port bombing air mission at night to Derna (18A;4116); Hit; returned to base here]

19A:1319 [clear terrain major rail line coast hex, SW of Matruh]:
7-10* Arm XX 7 [assembled here from its components at the end of the M. Phase, then remained here until the turn’s end]

• 1-2-10* Mot SG X AA=1 7 [began turn here; at the end of the M. Phase assembled into the  7-10* Arm XX 7]
• 3-2-10 Arm X 7 [began turn at 19A:1419; regular moved to here, then assembled into the 7-10* Arm XX 7]
• 3-2-10 Arm X 3 [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase; placed at Alexandria; admin moved to here and assembled into the 7-10* Arm XX 7]

1-10* Mot SG X AA=1 2 [began turn at 19A:1419; regular moved west along the coast road to hex 19A:0618, capturing for the Allies the point city of Sidi Barrani (19A:0718) and the road road hexes it entered along the way; exploited back to here]
6-4-6 Tnk X 1 T [began turn here; never moved]
1-10* Mot Inf X 3 (Ind) [began turn here; regular moved along the Siwi Oasis road to 19A:0725, capturing for the Allies the road hexes along the way; exploited back to here]
5 pos flk unit AA=1 [British; began turn at Matruh; regular moved to here]

19A:1320 [clear terrain hex]:

0-8 Marine Cmdo II ME [began turn at Lattique (20A;3405), on the Vichy French Levant Mediterranean coastline; technically Black U-1, but in special general supply via a gsp in the Lattique hex in the I. Phase; in the naval movement step of the M. Phase it was sea transported in an E Med NTP to Matruh, and after disembarking it regular moved to here]

19A:1419 [clear terrain hex]:
8 Inf XX HQ 2 (NZ) [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; railed to 19A:1519, then regular moved to here]
1-8 MG II 1 RNF [began turn at Matruh; regular moved to here]
2-8 Inf X 6 (NZ) [began turn at Matruh; regular moved to here]

19A:1520 [clear terrain hex]:
2-8 Inf X 1 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A;1519, then regular moved to here]
2-8 Inf X 3 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A;1519, then regular moved to here]
2-8 Inf X 6 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A;1519, then regular moved to here]

19A:1620 [clear terrain hex]:
2-8* Inf X 5 (Ind) [began turn at 19A:1520; moved one hex to here]
2-8 Inf X 5 (SA) [began turn at Matruh; regular moved to here]

19A:1721 [clear terrain hex, adjacent to Qattara Depression]:
2-8* Inf X 11 (Ind) [began turn at 19A:1620; moved one hex to here]
2-8 Inf X 2 (SA) [began turn at Matruh; regular 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; began in the Jun II 41 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; building a 2-turn fort in the hex; never moved]
2-8 Inf X 4 (NZ) [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; regular moved to here]
8 Inf XX HQ 6 (Aus) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria; regular moved to here]
0-8 Hv AA II AA=1 2 (Aus) [began turn at Haifa; railed to here]
A-22  3A3  2-1/19 [inop.; began turn at Matruh; in the E. Phase flew a tac port bombing air mission to Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); Miss; returned to base here]
A-22  3A3  2-1/19 SAAF [inop.; turn reinf; placed at Matruh at step 14 of the I. Phase; in the E. Phase flew a tac port bombing air mission to Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); Miss; returned to base here]

Alexandria (20A:4930/19A:2416) [major port/full city hex/major rail line coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker
3-cap permanent airfield
0-2-8 Hv AA X 1 NMBDO (RM) [turn RP build; placed here at step 14 of the I. Phase; never moved]
Glad  3F3  0/8 [operative; began turn here; never moved]

Cairo (19A:3320) [clear terrain partial city hex, SE of the Cairo full city hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield

Suez (19A:3718) [clear terrain reference city/major port major rail line terminus coast hex]:
Supply Terminal marker

In Palestine [{in the M. & C. Phases}/end of turn]:

• Per WW Game Play Chart 5–Allied Garrisons, the Palestine garrison requirement is 3 REs of Garrison-category units.  The Allied garrisons are determined at step 17 of the Allied I. Phase.  However, per WW Rule 37E4 Forming units in the ME Replacement Pool count at their regular RE size for the Palestine Garrison requirement, as do also ME Replacement Pool units, but they count at 1/3 their regular RE size.

Tel Aviv (20A:5011) [clear terrain dot city/minor port major rail line junction coast hex]:
1-8 MG II 2 Ch [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to here, just making it]
Bombay  1T2  1-2/15 [inop.; began turn at Haifa; in the C. Phase it successfully flew the GS air mission over the Damas target hex (20A:4505), evading its intrinsic flack factor; returned to base here]

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. Probably more later regarding its construction in WW ME Scenarios.]
8 Inf XX HQ 5 (Ind) [turn reinf; disembarked at Haifa; remained here]
Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 (RAAF) [inop.; turn reinf; placed at Tel Aviv at step 14 of the I. Phase; at the end of the M. Phase flew the CAP air mission over Lebanese coast hex 20A:4308, in the Vichy French Levant; in the C. Phase it switched to the interception air mission over the target hex and successfully bypassed the Axis escorts in the target hex; returned to base here]
Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 [inop.; began turn here; in the C. Phase it flew the interception air mission over the 20A:4308 target hex, where it successfully bypassed the Axis escorts present there and engaged in air combat w/ the Vichy French LeO 451 B type air unit flying the DAS air mission, Aborting the Axis air unit; returned to base here]
Blen 4  3B3  1-2/23 [inop.; began turn here; in the C. Phase it successfully flew the GS air mission over the Damas target hex (20A:4505), evading its intrinsic flack factor; returned to base here]

Safad (20A:4608) [rough terrain point city hex]:
2-8 Inf X 10 (Ind) [turn reinf; disembarked at Haifa and moved to here]

20A:4808 [clear terrain secondary rail hex]:

{one step of attack supply [turn reinf; disembarked at Haifa and spent 3 SMPs in the M. Phase moving along the transportation line to here; in the C. Phase this step of attack supply provided attack supply to 10 REs of attacking Allied ground units in the Vichy French Levant; the step of attack supply was removed from the maps at the end of the C. Phase]}

Activated Allied Task Force in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Zone:

RN-1 4 pt TF (RN)

• Per WW Rule 27A4-Task Force Availability, this Allied task force was activated at step 14 of the I. Phase and placed at the Haifa major port hex.  In the naval movement step of the M. Phase it moved to all-sea hex 20A:4309, adjacent to the Lebanese coastline.  In the C. Phase it added its 4 factor NGS strength to the ground combat occurring at adjacent Vichy French Levant coast hex 20A:4308, per WW Rule 34A-Naval Gunfire Support (NGS).  At the end of the Allied turn it was removed from the maps and placed in the Used Box of the Royal Naval Availability Box.

Allied Units in the Vichy French Levant [end of turn]:

Sour (20A:4509) [clear terrain point city transportation line coast hex]:
1-8 Inf II 11 (CS) [began turn at 20A:4808, in Palestine; moved to here]

Saida (20A:4408) [rough terrain point city transportation line coast hex]:
2-8 Eng X 1 (Aus) [began turn here; in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; remained here after combat]

20A:4308 [rough terrain coast road hex, S of Beyrouth]
7-8 Inf XX 7 (Aus) [began turn at 20A:4508; moved one hex to Saida (20A:4408); in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; advanced into the hex after combat]
2-8 Inf X 14 [began turn at Saida (20A:4408); in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; advanced into the hex after combat]
2-8 Inf X 17 (Aus) [RP build at step 14 of the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; railed to Haifa and then regular moved to Saida (20A;4308); in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; advanced into the hex after combat]

2-8 Inf X 29 (Ind) [turn reinf; disembarked at Haifa and then regular moved to Saida (20A:4408); in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; advanced into the hex after the combat]

20A:4407 [rough terrain hex]:
8* Inf XX HQ 6 [began turn at Sadia (20A:4408); moved one hex to here; in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; remained here after combat]
3-8* Mtn X Karp (Pol) [began turn at Saidia (20A:4408); moved one hex to here; in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; remained here after combat]
2-8 Inf X 9 (Ind) [began turn at Safad (20A:4608), in Palestine; regular moved to here; in C. Phase attacked the 2 Vichy French units at 20A:4308; remained here after combat]

20A:4507 [ravines hex]:
1-8 Cav X 5 [began turn at 20A:4609, in Palestine; regular moved to here]

20A:4506 [clear terrain hex, SW of Damas]:
1-8 Art II 1 (Aus) [began turn at 20A:4708; regular moved to here; in C. Phase attacked the Vichy French unit at Damas (20A:4505); remained here after combat]
2-1-6 Tnk II 4 RT [began turn 20A:4708; regular moved to here; in C. Phase attacked the Vichy French unit at Damas (20A:4505); remained here after combat; did not exploit, ended turn here]

Damas (20A:4505) [clear terrain dot city transportation line junction hex]:
3-8* Inf X 1 FL (FF) [began turn at 20A:4707; regular moved to 20A:4506; in C. Phase attacked the Vichy French unit at Damas; advanced into Damas after combat]

20A:4504 [clear terrain road junction hex, NE of Damas]:
2-8* Inf X 7 (Ind) [began turn at 20A:4706; regular moved to here; in C. Phase attacked the Vichy French unit at Damas (20A:4505); remained here after combat]

20A:4604 [clear terrain hex, SE of Damas]:
1-8 Cav X 6 [began turn at 20A:4807; moved to here; in C. Phase attacked the Vichy French unit at Damas (20A:4505); remained here after combat]

Lattique (20A:3405) [clear terrain reference city/minor port road terminus coast hex]
2-8 Inf X 19 (Aus) [began turn here; still technically Black U-1 in the I. Phase, but in special general supply via a gsp in the hex in the I. Phase; never moved.  Note: earlier website postings indicated this unit to be Red U-1 this turn, but this was an error; it became technically Black U-1 on the previous  Jun II 41 Axis I. Phase.]

Deir ez Zoir (21A:3922) [clear terrain reference city road junction hex]:
1-8 Inf X 20 (Ind) [began turn at 21A:3213, in northeastern Vichy French Syria; admin moved along the road to Deir ez Zoir]

22A:4402 [rough terrain hex]:
2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab [began turn at 21A:3116; regular moved along the road to 21A:4229, capturing Deir ez Zoir (21A:3922) and Palmyre (21A:4129) for the Allies; exploited to here, moving around the Vichy French A-8 Mot Cav II Lev (TS) unit.  Note:  In several of the earlier Axis player turn game reports, the Vichy French A-8 Cav II Lev (TS) unit has been erroneously designated as a regiment (III) instead of a battalion (II), as it really is.  This has been corrected in the website game report postings.]

21A:4432 [stony desert road hex]:
1-10 Mot Cav III AL (T-J) [Arab Legion; began turn at Rutbah (21A:5023), in Iraq; regular moved along the road to 21A:4430 in Vichy French Syria, capturing the Vichy French Levant point city Jebel Tenef (21A:4718) for the Allies; exploited to here]

• 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.

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

Non Phasing Axis Air Activity in the Allied Exploitation Phase:

Late in the Allied Exploitation Phase the Axis NE Command Conditional Reinforcement Ger LW Ju 52 T type air unit, beginning the turn at Beyrouth (20A:4207), in the Vichy French Levant, does a non-phasing air transfer mission to the 3-cap airfield at Rodi (20A:2331) on the island of Rodi, in the Dodecanese.

Middle East (ME) Command Replacement Pool [{beginning of turn}/end of turn]:

{3-2-10 Arm X 3 [eliminated in combat at El Agheila (18A:2930), in Libya, on the Mar II 41 Axis C. Phase; Br arm RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{8 Inf XX HQ 2 (NZ) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; NZ inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{2-8 Inf X 4 (NZ) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; NZ inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{8 Inf XX HQ 6 (Aus) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; Aus inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{2-8 Inf X 17 (Aus) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; Aus inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{0-2-6 HV AA X 1 NMBDO (RN) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; Br inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{1-8 AT II 65 [eliminated in the Jun II 41 Allied C. Phase, when it participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; eliminated in the HX combat result; Br inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

{2-8 Inf X 150 [eliminated in the Jun II 41 Allied C. Phase, when it participated in the attack at Saida (20A:4408), in Lebanon; eliminated in the HX combat result; Br inf RP build this turn; placed at Alexandria]}

3-8 Inf X 5 (NZ) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool]

2-8 Inf X 16 (Aus) [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool]

3-2-10 Arm X 4 [in the WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario this unit is at-start in the ME Replacement Pool, per F. Watson’s ER-II Europa battle scenario, published in TEM#71]

3-2-10 Arm X 1 [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; this is the original pre-conversion unit]

Aborted Air Units Box:

{Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 [moved from Balkan Command Replacement Pool; ARP build this turn; placed at 19A:1418, in Egypt]}

Eliminated Air Units Box:

Blen 4  3B3  1-2/23 [in the 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]

Forming Box:

3-8* Mtn X 1 (Gk)
0-1-8 Inf II Gd (Yugo)

In the Allied Near East Command:

• 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.
• The new Allied Iraqi railnet-cap is 3 1/2.

Allied Regular Reinforcements, Jul  I 41 Allied Turn.

Near East:

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

In pro-Allied Iraq [end of turn]:

• A closer look at the WW Game Play Chart 5–Allied Garrisons (WW Rule 37E), at its Iraq/Iran Chart listing, has resulted in a new provisional (read: tentative, pending further input) interpretation of the WW Iraq garrison requirement, at least for the unfinished WW 1941 ME/ER-II/Crete Scenario, if not also for WW Scenarios.  It appears that at the horizontal line on the Chart designated as “EJIS-Sep I 41”, which stipulates an Allied Iraqi garrison of 1 Arm RE (see below), 4 Gar REs (normally the two Col 0-1-4 Static IIs plus some available Ind inf Xs), one HQ RE (normally an available Ind inf XX HQ unit), and one Air [unit] (normally the available Br Addax air unit), it should be understood to be in effect beginning on the Jul II 41 Allied I. Phase, at step 17, at the “earliest”, assuming a prior coup Iraq surrender done before the Jul II 41 turn.  An Iraqi “surrender” occurs only if there has been an Iraqi coup between the Jan I 41 and the Jun II 41 turns inclusive, per WW Rule 38J4-[Iraqi] Coup.  The “EJIS-Sep I 41” horizontal line Iraqi garrison requirement date of Jul II 41 at the “earliest,” after the coup Iraq surrender, is important because it conveniently allows for the timely Arrival of the Jul I 41 Allied NE Command regular Reinforcement 2-1-10* Lt Arm X 252 (Ind) 1 RE “Arm” ground unit to Iraq, which is evidently precisely the intended “Arm” unit for this WW garrison requirement.  Note the available Br 2-1-10* Mot Inf X Hab is a mot inf unit, and not an arm unit, and cannot fulfill the Arm garrison requirement of WW Game Play Chart 5.

Mosul (21A:3509) [clear terrain dot city transportation line junction hex]:
8* Inf XX HQ 10 (Ind) [began turn at 21A:3213, just inside the Vichy French Syrian border; moved to here]
Rutbah (21A:5023) [stony desert point city road junction hex]:
1-cap permanent airstrip [Allied owned]
2-8 Inf X 25 (Ind) [began turn at 22A:2833; admin moved to here]

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
2-8 Inf X 24 (Ind) [began turn at 22A:3423; admin moved to here]
2-1-10* Lt Arm X 252 (Ind) [NE Command turn regular reinforcement; disembarked at Basra and admin moved to 22A:3423; exploited to Baghdad]
21A:4318 [clear terrain hex, adjacent to the Vichy French Syrian border]:
2-8 Inf X 21 (Ind) [began turn at 21A:4819, in Iraq; regular moved northwards to Abu Kemal (21A:4319), just inside the Vichy French Levant border, capturing the Syrian point city for the Allies, and then turned and moved to hex 21A:4318, ending its move back in Iraq]

22A:3524 [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:
one step of attack supply [began turn at 22A:4021; in E. Phase spent 5 SMPs moving along the transportation line to here]

Shaibah (22A:4314) [clear terrain secondary rail line hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield
0-1-4 Static II 2 As (Col) [began turn here; never moved]

Basra (22A:4313) [clear terrain dot city/major port, w/ a major river hexside]:
Allied Supply Terminal marker
1-8 Inf X 17 (Ind) [began turn here; never moved]
three steps of attack supply [all began turn here; all never moved]

Turn Activity

At step 11 of the I. Phase the Allied units at the isolated Tobruch hex that began the turn at technically Red U-4 now essentially remain at the U-4 status, as per WW Optional Rule 12E, U-4 is in effect the most severe general supply state for a unit. Therefore in the EA reported Scenario we will not note with numbered markers any further turns out of general supply than the severest U-4 status.  All 8 REs of ground units and the single air unit beginning the turn at Tobruch are in special general supply at step 11 of the I. Phase due to the 16 gsp’s in the hex; 12 were generated from a step of attack supply present in the hex on the Jun II 41 Axis I. Phase, and 4 were generated in the Jun II 41 Allied I. Phase at an on-map Allied standard supply terminal hex and then sea transported that same turn into the Tobruch port hex.  At Malta the 4 REs of Allied ground units beginning the turn there are all technically Red U-2, but draw special general supply at step 11 of the I. Phase from the 4 gsp’s also in the hex, generated on the Jun II 41 Allied I. Phase at Gibraltar and sea transported that same turn to the Valletta hex, on Malta.  The two Allied ground units beginning the turn in the Lattique port hex on the Vichy French Levant Mediterranean coastline are in special general supply by virtue of the 2 gsp’s in the hex generated on the Jun II 41 Allied I. Phase and sea transported to there that turn.

At step 14 of the I. Phase the Glad F type air unit beginning the turn at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 19A:1418, in Egypt, converts to a Hurri 1 F type air unit.  The Allied player spends one of the ME Command’s turn reinforcement ARPs to rebuild the Hurri 1 F type air unit in the Middle East Replacement Pool Aborted Air Units Box, which moved over from the Balkan Command Replacement Pool, and places it at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 19A:1418, along with the turn conversion Hurri 1 air unit just placed there.  The reinforcement Well 1C NB air unit is placed at Alexandria and the reinforcement SAAF A-22 A type air unit is placed at Matruh.  The reinforcement RAAF (Australian) Hurri 1 F type air unit is placed at Tel Aviv (20A:5011), in Palestine.  In the naval movement step of the Movement Phase one of the Arriving ARPs is embarked on a turn reinforcement NTP and is sea transported to Malta via Gibraltar, at the Allied player’s choice (eg., entering the ME Command via either the Red Sea on 19A or via Gibraltar on 18A), entering into an all-sea hex on the west edge of map 18A, similar to the Gibraltar convoys proviso of WW Rule 41B1-Western Desert Campaign.  Similarly, the Malta reinforcement Br 0-1-8 Hv AA II 4 unit arrives on-map at the same all-sea hex on the west edge of map 18A, per WW Rules 40A3 and 40B1.  See below for additional details of the Malta cargo convoy.  The remaining 3 turn reinforcement ARPs are stored in the Alexandria hex.  Per WW Rule 35D-NTP Replacements, the two Allied E Med NTPs sunk on the previous Jun II 41 Allied turn by Axis Naval Patrol hits are replaced in the I. Phase.

At step 14 of the I. Phase the Allied player rebuilds with RPs a number of ground units from his now chock full Middle East Command Replacement Pool, and places these RP rebuilds at the Alexandria hex, greatly overstacking the hex there.  But note that per WW Rule 8B “the stacking limit is in force at the end of each movement, combat, and exploitation phase,” but not at the end of the I. Phase.  Specifically, he rebuilds the 3-2-10 Arm X 3 (3 arm RPs), the RM 0-2-6 Hv AA X 1 NMBDO (2 Br inf RPs), the 2-8 Inf X 150 (2 Br inf RPs), the 1-8 AT II 65 (1 Br inf RP), the NZ 8 Inf XX HQ 4 (1 NZ inf RP), the NZ 2-8 Inf X 4 (2 NZ inf RPs), the Aus 8 Inf XX HQ 6 (1 Aus inf RP), and the Aus 2-8 Inf X 17 (2 Aus inf RPs).

At step 14 of the I. Phase the Allied player activates the RN-1 4 pt TF, per WW Rule 27A4, now available again in the new 3rd quarter, and places it at the Haifa major port hex, in Palestine.

In the I. Phase, at step 16, the Allied player generates 4 new gsp’s at the Suez and Alexandria Allied Standard Supply sources.

At step 22 of the I. Phase neither side announces any CAP air missions, but the Axis player assigns to the Naval Patrol air mission the two Ger LW Ju 87B D type air units based at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518) and the Ger LW Ju 88A4 B type and It SM 79-2 B type (V code) air units, both based at Scarpanto (19A:0701).  But as a precaution, the Ger LW He 111H4 B type air unit based at Derna remains operative, just in case of surprises this turn.

At step 24 of the I. Phase all the old gsp’s that were generated on the Jun II 41 Allied I. Phase are removed from the map.  Those would be the 4 at the Valletta hex, on Malta, the 4 old gsp’s at the Tobruch hex, and the 2 gsp’s at the Lattique hex, on the Vichy French Levant Mediterranean coastline.

In the naval movement step of the M. Phase, the first thing the Allied player does is determine the outcome of his naval transport itinerary to Malta.  He sea transports on a turn reinforcement NTP a reinf ARP (1/2 RE, per WW Rule 3A3) and on another turn reinforcement NTP the Malta reinforcement Br 0-2-8 Hv AA II 4 ground unit.  On a W Med NTP he transports 4 gsp’s, generated at Gibraltar in the I. Phase.  All three NTPs come into the Cent Med sea zone from Gibraltar.  When the three NTPs enter all-sea hex 18A:0108, on the west edge of map 18A, he uses the 9 column of the Naval Table, per WW Rule 31E1.  The 4 gsp’s from Gibraltar make it to Valletta, on Malta, as does also the 0-2-8 hvy AA II, but the turn reinf NTP carrying the reinf ARP rolls an 11, a Contact.  In this case, I believe the Outside Naval Interdiction Zones column is used for Unit/[Air] Replacement Point Contacted Cargo, and a 2 is rolled: Return!  And so the Allied ARP is “returned” to off-map Gibraltar, where next turn it will undoubtedly try again to sea transport to Malta, but then on an E Med NTP, rather than on a turn reinf NTP, as done now.  But note that with the arrival of the welcome Br hv AA II, the Allied player currently doesn’t have enough gsp’s at Malta to get all his units in special general supply in the upcoming Axis Jul I 41 I. Phase.

Next, the Allied player does a number of naval actions in the East and Central Mediterranean sea zones.  These subsequent naval actions are listed below in sequential order.  Those that are indicated by a # are indicated as such in the naval movement step action activities picture included below in the game report.  He then begins to execute his sea transport schedule for besieged and isolated Tobruch.  This turn it’s a dangerous game, as he must sea transport to Tobruch preferably a step of attack supply and/or as many as possible of the 8 available gsp’s generated in the I. Phase from his two on-map standard supply sources at either Alexandria or Suez.  The voyages will be through a gauntlet of hazards, as the Axis player is ready for him with some of his air assets on the Naval Patrol air mission, and Tobruch is now considered in the Central Med sea zone, and therefore each Allied NTP is liable for Axis anti-shipping dice rolls on the Naval Table, on the 9 column.

#1.   An E Med NTP is used to sea transport 2 gsp’s from Alexandria to Tobruch.  From Alexandria, its first naval movement point expenditure takes it to adjacent all-sea hex 20A:4931/19A:2317, at night.  It proceeds westwards through the next two all-sea hexes, under cover of night, entering and traversing Egyptian coast hex 19A:2018 on the 4th and 5th naval movement points, as it takes 2 naval movement points to traverse a coastal hex, per the Naval MP Costs Summary.  It moves west along the Egyptian coastline at night until the 2nd required naval movement point expenditure at Egyptian coast hex 19A:1719, which must be in daylight, as by then it has expended the maximum 10 consecutive naval movement points at night, per WW Rule 34B2.  From this point in the naval movement count the E Med NTP carrying the 2 gsp’s from Alexandria begins expending the required minimum 20 consecutive naval movement points in daylight, per WW Rule 34B2, spending 2 points per coastal hex, except when diverting once from the coast hexes to enter all-sea hex 19A:1417, until it enters and traverses the Sidi Barrani coast hex on the 19th and 20th naval movement point expenditures.  Here the Allied player briefly pauses, waiting to see if the Axis player does anything, and then goes ahead and enters adjacent all-sea hex 19A:0617, at night, which means that he can make it to the Tobruch hex using entirely night movement and thus avoid the Axis Naval Patrol air mission attacks, which can be done only in the daytime.  So the Axis player doesn’t bite the bait of the gsp’s, and is evidently waiting for the anticipated big turn reinforcement convoy carrying one of the steps of attack supply, requiring at least 3 turn reinforcement NTPs.  When the E Med NTP sea transporting the 2 gsp’s from Alexandria enters map 18A the Allied player must roll the dice for Axis anti-shipping contact in the Cent Med sea zone, using the 9 column on the Naval Table, and comes up with a 5: no contact, and so it and its cargo arrives safely at Tobruch, under the cover of darkness.

#2.  An E Med NTP is used to sea transport the remaining 2 gsp’s at Alexandria to Tobruch, using the same sea route and day-night chronology as above.  The Axis player again refuses to allocate his available assigned Naval Patrol assets on a Contact attempt, and the Allied player again avoids Contact with Axis anti-shipping forces upon entering the Cent Med sea zone on map 18A.  And two more gsp’s make it safely to the Tobruch hex, for a total of 4, so far.

#3.  An E Med NTP is used to sea transport 2 gsp’s from Suez to Tobruch, and beginning at the Alexandria coastal hex uses the same voyaging procedures as indicated above.  The same as above happens on this voyage and so two more gsp’s make it safely into Tobruch, for a total of 6 so far.

#4.  An E Med NTP is used to sea transport the remaining 2 gsp’s at Suez to Tobruch, using the same procedures as indicated for voyage #3, but this time the Axis anti-shipping forces get to work and a Contact is rolled on the Naval Table (a 10), and a 4 is rolled on the Supply/Resource Item column of the Shipping Results Table: Eliminated.  And so the E Med NTP is sunk, along with its cargo of 2 gsp’s from Suez.  Consequently, on the naval movement step of his Jul II 41 turn the Allied player will have available only 9 E Med NTPs, and not the normal 10, until step 14 of the I. Phase of his Aug I 41 turn, when he can replace the lost E Med NTP, per WW Rule 35D.

#5.  An E Med NTP is used to sea transport the Br 0-8 Marine Cmdo II ME from Lattique, on the Vichy French Syrian Mediterranean coastline to Matruh, in Egypt.  From all-sea hex 20A:4533/19A:1915 it uses night movement for the last 9 hexes to the Matruh coast hex.  The Axis player does not attempt a Naval Patrol contact roll.

#6.  The Allied player can no longer stave off his most critical sea transport voyage, and must now use 3 turn reinforcement NTPs to sea transport one of the turn reinforcement steps of attack supply to Tobruch, entering the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.  He uses the same route and time schedule as indicated above; but this time the Axis player plays the game differently.  At Egyptian coastal hex 19A:0918, on the 15th consecutive naval movement point expenditure in daylight, which would be the first of the two required to traverse the said coast hex, the Axis player rolls for Contact on the Success Table, using the Ger LW Ju 88A4 B type air unit based at Scarpanto, which is 18 hexes away from the target hex at 19A:0918, on the Egyptian coastline.  There’s a +3 modifier for calm seas, a +1 modifier for the Allied naval unit being in a friendly coastal hex, and a -3 modifier for the 18 hex range, which tallies to a net +1 modifier on the Success Table.  And the Axis player rolls a 6: Contact!  But next the Allied player rolls a 3 on the 2 factor flack shot: an Abort, and so in a typical twist of fate the vulnerable naval group survives the first Axis air attack and the formidable Ger LW Ju 88A4 air units lands in the Aborted Air Units Box of the Med/NA Command Replacement Pool.  But now the Allied player, in somewhat of a panic, says to heck with this coast-hugging strategy and abruptly turns due north on his 16th naval movement point expenditure, perhaps churning the water behind his transports in a wide frothy arc, seeking better safety in the adjacent all-sea hex 19A:0917, due north.  Forthwith the Axis player again rolls for Naval Patrol contact, now using the two Ger LW Ju 87B D type air units based at Ain el Gazala, on extended range, 14 hexes away.  This time the modifiers are +3 for calm seas and -2 for the 14 hex range, for a net +1 modifier.  But the Axis player rolls low for a Failure, and so the two Ju 87 B air units are flipped to inoperative in the Ain el Gazala hex.  But it’s not over yet.  The Allied player must expend 4 more naval movement points in daylight, for a total of 5 expended since the Contact with the Axis B type air unit based at Scarpanto.  At all-sea hex 19A:0518, at the 20th and last naval movement point expenditure in daylight (due to the sudden change in the voyage route), the Axis player rolls for a Contact attempt using the Italian SM 79-2 B type air unit (V code) based at Scarpanto.  There’s a +3 modifier for calm seas and a -3 for the 18 hex range, for a 0 modifier; but the Axis player rolls a 4: Failure.  And so the Allied naval group carrying the reinforcement step of attack supply enters the next all-sea hex at night.  It eventually moves onto map 18A and the Cent Med sea zone, but it rolls good on the Naval Table and thereby avoids the Cent Med Axis anti-shipping forces.  And after all the Allied player gets his desperately needed step of attack supply into Tobruch, so he can convert it to 12 gsp’s in the upcoming Jul I 41 Axis I. Phase, keeping practically the entire amount of the rib-sticking U-4 ground units present in the Tobruch hex in special general supply for another couple of player turns.

The Allied player then sea transports his remaining ME Command turn reinforcements first to Alexandria and then to Haifa.  See the text above and the pictures below for details.  Finally the Allied player moves the RN-1 4 pt TF (RN) from the Haifa major port hex to all-sea hex 20A:4309, adjacent to the Vichy French Levant coast hex 20A:4308.

Detail of the Allied ground unit railing done in the ground movement step of the M. Phase:

• 0-8 Hv AA II AA=1 2 (Aus) [began turn at Haifa; railed to El Alamein]
• 2-8 Inf X 151 [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to Matruh]
• 2-8 Inf X 1 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A:1519]
• 2-8 Inf X 3 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A:1519]
• 2-8 Inf X 6 (SA) [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to 19A:1519]
• 8 Inf XX HQ 2 (NZ) [RP build in the I. Phase, placed at Alexandria; railed to 19A:1519]
• 2-8 Inf X 17 (Aus) [RP build in the I. Phase; placed at Alexandria; railed to Haifa]
• 1-8 MG II 2 Ch [turn reinf; disembarked at Alexandria and railed to Tel Aviv]

At the end of the M. Phase the turn reinforcement Australian Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 air unit, placed at Tel Aviv (20A:5011) at step 14 of the I. Phase, flies the CAP air mission over the Vichy French Levant Mediterranean coast hex at 20A:4308.  Although in patrol or interception range of the two Axis fighters in Vichy French Lebanon, the Axis player declines to engage now the Allied fighter.  He will wait to fight when the situation becomes clearer in the C. Phase, after he commits his meager DAS against the ominous upcoming Allied attacks.

In the Allied Combat Phase the Axis player knows that that an Allied attack is certain at rough terrain Lebanese coast hex 20A:4308 and very likely at Damas (20A:4505).  He sends the Vichy Fr LeO 451  3B5  2-5/25 air unit on the DAS air mission to the 20A:4308 target hex, with the Vichy Fr D 520  6F5  0/11 and the Ger LW Me 110C  5HF5  1/12 as escorts.  Forthwith, the Allied player flies the Br Hurri 1  5F5  1/8 air unit based at Haifa, in Palestine, on the interception air mission, and he switches the RAAF Hurri 1 F type air unit flying the CAP air mission at the target hex to the intercept air mission.  However, both Allied air units opt to bypass the Axis fighter screen of the Ger LW Me 110C and Vichy Fr D520 air units.  The Axis player allots his two fighter air units against the two bypassing Allied air units and manages to roll high on both his dice rolls on the Air Combat Results Table, for two (-)’s.  And so the two Allied Hurri F type air units engage the hapless Vichy Fr Leo 451 B type air unit.  The Br Hurri 1 air unit engages first and rolls an Abort, and so the LeO 451 air unit is placed in the Aborted Air Units Box of the Vichy French Levant Replacement Pool. And the at the end of the combat the two Allied F type air units return to their respective bases, as do also the two escorting Axis air units.

At the Lebanese rough terrain coast road hex 20A:4308, south of Beyrouth, are the Vichy French 2-1-8* Lt Arm III 6 CdA (Afr) and the 2-6* Inf III 22 TA (Afr).  Attacking this Vichy French hex from the south, at coast road hex 20A:4408, are the 7-8 Inf XX 7 (Aus), the 2-8 Eng X 1 (Aus), the Br 2-8 Inf X 14, the 2-8 Inf X 17 (Aus), and the 2-8 Inf X 29 (Ind).  Of this Allied stack, the first 4 receive attack supply.  Attacking the Vichy French hex from the southeast, at adjacent hex 20A:4407, from across a mountain hexside, are the Br 8* Inf XX HQ 6, the 2-8 Inf X 29 (Ind), and the 3-8* Mtn X Carp (Pol).  Only the last unit, the Polish mtn X, receives attack supply.  Finally, from all-sea hex 20A:4309, the RN-1 TF (RN) adds its 4 strength NGS to the combat at adjacent coast hex 20A:4308.  The combat tallies are 3 supported defense factors for the Axis player and an adjusted Allied attack factor total of 21.5 (due to attack supply considerations & the mountain hexside), for a 7 to 1, -2.  There’s a -1 for the rough terrain and a -1 for the defending stack’s 1/10 AECD capability, due to the Vichy Fr lt arm III.  The Allied player rolls a 5, which modifies to a 3: a DE.  And so after the combat most of the Allied stack at 20A:4408 enters hex 20A:4308, except for the Aus 2-8 eng X, which remains where it was.

Next the Allied player attacks the Vichy Fr 1-2-6* Inf III 16 TT (Afr), at Damas (20A:4505), but not before he sends to the Damas target hex the Bombay  1T2  1-2/15 and Blen 4  3B3  1-2/23 air units, both based at Haifa (20A:4710), in Palestine, on the GS air mission.  Both Allied air units make it past the intrinsic 1 flack factor at the Vichy French Damas hex.  Attacking Damas from adjacent hex 20A:4506 are the 3-8* Inf X 1 FL (FF), the 1-8 Art II 1 (Aus), and the Br 2-1-6 Tank II 4 RT, all units in this hex (a total of 2 REs) receiving attack supply.  Attacking Damas from adjacent hex 20A:4604 is the Br 1-8 Cav X 6; this unit is without attack supply and is there as cannon fodder, just in case of an EX or HX.  Finally, the 2-8* Inf X 7 (Ind), at adjacent hex 20A:4504, attacks Damas, in attack supply.  In this combat case the Axis defense factor of 2 at the Damas hex is being attacked by an adjusted Allied attack factor of 10.25 (including the 2 GS tac factors), for a straight up 5 to 1.  The die roll is a 2: a DR, which in this case, with the enclosed ZOCs, is good for a DE.  And so the Vichy Fr 1-2-6* Inf III 16 TT (AFR) is placed in the Vichy French Levant Replacement Pool and the two Allied air units providing GS rebase in Palestine.  The Free French inf X enters Damas after combat.  Finally, the turn reinforcement step of attack of supply at hex 20A:4808, in Palestine, is removed from the map, expended after giving attack supply to 10 REs of attacking Allied ground units in the two Combat Phase ground attacks occurring in the Vichy French Levant.

In the E. Phase the Allied player uses the two Br Well 1C NB air units based at Alexandria to do a strat port bombing air mission to the Derna target hex at 18A:4116, at night.  They stage to 19A:1418 and then fly to the Derna target hex, scoring one Hit at the Axis minor port, evading the It 0-8 lt flk II’s 1 flack factor, and then they both return to base at Matruh.  After the Derna air mission, the Br Blen 4 air unit does a strat port bombing air mission to the Porto Bardiya hex, in Libya, at 19A:0318, along with the 2 tac bombing Allied A-22 A type air units.  All 3 port bombing air missions are done at daylight, and the Blen 4 air unit scores a Hit.  See the text above or the pictures below for the rebasing details of these three Allied air units.

Finally, the Ger LW Ju 52 T type air unit beginning the turn at Beyrouth, in the Vichy French Levant, does a non-phasing air transfer back to the Dodecanese island of Rodi, and bases at the 3-cap permanent airfield at point city/standard port hex of Rodi (20A:2230).  This Ger LW air unit is an Axis NE Command Conditional Reinforcement unit, as is also the Ger LW Me 110C HF type air unit, still in Vichy French Lebanon, at the 1-cap permanent airstrip at Rayak.

At the beginning of the turn Allies had the following accumulated replacements: 10.5 Br inf, 2.5 Br arm, 0 Allied ARPs, 3.5 Aus inf, and 3.5 NZ inf RPs. All items were stored at the Alexandria hex.  After receiving their Production reinforcements and prior to any I. Phase builds, the Allied player briefly had a revised inventory of the following accumulated replacements:  12.5 Br inf, 3.5 Br arm, 5 Allied ARPs, 4.5 Aus inf, 4.5 NZ inf, and 1 Ind inf.  After the replacement builds done at step 14 of the I. Phase the Allies had the following final player turn inventory of accumulated replacements:  7.5 Br inf, .5 Br arm, 1.5 Aus inf, 1.5 NZ inf, 1 Ind inf, and 3 Allied ARPs.  All items are stored at the Alexandria hex.  One available Allied ARP is currently off-map at Gibraltar.

Commentary

The Allies receive a large amount of reinforcements and production this turn, enabling them to simultaneously reinforce both the Vichy French Levant invasion front and their Egyptian Western Desert protective shield, perhaps thus definitely proscribing the earlier 1941 aggressive Axis schemes of dominating both the Western Desert and the Near East, in their apparent pursuit of Victory in the world war, prior to the then unknown Russian campaign.  And the new reality of Barbarossa apparently fixes the course of the now subsidiary Axis North African campaign, perhaps even as early as this Jul I 41 turn.  Already the Axis forces in the Western Desert seem fitted between a rock and a hard place:  in between the big Allied bastion at Tobruch and the corresponding stout Western Desert stop line at Matruh.  Already the Axis is being set up for a Crusader-type offensive pinch, which is surely coming, pending the steadily growing strength of the Allies in the MTO, which just might dispel the false illusion of Axis strength perceived in besieging Tobruch and staying the newly formed 8th Army at its Egyptian desert shield line.

And it is perhaps only via Europa that wargamers see this larger real unfolding vista of modern world war struggle that is likely obscured in other more tactical focused games, that magnify and bring to life the tanks, the ships, the infantryman weapons, and the planes that individual soldiers manipulate in their struggle against other enemy individual soldiers, like the ancient gladiators did in the Coliseum, for the pleasure of the Roman audience.

It appears the 1941 pre-Barbarossa “Enter Rommel” epoch has nearly ended in the Western Desert and the Middle East, when capturing Tobruch, intervening effectively in pro-Axis coup Iraq, intriguing with the Vichy French in the Levant to the detriment of Britain’s Middle East position, and ultimately plunging deep into Egypt with the mobile Afrika Korps were the Axis plans of the day.  Now a new epoch of protracted Western Desert warfare, of siege warfare at fortified bastions and at static desert stop lines, along with the necessary continuous supply considerations for modern overseas fighting armies comes to the fore in North Africa, all done to seize mastery of the southern flank in the world war.

But the game isn’t over, yet.  The Allies are still quite vulnerable at Tobruch, both in the defense factor count and in maintaining supply, and even this very next Axis turn the important Allied stack at Matruh is also at risk of destruction, with only 9 defense factors.  For awhile longer in this game the Allied player can make no mistakes in counting the hexes separating the two Nazi German panzer XXs from the Allied Egyptian desert shield line, in terms of both an outright attack at either of its two westernmost hexes and/or overruns at the remoter eastward ones.  He cannot bungle his defense factor counts at either Tobruch or at the Egyptian stop line, and he must be careful with his air assets in Egypt, allotting some for DAS and some for Harassment.  His nemesis is his “big mistake” in the technical set-up on the maps, which is only waiting to happen, and the Axis player knows it.  For those EA members who may wish to be reassured now, next turn the Allied player will certainly send harassment air missions to Egyptian hex 19A:1321.  But this reassurance only decreases the amount of DAS assets maybe needed at Matruh, that same turn.  But the Axis nemesis is that very desperate necessity to soon attack the Allies at either Tobruch or at the Allied Egyptian desert shield, even at risky odds, for the sake of the sweet nod from Victory, and thereby perhaps escape the emerging world war reality of a coming Crusader-type offensive, and later an impenetrable El Alamein stop wall, and finally ultimate defeat in North Africa after inevitably retreating into some wretched and forsaken coastal enclave.