End of Turn Dispositions

Mainland Europe off-map holding box [end of turn]:

0 Italian inf Replacement Points (RPs) at the end of the Axis I. Phase and the Axis turn: .5 It inf RP at the start of the turn, + .5 reinforcement It inf RP at step 14 of the I. Phase = a new total of 1 It inf RP in the middle of step 14 of the Axis I. Phase.   But this same 1 It inf RP was transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, near the end of 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, along w/ a Ger inf RP.  This leaves no It inf RPs in the mainland Europe off-map holding box.

1.5 German inf RPs at the end of the Axis I. Phase and the Axis turn: 1 Ger inf RP at the start of the turn: +  1.5 reinforcement Ger inf RPs at step 14 of the Axis I. Phase = a new total of 2.5 Ger inf RPs in the middle of step 14 of the Axis I. Phase.  But 1 Ger inf RP was transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, near the end of 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, along w/ an It inf RP.  This leaves 1.5 Ger inf RPs in the mainland Europe off-map holding box.

6 Ger ARPs at the end of the I. Phase and Sep I 41 Axis turn:  1 Ger ARP at the start of the Axis turn, which is the beginning of a new air cycle.  There were 5 Ger turn reinforcement ARPs at step 14 of the I. Phase, with a single accumulated Ger ARP carried over from the previous air cycle’s remainder, per WW Advanced Rule 25C5.  There were no German ARP expenditures or transfers this turn.  The Axis player may spend up to 2 Ger ARPs per turn, per WW Advanced Rue 25C6.

7 It ARPs at the end of the I. Phase and Sep I 41 Axis turn:  3 It ARPs at the start of the Axis turn, which is the beginning of a new air cycle.  The Axis player gets +.25 VPs for each “friendly ARP forfeited (not used or accumulated) at the end of each air cycle,” per the WW Axis & Allied Victory Point Schedule, found on p. 25 of the WW Scenarios & Appendices booklet.  This would be for a total of .5 Axis VP this turn.  There were 6 It turn reinforcement ARPs at step 14 of the I. Phase, with a single accumulated It ARP carried over from the previous air cycle’s remainder; this adds to the new total of 7.  There were no It ARP expenditures or transfers this turn.  The Axis player may spend up to 3 It ARPs per turn.

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions, Gulf of Sidra

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions, Gulf of Sidra

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
G 50  3F3  0/9 [inop.; began turn at Slouch (18A:3222), in Libya; late in the E. Phase air transferred to here]

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 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table and evaded the Valletta flack; Hit ; 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 Sep I 41 Axis turn:

Malta Status: 9, at the start of the turn, + 3 for Malta Status bombing hits done in the M. Phase prior to the naval movement step, = 12 during this turn’s naval movement step and at the EOT.

Valletta hex (18A:0407) flack this turn: 7 (3 intrinsic + a total of 4 for the two Br 0-1-8 hv AA IIs’ 2 flack factors each, as this turn these two ground units are in special general supply via the gsp’s successfully sea transported to Malta on the Sep I 41 Allied turn)

On this turn Malta Status air missions to the Valletta hex would roll on the 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table, shifted two columns to the left, Per WW Rule 37I2a.

There were 4 gsp’s present in the Valletta hex at the start of the Axis player turn, and 5 REs of ground units on Malta.   The Allied player designates the 0-4 Cons X MC as the designated 1 RE unit that is definitely Red U-2.

Libya [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]
5 steps of attack supply, at the end of the naval movement step and at the EOT:  3 steps of attack supply began the turn here and never moved, + 2 turn reinforcement steps of attack supply that began the turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box and were then sea transported to here in the naval movement step of the M. Phase in 6 turn reinf NTPs; they disembarked at Tripoli and remained in the hex]
4.5 Ger arm Replacement  Points (RPs) at the end of the naval movement step and at the EOT:  3 Ger arm RPs began the turn here and were not expended or moved this turn, + 1.5 turn production reinforcement Ger arm RPs were that began the turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box and were then sea transported to here in the naval movement step of the M. Phase in 3 turn reinf NTPs; they disembarked at Tripoli and were stored at the Axis standard supply terminal]
4 It inf RPs at the EOT:  4 It inf RPs began the turn here and were not expended or moved this turn, + 1 turn production reinforcement It inf RP that began the turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box and was immediately transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, and then in the M. Phase it was air transported to here by the It SM 79-1 B type air unit, along with a Ger inf RP; one of the other It inf RPs beginning the turn at Tripoli was air transported to Derna (18A:4116), in Libya, late in the E. Phase, by the Ger LW He 111H4 B type air unit, which began the turn here, along with a Ger inf RP]
2 Ger inf RPs at the EOT:  2 Ger inf RPs began turn here and were not expended or moved this turn, + 1 turn production reinforcement Ger inf RP that began turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box and was immediately transferred to the Licata port/airfield hex, in Sicily, and then in the M. Phase it was air transported to here by the It SM 79-1 B type air unit, along with an It inf RP; one of the other Ger inf RPs beginning the turn at Tripoli was air transported to Derna late in the E. Phase, by the Ger LW He 111H4 B type air unit, beginning the turn here, 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 here; never moved]

Misurata (18A:1022) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
1-cap temporary airfield

18A:0925 [clear terrain road hex]:
one step of attack supply [began turn at 18A:1023, S of Misurata; late in the E. Phase spent 2 SMPs exploiting along the road to here]

18A:1427 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
8 Mot Inf XX HQ 101 Trs [turn reinf; unsupported breakdown component of the 5-8 Mot Inf XX 101 Trs; began turn at step 14 of the I. Phase at the mainland Europe off-map holding box, assembled w/ the 5-8 mot inf XX; successfully sea transported to Tripoli in the naval movement step of the M. Phase, where the 5-8 mot inf XX broke down into its unsupported component parts; this component part then admin moved along the coast road to 18A:1023; exploited to here]
1-8 Mot Inf III 65 [same turn activity as its associated 8 Mot Inf XX HQ 101 Trs unit indicated above]
1-8 Mot Inf III 66 [same turn activity as its associated 8 Mot Inf XX HQ 101 Trs unit indicated above]

Sirte (18A:1727) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
fort marker
3-cap permanent airfield
Ju 88A4  4B5  3-7/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; at the very beginning of the M. Phase it flew the Malta Status tac bombing air mission; used the 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table and evaded the Valletta flack; Hit; returned to base here]
Ju 88A4  4B5  3-7/26 (Ger LW) [same turn activity as the Ju 88A4 air unit indicated just above; it, too, scored a Malta Status Hit]
Ju 88A4  4B5  3-7/26 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; at the very beginning of the M. Phase it flew the Malta Status tac bombing air mission; used the 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table and evaded the Valletta flack; Miss; returned to base here]

18A:2227 [sand coast road hex];
2-10 Mot Inf III 9 B [turn reinf; unsupported breakdown component of the 5-8 Mot Inf XX 101 Trs; began turn at step 14 of the I. Phase at the mainland Europe off-map holding box, assembled w/ the 5-8 mot inf XX; successfully sea transported to Tripoli in the naval movement step of the M. Phase, where the 5-8 mot inf XX broke down into its unsupported component parts; this component part then admin moved along the coast road to Buerat el Husm (18A:1226); exploited to here]
0-1-10 Mot Lt AA II  AA=1  617 (Ger) [turn reinf; began the turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box; successfully sea transported to Tripoli in the naval movement step of the M. Phase, in a turn reinf NTP; admin moved along the coast road to Buerat el Husm (18A:1226); exploited 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
one step of attack supply [began turn at Sirte (18A:1727); late in the E. Phase it spent 12 SMPs exploiting along the road to here]

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]
1-6 Inf III A [began turn here; unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol; never moved]
one step of attack supply [began turn here; never moved]

Soluch (18A:3222) [clear terrain point city secondary rail terminus hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield

18A:3617 [rough terrain road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield

18A:3618 [Maraua; rough terrain road hex]:
3-cap permanent airfield

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 [began turn here; unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol; never moved]
0-6 Lt AA II  AA=1  38 [began turn here; never moved]
BR 20M  3NB4  2-5/24 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
Br 20M  3NB4  2-5/24 [operative; began turn here; never moved]
He 111H4  4B4  2-7/22 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn at Tripoli (18a:0121); late in the E. Phase it loaded 1 Ger inf RP and 1 It inf RP stored there and flew a bomber on an air transport air mission (see WW Optional Rule 23E3) to here, flying a one-way regular transport mission with a range twice its printed movement rating, per WW Rule 19F1-Regular Transport]
1 Ger inf RP [began the turn at Tripoli, in Libya, late in the E. Phase air transported to here by He 111H B type air unit flying a bomber on an air transport air mission]
1 It inf RP [began the turn at Tripoli, in Libya, late in the E. Phase air transported to here by He 111H B type air unit flying a bomber on an air transport air mission]

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions: Cyrenaika

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions: Cyrenaika

Ain el Gazala (18A:4518) [clear terrain point city coast road hex]:
3-cap temporary airfield
8 Inf XX HQ 102 Trn [began turn at 18A:4618; moved to here along the road]
CR 42  3F3  0/9 [inop; began turn at Derna (18A:4116); early in the E. Phase it flew a fighter on a bombing air mission to the Tobruch target hex in a large air op; returned by the Tobruch flack; rebased here]
CR 42  3F3  0/9 [inop.; began turn here; early in the E. Phase it flew a fighter on a bombing air mission to the Tobruch target hex in a large air op; made it through the Tobruch flack and bombed the airfield, adding its 1 tac factor w/ that of the Ca 311 B type air unit, flying the same airfield bombing air mission; Miss; returned to base here]
Ca 311  2B2  1/L/14 [inop.; began turn here; early in the E. Phase it flew an airfield bombing air mission to the Touch target hex in a large air op; made it through the Tobruch flack and bombed the airfield, adding its 1 tac factor w/ that of the Cr 42 F type air unit flying a fighter on a bombing air mission; Miss; returned to base here]

18A:4618 [clear terrain coast road hex, SW of Ain el Gazala]:
1-6 Inf III A [began turn at 18A:4216, SE of Derna; unsupported breakdown component of the 3-6 Inf XX 25 Bol; moved along the road to here]

18A:4720 [clear terrain hex]:
0-1-6* Inf III 280 GaF [began turn at 18A:4719; regular moved to here]

18A:4620 [clear terrain hex]:
3-6 Inf XX 27 Brs [began turn at 18A:4718, SW of Tobruch; regular moved to here]

18A:4719 [clear terrain hex]:
0-6 Cons III 5 A [began turn at 18A:4818, S of Tobruch, where it spent 3 MPs completing the construction of a 3-cap temporary airfield, adding this to the 1 MP done by it in the previous Aug I 41 Axis turn towards the 2nd cap increase of a 1-cap temporary airfield; after completing the 3-cap temporary airfield’s construction it spent its remaining 3 MPs moving one hex (due to exiting enemy ZOCs) to here]

18A:4819 [clear terrain hex; 2 hexes S of Tobruch]:
3-6 Inf XX 55 Sav [began turn at 18A:4718; regular moved to here]
0-6 Cons III 10 A [began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; spent all its MPs (due to enemy ZOCs and terrain) regular moving 2 hexes to here]

18A:4718 [clear terrain coast road hex; SW of Tobruch]:
fort marker
3-cap temporary airfield

5-8* Inf XX 90 LA (Ger) [assembled here for the first time from its unsupported component parts at the end of the M. Phase]

  • 8* Inf XX HQ 9 La (Ger) [began turn at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518); regular moved to here along the road and assembled into the 5-8* Inf XX 90 LA at the end of the M. Phase]
  • 2-8 Inf III 361 (Ger) [began turn at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518); regular moved to here along the road and assembled into the 5-8* Inf XX 90 LA at the end of the M. Phase]
  • 2-8 Inf III 155 (Ger) [began turn at 18A:4720; regular moved to here and assembled into the 5-8* Inf XX 90 LA at the end of the M. Phase]

1-8 Aslt Eng II 31 G [began turn here; never moved]
1-6 Hv AA II  AA=1  29 [began turn here; never moved]
2-3-6 Art III 24 C [began turn here; never moved]
Ju 87B  2D3  4-1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; in the previous Sep I 41 Allied turn it flew the Harassment air mission]
SM 79-2  2B3  3-4/V/20 [operative; began turn here; never moved]

18A:4818 [clear terrain road hex; S of Tobruch]:
3-cap temporary airfield [this temp airfield began the turn as a 1-cap airfield, w/ 1 construction MP already done for the next cap increase; the It 0-6 Cons 5 A beginning the turn in the hex spent 3 MPs increasing its cap to a 3, and then moved away]
7-6-8 Arm XX 132 Ar [began turn here; never moved]
3-4-8 Art III 221 (Ger) [began turn here; never moved]
Me 110D  5HF5  4-2/12 (Ger LW) [operative; began turn here; never moved]
G 50bis  3F3  0/10 [inop., turn reinf; began turn at step 14 of the I. Phase in the mainland Europe off-map holding box; air transferred to here late in the E. Phase]
Ju 87B  2D3  4-1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn at 18A:4718; late in the E. Phase air transferred to here]

18A:4918 [clear terrain coast road hex; SE of Tobruch]:
3-cap temporary airfield [completed on the Aug I 41 Axis turn]
fort marker [its quick construction began on the previous Aug II 41 Axis I. Phase; it was completed on the current Sep I 41 Axis I. Phase]
3-6 Inf XX 17 Pav [began turn at 18A:4620; regular moved to here]
1-8 Inf III 61 [began turn at 18A:4720; regular moved to here]
1-8 Inf III 62 [began turn at 18A:4719; regular moved to here]
3-4-6 Art III 5 A [began turn here; never moved]
Me 109F1  6F6  1/8 (Ger LW) [inop.; began turn here; early in the E. Phase it flew the CAP air mission over the Tobruch hex, just prior to the big Axis air op to the same hex; engaged in air combat w/ the intercepting SAAF Hurri 1 F type air unit based at Tobruch; aborted the Allied fighter unit; rebased here]
MC 200  3F4  1/8 [inop.; began turn at Ain el Gazala (18A:4518); early in the E. Phase it flew a fighter on a bombing air mission to the Tobruch target hex in a large air op; evaded the Tobruch flack and bombed the airfield; Hit; returned to base here]
MC 200  3F4  1/8 [inop.; turn reinf; placed at 18A:0403, in Sicily, at step 14 of the I. Phase; late in the E. Phase it flew an air transfer air mission to here]

18A:5017 [clear terrain coast road hex]:
1-6 Tnk II 4 [began turn at 18A:4819; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]
1-8 Mot Art III 2 AC [began turn at 18A:4819; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]

18A:5118 [clear terrain hex]:
2-1-8 Lt Arm III 32 [began turn at 18A:5018; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]
1-8 Mot Art III 3 AC [began turn at 18A:5018; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]

19A:0218 [clear terrain road junction hex, SE of Porto Bardiya]:
1-10 Mot AT II 605 (Ger) [began turn at Porto Bardiya; moved one hex to here; remained in the hex]
1-8 Mot Art III 1 AC [began turn at Porto Bardiya; moved one hex to here; remained in the hex]
one step of attack supply [began turn at 18A:4818; late in the E. Phase it spent 9 SMPs exploiting along the road and through enemy ZOCs, to here]

Porto Bardiya (19A:0318) [clear terrain unimproved fortress/point city/minor port road terminus coast hex]:
unimproved fortress
5 port damage hit markers
0-8 Cons III Afr (Ger) [began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; regular moved to here; spent its last 2 MPs beginning the construction of a 1-cap temporary airfield here]
2-3-8 Art III 16 C [began turn at 18A:4818, S of Tobruch; regular moved to here]

19A:0319 [clear terrain coast road hex, S of Porto Bardiya]:
9-10 Pz XX 21 (Ger) [began turn at 18A:5119; regular moved to here; in the E. Phase the pz XX exploited eastwards along the Egyptian coast road to Sidi Barrani (19A:0718) and then double backed to here, capturing for the Axis side the Sidi Barrani point city hex and the Egyptian coast road hexes in between]
2-10 Mot Inf III 7 B [began turn at 18A:5119; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]
1-10 Mot Hv AA II  AA=2  I/33 (Ger LW) [began turn at 18A:5119; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]

19A:0219 [clear terrain hex]:
9-10 Pz XX 15 (Ger) [began turn at 18A:4918; regular moved to here; remained in the hex]
3-10 Mot Inf III 115 (Ger) [began turn at Porto Bardiya (19A:0318); regular moved to here; remained in the hex]
1-10 Mot Hv AA  AA=2  I/18 (Ger LW) [began turn at Porto Bardiya; moved to here; remained in the hex]

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions in the Western Desert

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions in the Western Desert

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 [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 [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]

Me 109E  7F5  1/7 (Ger LW) [began turn at 18A:4918, SE of Tobruch; early in the E. Phase flew the Escort air mission for the big Axis air op flying to the Tobruch target hex; engaged in air combat w/ the intercepting Br Hurri 1 F type air unit, based at Tobruch; aborted in the air combat]

MC 200  3F4  1/8 [inop; began turn at 18A:4918, early in the E. Phase flew a fighter on a bombing air mission to the Tobruch target hex in a large air op; aborted by the Tobruch flack shot]

Med/NA Command Eliminated Air Units Box:

vacant

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions: off-map display details

Sep I 41 Axis EOT dispositions: off-map display details

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.  At the start of the Aug II 41 Axis turn all cities in the Levant were finally Allied-owned; and there were 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 w/ ZOCs 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 appeared to be fulfilled at step 12 of the Aug II 41 Axis I. Phase, and so at that time all land hexes in Syria and Lebanon were declared Allied owned.

The Iranians surrendered on the previous Aug II 41 Axis I. Phase.  There are still neutral pro-Axis hexes and airbases in Iran, but they are too far from friendly Axis bases to be of any use to the Axis war effort.

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.  The Iraqi army surrendered and all forces were then removed from the maps.  All Iraqi hexes then became Allied-owned, except Mosul, which at that time contained a Ger LW air unit.  This Ger LW air unit subsequently evacuated Iraq later in the May II 41 Axis turn.  On the following Jun I 41 Allied turn a Br ground unit gained control of the Mosul hex, and thus the Allies had complete control of all hexes in newly pro-Allied Iraq.
  • 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 1:  “Fawzi does nothing.”

21A:4621 [stony desert hex]:

Guerrilla unit Fawzi (Bandit) [guerrilla-capable inf II bandit unit, in guerrilla mode; began turn here; remains here in the guerrilla mode per the Fawzi al Qawukji action die roll]

21A:5020 [stony desert road hex]:

Guerrilla unit Fawzi (Bandit) [dummy guerrilla-capable unit, in guerrilla mode; began turn here; remains here in the guerrilla mode per the Fawzi al Qawukji action die roll].

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Initial Phase dispositions, Western Desert

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Initial Phase dispositions, Western Desert

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 1:  “Fawzi does nothing,” Per WW Optional Rule 39E4.

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 2-8 Inf X 14, which now becomes black U-1. The recently rebuilt Br Hurri 1 F type air unit now becomes Black U-2, as does the Br 3-8 Inf X 22 G. 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.

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Initial Phase dispositions: Egypt and the Levante

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Initial Phase dispositions: Egypt and the Levante

At step 14 of the I. Phase the Axis player places his ground unit and production reinforcements in the mainland Europe off-map holding box, and also the It G 50bis  3F3  0/10 air unit turn reinforcement.  He places the MC 200  3F4  1/8 air unit reinforcement at the 3-cap permanent airfield at 18A:0403, in Sicily.  He does no ground unit replacement builds, nor does he repair with ARPs the It CR 42AS  3F3  1/8 air unit in the Aborted Air Units Box of his Med/NA Command Replacement Pool.  He is anticipating big air unit losses prior to the next air cycle and does not want to spend ARPs so early on repairing the old aborted biplane fighter unit.

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 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 :0821.  At the end of step 22 the two A type air units rebase at 19A:1319, having delivered their total of 4 tac factors to the 0821 target hex, good for two harassment marker hits.

Sep I 41 Axis naval movement step of the Movement Phase action details, Central Mediterranea

Sep I 41 Axis naval movement step of the Movement Phase action details, Central Mediterranea

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 II 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  4-1/8 air unit based at 18A:0603, at Sicily, and the three Ju 88A4  4B5  3-7/26 (Ger LW) air units at Sirte (18A:1727), in Libya, on the Malta Status tac bombing air mission to the Valletta hex (18A:0407), at Malta. This turn the Axis air units roll on the 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table, Per WW Rule 37I2a, as now the Allies have gsp’s at Malta at step 11 of the I. Phase, when supply status is determined.  The It Ju 87B D type air units gets past the Valletta hex’s flack, and scores a Hit on the Bombing Table. The three Ju 88A4 B type air units also get past Valletta’s 3 factor flack shot and two of their three strat bombing die rolls are Hits. The It Ju 87B D type air unit rebases at 18A:0603, in Sicily, and the three Ju 88A4 air units return to base at Sirte.

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Movement Phase dispositions, Gulf of Sidra

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Movement Phase dispositions, Gulf of Sidra

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 across the Cent Med sea zone to Tripoli, in Libya, his turn reinforcements in the mainland Europe off-map holding box.  He sends the It 5-8 Mot Inf XX 101 Trs across the Mediterranean as an assembled mot inf XX, but after it disembarks he breaks it down into its unsupported components.  The other Axis ground unit reinforcement, the Ger 0-1-10 Mot Lt AA II 617, and the two reinforcement steps of attack supply, and also the 1.5 Ger arm Replacement Points (RPs) all successfully make it across the Cent Med sea zone. All these sea transported turn reinforcement items roll on the most favorable 12 column of the Naval Table, when checking for Allied anti-shipping effects.

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Movement Phase dispositions: Western Desert

Sep I 41 Axis end of the Movement Phase dispositions: Western Desert

In the M. Phase the It 0-6 Cons 5 A, beginning the turn at 18A:4818, S of Tobruch, spends 3 MPs completing the 3-cap temporary airfield there and then moves away from the Allied fortress’ perimeter, to the SW, to hex 18A:4719.  After completing the fort at 18A:4918, using quick-construction technique with the Ger 0-8 Cons III Afr, the It 0-6 Cons 10A pulls away from the Tobruch perimeter hex and also moves in a SW direction, ending its move at 18A:4819, stacked with the 3-6 Inf XX 55 Sav, which moved there to protect it next turn from overruns.  On the other hand, the Ger 0-8 Cons III Afr does not make any wide arcing SW swing round Tobruch, but instead regular moves directly east into Porto Bardiya, where it begins construction there of a 1-cap temporary airfield.  It is joined at Porto Bardiya with the 2-3-8 Art 16 C, giving it some strength from potential Allied overruns.

Early in the E. Phase the Axis player executes a series of  air missions against the Tobruch hex, attempting to eliminate the two Allied Hurri 1 F type air units there.  First he flies the Ger LW Me 109F1  6F6  1/8 air unit based at adjacent hex 18A:4918 on the CAP air mission over the hex.  The Allied player sends only the SAAF Hurri 1 F type air unit based at Tobruch on the Intercept air mission over the Tobruch target hex, but the Me 109F1 air unit aborts the SAAF Hurri 1 air unit; the SAAF Hurri 1 F type rolls a (-).  The Me 109F1 returns to base at the 3-cap temporary airfield at 18A:4918.

Sep I 41 Axis Exploitation Phase: Air raids on Tobruch

Sep I 41 Axis Exploitation Phase: Air raids on Tobruch

Next the Axis player sends the MC 200  3F4  1/8 air unit based at 18A:4918, the other MC 200 F type air unit based at Ain el Gazala, and the two CR 42  3F3  0/9 air units based at Gazala and Derna, respectively, all on a fighter on a bombing air mission to the Tobruch target hex.  Accompanying them is the Ca 311  2B2  1/L/14 air unit, based at Gazala.  The large Axis air op is escorted by the Ger LW Me 109E  7F5  1/7 air unit, based at 18A:4918.  The Br Hurri 1 F type air unit based at Tobruch flies the Intercept air mission and engages in air combat with the formidable ME 109E air unit, and aborts it, whereas the Me 109 E rolls a (-).  After the air combat the Allied player rolls for Tobruch’s flack shots on the 3 column of the Antiaircraft Fire Table against the Axis air units flying the bombing air missions, and one of the CR 42 F type air units on a bombing air mission is returned by flack.  Because of its L code, the vulnerable Ca 311 B type air unit doesn’t get the +1 modifier for being a bomber, but still survives the 3 factor flack shot, and then pairs up with the remaining CR 42 air unit for a total of 2 tac factors on an airfield bombing mission, but rolls a Miss on the Bombing table.  However, the MC 200 F type air unit on an airfield bombing mission, with its tac factor of 1 thus jacked up to 2, rolls high on the Bombing Table and scores a hit on Tobruch’s airfields, which have a total capacity of 4, and so the Axis player does get something for all his aerial efforts against the improved fortress hex.  Afterwards all the surviving Axis air units involved in the big Tobruch air op return to base in various airfields in the Tobruch zone.  See the text above or the pictures below for these details.

Then the Axis player loads a Ger inf RP and an It inf RP on the Ger LW He 111H4 B type air unit based at Tripoli, in Libya, which flies a 1-way air transport air mission (eg., a bomber on an air transport air mission, this time at double range but still at regular lift capacity) from there to Derna, in an effort to get some RPs closer to the front, in case of casualties there, which are expected soon.

The Axis player also does some air unit transfers late in the E. Phase.  See the EOT dispositions text above or the pictures below for these details.

Commentary

The Axis EOT disposition is certainly not pretty, nor is it brilliant, nor are its prospects for achieving anything like Victory evident.  It is in fact the desperate maneuver of a rather small desperate army near the end of its rope.  It also shows how the unimproved fortress of Porto Bardiya has become an albatross hanging around the neck of the Axis in North Africa.  It must be defended if the siege of Tobruch is to continue, the Axis  player believes, lest the Allies run in some infantry XXs and make a forward bastion out of it, likely in conjunction with an armored force at adjacent Halfaya Pass.  The alternative would be to lift the siege of Tobruch and instigate a “strategic maneuver” somewhat to the west, in accordance with some longer-term Axis defensive plan, either in the Cyrenaican rough terrain area or perhaps better yet at the Agedabia-El Agheila zone.  But right now the Axis player feels like this is little more than a Chicken Little retreat, and instead opts to play with fire, attempting the more dangerous game of bluff and intimidation with the strengthening 8th Army, and perhaps making something out of a yet unseen Allied bad move, or one more wild attack at Tobruch, if he can manage it in time.