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Europa Games and Military History

FAQ Topic: Western Desert FAQ

Rules questions regarding the EUROPA-game “Western Desert”

Breaking down unit to satisfy loss requirements?

Question:

When the results of a combat require you to take losses and one of the units involved is a division that can be broken down, are you allowed to “make change” by breaking down the unit and eliminating one or more component brigades?

For example, let’s say one side had ONLY a 7-8 infantry division in a particular battle, and the combat resolution required that side to lose 2 strength points. Can you break up the division into three 2-8 brigades and eliminate one, or are you forced to eliminate the entire division?

Answer:

No. See WD Rule 15.A. You can only break down a unit “at the start of a friendly movement phase”.

Since combat occurs during the Combat Phase, you can’t do something *only* allowed during a movement phase, during a combat phase. So you would have to lose the 7-8 Inf XX in your example, cadreing it to satisfy the loss requirements.

Note that when a rule specifies when something can happen, it can *only* happen when the rule says that it can. Any exceptions to this general case will be specified in the particular rule.

Source:

Posted by Rich Velay on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 23.01.2013 23:00

Western Desert Malta Shipments

Question:

If a unit tries to ship to Malta and fails the roll, is it done with movement? Or can it continue to move from the port by road, rail, or another port? (assuming sufficient MPs remaining)

Answer:

Rule 28D (and Rule 26C, which Rule 28D draws upon for the turn-back result), places no special restrictions on the unit that was turned backed, except that the unit cannot attempt to ship to the destination again that turn (28D says that it can try in future turns, which I also read as meaning it cannot try again in the current turn). So, an Allied unit could move to a port like Alexandria, attempt to ship to Malta at a cost of 2 MPs, be turned back, and then use its remaining MPs to move elsewhere.

Historically, this would amount to something like: the high command orders the unit to Malta, but Axis air and naval interference causes the transports to turn back. When they arrive back at port, the high command has decided that the military situation now requires the unit to be used elsewhere.

Source:

Posted by John Astell on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 27.01.2013 17:34

Bombing Malta: Tactical or Strategic bombing strengths?

Question:

When a Ju-87 attacks Malta for the purpose of increasing the Malta number, do you apply the tactical bombing strength (4) or the strategic bombing strength (1) ?

If the answer to the above is “1”, then does the lack of a “1” column on the bombing table imply that the Ju-87’s have to bomb in at least groups of two just to enter the table and possibly get a result?

We are assuming the Ju-87 also gets the +1 “D” modifier whether or not the tactical or strategic strength is used.

Answer:

Rule 28.D states that to reduce the Malta Status #, the Axis player runs Port Bombing missions against Valletta – this special version of the Port Bombing mission doesn’t affect the capacity of the port, it affects the Malta Status #.

Per Rule 20.F, we find Port Bombing missions described in 20.F.1.a [a strategic bombing mission] and 20.F.2.g [a tactical bombing mission.]
Whether to run a Port Bombing mission as a strategic mission or a tactical mission is under the control of the Axis player, in this case it would behoove the Axis player to employ his Ju87’s in the tactical role rather than the strategic role, due to the significant difference between the Ju87’s SBFs and TBFs.

And with regards to using the Ju87’s SBFs: A total bombing strength of “1” or less is considered an automatic “Miss” on the Bombing table. As I said above, it is generally best to employ the Ju87 using its larger # of TBFs, rather than its smaller # of SBFs.

Note well that each Port Bombing attack must be run as *either* a strategic, or tactical, mission – you can not combine SBFs from one air unit with the TBFs of another. Each individual Port Bombing attack will use, only, either TBFs *or* SBFs, from one or more air units, but *never* the two types of bombing strengths in combination.

A type D bomber get’s the +1 to hit DRM anytime that the bombing mission requires the use of the Bombing table – with the major caveat that type D bombers *only* get this +1 to hit if they are bombing singly, or in a group of *only* type D air units.

If one, for example, combines a Ju88 and a Ju87 together to conduct a single bombing attack, then that bombing attack would *NOT* get the +1 DRM, since the Ju88 is not a type D air unit.

Source:

Posted by Rich Velay on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 13.01.2013 09:00

Withdrawals

Question:

When a unit is required to withdraw by the OOB, precisely when during the turn does the withdrawal happen? It is not explicitly stated in the WD rules, but it seems that a withdrawal would occur in the initial phase. Otherwise the unit would possibly be able to participate in a combat before exiting stage left (or right).

Answer:

Withdrawals occur during the initial phase. Many later Europa games have a detailed sequence of play chart that list exactly when each activity occurs, but earlier ones like Western Desert do not.

In early games like Western Desert, all activities listed in the reinforcements and replacements rule (Rule 29 for WD) occur in the initial phase unless the rule for a feature explicitly states otherwise. In games with a detailed sequence of play chart, the chart governs.

Source:

Posted by John Astell on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 08.01.2013 17:3

Air: Patrol Attacks and Interception Attacks

Question:

Is an aircraft belonging to the non-phasing player eligible to execute both a patrol attack and an intercept attack in the same air movement phase? The rules say a patrol attack is not considered a “mission,” so it seems to imply the aircraft is available for a mission after the patrol. On the other hand, this seems like getting two bites at the apple.

Answer:

Yes, eligible non-phasing air units may make Patrol Attacks against enemy air units during the enemy player’s Air Movement Step. Regardless of whether or not they chose to make a Patrol Attack during the Air Movement Step, eligible air units may make Interceptions during the Interceptor Movement Step. So yes, an eligible air unit could make both a Patrol Attack and an Interception during the same enemy Air Phase.

Source:

Posted by Rich Velay on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 13.01.2013 01:20.

Overruns and Attack Supply

Question:

In playing Western Desert, I most burn an attack supply point per 10 REs of attackers to be full strength in attack. In either the movement or exploitation phases, would I have to burn a supply point to overrun at full attack factor? Yes, I’m afraid the answer is going to be yes but I’m hoping I’m wrong.

Answer:

WD Rule 13 (Overruns) does say that overrun strength of a unit is affected by it supply condition.

However, WD Rule 12B, final paragraph, states that a unit out of general supply has its attack and overrun strengths quartered. A unit in general supply has its attack strength halved but has its full overrun strength. A unit only has its full attack strength if attack supply is used.

So, if your overrunning units are in general supply, they overrun at full strength.

Source:

Posted by John Astell on the Yahoo Classic Europa mailing list on 24.02.2013 22:25

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