[Strv102r]

Åter har jag fått förmånen att testa ett av 3CG:s kommande spel. Precis som sist är det Nordafrika som gäller, men denna gång Operation Battleaxe 1941. Det är ett mindre spel än 3CG brukar göra. Karta, antal brickor och GT, ja allt är mindre. Eftersom testet kan komma att nyttjas för internationella syften kommer själva rapporteringen ske på engelska, men det lär ju knappast vara ett problem för det här auditoriet.

[Strv102r]

Starting positions. The Axis have three battle groups holding the front. Bach (mixed Italians and Germans) in the Halfaya pass (there is a replay of the game Operation Skorpion that shows how Bach got there.  (https://www.krigsspel.se/forum/index.php/topic,5206.0.html), the frontier group (also mixed Italians and Germans) fortified in the center and the German recon group W in the west.  A major part of the 15 pzdiv is in reserve.

The Brits are about to make a new attempt to relive the besieged garrison of Tobruk. They have managed to allocate the the 7 armored divisionen consisting of 4 and 7 pansarbrigaderna (each 2 tank battalions and one motorized rifle battalion)  and the 7 support group of several motorized rifle units and anti tank units. The 11 indian infantry brigade och 22 Coldstream Guards brigade are also part of the XIII corps. 

Since Tobruk is not on the map, and is rather far off, it is pretty obvious that the historical operation failed. It is still possible for the Brits to outperform the historical result and win. After all, how many Bulge 44 games have Antwerp on the map?

[Strv102r]

The game starts with a special pre GT 1 sequence. The first activation goes to the support group that clears a way through the border barrier between Libya and Egypt. After that the brigade attack the German "W" (for Weichmar) group and defeats it with heavy German casualties. 






7 armoured moves north with their  Cruisers towards Fort El Capuzzo.






4 armoured attack with their Matilda IIs against a German strong point, but the 88:s claim quite a few tanks and the attack is repulsed.






Finally the Herman group "W" falls back. The special pre GT 1 sequence is over and the regular activation routine starts.

[Strv102r]

First out is 4 armoured. Another repulsed attack that costs one more step loss to the  motorized infantry.






7 armour seizes Fort El Capuzzo.






22 moves up and finally succeeds where 4 armour has failed.






"W" moves to block 7 armours possible advance further north.






Despite being attacked all around  the strong point on Hafid Ridge repulses the attack.

[Strv102r]

15 pz ttacks the western part of 7 armoured, but is repulsed ( useless die throw for the German, again.)






22 brigade attacks with air support. Knabe falls back.








11 Indian attacks the Halfaya position. While the main attack along the coast is repulsed, the attack in the west clears away the Italian flank protection for Halfaya pass.





The strong point on Hafid ridge succumbs to the support groups renewed attack.






"W" is reinforced by two new armoured car recon companies.






4 armoured moves up to 22 brigade.






7 armoured adjusts its position for defence.






15 pz attacks the northern part of 7 support group, but is repulsed yet again! Damned die throw of 1 once more!






An overview.

[Strv102r]

5 light division arrives, later to be reformed as 21 pz . Or parts of it arrives at least.







The weak 4 armored falls back.






11 Indian attacks along the coast again and now reaches Halfaya pass.






"W" moves to protect the road to Sollum and Halfayas rear.






4 armoured moves up to join 7 armoured.






15 pz is repulsed yet again!






15 pz pulls back to a central position to block allied advance north towards Bardia.

[Strv102r]

5 light attacks 7 support group with more success than 15 pz had.






Due to Rommel part of 5 light get to go again, and again they mess up the 7 support group.






Due to the KG Bötcher chit  part of 5 light get to go again, and yet again they mess up the 7 support group even more! The benefits of a faster OODA loop are easily visible, even if this was kind of an unusual optimal turn out for the Germans.





7 armour attacks 5 light pioneerbatallion, but is repulsed.





15 pz attacks 4 armour. 4 holds but takes losses.






11 Indian seizes Halfaya pass!






22 guards attacks Knabe, but Knabe stands firm.






"W" attacks 22 flank, but is repulsed with losses.






7 armour attack the pioneers again, but they stand fast albeit with losses.






4 armour redeploys to the VP-hex.

[Strv102r]

At night british tank units must disengage unless in defendable terrain. Thus 4 armoured withdraws from the VP hex and 7 armour from the german pioneers.








At dawn 5 light strikes 7 armours eastern part and destroys the tank battalion. Brigade HQ relocates to the south.






7 suppport group strikes back by enveloping part of 5 light. Both sides commit air. The Germans retreat through ZOC and absorb a steploss on the unit underneath the pz battalion.









11 Indian seizes Sollum! That is a win well worth a step loss!






Böttcher takes command of oart of 15 pz and part of 5 light. 11 hussars are destroyed, but the brits hold their ground.









4 armour reoccupies the VP hex.





Knabe blocks the Indians advance up from the coastal low land.






15 pz are repulsed by 4 armour.






The remains of 7 armour move to block any German advance south between the Hafid Ridge position and El Capuzzo.






"W" attacks the flank pf 22 guards. They are repulsed, but 2 scots are destroyed in the process.


An overview of the situation.

[Strv102r]

15 pz destroys 4 armour last fighting units.






7 armour moves its last at least somewhat effective unit to block 15 pz advance south.






11 Indian seizes the Oalala position.





7 support redeploys its anti tank coy to support 6 RTR.






22 guards western part slides south.






Böttcher strikes south. 6 RTR is crushed and the Germans have a breakthrough.








5 light envelops and destroys large part of 7 support.






"W" redeploys to cover multiple options.

The British are reeling, has lost their balance, their offensive might is crushed. But too late. They still hold enough VP and have inflicted casualties enough to claim victory. One more GT and disaster would probably have been the result.

The German must be more offensive and can not be afraid of risking losses on his panzers. This game was even, well balanced and a lot of fun with both sides attacking and defending somewhere on the map at the same time. It is also a quite small game that plays quickly. We will try once more.

[Strv102r]

Starting positions.






After GT1 7 support group has mauled "W" and seized Hafid ridge with 7 armour. 22 guards and 4 armour has seized the forward axis positions and are advancing on the central road junctions and the axis main defence positions. 4 armour is already rather depleted however. 11 indian has been stopped along the coast. 15 pz has counterattacked 7 support but been repulsed.






At the end of GT2 7 support and 7 armour are locked in a costly mobile battle with 15 pz. 22 guards attack the center but is stopped. "w" is reformed by reinforcements behind the axis positions. 4 armour seizes the Oalala position. 11 indian seizes positions that allow attacks on Halfaya Pass.






GT3. 7 support and 7 armour continues their duel with 15 pz in the west. Attrition favours the Germans. 5 light has arrived in the center where 22 guards has been repulsed. 4 armoured seizes unimportant terrain and "W" advances to check the advance. Halfaya Pass replses 11 Indian attacks and decimates the indians.

[Strv102r]

The British left folds under the pressure of 15 pz. 7 armour is effectively destroyed. In the center 5 light puts its weight against 22 guards that holds, but just barely. In the east Halfaya falls to the Indians, but they have lost heavily.






The British left is in full retreat and the left of 22 guards also falls back while the right and whats left of 4 armour is encircled. An Indian attack towards Sollum destrots the defence, but costs a brigade as well. Sollum is probably beynd 11 indians capabilities as it is. Wavell orders a retreat which now gives the British VP for evacuating units off the map to the south.






One battalion of 7 support manages to evacuate to the south. 4 armour manages to get one battalion of Matildas out of the encirclement, but 22 guards is destroyed. Even along the coast an axis attack destroys one more Indian brigade. The only British gain is Halfaya. For now. Effectively XIII corps is destroyed as a fighting formation with no loss to the German core, 15 pz and 5 light.

German victory this time.