Tobruk, with the German 15 th and 21 st Panzer Divisions deployed to the east and other Italian formations covering the coastal positions. The Axis can win a sudden death victory if they manage to capture Tobruk. The Commonwealth accrues 5 VP if the Tobruk garrison can trace a line of supply out of Tobruk at the end of the game. Additionally, various named locations yield one VP each for the Commonwealth if controlled at the end of the game. Both sides earn VP for eliminating enemy units but the Allies can forfeit a victory if they lose more air units than the Axis. As the game begins, Rommel is focused on his plan to attack the Tobruk Garrison. Only lead elements of the Commonwealth forces are present at first, but on Turn One they are reinforced by the 7 th Armoured, 1 st South African, and 2 nd New Zealand Divisions. We ll see how this affects Rommel s plans. Turn One (18-19 Nov 1941) Since every unit begins in supply, there is no need to carry out the opening Supply Phase. Next is the Activation Phase. During this phase, the players select activation chits to determine which units may move/fight or fight/move. by E.R. Bickford Production: Lise Patterson 2013 Decision Games Bakersfield, CA. AAR of Strategy & Tactics #278 Tobruk 1941 This is a simulation of Operation Crusader from 18 November through 7 December 1941. The units are regiments and battalions, hexes represent approximately 4 miles, and turns are two days each. The Commonwealth has a garrison sealed off in Tobruk. This is led by General Scobie, the commander of the 70 th Division. General Norrie s 30 Corps and 13 Corps are charged with relieving the Tobruk Garrison. Meanwhile, the Axis has the Italian 21 st Corps around The first activation is the Italian 21 st Corps. This corps is commanded by Italian General Navarini and consists of the Pavia, Trieste and Brescia Divisions. These forces do not have permission from Rommel to do to much yet, so they are shifted slightly. Next is the Commonwealth player s 30 Corps. These units arrive as turn one reinforcements, so the chit is played as a movement rather than combat. Some elements of the 7 th Armoured Division capture Gabr Saleh. The 1 st South African Division marches toward Bir el Gubi. The use of trails facilitates movement in the desert. A1
General von Ravenstein activates the 21 st Panzer Division which moves along the trail and consolidates on the trail between Sidi Aziez and Gabr Saleh. Then the Commonwealth draws 13 Corps. The 4 th Indian Division is already on board, but the 2 nd New Zealand arrives as a reinforcement. General Freyberg drives the formation toward Sidi Omar in an attempt to outflank the Axis position. The 15 th Panzer Division becomes active. It advances toward the South African Division which is advancing toward Tobruk from the southern position. The Afrika Korps, under General Crüwell, repositions around Tobruk. Additional units are deployed in Gambut and Sidi Rezegh. A2
Turn Two (20-21 Nov 1941) 30 Corps begins operations. First, the 1 st South African Division launches an attack against the position at Bir el Gubi. This is defended by the Italian Ariete Division. Both sides employ air support and the Axis fighters win the day. The Western Desert Air Force suffers some damage. General Brink s attack is carried out and it goes fairly well, driving the Italian units backward toward Tobruk. Bir el Gubi is captured. Nearby, the 4 th Armoured Brigade strikes the German 33 rd Aufklarungsabteilung, which suffers a setback and is retreated. This time, the Commonwealth air power holds the day. Then the 7 th Armoured drives straight into the 21 st Panzer. The German panzers suffer heavy losses and retreat. A3
Despite the losses on the frontier, Rommel decides to go after the Tobruk Garrison from the east. His troops assemble a massive force on the via Balbia. Despite the defensive fortifications, the attack meets some success and the Australian infantry is driven backwards. 13 Corps begins its attacks on the Axis flank at Sidi Omar. This is defended by an Italian 15th Regiment of the Savona Division. It is completely overwhelmed. Sidi Omar falls to Freyberg s New Zealanders. Finally, the Tobruk Garrison punches back at the Afrika Division. These are forced to fall back. Turn Three (22-23 Nov 1941) The turn opens with the Trieste Motorized Division entering from the west along the Via Balbia; General Piazzoni orders the formation toward Tobruk. 13 Corps begins to close in on the eastern position of the Italian troops. Along the track just west of Halfaya Pass, the New Zealand infantry attacks the German battalion and wipes it out. Then the British armor strikes at Fort Capuzzo which is defended by one of the Savona MG Battalions. The Italians have some close support but this is not enough to save the position. After suffering some heavy losses, the Italians retreat and the 8 th RTR captures Fort Capuzzo. Two weak Italian units are defending Sidi Aziez. 13 Corps presses the attack. Again the Commonwealth withholds air support with such an overwhelming attack. The Regia Aeronautica provides close support, but the two defending units suffer casualties and retreat to the via Balbia. The Afrika Corps activates and attempts to salvage the situation in the east. Troops pull away from Halfaya Pass because it is clear that they will soon be out of supply. The Afrika Korps launches another attack against the Tobruk Garrison. The British 149 th AT fires to no effect. The Luftwaffe provides a lot of close support air cover and the Australian units are hit quite severely and retreat. Then 30 Corps resumes the attack. The 1 st South African Division attacks the Italian Ariete Division. Both sides employ artillery fire and close air support. The Western Desert Air Force loses a fighter squadron. The battle results in a retreat and the Italians suffer casualties retreating through an enemy ZOC. The 15 th Panzer is hit by the 7 th Armoured Division just east of Ariete s A4
position. Both sides employ air support as well as artillery. The Commonwealth generates overwhelming strength and the 15 th Panzer is forced to retreat after sacrificing a number of panzers. Turn Four (24-25 Nov 1941) 13 Corps opens the action with a march up the coast. The weak Italian defenses are likely to be compromised, but the Tobruk Garrison is running out of time. The 4 th Indian Division is in Sollum and attacks along the via Balbia against Savona's 16 th Infantry Regiment. The 4 th Indian has artillery support and with it the enemy is overcome. An infantry detachment from the Bologna Division is eliminated by the New Zealand combined arms force. This will cut off some of the Italian units near Bardia. The 15 th Panzer activates and immediately launches a counterattack against the 7 th Armoured Division, using artillery and air support. The Commonwealth counters with air A5
support too and manages to destroy a Axis fighter unit. The dice are terrible to the Axis player this time (snakes) and the attack is repulsed. The 15 th Panzer loses a step to boot. The Tobruk Garrison launches a counterattack against the Afrika Division. The Commonwealth has excellent artillery support here, but they call in some air support in case the Axis expends some of their air assets. The air to air takes out another Commonwealth air unit. Nonetheless, the Australians attack and push the German units backwards again. Next, 30 Corps attacks Ariete and 15 th Panzer. The 1 st South African Division strikes into the weakened Ariete Division. The Italians retreat but inflict some casualties on the South African infantry first. Then the 7 th Armoured Division hits back against 15 th Panzer. The Luftwaffe supports the defense but the Commonwealth has artillery support. The 15 th Panzer suffers some losses and is forced to retreat toward the sea. They do manage some armor recovery first. Turn Five (26-27 Nov 1941) Two of the Italian units in the area of Sollum and Bardia are low on supply. The 15 th Panzer Division is a little spread out. General Crüwell decides to consolidate this formation at Sidi Rezegh. The panzers avoid enemy contact. Then General Norrie orders 30 Corps to attack. General Brink has the 1 st South African Division strike what is left of the Ariete Division. The Commonwealth loses a valuable fighter unit during the air-to-air segment. The Italian 8 th Med Tank and the 2 nd Light Tank Battalion are both destroyed as the rest of the General Balotta s formation is retreated under fire. No one knows where the General is (HQ overrun). Next, General Gott attacks 15 th Panzer with 7 th Armoured Division. Although outnumbered 2-1, the Commonwealth Air Force shoots down the Axis fighters. (Low dice by the Axis player.) The British infantry suffer a step loss, but 15 th Panzer retreats in order. The 7 th Armoured captures Sidi Rezegh. The Tobruk Garrison remains quiet, awaiting the relief column. Next, the action flips to the 21 st Panzer Division, deployed to the east of the recent activity. General von Ravenstein decides to attack the rear of 7 th Armoured Division s position. The British have two artillery groups there, and one manages to deplete the 2/5 Panzer A6
Battalion. The Western Desert Air Force loses another fighter in the air-to-air battle. As a result, the 7 th Armoured Division retreats in order. The Axis player wants to make another attempt to break into the Tobruk Garrison. The Afrika Korps troops swing around to the desert trail to the south of the fortified position. Although the Axis has fighter cover and artillery, the fortifications are too strong and the attack is repulsed. The 2/155 Battalion suffers the brunt of the losses. 13 Corps has surrounded the Italian troops in the Bardia-Sollum corridor. The 4 th Indian Division has these units contained and it is a matter of time before the Italians surrender to General Messervy. Meanwhile, the 2 nd New Zealand Division advances along the two roads toward Tobruk, the via Balbia and the Trigh Capuzzo. Turn Six (28-29 Nov 1941) The Italian units in Bardia are out of supply. The British 13 Corps works its way westward. The 2 nd New Zealand converges and then attacks the German units along the road. These are the 1/33 FLAK and the 3/255 Battalion and they defend Gambut. The German FLAK fails to inflict any damage on the Commonwealth tanks. Two Axis air units fly close support for the defense while the 2 nd New Zealand s artillery supports the attack. The German forces have to retreat and the 2 nd New Zealand captures the key location of Gambut. Then the Afrika Korps attempts another attack to break through the fortifications outside of Tobruk. The attack is supported with artillery and aircraft, but the Commonwealth Air Force counters and one Axis fighter is destroyed. The Afrika Korps also gets a low dice roll (3) and suffer a step loss as their attack is turned back by the Australians. 30 Corps makes a two-pronged attack. The 7 th Armoured Division moves against the 21 st Panzer Division. The Commonwealth has artillery support but the Axis flies in close support aircraft. The 21 st Panzer is forced to retreat, leaving the division separated in two parts. Then the 1 st South African Division makes another run at the Italian Ariete Division. Many of this formations tanks are already destroyed from earlier fighting. The Italians have an AT element but these are ineffective. The 9 th Med Tank Battalion is eliminated even as the division retreats. In a nearby attack another Italian tank unit is eliminated (7 th Med Bn). The 21 st Panzer Division redeploys in an attempt to consolidate. This is A7
only a limited success as the enemy is in between the two positions. Thus far the battle has seen a wild swing. Turn Seven (30 Nov through 1 Dec 1941) Some of the Italians in Bardia surrender to the 4 th Indian Division. Then 30 Corps opens with renewed attacks. The 1 st South African Division strikes at an isolated infantry battalion from the 15 th Panzer. The Commonwealth has plenty of artillery support, but the Axis has close support aircraft. The 1/15 Infantry Bn is eliminated. Then the 7 th Armoured Division strikes the 3/347 Battalion. The British are supported with three artillery markers and thus eliminate the enemy formation. The 21 st Panzer consolidates and launches an attack against the 1 st South African Division near el Adem. Both sides employ air support and the Western Desert Air Force knocks down two enemy air units. The panzer attack destroyed the RNC Battalion and the Duke Bn retreats through enemy fire. Meanwhile, 13 Corps attacks the weak enemy units stuck near Gambut. The 2 nd New Zealand assaults the 28 GAF Battalion which is easily eliminated. A second attack hits the German units nearby. The 1/33 FLAK fails to damage the Commonwealth tanks and as a result both the 3/255 and 1/33 suffer heavy losses and retreat toward Tobruk. The Afrika Korps prepares for an assault against the southern entrance to the Tobruk fortress. The A8
overwhelming assault causes heavy damage to the Australian units. The fortification is compromised as the Australians retreat. Then 15th Panzer moves from the track west of El Adem to the via Balbia on the eastern side of Tobruk. The Tobruk garrison musters a counterattack -- it has plenty of artillery support -- and damages the German infantry on the edge of the fortified position. There are no Axis fighters available, which allows the remaining Allied close support aircraft to participate. The German units beat a hasty retreat under all of this firepower. Turn Eight (2-3 Dec 1941) The last of the Italian units in Bardia surrender to the 4 th Indian Division. 30 Corps begins an attack from the east of Tobruk. Here a mixed force of German and Italian formations are deployed. There are some 88 s in the defenses. The 1 st A9
position is attacked by 7 th Armoured Division. The Commonwealth Air Forces loses another fighter, but both Axis units are destroyed. Then 13 Corps joins in the assault, as the 4 th Indian moves from the position at Bardia which has completely surrendered. The 2 nd New Zealand Division strikes two positions which are defended with 88 s. The1/33 FLAK misses with its AT fire. The Western Desert Air Force loses another fighter in the battle, but the 2 nd New Zealand attacks and pushes the Italian and German units back toward the west. Finally, 21 st Panzer maneuvers and launches an attack against the 1 st South African Division. General Brink decides that a retreat is in order, and he falls back with minimum losses. A10
Turn Nine (4-5 Dec 1941) 13 Corps focuses another round of attacks from the east along the via Balbia. The 2 nd New Zealand is the main arm of this attack. The 2 nd South African Division has entered from the east as reinforcements. These move in to cover the areas captured from the Italians at Halfaya Pass, Sidi Omar, and Bardia. The 4 th Indian Division marches out toward the battle area near Tobruk. The Axis has prolific air support for the first round of fighting. The 2 nd New Zealand has artillery in support and the German 2 nd MG Battalion is eliminated, while the 33 rd Pioneer Battalion retreats. There is a supply line open to Tobruk but this is only temporary. The 21 st Panzer attacks the 4 th Armoured on the flank. There is massive air support for both sides and the Axis loses one fighter in the air-to-air combat. The 21 st Panzer successfully pushes the 2 SG Battalion and it consequently retreats. 30 Corps attacks the German forces surrounding Tobruk. The Germans have a large contingent of 88 s which take a toll on Norrie s armour. The 3 rd RTR is destroyed and the Commonwealth attack is stalled. A second attack is launched against the 33 rd Pioneer Battalion. This time it is eliminated. Turn Ten (6-7 Dec 1941) The Axis player focuses on his defense. In particular, he wants to prevent the Commonwealth from opening a supply line to Tobruk, which is a 5 VP advantage. The Afrika Korps shuffles units around in hopes of defending to the east. The 21st Panzer is a check to the southern flank. Then the 21 st Panzer strikes at the 7 th Armoured Division. The Axis calls in heavy air support and destroys both the 2 nd SG and KDG Battalions. Unfortunately, the Axis has no more air support available now. Then 13 Corps sends the 2 nd New Zealand to open the supply line to the Tobruk Garrison. With artillery and air support this may be doable. The defense is relying on the Italian 27 th and 39 th Infantry Regiments. Both suffer losses, then the Italians disintegrate by retreating under fire. The 2 nd New Zealand establishes an overland rout to Tobruk! Then the 30 th Corp activates. The Commonwealth player plays cautiously so as not to risk any armor steps against the German 88 s. Summary The Commonwealth has captured all of the Victory Point locations and has an open supply route to Tobruk (12 V)). Additionally, he has collected 28 VP for enemy casualties. The Axis has 6 VP in enemy casualties, except that the Commonwealth has lost one more air unit than the Axis. This simple factor reduces the Commonwealth Victory to a Draw. A11