Nous avons joué cette partie avec les cartes combat du désert ...
Nous avons joué cette partie avec les cartes combat du désert et le New Flight Plan. Les avions sont entrées en jeu seulement une fois le levé du jour arrivé.
Le joueur de l'Axe a dirigé toute son offensive sur son flanc droit (le flanc gauche allié).
Il envoyé tour à tour tous ses blindés afin d'affaiblir les positions ennemies. De violents combats de chars ont eu lieu dans cette zone.
Quand les avions sont entrées dans la partie, les lignes de défenses ont été affaiblies et l'une des artillerie mobile de l'Axe éliminée.
On croyait que les alliés se dirigeaient vers la victoire quand le score était 11-8 en leur faveur. Mais l'Axe a organisé une attaque massive d'avion, blindés et artillerie qui lui a rapporté 3 points.
C'était l'égalité 11-11 et l'axe a tenté de faire passer 2 unités dans la zone "Exit" pour gagner la partie. Mais les alliés ont bien joué défensivement pour bloquer l'accès à la sortie et finalement éliminer l'unité de l'axe.
Victoire de 12 à 11 des alliés!
Quel scénario! Une partie très serrée et vraiment excitante du début à la fin!
Victoire facile des Britanniques.
Les allemands n'ont jamais réussi à organiser une attaque menacante et on chercher à se disperser sur trop de fronts à la fois.
Ils n'ont pas eu de chance avec les dés non plus, ce qui n'a pas aidé leur cause.
The UK rode a strong series of command cards (perhaps a conseque...
The UK rode a strong series of command cards (perhaps a consequence of Monty’s appointment as the new Commander of the British Eighth Army?) to a decisive victory over Rommel’s Afrika Korps. The Germans used the early rounds to clear a path through the first line of mines and advance their units. When full daylight arrived on Turn 7, the battle really began. A massive tank versus tank struggle erupted between the minefields, with the Germans losing five armor units to the British three. Still, by Turn 15, the weakened but determined Afrika Korps managed to breach the second line of mines. But the possibility of a German breakthrough was short lived, as the British quickly quashed the threat with a TFH that eliminated the lead units. From there, the UK mopped up using air strikes against exposed German infantry and ground units from Bare Ridge against Italian units guarding the Axis left flank. El Alamein remained safely in British hands.
The axis player rapidly advanced lead by the engineer units, whi...
The axis player rapidly advanced lead by the engineer units, which cleaned decent amount of minefields. After that they cleaned Mounassib oasis helped by the armoured units. Then a long preparation phase was for the axis player to attack the left weak flank with combined forces. The axis player tried to avoid the allied base around the oasis on the right flank, but this opened the opportunity for the allied tanks to harass the middle oasis region from the sand hills. After an intensive tank firefight the axis player broke through the left minefield (helped by a heroic engineer). In the endgame the allied player rushed the central oasis with dubious success. The axis player won the game with some risky armoured assault in the middle helped by the cover of the wadis.
L'axe attaque très tôt sur son flanc droit avec le génie en 1...
L'axe attaque très tôt sur son flanc droit avec le génie en 1ère ligne (2 inf) pour ouvrir le 2è champ de mines. Les chars GB foncent pour les stopper mais l'axa fait arriver 2 ARM + l'artillerie mobile et tient le choc. Epuisés (3 ARM à 1 fig), les GB se replient et leur main de cartes manquent de réactivité. Résultat : l'armée allemande avance massivement. Et le combat de chars s'engage furieusement. La bataille de chars voulue par l'axe lui a été favorable : 9-6, et l'issue dévastatrice permet 3 exits malgré l'arrivée des inf GB : 12-7. Pour le plaisir du jeu, s'ensuit une formidable bataille d'inf. Les allemands sont arrêtés par les fantassins GB après avoir dépassé Sanaket, ils se replient donc dans l'oasis et reviennent ensuite attaquer entre l'oued et les collines : 25-16.
Le jour se lève lentement et le génie allemand démine 2 empla...
Le jour se lève lentement et le génie allemand démine 2 emplacements sur la 2è ligne de mines. Les britanniques jouent assaut de blindés et combat rapproché (5 unités) : 6-1. Attaque des panzers : 6-4. A 9-7, les GB se regroupent à l'arrière et l'axe se rassemble. L'axe attaque dans le secteur de Mouhafid-Bare Ridge mais les GB ripostent (attque et ordre du QG) : 7-12.
La bataille continue seulement avec l'inf. La mobilité des GB (2 assauts d'inf) permettent d'aller stopper les 4 unités de grenadiers qui allaient sortir par l'exit : 9-19.
Avec de fortes cartes et un attentisme des deux camps, les GB re...
Avec de fortes cartes et un attentisme des deux camps, les GB repliés ont peu de manoeuvres possibles. Une fusillade (1 seule unité activée permet la destruction de l'artillerie mobile allemande : 2 grenades !!. Les GB attaquent maintenant entre Mounassib et Bare Ridge. C'est tôt, mais les cartes sont là. 3-1. La riposte de l'axe fait mal, mais les GB parviennent à déplacer 1 fig blindée qui cible l'artillerie mobile (action héro) : destruction ! 6-2. Les inf GB attaquent maintenant depuis leurs positions retranchées à droite (assaut d'inf, toutes); à 9-4, les GB sont confiants. L'axe sort action héro (6 unités activées) et le score arrive à 9-9. La bataille d'inf fait rage et l'axe repousse les anglais : 10-10. Les chars de Sanaket Gaballa chargent à gauche : 11-10. La contre attaque (ordre du QG) anéantit les inf sur Bare Ridge : 11-12.
A strong and sustained push by the Germans on their right flank ...
A strong and sustained push by the Germans on their right flank won the game.
It stayed night too long to help the allies and the minefield was more or less ineffective due to the engineering units.
J ai décidé de me porter en avant de l ennemi sur mon flanc ga...
J ai décidé de me porter en avant de l ennemi sur mon flanc gauche avec 3 unités blindées.
J ai attaqué l adversaire alors que celui-ci ouvrait des passages dans le premier champ de mines.
Mes escadrons ont succombé non sans avoir infligé des pertes lourdes à l adversaire.
Au même moment au centre, l oasis est tombé, celui-ci servira de poste de secours à l adversaire et renflouera plusieurs de ses unités d infanterie pendant la bataille.
Je décide alors d engager plusieurs de mes unités d infanterie sur ma droite avec des unités blindées.
L ennemi contre-attaque à son tour, les pertes s accumulent des deux côtés avec un avantage pour l adversaire. Celui-ci prendra sa victoire sur un tir de barrage.
full day came early in the game. The combination of air power p...
full day came early in the game. The combination of air power plus the british armor and some bad dice rolling resulted in defeat for the axis forces...
The battle started cautiously. For the first few turns the darkn...
The battle started cautiously. For the first few turns the darkness limited fighting to close combat. Germans advanced on their right flank and overrun British outpost. They cleared the first mine field and advanced up to the second line when first light appeared. Initial armoured combat went the German way but eventually opposing armoured forces annihilated each other.
As the dark gave way to the morning sun, Italians and Germans begun their advance in the centre and left flank. Slowly they defeated first British line and advanced up to the oasis.
The scarcity of mobile units left British with little options when Axis went for the kill. Eventually all that was left of 8th army was troops at Alam el Halfa and the remnants of the right flank forces but no Axis unit left the board before the end of the scenario.
Ladder, round 44, game 2.
Monster cards for me this time: At...
Ladder, round 44, game 2.
Monster cards for me this time: At one point, I was holding 3 Armor Assaults, Counter-Attack, Firefight, and TFH. I amassed a 7-1 lead after my 13th turn, but my armor had sustained damage and I had nothing to advance my infantry. Some epic dice failures for both sides: Allied Firefight rolled 1/11, followed by an air strike that went 1/6 against my armor. I Countered an Air Power, hoping to cripple two British tanks, but rolled 1/4, and then my engineer Ambushed a 1-fig tank on a TFH and whiffed. The Brits chipped away at my big lead. I could have won 12-8 on my 23rd turn, but my figure count would have been inadequate. The Brits gained a 9th medal on their next turn, so I sealed the game win after that.
Ladder, round 44, game 1.
Between his 7th and 11th turns, Joe...
Ladder, round 44, game 1.
Between his 7th and 11th turns, Joe played two consecutive Assault Centers (16 units each), followed by Armor Assault, 1-1-1, and Armor Assault. Those last three cards were worth 7 kills, and after his 13th turn, Joe led 10-4. I had plenty of great cards, too, but they didn't combine well, especially due to a complete lack of Center cards, other than a Recon that I burned long before sunrise.
A live VASSAL MATCH which I lose 18 (70) to 20 (70).
I elim 3...
A live VASSAL MATCH which I lose 18 (70) to 20 (70).
I elim 39 figs to 38 lost.
The Brits start out with BEL and my AMBUSH totally whiffs which results in my center Combat engineer infantry taking 2 hits. My Combat Engineers remove 6 mines but then I lost one to enemy fire and the other two are down to 2 figs each. One the first turn of daylight an Allied AIR POWER kills off one of my Combat Engineers and gets 2 hits on a panzer. My BARRAGE then takes out the Brit right arty which helps a bit.
A Brit RECON AIR STRIKE then gets 2 hits on another panzer. I then pick off two weak infantry and my left Mobile Arty halves another to make it a 3 to 2 game in my favor. A Brit RECON AIR STRIKE gets 3 hits on my left infantry and a hit on my Mobile Arty there. I play TFH and get to order 4 infantry and two panzers although my infantry cannot attack anywhere. One center panzer attacks a 3 fig infantry in the wadi but 6 shots only gets 2 hits. My Italian tank picks off a 2 fig infantry on my left.
Another Brit ASSAULT orders 10 center units. I lose a center panzer.
A huge battle occurs in the center with me playing DHQ and two ARMOR ASSAULTs and Sam playing 2-2-2- and two ARMOR ASSAULTs and I barely come out on top (partly due to AMBUSH) and kill off 4 tanks to three panzers lost. My shooting was really off and I should have really cleaned the Brit clock with those cards but only have a 9 to 6 lead.
I only have four panzers left on the board and they have a combined 5 figs between them while there are 4 full Brit tanks still left and all are well forward. Luckily I kill off two of them to take a 11 to 6 lead. The Brits are able to bag two 1 fig panzers before my BARRAGE kills off a 1 fig tank to end the game.
A live VASSAL MATCH.
Sam built an early lead. Full daylight c...
A live VASSAL MATCH.
Sam built an early lead. Full daylight came on my second Brit turn but I had no Recon cards in hand so could not take advantage of this. Sam ordered his Combat engineers to remove several of the forward mines.
The key moment of the battle came on my right when I played some powerful cards but could not take out the armor in this area. I went 4 for 26 (inc 1 for 9 with no retreat) on the tanks in this area. Had my dice been even avg I would have set up a followup with my ARMOR ASSAULT. As it was Sam got the upper hand on my right and alos held the advantage on my left. A panzer even went down the Wadi and was in the open in my center. I did take out that panzer but that took three attacks to do so. I drew another ARMOR ASSAULT but by the time I got to use the first one I could only order three tanks (2 for 11) and my last turn used the other with only 2 tanks which finally finished off some weak panzers on my left but fell one hit shy of taking out a 2 fig panzer.
Sam then laid down a TFH and got to order two infantry and two panzers. As both my last armor on the board (a total of 3 figs) could be attacked and probably killed off I gave up the ghost here. With both tanks gone on my left that would have left me with a 1 fig unit on this flank and nothing to stop the German moves towards the exit. My center had only a few units in it. My right only had my arty and some infantry. With both German Mobile Arty on the board I stood no chance here. Sam had BARRAGE in hand and surely would have finished me off in his next turn.
What can be said? My meaningful hit rate against the tanks was 28.5 vs over 50 for Sam. My lone RECON AIR STRIKE did some damage but I could not follow up on this. Sam had a very timely M & M which recover three tank figs and I had to shelf my plans to use one of my ARMOR ASSAULTs. When things go bad, they go really bad. I missed a 2 fig tank with no retreat with two 3d attacks and on Sam’s next turn he picks off a 1 fig tank with 1d and then blows a 3 fig tank off the board with 3d. I had setup a good defensive position and used good cards to try and soften up the enemy but threw mainly blanks while Sam had very accurate fire.
Sam also played four ASSAULTs which ordered 40 units! This allowed him to move off his baseline and get in great positions to attack my units with several units and also lessen the effects of any Air attacks from me.
LADDER RD 44 MATCH 2 Game 2
Lose MATCH 17 (79) to 21 (78)
Ba...
LADDER RD 44 MATCH 2 Game 2
Lose MATCH 17 (79) to 21 (78)
Bart got out of the gates fast and full daylight took 8 turns to come and I started out with two RECONs and AIR POWER. If daylight came sooner I may have been able to effectively use those as Air Strikes and done some serious damage.
But as it was Bart blasted through my forward infantry then blasted my tanks while I had a lot of key misses. I did take out both Mobile Arty units but one of those came way too late. My many misses on the Italian Tank in the center Oasis really hurt my cause. I played my most powerful cards early and did not get much out of them.
After I trailed 1 to 5 and my armor was torn to pieces I know I had little chance of a match win and none of winning the game. I had a lot of 1 fig units on the board in the end but there were a lot of Axis units which were down to 1 fig (seven) and two 2 fig units too. I just could not get the timely hits to finish off units.
LADDER RD 44
MATCH 2 / Game 1 played on Vassal.
I elim 39 fi...
LADDER RD 44
MATCH 2 / Game 1 played on Vassal.
I elim 39 figs to 36 lost.
Full daylight happened on the 4th Brit turn. As I did not have powerful cards to start out with most of my units were still on or near the baseline and I feared the Recon Air Strikes. Luckily for me that did not happen although an AIR POWER did wipe out on infantry and got a hit on my left Mobile Arty.
Most of the battle happened on the Brit left and in the center. My Combat Engineer infantry removed only a few of the upper mines early on. I suffered the first loss when I forgot to move a 1 fig Combat Engineer back and then a Brit tank advanced near the wadi and picked it off. My center Mobile Arty returned the favor and eliminated a 1 fig infantry which had fallen back with the use of BEL. A BARRAGE then took out one of my Italian tanks and my BARRAGE (via CA) whiffed on the Brit right arty.
Then a series of TFHs (two Brit and one German - mine via CA again) accounted for several losses on both sides.
By the end of T 15 I lead 11 to 8 after I exited a 2 fig panzer off the left Brit baseline and killed off a 1 fig infantry on the Brit right.
By now what was left of the Brit armor was driving up the center and after a short series of armor actions I bagged a 2 fig tank to end the contest.
Losses:
BRIT left:
GER 2 panzers & 1 Combat Eng
BRIT - 2 tanks (also exited panzer)
3 to 3 in medals
Center:
GER 1 panzer and the Italian Combat Eng
BRIT 3 Tanks & 3 Infantry
6 to 2 in medals German favor
BRIT RT:
GER 1 panzer & 2 Italian tanks & an infantry
BRIT 1 tank & 2 infantry
4 to 3 in medals Brit favor
The starting moves of the German/Italian force was striking: wit...
The starting moves of the German/Italian force was striking: with an assault on the right flank, where the British defences were weaker, followed by an assault in the centre and a couple of Armor Assaults, in a few rounds they eliminated four Allied units and were already near the second line of minefields. However the natural attrition started to produce the first victims among the German/Italian lines. The ensuing reduction of cards produced a reduction of the offensive capability of the Axis. The previously achieved armor superiority granted them a few more medals and they reached 8-3. At that point the Axis forces were in a good position, but the hand of three cards made almost impossible to plan any serious offensive maneuver. A series of small skirmishes followed. The remaining Allied armor units were able to penetrate the German/Italian lines causing serious losses. The medal count was 10-8 when with a a lucky "Barrage" strike the Axis force eliminated the British artillery unit on the left flank and managed to destroy the last unit of tanks.
CONCLUSION: In our experience this is a scenario with an abrupt change of mood. German/Italian troops start strong with high manoeuvring capability and the ability to develop offensive plan on a large scale. As soon as they receive the first losses, the peace of their attack reduces dramatically and the game becomes a series of separate frenzy skirmishes to grab that medal that could make the difference.
Le génie des forces de l'Axe perce 2 grands trous dans les cham...
Le génie des forces de l'Axe perce 2 grands trous dans les champs de mines, même s'il le paie très cher cela me posera ultérieurement de gros problèmes. Chacun rassemble ensuite ses forces blindés et la rencontre se déroule autour de Mounassib. Elle se termine par un victoire à la Pyrrhus pour moi, même si le score ne le montre pas (8 à 4) mes unités blindés sont en lambeaux. Mon adversaire arrive à positionner sans dommage pour lui son artillerie mobile et pilonne mes débris. Je dois évacuer Bare Ridge en perdant mon artillerie. Je décide de reculer derrière la deuxième ligne de mine. De chaque côté il ne reste que l'infanterie et pour l'Axe l’artillerie intactes. Il s'en sert pour tirer sur mes troupes affaiblies. Un sortie aérienne plus un tir de barrage finissent de lui donner la victoire : 12 à 9. Beaucoup de suspens et un sacré retournement de situation pour cette partie.
Les allemande se sont concentrés dans le flanc centre et le fla...
Les allemande se sont concentrés dans le flanc centre et le flanc gauche. Ils n’ont pas essayé d’attaquer le flanc droit et les alliés n'ont pas sortie de leur trou. Les deux dernières médailles ont été acquises en sortant du plateau.
Breakthrough deck. Minefields from Med+TP+ a #1. Rounds:21
...
Breakthrough deck. Minefields from Med+TP+ a #1. Rounds:21
Axis advanced in dark(1) for several turns, clearing two mines and hitting a 3 with a tank (1 hit). Then he came in close after my infantry and tank on hill. He killed one and retreated one, so my Close Assault only activated 2. It went to light(2) and he advanced his mobile artillery. Germans 3-2.
Soon it jumped to light(4) for tank shots, then light(6). Germans played Barrage on tanks for 2 flags. I Counter-attacked to kill a 1-fig tank he'd pulled back. He Countered my Counter to kill my artillery in sandbags (star+flag). I Countered his Counter of my Counter of his Barrage to kill another 1-fig tank he'd pulled back (but rolled 3 tank hits- go figure). Score Allies 5-4. Soon after this my dice failed.
After that the Germans had their way. They stepped on another #3 mine and a #4 mine, but only got 1 hit. He had 2 1-fig tanks and a 2-fig infantry that I couldn't get to and his artillery was on the hill in my face. I had a shot at one with Ambush, but missed. I drew another Ambush but it didn't help. I left my sandbags to go after his 1-fig tank on the Right hill, but he destroyed me with Assault-Left. Soon it was 10-6, Germans.
There was little I could do since I had so few troops in postion, and spent a couple turns not shooting to pull wounded guys back. I healed one infantry in oasis, and rolled for Medics, but didn't get any tanks for the two 1-fig units I'd pulled back. I kept shooting at a 1-fig tank on my Left but missed. I drew Firefight but didn't have any units in position. Setting up for it would cost me. He played TFH and it was all over. I finally drew a Recon on the last round but it was all over.
Breakthrough Deck (Mines: 10 TP +8 Med +a #1 WW). My engineers ...
Breakthrough Deck (Mines: 10 TP +8 Med +a #1 WW). My engineers cleared 5 mines when light was less than 4 (including a #4). I went for British lead guys in the Center and my Right, while he killed 2 engineers. Score 3-2, Axis.
Next I moved my tank and artillery to my Left hill and scored kills on a infantry and tank between the oasis and the line of hills. Soon light was 6, so he launched an Air Power and Air Strike. We had a tank battle between the two lines of mines on my Right. I came out ahead and had 4 armor units lined up before the next line of mines and several Rights. Axis 8-5.
Unfortunately I kept delaying my Right advance to fight back in the Center and Left. I led 8-5 then he played Air Strike-Left and killed 2 armor units and wounded the other 2. I then sent one on an undiscovered #4 mine (instead of a 1 or 2) and it blew up. Score Axis-9, Allies-8.
On a previous Recon, I'd dumped a Counter-attack in favor of an Ambush. He played an Air Strike, Barrage and TFH, so I thought I made a mistake. Then his TFH roll was 4 flags and 1 infantry! I played Ambush and retreated the infantry! Next turn my tank exited and I got my 11th medal from a kill. But I didn't have any Lefts or Centers, so used Close Assault and scored 3 infantry hits for the win.
Malgré une percée sur son flanc gauche, la pénurie de cartes ...
Malgré une percée sur son flanc gauche, la pénurie de cartes au centre qui m'a poursuivie pendant presque toute la partie a finit par donner la victoire à mon adversaire.
A very competitive and balanced game. The Germans and Brits bot...
A very competitive and balanced game. The Germans and Brits both took heavy losses, especially in the center of the battlefield. In the end the British were able to launch some devastating counterattacks and pull out a narrow victory.
This was an excellent game which swung one way and then another!...
This was an excellent game which swung one way and then another!
Making the most of the cover of darkness the German engineers began to clear the minefields near Qaret el Himeimat. He also began to mass his units in the centre, having no intention of assaulting the stronghold around Bare Ridge. Anticipating the attack, the Allies moved their armour up behind the second row of minefield and waited for daylight.
The German attack broke around the solitary infantry outpost and the village of Mounassib. But the Allies defended well, throwing in Close Assault cards. Eventually the Germans rolled them over and broke for the gulley at Mouhafid. But the Allied armour cleared the pass and then a massive infantry attack broke as the defenders at Bare Ridge began to attack the German left flank. The oasis changed hands several times and the Battle Back rule even destroyed a Mobile Artillery unit (it couldn't retreat a flag roll).
In full daylight the Allies were now confident and two successive Air Power cards pushed the Germans back in the centre. But victory was snatched for the Germans with the TFH card gaining them the winning medal near the Qattara Depression.
Tight game. Significant damage to my forces from airpower. Howev...
Tight game. Significant damage to my forces from airpower. However, felt Allies committed their tanks piecemeal, in penny-packets and so was able to counter their attacks.
The Germans took clear advantage of a night assault for four tur...
The Germans took clear advantage of a night assault for four turns. In that time and along the German right, the engineers removed most of the mines and the flank was able to push hard against the British left. As soon as daylight appeared, the German center picked up the pace and overran Mounassib. However, with daylight the British Spitfire was airborne and causing havoc along the swift-moving German right.
In time, the British moved their tanks up atop Bare Ridge and, with the assistance from British artillery on the right, began thinning out the center buildup.
The German push, although weakened, continued their forward momentum with half the battlefield now in their hands. Most of the game stayed even in points, with the Germans becoming more cautious of the left and center sections. Their plan was obvious - to take the weak British left flank and move beyond the battlefield. It would have been accomplished, but for the solitary tank unit situated on the hilltop of Sanaket Gaballa. Amazingly, it was able to halt any advancement beyond the minefield and eliminate 4 German units before succumbing to its end.
The game was very close up until the heroic exploits of the lone tank unit along the left flank hills. Kudos should also go to the British Air in sending out two air sorties (one during first daylight and the other late into the game) and doing an above-average job of strafing the enemy line.
Looking at that mass of German units all together at the front l...
Looking at that mass of German units all together at the front line, not realizing that I had just as many tanks and almost as many infantries (admittedly stuck protecting their sandbags), I was sure that I was in big trouble.
Daylight came fast -- 1 star per turn for the first 5 turns.
German engineers ripped a 3-hex hole in my mines within the first few turns, and there was a fierce battle between the oasis and the near side of my left flank. By the time the dust had cleared, each side had lost 4 armors, and I was down two infantries, too.
Then, a pair of Panzers moved against my right flank.I was able to knock them out, but not before they killed two infantries. 8-6, Axis, after 13 turns.
I brought on my second plane of the game with an Air Power, and within three turns, he had strafed a 2-fig engineer off the board and helped with a Panzer, as I kept him on the board with three section cards. Between turns 16 and 19, I finished off the last two Panzers and the German center artillery, while the Germans divided their efforts between my center and right.
I conducted an Artillery Bombardment against an infantry at 2d range, and scored the full 4 hits against it, bringing the score to 11-9 -- and just in time, because the Germans (who had attacked and strafed my artillery several times) immediately scored the second hit against it.
But I still had 3 active tanks in the middle of the board (and one more in back). With a 1-1-1, two of them went after the (2-fig) Italian engineer in the center, and killed it.
21 turns, 12-10 medals, 39-38 figures. One German tank got as far as my second row of mines. A fun battle!
This battle was dominated by the agressive use of armour by both...
This battle was dominated by the agressive use of armour by both sides. 50% of the Allied medals won were armour units, 80% for the Germans.
Taking advantage of the cover of darkness the Germans advanced their engineers to clear the minefields and advance through the centre. The lack of daylight also prevented the Allies from calling down Air Strikes. However, once the first Allied positions were attacked the Allies defended well and began to inflict casualties, especially on the engineers. They also advanced their armour on their left to a line behind the second minefield.
Throughout the battle the Axis forces failed to attack the heavily defended Qaret El Abd "box".
The decisive moment came when the Allies played Armour Assault for two consecutive turns. The North African Desert Rules allowed the armour to exploit their breakthroughs and get behind the Axis lines. Once the German Panzers were eliminated it was too late for them to bring up their reserves and the battle was lost.
A ftf game.
Dave had card problems – he lacked Center...
A ftf game.
Dave had card problems – he lacked Center cards for most of the game. His daylight rolls were subpar and he never did launch an Airstrike. Meanwhile I had two All cards and the TFH. By the end of G T 10, I had a 6 to 1 lead. Dave closed the lead to 6 to 3, and I got it back to 7 to 3. Then an Italian tank which could not retreat survived 11 dice and went on to kill off a 1 fig Inf and 2 fig tank and another tank was eliminated for a 10 to 3 Axis lead. Dave scored a few more kills but could not prevent me from reaching 12 medals (the last with the BARRAGE).
A live Vassal game using Air Rules.
The early game saw poor r...
A live Vassal game using Air Rules.
The early game saw poor rolls on both sides, more so the Brits and the Germans forged an early 2 to 1 lead after killing off two tanks vs one panzer.
Several hexes of mines were cleared in the forward minefield at the cost of only 3 figs of Combat eng Inf.
The visibility stood at 5 after 8 turns, so I could not launch any airstrikes or interdiction to hinder my foe.
Sam played an INFANTRY ASSAULT which moved a total of 8 Inf in his center. a 2-2-2 for 6 units. This pushed a lot of Axis units forward. Sam killed off another tank for a 3 to 1 lead.
I played a BEL which killed off a 2 fig panzer in the center and got a 1 fig Inf out of immediate harm’s way.
A German BARRAGE gets 2 hits vs my center baseline tank.
A plane takes 2 turns to kill off a 1 fig Ger CE Inf on my left and the game is tied 3 to 3. Sam finally kills off my forward sandbagged Inf on my left after two panzers advance and finish him off. But a few turns later I kill off a 1 fig Inf with a plane on my right.
Then a German CENTER ALL and AS card order 12 units and a plane – wow!! With the game tied, this could turn things a bit. Although only one shot is fired – the plane strafing my baseline Inf – a miss – it does put Sam in a strong position in the center.
I play TFH and get to order one tank, one Inf and my plane which kills off a 1 fig Mobile Arty on my right. I then get 3 hits on the Italian Inf in the center but whiff on a panzer in the center. This gives me a 5 to 4 lead.
Then the turning point in the battle occurs. Sam advances two panzers in the center and orders his plane which misses my 1 fig baseline tank again. His panzers lose a fig to the mines and fail to kill off one of my tanks. I then play ARMOR ASSAULT and kill three panzers (7 figs w/ 15 rolls). I also have moved my 1 fig tank out of strafing range of the plane and advanced another tank into my center. I now have an 8 to 4 lead.
On my next turn I pick off the 1 fig Italian Inf in the center. Sam then loses 2 Inf figs to a mine on my right. A German FIREFIGHT bags a 1 fig tank in the center but misses a 1 fig Inf.
With the score at 9 to 6, Sam plays another CENTER ALL – 9 units are ordered, but only 1 panzer. Sam fails to kill off a forward tank with 8 shots in the center but finally picks off the forward sandbagged Inf on my right – this unit took 17 shots to kill and really held up the Axis offensive in this area. I pick off another panzer to make it a 10 to 7 game.
Sam then advances onto the central hills and kills off an Inf but faisl to hurt my left tank (AMBUSH negated a 3 shot Inf attack)or 1 fig Inf. I then play my recently drawn AS card with my LEFT ALL. I can only order two units, but it is enough to cutoff a PG Inf with my tank as my 1 fig Inf advances to the enemy Inf. My plane will strafe two Inf and get 2 hits, but more importantly be in a position to strafe a 1 fig Inf in the center. I do not fear a possible Air check next turn as I have, unknown to Sam, AIR POWER in my hand. I easily kill off the PG Inf and get 2 hits on a panzer. This gives me an 11 to 8 lead.
A German CA to my LEFT ALL sees Sam wipe out a tank and 1 fig Inf which had killed off his Inf the turn before. I was hoping that my tank would survive.
My best shot at ending the game is to play the AP card and my plane does kill off the 1 fig Italian CE Inf in the center for a close 12 to 10 win.
There was little armor left at the end – both sides had but two tanks with 4 combined figs. The Axis forces never made it past the second minefield.
The keys were the Allied strafing which killed off 3 units and the 2 misses by the German plane, the Brit ARMOR ASSAULT, the Brit flank Inf which held on for a long time and the Brit cards. Most of these were not very powerful (a lot of 2s and 3s) but I always seemed to have the right card at the right time.
Taking advantage of the pile-up of German forces and their inabi...
Taking advantage of the pile-up of German forces and their inability to retreat, Allies pounded German troops, who have finally broken through, crossed the Devil's Garden and secured their flank by pinning down the British behind Bare ridge.
Finally German Panzers with Italian tank support exited the map and won the day for the 'Desert Fox'. Mussolini is already prepared to do his speech in Cairo...
