Click on the following to read the three previous installments of this article: Part I, Part II, Part III.
Chit 7 British Reinforcements.
The British Turn 4 Reinforcements include 3 brigades as normal arrivals. And the 6th Australian Div as an exchange for the 4th Indian Division. Indicated by the black box around both the arriving and withdrawing units.
The 3 arriving brigades may land at any port, up to stacking limits. They choose to land at Bardia where they may stack with the Garrison. Number 1.
Units that are arriving as part of an exchange may directly replace any units of the division they are being exchanged for. In this case the three brigades of the 6th Australian change places with the 3 brigades of the 4th Indian brigade. Number 2.
The 4th Indian are withdrawing, indicated by the red box around their image on the Reinforcement Track. They are placed on the Reinforcement track on the next turn where their image appears. Follow the blue arrow from Number 2. The green box around the image indicates that this is (or will be) a returning unit. If there is no future turn to place them on, place them on the red-boxed images on the current turn to indicate that they were withdrawn and will not be returning.
Note that two of the 4th Indian Brigades was reduced, but the arriving unit was full strength. Arriving units always arrive at full strength, regardless of their state when withdrawn. Moral of the story, always lead with units that about to be withdrawn. When they return, they will be a full strength.
Figure 19 British Reinforcements
Chits 8 and 9: Logistics and German Half Move
Figure 20 German Half Move
The situation seems critical, the British are posed to come in behind the lines and attack the Garrison in Tobruk. This could be catastrophic.
The Italian infantry do not benefit from the Tobruk Fortifications, so it is a +0.
The only thing Tobruk does for the Axis is that it will prevent them from being eliminated if OOS and unable to trace a LOS during the Attrition Segment of the End Turn Phase.
But, if you have been counting you will know that the British have had their two in a row and the four chits left in the pool are Logistics, German FullMove, German Half/Move, and OConner.
Since OConner is a named Chit, it would not count against the “Two Consecutive” rule.
The two German moves will allow them to reposition, and the logistics would be a no-op since everyone can trace an LOS.
Drum Rolllllllllll . . .
Logistics! Everyone can trace an LOS, so no effect.
Againnnnnn . . .
German Half Move/Combat
The Italians backup into the port of Tobruk.
The Garrison is left out in the cold since there is no way to pick it up.
Chit 10: O’Conner
The O’Conner Chit appears. And the British are off to the races with a FullMove followed by a FullCombat.
Movement:
Figure 21 O’Conner Full Move
Four units that can reach Tobruk on a regular move do so in preparation for the attack portion of the OConner Action.
The two units camped out watching Italians at Halfaya pass remain in place. The remaining 6 units Extended Move onto the West Map. 4/7 Armor moves into El Aghheila to win the Scenario. 7/7 Armor, 7SG/7 Inf move to cover the three approaches to Benghazi. 16/6 Australia move to Agedabia, to block Rommel when he shows up. 16/70 disrupts crossing to map W, stumbles into Mechili, and stops. Taking El Agheila wins the scenario, but has no impact on the Campaign. The British must take Benghazi before the end of the turn to get a permanent VP. But they are still 1 hex away and the only remaining chit is a German Move. There is still a chance. If the attack on Tobruk succeeds the British will be able to immediately add the BR Tobruk Falls Chit to the pool. When drawn, this chit allows two non-OOS Marked Divisional Formations to FullMove and Attack.
So just attempting to get campaign VP that can be gained by capturing Benghazi rests on a hasty attack against a large defending formation in Tobruk.
Combat:
Figure 22 O’Conner Combat
There are 7 Italian defense factors in Tobruk. The do not get any benefits from the fortifications, but 7 is already formidable.
The British throw in all available combat assets and squeeze out an attack at 2-1. They need a retreat, which is a 50% probability at these odds.
They roll a 6 which is a DR and clear Tobruk.
The British Tobruk Falls chit immediately goes into the Chit Pool.
Chit 11: German Full Move
Since the Germans have already moved twice they must pass.
Chit 12: British Tobruk Falls
Figure 23 British Tobruk Falls
The British activates the 7th Armor and 6 Australians.
Elements of the two divisions move adjacent to Benghazi and attack at 5-1, +2drm for the disruption.
The roll is 5+2=7, which is a DE.
Benghazi also falls to the British at the 11th hour.
End of Scenario
The Scenario was won during the O’Conner chit when the 7th entered El Agheila.
For the Campaign the important actions were the Fall of Tobruk and Fall of Benghazi.
Capturing Tobruk passed the Tobruk/Bardia VP to the British
Capturing Benghazi gained the British a permanent VP at the end of the turn.
Germany lost 1 VP for having lost control of Benghazi, and lost another VP for having lost control of both Tobruk and Bardia.
VPs now stand at e Germany 0, British 2.
Here is the board position at the start of Turn three.
We all await Rommel’s Arrival.
Figure 24 Awaiting Rommel’s Arrival
Anchoring the Line in the Desert . . . NOT going to happen!
Figure 24 Gazala Opening Positions
This is very much a game of maneuver, particularly in the early turns where the unit count is low and much of the action is taking place on the center and west maps where there is a lot of space
Notice that the Italian defense when the British are at a distance is not so much a continuous front as a series of point defenses at key intersections. This changes in the later turns where there are enough units to setup a line anchored on the coast. But it is impossible to anchor a line in the desert. As this screenshot of the Gazala setup demonstrates.
This one looks bad for the British…
Author: Tim Wilcox
About how long did it take to play this scenario?
This scenario will only take an 60 to 90 minutes once the rules are understood. Even less in some cases. There are not that many units or action chits. And once you see the right strategy there are very few options to consider. This is very much a learning scenario.
If you are referring to the Gazala Scenario, then this one can take a full day with lots of teeth grinding. Despite a seemingly poor position and Action Chit pool, the British can be difficult to beat. To win the Germans have to take Tobruk, Bardia, and Mersa Matruh in two turns. It is possible with the latest revision of the rules, but the German will have to take risks and have a fair share of luck.