DAR: Italy vs. GB - North Africa 6/40

[RERomine]

Turn 26

Alpha pushing a few squads back into the gully since the artillery lifted. The area isn't really important because it is so far from the objectives, but I want to be able to say that the position was held even if Alpha got the day lights beat out of them.

Fired smoked to mask immobilized enemy Matilda II. It took one shot at some tanks in Charlie's sector as they moved against another Matilda II. Pushing active Bravo squads forward to determine where the enemy is located. Three Matilda Is are within 150m of the immobilized tank, but nothing more. My infantry took some fire from them, but not real casualties.

Sent two tanks behind Matilda II at the Bravo-Charlie border and destroyed it. They moved straight through the hex the tank was located in and got it from behind. Pushing Charlie infantry forward to clear the smoke. It seems like the enemy infantry is gone. They did spot the last undamaged Matilda II 500m away, running for the rear.

Delta flank platoons started moving out to close on the enemy tanks and soak off fire. More specifically, I wanted to find out if they would draw fire from the damaged Matilda II. Infantry and Matilda Is fired, but nothing from the Matilda II. Moved up two of my tanks and punched some holes in one Matilda I. Two more of my tanks are pulling up the rear. I have to make sure that Matilda II is put out of action, so I have an engineer squad heading that way. To the east, there are still six Matilda Is counting the one with the holes. Around the wadi, my tanks destroyed another Matilda I, but I lost one to assault pulling out. Mortars from both sides played in the area. Mine hit enemy infantry in the defile and to the north. Enemy mortars were hitting the wadi and southwest of the salient.

Casualties

Friendly: 1xM11/39 tank destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: 1xMatilda II and 1xMatilda I tanks destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 27

Matilda I seems to have bugged out of Alpha's sector or they have moved low, because I can't see it anymore. Continuing to push back into the gully with the units I have available.

Moving four tanks from Charlie's sector into Bravo's. Since the Matilda II is in a cloud of smoke, they are safe and capped one Matilda I. There are two or three left, depending on what happened to the tank in Alpha's sector. Mortars are still dropping rounds to keep the any enemy infantry in the area suppressed.

Charlie's sector is quiet.

All of Delta is joining the attack with Echo and Foxtrot. The enemy tank threat was greatly reduced with the destruction of three Matilda Is. Four are still in sight. A squad pushed up and put the torch to the abandoned Matilda II, so that threat is gone. The last one in the area has infantry and tanks swarming like sharks and they smell blood. The enemy is still active and firing, but their attack is done. My mortars and enemy mortars are still throwing shells into the mix, but the enemy has lost their chance.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: 1xMatilda II and 4xMatilda I tanks destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 28

Alpha is slowly regrouping. If the battle lasts long enough, I'll go after that A10 as long as it hangs around.

Tanks in Bravo's sector took out another Matilda I. There are two left. The one from Alpha's sector showed up. It doesn't look like they plan on hanging around. One is routed and the other is retreating. Bravo is going to try to pull enough troops together to get the immobilized Matilda II.

One enemy infantry unit turned up in Charlie's sector, so I moved up my two remaining tanks and raked him with machine gun fire.

Enemy attack in Delta sector down to two tanks, both Matilda Is. Two Matilda Is and the last Matilda II were destroyed. There are still trucks with infantry moving up in penny packets. My units have been too busy dealing with the enemy shooting at them to deal with trucks at the moment. Delta and Echo are moving forward, while Foxtrot is holding in the wadi and salient. I'm plotting a third mortar section in this area, since the enemy is just about done up north.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: 1xMatilda II and 3xMatilda I tanks destroyed. Estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Marginal Victory!!!!

Turn 29

The British say, "No mas!"

Alpha moving four squads toward enemy A10. Enemy artillery hit west of the gully making life miserable for Alpha refuges. A mortar also dropped rounds into the gully hitting one of the four squads moving forward.

Maneuvering Bravo infantry to surround immobilized Matilda II. Supporting Matilda Is are bugging out. Shifting three tanks to come around behind the tank once attack started, but the battle ended before everyone was in position.

Squad in Charlie sector sent running. Another one showed up and sent packing, also.

Scratch one more Matilda I. There is one left in Delta's sector. Pushing Delta and Echo on line and moving forward, supported by five tanks. There was a lot of small arms fire back and forth, with casualties on both sides. Foxtrot solidified its position in the wadi and continued to cover the ground outside the salient. Two enemy trucks were moving up and destroyed by two tanks in this area. Three friendly mortar sections hit the enemy line and in the gap between wadis. This sent them back in groves.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 10 casualties.

Enemy: 1xMatilda I tank destroyed. Estimated 15 casualties.

Total Casualties

Italy

Men: 399
Artillery: 1
Soft Vehicles: 0
APCs: 0
AFVs: 19
Air Transports/Helos: 0
Aircraft: 0

GB

Men: 814
Artillery: 0
Soft Vehicles: 8
APCs: 17
AFVs: 71
Air Transports/Helos: 0
Aircraft: 0

Score

Italy: 7252
GB: 1001

Final Comments

This is one of the toughest battles I've fought, mainly because of the Matilda IIs. Obviously, I came up with a way to kill them, but it wasn't easy. To start with, they had to be separated from their infantry support. My tanks are vulnerable to the British infantry AT weapons, so I couldn't risk pushing my tanks into uncleared areas. Then I had to make the area smaller with smoke. Next, pound the Matilda IIs with small arms. This suppresses them and causes them to respond, soaking off shots. Finally, my tanks scoot to the rear of the Matilda IIs, put the gun right on the armor and shoot. This all takes time to pull off and the right terrain helps. I need to give some careful thought to how I refit my core.

The Matilda Is were only difficult when they were close to Matilda IIs. My tanks still needed to be close and square on to one aspect, but could destroy them from even the front at 100m. They really aren't very good tanks. The armor is nice, but without a tank killing gun, the are fairly easy to deal with.

I've been critical of the AI's artillery use and while it did finally start spreading its off-board artillery out some, it really didn't use that massive power it had effectively. When it finally did hit some of my strong points, they started to come apart. Had it done this more often, my line would not have held. During the course of the battle, 25-pdrs hit Alpha's main line once, Bravo's strong point once and the Echo and engineer's attack once. The rest of the fire seem to be scattered at targets that were either no longer in the battle for one reason or another. There were some attempts to hit positions that would have been useful, but they were off target. That's fine, because everyone has fire that is off target once in a while. It is possible that I'm assuming the AI knew more about my position than it really did. What the AI really knew is anyone's guess.

Overall, I'm pleased with how this battle turned out. Getting a victory, marginal or otherwise, is still a victory. Achieving it with the totally outclassed Italian force makes it that much better. My line bent, but didn't break. You can't ask for more than that.

Time to refit. I'm going to take my time an and try to figure out what is best. With 19 tanks knocked out in this battle and a few more in the first one, I've got a lot of stuff to replace.

Attached is the save just before the game ended. Enjoy!

[a_ver_est]

Originally Posted by RERomine

Marginal Victory!!!!

Overall, I'm pleased with how this battle turned out. Getting a victory, marginal or otherwise, is still a victory. Achieving it with the totally outclassed Italian force makes it that much better. My line bent, but didn't break. You can't ask for more than that.

Fully agree, there isn't anything better than winning knowing that initially the enemy had the upper hand.

Congrats !!!