DAR: GE Long campaign - small core

[Brian61]

KG Krafft, 25 March, 1942 - Afrika Korps

Repair and resupply: damaged vehicles are repaired and the PzKw IIf destroyed by 2pdr ATG fire near the end of the previous engagement is replaced. Korps issues an advisory that supplies are running low and replacements for losses may not be available over the short term.

Situation: Operating in the no mans land between Gazala and Timimi, KG Krafft is to conduct counter recon operations. Radio intercepts indicate an enemy reconnaisence in force is underway in the area. The terrain is rolling desert with large depressions and quite a few plateaus, the area contains numerous sand dunes, rocky outcroppings, and stretches of packed dirt. A road runs east/west through the southern portion of the map about one kilometer north of the southern edge. There is a small cluster of three buildings about one kilometer north of the road near the center of the area. Intel estimates the enemy force to be reinforced battalion strength composed of at least a company each of armored cars, tanks (presumably including Grant/Lee models), and infantry. The enemy is expected to be well supported by artillery and possibly some aircraft. [Meeting engagement, visiblity 76, length 35, scattered victory hexes, map size 100x100]

Orders: KG Krafft, accompanied by a short panzergrenadier company (down one infantry platoon but has two MG34s, two tubes of 8cm mortars, a platoon of 3.7cm ATGs, a section of motorized 2cm FlaK, a section of infantry AAMG, and two kraftradmelder sections attached), will intercept and destroy the British recon force operating in the area. Be advised that no artillery or Luftwaffe support is available and enemy air activity is probable. While possession of the battlefield at the end of the engagement is preferable, it is a higher priority to avoid any unnecessary losses of men and material.

Battle Plan: The ATGs of KG Krafft and the attached panzergrenadier company will be deployed reverse slope in the center backed by the 8.8cm heavy ATGs with overwatching MGs and mortars. Panzergrenadiers will deploy in supporting positions of the forward ATGs. Platoon E will operate to the north of the ATGs, platoon G to the south, with support from platoon D further south along the road. Platoon F and the kradschutzen platoon will be held in reserve. The armor will attempt to engage the enemy and draw them into ATG range. One kraftradmelder section will accompany each flanking panzer platoon and scout ahead. (Sword and shield with tanks flanking ATGs)

Execution: The units being deployed forward moved slowly so as to avoid kicking up dust trails. The enemy wasn't being quite so cautious, numerous dust trails were spotted indicating one column moving south of the road, and a second (at least) moving west about a kilometer north of the road. A short time later, a kraftradmelder unit in the south had direct visual on the southernmost portion of the central group spotting a troop of Honey tanks leading a troop of Grant tanks.

This forced Oberstlt Krafft to order early deployment of the ATGs and platoon G in the south took up reverse slope positions near the road in the south to avoid being skylined by the approaching Grants. Further observation spotted a second troop of Honey tanks north of the first. The trucks transporting the lead elements were ordered to withdraw after disembarking their passengers. Though several ATGs had los to the Honey tanks, they held their fire because the range was too long for effective fire. Platoon D in the south and E in the north continued their slow advance.

The Honey tanks continued their advance, a third troop was spotted even further to the north. In the south, platoon D engages the lead armored cars. The lead Morris CS9s pop smoke and platoon D moves closer for more effective engagement. The 4.7cm ATGs open fire on the lead Honey tank at 700 meters range but although some damage is inflicted, fail to destroy it. The effectiveness increases dramatically as the range closes and soon, with some assistance from platoons E and G, the burning wrecks of five Honey tanks are scattered in front of the 4.7cm ATG platoon.

In the far south, five Morris CS9's are destroyed by platoon D, two others maneuver out of sight after one pops smoke. Two more Honey tanks are destroyed by panzer fire from platoons E and G, an 88 has los to a Grant but holds its fire until a better target picture forms. Platoon D continues to run down the last of the armored cars in the south while the crews of the 88s show their nerve by allowing the lead Grants to come closer.

Just as they finish off the last Morris CS9, one of the PzKw IIf panzers comes under extreme range fire of a Grant tank, fortunately there were no direct hits. A troop of Valentine IIIs was spotted trailing the Grants to the northeast, the range was far too long for platoon E to hope for any damaging shots so the lead panzer withdrew to break los. The 3.7cm and 4.7cm ATG crews pushed their guns further east, knowing that long range shots, especially against the front armor, were pointless.

Platoon D intentionally raises a dust cloud, with some help from a kraftradmelder unit, in order to obscure the los of long range Grant tanks. During this maneuver, a Grant tank was spotted south of the road about 500 meters east of the first armored car wreckage. It appeared to be moving northeast at full throttle. British artillery finally makes its presence known, one 25pdr troop opens up on the site of the armored car battle, two more just west of the 4.7cm ATG positions.

The 88's finally open fire, destroying two of three Grant tanks in the lead troop, allowing the smaller ATGs to advance further. In the north, platoon E leaves the plateau for the depression to the south/southeast to avoid a long range gun duel with Valentine IIIs. Platoon D heads for cover, continuing to leave a large dust trail behind it.

Platoon D replaces platoon F as the reserve platoon as platoon F is ordered to advance. The 88s claim one more Grant tank and damage a second. Oberstlt Krafft orders them to prepare to move as British artillery has become quite active, another 25pdr troop has just opened up on the previous site of platoon E in the north. The lighter ATGs continue to advance, as any hope of a kill against the British heavy tanks will require point blank fire.

The 88s claim two more Grant tanks before loading up and moving, Major Sprengler, commander of the support company, pops smoke to cover the movement of the most visible 88. In the south, platoon G maneuvers carefully around the backside of a small plateau to intercept a troop of Grants moving south of the road. Platoon E takes up reverse slope positions in support of the 3.7cm ATGs in the north and platoon F continues to advance in support of the 4.7cm ATGs.

One of the 88s briefly comes under fire at extreme range from a Grant tank, fortunately there were no casualties. More smoke and dust is raised to cover their redeployment. An infantry squad is spotted southeast of the 4.7cm ATG position, the panzergrenadier's heavy weapons are moved forward to cover while the infantry protecting the 4.7cm ATGs move forward and engage what seems to be the lead elements of an infantry platoon.

The 88s destroy a Grant and a Valentine from their new positions while the panzergrenadier company's heavy weapons begin to engage the advancing infantry. The 4.7cm ATGs engage in a duel with the Grants but their guns prove too weak to be effective even at relatively short ranges. The infantry accompanying the southern ATGs, with help from the 8cm mortars, throw up a smoke screen to allow the ATGs to be repositioned while the panzers of platoon F close range. Further to the south, platoon G heads for the road as it continues to carefully stalk a troop of Grants. The kradschutzen of the reserve are ordered forward to join platoon D in readiness for deployment.

After bagging one more Valentine, the 88s prepare to move as enemy artillery is coming too close for comfort. Further south platoon F finds the range is still too long for a favorable engagement with Grants so the 8cm mortars of the panzergrenadier company lay down more smoke to cover their advance. At least one 25pdr battery is falling uncomfortably close to the 4.7cm ATGs and its accompaning infantry.

A Grant comes through the smoke screen and finds itself exposed to a 4.7cm ATG firing from 100 meters at its weak side armor, the ATG platoon claims its first kill of the day. The 88s unlimber once again in hopes of eliminating the last Valentine in the north. In the far south, platoon G recieves an unpleasant surprise when it finds the troop of Grants it was stalking has somehow turned into an entire company. Leutnant Ostendorff, platoon G's plucky commander, orders full speed ahead and drives near recklessly in an attempt to gain the reverse slope position before the Grants come into range.

Leutnant Ostendorff's desparate gamble succeeds although a hair raising moment or two occurred when Grant tanks opened fire on the trailing panzer. Platoon F bags a Grant that ventured too far west without support. Platoon E ventures onto the plateau from the north and puts a stop to an enemy infantry advance there. The 88s open fire on the last Valentine but amazingly miss with all but one shot that seems to do no damage. The southern ATG group and supporting infantry is still having a rough time of it between being under bombardment and in the path of at least a platoon of enemy infantry. The heavy weapons of the panzergrenadier company continue to fire in support and, at least for now, are holding the enemy at bay.

The last Valentine in the north advances to support the accompanying infantry and finds itself the target of five panzers and two 88s, it failed to offer any support as it became a blazing wreck. Platoon G looked to be in a spot of trouble but its veteran gunners evened the odds knocking out four Grants at close range in rapid succession. The center begins to stablize as platoon F throws its weight into the mix along with continuing support from the panzergrenadier company's heavy weapons. Without tank support, the British infantry in the north found itself outgunned and decided retreat was in order.

Platoon G brought the count up to eight Grant tanks destroyed, leaving a troop of the company still maneuvering to the north. The 4.7cm ATG platoon claims its second kill of the day with some long range assistance from Oberstlt Krafft's panzer. Platoon F advanced upon the south flank of the enemy infantry in the center and destroyed an immobilized Grant that was in its path. Platoon E begins moving down from the north to bring pressure on the central enemy infantry from that flank as well.

The enemy infantry in the center breaks as platoon F brings its full weight to bear. Platoon G destroys two more of the last troop of Grants in the south, leaving one more that, despite long range fire from platoon E, shows no signs of damage. British artillery begins shelling the truck park, a sure sign that the battle is nearly won. Oberstlt Krafft orders the reserves into action to clean up any lingering enemy presence and authorizes the kraftradmelder sections to begin recon sweep of the eastern areas.

What was thought to be an infantry platoon following the road behind the now destroyed Grant tank company turns out to be a full fledged infantry company mainly north of the road. Engaged by platoon F from the north, platoon G from the south, and platoon D from the west with support from the kradschutzen platoon; the enemy infantry soon breaks and heads east. Platoon E continues moving down from the north on the plateau, persuading the remnants of the central enemy forces that stopping for tea would be a bad idea.

Two hours into the battle, it was all over but the shouting. Oberstlt Krafft turned the job of mopping up over to the panzergrenadier company, with the assistance of the kradschutzen platoon, so as not to put his nigh irreplaceable armor at further risk. A little over half an hour later, the job was done.

Decisive victory, KG Krafft.

Last turn file attached, thanks for reading

[Brian61]

KG Krafft, 8 April, 1942 - Afrika Korps

Repair, resupply and reorganization: KG Krafft's record of success in assisting recon operations has been noted by higher command. KG Krafft is temporarily detached from 15 Panzer Division and attached to korps recon. In order to better support the new duties, the support company is reorganized, losing the kradschutzen platoon and the 4.7cm ATG platoon; in their place it gains a pioneer platoon (gep), a platoon of sIG 33s, and an additional section of SdKfz 10/4 FlaK.

Situation: An Italian deep reconnacense patrol located a lightly guarded supply dump south of the Gazala defensive positions, evidently left over from Operation Crusader. While the Italian forces were able to overcome the defenders easily enough, radio intercepts indicate a relief column of Commonwealth forces is on the way. The area between the supply dump and the relief column includes a crossroads at a small village. The most likely route for a relief column is the road running east/west through the northern portion of the area through the village. The terrain is open desert with numerous depressions, rocky outcroppings, sand dunes, and windswept areas of packed dirt. [Delay mission, visibility 18, length 39, custom victory hexes, map size 80x80]

Orders: Intercept and delay the relief column long enough for the Italian supply column to arrive and load as much of the captured supplies as possible. Italian engineers will destroy whatever cannot be carried away. No friendly artillery is capable of reaching this far and Luftwaffe assets which would normally be available are tied up providing cover for the supply column. This is a joint operation, a reinforced Italian Ricognitori company (with a Bersagliari platoon attached) will assist KG Krafft in the mission. Oberstlt Krafft has overall command.

Game note: the victory hexes have been altered to include a cluster of six at the crossroads and the remainder scattered in an arc west of the north/south road. The arc represents the ability to bypass the crossroads or at the very least, assert some degree of control over it. The supply dump is assumed to be about ten kilometers west of the crossroads. Also note that the AI point advantage is still at +25% and, for this battle, AI Tank heavy has been turned off as this action is occurring near Commonwealth lines.

Battle Plan: Column C will be composed of Capitano Zampini's Ricognitori company and will operate in the southern area of the map, scouting into the deep desert but not maintaining contact or conducting offensive operations. As the battle develops, the Ricognitori company will fall back and assume the defense of the southern flank. Column A will be composed of platoons D and F of KG Krafft and will advance east along the road until contact is made. Column A will then launch a spoiling attack at their discretion. Column B will be composed of platoon G and the pioneer platoon. Column B will secure the southern flank of Column A, operating between Column A and Column C. Platoon E will be held in reserve. The command group will consist of the remaining elements and will deploy in a defensive posture southeast of the intersection.

Execution: The British announce their arrival in the area with salvoes from three troops of 25 pounders, although some near misses occur, no casualties result. Column A no sooner starts out than runs into a platoon of mechanized infantry, the lead halftrack is destroyed immediately, others are fired upon. Column C runs into an advanced patrol of British armored cars and scout cars, the Autoblinda's open fire on the lead scout car but it pops smoke. The Autoblinda's fire on the other vehicles but the British are quick to pop smoke. The remainder of column C, following orders to the letter, immediately falls back under cover of the Autoblinda's.

Meanwhile, column A destroys four more halftracks and quickly routs the survivors. Column B advances but has yet to spot anything. Shortly though, a number of halftracks and trucks come into view and column B opens fire. Four halftracks and two trucks are destroyed and their surviving occupants sent running within minutes of being sighted. Column A continues to fire upon followup halftracks on the road. Column C however, is running into trouble.

In broken german Capitano Zampini quickly requests reinforcements as he is being overrun by armored cars. Oberstlt Krafft dispatches platoon E to his assistance as column C goes into full reverse. Columns A and B continue the carnage. Finally the wave of halftracks and trucks comes to a halt, at least one Matilda II tank was spotted trailing them but none of the panzers have los to it. In the south, the Italians, once safely behind platoon E's panzers, turn and begin making various rude remarks and gestures in the direction of the British armored cars.

One Matilda in the north is caught in a crossfire and immobilized, it then pops smoke. A second is spotted but cannot be engaged at this time. Half an hour into the battle it appears to be over, but Oberstlt Krafft is unconvinced, he orders Capitano Zampini to scout the area south of column B now that the armored car threat has been largely dealt with. Three more Matilda IIs are spotted in the north, one is destroyed, another disabled and pops smoke, the third caused the spotting PzKw IIf to beat a hasty retreat. A Honey tank was destroyed in the south, and in the center there seems to be leg infantry appearing from the west.

Another Matilda II is forced to pop smoke, and in the center one is destroyed by a shot from behind by a panzer PzKw IIIj/1. The pioneer's halftracks are withdrawn to a depression northwest of the pioneers in order to avoid incoming artillery. Also because of artillery, the PzKw IIf's of platoon D have closed up behind platoon F in the north. In the south, platoon E dispatches another Honey tank along with a pair of Morris CS9's.

A Matilda lumbers out of the smoke on the road and is dispatched by platoon F, another follows it and is damaged but not destroyed. Enemy infantry in company strength is moving just to the south of platoon G's position and suppresses two squads of the pioneer platoon. In the south, a half dozen more armored cars advance westward only to meet the guns of platoon E.

To rescue the pioneer platoon before it becomes hopelessly trapped, Oberstlt Krafft orders Capitano Zampini to send the Bersaglieri platoon forward to support their extrication and has Hptmann Tellner plot an artillery strike for the sIG 33s. Two more Matilda's are put down in the north and center respectively. The enemy infantry advance just south of center is largely brought to a halt by fire from platoon G and sIG 33 bombardment. In the south, a motorcycle scout spots an unlikely trio of enemy tanks; a Valentine, a Matilda, and a Lee. A few minutes and translations later, platoon E advances into the depression to hopefully set up an ambush for what may well be a company of enemy tanks.

The enemy advance along the road seems to finally be at an end nearly an hour after it began. In the center the action continues, a Matilda II tries to sneak up on platoon G but is hit with close range 5cm fire and forced to pop smoke. 15cm rounds pound into the enemy infantry just south of center and fall all around a supporting Matilda but it suffers no observable damage, the same cannot be said for the enemy infantry. In the south, the Lee tank was the first of the odd trio to be destroyed when it attempted to exchange fire with a PzKw IIIh at short range.

With activity dying down in the far north, Oberstlt Krafft orders platoon D to return to the vicinity of the crossroads and hold as a new reserve force. Platoon F is ordered to travel southwest and support platoon G and the withdrawal of the pioniers. The arrival of the Bersaglerie platoon together with the ongoing 15cm bombardment lessens the pressure on the center. Platoon G attempts to engage two Matilda IIs supporting the southcentral advance but one of them pops smoke and blocks los. A Valentine III and a second Lee tank is destroyed in the south, dashing hopes that the movement was in less than company strength.

Platoon G's luck finally ran out, both the command tank and the gun tank were lost in combat with a Matilda II at short range, a third tank suffered damage including loss of the main gun. The crew of the command tank is uninjured though quite shaken up, however there is only one survivor from the gun tank. Despite artillery fire from six 25 pounder troops, rescue operations are successfully extracting the crews as well as the trapped pionier platoon.

Platoon F rushed down from the north, taking potshots at stray units as it passed them by. In the far south, platoon E continued to knock out tank after tank but there were just too many to get them all especially after they turned northwest bypassing the ambush position. One of platoon E's panzers was heavily damaged and forced to retire. The sIG 33's engaged the enemy in direct fire mode, claiming two tank kills as well as disrupting enemy infantry movements. A lone Italian sniper made a valiant stand, rebuffing attempts by an entire platoon to advance.

Platoon E would not be denied, an alternate route was found back up to the main plateau and the panzers again blocked the British from their goals. As the British attack stalled with panzers from platoon E to their west, the command group and Bersaglieri assisting the remnants of platoon G to their north, and platoon F approaching fast from the east, their infantry routed and tank after tank was turned to wreckage or abandoned. The Italian armored cars stuck with it to the very end pumping cannon and machinegun fire into any available target.

Unexpectedly, not quite two hours into the fray, the British surrendered.

Decisive victory, KG Krafft.

Game notes: despite beginning with the charge of the light brigade, the AI was quite challenging in this one and made some unexpected moves. The late arriving southern armored company had a real chance to break through my lines and I was forced to put my core units at greater risk than I would normally prefer. I'll be a panzer platoon short if there are any more battles this month.

Last turn file attached, thanks for reading

[Brian61]

KG Krafft, 3 May, 1942 - Afrika Korps

Repair and resupply: While General Kesselring's successes in supressing Malta last month has allowed more supplies to reach Afrika Korps, KG Krafft was unable to find replacements for the two panzers and two SdKfz 10/4's destroyed in the previous battle. All other equipment was repaired and units resupplied and brought back up to full strength.

Situation: The British have been scouting the area south of their Gazala fortifications of late, intelligence believes they are in the process of creating another fortified area further south of the existing line. Luftwaffe recon has spotted a British armored column moving towards the suspected site, presumably to act as a security force while construction is underway. The area is somewhat different than the normal open rolling desert, although it has many depressions of various sizes and the usual numbers of rocky outcroppings, sand dunes, and windswept areas of packed dirt, there is an unusually high plateau in the center. It is this central plateau which intel believes to be the intended site of the centerpiece of the new fortifications. [Meeting engagement, visibility 19, length 41, standard victory hexes, map size 100x100]

Orders: KG Krafft is to proceed to the area and neutralize any enemy forces found. Korps recon assets attached to KG Krafft for this operation include two troops of armored cars and two sections of kraftradmelders. While the area is beyond range of friendly artillery, Luftwaffe is providing six Bf 109F's for tactical support and a Fw 189 Uhu for aerial recon. Control of the battlefield at the end of the engagement is vital so that intel may ascertain the extent of British preparations.

Battle plan: Panzer platoon G is not combat ready, the three operational tanks of that platoon will be split among the command group and platoons E and F. Platoon D and the pionier platoon will be held in reserve and the KG command group will provide rear area security for the support elements. Platoons E and F will advance to the edge of the central plateau and there deploy into reverse slope positions, panzer company command section C will support them. Two recon groups will be formed, recon A and recon B, each consisting of a troop of 222's and a section of kraftradmelders. Recon A will advance on the north flank and recon B will advance on the south flank. The first phase of the battle will rely heavily on Luftwaffe recon to ascertain the enemy's disposition and on Luftwaffe airstrikes to encourage the enemy to maneuver into positions favorable to our forces.

Execution: Roughly ten minutes after deployment, recon B spots a pair of Morris CS9 armored cars advancing in the far south. Oberstlt Krafft orders platoon D to prepare for a southern movement in support of recon B should that prove advisable. Recon A spots a platoon of halftracks advancing in the north, taking them under fire, one is destroyed. Recon B engages the lead armored car in the south but it pops smoke before sustaining any damage. Platoon D is ordered to continue moving southeast to be in position for reinforcement of recon B. The pionier platoon is ordered to head northeast and position itself in preparation for reinforcement of recon A.

The picture develops further as a Grant tank is spotted trailing the southern armored car group by a kilometer, the halftrack movement in the north develops into a full fledged attack by a mechanized infantry company, and aerial recon spots a group of armored cars just northeast of center moving west. Recon A is ordered to fall back, maintaining contact if possible. The pionier and panzer platoons of the reserve are assigned new orders, sending the panzers north and the pioniers south.

Recon A continues to fire long range at the mechanized infantry force, destroying a few more halftracks and generally impeding their advance while awaiting the arrival of platoon D. The central armored car movement ran into a wall of 5cm shells once they came within los of platoon E and were promptly destroyed. After finishing off the armored cars in the south, recon B withdrew out of los of the advancing Grant tanks, and waited for the arrival of the pionier platoon to exploit ambush possibilities. Aerial recon continues as Oberstlt Krafft seeks for the main enemy force.

Recon A was caught flatfooted when a troop of Grants appeared unexpectedly from the east and open fire within a few hundred meters. The armored cars were close enough to the edge of the plateau that they managed to escape undamaged. The central group is ordered north to engage the Grants. Aerial recon spots two troops of Valentines along with additional infantry about a kilometer to the east and slightly north of the Grants. It seems Oberstlt Krafft has found the main line of enemy advance. Airstrikes are called in on the followup forces and sIG 33 fire in the path of the Grants. In the south, a massive bombardment by five 5.5in troops falls upon the former positions of recon B.

Two of the three Grants advancing in the north were destroyed by short range 5cm fire from the panzers of platoon E which lay in wait along their flank. Incoming sIG 33 fire was largely accurate and caused additional casualties among the riders and damage to the remaining tank. The airstrike inflicted casualties among the infantry accompaning the Valentines but seemed to do no damage to the tanks.

Acting on reports from aerial recon, the armored cars of recon B race northeast, intercepting and destroying a British FOO team. The kraftradmelders of recon B assist the pionier platoon in attempting to reach close assault range against the southern troop of Grant tanks. The 15cm bombardment deafened and disoriented the crew of the remaining Grant of the lead troop in the north allowing them to be easily dispatched by flanking fire from platoon E. This freed up the armored cars of recon A along with the light panzers of platoon D to engage the mechanized infantry to their north/northeast.

Another airstrike is called in on the northern force while the pioniers in the south request, and are granted, a fire mission from the sIG 33's to assist them in engaging the Grant troop there. The mechanized infantry force in the north was put to rout with most of its vehicles destroyed. Recon B's armored cars continued to engage small units in the vicinity of the central objective area. Platoon E together with section C, advanced north while platoon F ascended the central plateau and slowly advanced northeast.

The airstrike in the north distracts the lead Valentine enough that a panzer from platoon F is able to destroy it with a couple flank shots. In the south, the pioniers destroy a MG left behind by the Grants and advance undercover of their own smoke. The pionier platoon leader calls in a request for smoke from the sIG 33's, the request is acceptable to Oberstlt Krafft who calls in the mission and sends back the message 'on the way!'. Hptmann Tellner continues calling in airstrikes on the northern Valentines.

In the north, platoons E and F continue to pick away at the Valentines while platoon D and the armored cars of recon A snipe at infantry with long range machinegun and 2cm HE fire. Airstrikes shift south and disable a lone Grant making its way from the southern objective area to the central objective area. In the south, the pionier platoon lures two Grant tanks too close to the smoke obscured southern objective area and set them afire with flamethrowers destroying both tanks.

Recon B was forced to withdraw from the central objective area by the, now immobilized, Grant tank and a Valentine to the west. In the north, the last of the Valentines is destroyed and the infantry is routed. Oberstlt Krafft orders platoon F to secure the central objective area, airstrikes and 15cm artillery support will be supplied.

A horrific bombardment of six 5.5in troops fell on the tail end of platoon F as it reversed course, one panzer was badly damaged, its main gun knocked out, the platoon went to full throttle and vacated the area. Another airstrike, this one on the Valentine east of the central objective area, unfortunately the Luftwaffe pilots prefered shooting at a kraftradmelder some distance to the north. The badly shaken kraftradmelder survived.

The Valentine bravely charged over the crest of the plateau and came face to face with platoon F at a range of 250 meters. The Valentine promptly exploded. The Luftwaffe used the lone Grant, immobilized south of the central objective as live ammo target practice. They didn't kill it but they did manage to hit it a few times. At the two hour mark, the British force has been soundly beaten and there is no sign of any last minute counterattack.

Decisive victory, KG Krafft. Next up, the Battle of Gazala!

Last turn attached, thanks for reading

[Ts4EVER]

I really like this series. You manage to keep the scenarios interesting and write them up good. About the two missing Panzers: How about they use some captured gear until replacements are available? Normally that wouldn't be possible, but I think you messed with the files a bit earlier?
One thing I like to do as a "scenario" in big campaigns is purchasing "retreating" troops by support points. Say you are in late war in a delay scenario, easter prussia or something. Then you could purchase some Volksgrenadier troops or similar and place them at the deployment line facing your direction. Then, while the Russian attack is underway, you try to retreat them to your lines and incorporate them in your defense.

[Brian61]

Thanks, it is good to know someone is enjoying the read!

I'd like to be able to use captured equipment in core force sometimes but I think if I hacked the oobs enough to do that then no one else would be able to properly load the saves unless they had the same oobs? What I was trying to portray with the missing tanks and flak units was the supply situation prior to late May '42. For this next battle (assault on the Knightsbridge box), they'll be back in operation - one rebuilt and one replaced along with replacing the platoon leader's tanks of the other two medium tank platoons with L model panzer IIIs.

Great idea for the retreating troops, I will have to use that after the transfer to the eastern front. That will be coming up soon as I'm figuring out a behind the scenes political minidrama that places Oberstleutnant Krafft at the mercy of powerful old foes but with the behind the curtain aid of some powerful friends within the Heer. I think Krafft and company will be departing Africa while Rommel is in Germany recieving his baton. I'm really tempted to have KG Krafft become a late arriving battery (or replacement battery) in Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 667.

[Pat58]

Interesting. You do know as a batterie, you would take yourself down to 7 StuGs. I ask because I'm fighting in Russia with one in my core.

[Brian61]

Originally Posted by Pat58

Interesting. You do know as a batterie, you would take yourself down to 7 StuGs. I ask because I'm fighting in Russia with one in my core.

Yes, although some had 10 StuGs fairly early. They had additional vehicles though in the batterie TOE among them each platoon had its own ammo carrier. So what I'm planning on is having initially three platoons of two StuGs and an SdKfz 251/1 carrying an ammo cannister. Later this will become three StuGs and something like an SdKfz 252 ammo carrier.

Also, I'll be creating a small kampfgruppe around the batterie, attaching a sIG section, an SPAA section, likely a pionier platoon, and scout platoon. The kampfgruppe will also include a mechanized or motorized infantry company from the parent organization which I'll rotate out since they won't really be part of the long campaign core though they will be part of the kampfgruppe core.

The overall effect of the change is a cheaper, yet individually more powerful group of armored vehicles with a larger proportion of infantry which I believe will fit the Eastern Front better than the current rather armor heavy desert warfare setup. Sometime in 1944, KG Krafft will be pulled out of the Eastern Front, possibly changed to a heavy panzer company based kampfgruppe, and deployed to the Western Front.

Thanks for your interest
Brian

[RERomine]

I was reading through and agree completely that StuGs and North Africa don't mix. It isn't that StuGs aren't good, but their limited rate of fire combined with their relatively low ammo stowage makes them unsuited for high armor environments. Even with good tank killing capability, the two liabilities I mentioned become a major factor. This, I learned the hard way. In Assaults, Advances and Meeting Engagements, they are fine. Your force is generally no worse than equal to the enemy, with some variations based on core experience.

Once you get into Delays and Defends, the enemy vastly outnumbers your force. This is where rate of fire and ammo supply comes into play. In North Africa, British armor is fairly inexpensive and you see them come in massive waves if you have it set as "AI Tank Heavy". I had one battle where I destroyed about 275 enemy vehicles. All my StuGs were running out of ammo and I was trying to rotate them off line to resupply. This is not something you want to have to do in the middle of a major battle. Once you start running into more expensive tanks, it becomes less of a problem. In North Africa, the 50mm guns on your tanks is fine until you start running into American Shermans.

My core was very expensive in that battle. I had a company of tanks and two companies of infantry, each supported by one platoon of StuGs. My overall solution to the problem was to replace the StuGs with Tigers, as it was 1/43. I'm not sure if they had any Tigers in North Africa, but I wasn't as focused on realism at that point. The Tigers solved the problem; better rate of fire and more ammo. StuGs might have been more realistic support for infantry, but the "AI Heavy Tank" setting tossed realistic opposition out the window.

[gila]

STuG's are cheap,as fast as PZIV's (same hull and engine) have low profile and most are hard nosed and can deal with most armour within range in this time period.

(They were easily modified thru out the war as no complication with having a turret)

If you don't go high speed of course,use them as an Tank destroyer and SP support on elevated ground, hunker down with a good LOS and get 1-1 or 2-1 armour kill ratio for each one that gets KO'ed should suffice

[Brian61]

Originally Posted by RERomine

I was reading through and agree completely that StuGs and North Africa don't mix.

That might be why, as far as I can tell, only one batterie of StuGs was sent to Afrika Korps.

Originally Posted by RERomine

My overall solution to the problem was to replace the StuGs with Tigers, as it was 1/43. I'm not sure if they had any Tigers in North Africa, but I wasn't as focused on realism at that point.

They did, mostly under Paulus though who didn't agree with Rommel as to their employment. He ended up more or less wasting them. The PzIVf2 'specials' were also a good answer to the problem of Shermans and other (for the time anyhow) heavily armored tanks.

Originally Posted by RERomine

StuGs might have been more realistic support for infantry, but the "AI Heavy Tank" setting tossed realistic opposition out the window.

This is where I have to disagree. The north africa theatre was largely a desert war, static infantry was pretty much pointless. Thus the ratio of armor to infantry was dramatically different than in other theatres. In meeting engagements it was practically inverted. In the open with good visibility, infantry (in WWII especially) was just cannon fodder for tanks unless they were dug in or in fixed fortifications. Many times those were rendered useless just because Rommel would bypass them and cut them off from resupply, similar to the US 'island hopping' strategy in the Pacific.

The problem is that the AI is *horrible* with mechanized/truck-borne infanty and rather suicidal with armored cars as well. So in meeting engagements and to a degree in advance/delays, the problem isn't the ratio of armor to infantry being unrealistic, the problem is the AI not being able to use what it has very effectively. The AI just isn't a very hard opponent in mobile warfare.

What I do currently with this campaign is, for North Africa, turn AI Tank Heavy on but when I'm coming up to a historic assault/defend battle (such as the assault on the Knightsbridge box in the Gazala battle that I'm in the middle of playing), I set the preferences to AI Tank Heavy off. If I was sticking around for Tunisia (Kasserine Pass,etc) I'd probably turn it off for most of those battles as well.

Anyhow, that's my 2c on playing in the North Africa theatre
Thanks,
Brian