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The Afrika Korps Advances!!!
picture - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gazala |
June 1942, the Battle of Gazala is in full swing & going Rommel's way! A small British force holds the village Boola Boola & is in danger of being cut off. A larger German force is on the way to carry that out. Hastily, the remnants of remaining British Armored elements are sent to relieve Boola Boola!
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Boola Boola, held by a British Motor Company.
Just West of El Adem, no longer found on the map... |
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German Entry, North West corner.
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British Entry, South East corner.
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British Force (103 points)
Motor Infantry Company HQ x 2
Rifle Platoon x 6
Rifle Platoon x 6
Vickers HMG x 4
3" Mortar x 2
Bren Carrier x 3
6 PDR Anti-Tank x 2
Grant Tank Company HQ x 2
Grant Platoon x 3
Honey Platoon x 3
Honey Platoon x 3
Armored Car Company HQ x 2
Humber x 3
Humber x 3
Vickers Mark VI x 3
Support
Hurricane x 1
25 PDR Battery x 2
Bofors Anti-Air x 3
Plus 3 Command Cards
German Force (120 points)
Panzer III HQ x 1 (L 5cm)
Panzer III Platoon x 3 (L 5cm)
Panzer III Platoon x 3 (L 5cm)
Panzer IV Platoon x 2 (S 7.5cm)
Panzer II Platoon x 5
Rifle Company HQ x 2
MG34 Platoon x 5
MG34 Platoon x 5
AT Rifle x 2
Anti-Tank 5cm x 2
Recce Company
Sdkfz 222 x 4
Sdkfz 222 x 4
Motorcycles !!! x 5
Support
Marder Anti-Tank x 3
Anti-Aircraft Sdkfz 10/4 x 3
Stukas x 2
105mm Battery x 4
Plus 2 Command Cards
The Battle would be fought along the diagonal of the table. A third of the forces would start on the field, the rest arriving by platoon as Reserves (5+ on a d6, growing by a D6 every turn. Planes arrive as a 4+ on a D6).
Our house rule = All 'Big Artillery' is classed as 'Off Table', only Mortars allowed on the field.
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Hearty British Infantry await the German!
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Honey Platoon
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TURN ONE
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SPAV leads the Germans forward in the south.
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Pz IIs, Pz III HQ & Infantry advance in the north.
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I play the SAS card, no German Air Support this round.
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ARTILLERY!!!!!!!!!
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Despite the German firepower, only a measly 'Bail Out' for the Brits.
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The best the Brits do is pin down the Motorcycles this round...
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Two Armored Cars are destroyed.
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The German Infantry is pinned.
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The Honey 37mm guns bail some Pz IIs.
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TURN TWO
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Ruddy 'Ell..... STUKAS!!!!!
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German Reserves
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German Air goes for the 6 PDRs
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The German South flank is flying...
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The Pz IIs close with the Honeys.
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YES!!!
The BOFORS take out one of the Stukas |
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However the other Stuka takes out a 6 PDR.
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Find the weak spot & pound it..
German Artillery also zeroes in..
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British turn & the remaining Bren carrier pegs it.
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I fail my reserves roll, SO.....
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I desperately need these Grants....
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Oh dear, that southern flank is looking frail.
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| Just a 'Bail out' each in the north. |
TURN THREE
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SPAV pushes forward his Armored Cars & readies the PZ IIIs for the Grants.
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The German Infantry advance behind the tanks.
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'I say old chap.. that's just not Cricket..'
SPAV flanks the Honeys |
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Pz IVs arrive.
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Loads of firepower, poor results though...
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Pz III...
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...versus Grant
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German shells pound the British Infantry
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For destroying the Stuka, the BOFORS get the German Artillery...
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The British reserves are tickling in.
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| The tank battle is overwhelming |
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The heroic Vickers help out....
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On Honey shoots forward one behind...
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The Humbers race forward to engage the Pz IIs
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This Hurricane needs to perform....!
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Strike one Pz II.
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Not bad... Two of the Pz IIIs are bailed.
The 25 PDRs destroy an infantry section.
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The Honeys Shoot & Scoot.
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Overview after Turn Three.
The German Pincer attack is in full flow. |
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The view of the northern flank.
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TURN FOUR
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SUPERB Reserve Rolls !!!!
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That bloody Stuka is back!
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FORWARD!!!
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HELLO TOMMY!!
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The Brits are going to take a pounding this round....
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The Marders advance (carrying the Infantry Platoon)
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ATTACK!!!
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The Armored Cars take on the Vickers
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Superb rolls!
Two Grants are destroyed. |
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More Infantry casualties...
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| 'Auf Wiedersehen!' |
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German firepower is terrific this turn.
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| British turn, these lads need to get forward. |
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I send some Humbers & Grants to Boola Boola on the road.
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The remaining Honeys will take the southern flank.
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The Humbers take up a flank position.
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Overview after Turn Four
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TURN FIVE
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The Marders race off & the Infantry head for Boola Boola.
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Which Brits are going to cop it this turn..?
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HA HA!!!
The tables are turned TOMMY!!! |
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Those Pz IV 75mm guns are going to cause havoc...
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The centre of Boola Boola is in sight.
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Here we go again....
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AAAAARRRGGHHH!!!!!
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NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
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GGGRRRRRRRRR...
German rolls are very good this round. |
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British turn, my bottle has gone, but...
The remaining Grant flees. |
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Attack!
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Attack!
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Attack!
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One Marder destroyed by the Hurricane.
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The Honeys & the Armored Cars fail miserably...
In goes the towel.
ALL HAIL SPAV! |
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The British Infantry surrender.
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Final positions looking south.
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Well the Brits were & truly 'gubbed' on that one...
Congratulations SPAV, he got his plan 'Bob On'. I can't fault the German performance. To be fair, the British Tanks hit the German ones just as much. It was poor firepower rolls which swung it. I must admit though, I will add more Anti-Tanks guns to the Brits in the future. There just wasn't any way to stop those Panzers. Air & Artillery performed well in this game as well. Right it's off to the internet to purchase more anti-tank guns!
