Afrika

Oct 40


Here we are at the end of turn 2. True to Mussolini's conviction that the British could be swept aside, the Italians pushed on towards Mersa Matruh, moving off the main road to get south of the escarpment (very difficult to attack up escarpments). However, the infantry are too slow to be able to get into position to attack the defenders.
In the British turn, reinforcements arrive. Perfect timing; the 7th Armoured is up to full strength. O'Connor leads the two armoured units to hit an Italian armoured brigade guarding the southern flank of the main force, and they are swept aside. With the Italians still reported at a considerable distance from Mersa Matruh, and with two infantry brigades moving into position, O'Connor gathers the rest of 7th Armoured and strikes westward to crush an infantry division near Piccadilly Circus (note the misspelling on the map...)


Game Notes: SCS is very fond of armoured operations. Most are classified as exploit-capable (the yellow stripe on the bottom of the counter), and such units are capable of attacking three times in a turn; once in the movement phase (an overrun, like O'Connor's first attack above), again in the combat phase, and then a second overrun possibility in the exploit phase, like O'Connor's second attack. Entering enemy ZOCs adds a movement cost, and launching an overrun attack adds more, and an overrunning unit must have started movement outside enemy ZOCs, so only armoured units can really pull all this off.

The 7th Armoured is gambling here. The Italian supply difficulties mean that they must remain concentrated and cannot go far from the road. The British have more supply and the trucks to move it; in addition the 7th Armoured is pretty mobile. In its current position it poses a serious threat to the Italian supply line, but is also able to move back on Mersa Matruh if necessary.

Good fun so far, and I'm able to recreate something like the historical events. Roll on Rommel!