Gazala: the Big Plan for the Big one

[MengJiao]

Well, so I sorta modified one rule about ops points for combat: the Allies put up a number of attacks they expect to make in a turn and if they don't then the attack options go to the Axis (reflecting Axis code-breaking and signals intelligence which was very good).  The ops for the attacks are pre-designated that way.
For the Axis they have to pre-designate two close-support points per attack and hold those.  If the attacks don't
happen, well then there are fewer close support events.

But here is the Axis plan: don't go way around to the south, keep supplies simple.  Destroy 50 div and cut off the 1st South African:

[MengJiao]

But here is the Axis plan: don't go way around to the south, keep supplies simple.  Destroy 50 div and cut off the 1st South African:

  Afternoon of the 26th:  It's a very good plan, but the Allies have been rolling some harsh numbers on the old Axis:  Air-to-air -- even slightly ahead on pure luck.  Then on Division activations: all high when they mattered.  True, a lot of Allied armor hasn't gotten moving, but 50 Div did some fancy footwork and survived while clobbering many an intrepid Italian.  1st South African is still going places and the Free French drove back a thrust by Ariete (whilst Ariete was under direct 21 Panzer command).

[MengJiao]

But here is the Axis plan: don't go way around to the south, keep supplies simple.  Destroy 50 div and cut off the 1st South African:

  Afternoon of the 26th:  It's a very good plan, but the Allies have been rolling some harsh numbers on the old Axis:  Air-to-air -- even slightly ahead on pure luck.  Then on Division activations: all high when they mattered.  True, a lot of Allied armor hasn't gotten moving, but 50 Div did some fancy footwork and survived while clobbering many an intrepid Italian.  1st South African is still going places and the Free French drove back a thrust by Ariete (whilst Ariete was under direct 21 Panzer command).

Morning of the 27th -- 15 Panzer is on some ridges surrounded by 8th Army Armoured Brigades.  Maybe that's a good thing?

[MengJiao]

Morning of the 27th -- 15 Panzer is on some ridges surrounded by 8th Army Armoured Brigades.  Maybe that's a good thing?

Everybody was pretty careful -- bringing up artillery and stuff -- on the 27th, but then the weather closed in with huge dust storms, the Khamsin -- and things got rough.  Basically, the decidedly crappy British Army 32nd Tank Bde overran the Italian 17th Division while 101 (Trento) was rescuing part of 15 Panzer and not watching out after the 17th which is in a different corps anyway.  With the dust storms there's not much air action and that puts a damper on the Axis more than the Allies at this point, especially once the Allies bring up their artillery and heavy AA/AT.
In other news, I found a better translation of Bir al-Hakiem is "Well of Wisdom" (and not probably well of the Dog or well of the old man).  Given where Bir al-Hakiem is, Wisdom seems like a more likely attribute than dogs or old men.
And why do I say that?  Well the well is the last well on the minor trails into the interior.  The big roads go by to the east on easier terrain, but there's no wells on those roads.

[MengJiao]

Everybody was pretty careful -- bringing up artillery and stuff -- on the 27th, but then the weather closed in with huge dust storms, the Khamsin -- and things got rough.  Basically, the decidedly crappy British Army 32nd Tank Bde overran the Italian 17th Division while 101 (Trento) was rescuing part of 15 Panzer and not watching out after the 17th which is in a different corps anyway.  With the dust storms there's not much air action and that puts a damper on the Axis more than the Allies at this point, especially once the Allies bring up their artillery and heavy AA/AT.

Morning of the 29th -- the weather clears and the Axis air will start hitting.  It turns out the crucial supply nexus is where the north-south trigh leaves the Trigh Capuzzo.  If DAK can supply itself through there, it can threaten 30 Corps on a very wide front.
Meanwhile, the Italian 20 Corps (Ariete and Trento) are heading north to support the attack along the coastal road.

[MengJiao]

Morning of the 29th -- the weather clears and the Axis air will start hitting.  It turns out the crucial supply nexus is where the north-south trigh leaves the Trigh Capuzzo.  If DAK can supply itself through there, it can threaten 30 Corps on a very wide front.
Meanwhile, the Italian 20 Corps (Ariete and Trento) are heading north to support the attack along the coastal road.

DAK managed to hold the supply nexus open, but lost around 50 tanks doing it, but they should be able to repair most of them.  The dust storms are starting up again, though not as bad as on the 28th.  Ariete and Triest are attacking near the coast.  Air support may be spotty because of the haze and dust.  Allied artillery is well-simulated in this game.  In the real battle it was pretty effective, firing 20K 25-pounder shells a day for a month or so.  The crucial moment for the Allies was probably when they got a lot of AP/ops points for their two frontline infantry divisions on day one.  Saving them and their artillery has saved them so far from being overwhelmed.