The Diary of Herr Wüstenfuchs

[Horseman]

June 5th 1942 (11)
21st Panzer turn north and advance at speed while their infantry and artillery pause to allow supply trucks to catch up


15th Panzer overrun the British Guard battalion and secure Knightsbridge and now look westwards towards Sidi Muftah


From the other side my allies advance in formation


El Adem airfield is attacked but we fail to dislodge the defenders. Orders are sent “Secure the airfield at once!”


In the northern sector we begin preliminary artillery bombardments but they have little effect


An Italian Regiment comes under fire from some large calibre artillery situated deep within the fortifications giving away they location. Co-ordinates are now being passed to my own artillery formations in preparation for a counter bombardment

[Horseman]

June 6th 1942 (12)
3rd recon battalion locate enemy armour


Stormo squadron is called upon and makes an attack run. Even as they complete the attack they radio in. More British armour


21st Panzer advances in force destroying the lead Cruiser tanks


El Adem airfield is seized and its defenders scattered. 99th independent Panzer battalion is tasked with holding this position while the main British line is taken care of.
Victor Klink informs me that with a forward airbase his Fleigerkorps will be more effective


15th Panzer and Ariete form up and resupply ready to tackle the first British strongpoint of the main line


To the west my Italian allies continue to shell the fortifications in an effort to reduce the enemies entrenchment but cause minimal casualties.

In the north a combined artillery and air strike deals some damage but I order infantry forward ready to assault the defences


The Grant battalion moves to block 21st Panzers advance to Sidi Rezegh


Treason! We have lost contact with one of our western airfields. Victor tells me that the last communication mentioned elite SAS forces advancing from our rear area!


I have little choice but to turn my Italian allies around to contain this new threat. My forces will be sufficient to defeat the main British line.

[Horseman]

June 7th 1942 (13)
Intelligence tells me that the south-easterly airfield is in a strategic location and to expect a British counter attack in this area. These leaves me in a quandary......the only formation close by is 21st Panzer. However this division is the force designated to finally capture Tobruk, so what am I to do?


21st Panzer continue their advance crushing the Grant tanks that attempted to block our advance


After careful consideration I dispatched half of the division back south ready to repulse any British aggression in the area. I can only hope I have not left the attack on Tobruk too weak to succeed

The 19th and 99th Independent Panzer battalions along with Ariete's artillery is detailed to head east and link up with the advancing 21st division.


15th Panzer move into contact with Sidi Muftah and it is no surprise to find the British heavily entrenched in the area


Initial attacks fail to dislodge the entrenched artillery


My Italian allies pull back from the front ready to handle the SAS threat in the rear


My northern battle group launch an attack on the South African brigade catching their artillery from behind


The lead Panzers of 15th division come under a heavy artillery barrage but emerge mostly unscathed if not a little shaken.

A pair of Matilda battalions attack the northern group but come of worse in the exchange as my reserve infantry prove their worth


Meanwhile the SAS advance securing all three airfields. Intelligence confirms a minimum of three battalions of these elite troops

[LandMarine47]

Italians vs SAS? This should be fun....

[Horseman]

June 8th 1942 (14)
21st Panzer (north) group up while 3rd recon locates British defenders of Sidi Rezegh


Blizzard squadron prove their worth with a deadly accurate ground attack mission (Ariete's artilery also did some damage here) While 99th independent Panzer battalion secures El Duda


21st Panzer (south) form a defensive perimeter around the airfield and are told to hold


15th Panzer succeed in clearing the 25pdr artillery from their entrenched positions but decline to enter the breach for now


In the north the South African artillery is finished as 8th Bersagleiri regiment come to the fore and in the skies above 35th and 101st squadrons go tank busting


Heavy fighting in my rear area see one SAS battalion forced to give ground but my Italian allies take heavy loses. With a huge numerical advantage as well as heavy artillery support these Italians really should have swept the area clear already! I have let the Italian commanders know of my displeasure at their failure and that I expect them to rejoin the main attack quickly


15th Panzer once more comes under an artillery barrage but once more escape serious loss.

8th Bersagleiri come under attack but hold the line even with their supporting artillery running out of ammunition. In an act of madness and/or desperation the South African infantry leave their prepared positions and attack my Italian allies


To my utter disbelieve the SAS counter attack and almost succeed in routing an entire Italian regiment!

[Horseman]

Italians vs SAS? This should be fun....

Fun for the SAS maybe....not so much for me or the Italians! I should have paid more attention to the briefing that mentioned a possible SAS raid

[Victor_K]

You should be okay. Although the auxiliary Italians infantry is not very good. Besides a little excitement is not a bad thing!

[Horseman]

June 9th 1942 (15)
21st Panzer (north) supported by the independent Panzer battalions move in on Sidi Razegh but although the preliminary bombardments fail to suitably disrupt the defenders


21st Panzer (south) dig in and resupply.

Heavy fighting around Sidi Muftah sees 15th Panzer fail to make much of a further impression although 2nd Panzer battalion breaks into the defence line


101st squadron confirm their status as elite tank busters by destroying a Matilda battalion, the other battalion takes some damage from the air although they're not suitably disrupted to allow my infantry to engage.
My Italian allies force the South Africa infantry to retreat though they do take loses


With overwhelming numbers, artillery and air support in their favour the main concentration of my Italian allies destroy two of the SAS battalions and leave the third badly mauled, they also recapture two of the airfields. Despite their advantages they do take heavy loses


An alert is sounded as British forces are seen approaching our positions in the south-east. A bigger concentration than I was expecting and now I am concerned if I have sufficient forces in place to deal with the attack


8th Bersagleiri stop the British Matilda's once more and I expect they will soon be on the attack once more


I am told the SAS do not give up and they prove it with an ill advised attack

[Horseman]

You should be okay. Although the auxiliary Italians infantry is not very good. Besides a little excitement is not a bad thing!

I was more concerned with how many SAS there would be....seems like only 3 which is manageable! But it still took 21 steps of Italians to deal with them (assuming the last step don't knock any more of me!) And when you consider I have artillery and air power that's a lot!!!

[Tarrak]

You should be okay. Although the auxiliary Italians infantry is not very good. Besides a little excitement is not a bad thing!

I was more concerned with how many SAS there would be....seems like only 3 which is manageable! But it still took 21 steps of Italians to deal with them (assuming the last step don't knock any more of me!) And when you consider I have artillery and air power that's a lot!!!

Yeah the SaS guys are on the better end of the infantry spectrum while the standard Italian infantry is .. well on the other end of it to put it not to bluntly.

[Horseman]

June 10th 1942 (16)
I have ordered Victor Klink to redirect air power to the south-east to support the elements of 21st Panzer that have been tasked with holding the airfield. Stormo and Blizzard squadrons do not disappoint and help my ground forces eliminate two British infantry battalions (one heavy weapons) and an armoured car battalion.


The other elements of 21st Panzer seize Sidi Rezegh destroying the defenders in the process


Terrible news. The commander of 15th Panzer has been slain, he foolishly strayed too close to the front lines and was mistaken for an enemy spy and shot by his own troops! I have contacted Colonel Tarrak and told him to assume command, his orders are to push forward and eliminate the British main line. My final transmission to him came with the veiled threat “Do NOT fail me Generalmajor Tarrak!”

With renewed focus 15th Panzer breach the enemy defences destroying the supporting artillery and flak battalions. The infantry holding Sidi Muftah are cleared out and the city taken


In the north the remaining Matilda's are knocked out and the South African heavy infantry eliminated.
My Italian allies force the surrender of the remaining infantry of the northern most South African brigade, the ground behind them appears clear but they would not cross this ground so I can only assume the area is littered with mines


The SAS put up a brave fight but are eliminated without further serious loss. I tell the Italians to return to the front


RAF Spitfires (Mk Vbs) engage my allied Italian fighters and almost destroy them though they take heavy loses doing so


The British advance in the south-east but decline to engage except some Bishop artillery that attempts to neutralise our own artillery


The South African troops launch limited attacks form within their defences

[Horseman]

You should be okay. Although the auxiliary Italians infantry is not very good. Besides a little excitement is not a bad thing!

I was more concerned with how many SAS there would be....seems like only 3 which is manageable! But it still took 21 steps of Italians to deal with them (assuming the last step don't knock any more of me!) And when you consider I have artillery and air power that's a lot!!!

Yeah the SaS guys are on the better end of the infantry spectrum while the standard Italian infantry is .. well on the other end of it to put it not to bluntly.

Yeah boy am I glad I upgraded those dudes after the 1st scenario! The Italian infantry struggled to take out 100% suppressed SAS

EDIT: Actually I just realised that maybe the SAS were introduced in Allied corps? Because the SAS in this scenario are "standard" paras

[LandMarine47]

Where's Herr Wüstenfuchs? Did the SAS get him?!

[Horseman]

June 11th 1942 (17)
Stormo and 181st squadrons easily deal with the newly arrived RAF


21st Panzer (south) maintain their defensive formation but still manage to knock out the British Bishop artillery and Valentine tanks


21st Panzer (north) with supporting units capture Belhamed scattering the defending infantry. As their 2nd Panzer battalion rumbles forward they almost stumble into an allied reserve hanger


With only a momentary pause due to shock my Panzers destroy the hanger


15th Panzer destroy the British reserve anti-tank battalion and prepare themselves for the assault on the heavily entrenched 150th brigade. My Italian allies creep forward and fire off an ineffectual artillery barrage


In the north my forces continue to advance engaging yet more South African artillery from the rear


The RAF prove they are not yet done for as a squadron of P-40s and one of Spitfire MkIIs make a ground attack run. Luckily Victor has also proved his worth as my Fligerkorps commander as his fighter squadron are perfectly placed to intercept (P-40s lost 8 steps the Spitfires 5!)


A British heavy infantry battalion of the 69th brigade launch a counter attack against my Italian allies destroying an already badly shot up regiment


It looks as if the South African forces in the north are attempting to break out of the encirclement as they push eastwards

[Horseman]

Where's Herr Wüstenfuchs? Did the SAS get him?!

They tried but luckily we beat hem back......many Italians died to bring you this information

[Horseman]

June 12th 1942 (18)
Intelligence has intercepted a transmission from British command


A cursory glance at a map reveals the likely avenue of retreat. I must stop them from reaching the Tobruk perimeter otherwise they could reinforce the defenders and make it nigh impossible to take


In the south east the final British armoured battalion is finished. There are no further sightings of enemy units area but I find it hard to believe that the British will just give up on this objective so I order the forces there to hold


The two RAF fighter squadrons still in a state of disarray following the unexpected intervention of our fighters are destroyed. My ground forces in the area are resupplied while my Panzers push forward slightly but reveal no opposition


My Italian allies beat back the British counter attack and reform their lines, they will be tasked with aiding the Land Marines in finishing of the British pocket


The remainder of 15th Panzer sweep northwards ready to cut off the retreating British and stopping them from ever reaching Tobruk


My northern force continue their slow grind forward destroying an infantry, an anti-tank and an artillery battalion in the process


The South Africans launch limited counter attacks in an attempt to shield their withdrawal but without transports it look unlikely that they will make it far


Further south the British retreat to their fortifications and only time will tell if they are also attempting to evacuate from the front

[Horseman]

June 13th 1942 (19)
Even depleted 3rd recon does not let me down, they move forward and confirm the Tobruk defences are not what they once were


My forces pour through the gap and reduce both strong-points to rubble. The supporting guns of 9th Indian brigade are located


Even with heavy artillery and air support the Land Marines fail to breach the British defences but their unit commander tells me he needs more time


With a battered Ariete regiment taking a reconnaissance role 15th Panzer edge forward and locate British heavy guns retreating east


The artillery, caught in the open is quickly destroyed and Generalmajor Tarrack has directed his forces to close the gap though which the enemy could retreat through. His orders are clear “None shall pass”


In the north my forces push a South African infantry battalion back while my Italian allies overrun the shattered remnants of an artillery battalion and force some anti-tank guns to retreat


A squadron of P-40s engage the artillery supporting the Land Marines, from their markings it looks like the new Zealand RAF


British infantry attempt to punch through 15th Panzer but my forces are well deployed and well led. Their anti-tank guns take loses attempting to screen the breakout


The South Africans appear to have realised they are cut off and like trapped animals fight back with a renewed vigour destroying an Italian regiment

[Horseman]

June 14th 1942 (20)
35th and 101st squadrons deal with the P-40s


3rd recon battalion reports the location of the 9th Indian brigade though they are weaker than other such forces we have encountered. I guess that is why they were deployed to this “safe” location


21st Panzer take out the supporting anti-tank and artillery battalions while also securing themselves an airfield deep inside the Tobruk perimeter


The 150th British brigade continue to hold fast though it is only a matter of time before we can clear them out


The encirclement of the main British line is now complete and I must congratulate Generalmajor Tarrak. Engaged from all sides and now without their fortification the enemy resistance is crumbling as two anti-air and two infantry battalions are obliterated


The South African infantry in Tobruk sally out but are stopped in their tracks by 19th independent Panzer battalion


I must remind my Italian allies that even surrounded and with no hope the British still have teeth as an infantry regiment is destroyed, other limited attacks are launched but contained

[Horseman]

June 15th 1942 (21)
The infantry from Tobruk were quickly dealt with by our Panzers in the open while 3rd recon confirms the Tobruk defences are weak


The 4th South African brigade hold the western defences to Tobruk and we have engaged their supporting artillery from behind


The Land Marines have finally made some progress and break into the heart of the British fortifications though the remaining elements of the 150th brigade fail to surrender


My forces hold nothing back and push hard against the surrounded British and almost eliminate their remaining forces leaving only one heavy weapon battalion trapped and short of ammunition. I have send word for my Italian allies to ensure our objectives are well garrisoned


With the never give up and never surrender attitude I've come to expect from the British their trapped infantry launch one last attack


Further south the anti-tank battalion tries to push the advancing Italians back

[Horseman]

June 17th 1942 (23)
My forces now begin mopping up the remaining Tobruk defenders and the Land Marines hold a counter attack from the last of the 150th brigade (losing 1 step)

June 18th 1942 (24)
The last of the 150th brigade is finished and surely the Land marines will receive battle honours for their role in clearing these tough fortifications?

June 19th 1942 (25)
Word from Berlin, new equipment is available to be shipped in


The Panzer III how now come to the end of its usefulness as our main battle tank. This latest version is armed with the low velocity, short barrelled version of the 75mm gun found on the older PzIV models. The PzIII turret ring will not support anything bigger and this “upgrade” will relegate the PzIII to a support role while the more versatile PzIV will take over its role.

The enemy forces in and around Tobruk have now been defeated and I order my forces to secure all objectives in case of counter attack, a small task force is sent east to capture the two airfields.

June 22nd 1942 (28)
Eastern airfields are secured and two British armoured battalions have been destroyed (an older Cruiser IV and Vickers)

June 26th 1942 (32)
The days have rolled past and there is no sign of the expected British counter attack, have I beaten them? Have they finally run out of men and materials? High Command seems to believe so


The area is clear and my forces well entrenched






I am now left with a choice, the seizure of the Suez canal has long been my primary objective in this campaign. This does not change the fact that if we are unable to open up a more secure supply route the Suez may well be out of reach as my Panzers will run out of fuel far short of there so going after Malta may well be better n the long run.

In the meantime Johannes has bought me a list of campaign honours won by my formations


And of course some men marked as Hero's of Africa