The Diary of Herr Wüstenfuchs

[Horseman]

Good gains, especially against the Royal Navy and not too many losses so far.

I actually find the Naval warfare aspects of PC very entertaining as a break from the "norm" I use the same strategy that served me well in Panzer General all those years ago. Priority targets are Destroyers....this helps blind the enemy as other surface vessels only have one hex spotting and just as importantly allows my subs/uboats to operate without fear. In land and air combat it is almost always better to destroy a whole unit rather than damage two but in naval warfare I prefer to damage several because (unless capital ships attacking destroyers) you get to shoot back in the event of an attack...and a half strength ship attacking another (even a heavier class) often comes of worse. Oh and always use a healthy amount of air support if you can...works better for spotting than Destroyers!

Plus in this scenario the Italian Navy is actually better than the Royal Navy! (2 stars xp to 0)

I agree! Seems the British aren't holding Malta much longer

Their land forces (so far at least) seem pretty weak

I wonder where Herr Wüstenfuchs is? Hopefully the Royal Navy didn't sink his capital ship

The operation is going so well I had a little trip away

[LandMarine47]

Since when did the Axis have an Aircraft carrier in 1942?

Perhaps it's a captured British Carrier after Sea Lion?

[Horseman]

July 12th 1942 (6)
35th squadron arrive and finish the reeling Spitfires


An Italian Destroyer flotilla sink the remaining British Heavy Cruiser and Victor's bomber squadrons blow the Light Cruisers clean out of the water


The artillery battalion supporting Victoria is overrun by my Panzers and the few remaining Para's routed while the AA battalion on the west coast of the island is badly mauled


Mgarr comes under intense fire from artillery, the Italian navy and from the air, caught in disorder and with their defences compromised the British Engineers holding the city are destroyed


On Malta the lead Para battalion was cleared from Mellieha though my forces failed to follow up and capture the city


To th esouth my Panzers arrive to support the air landed infantry. They succeed in defeating the British Para's defending the area allowing my own infantry to secure the airfield. British Heavy infantry is sighted protecting the road to Rabat


The British infantry battalion arriving to reinforce the positions around Naxxar are sent packing and my Italian infantry prepare themselves for the assault to clear the remaining enemy form the area


British Para's advance back into Meellieha and launch an attack on some supporting Italian foot

[Horseman]

Since when did the Axis have an Aircraft carrier in 1942?

Perhaps it's a captured British Carrier after Sea Lion?

Could have been a possibility though I suspect If Herr Pferdmann had captured a Carrier during Sea Lion it would have been converted for use in the German Navy and not sent to the Italians and used in the med...Plus I'm not sure if they could have got it to the Med at this point in time...no access to the Suez Canal and I'd assume Gibraltar was still closed off

[Horseman]

July 13th 1942 (7)
Excellent news from Berlin


They have promised more resources will be sent my way (The reward was 500 prestige)

Mgarr has been taken and the remaining British heavy infantry destroyed. On the west of the Island the remnants of the AA battalion is also finished and with that Gozo is now firmly in our grasp


The Land Marines have stormed Mellieha and their supporting Panzers catch the retreating British Para's in a crossfire and destroy them


My Italian foot continue to clear the fortifications south of Naxxar destroying another British infantry battalion


The attack on Malta appears to have stalled so I have sent orders to Johannes to transfer elements of 21st Panzer south form Gozo.

An RAF Spitfire IX squadron attempted to destroy the 101st on the ground but the 181st were nearby and intercepted the attack causing massive damage

[Horseman]

July 14th 1942 (8)
181st and 66th squadrons finish of the marauding Spitfires


In northern Malta my forces mainly pause for resupply while 10th Fliegerkorps begin an aerial bombardment


With the destruction of the final British battalion in the Naxxar area my forces can finally continue the offensive.
Just north of Rabat the heavy weapons battalion is routed and we prepare to assault the city.
Zebbug lies undefended and my Panzers quickly secure it and in the process spot an Engineer battalion entrenched in Siggiewi


The supporting Fallschirmjager battalion comes under artillery fire and takes some loses but the Gebirgsjager battalion bears the brunt of the British Para's counter attack and are eliminated as an effective fighting force

[Horseman]

July 15th 1942 (9)
The 25 pounder artillery in Cirkewwa has (for unexplained reasons) deployed to fire on our Subs that are just off shore and of course are totally ineffective in this role. They are not designed to engage submerged submarines! This does mean the British defenders are without artillery support allowing my forces to destroy the engineers


The Para's in Rabat remind me that the British do not give in easily and mount an impressive defence of the city.
A fighter squadron performing a ground attack reports the location of a battalion of the once feared Matilda II heavy tanks, my Panzers should be more than a match for those lumbering brutes


The Para's in Rabat sally forth and bloody my StuG battalion though not without loss themselves. The supporting Fallschirmjager battalion comes under fire from artillery and anti-tank guns but is ordered to stand fast

[Horseman]

July 16th 1942 (10)
The last of the British infantry in north Malta is destroyed and I order the majority of my forces southward to help the stalled offensive. I have also signalled that the fleet is required to support the operations as I am concerned that we are running out of time to fully secure the island


The artillery supporting Rabat is destroyed and I am sure the city itself will fall tomorrow.
The forward infantry battalion is taken out and the Matilda's engaged but they hold for now. The forward defenders of Valletta are sighted


The shore fort has turned her guns inland and together with a battalion of 25 pounders shells my Italian foot but cause few casualties.
Some Vickers light tanks advance in support of their heavier brethren but do not engage and the Engineer battalion foolishly gives up their well entrenched position and advances to retake Zebbug

[Horseman]

July 17th 1942 (11)
The last of the British forces in northern Malta have been eradicated and all available forces are now driving south. The elements of 21st Panzer arriving from Gozo are tasked with securing Cirkewwa


There has been heavy fighting in the south. The Para's and anti-tank battalion around Rabat have been defeated and the city seized.
The Engineers who retook Zebbug are routed and the Vickers battalion destroyed.
The remaining Matilda's were knocked out by multiple air attacks and the AA battalion providing them cover overrun.
The attack towards Valetta has begun and the 25 pounder artillery takes heavy loses


A half strength RN Destroyer flotilla engages the Italian Destroyers but fails to make an impression. The shore battery once more turns her guns back to the seas but her heavy shells fail to hit their mark

[Horseman]

July 18th 1942 (12)
Heavy cloud cover has blown in and will hamper our air operations today.

Even so I tell Victor to instigate a massive aerial bombardment over the defences at Vallata and together with the Italian Navy we cause massive disruption and loses.
The advancing Destroyer flotilla has been sunk and the remaining artillery destroyed


My forces move in on Zejtun and discover well entrenched defenders and I feel a touch of doubt. The British have in the past proven themselves nigh on unmovable in defence and my time is running short.
Stormo squadron are forced to pull back from an attack run as just in time they sight the British AA battalion. Even so I order Victor so send all air assets not already involved in the assault on Vallata


Counter battery fire hits 15th Panzers SiG battalion and the British AA guns fail to make an impression...heavy cloud cover works to our advantage for a change!

[Horseman]

July 19th 1942 (13)
The sky is still covered with heavy clouds.

The Engineers in Valletta have been cleared out leaving just one battalion of British heavy infantry in the area


A path through the fortifications to Zeejtun has been cleared and tomorrow I expect my forces to begin an assault on the city itself.
The infantry of Brescia division move forward ready to attack Birzebbuga, my support Fallschirmjager battalion capture Siggiewi


With the courage I have come to expect from the British the Engineers defending Birzebbuga surge forward and give the advancing Italians a bloody nose. I admire their bravery but lament their foolishness, they should have surrendered

[Horseman]

July 20th 1942 (14)
Valletta has been taken and the last of the British troops in the area eliminated


The brave Engineers heroically charging against overwhelming odds are cut down in short order allowing Brescia division to advance and seize Birzebbuga.
The artillery and anti-air battalions supporting the defences at Zejtun have been overrun leaving only two heavy infantry battalions to resist my forces. Once more I call on these brave men to surrender and once more I get the typical British response


July 21st 1942 (15)
The last British forces are cleared from Malta and my final objective taken




High Command are pleased


My final act before I leave to return to Africa is to award campaign honours to several of my formations


And to recognise a few brave men who stood out form those around them as true hero's of the cause

[LandMarine47]

So where is the Afrika Korps moving next? I assume Eygpt! Time to push to the Suez Canal!

[Horseman]

So where is the Afrika Korps moving next? I assume Eygpt! Time to push to the Suez Canal!

Indeed next up is Alam Halfa and hopefully the turning point of the African campaign

[Horseman]

Alam Halfa

August 10th 1942
I have returned to Africa to take command of all Axis forces in the theatre and with me comes my elite Afrikakorps. With a more secure supply route across the Mediterranean I am able to fully mobilise Machine Gun battalions 3 and 4 – The Panzer Grenadiers of 15th Panzer. I have also been sent a battalion of 17cm artillery pieces bringing 33rd artillery regiment up to strength

August 15th 1942
Almost as soon as we made landfall the Afrikakorps began moving east ready for a campaign that could turn the tide of the war.

The Spitfires captured on Malta have been officially formed as 817th squadron and assigned to the 10th Fliegerkorps. Victor tells me that we will be short on replacement parts if we want to keep the planes serviceable so will need to secure some more from RAF airfields.

August 17th 1942
We will soon launch a full blown assault on Egypt with my ultimate objective being to secure the Suez Canal and deny its use to the Allies. I have heard that my cousins campaign in Russia goes well and that he hope to secure the oil fields by the end of the year.

August 25th 1942
My Elite forces are almost in position. Arriete division will remain in reserve (except 88th ArtReg that is assigned to Brescia for this operation) along with my independent Panzer battalions. If things go wrong these forces will help stabilise the line and hopefully turn any potential rout into an organised retreat.

August 30th 1942
I have received details of a new Italian Tank Destroyer now available for deployment


Its gun is weak and its armour poor....I do not see much use for these and hope that the Italians concentrate on upgrading their tanks to something better able to tackle the British head on.

05;00 August 31st 1942


My forces are deployed and wait only for my signal to commence what I hope will be the turning point of the African campaign


15th Panzer in the south (red)
21st Panzer will try and break through the centre (blue)
Brescia division will hold the north from counter attack

Presitge spending:
Elite reinforcements = 91p
Over strength cost = 1215p (everything to st12 if possible)
2x new Grenadiers in halftracks = 367p + 267p
1x new 17cm K18 = 380p

35 prestige left

[Horseman]

08:00(1)
In the south the two recon units move ahead. One finds a minefield by triggering it and its lead cars are lost. The other finds a potential way through.
Tanks of the 4th British light brigade are also located


15th Panzer move forward with the Land Marines clearing a section of mines. 3rd Panzer battalion defeats the lead British tanks and 2nd Panzer battalion find another section of mines by blundering into them. 1st Panzer battalion takes what looks like a safe passage through the minefield and locates the Mobile Radar site protected by the British 7th Motor brigade


10th Fleigerkorps launches an aerial bombardment on the area while my Panzers force the heavy infantry to give ground


21st Panzer advances with infantry in the lead. They located scattered minefields and their Pioneers clear a section hopefully punching a large gap in the lines


21st Panzer directs its armoured fist to aid in the attack on the Radar site and rout some British infantry


Brescia division advanced cautiously and their artillery support along with some Italian air support thin the minefield blocking their advance.


Brescia take fire from the enemy artillery and receive light casualties


The mobile radar site lives up to the first part of its name and we lose sight of it as it runs into the desert!
Enemy light armour attacks causing heavy damage to my lead recon forces

[LandMarine47]

Looks like Monty was expecting you! But he can not escape the grip of the Desert Fox!

[LandMarine47]

Was the weather really that bad! Where is the Afrika Korps?

[BiteNibbleChomp]

I wonder where the Arfikakorps' commander is. I sure hope he wasn't blown up in one of those Armoured Cars in Alam el Halfa!

- BNC

[Horseman]

Sorry guys, works just been hectic.....Invasion of Egypt delayed but not abandoned