This scenario is after the Italian Offensive and/or Taranto Raid (if you had a Triumph in the Italian Offensive). You will be attacking fortified and entrenched positions behind minefield defenses. There is sufficient time to take all objectives, including a prestige rewarding objective at Sofafi (marked with a $ sign).
Here are the Mission Orders and Victory Conditions:
Before starting the Turn 1 you will be notified about new equipment availability. We will be taking advantage of some of those.
Before we start, I need to make some upgrades and purchases.
First, I want to upgrade my artillery. My current artillery, QF 25 Pounders, only have a Soft Attack of 8, Hard Attack of 5,and a Range of 2. Soft Attack reflect's a Unit’s attack strength against “soft” (i.e. un-armoured) targets, such as infantry, trucks and towed guns. Hard Attack reflects a Unit’s attack strength against “hard” (i.e. armoured) targets, such as tanks and armoured recon cars. Range is the Unit’s shooting range (in hexes). Whereas, the new BL 6 inch 26 cwt has a Soft Attack of 12 , Hard Attack of 8, and a Range of 3. Therefore, we will upgrade both our current artilleries to the new BL 6 inch.
Next, I want to purchase a Tactical Bomber. In reviewing the choices, I selected the Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF. Tactical bombers deliver precise blows at enemy units from the air. They are especially effective against vehicles with poor protection, like trucks and guns, but also useful against armoured vehicles like tanks and recon units. However,
they are much less effective against infantry. Hence, the Soft Attack of 4 but Hard Attack of 5.
The Bueafighter has an Air Attack strength of 14. Which means I can also use it as a fighter. But, it is recommended to only use this type of tactical bomber as a fighter against other fighters, in a mass assualt with other friendly fighter(s) or to destroy an already weakened enemy fighter.
Lastly, I want to purchase a Strategic Bomber. I selected the Short Sterling Mk.I. Strategic bombers perform bombing raids from great heights and so are much less precise than tactical bombers. Their attacks rarely result in direct kills of enemy strength, but give a lot of other benefits: they cause heavy suppression of enemy troops and destroy their fuel and ammo reserves, thus making them easy targets for other units. Strategic bombers are useful against any ground targets and are usually much less vulnerable to ground anti-air systems (although they still must fear enemy fighters). They are also effective against enemy ships. When used against enemy cities or airfields, strategic bombers can destroy their capacity to supply enemy units and produce new ones.
The Soft Attack is 12 and the Hard Attack is 7. My purpose for this bomber is to use it mainly on enemy fortified or entrenched positions and those assets that present themselves as good targets. The Air Attack strength of the Sterling is (8). This means it can only fire when it is fired upon by other air assets. It only has an air defence value of 14. Therefore, until I am assured that there are no enemy fighters left, I will escort (be in an adjacent hex) the bomber with my fighter. If an enemy fighter attempts to attack the bomber, it will first be hit by my fighter. Escorting a bomber usually keeps the enemy fighters away.
Ok, here is my deployment and plan. I will have 2 forces, North Force (NF) and the South Force (SF), made up of mixed assets (my preferred force makeup). NF will consist of British Infantry, Cruiser I, Rolls Royce Recon, BL 6 inch artillery, and an auxillary engineer. The SF force will initially consist of Cruiser I, Cruiser IV, Rolls Royce Recon, BL 6 inch artillery, and a auxillary engineer. Our air forces will consist of the Hurricane I fighter, Beaufighter IF tactical bomber, and the strategic bomber Stirling I.
The NF group will assualt and take Maktila after 1) the engineer has cleared a path, 2) the supporting artillery destroyed or suppressed, and 3) the AT gun in Maktila has had it's entrenchment reduced to 0 and suppressed for the taking. The Beaufighter wiil be used to hopefully destroy the artillery and the light cruiser will provide off shore bombardment of the artillery or Maktila as required. After Maktila has been taken, NF will move SW and take the fortified position of Toummar. Then North to assualt and take Sidi Barrani. Lastly, NF will move SW down the coast to assualt and take Buq Buq. The Cruiser will follow along off shore to provide additional bombardment capabilties.
Before taking the last main flagged VH at Buq Buq, we want to make sure that SF has captured Sofafi in the SW corner and has received the prestige reward for doing so. If we take Buq Buq first, we will not receive the reward.
The SF group will assualt and take Nibewia after 1) the engineer has cleared a path, 2) the supporting artillery destroyed or suppressed, and 3) the infantry in Maktila has had it's entrenchment reduced to 0 and suppressed for the taking. The Sterling and fighter will be used to assist in the destruction of the supporting artillery and to lower entrenchment and suppress the infantry in Nibewia. Once, Nibewia has been secured, the Cruiser I will join the NF on it's campaign. The remaining forces will rush SW down to Sofafi.
There is additional prestige that can be received when you capture the '$' marked position on Sofafi. Only, if you can get it before the last flagged VH of Buq Buq has been captured. So I will try to keep this in mind when I progress in the battle.
Turn 1
In the north, the Beaufighter and Light Cruiser were able to damage the supporting artillery. NF was moved closer and was able to clear the minefield in front of Maktila. The artillery, now in range, was able to lower the entrenchment of the AT gun within.
In the south, the Hurricane fighter and Sterling bomber attack the supporting artillery and tank at Nibewia. SF moves forward and was able to clear the minefields for the approach and the artillery, now in range, was able to lower the entrenchment of the infantry at Nibewia.
I will followup with additional info shortly.
