So, our reporter fresh from his dressing down from the Middle East bureau chief for failing to file his story last week, hot footed it from the Levant to the sands of Libya in 1941, to watch the unfolding of Operation Crusader, the latest British attempt to relieve the beleaguered garrison of Tobruk. With Tony and Greg “missing in action” Phil, Chris and Malcolm took charge of a force of M3 “Honeys” and Crusader IIs against Rob and Dave’s DAK armoured units comprising PzIIs and IIIs.
The game saw the British roar down the table...
and the Germans cautiously advance, with the rear of one dune looking very much like a car park at one point. Desultory long-range gunnery had little effect on either side, a real problem for early war WAT games. However the British aggression did pin the Germans back into the last quarter of the table and finally the 2pdrs started to inflict some damage on the lightly armoured PzIIs. Not enough however for the elusive kills.
Eventually the Germans decided to act with the British well advanced and showing their flanks. One of Chris’ Crusaders exploded even though hiding in a palm grove,
and Phil saw one of his precious Honeys take a shot from a short 50mm in the rear which also proved fatal.
To the North Chris and Malcolm were determined to kill Rob’s PzIII.
Unfortunately Chris managed to take a hit which forced him to reverse off the table and he was deemed lost, bogged-down in a Wadi. When Malcolm’s Crusader took a critical hit the British decided that discretion was the better part of valour and the last remaining Crusader and Honey raced back to their start line.
A crushing German victory, and one that rather accurately reflected the armour battles of 1941.
Next week our war reporter tries to find his Albanian phrase book. Rumour has it that the Italo-Normans are planning trouble in the Byzantine Empire. Normans poking their noses where they aren’t wanted. Wouldn’t happen here!
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