CM:ICS - Axis Commanders' Thread.

[Doctor Sinister]

Combat Mission: Interactive Combat Story - This is the official thread for the Axis Commanders

El-Kafir Airstrip

Libya, June 1942

Note:

Although the men and equipment are accurate for the period, and although the scenario revolves around actual events in the war, this is an entirely fictional battle.

General Briefing:

With Rommel's North African campaign in full swing and the battle of Gazala underway west of Tobruk, the British doctrine of grouping in defensive strong points was put to the test by constant attacks from German armour all along the front line.

Many heroic battles occurred in the period between the 26th of May and the 17th of June, not least of which was the one that took place in the small town of El-Kafir...

Axis Specific Briefing:

Our attacks on the Gazala defensive line are proving succesful and it is only a matter of time before we will be able to push on to Tobruk itself.

However British forces in this sector of the line have begun operating aircraft from a front-line airstrip which is impeding our ability to strike at will. This presents us with a serious problem, and a potential opportunity.

The opportunity lies in us turning the tables and capturing these new facilities for our own ends.

We are sending you to the town of El-Kafir. El-Kafir is essentially a trading post, albeit one that has control of various river crossings and one that is an important religious centre for the inhabitants of this entire province.

Your mission is as follows:

1) Assault and secure the town.

2) Capture or destroy the administrative centre.

3) Capture the local Regional Governor and secure his residence for intelligence gathering purposes.

4) Capture or destroy the El-Kafir Mosque - this is home to a local Mullah who is supportive of the British Empire, if he is replaced or killed, our influence in this sector of the front could be increased.

5) Gain control of any or all of the three river crossings in the town centre to allow reinforcements to get through.

6) Capture or destroy the Airfield - at ALL costs.

Enemy forces are believed to consist of at least two Rifle Companies and supporting armour. Details of fixed defences around the Airfield itself are unknown.

Depending on how operational the new Airstrip is, the Allies may also be able to rely upon a limited amount of air cover - so watch the skies!

You will be attacking at Dawn. Your advance must be swift and decisive to deny the enemy the Airfield and any chance of using air power against you.

Your force composition is as follows:

2 x Platoons of Panzer IVFs.

4 x SPW 251/10 Halftracks.

2 x Motorized Infantry Companies.

4 x MG34 HMGs.

4 x Flamethrower Teams.

8 x Trucks.

We had intended to dispatch a second force of 8x Panzer IIIGs, however they appear to have gotten lost - they may arrive to reinforce you, but you must not wait for them - commencement of the assault cannot be delayed. Enemy aerial reconnaissance has already spotted your advance!

To victory!

* * *

To the Commanders:

Two views of the battlefield are attached along with your deployment zone. In the first picture, North is to the top. It is now up to you to decide how the attack should proceed.

Assess the situation, study the objectives and then decide from the following options:

1) Embark on an all-out assault on the airfield.

2) Secure the Governor's residence and take the opportunity to have a scout around.

3) Attack the administrative centre and the El-Kafir Mosque to secure access to the central bridge.

Voting must take place HERE where you will find the first poll, however please keep all discussion in this particular thread.

Dr. S.

[Lance Williams]

The airfield is the primary target. It must be controlled first.

[Doctor Sinister]

Oops, forgot to say, the first poll closes on 26th February, whereupon battle will commence for 5 whole turns of combat, where we will then stop again for the next one. And so on...

And a copy of this scenario will be made available via the WHQ Archives once the ICS has finished.

Dr. S.

[owen36]

I have not voted yet.
Like to prater first.

My first feeling was to attack right out. GUNG ho. All force aimed at the one stroke.
The route across the north bridge to the airfield seems a most periously one. We need to cross what looks like a barren hill top in front of an enemy side were woods give cover to the enemy.

The middle bridge offers more cover on the german side and less on the allied side. We can also get realitvely near to our target and also by placing troops centrally we can strike every way we like. However we need to take two objectives before proceeding. However, maybe we get lucky and the stug's catch up.


The south bridge offers no cover on both sides.
Hmm. Creepy exposed all the way. Also you have to take all objects and it takes the longest. The flank of our troops will be exposed and the airplanes have the most time to do their work...
However this might be the route wich gives us suprise and maybe is the least defended.
However since we operate on the longest route the allies can use their inner lines to shift troops around.

My idea would to take the the center: the mosque and the administrative center.
However I am not decided yet....

[Gonzo]

Doc,

Would it be possible for you to post the map without units or setup zones as a zip file? This would allow us to open the map in the editor and get a better idea of the terrain layout before deciding on an attack course.

Regards,

[Doctor Sinister]

Sure thing!

Here it is, totally blank, no units, no setup zones.

I'll provide it for the Allies as well - but only if they ask me for it...

Dr. S.

[SoccerDJ]

I voted to attack the administrative center and mosque and gain control of the central bridge. I think this bridge will be vital in troop movement across the river. As it is in the center of the map who ever controls that I think will have a slight edge in responding to the enemy movements.

DJ

[Boff]

Originally Posted by SoccerDJ

I voted to attack the administrative center and mosque and gain control of the central bridge. I think this bridge will be vital in troop movement across the river. As it is in the center of the map who ever controls that I think will have a slight edge in responding to the enemy movements.

DJ

I tend to agree, also in making our main thrust towards this central area any allied troops in the area of the Governor's residence will be cut off (relatively) from their colleagues over the river and can thus be mopped up when it suits.
What may prove difficult is the length of the game - 70 turns is a very long time compared to most CM games I play which are around 30-35 turns on this size of map. The main implication of this is that ammo will have to be conserved carefully. What I would suggest (unless you tell me otherwise of course!) is a sizeable reserve, perhaps a third or so of the total force, to be fed in as ammo levels decrease and front-line casualties mount.

Boff - doing what he is told for once!

[TacCovert4]

you're going to want to concentrate your tanks into a single striking fist against whatever target you choose.

I would say an all out against the airfield, because without the airfield the rest of the objectives will be subjected to strafing on a regular basis. But attacking the airfield all out puts your unit at undue risk, as it will be easy for whatever troops are at the other objectives to concentrate on the bridges or even blow the bridges. Therefore, secure the northern bridge, and place some infantry and one of the MGs to cover your flank, while the tanks(1.5 platoons) aid the motorized assault of the administrative center (with the flamethrower teams). Your Halftracks, with the other .5 tank platoon and 1 MG should race south to the governor's house and capture it. Once it is captured, they manuever to the south bridge, forcing any intervening enemy troops to move North into the main force at the admin center. Your remaining 2 MG teams should cover the mosque, essentially surrounding it for neutralization later. Once the admin center is captured, the Central force secures the central bridge and crosses it with 3/4 tank platoon, supported by infantry, and the flamethrower teams. The Southern force strikes across the South bridge, leaving their MG team and a few other troops behind to prevent a flanking manuever against the bridge. The remaining 1/3 of the infantry and 3/4 platoon of tanks sweep north to the north bridge, neutralizing the mosque along the way. Once across the North bridge, this force should manuever north across the plain and sweep into the airfield from the west, while the other force(s) are sweeping from the south.


This is my concept of the operation, and as my personal opinion has the ability to be considered wrong.

[owen36]

Originally Posted by Gonzo

Doc,

Would it be possible for you to post the map without units or setup zones as a zip file? This would allow us to open the map in the editor and get a better idea of the terrain layout before deciding on an attack course.

Regards,

Good thinking:

We are missing arty alas: some 82 mortars with smoke will secure the bridge.
Friend of my said we can try the bridge using the tanks to lay smoke.

[owen36]

Originally Posted by Boff

Boff - doing what he is told for once!

I rather like you to make up you own mind after we have given advice. This works better in general.
I enjoined a battle once with me being pitched alone against a committee of 5 commanders. I almost won because the enemy was so divided they couldn't make up their minds.

[Doctor Sinister]

Originally Posted by owen36

I rather like you to make up you own mind after we have given advice. This works better in general.
I enjoined a battle once with me being pitched alone against a committee of 5 commanders. I almost won because the enemy was so divided they couldn't make up their minds.

Although your General (Boff, in this case) can use his own judgement once battle commences, he must also obey the commands laid down in the polls.

As an aside - the Allied thread is running at twice the speed of this one!

Dr. S.

[TacCovert4]

Originally Posted by Doctor Sinister

Although your General (Boff, in this case) can use his own judgement once battle commences, he must also obey the commands laid down in the polls.

As an aside - the Allied thread is running at twice the speed of this one!

Dr. S.

The Allies must decide how best to destroy themselves against the mighty fist of the Afrika Korps! They talk because they have fear. We know what must be done, and will do it. My opinions of the operation have been given, nothing more is required for now. They talk because they do not yet know if they should keep to the airfield and concentrate their feeble defenses or to defend the other objectives and be annihilated in detail.

[Doctor Sinister]

Originally Posted by TacCovert4

The Allies must decide how best to destroy themselves against the mighty fist of the Afrika Korps! They talk because they have fear. We know what must be done, and will do it. My opinions of the operation have been given, nothing more is required for now. They talk because they do not yet know if they should keep to the airfield and concentrate their feeble defenses or to defend the other objectives and be annihilated in detail.

Nice speech!

If I was allowed to take sides (I'm not, because I'm running the project) I would be voting in here.

Not long until the action, and the stories commence...

Dr. S.

[owen36]

Originally Posted by Doctor Sinister

Although your General (Boff, in this case) can use his own judgement once battle commences, he must also obey the commands laid down in the polls.

As an aside - the Allied thread is running at twice the speed of this one!

Dr. S.

Ah but we will win.....