S3 #50 - The Wire Below - Western Desert, Winter 1941-42

Axis Hidden Rules

Purpose

  • For Frame 2 the Allies have the strategic advantage and may move three of their units first
  • Capture Tobruk = 10 points
  • Keep Tobruk undersiege, do not all the Allies to establish a line of roads, railways or tracks from Tobruk to El Alamein = 6 points
  • Destroy either 7th Armoured or 2nd New Zealand through attrition and ground combat = 2 Points each
  • Destroy remaining allied divisions through attrition and ground combat = 1 Point each
  • 70th Infantry Div strengthens the Tobruk garrison as long as it is inside the perimeter making it difficult for the Axis to take the town.
  • You must hold the frontier against the Allies and protect the powerful panzer units from harm, they will win you the battle if they can move and are strong. Becareful to protect your lines of communication, the 70th Infantry Division can sortie into your exposed rear.
  • Cutting off units from supply is not immediately effective and those units can pass around to escape, hitting their supply lines slows them down making it hard for them to escape.
  • Units are stronger in defense so often it is a war of position rather than outright attack. Attacks are resolved using the units strength and defensive posture but luck plays a large part. Do not attack unless the enemy is very weak or you like to gamble. If a unit losses a battle it must withdraw.

Hints

  • Inside the Tobruk perimeter S19 is still operational. Just outside M3 is neutral and will fire on both sides.
  • The Axis can base a/c on Crete
  • CV group will be in the 5,7 cross area at T-30 for night ops.
  • expect RN DD1s in the Gulf of Sollum patrolling and escorting a tanker into Tobruk and Mersa Matruh.
  • expect lone oil tankers with an RN DD1s to try and sneak into Tobruk and Mersa Matruh from Alexandria.
  • Allied ground units are better all round than most of the Axis units except for the two Panzer divisions so will need to be reduced before any direct attacks on them.
  • Axis air reinforcements are not as plentiful as Allied so onboard a/c steps must be carefully positioned to avoid excessive losses from attacks on airfields.
  • Axis have greater numbers of long range bombers and the ability to use Crete to hit targets far behind the enemy lines must not be forgotten.
  • target hardness and bomb strength has been adjusted to provide a more difficult and realistic ground attack experience, both individual and game scoring has been adjusted to reflect this. Please test in the S3 arena before game day so no surprises occur.

Frame 2 - MAP

  • all a/c must fly with 95% next frame
  • G6 and S21 have been captured and are in use by the enemy.
  • 3 new steps of 109F4s, 1 of 109E4jabos and 1 of Ju87s.
  • Left Hook Option - they have come around the left flank and try and capture crucial locations behind the wire. Both Sollum and Sidi Omar garrisons may be attacked as enemy forces are outside. The enemy has established a supply line around Sidi Omar and was quick to rush in engineers to make both G6 and S21 operational. S19 and G7 still are inoperable but will be repaired next frame unless closed again.
  • if you decide to attack a garrison or ground unit by moving your units adjacent to it you have to first reduced it with heavy air attacks during the frame or have more than one unit attack it. The enemy could reinforce his garrison with his ground units in later movements so be aware of this.

Frame 3 - MAP

  • S19 and S21 are closed for ops, M3 is neutral. Sollum and Bardia have ground forces right on their doorstep and cannot be used as air bases.
  • many stukas are sitting around on airfields, HQ has withdrawn MC200 jabos to Sicily to encourage the use of these important assets. The RAF has sent in Spitfire VBs to bolster the WDAF all available fighters will be needed to defeat the enemy over the battlefield.
  • 7th Arm attacks Ariete - battle W of V43 - 9:7 or 1 to 1.25 Odds - DR=7 +2 mods = 9 Ariete losses 1 strength and must retreat to D76 and cannot move.
  • 15th Panzer attacks 2nd SA - battle at V52 - 10-5 or 2:1 Odds - DR=6 +1mods = 7 2SA losses 1 strength and must retreat to D46 and cannot move.
  • 4th Indian attacks Sidi Omar Garrison - battle at D81 - 9-4 or 2:1 Odds - DR = 10 +2mods = 12 Sidi Omar Surrenders 4th Indian occupies Sidi Omar fortress garrison established for British
  • Axis have decided to attack Tobruk and the allies to attack Sollum. The 4th Ind has reached the sea and captured P90 and cut off the 21st Panzer in Sollum. The WDAF has quickly put S22 into operation.
  • if you decide to attack a garrison or ground unit by moving your units adjacent to it you have to first reduced it with heavy air attacks during the frame or have more than one unit attack it. The enemy could reinforce his garrison with his ground units in later movements so be aware of this

Frame 4 - MAP

  • no fuel limits during frame
  • S19, S22 and S21 are closed for ops, M3 and G5 are neutral. Sollum and Bardia have ground forces right on their doorstep and cannot be used as air bases.
  • Two supply lines for each side have been updated, hitting locations on the yellow lines will reduce the movement of those units on the yellow lines for next frame .
  • 15th PZ and Trieste attacks Tobruk and 70th Inf - battle at Tobruk - 16:14 or 1 to 1 Odds - DR=11 + 0 mods = 11 Tobruk losses 1 strength and 70th Inf losses 1 strength and cannot move.
  • 2nd Ind and 2 NZ attacks Sollum and 21st Panzer - battle at V56 - 9-10 or 1:1.25 Odds - DR=11 + 2 mods = 13 Sollum losses 2 strength and 21st Panzer losses 2 strength but can still move.
  • Toggle roads off if you are at high altitude or find you are getting an FPS hit down low.
  • if you decide to attack a garrison or ground unit by moving your units adjacent to it you have to first reduced it with heavy air attacks during the frame or have more than one unit attack it. The enemy could reinforce his garrison with his ground units in later movements so be aware of this.

Frame 5 - MAP

  • all a/c may use 100% fuel and droptanks during frame
  • S20, M28, S19 and G6 are closed for ops. M3, M61, G5 and Bardia are Axis but cannot be used for squad operations, individuals with damaged a/c may land these bases but only in emergency situations. Bardia is a supply line target even if it has no supply line.
  • British move first as they have the most points and the initiative. Both 21st PZ and 2nd SA are at cadre levels and effectively removed from play. 15th PZ, 21st PZ and Ariete are out of supply cut off by the sortie of 70th Inf from Tobruk. The fight is at V42, this is the gateway to Tobruk.
  • 90th Inf attacks 1st SA - battle at Bir El Gubi - 5:8 or 1 to 1.5 Odds - DR=3 + 0 mods = 3 - 90th Inf reduced 1 strength and must retreat to D76 and cannot move next turn.
  • 15th Panzer attacks and 2nd SA - battle at SE of V42 - 9-2 or 1:4 Odds - DR=8 + 2 mods = 11 - 2nd SA reduced 3 strength to cadre level and retreats to V52 and cannot move next turn.
  • 7th Arm and 4th Ind attacks and 21st PZ and Sollum - battle at T56 - 12-4 or 3-1 Odds - DR=10 + 2 mods = 12 - 21st PZ reduced 3 strength to cadre level and retreats to Bardia and cannot move next turn. Sollum is garrisoned by the British.
  • 90th Light, Trieste, 21st Panzer and 2nd SA cannot move.
  • if you decide to attack a garrison or ground unit by moving your units adjacent to it you have to first reduced it with heavy air attacks during the frame or have more than one unit attack it. The enemy could reinforce his garrison with his ground units in later movements so be aware of this.

Final - MAP

  • 4th Ind and 1st SA attacks Ariete - battle at G5 - 11:6 or 1 to 1.5 Odds - DR=3 + 2 mods = 5 - Ariete reduced 1 strength but holds at G5. Reduced 1 strength for being out of supply.
  • 70th Ind and 7th Arm attacks 15th PZ - battle at V42 - 6-8 or 1:1.25 Odds - DR=8 + 1 mods = 9 - 15th PZ reduced 1 strength but holds at V42. Reduced 1 strength for being out of supply.
  • Allies so close to relieving Tobruk but the Germans stand fast even if their forces at El Adem are unsupplied they fight on and hold the siege.

Special Ops - max of two per frame, pilots may switch back to regular a/c after mission is completed.

  1. Tobruk Harbour Raid - several small coastal lighters are in Tobruk Harbour, use 6+ stukas to sink them. This must be a daylight raid. DONE
  2. Night Raid - use 4+ CR42s(Vals) to bomb a British garrison during the night. DONE
  3. Airborne Drop - use at least 6 Ju52s to drop paratroops on the Jaghbub oasis(V49)
  4. Resupply - use at least 2 Ju52s to drop supplies to an isolated garrison(T59,T56,D81). This may launch during night. DONE
  5. Convoy Attack - use 12+ SM79s(He111s) from Crete to launch torpedo attacks against a large ship convoy heading to Malta south of the island. This must be a daylight raid.
  6. Mersa Matruh Harbour Raid - use 6+ Bf109E jabos to sink several coastal lighters off Mersa Matruh(P91). This must be a daylight raid.
  7. Harbour Mining - use at least two He111s to drop mines inside Tobruk harbour. This may launch during night. DONE
  8. Night Raid - use 4+ CR42s(Vals) to bomb a British depot during the night . DONE

S3 Clarifications - the S3 staff reserves the right to make a ruling on questions or game situations not answered completely or missed by the rules. For further clarification please post on the S3 forum or email Jabo.

[ Aircraft - Series Map - Player Rules ]