AFRIKA KORPS SUPPLEMENT 1

This REPLAY is from the Avalon Hill's General magazine,
volume 10, number 5 and played under the first edition rules.
Successive rule editions were mainly an attempt to clarify 
ambiguous rules and correct contradicting rulings.

This REPLAY should be viewed at zoom level 2 or 3.
If you are at level 1, stop the replay as soon as possible
and adjust the level.

The following REPLAY text is quoted as closely as possible
with only minor corrections for spelling.  The unit paths
followed are my responsibility and may have been done
differently by the players.  In fact, I cannot see how the
Italian units can get to their first move locations without the
use of Rommel (or Rommel get to his position if he helps
them) as reported by the British player.

Anyway, I've adjusted the move end positions to make them
consistent with the REPLAY text and figures.  Further, there
are serious problems with the supply units.  At several points,
reported supply availability does not match the unit 
placements and figures.

Any comments that I add will be enclosed in brackets.  

AFRIKA KORPS SERIES REPLAY

The Series Replay which was forecast as being a matchup of
the country's best game players in demonstrations of their
skills is beginning to more like a Clinic on how to play.

The Afrika Korps match printed below is the 4th consecutive
game in which our neutral commentators have gunned down
the participants for flaws in their play.  But perhaps that's as
it should be.  It is an educational adage that students remember
mistakes far longer than correct responses.  For some reason,
errors stand out far better in our memory processes.

If such is truly the case we should have another great lesson
lined up for you as our neutral judge, Robert Beyma takes
exception to prowess displayed below.

PARTICIPANTS: Robert Garbisch, (Germans) staff member;
Bill Hoyer, (Allies) ex-president of the IFW: Robert Beyma,
Third Party Commentary.  [Figure commentary editor is not 
identified.]

I April 1941:

(Figure 1)

[OK, I can get Rommel a couple of hexes closer to his final hex, 
but I can't quite make G-9 without a little extra gas.  I'll jump 
Rommel to G-9.  I am not very good at this game; maybe you
can figure out how Rommel gets there?]

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
The opening German move is far from standard.  Although the
2/2SG has been isolated in Bengasi, the Germans have gone
about it in an inefficient manner.  Proper use of the Rommel
bonus would have enabled Ariete and Bologna to carry out the
isolation alone, releasing the 21st Panzer for a faster eastward
trip across the desert.

GERMAN:
Have garrisoned Home Base with Savena Infantry and isolated
Br. 2/2 S.G. at Bengasi.  Attack is unnecessary at this time and
too costly in terms of using my only Supply Unit.  Whereas by
using my slow-moving Italian Infantry units I can continue the
isolated siege of Bengasi and be just as effective in eliminating
the British unit.

I advanced the main Panzer striking force to G-9, in expectation
of a British defensive screen along escarpments running from
Tmimi to Mechili and extending inland.

Rommel-G9; 21o5-G10; 21o104-G9; 21Recce3-G4; Ariete-I3; Trenta-K3; Brescia-K4; Pavia-K3; Bologna-K4; 
Savena-W3; 1S-G9

BRITISH:
The movement of the 21st Panzer along the Coast Road to the
Northern escarpments is interesting.  Obviously, the Italian
infantry and Ariete did not use the Rommel bonus; I wonder
why?  I find the 21st Recce unit being employed near Bengasi
to be a strange move.

4Ix5-At Sea; 4Ix7-At Sea; 4Ix11-At Sea; PolxCar-HB; 7Ax1-At Sea; 7Ax2-At Sea; 22Gds-G18; 9Ax20-M20; 
7x3Im-K18; 2o3-H17; 2o2SG-Bengasi; 1S-Tobruch

THIRD PARTY:
The German player seems to be isolating Bengasi the hard way. 
2/2 S.G. could still move out onto G-2 and block the road at H-3.
The employment of the mobile 21st Panzer division so far north
is somewhat weak.  The British player has gone into a standard
screening defense west of Tobruch.

The POL infantry unit is not needed to garrison the home base,
a supply unit will work just as well.

II April 1941:

(Figure2)

[In the future, I'll just jump units to their final locations rather
than trying to trace the routes.]

FIGURE COMMENTARY: 
Although he has forced the British back to the escarpments
behind Mechili and is flanking the British defenses to the south
the German 2nd move it lethargic and contains a major error.
The German has allowed the 2/2SGto escape isolation in
Bengasi via a 1-3 attack on Brescia.

Only the failure of the British player to grasp this opportunity
has saved the German from an embarrassing situation.

GERMAN:
Second Supply Unit arrives.  It's too early to risk a breakthrough
attack on the British escarpment defenses.  Instead, two strong
pincer forces have been maneuvered into threatening positions.
Hopefully, this will cause the British forward units to fall back
in defense of the Tobruk area.

Rommel-J3; 21o5-O21; 21o104-O21; 21Recce3-E11; Ariete-C11; Trenta-C11; Brescia-H3; Pavia-C11; Bologna-I3; 
Savena-W3; 1S-O21; 2S-H4

BRITISH:
Bah, too many supplies.  Well, the 7th Australian division
should be able to tie up some units for a while, maybe even
cause him to use a supply unit, but I doubt it.  7A/l also closes
the coast road to the Italians.  Standard defense deployed
around Tobruch.

4Ix5-K36; 4Ix7-K36; 4Ix11-K36; PolxCar-HB; 7Ax1-G18; 7Ax2-L19; 22Gds-H25; 9Ax20-H25; 7x3Im-H26; 2o3-
Tobruch; 2o2SG-Bengasi; 1S-Tobruch; 2S-HB

THIRD PARTY:
The Germans did a sloppy job isolating Bengasi.  The 2/2 S.G.
could have moved to G-2 and attacked at 1-3 and have a retreat
route.  But the British player missed it.

P-22 is a better square than O-21 for a Southern threat because
O-21 can be blocked from one square (N-22).

The British player withdrew prematurely.  The escarpments
West of Tobruch can be held until the arrival of the 15th
Panzer division.  7A/2 is being needlessly sacrificed.  The
British player is playing rather conservatively.

I May 1941:

(Figure 3)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
By May the British have withdrawn to the heights around
Tobruch leaving the 7A units as a sacrificial delay. The British
withdrawal was premature leaving the German in a good
situation despite two less than perfect opening moves.

GERMAN:
Third Supply Unit and 15th Panzer Division arrives.  There's
now a sufficient force to push forth in a more aggressive
manner.  The forward British defenses have now been
weakened to a mere delaying screen.  The main British defense
is now centered around Tobruch, thereby preventing a quick
thrust at capturing Tobruch with the 21st Panzer division.
  
Therefore the elimination of the two weak forward British 
units became mandatory in order to insure a safe supply line.

Rommel-F18; 21o5-M20; 21o104-K18; 21Recce3-H18; Ariete-F18; Trenta-F18; Brescia-C14; Pavia-F18; Bologna-
C13; Savena-W3; 15o8-H4; 15o115-H4; 15Recce33-G5; 1S-J20; 2S-F18; 3S-H4

BRITISH:
When will the German supplies stop?  Strange that the 15th
Panzer went north along the coast road, no sense to it. Halfaya
Pass is weakly garrisoned but there was not much I could do
about it. 4I/11 prevents a decent attack on Tobruch.

4Ix5-K36; 4Ix7-K36; 4Ix11-H25; PolxCar-At Sea; 22Gds-Tobruch; 9Ax20-At Sea; 7x3Im-Tobruch; 2o3-Tobruch; 
1S-Tobruch; 2S-HB

THIRD PARTY:
I am beginning to wonder whether the German player realizes
that his mobile units can get to Tobruch faster via Msus than
by the coast road.  The Germans made a nice, safe attack, there
was not much else to do.  Note that if the Germans had not
attacked they could not have gotten a supply unit next turn.

The British player apparently is planning on a long tough game
and is taking no chance with losing Tobruch.  The Pole infantry
brigade finally got moved out to sea, a little late.

II May 1941:

(Figure4)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
The end of May finds the Germans preparing to lay siege to
Tobruch by eliminating the 4I/11.  Of more interest and equal
importance is the seizure of the pass east of Salum.  Note that
the German player correctly opted to split his attack into two
battles; the heavy elements getting a 5-1 on the 4I/7 while the
Recce unit attacks the 4I/5 at 1-1.

Many novice players would bunch this together into one 3-1
attack with an expected loss to the attacker of 1.67 factors as
opposed to the expected loss of 1.0 factor when using the 1-1.

GERMAN:
It now appears as if the British shall be defending the Tobruch
fortress in strength.  A weak but still effective buffer has been
placed in front of the Tobruch fortress, thereby preventing a
concentrated assault on Tobruch.  Once this single unit is
eliminated, I can construct a close-knit defensive perimeter
around Tobruch and restrict any tactical breakout attacks.

Once the Halfaya Pass position is cleared my east flank can be
easily protected.  The possibility may exist for a swift advance
onto the Allied Home Base.

Rommel-J27; 21o5-K35; 21o104-K35; 21Recce3-K35; Ariete-H26; Trenta-I26; Brescia-G23; Pavia-I26; Bologna-
J26; Savena-W3; 15o8-G21; 15o115-G21; 15Recce33-J26; 1S-I3; 2S-K30; 3S-G21

BRITISH:
A German supply unit was finally sunk.  I really should not have
moved the Poles and 9A/20 out to sea last turn. Thank heavens it
was not a colossal mistake.  I have a chance if supplies continue
to be sunk.

4Ix5-J37; PolxCar-L59; 22Gds-Tobruch; 9Ax20-L59; 7x3Im-Tobruch; 2o3-Tobruch; 1S-Tobruch; 2S-HB

THIRD PARTY:
The German player made some sound attacks, clearing the
approach to Tobruch and the Halfaya Pass.

There seems to be an underlying current of caution and
pessimism shown by both sides.  The German player is
worried about a defensive perimeter and protecting his east
flank.  The British player is worried about moving a piece out
to sea being a colossal mistake and about just hanging on.

Both players are in reasonably good position. The British
player perhaps has allowed the Germans to get too much
too easily.

I June 1941:

(Figure 5)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
June finds the 15th Panzer division arriving on the scene in
time for the biggest German crap game seen in a long time.
By putting all his hopes on a 2-1 attack on Tobruch the German
is allowing the game to play him, rather than he the game.
Such reliance on luck is more reminiscent of Monopoly than a
wargame.

A 6 and the game ends here. Any result other than a 1 or 2 and
the game should end in a British win.  The German had smooth
sailing to Alexandria and his refusal to take the coast road and
the conservative approach smacks of a definite lack of faith in
his own ability.

GERMAN:
With the added pressure of more British units arriving and the
inconvenience of a long, time-consuming, and not always
reliable supply line, it has become imperative that I assault the
Tobruch fortress with no more delay.  Although the risk of an
A-elim (2-1 odds) does exist, I am counting on Lady Luck to
see me through this time.

If an exchange occurs, I will still have sufficiently strong
units to continue the struggle with my British opponent.  With
A-back 2, it will delay me in my offensive time schedule. A
disastrous A-elim will spell the effective finish of the D.A.K.
However, if I am able to eliminate the British defenders then
I will have gained a very valuable asset in continuing my
offensive.

To delay the elimination of the Tobruch defenders will only
place me in a precarious two front position, between Tobruch
itself and the arriving British units from their Home Base.

Rommel-F19; 21o5-H26; 21o104-H26; 21Recce3-H26; Ariete-G24; Trenta-K36; Brescia-H24; Pavia-G24; 
Bologna-G24; Savena-W3; 15o8-H25; 15o115-H25; 15Recce33-H25; 1S-F19; 2S-K36; 3S-H24
[Note: 21Recce3 position was printed as H56, which was obviously incorrect.]

BRITISH:
I really did not expect that 2-1 on Tobruch. At least another 
 supply was sunk but then there's the captured one in Tobruch.
I can do nothing but conserve strength, fall back to El Alamein
and get killed.

4Ix5-K5; PolxCar-N59; 7o4-K58; 7o7SG-P62; 7o7-P60; 7x4SAm-O61; 4Ix23-L60; 9Ax20-L49; 2S-HB
[Note: Printed figure shows 9Ax20 at N59 rather than L49.]

THIRD PARTY:
The Germans made a risky attack and got away with it.  They
should have an easy game from here on in.  A brief analysis of
the 2-1 attack follows.

A roll of 1 or 3, a 33% chance, and the Germans are in great
shape and should win.  A roll of 6 and the Germans have lost
the game.  A roll of 4, attacker back 2, hurts the Germans.
They use a supply unit, waste a turn, and the British can
reinforce Tobruch.  In this attack an A-back 2 could be
potentially dangerous due to the poor placement of Brescia.

The British could retreat the Panzers in such a way that they
could get out of Tobruch, capture some supply units, and
surround a good portion of the Axis forces.  A better placement
for Brescia would be I-26.

An exchange, a 33% chance, would capture Tobruch but would
decimate the Axis forces.  The Axis would be incapable of
major offensive operations the rest of the year.  The British
would enjoy a significant numerical superiority especially after
November and should win the game.

In summary, I think the odds were 2-1 against the German
player and that the risk really was not necessary at this stage
of the game.

The decision to attack Tobruch or proceed on to Alexandria is
always a major one in Afrika Korps.  Unless Tobruch can be
taken fairly easily I personally feel that it is better to go for the
British home base.  With average supplies a good player can
get mighty close by November. You should be able to kill
10-20 British factors at virtually no loss to yourself.

This will leave the Germans with a tremendous tactical
advantage.  At worst, the Germans can always withdraw to
Tobruch, and if the situation warrants it, attack Tobruch at 1-1
or 2-1.  An exchange at this point might even be a victory for
the Germans.  Now on with the game.

II Jun 1941:

(Figure 6)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
The successful German attack on Tobruch has turned this game
into a die rolling contest.  For the British to win at this stage
they must gamble with low odds attacks and hope for careless
German mistakes and bad luck.  The German need only mop
up in a conservative manner and avoid mistakes.  Perhaps this
is the reason for his over cautious move here.

GERMAN:
Supply units continue to be sunk.  However, Tobruch has fallen
and with no serious losses to the D.A.K.  With Tobruch now in
Axis control, I can advance onto the Allied home base in a very
bold and threatening style.

Rommel-I40; 21o5-K46; 21o104-K46; 21Recce3-I46; Ariete-I42; Trenta-I46; Brescia-I39; Pavia-I40; Bologna-G25; 
Savena-W3; 15o8-J46; 15o115-J46; 15Recce33-I46; 1S-I40; 2S-K46; C4S-J46

BRITISH:
I am trying something new.  He can get AV's on 4I/5 and 4I/23
but then he must stop unless he wants to try poor odds attacks
on the stacked units directly behind.  Since everything is north
of escarpment it is safe for this turn.  I will do this again but
must conserve units to last to November.  Maybe he will waste
supply, maybe not.  I must chance it.

The German player should have moved something onto the
escarpment just in case for a flanking move.

4Ix5-J48; PolxCar-L49; 7o4-L49; 7o7SG-J49; 7o7-L49; 7x4SAm-J49; 4Ix23-L48; 9Ax20-L49; 2S-HB

THIRD PARTY:
The German player should have moved some units onto the
escarpment.  The British came up with a screen defense but the
Germans are strong enough to maul 4 or 5 factors.  The British
player should be pulling back to El Alamein and thinking about
a couple 1-1's if the Germans keep getting supplies.

I Jul 1941:

(Figure 7)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
July finds the Germans following a proper course of action,
making guaranteed attacks on the delay units while massing his
heavy mobile units on the escarpments, forcing the British to
withdraw to El Alamein or face encirclement on the next turn.
The British should be gambling as this point rather than giving
up delaying units.   They can not afford to sacrifice factors at
this stage.

GERMAN:
Encountering stronger resistance than expected around the
Matruh area.  Sending out a powerful flanking threat along the
escarpments while maintaining frontal pressure on the forward
British defensive buffer.  I hope to turn the Matruh defenses
into a British withdrawal.

Because now the British commander will be confronted with
the choice of either counter-attacking or pulling back to a
more defendable position.

Rommel-L46; 21o5-L46; 21o104-K47; 21Recce3-L46; Ariete-J47; Trenta-J47; Brescia-J47; Pavia-K47; Bologna-
G25; Savena-At Sea; 15o8-L45; 15o115-K47; 15Recce33-L46; 1S-L45; 2S-L46; 3S-I43; C4S-L45

BRITISH:
Space is running out unless he makes some horrendous mistake.
All appears lost.

PolxCar-J49; 7o4-K57; 7o7SG-K57; 7o7-P59; 7x4SAm-L49; 4Ix23-L48; 9Ax20-N58; 50x69-N57; 50x150-K56; 
50x151-P59; 50x6SAm-P58; 2SAx6-N58; 2SA Recce7-P59; 2SAx4-K57; 9Ax18-N58; 2S-HB
[Note: 7o7SG left off of list, figure shows it at K57 location.]

THIRD PARTY:
The Germans made some rather conservative attacks this turn.
He could have picked up 4 or 5 British factors.  The British are
throwing away units.  His days are numbered.

II Jul 1941:

(Figure 8)

FIGURE COMMENTARY:
The game ends as the German delivers the coup de grace.  One
only wonders what took him so long. The British do have some
shots at surrounded attacks which should he taken.

GERMAN:
The southern flanking threat has apparently convinced the
British to withdraw from the Matruh area.  I am surprised that
a stiffer defense was not attempted, because my forces were
easily bottlenecked in the escarpment narrows near Matruh.

Now that Matruh and Fuka are in Axis control, and El Daba is
being contested, the British are definitely pressured into a very
confining corner.  British resistance should be quite a tactical
challenge now that their backs are up against a wall.

My five Automatic Victory attacks were conducted as follows:

15/33 Recce moved south of the escarpment ridge then wheeled
northwest to engage the 7/4S.A. Motor.  The Trenta and Brescia
Divisions then moved into the attack to create a surrounded AV.
With the 7/4S.A. Motor's ZOC now nullified, the Ariete division
goes into a frontal assault while the Pavia division overruns the
7/4S.A. Motor to engage the Polish Carpathian Brigade in a 6-1
surrounded AV.

With the British Matruh's ZOC being nullified the 21/3 Recce,
15/115, and 21/104 Panzer-Grenadier units pass in-between the
two surrounded British defenders to attack the 50/150 at a 8-1
AV.  This unit and the next two units to be attacked are a part
of the British lines defending in front of the El Alamein area.

The 21/5 Panzer overruns the 7/4S.A. Motor and advances to
engage the 50/69 at a 7-1 AV.  In the same series of actions,
Rommel leads the 15/8 Panzer in an attack on the
50/6S.A. Motor, a 7-1 AV.

The British have now suffered heavy losses at no cost to the
D.A.K. Some supplies have been lost but were not damaging
to my offensive plans.  With a little more luck I expect to be
in control of the British home base by November.

Rommel-P57; 21o5-N56; 21o104-K55; 21Recce3-K55; Ariete-I48; Trenta-K48; Brescia-K48; Pavia-K50; Bologna-
G25; Savena-I38; 15o8-P57; 15o115-K55; 15Recce33-M50; 1S-N56; 2S-M52; C4S-L45

BRITISH:
I guess the time has come to tender my surrender, there is
nothing else to do.  You played well.  I can only reflect on my
mistakes and my underestimation of your intentions.  This last
turn I should not have let all five factors get killed.

THIRD PARTY:
The German player went right after the British and cleaned up
the 5 units given to him.  I believe that the British player gave
up too soon.  He had a chance to pull things out with a
desperate counterattack.  He could have moved 2SA/7 to N-55
and gotten two 1-1 surrounded attacks against the two 7-7-10's.

Two victories here, a 1/9th chance, and the British are still in
the game.  Also, the 2 remaining German supply units would
be eliminated.  There is not much excuse for going down
without a fight.

AFTERMATH:

GERMAN Summary:
In retrospect, I believe that my unconservative 2-1 assault on
the Tobruch fortification and its explosive success was quite
unexpected by the British player.  His underestimation of my
aggressive intentions in conducting such an attack started him
on a defensive series of hopeless delay actions.

BRITISH Summary:
The British have surrendered.  In all honesty, I just could not
see how anyone could hold out and protect the Allied home
base until the arrival of the important British November 1941
reinforcements.

THIRD PARTY Summary:
Both players played a rather conservative game, except for the
one 2-1 attack.  The tactical execution of moves was adequate
but left something to be desired.  I felt that the British fell back
to Tobruch too quickly.  In the final analysis, however, the 2-1
against Tobruch was the decisive play of the game.  After
winning the 2-1 the Germans just about had it wrapped up.

The British player passed up chances for some 1-1
counterattacks late in the game which could have evened
things up had he got lucky.

THE ATTACKS...HOW THEY FELL

I May 1941
21/5, 21/104		7AX2	5-1	D ELIM
Automatic Victory vs.	7AX1

II May 1941
21/3 Recce		4IX5	1-1	AB2
Automatic Victory vs.	4IX11
21/5, 21/104		4IX7	5-1	D ELIM

I June 1941
21/5, 21/3, 21/104, 15/8	2/3	2-1	D ELIM
15/33, 15/115, Ariete,	7/31M
Bologna, Pavia		22Gds

I July 1941
Automatics vs. 		41X5, 41X23

II July 1941
Automatics vs. 		7/4SAM, Pol/Carp, 50/150,
50/69, 50/6SAM

THE LUCK FACTOR

It is difficult to objectively analyze the luck factor in an Afrika
Korps game due to the small number of die rolls, their vastly
different consequences, and the automatic victory rule.  The
usual "average" percentage calculations of attacks at varying
odds can be misleading, especially in a game as short as this
one was.

However, the formula can be applied to tell us something about
the effects of Lady Luck in this particular game.  We do know
for a fact that the Germans should receive an average of 5.35
supply units in an 8-turn game.  The fact that the Germans got
only 4 does not give the British player much excuse for his
defeat.  

However, there is something to be said for the good fortune of 
getting those all-important first two supplies in April and May
when they are most needed.

Analyzing the battles themselves is simply a matter of
calculating the average losses for 9 automatic victory attacks,
two 5-1's, a 2-1, and a 1-1 with their respective factor
involvements.  Doing this we find that the British player
should have given up 14.67 factors instead of his actual losses
of 19.  Somewhat unlucky but not tremendously so.

Taking a look at the German player though we find that his two
low odds attacks left him with a loss expectancy of 11.66
factors of which he actually lost nothing.  THIS must be
considered good fortune.

Anyway you cut it, the game hinges around the 2-1 attack on
Tobruch.  A different die roll could have very easily caused a
different winner.  All of which seems to give the impression
that Afrika Korps is a game of luck coming down to one 50-50
die roll.  Perhaps that statement is true given play at this level.

However, more expert play would have found the German
driving on the British home base and not exposing himself to
the ultimate gamble so early in the game.  Just because this
German player happened to make the right sacrifices to the
God of Chance doesn't excuse his technique.  The successful
way is not always the right way - at least not over the course
of only one experience.

There is a thin line between luck and skill in Afrika Korps.  If
played well, it can be the most skillful of all wargames; being
the ultimate in maneuver.  No other game gives mobility the
power it holds in Afrika Korps. Here positions are gained by
threats and feints, not frontal assaults.  

An expert player can literally throw the die away as he
maneuvers his opponent into a trap.  Unfortunately, this was
not the level of play we saw here.

The Luck Factor?  Obviously, the Germans were courting
Lady Luck in this game. However, aside from the 2-1 on
Tobruch, the British player can hardly blame his defeat on the
die.  After all, he never rolled it!

Contest 59 (10/5)
		
It is the last July 1941 turn in a game of Afrika Korps.
Attention is focused on the escarpments of Tobruch where the
Germans are now conducting siege operations in an effort to
wear down the defenders.  An explosive possibility that can
end the game almost immediately now exists for one of the
combatants.

He can, in one all decisive move, end the game with only
proper mopping-up procedures standing between him and
certain victory.  See if you can discover the opportunity that
exists by making the first crucial move with the right side.
Remember, your move must lead to certain victory in only a
few turns.

GERMAN FORCES:  As shown plus Savena at the homebase.
  		        G24 - Rommel, Ariete
        H25 - 2nd Supply, Brescia, 21/5, 21/104
                                     H26 - 3rd Supply, Pavia, 15/115, 15/8

The most recent German supplies have been sunk.  Both Recce
units as well as Trenta and Bologna have been eliminated

ALLIED FORCES:  Tobruch - 2nd Supply, 2/3, 7/31 Motor, 4I/7
                                  P29 -7/7S.G.
                                  K36 - 22GDS, 7A/1
                                  Sidi Barrani - 7/4SAMotor, 9A/18
                                  I43 - 3rd Supply, Pol/Carpathian
                                  Matruh - 4I/23
                                  T24 - 2SA Recce7
                                  Br. HB - 7A/2, 1st Supply, 4th Supply


Answer to Contest 59 (10/6)

Most of our readers took the correct strategic course in Contest
59's Afrika Korps situation but many lost out due to faulty
tactical placement.  The solution was to capture both German
supply units.  Thus, all the axis units are attacked at 1-6 odds
while the 4Ix7 and 7Ax1 capture the German supply units and
evacuate them out to sea via Tobruch, expending their own 2
supply units in the process.

This leaves Axis combat units adjacent to 7Ax1 without
benefit of supplies, forcing them to withdraw or perish in their
turn.  Although Ariete can slip to G23, and the units on H25
can move to G24, the 15th Panzer and Pavia cannot get away
and will be eliminated.

Although isolation is not yet in force if the German receives
supplies this turn, the Allies can easily complete the isolation
of the Axis pocket with 4Ix23 and the Carpathians while 7Ax1
and 7o7SG move westward to keep Savena and German
supplies at bay, thus dooming the remaining German units.  

Well, maybe you can figure out how exactly how they did it, 
but it escapes me!  The stacks with which the supply units are
stacked both contain 13 defense factors.  With doubling for the
escarpment, this means that each stack must be attacked with
5 factors to achieve the 1-6 odds plus one additional factor for
each supply.

The net result is that the Allies need 12 factors to attack those
two stacks.  To achieve this force level, the Tobruch defenders
need to be employed.  As attacking out of Tobruch will require
that all adjacent enemy forces be attacked, an additional unit 
will have to attack Ariete.  Now a total of 14 factors will be
necessary.

Fortunately, this is just what is available and within range.
Now if the 4I/7 and 7A/1 are used to grab the supplies, then
7o7SG and 2o3 can attack the 21 Panzer Division stack, the
22xGds, 7x4SAmtr, and 9Ax18 tackle the 15 Panzer Division,
and 7/3Imtr takes on Ariete.

There is slight chance that the Allied units attacking outside of
Tobruch will survive and retreat, but they will more likely all
be eliminate along with the Tobruch garrison except for 4I/7. 
Relying on 7o7SG to help by moving westward to keep Savena
and German supplies at bay is then irrational.

Of course, the 7o7SG can attack the supplies instead of the
7Ax1which allows a slightly more mobile unit to survive.
If 7o7SG attacks from I-26, the 15 Panzer will be eliminated
(providing that the other Allied units converge on Tobruch as
rapidly as possible), but the 21 Panzer and Ariete can make
good their retreat.

As they, with Rommel, are all faster than the British force,
they should be able to get back to their Home Base before any
appreciable British force can intercept.  If  7o7SG attacks from
I-25, all German units can escape.



AFRIKA KORPS

13.2/15.22  If an unaccompanied supply unit moves adjacent to an enemy combat unit to supply an attack on that 
enemy unit, is the supply unit captured by the enemy combat unit?
A. No.
