| The Gazala Line, 60 km SW of Tobruk (best played H2H via team play, three players per side) In a bold and daring move, Rommel's Panzer Armee Afrika has struck at the Gazala Line. Seeing Tobruk as the final key to victory in Libya, Rommel has set out to pierce and breach the Gazala Line, a series of fortifications streching form Gazala on the Mediterranean coast, to Bir Hachiem in the soutn near the Libyan Sand Sea. The Panzer Armee's objective is to breach the Gazala Line at the 150th Brigade Box near the center of the Line. A lightning strike is called for from 21st and 15th Panzer, assisted by a Kampfgruppe comprised of the Italian 'Trieste' and 'Ariete' armored formations with the German 90th Light Afrika. Opposing them are the forces holding the Box (150th Infantry Brigade with support from 69th Infantry Brigade and 32nd Tank Brigade), with forces later arriving from 1st and 7th Armored Divisions. Can the Axis team repeat the historical action of breaching and striding the Gazala Line, then fend off the British counter-attack?? DESIGNER NOTES: In reality the battle took place over several days, starting around 26 May and finally culminating in the capture of Tobruk on 21 June. On von Niemack's suggestion (whose help was, as always, invaluable) I chose to combine several offnesives/counter-offensives from 31 May-June 6 to create this scenario. In that time, Rommel captured the 150th Brigade Box and defeated almost all of the British armor in the field. My sources indicate if the British had not delayed so long in counter-attacking the outcome may have been different. The Axis commanders must eliminate the forces in the Box and prepare for the inevitable counter stroke by the Allies. The Allied commanders must hold the Box as long as they can, then strike hard against the Axis once help arrives. Can they do it?? |
