DAR: Alam Halfa Ridge

[RERomine]

Turn 24

Victory hexes are starting to turn in the middle and South objectives. Consequently, enemy units are crawling out from under rocks all over the place. Three 6pdr ATGs opened up from around the South objective. Infantry destroyed one of them. The three Crusader IIIs were moving toward the middle objective when they were engaged by my StuGs leaving one destroyed and one immobilized. I finally got fire on the Crusader II-CS and destroyed it also. Two platoons of infantry abandoned defensive positions in the North sector and started heading toward the North objective. One tank platoon and MG-42 engaged them and suppressed them. Several turned East in rout.

Due to increased enemy activity, additional artillery calls were made for next turn.

Casualties

Friendly: Three

Enemy: One Crusader III and one Crusader II-CS destroyed, one 6pdr ATG destroyed, estimated 10 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 25

All victory hexes turned in middle objective. Destroyed immobilized Crusader III. The other one popped smoke and ran. Artillery hit enemy infantry beyond the objective and they are also running.

Meeting Resistance around South objective. Destroyed one 6pdr ATG with small arms fire. One still remains, but should be destroyed next turn.

Within 350m of North objective. One 6pdr ATG sighted and destroyed by small arms fire. More are expected. Enemy infantry trying reach objective, but are over 1000m away and being engaged by tanks and an MG-42.

Enemy artillery hitting random locations, but they should be on target soon. Action around the objectives has slowed my infantry. Infantry will push beyond the objectives when possible to avoid becoming artillery targets.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimate 5 casualties.

Enemy: One Crusader III tank, two 6pdr ATG destroyed, estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 26

Middle objective still secure and no enemy activity in the area.

South objective captured, but still meeting resistance. Infantry maneuvered against remaining 6pdr ATG and in the process found another. Both were destroyed with small arms fire.

Now within 200m of North objective. Engaged and destroyed two ATR teams and found another 6pdr ATG. Those things seem to be growing on trees! Enemy infantry still attempting to reach this objective, but are taking a beating.

Incoming mail is doing nothing more than annoying the scorpions and dung beetles

Casualties

Friendly: Estimate 5 casualties.

Enemy: Two 6pdr ATG destroyed, estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 27

In the process of pushing through the middle objective, infantry found a Bofors. It was engaged by small arms fire, but is still in action.

Still meeting resistance around the South objective. Last (I hope!) 6pdr ATG was destroyed, but another Bofors opened up. It was engaged and destroyed by small arms fire. Still receiving light small arms fire from ATR team and the Crusader III that was last seen running has reappeared and is heading toward the objective. It's within 400m, but two platoons of infantry should be able to take care of it.

Started turning victory hexes in Northern objective after destroying 6pdr ATG. No other resistance at the moment.

Random and harmless incoming mail still arriving. Starting to shift tanks and StuGs to prevent targeting.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: One 6pdr ATG destroyed, one 40mm Bofors destroyed, estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 28

Middle objective secure. Still receiving light small arms fire.

Eliminated resistance around South objective by destroying last Crusader III and ATR team.

Turned all but one victory hex in Northern objective. Diverted two platoons to deal with the two Bofors found last turn since those units were closer. Neither was destroyed, but the crews abandoned them and were eliminated running away. One tank platoon is moving into position to overrun enemy infantry heading to relief of objective.

Casualties

Friendly: Five

Enemy: Two 40mm Bofors abandoned, estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Decisive Victory!!!!

Turn 29

The last victory hex was turned securing all. There was no remaining enemy resistance, other than one salvo from yet another Bofors. It was quickly dispatched. One platoon of PzKw IVgs closed to within 100m of enemy infantry heading toward Northern objective and ripped them up pretty good. All other fire was directed at fleeing enemy.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: One 40mm Bofors destroyed, estimated 20 casualties.

Total Casualties

German

Men: 29
Artillery: 0
Soft Vehicles: 0
APCs: 0
AFVs: 0

British

Men: 527
Artillery: 25
Soft Vehicles: 0
APCs: 0
AFVs: 35 (11x Valentine III, 22x Crusader III, 2x Crusader II-CS)

Note: There were no air assets so those aren't listed.

Score

Germany: 6026
GB: 56

Final Comments

I'm not sure whether I this battle was just easier than I expected it would be or I just planned it well. Without a doubt, I hated the idea of advancing against enemy positions with open fields of fire and high visibility. My preferred method of attack are to move as close as possible to the enemy positions via covered and concealed routes, as fast as possible, before engaging. In effect, more finesse than brute force. That just wasn't possible in this case.

I respected was the capabilities of the British 6pdr. In this case, they had 37 of them in various mounts. The funny thing is, and I didn't realize this until the battle was underway, instead of truck mounted 88s, Tigers were available The only chance a 6pdr has against its frontal armor is at point blank range with one of those "extra penetration" hits. An easy battle could have been easier.

My next battle is a delay without refit, not that I need it with only 29 casualties and no vehicles or guns damaged. One ATG crew took casualties, but that's about it.

If anyone is interested in things just before the last British turn, which involved screaming and running , I've attached the save. Enjoy!

[Brummbar]

Again, a very well written report.

You made it seem like I was watching over your shoulder!