Long Run Vassal play Scenario 7.5

As the 29^th of December rolls around we have to look back to catch up from the 12^th.

Basically those handful of turns not a lot happens. DAK 2 is a series of ebb and flow situations, where if one side can plan it correctly they can conduct a serious offensive and execute a break through that will place significant forces out of supply and force a surrender.

As the Allies I am looking for that opportunity but not seeing the change, nor do I really have enough supply to make a real push with any follow through capability. So we wait. They peck and hunt.

Via some adroit usage of air, and reserves we are so far managing to redirect, deflect or delay any significant attacks. While the dice have been poor, the overall approach for the Germans is on track I think. I thought he was far behind!

But the challenge is his inability to get a more decisive OCS style breakthrough. Part of that is my play, the rest his.

So from Dec 12^th through 29^th not a lot transpires, both sides lose some air, some steps here and there and not much momentous occurs. The Axis do start bombing Tobruk. This drops port capacity, which I willing spend SP to rebuild. We can imagine work crews and engineers and levies rapidly rebuilding as soon as the shelling stops.

I do think he should have breached the outer defenses by now, but Im happy to have him where he is.

Come Jan 1 1942, storms ravage map A&B. no air, and all air go to unavailable or whatever the term is…inactive. So each side will need to pay precious supply to bring them back online.

The allies win initiative and take it.

After reactivating all my air, and brining in reinforcements I conduct and extensive 3 hex barrage with air. We DG all units and dodge flak gloriously.

We move to encircle and we also attack a hex and force a step loss and retreat, in an Ao1 DL1o1. These were overruns, so we quickly look to reinforce the effort with !SA and elements of 7^th Armoured who quickly surround the Panzer Bn from 15^th Pzr. Now wuiet possibly the Axis could have done some movement during the reaction phase using Shutte now that I look at it. That might of helped.

2-8 survives during its turn its isolation roll. The good news here is that while we knocked out 3 steps this turn, cherry picking AT and other units he will now have to spend precious supply to ‘relieve’ the Panzers or let them keep rolling for attrition. I feel like while this was a cherry picking exercise, we done good sir..we dun good! Creating problems that take his eye off the prize is worth it!