Red Flood

[King Kurt]

Getting U-boats to the med is difficult due to Gibraltar - strong currents as well as the British - that is why I suggested german crews for Italian subs - they have loads of boats, but they never performed well, so may be an injection of german skill - either as complete crews or cadres in boats - would be interesting.

[Stig]

The Italians won't accept that unless we buy the Italian subs.

[JimBob]

A3

Can we use Crete? A smaller scale Operation Fortitude. If we plan an invasion of Crete, and 'prepare' for it we could use it if conditions are right, or at least tie troops down on Crete so they aren't in Africa.

[DemonArchangel]

Firstly, the situation near the Egyptian border seems to be rather untenable. Retreat backwards, but keep the pressure on Tobruk up.

Supply: I told you all I wanted the Brandenburgers to stop this, you didn't listen to me.

Attack Crete. We're not dropping into Alexandria anyway because dropping into an urban zone is suicide. The British destroyers based in Crete won't attack our convoys anymore if we take the island, and we can base aircraft off Crete to raid Alexandria with. So we should take Crete with the FSJ and Luftlande, as well as other divisons.

[Stig]

We don't have any FJ and Luftlande at the moment, so it will be hard to deploy them against Crete

[AggonyDuck]

A What is the right strategy at Africa?

2) Hoth thinks that the situation is alarming. He wants to retreat the divisions to Gazala. This is the right place to wait for more planes and the promised pioneer regiment. Here they should be able to repel a Britsh invasion and then assault Tobruk.

The situation is alarming and I'd rather do a organised withdrawal than suffer a severe reverse. Additionally we shouldn't be caught up in costly sieges, we should stick to mobile battles and try to defeat the Brits in the open. But for now we need to pull back and reinforce our units, and secure our position for the next dash.



B) What about the British activities against the supply for Africa? Make proposals!

Get the Italian frogmen to concentrate their operations against British naval forces in Crete and Alexandria. If we can incapacitate some of the British ships in their ports, perhaps the Italians might build up the confidence to assign heavier escorts to the convoys.

As to the British desert raids. It would be useful to move supplies in large heavily escorted convoys. Maybe requesting an additional Panzer Reconnaisance battalion or two, who have the task of stopping outflanking maneuvers by British patrols, might be wise. Additionally it might be good to get a company or two of Brandenburgers to operate against British supplies.

But as it is, we might have to make do with what we have and come up with ways to utilise them properly. We have to come up with a way to counter British naval power with light naval forces and airpower.


C) What about Crete?

Start the planning for an eventual assault. It would be a good way to both damage British naval power and to acquire a decent base to strike against the RN. But that said, if we can seize Alexandria and the Suez, Crete will not be needed.

[Franconicus]

If I calculate right, we have 3 votes for a retreat and four votes for staying where we are. Is that correct?

[Franconicus]

Chapter 46 – Calm Before The Storm
28th April - Mai 12th 1941

After a long discussion with Ramcke, Paulus decides to stop any offensive operations. All units receive the order to stop any advance and to defend their positions. At the same time, the Germans and their Italian allies are trying to get reinforcements as soon as possible and to improve the supply situation.

Ramcke contacts the Italian navy command to ask for better escorts of the convoys. The Italian admirals promise to send a cruiser with every convoy. This would reduce the threat from English destroyers. However, the Italian command is not able to do anything to protect the supply route against British battleships. Ramcke also gets the promise that the Italians will use small motorboats to ship supply. These small boats can discharge at the harbour of Benghazi.

Ramcke calls the commander of the II. Air Corps to ask for a better air cover. Lörzer agrees to have more air patrols now that the operations at Greece are coming to an end. Ramcke also discusses the problems with raids against supply convoys at Libya. Lörzer promises to send more air patrols along the southern flank, but he also says that the air force is already overused.
Hoth has the idea to set up a task force for special operations deep in the desert and behind the enemy lines. Now that mobile warfare has come to a halt, this may become an important factor. There are already some targets identified: Kufra, Jarabub, Siwa and Fort Maddalena.

Good news from Naples. The fist units of Model’s 3. Panzerdivision arrive. Additionally, 2 units of heavy artillery are shipped to Tripoli.

At Tobruk, the war cools down. German planes keep on attacking the harbour facilities, while the British are trying to supply the town with night time transports. The front solidifies in a static warfare. Only at night raiding patrols from both sides are trying to do harm. Slowly, all units of the 15. Panzerdivision arrive; Panzer Rgt 8, Rifle Rgt 104, Rifle Rgt. 115, Motorcycle Bat. 15, Art. Rgt 33, AA 33, Pioneers, ATGs and supply troops.
The Panzer Rgt. has its full strength: 4 command tanks, 22 Panzer II, 22 Panzer III, and 15 Panzer IV, in total 63 tanks.

At the front of Solum Hoth forms a combat detachment with the 5th Light Division, Ariete and Brescia. The commander is Generalleutnant Streich. The 5th Light has only 20 % of its tanks ready for combat, Ariete about 35%. Both divisions receive repaired tanks. This eastern front is threatened by constant raiding patrols of the 7. Australian Infantry Division. Reconnaissance planes spot British concentrations at Sid Barrani and Rabia. There are probably one infantry divisions and one or two armoured brigades. The English get also more planes, including Bristol Beaufighters and Blenheim bombers.

The RAF dominates the sky east of Tobruk.

End of April, the war at Greece comes to an end. The British forces have to leave the country, the Greek defence collapses.

Ramcke writes a report to Keitel. He suggests to prepare an airborne operation against Crete, but to wait until the airborne divisions have reached their full combat strength again.

At the beginning of May the situation of the 41. Army Corps is improved. Supply situation is much better, most of the tanks are repaired and the soldiers could regenerate. The mechanics order sand filters to prevent further engine failures.

On the opposite side, the Australian 9. Infantry Division is still holding the fort, doing everything to fortify its positions.

The British try to run a convoy through the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Egypt. There are five transports. On May 6 they pass Gibraltar and are joined by one battleship, a carrier from Force H and another battleship which. With these heavy units are four cruisers and seven destroyers. Six more destroyers join the convoy from Gibraltar. Cunningham takes the whole of the Mediterranean Fleet out in support with three battleships, his single carrier, three cruisers and 19 destroyers.

The Italian surface ships don’t try to intercept, the Italian submarines are not capable getting into a good position. The Italian and German air forces fly some interception missions, but most of the bombers and all divers have been transferred to Libya. Bad weather prevents the bombers from being successful.

On the way, Cunningham’s ships shell Benghazi and sink two ships. Once again the British demonstrate that they do not accept the dominance of the Germans in this area of the sea. On May 12, the convoy reaches Alexandria.
After the event, German intelligence is able to give more details about the operation. The transports were carrying 238 tanks; 21 Mark VIC light tanks, 82 cruiser tanks (including many of the new Crusaders) and 135 Matilda infantry tanks, and 43 Hawker Hurricane fighters.

It is obviously, that the British are planning an operation to liberate Tobruk. The commanders meet for another briefing. After a short discussion there are three opinions – again!

1) Rommel wants to use the 15. Panzerdivision for a preventive strike. He wants to transfer it to the Solum front and then attack with 5. Light, 15. PD and Ariete. Trieste could be the strategic reserve. The goal of this operation would be an advance to Mersa Matruh and the distraction of the British forces west of this place. He says that it is crucial to beat the British before reinforcements come to the front.

2) Cambara suggests to use the time before the British are ready to strike for the assault of Tobruk. This town is still the main target. With the new divisions – the 15. and Trieste – together with the old ones – Trento and Bologna, it is possible to take this town. Arite, Brescia and 5. Light can secure the eastern flank.

3) Hoth is more sceptical. He sees that the detachment Streich at Solum has a very unfortunate position that can be bypassed easily. The British have already tank forces there and they constantly receive more units. Therefore he suggests withdrawing the complete tank group to the Gazala position. There, it would be easier to supply the troops and to repel any British invasion. Afterwards, Egypt would be easier to invade. With the pioneer regiment and the heavy artillery another assault against Tobruk would be successful.

[Stig]

2, the Italian is right again

[DemonArchangel]

D-l337

[DemonArchangel]

The British are properly supplied, because we don't have enough airplanes and enough ships. We don't have enough of everything, the 5th Light and Ariete are at serious risk of annihilation if they don't retreat, because they've already proven they can't defeat the current British forces in the East, and the 15th Panzer wouldn't really help in that regard because the half tanks would have broken down due to lack of spare parts or fuel by the time the tanks get to Solum.

I choose Option 3. Hoth (and King Kurt) is (are) correct We have plenty of depth and room to work with, it wouldn't hurt if we retreated a few miles now. Staying where we are would just result in the British boring a hole straight to Tobruk, leaving a trail of dead Germans and Italians in their wake.

Please, BEG Hitler for more airplanes and supplies, this theater is crucial to our future success. And maybe the Italians can adapt some German style production lines so they can crank out military hardware faster and more cheaply. Also, since the British can get carriers into the Mediterranean unopposed, we have to make sure they can defend their harbors as well. The supply situation in North Africa and the Mediterranean has made it clear that Germany must ramp itself up to total war production in order to compete with the British in terms of supply and manpower.

Here's what I want in Mediterranean Theater:

Divisions Needed in North Africa:
*5 Leichte Div.
*15 PzD
*3 PzD
*4 PzD

Additional Divisions that I want:
*A Panzergrenadier Division
*Two Italian mechanized/motorized divisions.

Auxiliary Units for North Africa:

Air:
*II Luftkorps in Libya to support operations there
*X Luftkorps in Sicily and Malta to maintain supply lines and intercept British ships

Land:
*A couple of independent Panzer Aufkl. Btns. for convoy escorts and rapid attack against British flanks and isolated outposts.
*Brandenburger companies for raiding and defense against the LRDG.
*The Pioneer Rgt. with additional mine clearing equipment
*A few extra regiments of heavy artillery.
*A few extra motorized flak regiments.

For Crete (this can wait a bit):

On the Ground:
*Both FSJ divisions
*The Luftlande Division
*The rest of the Brandenburger Rgt.

Air: Everything we've got and then some.

Naval: Everything the Italians can spare.

Edit: And Stig, don't even THINK of doing a run into Tobruk's minefields. Are you INSANE?

[Kagemusha]

Option 3. Let us give the Brits opportunity to attack us and see what will be left of them after that.

[AggonyDuck]

Hoth is correct here, so number 3 is my decision.

Btw, we should have a chat with Ernesto Forza and direct the activities of the Decima Flottiglia MAS against Alexandria and Crete. We need to get some of the British capital ships incapacitated.

[Franconicus]

... Please, BEG Hitler for more airplanes and supplies, this theater is crucial to our future success. And maybe the Italians can adapt some German style production lines so they can crank out military hardware faster and more cheaply. Also, since the British can get carriers into the Mediterranean unopposed, we have to make sure they can defend their harbors as well. The supply situation in North Africa and the Mediterranean has made it clear that Germany must ramp itself up to total war production in order to compete with the British in terms of supply and manpower.

- The Italians lack of natural resources and equipment, however, the Germans do not have enough to supply them properly.
- Now that Greece is finished you will get more planes and transport capacity.


Here's what I want in Mediterranean Theater:

Divisions Needed in North Africa:
*5 Leichte Div. deployed
*15 PzD deployed
*3 PzD coming from Naples
*4 PzD on the way from Germany

Additional Divisions that I want:
*A Panzergrenadier Division No
*Two Italian mechanized/motorized divisions. you have Ariete and Trieste

Auxiliary Units for North Africa:

Air:
*II Luftkorps in Libya to support operations there
*X Luftkorps in Sicily and Malta to maintain supply lines and intercept British ships
You have the II. and you will get the IX. the X. is currently refilled.
Land:
*A couple of independent Panzer Aufkl. Btns. for convoy escorts and rapid attack against British flanks and isolated outposts. You have to build these with your current troops
*Brandenburger companies for raiding and defense against the LRDG. (These are spared for special operations; make a proposal!)
*The Pioneer Rgt. with additional mine clearing equipment (you get one, however specialiued for fortresses)
*A few extra regiments of heavy artillery. You get some batteries
*A few extra motorized flak regiments. Have to see

For Crete (this can wait a bit):

On the Ground:
*Both FSJ divisions
*The Luftlande Division
*The rest of the Brandenburger Rgt.
Maybe in automn
Air: Everything we've got and then some.

Naval: Everything the Italians can spare.

Edit: And Stig, don't even THINK of doing a run into Tobruk's minefields. Are you INSANE?[/QUOTE]

[Csargo]

I think Option 3 would be the best choice.

[Franconicus]

May 13th – May 20th

Due to the exposed position of Detachment Streich and the deployment of the British near Solum Hoth decides to withdraw the German – Italian forces to the Gazala line. Rommel bursts of fury.

“You haven’t understood the rules of desert warfare. If the British are getting too strong, an offensive operation is the right thing to cross their plans. Waiting in defence is the way to disaster. Tobruk is ready to fall. If we give up the siege now, we will not be able to take the town this spring. How do you think we can reach Bagdad by the end of this year, if we cannot even take Tobruk this spring?”

Hoth does not reply. He gives his orders; Brescia will be the first division that turns west again, followed by the 5. Light. Ariete will be the last one, covering the retreat of the others. From the Tobruk front, Bologna and Trento will move back to Gazala immediately, while 15.PD and Trieste remain there to prevent the garrison from sallying.

The operation will starts on May 14th. As soon as Brescia starts retreating, British bombers attack it. Fiat CR. 42 fighters of the 14. Aviation Brigade “Rex” intercept them. The Italian pilots fight with high spirit and pick of some bombers. However, Hurricane fighters press them back. Brescia, guarded by just a couple of air defence guns, hurries to reach the siege ring around Tobruk, where the Axis has concentrated the air defence.

In the afternoon, Australian infantry attacks Solum, but the Italian soldiers of Ariete hold the lines.

On May 15th the situation is getting critical. While the 5. Light is leaving their positions the British attacks grow to a full scale invasion. A second infantry division joins the Australian attacks against Solum; it turns out to be the 4. Indian. Ariete still holds the line.

On May 16th reconnaissance planes spot British tank columns south of Solum, marching westwards. In total the British are able to deploy about 250 tanks. German Stukas bomb them, 5 German planes are shot. During night, SM.81 bombers of the 44. bomber group raid the British tanks, too. The British tanks, the 11. Husar Bat. and the 1. King’s Dragoon Guards, swivel into the direction of Fort Capuzzo. Hoth sees that Ariete is threatened to be cut off. He orders the Italian commander to pull back to Tobruk. He also calls 5. Panzerreg. and 8. Panzerreg. to stop the British advance.

On May 17th the Australians occupy Somun and Bardia. In the afternoon there is a tank battle near Fort Capuzzo. Tanks of the the 5. Panzerrg. and the 8. Panzerreg. fight the 11. Hussar Bat. and the 1. King’s Dragoon Guards. The Germans are able to stop the British. However, when night falls, they receive the message that parts of the garrison of Tobruk has sallied and is now attacking the rear positions of Ariete. Simultaneously, the Australian and Indian Divisions attack from the east.

During night the Axis’ units manage to escape. On May 19th Brescia, Trieste, Ariete, 5. Light and 15. PD arrive at the Gazala line. The British stop advancing and entrench west of Tobruk.

The Axis troops are receiving more supply and reinforcements. Air transport squads are transferred to southern Italy. They bring the pioneer regiment. The heavy artillery arrives, too. General Model arrives at Gazala and reports that first units of the 3. PD arrived at Libya. 3. PD will be deployed and ready for combat mid-June.

Intelligence reports that the expected reinforcements of the British will arrive mid-June.

1) Entrench at Gazal. The position is good for defence and the supply situation is fine. Prepare a ‘backhand drive’! (Please discuss the operational plan!)
2) We are able to launch a new invasion immediately. Initiative is essential in the desert. We do not have time to wait. If we cannot break through in June, it may be too hot for a big operation. And fall will be too late to achieve the strategic targets for this year. (Please discuss the operational plan!)

[Kagemusha]

Franc.Can you put the British and Axis forces on the map?

[SwordsMaster]

This is terrible! After all the casualties at Tobruk, we give everything up! Option 2. We MUST get the brits on the back foot and hit them until they fall. Ariete has done a great job and should be exposed as an example for the other italian divs to follow.

Form that special desert ops group and study the possibility of getting into the british flank and cutting off their forward positions that we would then hit with our full force.

Rommel is right. If we don't get Tobruk before June, we're screwed. The oilfields must be reached by december, and Alexandria, Suez, Jerusalem, etc are still ahead. We must clear the Jerusalem line before October, otherwise this whole operation is useless...

[Franconicus]

Franc.Can you put the British and Axis forces on the map?

At your service!

[Kagemusha]

Thanks!Here is what i suggest. We will use some Finnish military strategy and create an Motti. First we will take Trieste from the line and replace it with Brescia. We will anchor our front by placing 5.light and the Pioneer battalion behind the three Italian divisions as reserve to uphold the moral of Italians and counterattack any breaches,if the British attack. We will concentrate our new heavy artillery to support the main front and start counter firing first the British artillery and after destroying it, start destroying the British divisions with systematical concentrated fire. British will start loosing air planes,when they have to face both our FLAK positions and our fighters.

Rommel will take 15.pd,Arieste and Trieste and swings from the South,so we arrive on the flank of the British to Ft.Maddalena. Once we arive there.We have enough forces there to defend the position against any British counter attacks. Our operations based on Maddalena will aim on cutting the British supplies coming to their main force.
Once more of our divisions start arriving we will close the encirclement completely and destroy the depleted British force,which will be low on supplies,while our supplies are coming in without interference.
If the British start counter operations against our flanking force we can start a frontal attack on the weakened British positions.So if the British have any sense in them.They will stay put or withdraw completely. If they start withdrawing completely our situation turns only better,as we can strike the moving enemy.
I suggest we will use any means necessary to lay a mine field in the sea,which will deny the British from landing supplies into Tobruk.

[DemonArchangel]

Thanks for the supply report Franc. This just shows the massive, systemic supply and industrial deficiencies in the German armaments industry.

Option 2: In this era of mobile warfare, initiative is key. Currently, the British supply lines must be stretched out quite thinly. Our supply situation appears to be quite decent. Hit back now, hit back hard.

My Attack Plan: Trento, Bologna and Trieste will perform a frontal attack, while the 15 PzD supported by Brescia and Ariete goes around the southern flank and will hit the 7AD and 4th Indian in the flank. The 5th LAD and the elements of the 3 PzD will form our mobile reserve. The bulk of our aerial power should be concentrated on the 7th Armored, since most of their tank strength is concentrated in that formation, and since attacking the 7th AD with our air in conjunction with our land forces will make sure their bombers are going to be where our fighters are.

[Stig]

I suggest another tactic that will allow us to destroy the big part British army with a bit of luck. Everything will retreat to Mersa Brega (except for the 5. Light, which will hold Benghazi). Then as the British approach us they should be out of fuel, resources and everything. All we need to do is encircle them and destroy them while they can't do a thing. Then we make a run for Tobruk, we should be able to destroy the reinforcements with the new 3. Panzer.
All we need to look after is is that we fully destroy the British army. We also need to take their supply points undamaged and we shouldn't run out of supplies. Tobruk and the holding of Benghazi is the key.


Franc what is the current operational status of all divisions? (troop numbers, tank types, amount of art, vehicles, tanks, supplies, etc)

[Kagemusha]

DemonArchangel.Would it be wise to make a frontal assault with 3 Italian divisions against 3 British? In worst case our main line will collapse and our artillery and supporting parts will be over run by the British,which will mean end of our force in Strategig level.

[DemonArchangel]

Kage: It's BECAUSE the main line is vulnerable, that I want to take that risk. The main line would collapse anyway if we just stood there.

Anyway, I figured the layout a little bit better, so here's my revised strategy.

Now, I want the non-motorized divisions Trento and Bologna attacking the 5th and keeping them pinned in Tobruk, while Brescia guards their flank against the 7th Australian.

Meanwhile, the 5th LAD captures Fort Maddalena while the 15th PzD and Ariete wheels around and hits the 7th AD and 4th Indian in the flank.

Trieste is now our mobile reserve.

[DemonArchangel]

For the Brandenburgers, I suggest that we send them to Chad in order to convince them to join the Germans against the British. Thus, their long range patrols would have a place to run and hide and conduct raids from there.

[Rodion Romanovich]

We should have retreated to Gazala earlier, and even more so now. Retreat to Gazala and get proper air support, supplies, and reinforcements. We should be superior to the British forces if they're on the offensive, and we should keep a mobile reserve of tanks. Let them take the initiative, but once they've made their first moves we will respond by a clever counter-offensive, striking their weak spots and attempting to outflank them to the south while also trying to avoid being pushed back too far along the coast.

[Stig]

Whose the British commander atm Wavell or Auchinleck?

[Kagemusha]

As Franc wrote in the chapter.We are now supplied. We have no reason to withdraw further. If we start a general retreat the British will hit us on the move or they will just stay on their place and wire home that the Germans are running. We are re supplied and outnumber the British. But not enough for a simple assault.Thats why i suggested warfare based on manouver and by that denying British from their supplies. With large and heavily supported main line and three divisions on their flank,British can only choose to dig and die on atrition or retreat and in that case those two mechanized and panzer division on their flank will be their end.

[Stig]

If I'm correct our tanks outrun and outgun the British. We should use that (as Kage says). Draw the main body of Brits tanks into a trap and close it. Without tanks you're nowhere.

Kages plan makes sense, tho I would retreat further.

[Rodion Romanovich]

Yes, that's basically what I meant - manouver and careful movement, but not assault. What I fear about not retreating towards Gazala is however that our basic line to operate from will be more tricky there, than if we are at Gazala. If that isn't the case, then we should stay where we are, otherwise move back to Gazala. Casualty ratios are way more important than capturing dirt at this time IMO.