Axis aggression across the globe sent the Allies reeling! Large scale invasions of France through Belgium and across the Maginot line were accompanied by coordinated attacks across the colonial world. The Allies didn’t take this sitting down, however, and sooner than anyone anticipated Allied forces were rushing to plug holes and slow the unprovoked advance into their territory.
We highlight two major engagements today, both near and far from the Axis main thrust across Europe. The white sands of North Africa and the bright blue seas of the Pacific churned as battle erupted across their surfaces.
Bolt Action: German Assault in North Africa
Using their Italian Allies’ territory to stage their assault, German panzers crashed against stalwart British defenders along the Mediterranean coast. A particularly sharp action occurred at the small village of El Salloum, which lay across the highway leading into Egypt.
An accurate initial artillery strike brought chaos the British defenders as their commander was slain before orders could be issued. Undaunted, however, the British rushed to meet the advancing Germans, despite initially having no heavy weaponry with which to subdue their armour.
Reinforcing churchills and howitzers were brought to bear, but it was too late. Crack marksmanship from the veteran Afrika Korps soldiers slew the 2IC, preventing the British from mounting a coordinated defense.
Despite the setback, the dogged British laid a heavy toll on the attackers, but it was not enough. The assault drove the British back, and they withdrew their tanks to fight again another day.
The Axis had secured a much needed victory to begin their war. – Major Axis Victory
Blood Red Skies: Pursuit of the IJN Hiei
An initial ambush by the Imperial Japanese Navy of a US routine cruiser patrol saw the USS Bremerton and its escorts sunk, but at an unfortunate cost. The battleship IJN Hiei, which led the assault, was struck by a lucky shell in its magazine, causing catastrophic damage. The ship was barely seaworthy, and quickly set to return home for repairs, victorious but wounded.
The US Navy, acting quickly upon hearing of the commencement of hostilities, sent scouting flights from all of its island bases, hoping to get a bearing on what was coming. It was one of these flights that witnessed the horrible destruction of Bremerton, and reported on the limping Hiei. Aiming to seize some initiative and avenge the lost cruiser, bombers with hastily assembled torpedo chains were sent with an escort to sink the triumphant wounded.
Japanese scouts ascertained that a flight of bombers was incoming, and hastily scrambled fighters to protect their valuable battleship. Unwilling to be lured into a trap, the flight of zeros played it safe, aiming to come down from on high on the escorting mustangs before turning their attention to the bombers.
Bullets slashed and engines screamed as the fighters’ carefully planned attacks dissolved into a furball, with neither side gaining the upper hand. The flight of bombers, however, were now clear to begin the daring torpedo run. Threading the flack from the battleship and its escorting destroyers, first one torpedo, and then the second were loosed. To the frustration of the Americans, both were misses.
Meanwhile, the mustangs were beginning to get the upper hand over the zeros, having successfully shot down two of their number. With ammunition and fuel running low, the Zeros broke off, hoping that they had bought enough time for Hiei to escape.
It did, but not before the least damaged mustangs gave it a parting gift of 50 cal across its deck. -Minor US Victory
Results
Allies (0) —– Axis (0.5)
The Axis side took the ground battles this week, which means they are awarded 1 point and we move the frontline 1 level deeper towards the Allies capitulation Zone. However, as we’re taking naval and air battles into account to modify the amount of the advance, the Axis lose some of their advance because of the minor allied victory in the air. We’ll see how this system plays out as the campaign progresses.
We’re looking for any and all players who want to get into any WWII gaming here at GameKnight, so bring some troops, or just a willing attitude and we’ll get you started!
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