Vultures In The Sky: A Desert Fox Multiplayer AAR

[Atruejedi]

Greetings all, welcome to a Desert Fox multiplayer AAR played between me, Jamison Geibel, and my opponent, Ian Coccozza. He played as Germany and I played as the British. We have played this scenario before and it usually ended in stalemate around Bengazi for months and months, with eventual British victory. Today, however, was different. Also, this game featured beautiful icons created by Jusas (which can be found on the modding forum) and the Sexxicolors and Sexxileaders mod created by yours truly . SMEP was also included, but the only change was a bug-fix where Syria joins the Axis no matter what option the Axis player chooses. Finally, the beautiful shields and flags (even when censored ) were provided by Ian for his upcoming (tenatively-named) Sexxiflags mod. And so begins the story of...

As soon as the scenario begins, it's time to run like hell, although I've already encountered the enemy at Msus and immediately broke off the engagement.


The front is stabalized. From here we are relatively safe from the Axis forces, and we begin to dig in. Neither the Italo-German forces nor the British can attack from three or more angles, therefore negating the envelopment penalty/bonus.


Crete seems a theater away from the British forces right now, so only a nominal amount of forces are sent to defend the island. We cannot spare troops in Libya.


Gott begins offensive maneuvers to envelope Axis forces at Forte Maddalena.


Fighting breaks out all along the front as Italian and German forces attack Tobruk. British forces attack from Forte Capuzzo into Mechili to soften the blow that falls on Tobruk. Attacks also land on Forte Capuzzo from the south, so British forces attack from Egypt to assist Auchinleck and Alexander.


Auchinleck takes Mechili and continues towards Derna, only to be held back and forced to retreat eastward.

[Lord of Pain]

nice

[Atruejedi]

The front is quiet again. Mechili is the obvious target, as it can be attacked from three angles.


Apparently Göring has discovered a buffet in Syria. We choose to ignore this development, as our plate is full of Italian cuisine.


The blow falls on Mechili. But Auchinleck's weapon of choice is apparently a wiffleball bat, as Rommel easily staves off the three-way attack.


Mother-effer.


Rommel wisely counterattacks after the British are defeated and begins a rout of massive proportions.


Wavell to the rescue!!!~@!!


Or not. As soon as the tide seems to turn in favor of the British, Messe attacks from the south and the British are forced to retreat.


The front after three and a half months of fighting since the Bengazi retreat.

[Atruejedi]

Tobruk is threatened with being cut off, so forces are quickly rushed to Bardia to prevent this.


An opportunity to encircle the majority of Axis forces pops up and MUST be taken. Forces move in immediately to complete the encirclement of Forte Capuzzo.


As the British arrive in Mechili they are attacked from three directions and forced to retreat back to Tobruk. Obviously at this point the encirclement is impossible, so British forces engage Forte Capuzzo from every possible direction to consolidate their gains and POSSIBLY encircle a few divisions, if forces arrive in Forte Maddalena quickly enough.


Most of the Italo-German forces seem to have escaped... but at least the front is stable.


Forte Maddalena is taken. Things are looking bright for the British forces in Africa.


British forces continue their advance and take Mechili and Derna. If you look closely at Forte Capuzzo, apparently one armored division was encircled and erradicated!

[Atruejedi]

Wavell arrives in Barca, only to be assaulted by Rommel. Somehow Rommel cannot break through, so British forces advance on Msus.


Something horrible happens while Auckinleck is on his way to Msus. Although unopposed on the ground, the Luftwaffe attacks in force, destroying Auchinleck's entire headquarters staff. Auckinleck miraculously survives and continues forward.


Although weakened significantly after suffering horrible losses to Luftwaffe bombers, he continues towards Agedabia with the objective of cutting off Axis forces from their supplies in Tripoli. The obvious follow-up is to force them into the Mediterranean Sea.


As it turns out, Rommel is no dummy. He strikes at Auchinleck's forces at Msus and forces an immediate retreat to Mechili and Forte Maddalena. Barca appears to be overstretched, so a retreat towards Tobruk is ordered.


Kesselring smiles as he single-handedly destroys O'Connor's entire motorized division.


Realizing the power of the Luftwaffe, British High Command orders a strategic redeployment of nearly all Commonwealth forces back to Egypt. Transport capacity is overloaded.

[Oranje Verzet]

Wow nice rundown on what happened.

I always like to play Desert Fox in MP. Its very basic and fast, but alround fun. Im surprised the British player attacks so early on, they dont have too many troops, but still good play by him. In the end got a little bit too eager, and made a way too long offensive, gotta take a breather every now and then.

[Atruejedi]

The border seems very antebellum-like. After six months of fighting, we're back to where we historically began.


The Axis strikes into Siwa. British forces panic and the recently-redeployed motorized forces move at break-neck speed for Nibeiwa to prevent a break-through.


Rommel strikes at Rabia. Alexander somehow manages to hold his positions, even though outnumbered 2 to 1.


British forces move towards Siwa to stabalize the front again, but it is too late. Axis forces strike at Sollum and cannot be held back. A general retreat is ordered towards Alexandria.


The most important province on the map, perhaps: El Alamein. Axis forces drop propaganda leaflets on Commonwealth troops as Kesselring personally bombs our positions.


The entire Royal Air Force is sent to deal with Kesselring, but nothing can be done. Allied planes are grounded in Cairo until further notice.

[Atruejedi]

Monty has learned alot from being bombarded 24/7. Time to promote him!


At the end of November, Messe strikes at El Alamein. Rommel and Monty are unaccounted for. Legend has it the two met in the vast wastelands of Libya to decide the fate of the galaxy in a glorious tank-fight like like never seen before. For two men of such skill no outcome could be decided. They fought for hours until both simultaneously ran out of fuel, then exchanged tea, stamps, and pleasantries. Nonetheless, Auckinleck's well-prepared forces hold off the Italians and Germans.


Intelligence also learns that Germany has better encryption techs than Italy. The precise number of Italians can be seen, but the Germans somehow remain hidden. Italians have not yet discovered the camoflage tech.


December 9, 1941. A date which will live in infamy. The Royal Air Force FINALLY GETS TO AFRICA!!!!~@


The glorious Royal Air Force is sent into the air for the first Allied offensive maneuvers of the Desert War! They are promptly shreaded by superior German aircraft and grounded in Cairo for repairs. British High Command realizes the situation is dire and orders an elaborate plan to trick the Germans and end the campaign in total victory. Commonwealth forces are ordered to make for Alexandria.

[Atruejedi]

Messe takes the bait and seizes El Alamein, moving on to Alexandria without stopping. He is easily held back by the well-prepared troops under Auckinleck's command.


Now is the time to strike! With 19 Italian and German units being held back at Alexandria and the horrible condition of the infrastructure in El Alamein, attacks are ordered to retake El Alamein and continue toward Fuka and Gerawla, hoping to Fuka the Axis forces and force them to surrender.


High Command's plan fails miserably. Although El Alamein is retaken, the Commonwealth troops do not have the organization or morale to push on. Another general retreat back to Alexandria is ordered.


This action, at least, has left the enemy confused.


Weeks later, Axis forces once again take El Alamein. Auchinleck rejoices, as he has yet another elaborate scheme to destroy his enemies! He realizes the folly of trying to take Fuka and Gerawla at the same time, thereby splitting his forces. His new plan calls for an attack in force to surround the Axis forces at Gerawla. The attack is launched immediately.


...and called off 24 hours later.

[lifeless]

ooo. tough luck there eh?

[Atruejedi]

Not even a week after Auckinleck's latest failure, Rommel brings the goods with a powerful thrust into Alexandria. A split retreat is ordered toward both Tanta and Fayum so to prevent an Axis breakthrough into Cairo.


While General Alexander rode for Tanta, Kesselring continued to spank him. Many men were lost during the bloody retreat.


Kesselring is heard to scream "EL OH EL" from the cockpit of his Ju-87 Stuka. British intelligence immediately begins cracking this latest German code.


Alexander is easily pushed from Tanta towards both Cairo and Zaqazig. Auchinleck realizes the situation is dire indeed and orders an offensive to retake Alexandria and cut off Axis forces in Tanta. He even finds this neat little button called "offensive supply" and presses it. However, he begins his attack too early and is soundly defeated. With this a general retreat to Suez is ordered.


After a year of fighting, Commonwealth troops have suffered rout after rout under Auchinleck. What is left of the Allied forces prepare defenses at Suez to prevent further Axis expansion. Allied propaganda blares over loudspeakers into Axis camps.

[Atruejedi]

England sends reinforcements to Cairo, apparently unaware that the city fell into Axis hands nearly one month ago.


Axis and Allied forces concentrate on the passage between the Middle East and Africa. Axis propaganda boasts of taking Suez on Hitler's birthday, or taking it later and lying to Der Führer. High Command continues to reinforce Axis Cairo...


British and German commanders exchange insults at Winston's expense, even as the Luftwaffe pounds Commonwealth positions at Suez. Both the Germans and English now have a common enemy.


Monty is promoted for sucking.


Incompetant Royal Air Force pilots bomb As Suwayz in preparation for the Allied attack on... Port Said.

[Atruejedi]

After weeks of uncharacteristic preparation, Rommel crosses the sea into the Middle East. His first formal meeting with Monty on the battlefield ends in defeat. Monty orders a counterattack on the exhausted Axis soldiers.


The inflatable tanks are only good for deception, not amphibious assaults. The attack is called off.


Axis propaganda taunts British troops.


Hess breaks out of prison and flies back to Germany, ecstatic over recent Axis victories.


German forces are recalled to Germany as the bear wakes up for the spring.


After another month of preparation and bombardment, Rommel calls Monty out. Coincidentally, it is the one-year anniversary of Operation Barbarossa's beginning. Monty gets whooped and orders a retreat into Palestine.


Units from the Waffen-SS rejoice.

[Atruejedi]

High Command sends air transports to Cairo, God knows why.


Auchinleck and Monty are sacked. Wavell is given command of the remnants of Commonwealth forces. He orders a retreat to the hills of Haifa, where Allied troops will make their final stand. Syria rejects his requests for asylum. Should have invaded those motherlovers earlier.


In one last act of defiance, Wavell orders the bombing of the German headquarters in Italy. Although no damage is reported, Der Führer is Der Führious.


Before Wavell can be annihilated, the world ends. In Axis victory.

[Earth's Savior]

*applause*

Very nice AAR, like a movie.

[Zhouvas]

Fantastic AAR! 'Was rooting for the Fox all the way through.

[yellowstriker]

Good Job, maybe I can try to write an AAR in this style...eventually...

[Phoenix Dace]

Nicely written up. It was nice to sign in and see an entire AAR waiting to be read. Especially the comments between you and Ian were fun to read.

[lifeless]

especially the praise allah one. that was funny

[SirCliveWolfe]

See what happens when Yanks get their hands on decent troops!!

Nice AAR... shame about high command though??