Thanks for the praise, everyone. Ian and I had a blast playing, but I'm sure he had a better time, considering he spanked me.
Now we shall analyze the game for you, perhaps we'll all learn something!
I have determined that there were two serious opportunities for me to defeat the Axis, and two less serious. They are as follows:
1. The attempt to surround the Italo-German forces at Forte Capuzzo. This was unfortunately foiled by Ian's counterattack at Mechli to break the circle, but I still managed to destroy at least one division. I'll let him elaborate on this.
2. The attempt to cut off Axis forces from Tripoli by seizing Agedabia and isolating Bengazi. Unfortunately Ian saw what I was doing and counterattacked me at Mechili. Another opportunity lost, but with even larger repurcussions, which I will discuss a little later.
Of the less realistic and more romantic attempts:
3. I tried to lure Ian into El Alamein. Once he arrived, my plan was to immediately counterattack to force him back to Fuka and Gerawla, employing my tactical bombers to ground attack him and destroy his forces, much like he did to me earlier. Unfortunately I botched this attempt. I realized my errors and tried again.
4. Finally, I tried this again, but instead of splitting my forces I attempted to charge into Fuka and surround Gerawla instead. It failed, but you see the plan. I should have tried this the first time.
I attribute my defeat to airpower. After the Italo-German counterattack at Mechili, my forces were absolutely raped by the Luftwaffe. I lost entire units solely to airpower. This was my Stalingrad. After this point, there was no realistic hope for victory. My Kursk, then, would be the second attack into El Alamein. Airpower ruled the skies, hence the title of this AAR, Vultures In The Sky.
Now we shall analyze the game for you, perhaps we'll all learn something!
I have determined that there were two serious opportunities for me to defeat the Axis, and two less serious. They are as follows:
1. The attempt to surround the Italo-German forces at Forte Capuzzo. This was unfortunately foiled by Ian's counterattack at Mechli to break the circle, but I still managed to destroy at least one division. I'll let him elaborate on this.
2. The attempt to cut off Axis forces from Tripoli by seizing Agedabia and isolating Bengazi. Unfortunately Ian saw what I was doing and counterattacked me at Mechili. Another opportunity lost, but with even larger repurcussions, which I will discuss a little later.
Of the less realistic and more romantic attempts:
3. I tried to lure Ian into El Alamein. Once he arrived, my plan was to immediately counterattack to force him back to Fuka and Gerawla, employing my tactical bombers to ground attack him and destroy his forces, much like he did to me earlier. Unfortunately I botched this attempt. I realized my errors and tried again.
4. Finally, I tried this again, but instead of splitting my forces I attempted to charge into Fuka and surround Gerawla instead. It failed, but you see the plan. I should have tried this the first time.
I attribute my defeat to airpower. After the Italo-German counterattack at Mechili, my forces were absolutely raped by the Luftwaffe. I lost entire units solely to airpower. This was my Stalingrad. After this point, there was no realistic hope for victory. My Kursk, then, would be the second attack into El Alamein. Airpower ruled the skies, hence the title of this AAR, Vultures In The Sky.