The following is a turn-by-turn, blow-by-blow account of the actual, historical Iraqi revolt in Europa terms. All the special and optional rules from the scenario Revolt in Iraq are in effect.

Apr I 41 - Axis Player Turn

Initial Phase. The Axis rolls an '11' and the Iraqi coup occurs. Iraqi forces cannot move this turn, as the coup leaders consolidate power.

Apr II 41 - Allied Player Turn

Initial Phase. In reaction to the coup, the 20th Indian X and the HQ, 10th Indian XX land at Basra.

Movement Phase. All Indian troops stay at Basra.

Apr II 41 - Axis Player Turn

Initial Phase. The modifier to the coup collapse die roll is +1 for the Allies holding Basra. The coup cannot collapse, as the highest possible roll is '7'.

Movement Phase. The Iraqi 1st Infantry XX moves to 21:5107, beseiging Habbiniya. The Iraqi 2nd XX admin moves from Kirkuk to Baghdad. 4th Infantry XX moves south into the swamps of 22:4219.

Air Phase. The Iraqi air unit attacks the air base at Habbaniya. The Audax patrol attack is a '1' for no effect. The Audaxes then intercept and attack, rolling '8' on the zero air- to-air column and missing. The Iraqis roll '7' on the '-1' column and also miss. The Iraqi bombing table die roll is W for no effect.

The Iraqi coup has not collapsed, so the Axis score 6 scenario VPs as the turn ends.

May I 41 - Allied Player Turn

Initial Phase. 4th Cavalry X converts to Habforce at HA in hex 21:5131. The 21st Indian X and 2 supply step land in Basra, the Allied Persian Gulf SMP level goes to 5. The Wellington air unit arrives at Shaibah. The Allies make Basra a supply terminal. All units are in supply.

Movement Phase. Habforce moves along the pipeline to 21:5023. 20th Indian X moves up the railroad to 22:4417 along with one supply step (using 5 SMPs). The other supply step stays in Basra with 21st Indian X.

Air Phase. The air units from Habbaniya and Shaibah attack the Iraqi airfield at Baghdad with three bombing factors. They roll a '2', '3', and a '6', scoring one hit, aborting the Iraqi air unit.

Exploitation Phase. Habforce takes pumping station H- 2 in 21:4920, then advances to 21:5013.

May I 41 - Axis Player Turn

Initial Phase. The modifier to the coup collapse die roll is +1 for Basra. The coup cannot collapse.

The Luftwaffe 'Mixed' air unit arrives at Alep. Habforce draws supply from H-2; all units are in supply. The Iraqi air repair roll fails with a 4.

Movement Phase. The 1st XX lifts its siege of Habbaniya and withdraws from 21:5107 to Fallujah, in 21:5006. The Iraqi Mechanized Group also moves to 21:5006. The 2nd XX moves to Ramadi (21:5009). The 4th XX moves to 22:4121.

Air Phase. The Luftwaffe air unit flies a transfer mission to Mosul (21:3509). As the turn ends, the Axis scores 6 scenario VPs bringing the total to 12.

May II 41 - Allied Player Turn

Initial Phase. Habforce draws attack supply from pumping station H-2. The Wellingtons at Shaibah withdraw; in effect, being replaced by the arriving Blenheims.

Movement Phase. Habforce bypasses Ramadi to the south, moving through 21:5110 to 21:5107. 20th Indian X advances to 22:4220 with a supply step; 21st Indian X moves to 22:4219.

Air Phase. Allied air units at Habbaniya and Basra fly air support to 21:5006.

Combat Phase. Habforce attacks the Iraqi 1st XX at Fallujah. Habforce is 2 x .25 (for the flooded Euphrates River) + 2 for air support. The Iraqis gain a -1 die roll modifier for AECD from the mechanized group. The attack is at 2.5:0.5, or 5:1. A die roll of '5' for 'DH' eliminates the Iraqi division.

Exploitation Phase. Habforce approaches Baghdad, reaching hex 21:5005.

May II 41 - Axis Player Turn

Initial Phase. The Iraqi coup collapse modifiers are +3 for a unit adjacent to Baghdad and +1 for occupation of Basra. The die roll is '5' and the Iraqi coup collapses. All Iraqi units are removed.

Air Phase. The Luftwaffe air unit in Mosul is eliminated, since the Iraqi coup has collapsed and it is now in an uncontrolled, unfriendly hex.

Scenario Ends. In terms of the scenario Revolt in Iraq, the game ends with the Axis scoring a total of 12 VPs, for an Allied Substantial Victory.

Concluding Notes

I have no source showing the movement of the Iraqi 2nd XX from Kirkuk to Ramadi. By the Allied turn of May II, however, Habforce faced three significant Iraqi forces: at Ramadi, Fallujah, and in Baghdad itself. Moving 2nd XX to Ramadi is the only way to reflect this using the Iraqi counter mix.

It would be more accurate if Habforce reached Habbaniya itself during the May II movement phase and attacked Fallujah from there instead of from hex 21:5107. The Iraqi ZOC from Ramadi prohibits this if Habforce starts the turn from hex 21:5013. Habforce must stop in 5013 in the May I exploitation phase so they will be within 7 hexes of the H-2 pumping station and therefore be in supply for May II. Score a point for the original rule allowing Habforce inherent supply (which permits them to reach Habbaniya). I still think making Habforce dependent on pumping stations makes a better all-around situation.

In the south, the fighting around Basra was rather disorganized, as the 10th Indian Division fought several small unit actions. I decided these didn't rate a full Europa attack, and just let the Iraqis pull back deeper into the marshes.

Using Duane Romfoe's expanded movement rules isn't strictly necessary to recreate the Iraq campaign in Europa. However, if we ever do this to other campaigns, it will be. I considered those rules in use here more for compatability with any future "Europa as History" articles that may come up.

The Royal Navy in the Iraqi Revolt

In addition to the land forces available for use against the Iraqi revolt, the Allies committed a small but significant naval force. To date, no Europa-related naval OB has included them.

When the Iraqi government was overthrown, the Middle East and Indian Commands looked around hurriedly for forces to respond with. In Karachi, the 22 Indian X and the artillery group of 10th Indian XX were already loaded into convoy BM7, bound for Singapore to bolster the defense of Malaya against the possible Japanese threat. The convoy was diverted toward Basra, accompanied by the Australian sloop Yarra. It was met on the way by two sloops of the Royal Indian Navy, the Falmouth and the Lawrence.

Other naval units available in the area also steamed toward the Persian Gulf. The cruisers Emerald and Leander (of the Royal New Zealand Navy), plus the Insect-class gunboat Cockchafer and the trawler Seabreeze entered the Gulf about the same time as the convoy arrived.

A second convoy, BP1, arrived in the Gulf on April 28 (May I in TNE), accompanied by the light carrier Hermes and the cruiser Enterprise, a sister-ship to the Emerald. In addition to duty as escort for the convoys, these Royal Navy units provided gunfire support in several small actions near Basra.

The following Order of Battle should be adaptable to whatever form the Europa naval system ultimately assumes. We can safely ignore Cockchafer, as the Insect-class gunboats need more than one ship to rate a whole gunfire point. The same goes for the gallant trawler, needless to say.

Naval Coup Reaction Forces

The following units arrive in reaction to a coup in Iraq, on the turns indicated following the coup. If there is no coup in Iraq, these units never arrive. Naval coup reaction forces enter in any all-sea hex on the south edge of Map 22. They may only enter the Persian Gulf. They withdraw the turn after both the Iraqi coup has collapsed and there are no Axis units in Iraq.

Coup +1 Persian Gulf-
CLs Emerald, Leander
DEs Yarra, Falmouth, Lawrence

Coup +2 Persian Gulf.
CL Enterprise
CVL Hermes [with 1 squadron of Swordfish (just subtract 1 from all air ratings except range)]

Persian Gulf Reaction Forces

Suggested Ratings:
CVL Hermes 3 2-0 6/0-0-4 [2 hits]
CL Emerald 3 2-3 8/0-3-0 [2 hits]
CL Enterprise 3 2-3 8/0-3-0 [2 hits]
CL Leander 3 372 8 / 0-4-1 [2 hits]
DE Sloops D 1-0 4/0-0-1 [2 hits]

Rashid Ali and the Golden Square: April - May, 1941