We finished the first playtest of the CRUSADER revision last night. It turned out to be a decisive Axis victory, -34.5 VPs. There were a number of reasons for this which I'll go through.

The Axis had a chance to attack an unsupplied Tobruch. They took it and got an HX, capturing Tobruch and 30 VPs. This was partly a function of our newness to the new game system and a less than full understanding of the supply rules. When the Allied player realized what was about to befall him, he tried to naval transport supply into Tobruch. However, this was turned back the valiant Italian torpedo bombers (guess which side I played). We weren't using any advanced or optional rules, so the sun never set on the British NTPs. Next time, at least the night naval movement rule will be used.

The Allied player was too daring, too early. This cost him the British 7th arm XX on Dec I. After that, he settled down to the more profitable, but less glamorous tactic of grinding up the Axis armor with large combined arms attacks, lots of infantry and artillery, with just enough armor to get 1/7 AECA.

The Allied player never used any of his reserve forces in the Delta. I think this is a mistake given the VP schedule. For the cost of 5 VPs, the Allies get 10 supported infantry strength points. If they contribute to the cadreing of only one Axis arm XX, then their VP cost is paid for.

The Axis air forces seemed to be stronger in the scenario than they did historically, according to those primary and secondary sources I've read. While the Allies did have an edge, it was not very large. Furthermore, the new "on demand" air system allows the Axis to fly defensive air missions during the first Allied player turn. This was impossible in the old scenario. Perhaps a special rule limiting Axis air operations in the Nov II Allied player turn is in order to illustrate Axis surprise at the start of CRUSADER.

The Axis picked up 5 VPs worth of kills on their last turn using all of those last tum of the game tactics we all know and loath. Yeah, let's defend Tobruch with only a 0-1-6* inf III so we can beat up on a South African division. Sure, I'll stage 10 air units through and then return them to a three capacity air base. I still don't think any special rule(s) is necessary to prevent these abuses. It's just another incentive for the Allies to seek out and kill the Axis armor so it isn't around at the end of the game to cause trouble.

More Operation Crusader

Operation Crusader: Auchinleck's Offensive Nov. 1941
Allied Order of Battle
Axis Order of Battle
Operation Crusader Desiger's Notes
Operation Crusader Battle Report