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Chit 6: Axis Half Move/Combat-1
Figure 6 Axis Half Move
Next Chit is an Axis HalfMove/Combat. The Axis takes it as a move and attempts to cover major crossroads. The Italians in Sidi Baranni attempt to move out of their predicament. At this point they will survive the attrition phase if the British do not do anything to change the situations. Helfaya Pass and Sidi Omar are covered, so the risk of a sudden breakout by the British is temporarily averted. If the Axis can get one more full move the will be in the best possible position.
Chit 7: British Half Move/Combat-1
Figure 7 British Half Move
The next and last chit for this session is . . . British HalfMove. The British are frustrated! They could have done something with the previous HalfMove, but now they cannot do anything effective with this HalfMove. But using it as a combat will mean they cannot attack this turn. They opt for the Move and hope for the best in the last five chits of this turn. They move adjacent to the Italian at Sidi Omar and Halfaya Pass.
Chit 8: British Full Move
Next Chit is a British Full Move. Rather than attack with minimal odds they decide to take it as their second and last move of the turn. The finish the encirclement of the Italians units in Egypt.
Figure 8 British Full Move
Chit 9: Axis Full Move
Since the British have now had two activations in a row, not counting Named Chits and the Logistics Chits, the next activation must be Axis. The first chit is the British FullMove, which must be put aside. The next chit drawn it the Axis Full Move. The British FullMove is returned to the pool and the Axis FullMove is played.
The Italians could attack Selby at the Halfaya Pass or use the move as their last move. Knowing that the British will have the initiative next turn, they opt for the move and finish positioning units in the Tobruk area. The Italians are very fortunate that the reinforcements came early enough to get into position before the British reached the Tobruk area.
Figure 9 Axis Full Move
They also concentrate on the Selby Company hoping to get to attack before the British can react.
Figure 10 Closing in on Selby
Chit 10: British FullMove/Combat.
Figure 11 British Full Combat
The next chit is the British FullMove/Attack, which they must take as an Attack.
Attack Number 1:
The attack at Helfaya pass is a 3-1, roll 1 for BL1. The Italian unit is eliminated, as is the Selby Company.
Attack Number 2:
The attack at Sidi Omar is a 4-1, roll a 3 for a DR. The Italian losses a step retreating through an EZOC and is eliminated.
Chits 11 and 12: Axis Attacks
The last two chits are Axis Attacks. But since there are no viable attacks the Italians do nothing. And the turn ends. During Attrition the two Italians that are OOS cannot trace a Line of Supply, so are eliminated.
End of Turn 1
Here is the final situation at the end of turn.
Now it really does look bad for Italians.
Figure 12 End of Turn 1
To be continued…
Author: Tim Wilcox
The Dark Sands has been on my must-have list since the day it was announced! Now if we get a couple of hundred more orders, it’ll move from my list onto my game table!