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Hi Folks -

After learning how to add all the CC's to my OG build properly (thank you, Parabellum!) I hunted down my favorite campaign of all time: The British Western Desert Campaign by the great Steve Brown! It uses the AdlerKorp e-File which was always my favorite. I spent many long hours trying to beat this one in years past, so I'm giving it another go today. I'm playing at 100% because I have a pretty good deal of experience with it. That doesn't mean I'll win. Mr. Brown created a boatload of VERY NASTY surprises in this campaign. He didn't earn the name "Stevil" for nothing. But I'm happy to report success on the first scenario:

CC9 - British Western Desert Campaign by Steve Brown

Operation Compass - Last Turn V

The campaign starts you off with a pretty good core, including 1 Hurricane fighter, but you're given the opportunity to add to it once you capture the port (typically the first or 2nd objective). This is an interesting scenario. You start with a divided force in the northeast and southeast of the map. Northeast runs along the coast toward Halfya Pass and then beyond. The Italians are holding all objectives. The scenario seems pretty straightforward until you run into the Italian bunkers near the last objective. I typically send a few core units by sea to invade the rear of their lines. You are given a bit of support by the Royal Navy about 2/3 through the scenario that allows you to destroy some vital Italian hardware to help you complete the final phase. Adding a few units to attack their rear is very helpful to distract some of their armor north, pullng them away from the main offensive. Your engineer is vital to this final phase, so keep it in good health until you're ready to hit the bunkers.

OpenGen 0.93.4.0 * 25 Dec 2020 * AI version: Default (0.91)
Efile folder: C:\Games\OG\efile_cc09\ * Efile version: CC9-British Western Desert and Italy Campaign 3.0 with Adlerkorps 1K 2.25
Campaign: BRITISH WESTERN DESERT & ITALY CAMPAIGN, * Player prestige modifier 100% * AI prestige modifier 100%

Played Scenarios:
1 Operation Compass , #0 , Victory

..
Current scenario: Attacking Tobruk, VH prestige is 320 , All map prestige is: 520
Army cost: 1692 , Current prestige is 558
AI stance is Defensive Using map: 6
if BV: +200, Beda Fomm , cap disabled, 18 turns prestige: 380
if V : +200, Beda Fomm , cap disabled, 19 turns prestige: 390
if TV: +200, Keren , cap disabled, 25 turns prestige: 390
if Ls: +200, Keren , cap disabled, 25 turns prestige: 390

Infantry
* Indian , Truck , , 0 bars , 60 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 1 kill , 0 pp - U:002
* Indian , Truck , , 0 bars , 31 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 0 pp - U:004
* Engineer , Universal Carrier , , 1 bars , 110 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 2 kill , 0 pp - U:005
Royal Marine , Truck , , 0 bars , 16 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 204 pp - U:013
Infantry , Truck , , 0 bars , 49 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 168 pp - U:014

Tank
* A12 Matilda II , , 0 bars , 92 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 8 kill , 0 pp - U:007
* A9 Cruiser I , , 1 bars , 169 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 3 kill , 0 pp - U:009
A12 Matilda II , , 0 bars , 24 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 660 pp - U:012

Recon
* Daimler Scout , , 0 bars , 95 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 1 kill , 0 pp - U:006

Anti-tank
OQF 2 Pdr , Truck , , 0 bars , 14 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 156 pp - U:010

Artillery
* OQF 25 Pdr , Truck , , 1 bars , 107 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 2 kill , 0 pp - U:001
OQF 25 Pdr , Truck , , 0 bars , 0 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 252 pp - U:003

Air Defense
OQF 40mm Bofors , Truck , , 0 bars , 26 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 252 pp - U:011

Fighter
* Hurricane IA , , 0 bars , 57 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 1 kill , 0 pp - U:008

Player 1 : United Kingdom
Killed: INF:10 TNK:7 AT:1 FORT:3 ATY:6 AD:1 FTR:1 Total: 29
Lost : INF:1 Total: 1

BV 0
V 1
TV 0
L 0

Averages:
Infantry * 5 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 266 exp, 3 kill, 372 pp Average: 53 exp, 1 kill, 74 pp
Tank * 3 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 285 exp, 11 kill, 660 pp Average: 95 exp, 4 kill, 220 pp
Recon * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 95 exp, 1 kill, 0 pp Average: 95 exp, 1 kill, 0 pp
Anti-tank * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 14 exp, 0 kill, 156 pp Average: 14 exp, 0 kill, 156 pp
Artillery * 2 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 107 exp, 2 kill, 252 pp Average: 54 exp, 1 kill, 126 pp
Air Defense * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 26 exp, 0 kill, 252 pp Average: 26 exp, 0 kill, 252 pp
Fighter * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 57 exp, 1 kill, 0 pp Average: 57 exp, 1 kill, 0 pp
* Summary: * 14 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 850 exp, 18 kill, 1692 pp Average: 61 exp, 1 kill, 121 pp


Player 1 United Kingdom has 30 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 11
Tank : 3
Recon : 1
Anti-tank : 3
Artillery : 8
Air Defense : 3
Fighter : 1


Player 2 Italia - estimated force: 35 units
Infantry / Anti-tank : 18%
Recon / Tank : 6%
Air Defense / FlaK : 10%
Air : 0%
Naval : 0%

* <- original core (don't count against cap)
+ <- BV prototype
pp <- prestige points

Glad to see that the installation of the CC pack was successful. I wish you a lot of fun .

...as they say nothing is hard with appropriate foreces. Quick advice is just to add enough armor and artillery as soon as you can, will be much easier. i made some semi-run recently with it at 50 and abandoned it after 13 scens after all BVs because things went to easily and not because they were too hard, no matter how paradoxical it sounds if you have problems with it. Since i played it few times in the past and finished it few times, abandoned run (which Para moved properly) it is not priority with few playing hours (doing even some tries/tests of newer games, btw)

have fun even if you suffer and abandon it - yes his camps were on "bad voice" for being more challenging than average made at time - only advice again is given with armor + arty combo at least for that desert part. Rest is on you and careful positioning, sometimes it is important not to rush and to keep forces together with enough firepower at places, you will kill even much more experinced units if you hit them with artillery fire first etc. etc. good luck, we are all a bit "empty" here (except Para and few guys) and played it too much in past 20-25 years, so not pouring salt by saying it is almost "easy", but it is true that with strategies often is golden rule that proper steps and army buildup is essential, we find them hard mostly becuse "we are not doing them right"...

Understand! Thanks for the advice!

John

Scenario 2: Attacking Tobruk

With my 556 prestige, I purchased another Arty, and a Cruiser tank.
Deployment was pretty simple. You set up behind a line of auxiliaries that are pointed north towards Tobruk. On your way there's an italian-held airfield, and two other objectives - Fort Palistrina and Fort Solaro. If memory serves, nothing falls easily and patience is required to make your way to Tobruk. You are given 25 turns to travel approximately 8-10 hexes which should give you a clue about what's ahead. Artillery is key here. You also need to take Gazala to the west which becomes a sprint at the end.

Turn 1: Patience is key here. You really need to rely on your artillery (core and aux) to batter down those forts and your Matildas to soak up their artillery. If you expose any soft units to their artillery range (assuming they spot you) the Italians will eat your breakfast real fast. There were times when I needed to - for either spotting purposes or to finish off a stubborn bunker. I tried to do this with auxiliaries primarily. The Royal Navy steps in after a few turns which helps you light up the units in Tobruk and wear them down (especially that huge 210mm gun the Italians planted there). The Italians have air superiority in a big way, but judicious use of air defense guns and sending your Hurricane in for key strikes work very well. Always cover your Artillery or they will exploit you here!!
Turn 11: Attack of the toothless camions! The Italian high command must have gotten desperate when I was very close to taking Tobruk so they sent out an army of trucks to spot for their air reinforcements and remaining artillery. I tried to cut them off with my fast tanks and AT guns that were clearing the road for the final sprint to Gazala, but inevitably some got through. They also tried to sneak in a flanking attack with scout and light tank, but I was able to catch and eliminate them south of Acroma.
Turn 14: Tobruk was captured and I spent a turn doing some cleanup before setting garrisons and sprinting west.
Turn 15: The Italians got additional air reinforcements hampering our trip to Gazala, but some well-placed air defense helped soften the attack and even picked off a few fighter planes in the process. Using my Hurricane as an auxiliary air defense worked very well.
Turn 16 - end: Ran everyone west to Gazala for a Turn 22 TV. I lost a 2pdr and my recon along the way to air attacks, unfortunately, but I was able to press on and capture Gazala with some help from the remaining RN Destroyer.

After Action:
OpenGen 0.93.4.0 * 25 Dec 2020 * AI version: Default (0.91)
Efile folder: C:\Games\OG\efile_cc09\ * Efile version: CC9-British Western Desert and Italy Campaign 3.0 with Adlerkorps 1K 2.25
Campaign: BRITISH WESTERN DESERT & ITALY CAMPAIGN, * Player prestige modifier 100% * AI prestige modifier 100%

Played Scenarios:
1 Operation Compass , #0 , Victory
2 Attacking Tobruk , #1 , Tactical Victory

..
Current scenario: Attacking Tobruk, VH prestige is 80 , All map prestige is: 200
Army cost: 2232 , Current prestige is 347
Prestige available on map yet is 80 pp ( 0 pp in VH to capture) * Turn: 22
AI stance is Defensive Using map: 6
if BV: +200, Beda Fomm , cap disabled, 18 turns prestige: 380
if V : +200, Beda Fomm , cap disabled, 19 turns prestige: 390
if TV: +200, Keren , cap disabled, 25 turns prestige: 390
if Ls: +200, Keren , cap disabled, 25 turns prestige: 390

Infantry
* Indian , Truck , , 1 bars , 135 exp , United Kingdom , 3/10 , 2 kill , 0 pp - U:002
* Indian , Truck , , 0 bars , 69 exp , United Kingdom , 3/10 , 0 kill , 0 pp - U:004
* Engineer , Universal Carrier , , 2 bars , 209 exp , United Kingdom , 4/10 , 4 kill , 0 pp - U:005
Royal Marine , Truck , , 0 bars , 65 exp , United Kingdom , 8/10 , 1 kill , 204 pp - U:013
Infantry , Truck , , 0 bars , 90 exp , United Kingdom , 3/10 , 0 kill , 168 pp - U:014

Tank
* A12 Matilda II , , 1 bars , 191 exp , United Kingdom , 4/10 , 10 kill , 0 pp - U:007
* A9 Cruiser I , , 2 bars , 252 exp , United Kingdom , 1/10 , 7 kill , 0 pp - U:009
A12 Matilda II , , 1 bars , 126 exp , United Kingdom , 5/10 , 3 kill , 660 pp - U:012
A13 Cruiser IV , , 0 bars , 69 exp , United Kingdom , 9/10 , 2 kill , 336 pp - U:093

Recon
Daimler Scout , , 0 bars , 20 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 0 kill , 216 pp - U:006

Artillery
* OQF 25 Pdr , Truck , , 2 bars , 220 exp , United Kingdom , 7/10 , 4 kill , 0 pp - U:001
OQF 25 Pdr , Truck , , 0 bars , 78 exp , United Kingdom , 9/10 , 0 kill , 252 pp - U:003

Air Defense
OQF 40mm Bofors , Truck , , 0 bars , 59 exp , United Kingdom , 10/10 , 1 kill , 252 pp - U:011
OQF 20mm , Truck , , 0 bars , 31 exp , United Kingdom , 5/10 , 1 kill , 144 pp - U:020

Fighter
* Hurricane IA , , 1 bars , 158 exp , United Kingdom , 4/10 , 3 kill , 0 pp - U:008

Player 1 : United Kingdom
Killed: INF:17 TNK:10 RCN:2 AT:4 FORT:9 ATY:14 AD:3 FTR:5 TB:1 Total: 65
Lost : INF:2 RCN:1 AT:3 ATY:2 DD:2 Total: 10

BV 0
V 1
TV 1
L 0

Averages:
Infantry * 5 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 568 exp, 7 kill, 372 pp Average: 114 exp, 1 kill, 74 pp
Tank * 4 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 638 exp, 22 kill, 996 pp Average: 160 exp, 6 kill, 249 pp
Recon * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 20 exp, 0 kill, 216 pp Average: 20 exp, 0 kill, 216 pp
Artillery * 2 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 298 exp, 4 kill, 252 pp Average: 149 exp, 2 kill, 126 pp
Air Defense * 2 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 90 exp, 2 kill, 396 pp Average: 45 exp, 1 kill, 198 pp
Fighter * 1 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 158 exp, 3 kill, 0 pp Average: 158 exp, 3 kill, 0 pp
* Summary: * 15 Units * 0 Leaders Total : 1772 exp, 38 kill, 2232 pp Average: 118 exp, 3 kill, 149 pp


Player 1 United Kingdom has 27 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 10
Tank : 4
Recon : 1
Anti-tank : 1
Artillery : 6
Air Defense : 4
Fighter : 1

Player 2 Italia has 19 units total (core+aux):
Infantry : 3
Fortification : 4
Ground Transport : 4
Artillery : 4
Air Defense : 3
Fighter : 1


* <- original core (don't count against cap)
+ <- BV prototype
pp <- prestige points