Dogfight @ Alam Halfa

DOGFIGHT @ ALAM HALFA Rommel's Strike for Cairo, Sept. 1942

Rommel's last offensive in the desert was a compelling one. He knew his past successes were waning for a variety of reasons and that unless something changed, he would be at the end of his logistical tether. By August, 1942, he was fast approaching a turning point and he feared his luck might run out. Thus, once he secured promises of adequate fuel supplies that would be delivered by the Italian Navy and Luftwaffe, this Fox planned for a knock-out blow that some call Gazala II in strategy. A wide sweeping ride though sands of the desert during the night, a ride some 40 miles in the moonlight to rear of the British forces at Alam Halfa. Rommel chose the night to hide his movements, his intelligence indicated the mines were nil and no British forces were so far south. The Italian armor divisions, the Littorio and Ariete, with over 150 M13 tanks (its 47mm gun could knock out most of the British tanks) would help seal the flanks of the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions (with over 100 tanks) along with the 90th Division. Rommel was banking on the British performance at Gazala, which showed when cut off, the British acted in a confused state. Once the pocket was dealt with, each panzer would strike for the Nile, Cairo and Alexandria. Besides, Hitler insisted Rommel attack.

Each hex is one mile. AFV units equal 8 AFV Each turn is 4 hrs.