Battle of Sollum - Operation Battleaxe: ATAG Server, Saturday, Nov 18 at 1900 GMT

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[Army Blue]
<Name>
Army BLUE - Battleaxe
<Description>
Battle of Sollum - Operation BattleAxe.

15-6-1941
Morning 07.00 Weather: Clear with good visibility, wind light from S-E.

Pilots,
The Halfaya Pass and its airport are the spearheads of the Italio-German army.
Italian and DAK troops are regrouping near Sollum. They plan to advance to Marsa-Matrouk.
Rommel is nervous due to the bad news coming from logistics specialists regarding his much-needed supplies.
The Royal Navy has stopped every convoy trying to pass through the Sicilian channel.
The British are well aware of our difficult situation and are eager to use the crest of the Marmarica desert as a natural wall to further slow us down.
So in order to save time and allow the preparation of defences at El-Alamein, the Allies have ordered a counter-offensive.
The British still have a good number of serviceable aircraft but so do we...and we are going to fight to the last man.

Axis aircraft will take off from the following airbases:

AXIS 1 Halfaya Airport. F22-5
Available aircraft
-Br20m
-Cr42
-G50
-Bf109 E-7
-Bf109 E7N
-Bf109 F2
-Bf109 F4Z
-Bf110 C4-N
-Ju87B-2
-C202-III
-C202 -VII
-D520-1

AXIS SRAM Sollum Amseat2 E25-1
Available aircraft
-G50
-Cr42
-Bf 108B-2
-Br20M
-D520-1
-He 111 H6 torp.
-C202 III
-C202 VII

AXIS 2 Sciegga N°1 B 11
Available aircraft
-Br20m
-Cr42
-G50
-Bf109 E-7
-Bf109 E7N
-Bf109 F2
-Bf109F4
-Bf109 F4Z
-Bf110 C4-N
-Bf110 C6
-Ju87B-2
-C202-III
-C202 -VII
-D520-1
-He111H-2
-Ju88 C4

AXIS 2000 m S25
Available aircraft
-Br20m
-Cr42
-G50
-Bf109 E-7
-Bf109 E7N
-Bf109 F2
-Bf109F4
-Bf109 F4Z
-Bf110 C4-N
-Bf110 C6
-Ju87B-2
-C202-III
-C202 -VII
-D520-1
-He111H-2
-Ju88 C4

AXIS 4000 m M15
Available aircraft
-Bf109 F2
-Bf 110 C4\B
-Bf109 F4
-Bf109 F4Z
-Bf110C6
-Bf 110C7
-He111P2
-Ju88C-2
-C202 III Alta Quota
-C202 VII Alta Quota

Objectives:
1) Destroy the advanced command leading the British artillery on the Halfaya Pass. H23-4
2) Pilots, the SRAM has advanced together with the front and you are amongst the few pilots available here. Help local squadrons and ground troops to defend the pass and the airport.
3) Destroy the enemy airbase at Siwi North, Q3-4.
4) After 15 minutes from the start of the map a Bf 108 will take off with two German officers aboard. They are heading south for Sceggia 1 and will provide more information once airborne. Do not allow this aircraft to be taken down by the enemy!

Beacon Frequencies:
Fort Maddalena 308 Mhz
Sollum 304 Mhz
Siwi North 302 Mhz
Sidi el Barrani 306 Mhz

Good luck pilots and may the Loreto Lady protect you.
Avanti Savoia!

Mission By Pernix from 5th Virtual Squadron
[Army None]
<Name>
Army None
<Description>
Operation Battleaxe was launched in order to win back Cyrenaica and free the British troops under siege at Tobruk.
The operation began with the support of Matilda Tanks and the 4th Armoured Brigade, the 7th Armoured Division, the 22nd Guards Brigade and the 11th Indian Brigade. Air cover was provided by the use of more than 200 allied aircraft.
The operation was initially planned for May but both men and machines needed weeks of preparation in order to finish their training and acclimatise to the desert conditions.
Fearing an allied attack, Rommel also prepared his defences and placed 88mm cannon at the old Sollum border and on the crests on the desert hills.
On the morning of the 15th, June 1941, axis observers spotted advancing allied forces and raised the alarm. Unfortunately, the allied artillery was slowed down because they were still using old vehicles not suited to the desert terrain.
The 4th Armoured Brigade and the 11th Indian Brigade on the coast, continued the offensive towards the axis positions on the pass but being in an inferior position and without artillery cover, they suffered great losses from the German 88mm guns and Italian artillery.
Only the 7th Armoured Division and the 22nd Guards met with some success, pushing through Sollum, to eventually conquer Hill 206 and Fort Capuzzo.
The 4th Armoured Brigade on the other side was almost totally destroyed while trying to gain control of Halfaya Pass.
The day after, the British tried to advance from Fort Capuzzo to outflank Sollum but a strong counteroffensive from the 8th Panzer Division stopped the attack.
Halfaya Pass stayed under axis control and the accuracy and flexibility German 88mm cannon was soon to become legendary.
The day after the battle, while shaving, General Wavell was replaced as chief commander of the British Desert Forces by Sir Claude Auchinleck. However, Rommel rated Wavell as a General and kept a copy of his book 'Generals and Generalship' (1941) by his side throughout the desert war.

Mission By Pernix from 5th Virtual Squadron
[Info]
<Name>
Info
<Slide>

<Caption>
Battaglia di Sollum
<Slide>

<Caption>
Missione di attacco al suolo e Bombardamento tattico. nei pressi di Sollum-Egitto. Ground attack mission with target near Sollum Egypt.


[Army Red]
<Name>
Army RED-Battleaxe
<Description>
Battle of Sollum - Operation Battleaxe.

15-6-1941
Morning 07.00 Weather: Clear with good visibility, wind light from S-E.

Pilots,
The Halfaya Pass and its airport are the spearhead of the Italian-German army.
Italians and DAK troops are regrouping near Sollum.
General Wavell believes that the enemy are now slowing down and that the German Air Force is low in air worthy aircraft and fuel.
This could be a good moment to stop and get back into the offensive.
The Halfaya pass is still in German hands but our artillery can help us to get it back.
The 4th Indian Brigade with tank support ,will push to the airport. We have the strength in numbers to succeed.
It would seem that this may be an 'all or nothing' move by General Wavell for he is well aware that London is not happy with his performance.

The Allies will start from the following airbases:

RAF1 AlthaeBan Airport I20-3
Available aircraft
-Tiger Moth
-GladiatorII
-Hurricane I FB
-Hurricane II b
-Hurricane II d
-Kittyhawk MkIA
-Martlet III
-Tomahawk MkII


RAF2 Siwi North Airport Q3-4
Available aircraft
-Beaufighter Ic
-Blenheim IV
-Wellington Ic
-Wellington Ia
-Hurricane II b
-Hurricane II d
-Kittyhawk MkIA
-Martlet III


RAF3 4000m M15
Available aircraft
-Hurricane I FB
-Hurricane II B
-Wellington IC
-Spitfire Vb-HF
-Spitfire Vb


RAF4 2000m S25
Available aircraft
-Tiger Moth
-GladiatorII
-Hurricane II B
-Kittyhawk MkIA
-Martlet III


Objectives:

1) Help our ground troops to capture the pass at Halfaya but remember:
do not damage the roads. Transport is essential.
2) Halfaya airport must be captured so our troops can take full control of it.
3) Cover our ground troops as they push from East to West.
4) Intelligence has informed us that within 15 minutes from the mission start a Bf 108 aircraft, with two high rank German officers on board, will take off from Bardia, heading south to Sceggia 1.
This is a recon aircraft and will be attempting to supply information to the enemy. It must be shot down at all costs.

Beacon Frequences:
Fort Maddalena 308 Mhz
Sollum 304 Mhz
Siwi North 302 Mhz
Sidi el Barrani 306 Mhz

Good luck Gentlemen
God save the King!

Mission By Pernix from 5th Virtual Squadron