Battle Report - Sector 37, Spring 1942

Sector 37, Spring 1942

British Forces:
     HMS Croome

German Forces:
     U-66 (x3)
     U-552
     Land-based (4 turn re-arming)

          BV 138

The weather is fine with four Islands on the map (C5, E4, G5-6, J3).  Three 25-point objectives were placed in the standard locations (F1, F4, and F7).

START: The Croome starts in A4 while the German wolfpack separates to cover the entire front with U-66s in G2, G3, and G7 and the U552 in G4.

Turn 1: The British win initiative, but the numerically superior Germans advance with the U66s moving to F2,F3, and F7.  The U552 advances to F4.  In response, the Croome moves to C4.

Turn 2:  The Germans win initiative, so the Croome retreats to B5.. The U66s move to E2, E3, and E6 while the U552 moves to F5.

Turn 3:  The British win initiative, so the destroyer gets to react to the submarine movement.  The U66s move to D2, D3, and D7 while the U552,hampered by the island in E4, moves to E5.  The Croome using islands as cover, moves to C6.  The BV138 is committed to D6 to act as a Ppinpointer, but to no avail as both a U66 and the U552 miss with a combined 9 torpedoes.

Turn 4:  The Germans win initiative, which is fortuitous for the Croome as it rushes to F5 and successfully rams the U552, sinking it.  The U66s move to D3, D4 and E6 while the BV 138 again deploys to D6 as a Pinpointer.   The British destroyer's luck continues as none of the torpedoes from the two u-boats in range score a hit..

Turn 5: The British win initiative, but the Germans boldly advance with the U66s moving to D5, E3, and F6.  The Croome moves to F6 in order to attack a second submarine.  The German patrol bomber deploys to E5, again as a Pinpointer.  The Croome's ASW attack successfully cripples the U-66, but the crippled submarines return fire lands a hit and sinks the British destroyer.  

Surviving British Forces:

None

Surviving German Forces:

U-66

U-66

U-66 (crippled)

BV 138

After Action (UK): Seeing four u-boats, I knew my chances of victory were nil, but between the terrain and the Croome's ram ability, I was hoping to be able to get close enough to have a chance to sink the U-552.  Not only successfully doing that but also crippling a U-66 made this battle an overwhelming success, despite not winning the sector.  Losing initiative on turn 4 was huge, in my favor.

After Action (GE): Losing the U552 and have a U66 crippled wasn't really worth it but I did retain the space and destroyed a pesky Croome.