But today I bring you my latest campaign project is based on the chronological combat diary of the 7th Armored Division "Desert Rats"
7th Armored was originally designated Mobile Division (Egypt) and formed in 1938, the unit was based in... yep Egypt it wasn't until 16th February 1940 when the Mobile Force was rebranded to an Armored Division formation and redesignated 7th Arrmored Division. The Division would be tasked with defending the Egyptian/Libyan border against the Italians and on the 10th June 1940 they would be involved in several border skirmishes. The biggest issue with 7th Armored Division by this point was that they only had 65 tanks out of the 220 that was assigned to them.
By this point the 7th Armored despite lacking armor was making a name for themselves. They successfully pushed the Italians back at Sidi Barrani and forced them to retreat to El Agheila, 7th Armored drove across the desert using trucks and a few Cruiser tanks and cut off the entire Italian army at Beda Fomm.
But after the destruction of the Italian 10th Army, the German Afrika Korps had arrived and pushed the Allies back, 7th Armored with a severe lack of functional tanks had to retreat, but June 1941 they were poised for Operation Battleaxe, but failed in lifting the siege of the coastal town of Tobruk. The Division would later take part in the Battle for El Alamein - the turning point for the North African Campaign.
After the Battle of El Alamein the 7th Armored was tasked with chasing the Afrika Corps all the way through Tunisia and after breaking through the Mareth line they helped the American forces and the German Afrika Korps surrendered. From there 7th Armored pushed across to Italy and in The Battle of Salerno they held the line and pushed to Naples.
The Italian Campaign was a grind it wasn't long however until 7th Armored would be plucked from Italy and sent to England to train for the largest seaborne invasion - D-Day... 7th Armored arrived on Gold Beach on 7th June 1944 and they were already tasked with dislodging the German forces from the city of Caen. However during Operation Perch, they had a stroke of luck; the US 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One) had discovered a gap in the German Lines near the village of Caumont. 7th Armored rushed through the gap and overrun the village of Villers-Bocage, where Tiger Tank Ace - Michael Wittmann was waiting in ambush.
After the Battle for Villers-Bocage, 7th Armored fell back and tried to maintain control around the village of Amaye-sur-Suelles, unbeknownst to them the Panzer-Lehr-Division had surrounded the 7th Armored and as they struggled for control the battle became known as the "Battle of the Brigade Box". 7th Armored was later pulled off the frontline and engaged in battles around Caen during Operation Goodwood, and later would return to Villers-Bocage during Operation Bluecoat. By this point the German counter attack at Mortain had failed causing the entire 7th Army to become surrounded in the Falaise Gap. 7th Armored delt with them and then pursued the remaining Germans across into Belgium. Liberating Belgium in September 1944 7th Armored did not participate in Operation Market Garden, but instead maintained a defensive line along the Meuse River. Even during the Battle of the Bulge 7th Armored would maintain the defensive position, and would later lead the charge during the Operation Blackcock - Dislodging the remaining Germans from the Allied side of the Roer River.
Later the 7th Armored would assist in the Crossing of the Rhine during Operation Plunder. Where the final leg of the journey would bring them to the city of Hamburg.
In total the 7th Armored Division fought from the 10th June 1940 till the 4th May 1945, 1790 days of combat, over 25,000 casualties and capturing over 100,00 Prisoners of War. The Desert Rats would be disbanded in the end, after the British Army reduced their army size in the 1950s. However the legend would live on as the 7th Armored Brigade under the 1st Armored Division.
Changelog:
- Added more turns to the scenarios (average of 24 - 26 per scenario)
Changed AI to Auxillery units under player control
added more objectives to Operation Plunder scenario
