6.1 perspective
author's note and perspective for 6.1
Kesselring assuming command of Northern forces is historical
Kesselring authorizing airlift of reinforcements is historical (ish)... this occurred in the original timeline as the battle of Gazala progressed, Rommel ultimately received something like 4000 infantry replacements from the Crete Garrison and later on after first Alamein, Kesselring begrudgingly granted the PAA the forces that had been left in reserve for Herkules. In this time line Kesselring is more impressed by the DAK/PAA success at Gazala and authorizes the reinforcements earlier, and with possession of in tact fields and captured booty at Gambut, the German replacements can be made use of in good order.
The timeline will use air transported German reinforcements to address Rommel's unsustainable attrition rate, which even if improved by a bigger victory at Gazala is still a constant emergency
22nd armored dice roll contemplation and evaluation:
Historically 22nd engaged in tremendous duels with bogged down DAK elements at this time (who had no fuel due to Bir Hakeim hold out), and gave as good as they got... 4 for the British historically since 22nd had lost many crews and had been significantly reorganized in the spring. They then where ordered to attack Rommel's defensive position at the cauldron which went disasterously, and the formation had to retreat and be completely rebuilt. 2 on the dice, they had a number of unlucky breaks in the cauldron attacks
The timeline displaces 21st panzer and Ariete to attack 22nd front and back because Bir Hakeim falls Position reflects intended march routes and positioning for PAA mobile formations in that area based on my original roll of 3/4 for the Trieste Division. 22nd is more disrupted and isolated because of this positioning and lacks close air support due to more successful advance by 90th light division. 90th lights roll considered 1 after collapse at Bir Hakeim. 22nd is decapitiated like other formations in the south due to 21st panzer's superior position vs the original timeline (roll of 2). They are attacked front and back, without orders or much air support by 2+ times their number, and collapse inflicting moderate losses on their attackers (roll of 2/3)
Investment and future destruction of 150th box not considered dice roll due to historical positioning of the box making it a death sentence (ie the PAA destroyed the box with the battle not going as well for them historically). 8th army refusing to release the Gazala or Toburk garrisons by this stage not considered a dice roll as they had historical emphatic orders from London that forbade them from doing so, and London was not convinced historically to allow the formations to withdraw, until after the battle had been lost
Kesselring assuming command of Northern forces is historical
Kesselring authorizing airlift of reinforcements is historical (ish)... this occurred in the original timeline as the battle of Gazala progressed, Rommel ultimately received something like 4000 infantry replacements from the Crete Garrison and later on after first Alamein, Kesselring begrudgingly granted the PAA the forces that had been left in reserve for Herkules. In this time line Kesselring is more impressed by the DAK/PAA success at Gazala and authorizes the reinforcements earlier, and with possession of in tact fields and captured booty at Gambut, the German replacements can be made use of in good order.
The timeline will use air transported German reinforcements to address Rommel's unsustainable attrition rate, which even if improved by a bigger victory at Gazala is still a constant emergency
22nd armored dice roll contemplation and evaluation:
Historically 22nd engaged in tremendous duels with bogged down DAK elements at this time (who had no fuel due to Bir Hakeim hold out), and gave as good as they got... 4 for the British historically since 22nd had lost many crews and had been significantly reorganized in the spring. They then where ordered to attack Rommel's defensive position at the cauldron which went disasterously, and the formation had to retreat and be completely rebuilt. 2 on the dice, they had a number of unlucky breaks in the cauldron attacks
The timeline displaces 21st panzer and Ariete to attack 22nd front and back because Bir Hakeim falls Position reflects intended march routes and positioning for PAA mobile formations in that area based on my original roll of 3/4 for the Trieste Division. 22nd is more disrupted and isolated because of this positioning and lacks close air support due to more successful advance by 90th light division. 90th lights roll considered 1 after collapse at Bir Hakeim. 22nd is decapitiated like other formations in the south due to 21st panzer's superior position vs the original timeline (roll of 2). They are attacked front and back, without orders or much air support by 2+ times their number, and collapse inflicting moderate losses on their attackers (roll of 2/3)
Investment and future destruction of 150th box not considered dice roll due to historical positioning of the box making it a death sentence (ie the PAA destroyed the box with the battle not going as well for them historically). 8th army refusing to release the Gazala or Toburk garrisons by this stage not considered a dice roll as they had historical emphatic orders from London that forbade them from doing so, and London was not convinced historically to allow the formations to withdraw, until after the battle had been lost