Gazala 1 Setting
The Germans have pushed the DAK hard to the south and come up behind the minefields at the Gazala line. 21st Pz Div has pushed north whilst 15th has taken up a covering position along a long low ridge facing east. Several elements of 15th have been detached to aid 21st in the fighting to the north. The British now have to smash their way across the ridge and into the DAK rear.

German Briefing
The 15th Pz div has available:

1 x CO 1 x FAC 2 x Stuka 2 x 88mm + tow	8th Pz regt 2 Abt. Each of: 2 x HQ 3 x PzII 4 x PzIII 2 x PzIII-long 2xPzIV-short 1 x PzIV-long
33rd Pz jag abt (1 company) 1 x HQ 2 x 50mm ATG + tow 1 x 37mm ATG + tow	115th Pz gren regt 3 abt each of: 2 x HQ 9 x infantry 3 x MG 1 x mortar 1 x 37mm ATG + tow 2 x trucks
33rd Aufkl. Abt. 1 x HQ 1 x 222 Recce 2 x 222 2 x 231

BUT – there are in effect 8 “boards” to deploy on (4 running north/south featuring the ridge and 4 behind those – all are slightly different, one has very little cover for the Brits, the rest vary - see below).


The Germans are told that the infantry once deployed CANNOT be moved (due to lack of transport and British infantry launching pinning attacks) BUT all other forces may respond to the British attack and move to the threatened area. This movement takes time. ALL units take a number of turns equivalent to the number of “boards” they are away plus one and use mobile deployment when they try to arrive.

German deployment decisions
The Germans deploy their infantry bttns on all but one of the three ridge tables. 88’s go at either end of the ridge. The emptiest board (there was a much more detailed version of the map!) is deemed to be the least likely place for an attack so the Aufkl Abt. / Recce is posted there – just in case! The Pz jag coy go into the line as well, and the 2 x Pz bttn are in general reserve in the rear – ready to respond to north, south or east. This is also shown on the map above.

NOTE: this set up means that the German player commands what feels like the division BUT only 1 infantry bttn is ever used. All this is shown in the map. The Brits selected the Southern most table to fight on (highlighted in red) and so that area was set up and the Germans deployed.

Now all the Germans could do was watch.....and wait... Part of their deployment is shown here in the pictures:







Then: Pz gren regt 115 / III Abt reported: “Dust clouds to the east”..... “Enemy armour to our front”... The British were coming on!...15th Panzer division was on the move!


The British Briefing
It has been decided to break the German line along the ridge and so threaten the German supply lines running to the west of the ridge. To this end spoiling attacks are to be launched along the entire length of the ridge to pin the Germans in place and then deliver a knock out blow with an armoured brigade group.

Forces

1 x CO 2 x Daimler recce (attached to the regts) 2 x FAO 3 x 25 pdr	Regt 2 2 x HQ 8 x Grant 5 x Honey
Regt 1 2 x HQ 4 x Grant 10 x Honey	Regt 3 1 x HQ 10 x Crusader 2 x Crusader CS 4 x 2pdr Portee

NOTE: This is really a near pure tank force – no infantry (they are fighting on the other tables!) The Brits spotted quickly that it was best to attack on an end of the line to avoid having BOTH flanks threatened. Hence the southern flank / end was selected. The Brigade moved into position and began its advance!


The Game
The Brits selected their left (i.e. the southern most point of the game area) for their main effort - assuming that intervention by the rest of 15th Pz Div would be to thier front and right. To this end the Crusader regt went on the right to act as a flank guard while the remining two went in the centre / left - the main effort.

Turn1: The Brits press on - but only their left and centre regts have arrived - the flank guard is no where to be seen. Opp fire from the 88 takes out a Honey troop, as does command phase fire - two kills to the DAK! The picture below shows the Britis all on by turn 2 - but only the left flank regt is really making any ground.

The view from the German lines - the 88 has now been KO'd! The storch is just for show!


Turn 2: The British are well advanced on their left, but in other areas including the centre the drive was slower – note losses to the single German 88! This was not to last long as the Grants dealt with the 88 using some well placed long range fire (see them KO’d on the ridge above)! The only German ATG strength was now down to a single unit of 37mm “door knockers”! Orders come pouring through and the Honeys on the extreme left push on - below. Opp fire from the stranded German inf gave the Honeys a shock - several are left suppressed - messing up the British effort on their left where they've attacked on too narrow a front.


Turn 3: On the British right the Crusaders finally push on (below left), covered by the Portees – just visible on the extreme left of the picture! But nearby a single sdkfz250 has just arrived – what could it be carrying? The occupant of the 250 makes his roll! The loss of the 88 was too much to bear – and some much needed support was summoned by the 250-borne FAC - above. The Stukas KO'd a Grant troop helping to mess things up even more on the British left!



Turn 4: On the British right their Crusader regiment suddenly poors forwards! It crests the ridge at engages the German Pz Jag company STILL limbered up, but only suppresses two units. Things seem desperate for the DAK player. He throws in the Aufkl abt units AND the stukas! This pays off, but opp. fire from the covering line of Portees takes its toll! On the right the Honeys start to sort themselves out. By now 2 have been KO'd by ATR and 37mm fire combined. In response the Brits have hit nothing! The reverse slope here really paid off largely because the Brits put too few units over the ridge to suppress the Germans with their own fire. The DAK infantry always seemed to have more firepower than the British tanks!

Turn 5: The DAK turn their attention on the Portees (below)! Oh dear! Just as this is happening a German Pz abt. FINALLY arrives – only 2 turns late! The moral is ONLY take on tanks with armoured cars if you’re really desperate!!! Although the recce had been roughly handled, things didn't look good for the British right (below).


Turn 6: the Brits start to sort themselves out, but the panzers move onto the ridge. The MkIV "specials" KO a Crusader troop, but opp fire supresses a couple of PzIII units.

The final positions looked like this:



Result
The Germans looked in a spot of bother on turns 2-3, but by then the FAC arrived – ahead of the recce and AT units. The Stukas were very very useful! The Germans had to fight most of the game without their armour which kept failing to arrive! In summary the German got:
Turn2: FAC, but Pzjag failed to arrive!
Turn3: Pz jag & Aufkl abt., but Pz abt failed
Turn4: Pz abt failed again !!!
Turn5: 1xCO and Pz abt, other Pz abt failed for the 3rd turn and NEVER arrived!

By turn 6 the Brits felt blunted having lost about 17 units (BP=22!) The German panzers would have made a real mess had they got into action earlier. The Germans stood at 6 (BP=18 for those who arrived). It was interesting for the Germans to fight initially without their CO who was “on his way” for much of the game. The German infantry on the right made a heroic defence! Reverse slopes were used all the time – as the Brits crested the ridge on a narrow front with just a few units they kept getting suppressed by the ATRs and small arms fire using opportunity fire! Even the 37mm helped KO two Honey units! I think that the most dangerous British thrust was the northern one – but the Stukas and the recce put paid to that – although at a heavy price!

Big thanks to the players: John, Jon and Vern - all good sports!