As some probably saw we had a rum game of FOW last night.

Neil, Mason, Pete and I fought out another tank battle in our developing
sequence of Desert-themed games, this time moved to July 1942, lists from the
Afrika compendium, but with self-imposed vehicular restrictions appropriate to
that time: no Crusader IIIs or Shermans, and not enough Panzer IIIJs, and the
merest menacing sprinkling of the dreaded Panzer IVF2s. Pete's Italians brought
their state-of-the-art 1930s technology light tanks.

Herewith, then, the report of Major the Hon 'Frog' Airphyx-Hornbeigh, leading
the Crusaders of A Sqn, Queen's Bays on the British right flank.

*****

Sir,

So after a jolly pasting at Gazala we've run all the way back here into Egypt.
Auchinleck's drawn the line against Jerry at some inconsequential place call El
Alamein. I suspect the very name will be forgotten in a matter of weeks. Our
Division forms part of a line south from the railway halt on the coast all the
way down to the Qattara Depression - even that wily fox Rommel will have to take
us on here as his infernal Panzers can't flank us through that hellish place.

The day started with most of Captain Mason's Heavy Sqn with 3 troops of Grants
on our left. I took A Sqn's 3 troops of Crusader IIs on the right, with a troop
of 3 Grants to back us up. Each of our two squadrons was supported by the RHA -
Mason's Sqn with 4 guns, and my own with a full battery of 8 guns as our 2pdr
Crusaders need the HE support they lack themselves. Two Motor platoons were
drawn up to cover some important forward defensive nodes which Jerry or the
jolly I-ties will want to get their grubby hands on (German objective markers).

Opposite us, facing Mason's Grants, lurked a Kompanie of the DAK's finest
Panzers. They included Pz IIIs with both the short and long 5cm cannon, a Zug
of Panzer IVs with short 75s, and they were led by on old foe - the wily-looking
Hauptmann Todd - complete with glasses and a strange accent - driving one of the
new Mark IV Specials (75mm Panzer IVF2). Hastily trying to dig in behind them
were some of those damnably tough Panzergrenadiers, and doubtless hidden were
two or three of the 5cm PaK38s which Jerry uses particularly effectively.

Meanwhile our Crusaders faced the Ariete Armoured Division's finest led by
Capitano-Major His Supreme Excellency the Count Pietro di Ebay - two platoons of
M14/41 light tanks, and a platoon of Bersaglieri dug in our morning's objective.
In a cunningly held reserve on the Italian right were a platoon of 4 Semovente
75/18 SP guns. The Italians were leavened by the presence of two more PaK38s and
a detachment of Panzers - again Pz IIIs, a Pz IVF1 and another Mark IV Special.

My recollection of events narrows here as my attention was focussed on the
Italian advance.

The Axis took the initiative - before me the Italian tanks rolled menacingly
forward (well, they rolled forward...) in a line abreast of two platoons. The
line then went hull-down on a ridge overlooking an open valley through which
either we or they would have to advance. The German Panzers rumbled forward,
getting a couple of vehicles nearly up to the ridge. In the Axis centre the
PaK38s dug in, while the elite Bersgalieri got distracted from digging in when
someone pointed out that their impressive black pith-helmet feathers clashed
unacceptably with the colour of the underlying desert sand of the Alamein
hinterland. A loud and operatic argument ensued. Lacking the range, their
guns stayed quiet.

Our turn came - and the only possible thing to do with Crusaders is to charge
pell-mell into battle, and this is what we did, plinking away with our trusty
2pdrs. Tally-ho! One M14 was bailed, and another destroyed. The Grants fanned
out and lobbed a few 75mm shells from long range. Taking advantage of the
distracted Italian infantry, who had failed to dig in, the RHA opened up with
all 8 guns on the combined infantry/PaK 38 nest on our objective. The net result
was one infantry team destroyed and the whole lot pinned.

In the following turns the boys followed my lead, getting the Crusaders in close
and personally acquainted with the Italian foe. Our chaps gave a very good
account of themselves, whittling down the Italian tanks and, though some of the
lads were a little shaken at times (bailed), they succeeded in breaking the
Italian tank line, eventually knocking out the command tank.

2 Troop did likewise for the Panzers, racing up to the advancing Jerry tanks and
expending 2pdr AP ammunition like it was last year's style (which it is -
everyone's saying 6pdr will be all the rage this year) Our cruiser tanks, with
the help of some 75mm shot from the Grants, gave the Hun tanks what-for into
their weaker side amour - in one glorious turn the German tanks allocated to the
Italian sector were reduced to flaming wrecks.

Meanwhile in the centre the RHA fellows kept up a jolly old-fashioned stonk on
the Italian infantry, not exactly getting the same return as us cavalry types,
but keeping the Bersaglieri heads well down. The 4 Crusaders of 3 Troop
trundled up and down in the British centre, keeping a weather eye on the Italian
Semoventes.

Late in the game in this sector, the Crusaders, lacking HE for an assault on the
infantry, began to withdraw, having destroyed 3 of 6 Italian platoons. They
trod warily back toward the centre, using the cover of the low ridges lest they
come under the sights of the dug-in Pakfront. At this point the Italian 2iC
threw his Semovente reserve into the fray, launching them laterally across the
board in support of his beleaguered infantry.

Apparently frustrated by Capt Mason's Grants on the British left, some of the
DAK Panzer IVs, and their Kompanie commander in the IV F2 swung into the centre
of the battlefield to support the Italian SP guns. Sensing the pivotal moment
for the Italians, the 4 Crusaders of 3 Troop thrust forward in true cavalry
style, guns hot with fire, and destroyed one Semovente. The RHA then joined
the party, switching their fire onto the Semoventes, raining merry 25pdr HE hell
onto their tin-pot turret tops, and ripping another vehicle to shred. The
remaining guns fled the field, in turn forcing a complete Italian capitulation.

The price this troop paid for their gallantry was predictable. Their fateful
charge had led them into the sights of Hauptmann Todd's Pz IVF2, and soon two
tanks were smashed into scrap, the remaining crews fleeing from the field for a
well-earned cuppa and a fortifying shot of whisky.

On the British Left Mason's Heavy Sqn had done a sterling job of keeping the DAK
at bay, though the Panzer high tide had smashed through the Grant line, only to
be broken just yards from their objective. The Panzers too were feeling the
wrath of 25pdr shells fired at them, this time over open sights.

There the day ended by an unspoken mutual agreement. Our chaps can claim a
minor victory, having seen off the Italians and given Rommel's tanks a bloody
nose.

Frankly, I get the feeling both sides are well in need of a rest and refit - so
we might end up being in this um..."El Alamein" place for some time.

Yours, &c.
Frog
HQ, A Sqn, The Queen's Bays, 22nd Armoured Bde

*****

Thanks to Pete, Mason and Neil for the game. Once again great desert tank larks
had by all. Pete - commiserations on your dice rolling - the gallant Italians
deserved better. Troy - thanks for supplying the Panzers.

Next stop in our odyssey across the desert is 'Second' Alamein - Operation
SUPERCHARGE. Maybe we'll get our hands on some of those Shermans the Yanks have
loaned us.

Graham