Meeting engagement between British and German armored forces supported by infantry. The British are trying to reach a ridge just over three quarters of the way across the field of battle.

In the first hour, the Germans lead with their tanks, giving the infantry time to spread out and dig in behind them, slightly in front of the objective ridge. The British split their tanks, with the slower Churchills travelling up the road and the Shermans and Fireflies attempting a flanking maneuver on the south side. The British infantry disembark their halftracks outside the German tanks’ effective gun range and begins to advance toward them. British air attacks and OBA cause some disruptions, but no real damage. The Panthers catch the British tanks within range of their 88’s and take out 2½ platoons of Shermans, a platoon of Fireflies, and two half-platoons of Churchills. Not a good start for the British. They are already down to an initiative of 1.

The British tanks on the south flank pull back as the Infantry advances toward the German armor. The infantry takes a couple of losses, but makes it right up to the nearest German tank platoons. The German tanks pull back to avoid being assaulted without their supporting infantry. They fill the gaps in their line of dug-in infantry. The Churchill tanks on the north flank trade long-range fire with the Panthers and Panzer IV’s; the Germans get the better of the exchange, but it keeps them from reinforcing the center.

After pulling back to the infantry, the German tanks concentrate on the British halftracks with anti-tank fire and eliminate most of them. The British infantry uses the distraction to approach within assault range. When the Brits win the initiative on the following turn, they assault the tanks and eliminate two half-platoons. With the German tanks occupied, the remaining Shermans and Firefly move up and take shots from outside the assault hexes and eliminate more German armor. Both sides reinforce the assaults and take casualties. In the end, the British do not have enough strength remaining to push on to the ridge and their armor losses are over twice as high as the Germans'. Major German victory.

Rated a 3, although it has good tanks in the wide-open desert. Would rate a 4 or 5 if I can ever figure out how to approach German tanks with Shermans and not have the Allies lose the scenario before it really begins. I will play this one again.