Two battle groups from the 10th Panzer Division headed towards the village of Chouigui on December 1, 1942 in an effort to push the Allied forces back. At 0745 hours, they engaged units of the Allied “Blade Force” that were dug in strategically across the front north of the village. The Allies were successful in creating crossfire on the Panzer III platoons sent forward to recon the area, reducing one platoon on the Allied left. A Pz.IVH then moved up to provide support. By 0900 hours, two Stuart platoons had been destroyed and a Crusader III platoon demoralized in the Allied center and left. The Germans moved a 50mm gun to the north center hill in preparation for a major confrontation there, as Stuart platoons moved forward towards the hill. A major confrontation occurred, with the Allies losing four more Stuart platoons and complete elimination of the Crusader platoon by an advancing Marder III, while reducing two more Panzer platoons. Another Stuart platoon on the Allied right was eliminated by one of the Panzer III platoons on that flank, but return fire from an M3/105 eliminated the Panzers. By 0945 hours, the Germans had eliminated the Stuart & T30 platoons that were based in Chouigui and now occupied the village. The Marder III continued to ravage the Allied armor, eliminating both Stuart and Valentine platoons on the Allied left. With the town firmly in control and battlefield relatively cleared, German troops began to break through to the south. Both the two remaining Stuart and the M3/81 platoons were eliminated by Pz.IV’s, and the battle ended at 1130 hours with a major German victory.

This scenario is another one from early in Operation Torch that seems very difficult for the Allies to win due to the strength of the German armor in terms of both firepower and shielding. The Stuarts live up to their nickname of “Ronsons” pretty quickly when confronted by Panzers, particularly the Pz.IV’s. Both the “Stuart swarm” and crossfire approaches were tried with little success. If twelve German steps can be eliminated (tanks counting double), at least the Germans can be held to a minor victory; however, only eight German steps were taken, while the Allies lost 56 steps. The Germans also held Chouigui and exited twenty steps for the complete victory. Stopping the German onslaught at less than twenty steps exited seems impossible, while an Allied assault on Chouigui on the last turn would cancel another German objective reached, but opp fire makes it very difficult to get in close enough for such an assault before all Allied units are destroyed. The best unit for attempting the latter move would be the Valentine, despite its slow speed, because of the “4” armor rating, but in this case, the Marder III brewed it up before it could reach town. The scenario ended 6 turns early as all Allied units were destroyed.