In 1941, Wavell, his troops reinforced by the arrival of the Tiger convoy which carried Matilda and Crusader tanks, launched a limited offensive against the German positions at Capuzzo and Halfaya Pass. It was given the codename "Battleaxe" and was characterized by incompetence and lack of coordination. It showed the futility of throwing tanks, even Matildas, against German 88s, and that the Panzer Divisions could, literally, run rings around the British armored brigades. From the British point of view, the only satisfactory aspect came at the end, when the Panzers were blunted by a screen of Matildas which prevented them from getting at the retreating British Infantry. This scenario is a simplified version of the end of the Battleaxe offensive, when the remnants of the 4th and 7th RTR were given the task of screening the withdrawal of the 22nd Guards Brigade from Fort Capuzzo. Rommel flung elements of his Panzers at this convoy, in the hope of achieving their total obliteration. The 5th Light and 15th Panzer Divisions had shattered the British 7th Armoured Brigade earlier, and he anticipated equal success now. The scenario is designed to show the characteristics of the tanks which fought in the desert at this period, and is suited for solitaire play. BRITISH FORCES The forces listed in the OB are reduced and simplified from those present. In summary, some 30 to 40 Matildas, the remnants of the 4th and 7th RTR, are protecting the retreat of the Guards Brigade. The latter is shown as a simplified battalion. In reality, there were three battalions and a mass of support troops present, but most took no part in the engagement. Veteran, Morale: 9 4th/7th RTR, with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command Matilda II 1 recon Mk VIB 2 Squadrons, each with: 1 command Matilda II 1 Matilda II Squadron, with: 1 command Matilda II 2nd Scots Guards (notional), with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command stand 1 light truck Company, with: 4 infantry stands 2 medium trucks Support Company, with: 1 25lb gun 1 quad 1 21b AT gun 1 light truck 2 gun crew stands  GERMAN FORCES The German units attempting to cut off the British were the Panzer elements of the 15th Panzer Division. They had taken serious losses in earlier attacks on Fort Capuzzo. All of the motorized infantry and antitank gun units had been left behind. Veteran, Morale: 9 8th Panzer Regiment 2 Panzer Battalions, each with: Headquarters Company, with: 1 command PzBefWg III 1 recon Pz IIF Company, with: 1 command Pz IIIG 1 Pz IIIG 1 Pz IIF Company, with: 1 command Pz IIIG 1 Pz IIF Company, with 1 command Pz IVE 1 Pz IVE 1 Pz IIF SCENARIO RULES Length: The scenario starts with the 0600 hour turn and ends with the 1200 hour turn, or whenever all movable British units have exited from the southern edge of the board. Deployment: The British player places all of his units in the A2 square. Then the German player places all of his units in the A5 square. Special Rules The movement rate of all vehicles in the 2nd Scots Guards is halved. This accounts for the fact that there were present a large number of additional vehicles, encumbered with wounded, supplies, and equipment. In addition, many of the infantry had to walk for part of the distance. Victory Conditions None. In the battle, the Matildas managed to "see off"the German tanks, and to escort the infantry to safety. About half of the Matildas suffered damage to their tracks, and had to be abandoned. The Germans experienced heavy losses, some 40% of their tanks, although they were able to recover most of these the next day. Rommel was most displeased, and relieved from command several of the senior officers of the 15th Panzer. Terrain Desert track does not count as road, but allows movement through broken ground and woods as if it was clear terrain. In broken ground, movement by all vehicles is halved (pay double cost). In wadis, tracked vehicles pay 1/2 MA to cross. Wheeled vehicles may not cross. Infantry is unaffected, but may use as a trench. OPTIONAL EXPANSION OF SCENARIO This expansion simulates, in a simplified form, the other tank battle that took place during Battleaxe. This was the engagement between the 7th Armoured Brigade and the 5th Light Division (later the 21st Panzer). In the scenario, the forces added simulate the situation at the end of two days of fighting, but have been reduced in size to simplify what is really a training, or solitaire, scenario. British Additional Forces 2nd/6th Royal Tank Regiment Headquarters Squadron, with: 1 command A 13 Cruiser Mk IV 1 recon Mk VIB Squadron, with: 1 command A 10 Cruiser Mk II 1 A 10 Cruiser Mk II 1 A 9 Cruiser Mk II Squadron, with: 1 command A 13 Cruiser Mk IV 2 A 13 Cruiser Mk IV German Additional Forces I Battalion, 5th Panzer Regiment Headquarters Company, with: 1 command PzBefWg III Companies, each with: 1 command Pz IIIG 1 Pz IIIG Company, with: 1 command Pz IVE 1 Pz IVE 1 Pz IIF Optional Scenario Rules Apart from deployment, there are no changes to the rules. Deployment Add to the basic scenario: 2nd/6th RTR in square F3 I/5th Panzer in square E5 Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 5 To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by Greg Novak. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com