The following ideas can be applied to Gazala and the armoured car rule to Crusader as well. The suggestions include an alternative, historically based British set up and reaction time. There is also a more far-fetched alternative to reflect a change in battle tactics.

Armoured Car Rule

Whenever an enemy unit moves within 2 hexes of an armoured car unit that is not itself in an enemy zone of control, the armoured car unit can retreat one hex; if the retreat is into an enemy zone of control, the usual penalties apply. If the same or a different enemy unit moves within 2 hexes the armoured car unit may retreat again.

This way armoured car units can be used to screen an advance, which was their true role, and they will not be overrun and surrounded and destroyed on turn one. I have found that at the moment they just operate as very poor speed bumps.

Better British Reaction

The British armoured car regiments spotted the German advance and reported it to Brigade who then phoned Division who phoned Corps. No one reacted and the armoured cars wireless reports were not monitored for 15 hours as no one ordered any one else to do so! As a result the 52 reports sent were ignored and no one above Brigade knew the Germans were coming. Assuming that the reports were listened to even 8th Army's poor staff work could have made some reaction. Allow the British to move an extra 50% on turn 1. They can use this in any way they want: to re-group, concentrate, get out the way, whatever. 8th Army had no plan, so why should you!

Alternative Deployment

Auchinleck was not happy with Richie's deployment of the British armour and "suggested" that rather than spread the armour out around the left flank it should be concentrated in one area so that it could hit the Germans hard in one punch rather than be hit one brigade at a time by the Germans which, was, in fact what happened. To cover both the left flank and the attack through the center (which was 8th Army's preferred option) the 2 Armour Divisions should, Auchinleck suggested, be deployed together along the Trigh Capuzzo.

Therefore deploy all units of each armoured division (except the Free French and the armoured cars) within 5 hexes of 3735.

British Battle Groups

Auchinleck wanted the British infantry to fight as more combined arms groups, as the Germans did, and in more mobile formations. The orders were issued in a half-hearted manner and no one ensured that they were carried out. Whilst the equipment was probably available the will was not. Until First Alamein, when Auchinleck took over 8th Army, the will was not there and even then the results were mixed.

As a very optional option, allow the following rule.

All British non-motorized units have their movement allowances increased by 50%.

All British infantry (including motorized) have their combat values increased by 2 if within range of an artillery unit of the same brigade.

This represents a more mobile mindset and a better use of artillery to protect the infantry and antitank units that would then be of much greater use than they were at the time.