El Mechili, 8 April 1941

BARBARIANS AT THE GATES
El Mechili, 8 April 1941
It's April 1941, and General Erwin Rommel's Deutsche's Afrika Korps has British General Wavell's army on the run.  The German presence in North Africa was meant to be only a Sperrverband (blocking force). to stiffen the Italian resistance and keep them in the war while the important battles were decided elsewhere, but this was Rommel in command.  On 24 March, defying orders he transformed a reconnaissance probe into a full fledged attack. 

The British response was disorganised panic. The majority of Wavel's seasoned formations had been withdrawn to fight in Greece.
The German 5th Light Division began to rapidly defeat the weak, surprised, and ill-equipped British army. On 3 April, Wavell ordered a general withdrawal.  The British 2nd Armoured Division was ordered to retreat to El Mechili, but only its headquarters ever reached the old Turkish fort.

The fort garrison now finds itself surrounded by Axis columns that arrived in the night. The barbarians are at the gates, and the weary defenders have no choice but to attempt a dawn break-out towards Tobruk.

Forces

Axis

5th Light Division

Kampfgruppe Schwerin-HQ 

1-88mm AA Guns in A/T role, 

1st-Engineer assault Company in Trucks

3-AC 222

Panzer Regiment1-HQ PZl,-recon Pzll, 

2-Pz IIEs Attached

Reinforced with 4-Pz III in two troops.

132nd Ariete Armored Division
Battle Group Fabris 2nd Company Motorcycle Battalion

3 platoons.

Commonwealth
2nd Armoured Division Headquarters
2 Marmon Herrington Armoured cars,

4 x mix A9, A10 tanks

2 RHA 25pdr battery on table

4th Indian Division
3rd Indian_Motor Brigade 2nd Battalion, single company
9th Australian Division 3rd Australian Antitank Regiment,
2 Pdr Portees

El Mechili, or rather one of my 15mm Sub Continent buildings, pretending to be an Italian fort.

The Indian Infantry company were interdicted by the German barrage.  But the Commonwealth win initiative.

They may be defending but with the initiative held 2nd Armoured launch the tanks forward.

The RHA appear and start ranging in.

And the first PzIII appear.

A single German 88mm holds the 2nd Armoured advance.

My first tank Battle in the game and its a runaway German victory.

The Commonweath then begin rolling hesitant, and I rolled no less than six hesitant results during the game!  Lots of 1's on those dice.

I use a command order to withdraw the surviving A10 tanks.

More Panzers appear and head for the fort, lead by recce units.

The 25pdrs attempt to subdue the panzers, but on the flank I lose a patrol marker. 

The main German attack comes on, tanks leading an Infantry platoon.

And the panzers are straight in.  Not pretty against a hesitant company.

My RHA 25pdrs saddle up and leave the party just ahead of the pursuit as the Germans take yet another patrol marker, one of the still not appearing Indian Infantry company...

A terrible morning for 2nd Armoured.  The retreat to Tobruk continues.