We recently ran the Mechili scenario (#17 from the Operation Compass publication) as an introduction to the tank vs tank rules. Table is open desert with the Italian end higher than the British. We fought the battle using 10mm miniatures.

Victory depends on tanks destroyed and functioning tanks being more than half way down the table. The Italians were up 30 points to 6 when we ended the game.

The British had lost seven light tanks due to them emulating the charge of the light brigade, and the first troop of A13s that arrived on table were chewed up by a unkind run of cards. The deck at that stage was very biased in favour of the Italians with twelve unit activation cards compared to the two for the Brits.

Here's some more detail of the action:

This shows the action after about four  turns.

The Italians have two troops of tanks on table, and the British have made a rapid advance down the table with the light tanks. As a result one troop has already been knocked out in the centre of the table.

To be able to call in the British reinforcements, the initial forces were required to spot all on table Italian tanks, get at least one troop beyond half way down the table and lose at least one tank. At which point the off table HQ would believe that the Italians were actually attacking!!!!

The British are in the middle of what would be a futile and expensive emulation of the “light brigade” and have charged the Italian tanks to get the maximum effect from the HMGs. The result was some minor damage to the Italians and, eventually another four light tanks being destroyed

The Italians have the HQ tank on table, and the light tank charge is about to come unstuck.

After this the British made off as fast as they could towards the safety of their end of the table.

The last light tank to be eliminated was only about six inches from safety.

The first troop of British A13 tanks have arrived and have been eliminated, one destroyed and two abandoned.

At this stage the card deck had eleven cards activating an Italian tank, and just two that allow the British to reply.

They were subjected to twelve shots over two turns before their card came up, by which time there was nothing left to reply with.

The Italians have their third troop on table and, scenting blood, are advancing down the table.

Two more British troops have arrived and have already been hit taking minor damage.

Rapid fire from the British has destroyed two Italian tanks and the Italians are now trying to get off the table to maintain their winning position.

We ended the game at this point and judged it to be an Italian victory.  The British were about to bring on a fourth squadron, but would have to destroy at least a further five Italian tanks with no further losses to themselves to gain a narrow victory.

The historical result was British losses were six light tanks and two cruiser tanks, The Italians lost seven tanks.

Tony Cane