After the previous bloody reverse during the direct assault on Benghazi Capt. Rohrstock had realised an alternate plan was required to force the British and their allies out of the town. So he'd massed his men slightly down the coastal road in order to cut the defenders off from their supplies. Victory here would sufficiently weaken the enemy for the following main column of DAK troops to easily capture Benghazi.
Once the allies had realised his plan they'd quickly thrown all available troops into the race to secure the vital road. Once more the Stuka's had flown over his advancing troops and Rohrstock was delighted to see a think cloud of black smoke rise from the advancing enemy lines as a vehicle was knocked out.
Less welcome was the sighting of multiple armoured enemy vehicles as his infantry rushed forwards towards the objectives. Firstly a Humber armoured car sped forwards and poured fire into the leading infantry section but with little effect. It was then startled by a high velocity anti-tank shell from the gun Rohrstock had ordered along to deal with any enemy armour.
The startled driver thrust the vehicle into a rapid advance which took it clean through the German lines and in to the rear of their forces. At the same time an Indian Pattern Carrier joined the advance and menaced the SDKFZ 251 which with it's machine gun had no real answer to it's armour.
Then things changed in an instance, firstly the Pak 38 and Humber had exchanged fire with the Humber missing it's mark only in turn to be destroyed by the AT gun which could then turn towards the IPC. It however had put it's AT rifle to good use and blown up the 251. using this as cover a section of Sikh's had also charged and destroyed the MG team occupying the house.
Despite their valiant efforts to capture the house this opened the Sikh's up to a withering fusillade of fire from Rohrstock's veteran men who soon had them grovelling on the floor of the building unable and unwilling to advance further.
They also lost the support of the IPC as it feared the Pak 38 and it too sped off forwards at high speed avoiding incoming shells.
Capt Rohrstock was unworried as one lone carrier could cause little trouble and his men had decisively worn down the fighting ability of the enemy who could only sit and cower in their positions as his men seized the objectives and won the day.
So there we are, at the end of a long campaign the DAK have proved victorious with the 8th Army having struggled to make significant headway. I'm sure we will return to the desert again in the future with Mr T painting up some Italians and I've got my eye on some French Foreign Legion.
