Destruction of the 7th - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Morning of June 12, 16km SW of El Adem ,( Best played against human or as Axis) In the afternoon of the previous day General Messervy commander of the 7th Armored Division received intelligence that that the German 21st Panzer Division was engaged around the Knightsbridge box and the 15th Panzer Division was over 20km to the SE advancing on the El Adem positions. With two freshly rearmed and supplied armored brigades at his disposal, the 2nd and 4th, he planned to exploit this gap between the German Divisions. Accordingly, he ordered the tank brigades to assemble south of the small village of Bir Lefa and prepare to assault the 15th Panzers in the morning. If all went well the 15th would be routed and then the armored brigades could swing NW and attack the rear of the 21st in conjunction with the 1st armored division advancing from the north. Unknown to British command, however, was that the German wireless intercept service had reported the planned attack to Rommel almost as soon as Messervy had radioed his orders to His brigades. Thus fore warned Rommel ordered the 21st to disengage from Knightsbridge and move east during the night while the 15th prepared to meet the coming attack. The morning found both of the British brigades sitting motionless awaiting final orders from Messervy that would never come for the general was hiding in a small wadi surrounded by elements of 90th light moving on El Adem. Rommel ordered both panzer divisions to attack, the 15th from the south and the 21st from the west. The outcome of this battle would decide the fate of the Gazala line and Tobruk.