Alghur, they are more than halfway to Sidi Abd. They must continue to Sidi Abd where there is a store of petrol. I do not think the Rat Patrol will attempt to blow that dump, but the convoy must be alert every minute when the return trip is started. I want them back here tomorrow afternoon. Will you relay that message at once, Herr Oberst?"
"Ja, Hans, I am glad you agree that is the thing to do," the old man said and signed off.
Loss of the fuel stored at El Alghur was more of a disaster than he'd admitted to Oberst Funke, Dietrich thought bitterly as he absently marked his map with the position of the halftrack that had been lost. Even with the fuel he hoped the convoy would bring from Sidi Abd, his conduct of the battle would be curtailed if he did not achieve a reasonably quick victory. His need was not immediate, not today nor tomorrow. But three days from now, if the battle stalled and the convoy did not return from Sidi Abd, he would be stranded here on the plateau. His command would consist of a column of dry tanks.
Signals had been crackling in his eardrums and now they claimed his attention. In quick succession, three commanders reported losses: two more halftracks and one tank. It was becoming increasingly difficult to remain calm and his fingers trembled a little as he marked the map. There was no pattern anywhere, nor explanation for the varied progress of the advance. Some units seemed to lag while others spurted ahead. Two tanks acting as minesweepers near the middle of the line had pushed through to the fifteen-hundred yard point. The two tanks behind them moved up and four seventy-fives now opened fire on the two tank positions at the center of the Allied fine of defense. Until now the enemy had held his fire, but scarcely had the PzKws opened than not two but four of the defensive positions swept the Afrika Korps armor. Dietrich shook his head and bit his lip. One of the advantages on which he had counted was the maneuverability of his force against the permanent installations of the enemy. In the minefield, his armor was in as fixed position as it was possible to be.
Dietrich lifted his field glasses and focused into the mantle of pulverized dirt directly in front of his station where the duel was taking place. He could not see his tanks fifteen hundred yards away. He could not see any of his units. Everywhere shells were crashing, mines were blasting in a hellish nightmare of confusion. Now three more tanks moved into range and they with their minesweeper escorts opened fire. Half a dozen additional enemy positions promptly joined. It was completely impossible to judge what was happening on the dust-enshrouded field. Dietrich's tanks were within visual sighting range but were forced to fire by calculation. They had the advantage of being hidden from the enemy, whose positions were established, but they could not see the result of their fire.
Although the day was still in its early hours, the temperature already had passed ninety. Dietrich himself, with a handkerchief covering his nose and mouth, was choked by the hot dust. Although he wore goggles, he was half blinded. The reports that reached him were garbled and confused. He did not know whether his force had knocked out a single enemy position nor did he know what losses he had sustained.
At oh-eight-hundred -hours, he ordered a general withdrawal. The enemy would not run away. He would be able to return again at will at least as far as his armor had already advanced and it was essential that he appraise the results of the first engagement. Each enemy emplacement that had been knocked out would not only be a weak point to be exploited but also would be a position on which no more shells need be wasted.
The Afrika Korps armored vehicles rumbled back, and when they had reached their original positions. Dietrich called for a rotation roll from his commanders. Some responded, some did not. The result was inconclusive. He did not know whether those who
"Ja, Hans, I am glad you agree that is the thing to do," the old man said and signed off.
Loss of the fuel stored at El Alghur was more of a disaster than he'd admitted to Oberst Funke, Dietrich thought bitterly as he absently marked his map with the position of the halftrack that had been lost. Even with the fuel he hoped the convoy would bring from Sidi Abd, his conduct of the battle would be curtailed if he did not achieve a reasonably quick victory. His need was not immediate, not today nor tomorrow. But three days from now, if the battle stalled and the convoy did not return from Sidi Abd, he would be stranded here on the plateau. His command would consist of a column of dry tanks.
Signals had been crackling in his eardrums and now they claimed his attention. In quick succession, three commanders reported losses: two more halftracks and one tank. It was becoming increasingly difficult to remain calm and his fingers trembled a little as he marked the map. There was no pattern anywhere, nor explanation for the varied progress of the advance. Some units seemed to lag while others spurted ahead. Two tanks acting as minesweepers near the middle of the line had pushed through to the fifteen-hundred yard point. The two tanks behind them moved up and four seventy-fives now opened fire on the two tank positions at the center of the Allied fine of defense. Until now the enemy had held his fire, but scarcely had the PzKws opened than not two but four of the defensive positions swept the Afrika Korps armor. Dietrich shook his head and bit his lip. One of the advantages on which he had counted was the maneuverability of his force against the permanent installations of the enemy. In the minefield, his armor was in as fixed position as it was possible to be.
Dietrich lifted his field glasses and focused into the mantle of pulverized dirt directly in front of his station where the duel was taking place. He could not see his tanks fifteen hundred yards away. He could not see any of his units. Everywhere shells were crashing, mines were blasting in a hellish nightmare of confusion. Now three more tanks moved into range and they with their minesweeper escorts opened fire. Half a dozen additional enemy positions promptly joined. It was completely impossible to judge what was happening on the dust-enshrouded field. Dietrich's tanks were within visual sighting range but were forced to fire by calculation. They had the advantage of being hidden from the enemy, whose positions were established, but they could not see the result of their fire.
Although the day was still in its early hours, the temperature already had passed ninety. Dietrich himself, with a handkerchief covering his nose and mouth, was choked by the hot dust. Although he wore goggles, he was half blinded. The reports that reached him were garbled and confused. He did not know whether his force had knocked out a single enemy position nor did he know what losses he had sustained.
At oh-eight-hundred -hours, he ordered a general withdrawal. The enemy would not run away. He would be able to return again at will at least as far as his armor had already advanced and it was essential that he appraise the results of the first engagement. Each enemy emplacement that had been knocked out would not only be a weak point to be exploited but also would be a position on which no more shells need be wasted.
The Afrika Korps armored vehicles rumbled back, and when they had reached their original positions. Dietrich called for a rotation roll from his commanders. Some responded, some did not. The result was inconclusive. He did not know whether those who
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