Ariete: The Ram - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Bir el Gubi, 60km S of Tobruk, Libya: [Best played as Allied] Following the start of Operation Crusader, Gott's 7th Armoured Division started probing to the northwest from its starting position around Gabr Saleh. The first formation to make contact was the novice 22nd Armoured Brigade, which stumbled on a group of Italian tanks southeast of Bir el Gubi in the open desert south of Tobruk. In spite of warnings from the experienced armored car commanders of the 11th Hussars, the brigade attacked without waiting for artillery or infantry support. The Italian armor, from the 132nd "Ariete" Armored Division, beat a hasty retreat closely followed by the eager British who had heard stories of how easily the Italians could be expected to crumble. In open formation to protect against air attack, the new crusader regiments charged across the desert individually, each determined to bag its quota of Italian sheep. They soon discovered that instead of panicked sheep they were facing an experienced and battle-tested Ram.