The roadblock becomes the decisive battle
Italian medium tanks repeatedly attacked south while the 4th Armoured Brigade struck the column from the east. By noon British accounts recorded roughly forty Italian medium tanks destroyed, but the brigade's own serviceable cruiser strength had fallen to about fifteen. The battle became a close armoured contest around the blocked road. Italian armour still had enough strength to threaten the southern exit, while British fuel and serviceable tank numbers were close to exhaustion. Holding the road until the retreating columns lost room to manoeuvre became the immediate requirement.
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