Robert Crisp says that he and the other soldiers wanted the decisive battle with German armour that had been planned

The new plan for the remaining 30th Corps armour still did not forsee that there would be a decisive battle fought with the German panzer divisions. Robert Crisp says that he and the other soldiers were disappointed, as they were ready for a final battle, fought to decide the outcome of Operation Crusader, where the British would either end up "being buried in the sand" or hailed as heroes in Cairo. Instead, they would continue "their role of protection". The 13th day continued with little action. They could hear sounds of battle in the distance, but they were left uncommitted. That night, they heard that "5th Royal Tanks had had a considerable set-to with Ariete Division away on our left flank, and that Paddy Doyle's squadron of Honeys had knocked out sixteen M13s". Robert says that he still could not understand why the 4th Armoured Division was not use to attack the Ariete Division. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.