By 1315 a major tank battle was underway between Axis forces and 7 Armoured Division. At 1555 1st SA Division were passing a signal to 5 SA Brigade when the brigade interjected "wait..." Those were the last words received from the 5th SA Infantry Brigade. Some units retained some form of unity and managed to escape east through the New Zealand and Indian fronts. Against the German tanks, the South African infantry had no real means of defence with limited Anti-Tank capabilities, they were compelled to use 25-pounders in a direct fire role. By the time the panzers had broken into the rear of the brigade, the artillery had been subdued and all anti-tank capabilities had been destroyed. By nightfall, all that remained of 5 SA Brigade was "...little groups of disconsolate prisoners...between frequent flares and the light of burning ammunition."