Well I'll be hornswoggled. Got a win out of it, pretty lopsided, too: 2201 to 376. Attached the last turn in case you're interested.
--SPOILERS BELOW--
Previous attempts at "cutting the corner" around the front northern trench stayed on the road too long. This time I high-tailed it into the desert with a wide right hook. A few vehicles got stuck in soft sand but most made it around to the side and rear of the enemy position. There was just enough smoke to mask the flankers--except for one unfortunate laggard
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While this was going on planes and jets took out all the Archers while the sniper and a couple scout jeeps (!) dealt with the front-line ATG's. AMX's caught enemy armored reinforcements in the flank as halftracks and mech infantry swept through to the objectives. A strategy of indirect approach was vindicated yet again.
Appreciate your assistance Don; couldn't have done it without the extra four turns. Cheers.