Operation Compass
Operation Compass | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Second World War | |||||||||
Map showing the Western Desert theatre | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Belligerents | |||||||||
Free France | |||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
36,000 men 275 tanks 120 guns 142 aircraft |
150,000 men 600 armoured vehicles 1,600 guns 331 aircraft | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
500 killed 1,373 wounded 55 missing 26 aircraft |
5,500+ killed 10,000 wounded 133,298 captured 420 tanks 845 guns 564 aircraft (incl. reinforcements) |
Operation Compass (also , from December 1940 to February 1941.
The
The British took over 138,000 Italian and Libyan prisoners, hundreds of
Background
10th Army
When war was declared, the 5th Army (General Italo Gariboldi) was in Tripolitania the western Libyan province and the 10th Army (General Mario Berti) was in Cyrenaica to the east. Once the French in Tunisia no longer posed a threat to Tripolitania, units of the 5th Army were used to reinforce the 10th Army. When the Governor-General of Libya, Italo Balbo, was killed by friendly fire, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani took his place. Graziani expressed doubts about the ability of the large non-mechanised Italian force to defeat the British, who, though fewer in numbers, were motorised. After being reinforced from the 5th Army, the 10th Army controlled the equivalent of four corps with 150,000 infantry, 1,600 guns, 600 tankettes and tanks and 331 aircraft.[2] The XX Corps had the 60th Infantry Division "Sabratha" and the XXI Corps had the 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo", the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" and the 63rd Infantry Division "Cirene". XXII Corps had the 61st Infantry Division "Sirte" and XXIII Corps had the 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio" and the 64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro".[3]
The new Libyan Divisions Group (Gruppo Divisioni Libiche) had the part-motorised and lightly armoured
Western Desert Force
Border skirmishes
Italy declared war on Britain and
Prelude
Operazione E
On 13 September 1940, the Italian
British plan
Following the Italian advance, Wavell ordered the commander of British Troops Egypt, Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, to plan a limited operation to push the Italians back. Operation Compass, for administrative reasons, was originally planned as a five-day raid but consideration was given to continuing the operation to exploit success.[14] On 28 November, Wavell wrote to Wilson that,
I do not entertain extravagant hopes of this operation but I do wish to make certain that if a big opportunity occurs we are prepared morally, mentally and administratively to use it to the fullest.[15]
The 7th Support Group was to observe the Italian camps on the escarpment around Sofafi, to prevent the garrisons from interfering, while the rest of the division and 4th Indian Division passed through the Sofafi–Nibeiwa gap. An Indian brigade and Infantry tanks of 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7th RTR) would attack Nibeiwa from the west, as the 7th Armoured Division protected their northern flank. Once Nibeiwa was captured, a second Indian brigade and the 7th RTR would attack the Tummars. Selby Force (3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards plus some artillery) from the Matruh garrison was to contain the enemy camp at Maktila on the coast and the Royal Navy would bombard Maktila and Sidi Barrani.[16] Preparations were kept secret and only a few officers knew during the training exercise held from 25–26 November, that the objectives marked out near Matruh were replicas of Nibeiwa and Tummar; the troops were also told that a second exercise was to follow and did not know that the operation was real until 7 December, as they arrived at their jumping-off points.[17]
Late on 8 December, an Italian reconnaissance aircrew reported that attack on Maktila and Nibeiwa was imminent but Maletti was not informed. On 9 December, the 1st Libyan Division was at Maktila and the 2nd Libyan Division was at Tummar. The Maletti Group was at Nibiewa and the 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio" and the headquarters of the Libyan Corps were at Sidi Barrani. The 63rd Infantry Division "Cirene" and the headquarters of XXI Corps were at Sofafi and the 64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro" was at Buq Buq. The headquarters of the XXIII Corps and the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" were in Sollum and Halfaya Pass respectively and the
Battle of the Camps
Nibeiwa
At 5:00 a.m. on 9 December, a detachment of artillery commenced diversionary fire from the east on the fortified camp at Nibeiwa for an hour, which was held by the Maletti Group and at 7:15 a.m. the divisional artillery began a preliminary bombardment. The 11th Indian Infantry Brigade, with 7th RTR under command, attacked Nibeiwa from the north-west, which reconnaissance had established as the weakest sector. By 8:30 a.m., Nibeiwa had been captured; Maletti had been killed in the fighting along with 818 men, 1,338 were wounded; 2,000 Italian and Libyan soldiers were taken prisoner.[21] Large quantities of supplies were captured for British casualties of 56 men.[22]
The Tummars
The attack on Tummar West began at 1:50 p.m., after the 7th RTR had refuelled and artillery had bombarded the defences for an hour. Another approach from the north-west was made and tanks broke through the perimeter, followed twenty minutes later by the infantry. The defenders held out for longer than the Nibeiwa garrison but by 4:00 p.m. Tummar West was overrun except for the north-eastern corner. The tanks moved on to Tummar East, the greater part of which was captured by nightfall. The 4th Armoured Brigade had advanced to Azziziya, where the garrison of 400 men surrendered and light patrols of the 7th Hussars pushed forward to cut the road from Sidi Barrani to Buq Buq, while armoured cars of the 11th Hussars ranged further west. The tanks of 7th Armoured Brigade were held in reserve ready to intercept an Italian counter-attack.[23] The 2nd Libyan Division lost 26 officers and 1,327 men killed, 32 officers and 804 men wounded, with the survivors being taken prisoner.[24]
Maktila
Unaware of the situation at the Tummars, Selby sent units to cut the western exits from Maktila but the 1st Libyan Division filtered through and escaped.[25] Selby Force followed up the retreat as the 1st Libyan Division moved the 15 mi (24 km) from Maktila to Sidi Barrani and drove part of the column into sand dunes north of the coast road. Cruiser tanks of the 6th Royal Tank Regiment (6th RTR) arrived in a sandstorm and overran the Italians in the dunes at about 5:15 p.m., then joined Selby Force to continue the pursuit. The Italian defenders were caught at Sidi Barrani, in a pocket 10 by 5 mi (16.1 by 8.0 km) backing on to the sea. When the British attacked again at dawn on 11 December, mass surrenders began everywhere, except at Point 90 where troops of the 2nd Libyan Division held out for a short time, after which 2,000 troops surrendered.[26]
Sidi Barrani, Buq Buq and Sofafi
On 10 December, the 16th Infantry Brigade was brought forward from 4th Indian Division reserve and with part of the 11th Indian Brigade under command, advanced in lorries to attack Sidi Barrani. While moving across exposed ground, some casualties were incurred but with support from artillery and the 7th RTR, it was in position barring the south and south western exits to Sidi Barrani by 1:30 p.m. The British attacked at 4:00 p.m. supported by the divisional artillery and the town fell by nightfall; the remains of the two Libyan Divisions and the 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio" were trapped between the 16th Infantry Brigade and Selby Force. On 11 December, Selby Force and some tanks attacked and overran the 1st Libyan Division and by the evening, the 4th CC.NN Division "3 Gennaio" had also surrendered. On 11 December, the 7th Armoured Brigade was ordered out of reserve to relieve the 4th Armoured Brigade in the Buq Buq area, mop up and capture large numbers of men and guns. A patrol from the 7th Support Group entered Rabia and found it empty; the 63rd Infantry Division "Cirene" had withdrawn from Rabia and Sofafi overnight. An order to the 4th Armoured Brigade to cut them off west of Sofafi arrived too late and the Italians were able to retire along the escarpment and join Italian forces at Halfaya.[27] Italian casualties were 2,184 men killed, 2,287 troops wounded and 38,000 prisoners.[21]
Exploitation
Over the next few days the
The Italians had lost 38,289 Italian and Libyan casualties, most taken prisoner, 73 tanks and 237 guns, against 634 British casualties.
Pursuit
Sollum, Halfaya and Fort Capuzzo
Exploitation continued by the two armoured brigades and the 7th Support Group, with the infantry of 16th Infantry Brigade (which had been detached from the 4th Indian Division) following up. By 15 December, Sollum and the Halfaya Pass had been captured and the British by-passed Italian garrisons further south in the desert. Fort Capuzzo, 64 km (40 mi) inland at the end of the frontier wire, was captured en passant by 7th Armoured Division in December 1940, as it advanced westwards to Bardia. The 7th Armoured Division concentrated south-west of Bardia, waiting for the arrival of 6th Australian Division. By this time the WDF had taken 38,300 prisoners and captured 237 guns and 73 tanks, while suffering casualties of 133 killed, 387 wounded and eight missing.[31]
Bardia
The 6th Australian Division (
Capture of Tobruk
On 6 January XIII corps surrounded Tobruk, defended by XXII Corps (Enrico Mannella). After blockading the fort for a fortnight, on the night of 20/21 January, British ships led by Terror (Captain Hector Waller), bombarded Tobruk. Further out, destroyers set a trap for San Giorgio in case it tried to break out but the ship was kept in the port. On the morning of 21 January between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. the British artillery bombarded the town. At 7:00 a.m. the 2/3rd Australian Battalion attacked, quickly created a breach in the Italian defences and by the evening had captured half of Tobruk, On 22 January the naval command surrendered and by 4.00 p.m. Generale Vincenzo Della Mura the garrison commander had also surrendered after Mannella had been captured earlier in the day.[33]
Derna–Mechili
The area east of the Jebel Akhdar mountains was garrisoned by XX Corps (Lieutenant-General Annibale Bergonzoli) with the 60th Infantry Division "Sabratha" and the Babini Group, which had 120 tanks. The tank force included 82 new M.13/40 tanks, which needed ten days to be made battle-worthy but had been rushed forward anyway. The Sabratha Division held a line from Derna, along Wadi Derna to Mechili, with the Babini Group at Mechili, Giovanni Berta and Chaulan, guarding the flank and rear of the infantry.[34][35] On 23 January, the 10th Army commander, General Giuseppe Tellera ordered a counter-attack against the British, to avoid an envelopment of XX Corps from the south. Next day, the Babini Group, with ten to fifteen of the new M.13/40s, attacked the 7th Hussars as they headed west to cut the Derna–Mechili track north of Mechili. The British swiftly retired, calling for help from the 2nd RTR, which complacently ignored the signals. The British lost several tanks and knocked out two M.13s, until eventually, the 2nd RTR mobilised, caught the Italian tanks sky-lined on a ridge and knocked out seven M.13s, for the loss of a cruiser and six light tanks.[36][37]
To the north, the 2/11th Australian Battalion engaged the Sabratha Division and Bersaglieri companies of the Babini Group at Derna airfield, making slow progress against determined resistance. The 19th Australian Brigade began to arrive in the morning and Italian bombers and fighters attacked the Australians. The Italians swept the flat ground with field artillery and machine-guns, stopping the Australian advance 3,000 yd (2,700 m) short of the objective.[38] On 26 January, the 2/4th Australian Battalion cut the Derna–Mechili road and a company crossed Wadi Derna during the night against bold Italian counter-attacks.[39] The Italians disengaged on the night of 28/29 January, before the garrison was trapped and rearguards of the Babini Group cratered roads, planted mines and booby-traps and managed to conduct several skilful ambushes, which slowed the British pursuit.[40] Derna was occupied unopposed on 29 January and the Australians began a pursuit along the Via Balbia, closing on Giovanni Berta during 31 January.[41]
Battle of Beda Fomm
In late January, the British learned that the Italians were retreating along the Litoranea Balbo (Via Balbia) from Benghazi. The 7th Armoured Division was dispatched to intercept the remnants of the 10th Army by moving through the desert, south of the
Desert operations
Giarabub, Kufra and Uweinat
Italian garrisons held Giarabub 150 mi (240 km) south of Sollum, Kufra Oasis, Jalo at the west end of the
At
Aftermath
Analysis
Place | PoW | Tanks | Guns |
---|---|---|---|
Sidi Barrani |
38,289 | 73 | 297 |
Sidi Omar | 900 | 0 | 8 |
Bardia | 42,000 | 130 | 275 |
Tobruk | 25,000 | 87 | 208 |
Mechili | 100 | 13 | 0 |
Derna Benghazi |
2,000 | 10 | 24 |
Benghazi Agedabia |
25,000 | 107 | 93 |
Total | 133,298 | 420 | 845 |
The success of the 7th Armoured Division encouraged a belief in the Royal Tank Regiment that manoeuvre could win battles; the engagement with the Babini Group on 24 January, led to a conclusion that armoured divisions needed more artillery. No integration of tanks with infantry or the use of anti-tank guns offensively was considered necessary. The lack of cover in the desert encouraged dispersion to avoid air attack but this reduced firepower at the decisive point. Due to the lack of supplies and the shortage of transport, conservation during lulls also encouraged the use of "jock columns" (a small mobile force formed of a motorised infantry company, a field-gun battery and several armoured cars). The success of such columns against the Italians led to exaggerated expectations, which were confounded when German aircraft and better-equipped and -armed troops arrived in Libya. The 7th Armoured Division concluded that the defensive mentality of the Italians had justified the British taking of exceptional risks, which would be unjustified against German troops.[48]
Casualties
The WDF suffered casualties of 500 killed, 55 missing, and 1,373 wounded.[49] The RAF lost 26 aircraft, comprising six Hurricane and five Gladiator fighters, three Wellington bombers, a Vickers Valentia bomber/transport and eleven Blenheim light bombers. A far larger number of aircraft became non-operational due to damage, which could not be repaired quickly for lack of spare parts, a problem made worse by the increased use of explosive bullets by the Italians. (On 14 December, a raid on Bardia by nine Blenheims cost one aircraft shot down and seven damaged by explosive bullets.)[50] The Italian 10th Army lost at least 5,500 men killed, about 10,000 wounded, 133,298 men taken prisoner and losses of 420 tanks and 845 guns.[47]
Subsequent operations
A week after the Italian surrender at Beda Fomm, the Defence Committee in London ordered Cyrenaica to be held with the minimum of forces and the surplus sent to Greece. In the WDF (now XIII Corps), the 6th Australian Division was fully equipped and had few losses to replace. The 7th Armoured Division had been operating for eight months, wearing out its mechanical equipment and was withdrawn to refit. Two regiments of the 2nd Armoured Division were also worn out, leaving the division with only four tank regiments. The 6th Australian Division went to Greece in March, with a brigade group of the 2nd Armoured Division containing the best equipment. The remainder of the division and the new 9th Australian Division, minus two of its three brigades and most of its transport, sent to Greece, had two under-equipped brigades of the 7th Australian Division attached. The division took over in Cyrenaica, on the assumption that the Italians could not begin a counter-offensive until May, even with German reinforcements.[51]
The 3rd Armoured Brigade of the 2nd Armoured Division was left in Cyrenaica comprising an under-strength light tank regiment, a second regiment using captured Italian tanks and from mid-March a cruiser tank regiment, also equipped with worn-out tanks. The 2nd Support Group had only one motor battalion, a field artillery regiment, one anti-tank battery and a machine-gun company; most of the divisional transport had been sent to Greece.
Orders of battle
10th Army
December 1940, detail taken from Montanari (1990) unless specified.[53]
- Supreme Commander Italian Forces in North Africa, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
- 10th Army, General Italo Gariboldi, from 23 December General Giuseppe Tellera (Killed in action [KIA] 7 February 1941)
Libyan Divisions Group
- Libyan Divisions Group, headquarters in Sidi Barrani General Sebastiano Gallina
- 1st Libyan Division, at Al Maktilah (General Giovanni Cerio)
- 1st Libyan Infantry Group, 3 × battalions, 1 × anti-tank company with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 2nd Libyan Infantry Group, 3 × battalions, 1 × anti-tank company 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 1st Libyan Artillery Group, 2 × groups with 77/28 mod. 5 field guns
- II Mixed Engineer Battalion
- Attached units
- 1 × group from the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 2 × batteries with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 1 × battery with 105/28 howitzers
- 1 × gun company with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 2nd Libyan Division, between Ras el Dai and Alam el Tummar (General Armando Pescatori)
- 3rd Libyan Infantry Group, 4 × battalions, 1 × anti-tank company with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 4th Libyan Infantry Group, 4 × battalions, 1 × anti-tank company 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 2nd Libyan Artillery Group, 2 × groups with 77/28 mod. 5 field guns
- I Mixed Engineer Battalion
- Attached units
- IX Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- 1 × group from the 2nd CC.NN. Division "28 Ottobre" with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 1 × group with 105/28 howitzers
- 2 × batteries with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 1 × anti-tank company with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio", in Sidi Barrani (General Fabio Merzari)
- 228th CC.NN. Legion, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 250th CC.NN. Legion "Indomita", 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 204th Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- IV CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion
- IV CC.NN. Mixed Engineer Battalion
- 4th CC.NN. Anti-Tank Company, with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- Attached units
- 1 × artillery group with 105/28 howitzers
- 1 × artillery group with 75/27 C.K. anti-aircraft guns
- 1st Libyan Division, at Al Maktilah (General Giovanni Cerio)
XXI Corps
- XXI Corps, headquarters in Buq Buq General Carlo Spatocco
- XX Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- LXIII Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- X Machine Gun Squadrons Group
- 1 × motorcyclists company
- 63rd Infantry Division "Cirene", at Alam el Rabia and Bir Bofafi (General Alessandro de Guidi)
- 157th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 158th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 45th Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- LXIII Machine Gun Battalion
- LXIII Mixed Engineer Battalion
- Attached units:
- I/21st Artillery Group, with 105/28 howitzers
- III/12th Artillery Group, with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- III/21st Artillery Group, with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 2 × batteries with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 202nd CC.NN. Anti-Tank Company, with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 64th Infantry Division "Catanzaro", at Alam Salamus (General Giuseppe Amico)
- 141st Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 142nd Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 203rd Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- LXIV Machine Gun Battalion
- LXIV Mixed Engineer Battalion
- 64th Anti-Tank Company, with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- Maletti Group, at Alam Nibeiwa and Alam el Iktufa (General Pietro Maletti, KIA 9 December 1940)
- I, V, XVII, XIX Libyan infantry battalions
- I Auto-Saharan Battalion
- II Tank Battalion "M" 4th Tank Infantry Regiment, with 37 × M11/39 tanks
- 1 × group with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 1 × group with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 2 × anti-tank companies with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 1 × battery with 105/28 howitzers
XXIII Corps
- Sollum, General Annibale Bergonzoli
- 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo", at Bardia (General Francesco Antonelli)
- 219th CC.NN. Legion, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 233rd CC.NN. Legion, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 201st CC.NN. Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- CCI CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion
- CCI CC.NN. Mixed Engineer Battalion
- 201st CC.NN. Anti-Tank Company, with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- Attached units:
- LXI Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- Sollum and Halfaya Pass(General Francesco Argentino)
- 231st CC.NN. Legion, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81mm mortars
- 238th CC.NN. Legion, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81mm mortars
- 202nd CC.NN. Artillery Regiment, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers, 2 × groups detached to other divisions
- CCII CC.NN. Machine Gun Battalion
- CCII CC.NN. Mixed Engineer Battalion
- 62nd Infantry Division "Marmarica", at Sidi Omar and Gabr du Fares (General Ruggero Tracchia)
- 115th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81mm mortars
- 116th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81mm mortars
- 44th Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- LXII Machine Gun Battalion
- LXII Mixed Engineer Battalion
- 62nd Anti-Tank Company, with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- Attached units:
- LXII Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- 2 × batteries with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 2 × anti-tank companies with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 1st CC.NN. Division "23 Marzo", at Bardia (General Francesco Antonelli)
XXII Army Corps (Reserve)
- XXII Corps, headquarters in Tobruk General Enrico Pitassi Mannella [54]
- 61st Infantry Division "Sirte", at Gambut (General Vincenzo della Mura)
- 69th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 70th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 43rd Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns, 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- LXI Mixed Engineer Battalion
- Attached units:
- I Libyan Paratroopers Battalion "Diavoli neri"
- II Paratroopers Battalion "Fanti dell'aria"
- Artillery Command
- 10th Army Corps Artillery Regiment
- 20th Army Corps Artillery Regiment
- Babini Group at Marsa Lucch (General Valentino Babini)
- I Tank Battalion "M" 4th Tank Infantry Regiment, with 37 × M11/39 tanks
- III Tank Battalion "M" 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, with 37 × M13/40 tanks
- XXI Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes (disbanded at Tobruk late in December 1940, personnel used to raise the XXI Tank Battalion "M" at Benghazi in January 1941)
- LX Tank Battalion "L", with L3/35 tankettes
- 1 × Bersaglieri motorcycle battalion
- 1 × group with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 1 × group with 100/17 mod. 1914 howitzers
- 61st Infantry Division "Sirte", at Gambut (General Vincenzo della Mura)
Cyrenaica military garrisons
- Tobruk[55]
- Royal Italian Army:
- XXI Libyan Coastal Battalion
- 2 × mixed engineer units
- 2 × anti-aircraft groups with 20/65 mod. 35anti-aircraft guns
- Royal Italian Navy:
- cruiser San Giorgio
- 10 × coastal batteries
- Guardia alla Frontiera
- Infantry: 2,300 men
- Artillery: 2 × groups
- Royal Italian Army:
- Bardia
- Royal Italian Army:
- 1 × fortification machine gun squadrons group
- 3 × anti-tank companies with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- V Coastal Fortification Group
- XVII Group, with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 2 × batteries with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- Guardia alla Frontiera
- Infantry: 2,500 men
- Artillery: 17 × batteries
- Royal Italian Army:
- Giarabub
- Royal Italian Army:
- 1 × motorised Libyan machine-gun company
- 1 × fusiliers company
- 4 × Libyan fortification machine-gun companies
- 1 × section with 2 × 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 1 × platoon with 4 × 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns
- 1/2 × anti-tank company with 6 × 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- Royal Italian Army:
Libyan Sahara garrisons
- Kufra Oasis[56]
- 2 × Libyan fortification machine gun companies
- 1 × Auto-Saharan Company
- 1 × Auto-Saharan Company with 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns
- Jalu Oasis
- 1 × machine gun battalion
- 1 × Libyan reserve battalion
- 1 × Auto-Saharan Company
- 1 × anti-tank company with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 1 × battery with 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns
The 10th Army in Egypt consisted of 80,000 troops, 250 guns and 125 tanks.[57]
Reinforcements
These reinforcements reached the 10th Army after the start of Operation Compass (data taken from Montanari, 1990).[58]
- 60th Infantry Division "Sabratha", took up positions at Derna (General Guido Della Bona)
- 85th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 86th Infantry Regiment, 3 × battalions, 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- 42nd Artillery Regiment, 2 × groups with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- LXIV Machine Gun Battalion
- LXIV Mixed Engineer Battalion
- Attached units:
- 60th Bersaglieri Motorcycle Company
- XVIII Libyan Infantry Battalion
- 1 × machine gun battalion
- 1 × group with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns
- 3 × anti-tank companies with 47/32 mod. 1935 anti-tank guns
- 6 × batteries with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 4 × batteries with 20/65 mod. 35 anti-aircraft guns
- 1 × chemical company
- Bignami Column, took up positions at Mechili (General Mario Bignami, organised 22 January 1940)
- 10th Artillery Regiment, 1 × group with 75/27 mod. 11 field guns (from the 25th Infantry Division "Bologna")
- VI Tank Battalion "M" 33rd Tank Infantry Regiment, with 37 × M13/40 tanks
- XXI Tank Battalion "M", with 37 × M13/40 tanks (Raised with personnel from the disbanded XXI Tank Battalion "L" in January 1941)
- XXV Motorised Machine Gun Battalion (from the 25th Infantry Division "Bologna")
- XXVII Motorised Machine Gun Battalion (from the 27th Infantry Division "Brescia")
- 10th Bersaglieri Regiment
- XVI, XXXIV, XXXV Bersaglieri battalions
- 1 × battery with 65/17 mod. 13 mountain guns
- 1 × company with 81 mm mortars
- V Tank Battalion "M" 32nd Tank Infantry Regiment, with 37 × M13/40 tanks, joined the Babini Group (Special Armoured Brigade)
- VII Anti-aircraft Group, with 75/46 mod. 34 anti-aircraft guns
Western Desert Force
Western Desert Force, 9 December 1940 Details taken from Christie (1999) and Montanari (1990) unless specified.[59][60]
- Commander-in-Chief, Middle East (General Sir Archibald Wavell)
- Western Desert Force (Lieutenant-General Richard O'Connor)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex (7th Indian Infantry Brigade battalion)
- 4th Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment (7th Indian Infantry Brigade battalion)
- 7th Royal Tank Regiment (Until 11 December, then 6th Australian Division)
- 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
- 7th Heavy Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- 6 × light anti-aircraft batteries
- 7th Armoured Division (Major General Michael O'Moore Creagh)
- 4th Armoured Brigade(Brigadier J. A. L. Caunter)
- 7th Armoured Brigade (Brigadier Hugh E. Russell)
- Support Group (Infantry Brigade) (Brigadier William Gott)
- 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade
- 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 4th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own)(Reconnaissance)
- 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
- 106th (Lancashire Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery(2 × anti-tank batteries, 2 × anti-aircraft batteries)
- 2nd (Cheshire) Field Squadron Royal Engineers
- 141st Field Park Royal Engineers
- 2 × Royal Air Force Regimentarmoured car companies
- 4th Indian Division (Major General Noel Beresford-Peirse, until 11 December)
- 5th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
- 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment
- 4th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
- 1× anti-tank company
- 11th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Reginald Savory)
- 1st Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles
- 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
- 4th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment
- 1 × anti-tank company
- 16th British Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Cyril Lomax, until 11 December)
- 2nd Battalion, Queen's Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
- 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
- Central India Horse (21st King George V's Own Horse)(Reconnaissance)
- 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers(machine gunners, 1 × company)
- 1st Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 31st Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 4th Field Squadron Royal Engineers
- 12th Field Squadron Royal Engineers
- 18th Field Squadron Royal Engineers
- 21st Field Squadron Royal Engineers
- 11th Field Park Royal Engineers
- 5th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd)
- 7th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Harold Briggs, Mersa Matruh garrison, two battalions detached, until 11 December)
- 2nd Battalion, 11th Sikh Regiment (detached from)
- Selby Force (Brigadier Arthur Selby)
- 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards
- 1 × company Northumberland Fusiliers(Machine Gunners)
- 1 × company, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
- 1 × company, 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
- 1 × platoon, 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry
- 1 × troop, 7th Queen's Own Hussars
- 1 × section, 8th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 1 × section, 107th (South Nottinghamshire Hussars) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
- 6th Australian Division (Major General Iven Mackay, from 11 December)
- 16th Australian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Arthur Allen)
- 17th Australian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Stanley Savige)
- 19th Australian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Horace Robertson)
- 6th Division Reconnaissance Regiment (Reconnaissance)
- 2/1st Field Regiment
- 2/2nd Field Regiment
- 2/3rd Field Regiment
- 2/1st Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
- 2/2nd Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
- 2/3rd Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
The Western Desert Force consisted of about 31,000 soldiers, 120 guns, 275 tanks and sixty armoured cars. The 4th Indian Division was exchanged with the 6th Australian Division for the pursuit after the first part of Operation Compass.[57]
See also
- North African campaign timeline
- List of British military equipment of World War II
- List of Australian military equipment of World War II
- List of Italian military equipment in World War II
- Military history of Italy during World War II
Notes
- ^ Formed in 1940 and augmented by prisoners captured at Sidi Barrani to five battalions of infantry. The LAF participated in the first two occupations of Cyrenaica, mostly performing garrison and lines-of-communication duties.[1]
- ^ Cairo to Bahariya Oasis, Ain Dalla, Two Hills/Big Cairn, Murzuk, Traghen, Tummo, Zouar, Faya, Tekro, Sarra, Bishara, Jebel Sherif, Sarra, via Jebel Uweinat to the Nile and Cairo.[44]
Footnotes
- ^ a b Rodd 1970, p. 255.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 266.
- ^ Macksey 1972, pp. 106, 121; Hunt 1990, p. 51.
- ^ Hunt 1990, p. 51.
- ^ Christie 1999, pp. 32, 48.
- ^ Walker 2003, p. 61.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 262.
- ^ Pitt 2001, p. 102.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 112–113.
- ^ Hunt 1990, p. 21.
- ^ Mackenzie 1951, pp. 26–27.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 210.
- ^ Mackenzie 1951, p. 27.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 264; Mead 2007, p. 331.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 265.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 260–261.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 263, 265.
- ^ Macksey 1972, p. 68.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 281.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 265–267.
- ^ a b c IOH 1979, p. 374.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 267–268.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 268–269.
- ^ IOH 1979, p. 375.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 269.
- ^ Pitt 2001, p. 114.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 270.
- ^ a b Playfair 1957, pp. 271–273.
- ^ Bierman & Smith 2002, p. 46.
- ^ Richards 1974, pp. 270, 273.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 273.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 282–287.
- ^ "ww2 jan 1941".
- ^ Macksey 1972, pp. 121–123.
- ^ Playfair 1957, p. 353.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 242.
- ^ Macksey 1972, p. 123.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 242–245.
- ^ Macksey 1972, pp. 124–127.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 250–253, 255–256.
- ^ Macksey 1972, pp. 127–129.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 351–362.
- ^ Pitt 2001, pp. 229–240.
- ^ Pitt 2001, pp. 230–231.
- ^ a b Playfair 1957, p. 297.
- ^ Pitt 2001, p. 225.
- ^ a b Harding 1941.
- ^ French 2001, pp. 215–216.
- ^ Wavell 1946, pp. 3, 268.
- ^ Terraine 1997, p. 318.
- ^ a b Playfair 1956, pp. 2–3.
- ^ Playfair 1957, pp. 359–362.
- ^ Montanari 1990, pp. 608–611.
- ^ Montanari 1990, pp. 612–613.
- ^ Montanari 1990, p. 611.
- ^ Montanari 1990, p. 612.
- ^ a b Christie 1999, p. 86.
- ^ Montanari 1990, pp. 330–332.
- ^ Christie 1999, pp. 65, 68–78, 82, 104.
- ^ Montanari 1990, pp. 203–204.
References
Books
- Bierman, John; Smith, Colin (2002). The Battle of Alamein: Turning Point, World War II. New York: Viking. ISBN 978-0-670-03040-8.
- French, David (2001) [2000]. Raising Churchill's Army: The British Army and the War against Germany 1919–1945. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-924630-4.
- Harding, J. (BGS) (23 February 1941), Appendix E, H.Q. Cyrenaica Command Intelligence Summary No. 6 (23 Feb 41) WO 169/1258 – via The National Archives
- ISBN 978-0-7146-3383-1.
- La prima offensiva britannica in Africa settentrionale (ottobre 1940 – febbraio 1941) [The First British Offensive in North Africa (October 1940 – February 1941)] (in Italian). Vol. I. Rome: Esercito. Corpo di stato maggiore: Ufficio storico Annex 32. 1979. OCLC 6863876.
- OCLC 314648263. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
- OCLC 59637091.
- ISBN 978-0-345-02434-3.
- Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: A Biographical Guide to the Key British Generals of World War II. Stroud: Spellmount. ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0.
- Montanari, Mario (1990). Le Operazioni in Africa Settentrionale: Sidi el Barrani (Giugno 1940 – Febbraio 1941) Parte Seconda [Operations in North Africa: Sidi el Barrani (June 1940 – February 1941) Second Part]. Vol. I (2nd [online scan] ed.). Roma: Esercito Italiano Ufficio Storico. OCLC 885609741. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- Pitt, B. (2001) [1980]. The Crucible of War: Wavell's Command. Vol. I (Cassell ed.). London: Jonathan Cape. ISBN 978-0-304-35950-9.
- ISBN 978-1-84574-065-8.
- ISBN 978-1-84574-066-5.
- Richards, Denis (1974) [1953]. Royal Air Force 1939–1945: The Fight At Odds. Vol. I (pbk. ed.). London: ISBN 978-0-11-771592-9. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
- OCLC 1056143039.
- Terraine, John (1997) [1985]. The Right of the Line (Wordsworth ed.). London: Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 978-1-85326-683-6.
- Walker, Ian W. (2003). Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts: Mussolini's Elite Armoured Divisions in North Africa. Marlborough: Crowood. ISBN 978-1-86126-646-0.
- Wavell, Archibald (25 June 1946). Operations in the Middle East from 7th December, 1940 to 7th February, 1941. Wavell's Official Despatches. published in "No. 37628". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 June 1946. pp. 3261–3269.
Theses
- Christie, Howard R. (1999). Fallen Eagles: The Italian 10th Army in the Opening Campaign in the Western Desert, June 1940 – December 1940 (MA). Fort Leavenworth, KS: U. S. Army Command and General Staff College. OCLC 465212715. A116763. Archived from the originalon 16 February 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
Further reading
Books
- Bauer, E. (2000) [1979]. Young, Peter (ed.). The History of World War II (Orbis: London, rev. ed.). New York: Galahad Books. ISBN 978-1-85605-552-9.
- Biagi, E., ed. (1964). La Caporetto della Marmarica: Le decisioni irrevocabili [The Caporetto of Marmarica: The Irrevocable Decisions]. La seconda guerra mondiale. Milano/Firenze: SADEA/Della Volpe. OCLC 797715412.
- Buckingham, William F. (2012) [2008]. Tobruk: The Great Siege, 1941–42. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4501-4.
- Churchill, Winston (1949). Their Finest Hour. The Second World War. Vol. II (1st ed.). Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 396145.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles. Crow's Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-86508-634-7.
- Forty, G. (1990). The First Victory: O'Connor's Desert Triumph, Dec 1940 – Feb 1941. Tunbridge Wells: Nutshell Publishing. ISBN 978-1-871876-20-8.
- Grey, Jeffrey (2008) [1990]. A Military History of Australia (3rd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-511-37806-5.
- ISBN 978-1-85532-967-6.
- Lea, David; Rowe, Annamarie (6 October 2023). A Political Chronology of Africa. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-85743-116-2.
- OCLC 252028214.
- Rickard, J. N. (2010). Politics of Command: Lieutenant-General A. G. L. McNaughton and the Canadian Army, 1939–1943. Buffalo, Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-1-4426-4002-3.
- Roy, Kaushik (2011). The Indian Army in the Two World Wars. History of War. Leiden: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-21145-2.
- Wahlert, Glenn (2010) [2006]. The Western Desert Campaign, 1940–41. Australian Army campaigns (Big Sky ed.). Canberra, ACT: Army History Unit. ISBN 978-0-9757669-2-7.
- Wayne, Ralph (2008). Aces, Warriors and Wingmen. Mississauga, Ont: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-283-20300-5.
Journals
- "Battle of the Marmarica". ISSN 0040-781X. Archived from the originalon 20 June 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2007.
Newspapers
- Wavell, Archibald (13 June 1946). Operations in the Middle East from August, 1939 to November, 1940. Wavell's Official Despatches. published in "No. 37609". The London Gazette(3rd supplement). 13 June 1946. pp. 2997–3006.
- Wavell, Archibald (3 July 1946). Operations in the Middle East from 7th February, 1941 to 15th July, 1941. Wavell's Official Despatches. published in "No. 37638". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 July 1946. pp. 3423–3444.
Reports
- Thompson, D. H. (2002). Discarded Victory: North Africa, 1940–1941 (PDF) (Report). USAWC strategy research project. Carlisle Barracks, PA: US Army War College. (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
Theses
- Dando, N. (2014). The Impact of Terrain on British Operations and Doctrine in North Africa 1940–1943 (PhD). Plymouth University. OCLC 885436735. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
Websites
- Paterson, Ian A. "History of the British 7th Armoured Division: Beda Fomm". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2008.