Played by Doug Fitch, Michael Barnard and David Burson.
The following is the first installment of a DAK campaign currently
underway. Other installments will follow at irregular intervals.
Two of the three players are veteran gamers and Gamers, but relatively
new to the OCS (scenarios only). The third player (David) is new
not only to wargames, but military history in general (you never
realize how much background knowledge is required for a wargame
until you have to explain that the x means infantry and two little
lines equals a battalion).
The optional rules we are playing with include the combined arms
rules, the barrage rules, and the new air rules. We are playing
with variable British withdrawals and historical Fliegerkorps.
Comments are welcome (and desired).
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
The Italians launched their much anticipated invasion. Except
for four divisions in Tripoli and a handful of Arty units, the
Italians poured everything they had into the attack. The invaders
organized themselves into two armies. The 10th Army, the larger
of the two, had the bulk of the Arty and the task of marching
down the Via Balbia and capturing Mersa Matruh. The 5th Army,
with the mobile forces, was ordered to protect the 10th Army's
flank and prevent the British from cutting off the invaders.
To oppose this massive Italian force the British deployed four
incomplete divisions and some independent units. Only the 7th
Armoured Division had complete freedom of movement. The other
British formations were all under some kind of restriction.
The Italians crossed the border in a disorganized rabble that
lurched forward without opposition, the British choosing not to
contest the advance. The RAF flew several missions against the
vulnerable Italian columns, but for the most part confined themselves
to dropping leaflets. By the time the lead elements of the invaders
staggered into Sidi Barrani the invasion was beginning to assume
some organization.
First blood in the invasion went to the British. As the ponderous
Italian armies marched eastwards the LRDG struck out of the desert
and overran an airstrip near Sollum. The British shot up some
of the aircraft stationed there, but the bulk escaped. The Italian
reaction was swift and, surprisingly, effective. The Regia Aeronautuca
bombed and strafed the LRDG and the garrison at Sollum sallied
and eliminated the British commandos. The successful operation
filled the Italians with confidence for the upcoming campaign.
October 1940
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
Things heated up in October. Several bloody air battles saw the
RAF gain the upper hand and establish air superiority over Mersa.
On the ground, the 10th Army launched its first attack. The Cyrene
Division (+), massively supported by artillery, assaulted the
Indian defenders of the pass northwest of Bir el Hukuma (about
15 miles southwest of Mersa). The attack was successful and the
Indians were forced to withdraw.
The British reacted violently. The 7th Armoured Division moved
out of its reserve position south of Mersa and tore into the unsuspecting
Cyrene. The Italian defenders melted before the British onslaught
and the survivors ran away as fast as they could. The rout uncovered
the Italian artillery and the 7th AD destroyed several units.
The British were unable to rein in their rampaging armor, however,
and the 7th AD found itself amidst a sea of Italians.
The Italians hammered the British with artillery and then launched
a massive counter-attack. The attack was poorly executed and most
of the Desert Rats got away. General O'Connor was wounded slightly
during the operation.
After the 7th AD had returned to its own lines the Italian commanders
took stock of the situation. They were pleased to discover that
the British raid seemed to have little impact. There were LOTS
of Italians.
The rest of the month saw the 10th Army hammering away at the
passes and exchanging barrages with the British. By the end of
October the Italians had established a tenuous link betwen the
10th and 5th Armies along the Mersa - Bir el Kenayis road.
November 1940
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
The brief (and theoretical) link up between 10th and 5th Armies
was lost to a British counterattack. Throughout November the Italians
launched a series of heavy and largely unsuccessful attacks on
the determined Indian defenders. The 10th Army also made liberal
use of its powerful artillery, and came to rely more and more
on this arm as the offensive progressed. The British countered
with their own artillery and occasional counterattacks.
After the near disaster of the 7th Armoured Division's first attack,
the British turned their armor on the 5th Army. A week of attacks
destroyed two Blackshirt divisions and some MG battalions, but
the overconfident British tankers were surprised and roughly handled
during an attack on the Marmarica Division. Rather then withdraw
after the reverse the 7th AD launched another attack that smashed
the 2nd Libyan Division. On 14 November, while leading a follow
up attack that finished off the Italian division, General Richard
O'Connor was killed by troopers of the 8th Hussars while returning
from a reconnaisance.
With the 5th Army wilting under the 7th AD's hammer blows the
Italians began a disorderly withdrawal towards the Piccadilly
Circus area. The Italians feared that the British would cut off
the bloodied and demoralized 5th Army before it could retreat
to defensible positions. There was also the fear that if the 5th
Army fell back too far the British would capture Sidi Barrani
and cut off the 10th Army.
The 7th AD never got a chance to follow the retreating Italians,
however. Although the attacks by the 10th Army were almost uniformly
unsuccessful the Italian artillery was exacting a fearful toll
of the scant defenders. The Italians soon gave up attacking and
pinned their hopes on blasting the British out of the passes.
It worked. As the 5th Army was taking to its heels the 4th Indian
Division was forced out of the passes. The Italians pushed their
way up to Charing Cross and were only 5 miles from Mersa Matruh.
At this point the 7th AD attacked the Italians head on at Charing
Cross. The attack smashed the Italians and cut off a division
north of the escarpment. A second attack crushed another division
and the 7th AD burst in among the Italian artillery a second time.
This time the artillery was better defended, but that meant nothing
to the British. Most of the Italian artillery was destroyed, along
with yet another Italian division. Finally, the remnants of the
7th AD was surrounded and destroyed.
This time the Italians most definantly could see the wounds the
British tankers had inflicted. Taking a chance that the British
wouldn't be able to launch any extended flanking moves to cut
off the Italian advance, the 5th Army was deactivated and the
survivors were transferred to the 10th Army. The Sirte Division,
cut off north of the coastal escarpment, managed to cross four
wadis and march the 35 miles back to the Via Balbia. For this
feat the men of the Sirte Division were rewarded with orders to
the front.
With this infusion of troops the 10th Army was able to scrape
together a respectable force to continue the attack. The artillery,
by far the most effective part of the Italian invasion, was ruined.
A few regiments remained, but they were of poor quality. The 10th
Army commander requested that the artillery units and four divisions
being deployed to Tobruk be released to the invasion force, but
was refused. The Italians were also facing a supply shortage.
The Italian Supreme Commander, considering the invasion a failure,
ordered the 10th Army to withdraw. Instead, the 10th Army moved
forward "once more into the breach" on a last ditch effort to
seize Mersa.
The British were having troubles of their own. The 7th AD had
been annihilated. The 4th Indian Division had lost its recon unit
and a brigade, while its two remaining brigades were both at half
strength. Adding insult to injury, the 14th Infantry Brigade had
been diverted to Greece. Besides the two weak Indian brigades,
all the British had to defend Mersa was a pair of green brigades
from the 2nd New Zealand Division, the Mersa garrison, and a handful
of artillery battalions. The 6th Australian Division was in the
Alexandria area, but could not be moved to Mersa because of political
reasons.
As November ended the two exhausted combatants prepared for one
more big battle.
December 1940
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
Unable to rein in the insubordinate 10th Army, the Italian Supreme
Commander was forced to support the attack on Mersa Matruh. The
10th Army took a week to reorganize itself and try to build up
some supplies. During this time Churchill began to assist the
Italians. The remnants of the 4th Indian Division was sent to
the Sudan. With the 10th Army again on the move barely more than
three brigades were left to hold Mersa.
As the 10th Army deployed into its attack positions around Mersa
the 6th Australian Division was released to the Western Desert
Force. The Italians, desperately short of supplies, were in a
race to take the town before the Australians could complicate
the situation.
The Italian barrage pulverized the Selby Infantry Brigade, but
the attack was a disaster. The tough New Zealanders cut down the
Italians without loss. A second attack was also a dismal failure.
The 6th Australian's first attack was far more successful and
the Aussies were soon threatening the Italians with encirclement.
10th Army was forced to withdraw into the hard won passes. An
Anzac assault on the rear guards was turned back and the Italians
deployed in the passes in good order. This minor victory convinced
the 10th Army commander that he could hold the passes and make
another stab at Mersa.
The Italian supply situation was worse than critical. The supplies
that could be moved forward were totally inadequate to allow even
the remnants of the 10th Army to engage in offensive operations.
The 10th Army commander was sacked. The Aussies, after a heavy
raid from the RAF, broke through the northernmost pass and trapped
the luckless defenders of the southern pass. The rest of the Italians
ran pell mell for Tobruk. The Great Italian Invasion was officially
dead. The trapped Italians held out for two weeks, and in the
process allowed their comrades to escape to the safety of the
Tobruk fortress.
The British were in no hurry to pursue. With only the green Australians
available, the WDF began a slow march towards Sidi Barrani.
January 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
The new year saw badly needed reinforcements arrive for the Western
Desert Force. The 2nd Armoured Division ( - ) and some independent
tank battalions were unloaded at Alexandria and rushed to the
front. At this time the WDF was redesignated XIII Corps.
The Italians were also receiving reinforcements. The most important
of which was the German Flieger Korps. This powerful air unit
was soon hammering Malta into impotence. The Italians organized
themselves into the Tobruk Army of two corps, the XX and XXII.
Every Italian unit was crammed into the Fortress.
Almost every Italian unit. As cautious as the British pursuit
was they still managed to destroy some stragglers at Sollum. The
6th Australian Division then occupied Bardia, which the Italians
chose not to defend, and settled in to build up supplies and await
reinforcements.
With the British barely 80 miles from Tobruk, and its airfields,
the RAF found itself at a disadvantage. Removals and casualties
had been steadily reducing the British squadrons at the same time
that the Regia Aeronautica was growing in strength. The British
airmen were forced to go on the defensive, but they were always
alert for an opportunity.
The rest of January was quiet except for the occasional air raid.
The British built up supplies and waited for more troops. XIII
Corps had the equivalent of two divisions forward, both green,
and some artillery. The remnants of the 4th Indian Division and
2nd New Zealand Division were in the Sudan.
The Italians had the Brescia, Pavia, Sabratha, and Savona Divisions
from Tripoli, all understrength, three surviving 10th Army divisions
( Marmarica ( - ), 23 Mar ( - ), and 1st Libyan), and numerous
independent units. Parts of the Ariete Armored Division were also
moving up. Very short of supplies and unwilling to risk their
depleted army to the hazards of open fighting against British
armor, the Italians waited for help to arrive.
February 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
February was even quieter than January and came to be known the
First Pause.
For the British it was a month of frustration. Reinforcements
continued to flow to XIII Corps, which was redesignated I Australian
Corps, including vitally needed aircraft. The British commander
was just about ready to launch some limited offensive operations
when Churchill struck again. Two brigades were ordered to Greece,
one of them armored. At a stroke, Churchill had ended any British
hopes of a successful offensive before the Germans arrived in
strength. When the I Australian Corps HQ was removed, leaving
the British without any HQ units at all, the British Commander
began to move the supply dumps at Bardia and Sollum to Mersa in
preparation for a general withdrawal.
For the Axis, February was a month of optimism and anticipation.
The Italians received substantial reinforcements, but most importantly,
the Deutsches Afrika Korps began arriving. Although supplies were
still short, the 5th Leicht Division was moved forward as fast
as possible. Between the steady arrival of German reinforcements
and the draining withdrawals Greece was imposing on the British,
the Axis knew that time was on their side.
March 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
Despite repeated attempts to dissuade Churchill from embarking
on a Greek adventure, the British Commander had to watch his small
army be decimated by withdrawals. Every day saw the Axis gain
in strength while the British got weaker.
Elements of the 7th Australian Division and 9th Australian Division
arrived throughout March, but these divisions were untrained.
Furthermore, several of the Australian brigades had to be dispatched
to Greece.
With the addition of strong German reinforcements the Axis situation
was much improved. Knowing that the Greek campaign was draining
British strength the Axis decided to launch an attack. Since there
was not enough supply to move and fight the entire army, and none
of the German panzers had yet arrived near Tobruk anyway, the
offensive was to be a strictly Italian endeavor.
To prepare for the attack the Italians underwent yet another reorganization.
With both the 5th Leicht Division and Ariete Armored Division
trickling into the Tobruk area it was considered safe to release
much of the Tobruk garrison. 5th Army was formed from XXI and
XXII Corps. Each Corps had three "division- sized" Raggrupamentos.
XXI Corps was built around the surviving three divisions from
10th Army and was strictly infantry. XXII Corps had the armor
and motorized infantry. Due to his excellent political connections,
the disgraced 10th Army Commander secured the appointment to lead
5th Army.
The offensive was designed to be a two-pronged attack. XXI Corps
would march down the Via Balbia, grab one of the hedgehogs defending
Bardia, and then starve the defenders into surrender. The XXII
Celere Corps would advance down the Trigh el Abd, occupy Sollum,
and proceed towards Sidi Barrani and Mersa Matruh. One Raggrupamento
would assist XXI Corps at Bardia.
To oppose 5th Army the British had parts of three Australian divisions.
Two brigades of the 6th Aus Div, supported by armour and artillery,
were at Bardia. The 9th Aus Div was forming up at Mersa along
with a brigade of the 7th Aus Div. The 6th Aus Div's third brigade
was in Greece and the 7th Aus Div's only brigade in Egypt would
soon follow.
On 15 March the offensive jumped off. The British, who had been
anticipating the move, were nonetheless faced with a dilemma.
The dump at Sollum had been moved back to Mersa, but a large dump
still existed at Bardia. Should they surrender the dump and retreat
to Mersa, or defend the dump and the port? Furthermore, could
the British fight a mobile campaign with scant forces and only
two armoured battalions, one of which was made up from captured
Italian tanks? In the event, the British decided to stand. The
Australians hunkered down in their trenches and waited for the
Italians. It was a fateful decision.
XXI Infantry Corps quickly surrounded Bardia and brought up the
artillery. The XXII Celere Corps occupied Sollum and lent a Raggrupamento
to XXI Corps for the assault on Bardia. As soon as the southern
hedgehog was taken, and Bardia eliminated as a supply source,
XXII Corps would move into Egypt as far and as fast as possible.
The attack south of Bardia was conducted under conditions more
favorable to the Italians then ever before. As usual the Italians
possessed a large numerical superiority and substantial artillery
support. This Italian attack, however, also had armor support,
uncontested air superiority, and quality parity.
While the Italians were laboriously preparing for their set-piece
attack the British tried to disrupt the Italians with an artillery
barrage. One of the four attacking Raggs was hit hard and numerous
casualties inflicted. The Italians countered with their own artillery
and the Australians were hammered. Confident of victory, the Italians
launched their assault.
The Australians were not impressed. As they had every time they
faced the Italians, the 6th Australian Division beat them savagely.
The attackers were surprised by the strength and ferocity of the
defense. Soon the battlefield was littered with dead Italians
and burning tankettes.
Regrouping, the Italians attacked again. This time the preemptive
British artillery barrage was ineffective, and the Italian artillery's
reply was even more effective then last time. Again, however,
the Italians were surprised that the Australians not only survived
the barrage, but were able to put up a firm defense. The attack
succeeded only in killing more Italians.
5th Army Commander was now obliged to bring XXII Celere Corps
to Bardia to fill the gaps in his depleted ranks. A third attack
was launched, but this time the target was the north hedgehog.
The terrain was more favorable to the defenders, but the Italians
had finally learned some lessons about attacking fortifications.
The attack was preceded, as always, by a thunderous artillery
barrage. The attackers suffered heavy casualties, but managed
to inflict some as well. A fourth attack finally broke the Australian
defense.
After two weeks of intense fighting, the Australians were forced
to withdraw into Bardia. The Italian 5th Army had been gutted.
Half of XXI Corps and a third of XXII Corps had been destroyed.
More importantly, the Axis supply dumps were empty. Supplies that
should have seen the Axis at least to Mersa Matruh had been consumed
by four enormous and bloody assaults on the Australians at Bardia.
Curtly rejecting 5th Army Commander's request to attack Bardia,
the Axis Commander sent XXII Celere Corps on its much delayed
mission.
April 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
XXII Celere Corps' drive on Mersa Matruh had originally been intended
as a powerful reconnaisance in force that, if the situation allowed,
would become a full-fledged offensive. After the fiasco at Bardia
the Corps' attack degenerated into a slow move forward into areas
vacated by the British. Buq Buq and Sidi Barrani were occupied
without opposition, but XXII Celere Corps lacked the strength
or the supplies to push farther east.
Although by late March the Italians had established a close siege
of Bardia and rendered the port unusable, the Australian garrison
refused to surrender. Hampered by supply shortages and unwilling
to throw his fragile troops against the fearsome Australians the
Axis Commander was forced to wait for the garrison to surrender.
He would be waiting a long time.
For the British Commander things were looking up. While the 6th Australian Division( - ) tied down>
At Bardia, day after day and week after week, the Australians
held out. After inflicting grievous losses on the Italians in
March the Australians held them motionless outside Bardia during
April.
May 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard, David Burson
With the reinforcements and replacements that flowed into Egypt
during April the British Commander was beginning to get a grip
on the situation. The 1st South African Division began arriving
in early May and a large convoy of tanks and aircraft was headed
to Alexandria. The 7th Australian Division, 9th Australian Division,
and the rebuilt 4th Indian Division were all at Mersa Matruh.
This rosy situation couldn't last, and it didn't. The first week
of May delivered a pair of crises that foreshadowed the bigger
disaster yet to come. The first crisis was delivered by the Axis.
After a heroic defense the 6th Australian Division ( - ) surrendered
to the Italian 5th Army. This released XXI Corps to join XXII
Celere Corps' advance on Mersa down the Via Balbia. Also, the
Germans began a rapid advance with the 5th Leicht Division and
15th Panzer Division down the Trigh el Abd.
The second crisis was delivered by Churchill. While the British
Commander prepared to face the Axis onslaught he was ordered to
attack. Two brigades of the 7th Australian Division and some armored
cars were the units selected to fulfill the order. With the Italians
marching down the Via Balbia, the Germans threatening to pocket
Mersa, and the attack order, the British Commander decided to
abandon Mersa. The 7th Australian Division went on its raid and
the 9th Australian Division acted as rear guard, but all other
Allied formations went to Alamein to set up a last ditch defense.
The attack by the Australians was neatly done. Side stepping the
Italian lead units, the 7th Australian Division destroyed three
artillery regiments around Sidi Barrani and almost made it back
to Mersa. Almost.
The Axis attack looked more fearsome than it was. Although all
of 5th Leicht had arrived, 15th Panzer was a shell. Most of its
units had yet to arrive at the front. It was a panzer division
without any panzers, but the British didn't know that. Although
supplies were still tight, the logistical situation was easing.
The problem became getting the supplies forward. The DAK arrived
south of Mersa in plenty of time to attempt an encirclement of
the port, but they were out of gas. The panzers sat idle while
the bulk of the British slipped away east.
The Italian 5th Army, meanwhile, cut off the 7th Australian Division
and advanced to Mersa. Again, the Italians were attempting to
take a fortified port from an Australian division. This time the
Australians had no intention of holding the port. After blowing
the large dump at Mersa the 9th Australian Division cut through
the thin Italian lines and opened a hole for the 7th Australian
to retreat through.
The 7th Australian Division was doomed, however, when the 5th
Leicht Division moved north to plug the hole. The Australians
surrendered two weeks later. They did get some revenge when they
called in a RAF air strike that caused the first German casualties
of the campaign. The 15th KRD motorcycle battalion was destroyed.
9th Australian Division was now engaged in a running fight with
XXII Celere Corps. For most of the distance from Mersa to Alamein
the Australians slipped or cut their way out of Italian encirclements.
The Italian armor, however, made the retreat a costly one. Finally,
it took a sally from the newly rebuilt 7th Armoured Division to
bring in the Australian survivors. Less than a quarter of the
division survived the hellish retreat.
An even greater disaster than the loss of Mersa and two Australian
divisions was the news from Greece. Eight brigades, three battalions,
and two organic trucks had been sent to fight the Germans. Only
a single unit, the 22nd Guards Brigade, came back. To add insult
to injury, the British Commander had to send the brigade to the
Near East.
May had been a disastrous month for the British and June looked
like it might be worse.
June 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
At the beginning of June the Axis Commander faced a quandary.
Should he launch a shoestring attack on the British line at Alamein?
Although more and more supplies were flowing into the desert,
only a trickle was reaching Mersa Matruh. The Axis had the 5th
Leicht Division, elements of the 15th Panzer Division, most of
the Ariete Armored Division, a Raggrupamento of infantry, and
a Raggrupamento of tanks and tankettes. The Axis Commander was
sure this force had the combat power to break through the Alamein
Line, he just wasn't sure he had the supplies to bring that combat
power to bear.
Axis intelligence believed that they faced the 4th Indian Division,
1st South African Division, and most of the 2nd New Zealand Division
in the Alamein Line with the 7th Armoured Division in reserve.
Plus a handful of independent units and artillery. With Alexandria
so close the British would have no supply problems, and the RAF
could dominate the skies. Reluctantly, the Axis Commander chose
the better part of valor and began to withdraw his forward elements.
The Italians tore up the railway as they retreated.
In fact, the British situation was worse than the Axis believed.
Many of the brigades holding the Alamein Line were understrength,
and the 1st South African Division only had two brigades in theater.
Churchill was also making things difficult for the 8th Army by
withdrawing brigades to the Near East. The British Commander,
not convinced the Axis were really withdrawing, continued to strengthen
his defenses.
But the Axis were withdrawing. By mid-June the DAK was west of
Bir el Gubi, the Ariete was at Sidi Barrani, the 5th Army infantry
was marching to Bardia, and the XXII Celere Corps was at Mersa.
Meanwhile, the British were receiving a flood of replacements.
The 2nd New Zealand was brought up to strength and the 9th Australian
Division was being rebuilt. The 50th Infantry Division began to
arrive as reinforcements as did several armour battalions. When
Churchill again demanded action from the 8th Army, the British
Commander was ready and willing to comply.
Operation Lancer began poorly when the RAF was completely unable
to locate any of their targets. The bad omen was proved false,
however, when the 7th AD, 2nd NZ, and 9th Aus attacked the Bergonzoli
Corazzato Raggrupamento defending Mersa. Without the benefit of
effective air support or a preliminary bombardment the British
forces slaughtered the defenders without loss. The surprisingly
rapid collapse of the Italian armor forced the Axis Commander
to move the Ariete into a rear guard position to allow the 5th
Army infantry to clear Sollum and take up positions in Bardia.
The British were in no hurry to pursue. With over seventy miles
of torn up track to repair the 8th Army required some time to
settle its logistical situation.
July 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
July started the period known as the Second Pause.
The British spent the month redeploying their forces, repairing
the railroad, and raging at Churchill whenever brigades were dispatched
to the Near East, Mid East, or Far East. In spite of the withdrawals,
the 8th Army was growing fast. All or part of seven divisions
were in Egypt, with elements of three more dispatched on various
missions. Most of the losses at Bardia, Mersa Matruh, and Greece
had been made good.
The Axis spent the month coping with the absence of the Flieger
Korps. Previously, the problem had been transporting supplies
from Tripoli to where they were needed. Now the problem was almost
no supplies at all. All available supplies were shipped, trucked,
and flown to Tobruk. All non-mobile troops, except the Bardia
garrison, were crammed into the fortress. Tobruk was going to
be the hub of the Axis war effort in Africa. If the port was ever
taken, the Axis were doomed.
The mobile troops, 5th Leicht Division, 15th Panzer Division,
Ariete Armored Division, and Trento Motorized Division were deployed
around Bir el Gubi and the airfields at El Aden and Aslog Ridge.
Not a single attack or air raid was launched during the entire
month as both sides were occupied with logistical and administrative
problems.
August 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
On 1 August the British began their long awaited attack. Almost
immediately the 8th Army ran into trouble. Not from the Axis,
but from the weather, as severe rainstorms slowed the advance.
The RAF was quick to take advantage of the inclement weather by
striking Axis air units on the ground. After a week of clear weather
sandstorms began to blow across North Africa. For two weeks the
sandstorms raged across the area and brought military operations
to a standstill.
When the sandstorms finally blew themselves out the rival air
forces took to the skies, seemingly intent on making up for lost
time. The RAF, as usual, got in the first blow. The RAF anti-aircraft
gunners also distinguished themselves. In air to air duels, however,
the Luftwaffe ruled. Whenever Hurricane and Messerschmitt met,
the British came off second best.
The last week of the month saw numerous raids on airfields and
several air to air battles. Meanwhile the 8th Army occupied Sollum
September 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
As the 8th Army moved closer to Tobruk the RAF found itself at
a great disadvantage trying to protect the ground forces from
the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica. The Tobruk fortress had four
enormous airfields operating within the perimeter. The Axis also
had huge airfields at El Aden, Aslog Ridge, and Crete. The 8th
Army was stickng its head into a hornets nest and was counting
on the RAF to protect it. The British airmen concentrated on protecting
the troops while they feverishly constructed forward airfields.
By 15 September the Axis air forces were ready to up the stakes.
A week of air strikes and air to air battles of unprecedented
ferocity was the result. Although the RAF anti-aircraft gunners
took a heavy toll and the air raids were less effective than the
Axis Commander had hoped, the RAF was swamped by the sheer numbers
of Axis fighters and bombers. One bright spot for the RAF was
when a Hurrricane claimed the first air to air victory for the
British since the Luftwaffe arrived in Africa.
On the ground, the 8th Army attacked the Italian defenders in
the fortifications outside of Bardia. Any notions the Italians
might have had about an Australian-like defense were quickly quashed.
The 2nd New Zealand Division, supported by the 7th Armoured Division,
hammered the defenders and seized the southern hedgehog after
heavy fighting. The Italians did not fold like they had in previous
battles, and inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers before
being overwhelmed.
With the fall of the southern hedgehog the defenders of the northern
hedgehog tried to escape to Tobruk. They were destroyed by the
9th Australian Division after a stiff fight. Five months ago the
6th Australian Division had held out for a month after being cut
off. The Italians lasted three days before surrendering en masse.
The last veterans of the 1940 Italian offensive had been destroyed.
While the 5th Army was being annihilated more than nine Axis divisions
sat idle less than eighty miles away.
October 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
The first week of October saw the two combatants staring at each
other across fifty miles of no man's land. Even the raging air
battles subsided as both sides gathered themselves for the bloodletting
to come.
The first action of the month occured when the Ariete Armored
Division displaced south to the El Cuasc crossroads. Also, the
British observed a large stack of infantry moving behind the Ariete.
Curious about Axis intentions the British Commander sent the SAS
Commando company to conduct a reconnaisance of the Ariete. The
SAS obtained valuable intelligence, but were surprised when Italian
armor blocked their escape. The elite commandos fought off the
Italians and managed to break contact, but the Ariete launched
a pursuit. After a two day chase the Italian tankers overran and
destroyed the British commandos.
Another British commando company, Layforce, conducted a reconnaisance
of El Aden airfield and the Trento Division which defended it.
Again the Italians were alert and prevented the British commandos
from escaping. The Italians should have let them go. Layforce
crushed Trento's attack and destroyed the attached 7th Bersaglieri
Regiment before escaping.
The British weren't the only ones with active commandos. The German
von Konen commando company overran two airfields near Sidi Barrani.
Although the German commandos managed to destroy only a handful
of obsolete Gladiator fighters, the raid disrupted RAF activities
and cut the Via Balbia. Garrison forces from Sidi Barrani moved
out to destroy the von Konen company. Two brigades of the 7th
Australian Division attacked the commandos in the first clash
of ground forces between the Allies and Germans in the Desert
Campaign. Von Konen mauled the attacking Australians, destroying
half a brigade. Undaunted, the Australians attacked again and
forced the Germans to retreat between the coast and the escarpment.
On 19 October Rommel flew to Germany to see the Fuehrer and visit
his wife. It would turn out to be a fateful trip. On 22 October
the 8th Army launched their big offensive.
The offensive started with a powerful fighter sweep over the El
Aden airfield. After the fighters forced the air units based at
El Aden to land the Axis Commander prepared to intercept the follow
up bombing raid with his fighters stationed at Tobruk. Instead,
the British sent their armour. 7th Armoured Division, with a brigade
from 1st Armoured Division attached, attacked Trento. Trento put
up stiff resistance before being forced to withdraw. Three and
a half air groups were destroyed by the British tankers. In a
quirk of fate, General "Strafer" Gott became seperated from his
command and was captured by Trento's rearguard.
After El Aden airfield was secured the 9th Australian Division
passed through the 7AD (+) and attacked the shaken Trento Division.
The Australians pushed Trento's remnants into Tobruk and overran
some Italian artillery. Now the 50th Infantry Division moved through
the 7AD (+) to attack the airfield at Aslog. Aslog airfield was
defended by a Kampfgruppe of anti-tank and assault guns. The Germans
stopped the British attackers and held the airfield.
The British plan became clear to the Axis Commander. The 8th Army
was going to interpose itself between the supply-guzzling divisions
around Bir el Gubi and the enormous supply dump at Tobruk. To
increase Tobruk's isolation the Royal Marine battalion seized
the port of Gazala by seaborne invasion. The British were also
going to try and overrun all the airfields outside of Tobruk in
order to reduce the RAF's numerical inferiority. The plan was
risky, but if successful would seperate the powerful German divisions
from the supplies they needed to be effective.
The 2nd New Zealand Division, minus a brigade, moved through El
Aden and turned south into what it hoped was the Axis rear. One
overrun attack destroyed two battalions of German artillery, but
a second overrun ran headlong into the 5th and 8th Panzer Regiments.
The 2 NZ was repulsed with heavy casualties.
The Germans quickly pressed their advantage. The Luftwaffe inflicted
heavy casualties on the 9th Australian Division while the panzers
mauled the 2 NZ a second time. A third attack finished the division
and opened the supply lines to Tobruk. The previous German attacks
had been supplied by organic trucks, internal stocks, and air
transports landing at Aslog airfield.
With the supply lines opened the panzers attacked the 4th Indian
Division west of El Aden. After a highly successful attack by
the Luftwaffe the Germans tankers sent the Indians running with
heavy losses. The 7 AD was the next victim of the rampaging panzers.
The British tankers were sent reeling in disorder. In three days
of intense combat the 5th and 8th Panzer Regiments destroyed the
2 NZ and 4th Indian divisions while mauling the 7 AD.
The British would never recover. The Ariete swarmed out of the
desert and overran XIII Corps headquarters and the airfield where
it was stationed. Three and a half air groups were destroyed on
the ground as Ariete got revenge for El Aden. XIII Corps' defending
tanks and infantry were destroyed by Ariete and its supporting
artillery.
A sally from the Tobruk garrison, aimed at destroying the 11th
Royal Marine Bn and opening the Via Balbia turned out to be a
waste of effort when the Regia Aeronautica destroyed the marines
by itself.
The Germans didn't give the British time to catch their breath.
The panzers finished off the 7 AD and headed for Sollum. The Ariete
overran XXX Corps headquarters and another airfield. Another three
and half RAF air groups were destroyed on the ground. Meanwhile,
the Afrika division destroyed a British task force built around
the 5th New Zealand Regiment.
Isolated British units began to surrender. Other British units
cut off by the Axis advance, namely the 50th Infantry Division
and the 9th Australian Division tried to make it back to their
own lines. 50 ID managed to overrun an Italian artillery regiment,
but was caught by the 21st Panzer Division and destroyed. The
9th Aus Div, however, made good its escape.
The 5th Indian Division was surrounded in Bardia and the 4th South
African Armored Car Battalion was surrounded northwest of Aslog
Ridge. Other assorted British units that were cut out of supply
surrendered or were mopped up by the Afrika Division.
By Halloween the DAK was at Sidi Barrani.
November 1941
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
The British situation was catastrophic. The RAF, already outnumbered
at the beginning of the offensive, was mortally wounded as the
British aircraft were cut out of the sky by Axis fighters and
overrun on the ground. The Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica enjoyed
almost total air supremacy. The 8th Army, what was left of it,
tried desperately to establish blocking positions that would hold
up the Germans long enough for a cohesive defense to be established.
The Germans weren't about to let that happen. Due to the superior
mobility and fighting power of the German divisions, and a growing
supply crisis, the Italian formations were largely halted in favor
of the Germans. While the Afrika Division pursued the 9th Australian
Division down the Trigh el Abd, the panzer divisions swarmed down
the Via Balbia. Sidi Barrani was seized and the 7th Australian
Division ( - ) was destroyed. Then the DAK swung south to trap
and annihilate the 9th Aus Div.
This left the British with the recently rebuilt 2nd New Zealand
Division to defend Mersa Matruh. While the DAK was mopping up
the 9th Aus Div near Piccadily Circus, the Ariete Armored Division
tried to overrun 2 NZ at Mersa. The Italians were roughly handled
and forced to retreat. The Axis Commander was shocked that the
British had managed to rebuild the division so quickly.
2 NZ followed up its successful defense by trying a counter-attack.
The Ariete held its own, however, and the battle was inconclusive.
Jock Campbell was killed on 14 November while leading the New
Zealander attack.
The Axis Commander received another nasty surprise when elements
of the recently rebuilt 7 AD attacked Ariete and sent the Italians
tumbling back. The RAF also managed to sneak in a destructive
raid on the tattered Italian division.
By this time, however, the DAK had arrived. The Germans pushed
the two British divisions into Mersa and then left the Afrika
Division, the remnants of Ariete, and the newly arrived Trieste
Motorized Division to starve the British into surrender. They
didn't have to wait long as the demoralized garrison capitulated
a week later.
Although supplies were becoming increasingly scarce, and the distances
were stretching the Axis to the limit, the addition of many captured
British trucks was allowing the Germans to continue operations.
In any event, the Axis Commander was determined to continue the
offensive until the last drop of gasoline and the last bullet
was gone.
At Maaten Baggush another British force was obliterated and the
road to Alexandria was open. Already the von Konen Commando company
had overrun all the airfields west of Alexandria and was venturing
into the great port's suburbs. The British withdrew their surviving
brigades into Alexandria and tried to garrison all the easy crossings
of the Nile River and Nubariya Canal.
The British were too weak. The Nubariya Canal was forced at El
Ghajata in an attack that saw the British defenders almost annihilated
by the Luftwaffe and artillery. Despite the excellent defensive
terrain, the pulverized defenders were unable to resist the German
attackers. With the road open, the panzers moved across the canal
and fanned out into the British rear.
The End
Allies: Doug Fitch
Axis: Michael Barnard
German panzers rolled unchecked through the Nile Delta. The surviving
British forces were penned into Alexandria, Port Said, Suez, and
Cairo. The Axis Commander, seeing no reason to risk his precious
troops, was content to starve and blast the British into surrender.
Mussolini arrived with his white charger and a new uniform specially
designed for his triumphant entry into Cairo.
As more and more Italian troops became available to fill the trench
lines the 15th Panzer Division, 21st Panzer Division, and 90th
Leicht Division (formerly the Afrika Division), prepared to move
across the Sinai and into the Middle East. The Germans found,
to their horror, that there was not a single road or rail bridge
across the Suez Canal.
One by one the last British outposts surrendered. Cairo surrendered
on 15 December along with Bardia. Bardia's garrison from the 5th
Indian Division had been cut off since late October. Alexandria
capitulated on 19 December and Port Said and Suez followed suit
a week later. The 4th South African Armored Car Battalion, stranded
southwest of Tobruk since late October, became the last Allied
unit in North Africa to surrender when they gave up on 22 January
1942 (!). The determined, if foolish, South Africans had held
out for three months.
The Italians were jubilant. Italian warships were soon based in
Alexandria and Port Said. Italian submarines, based at Suez, began
to attack Britain's vulnerable convoys in the Indian Ocean. And
Mussolini began plans to conquer the Middle East, liberate East
Africa, perhaps even march on Capetown!
The Germans were much less jubilant when freighters came with new orders and white camouflage...