Untitled Document
SIDI SALEH, near BEDA FOMM, 7 FEBRUARY
1941: on a cold, clear morning,
with only 30 tanks left, General Bergonzoli once again decided
to use them frontally in an unavailing assault on the ring of
British anti-tank guns and hull-down armour. Ammunition had arrived
for the British, but the defense still looked and felt thin (as
if it could not hold, even though it had done so for two days).
Following a heavy artillery concentration, the Italian armor tried
to ignore the British armor and concentrate on guns and infantry.
The Italians unlimbered the big guns figuring they would be of
little value if captured anyway. Finally, the Italians used all
of their armor—twice as much as any previous attack—in
a massed attack. If they had done this with 60, 80 or 120 tanks
the previous day, they likely would have smashed through to freedom.
The Italian armor fired on the move and engaged the anti-tank
guns of 106th Royal Horse Artillery. In heated gun duels, the
relatively exposed British guns were silenced one after another
and the infantry was overrun. Battery C of 4th Royal Horse Artillery
was engaged in hand-to-hand melee and requested and received permission
to bring down 25-pounder artillery on themselves. The battery
commander, with his batman and cook, drove round the east flank
in the last portee left and knocked out five Italian tanks with
five shots. The rest of the Italian armor was taken care of by
25-pounders firing at point blank range and the Rifle Brigade’s
anti-tank guns. The last threat of Italian armor was stopped right
at the HQ officer’s mess tent. Even though this was a frontal
assault, it showed what might have occurred if the Italians had
concentrated their armor. Another four medium tanks, some armoured
cars, and about 30 truck-loads of Italian soldiers broke through
the net and escaped. The Italian infantry gave up in large groups
once the protection of their armour was lost. 101 tanks were counted
on the battlefield. 48 had been hit by 2-pounders, 8 by other
guns, 6 were uncertain, and 39 had been abandoned intact by demoralized
crews. 4th Armoured Brigade lost 4 cruiser tanks and overall British
losses were light. 7th Armoured Division’s entire casualties
were just 9 killed and 15 wounded. And so it went into the history
books: two understrength British Commonwealth Divisions destroyed
nine divisions of the Italian 10th Army using excellent tactical
methods with close co-operation of tanks, artillery, and infantry.
This was the last time for a while that such methods would be
used with success by the British command. As the British went
on the defensive, and transferred troops to Greece, no resistance
was met in a further 100 mile drive to El Agheila and down the
coast road to Sirte. They would have been able to bully their
way into Tripoli if they had moved quickly, thereby removing the
key landing port for the Axis. The Germans were amazed that they
did not. O’Connor was bitterly disappointed and later commented,
after having had the opportunity to talk with several German and
Italian officers in Tripoli (presumably after O’Connor’s
capture)—they all said that there was nothing that could
have stopped him. Such Italian units that remained were completely
disorganized and demoralized. To quote from The Rommel Papers:
“When a commander has won a decisive victory it is generally
wrong for him to be satisfied with too narrow a strategic aim.
This is the time to exploit success. If the pursuit is abandoned
on the quartermaster’s advice, history almost invariably
finds the decision to be wrong and points to the tremendous chances
which have been missed.” Hitler had remarked to Rommel, looking
back, ‘Don’t for one second relax your determination
to follow up, whatever the odds; don’t be like the British,
who had a chance of getting to Tripoli, and didn’t take it.’
Years ago ... over 15 years if we recall
correctly .. the original historical BEDA FOMM map and scenarios went out of print. They've been
asked for again and again, but have never seen the light of day
... until now! The result is the framework of a new ATS historical
module, the first ever for the ATS system. A larger map, nice
details, and the scenarios to play out the battle that culminated
at and near 'The Pimple', an insignificant terrain feature ...
unimportant that is, until Italian dreams of conquest died there
... at the hands of an intrepid band of British soldiers .. Tommy
Atkins in armored cars and rickety Cruiser tanks of the early
varieties!
NOTE: THIS IS A VERY LIMITED PRINT RUN and as long as you see the page you can reserve
your copy. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. Ownership of the ATS
Rulebook 2014 and small + large system markers + ATS TOBRUK 2016
is required.
