User:Oberiko/Battleaxe

Operation Battleaxe

June 14

 * Afternoon - Three British columns advance towards Egyptian border from Sidi Barrani
 * 21:00 - Rommel alerts Axis forces in the Sollum area of the upcoming British attack.

Day 1: June 15

 * 04:55 - 7th Armoured Brigade Group reaches Sidi Omar.
 * 05:15 - Coast Force, commanded by Brigadier Reginald Savory and charged with capturing Halfaya Pass, started to move on to their objective.


 * 05:40 - British artillery supporting C Squadron, 4th R.T.R., in their attack on Halfaya is expected to fire; due to being bogged down in soft sand though, it does not.


 * 05:45 - Artillery accompanying the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade Group begins their bombardment.


 * 06:00 - Major C.G. Miles orders C Squadron to charge at Halfaya Pass without artillery cover
 * 07:30 - 11th Indian Infantry Brigade Group come within three miles of Halfaya. As the approach closer they are pinned down by fire from by the Axis defenders.  The British tanks soon run into a minefield which destroys four tanks and leaves the remaining two immobilized.


 * 9:00 - 7th Armoured Brigade, led by 2nd R.T.R, arrives at Hafid Ridge, which is actually three separate crests. As they cross the first ridge, two A9's are hit by anti-tank guns and destroyed; the remainder make a tactical retreat.


 * 09:15 - C Squadron sends the code 'pink spots' back to 4th R.T.R. command, conveying that the action at Halfaya was going well.


 * 10:00 - Major Miles sends his final message: 'They are tearing my tanks to bits!'. 11 of the 13 tanks of C Squadron are destroyed within the next half an hour.  The Cameron Highlanders, march forward regardless.


 * 10:30 - Two troops (9 tanks) of A Squadron, 4th R.T.R., (commanded by Major I.A.D. Banks) capture 200 prisoners and eight field guns at B.P. 38 with no losses. The third troop (3 tanks) moves against Point 206. but one falls behind and the other two are disabled by enemy fire.  Banks leaves behind a small force at B.P. 38 to investigate Point 206, but is repelled with two British tanks removed from action.  Axis armoured cars then overrun B.P. 38, recovering their prisoners and equipment as well as neutralizing three British tanks and Allied infantry guarding them.


 * 11:45 - Two squadrons of 2nd R.T.R. put in a flank attack between the first and second crests, using their machine guns against the artillery and losing only one tank. The commander of this attack noticed additional enemy positions behind the second crest and ordered a retreat, but due to a radio shortage five tanks didn't receive this order and continued forward to their destruction.


 * 12:00 - 7th R.T.R. reaches Capuzzo. They chase away the garrison but are subject to numerous counter-attacks, losing five Matildas disabled and four damaged.  They are joined at some point by the Guards Brigade and the position consolidated.


 * 12:00 - Rommel sends 5th Light Division, via Kambut, to Sidi Aziz.


 * 12:30 - German amoured cars and mechanized infantry chase back the Camerons.


 * 15:30 - Orders come in for the Marathas and Rajputana Rifles to attack at 19:00.


 * 16:30 - A Squadron, with its four remaining tanks, seizes Point 206 briefly, but are repelled, with three tanks put out of commission, by Axis artillery.


 * ???? - Just before A squadron attempts another attack on Point 206 with its last remaining tank, B Squadron is authorized for action. In an evening attack, with artillery and infantry support, Point 206 is taken with 500 Axis prisoners and several guns.


 * 17:30 - Reports come in to 7th Armoured Brigade from forward observers that Axis forces in Hafid were withdrawing; they also receive notification from Allied air forces that columns of German armour are en route to their location. Brigadier Russell, commanding 7th Armoured Brigade, orders the 6th R.T.R. to clear the ridges of enemy positions in preparation for battle against the German tanks.  As the Crusaders clear the first crest, they visually confirm that the enemy is pulling back, and continue forward.  Within five minutes, they clear the second crest and run into an ambush; eleven Crusaders are destroyed and six more are severely damaged.


 * ???? - A reinforced battalion (over 30 tanks) of the 5th Panzer Regiment engages the 7th Armoured Brigade just as light begins to fade. A long range battle ensues as the 7th move back towards the frontier wire.


 * 18:30 - British forces at Capuzzo repelled a significant German counter-attack. After this, they prepared defences for the night.

Day 2: June 16

 * 05:00 - 15th Panzer Division begins its attack on Fort Capuzzo.
 * 06:45 - Savory cancels the upcoming planned attack.
 * 10:30 - 15th Panzer Division reports that it has to break off its attack on Capuzzo as only 30 out of 80 tanks remain functional.

Day 3: June 17

 * 04:30 - Panzers go on the move
 * 06:00 - Panzers fall upon British armoured screens, pressing them back
 * Between 04:00 and 09:00 - Messervy retains tanks, Creagh is informed of this
 * Between 06:00 and 09:00 - Creagh sends message to Beresford-Peirse requesting presence and instructions !!
 * 09:00 - Rommel intercepts Creagh's message and gives orders for his troops to press on to Halfaya
 * 09:30 - Creagh sends message to Beresford-Peirse requesting presence and instructions !!
 * 10:45 - Messervy informs Creagh of his ordered retreat
 * 11:00 - Messervy's forces begin to retreat
 * 11:45 - Wavell arrives at Halfway House, Creagh's HQ
 * mid-afternoon - Battle winds down ; Guards Brigade clear and 4th Armoured falls back to Sidi Suleiman
 * 15:30 - Entire Guards Brigade reaches Halfway House
 * 16:00 - Leading panzers reach escarpment
 * Night - Camerons, Rajputs and Mahrattas escape

Notable figures
Rank:
 * 10 - Commander of all forces
 * 20 - Commander of particular branch
 * 30 - Corps commander
 * 40 - Divisional commander
 * 50 - Regimental commander
 * 60 - Battalion commander

Heinrich Voigtsberger - Knight's Cross (He received his for actions in April 1941 around Mersa el Berga)