1942 FREYBERG Nz-Div-in-Cyreniaca - Societa italiana di storia ...

and by 0700 hours had secured their objective. The «I>> Tanks of 4th Brigade,
however, suffered severely from 50 and 88 millimetre anti-tank guns -. one
squadron having 50% casualties. Meanwhile, 26th Battalion on 6th Brigade's
left, reached the edge of Sidi Rezegh aerodrone and 24th Battalion, after overcoming
stiff resistance at the Blockhouse, caie into line at 0920 hours. This
position was consolidated and the 6th Brigade front was made more secure
later in the day by sending 2lst 3attalion to'hold the high ground. 1Point. 8.
on the Southern flank.
Counter-attacks on the 4th Brigade front were repulsed. At 0935 lours
enemy ,infantry attacking 20th Battalion on the left -wei'e dispersed by
artillery fire of 4th Field Regiment and a little later the. guns were switched on
to tanks approaching along the'Trigh Capuzzo with similar effect. The
artillery were employed throughout the (lay (dispersing enemy concentrations.
Many targets were gunners' dreams but We had no ammiunition to spare. 4th
Brigade asked for air 'support, but it was not available. We learnt later that
the Air Force was engaged on harassing Roinmel's columun. In the early afternoon
4th Brigade area was bombed and later Divisional Headquarters was
attacked. 4th Brigade had no. casualties or damage, but Divisional Heaclquarters-had
a few vehicles set on fire and some casualties to. per'sonncl.
OPENING THIE CORRIDOR
(MAPS VII and IX)
The next move was to open the way to Tobruk. Convoys were
not coming through to us' and the supply situation was really serious. We
were short of 25 pounder ammunition, our supply being reduced to 60' rounds
per gun with no more in sight.' Emergency arrangements had b~een male
to drop supplies from the air but it was clear that the corridor would have
to be opened. Not only did we need supplies but we required somewhere
to send our many hundreds of wounded, our nass. of.'surplus transport. andl
almost a'thousand German prisoners.
The fighting had by this time developed into a 'battle for the three
escarpments South-East of Tobruk terraced back from the sea to the main
desert plateau 16 miles inland. These three escarpments were like steps
ascending from North to South, three to four miles apart, and 'rising from 140
metres to 170 and the most Southerly to 190 metres. Although ' the escarpments
were not tank proof they were a strong deterrent to tanks. Their
main strength lay in their value as infantry strong points in the deep wadis
and, of course,-for their artillery observation.
According to our Intelligence Reports the Axis force' in the South-
Eastern sector of Tobruk was composed largely of Germans. It wa's estimated
that there were 7 or 8 Gernman and 2 Bersaglieri battalions disposed inthe
area Sidi Rezegh-Belhamed as distinct from the Italians on the perimneer
of Tobruk. The above total included some of the infantry battalions of the
15th and 21st Panzer Divisions. One battalion, and possibly two. were
-reported to be' machine gun battalions. The positional infantry dlivision was
known as the ZBV Division (Special Purposes Division). It is interesting to
note that 361st Afrika Regiment of, the formation 'was formed from German
members of the French Foreign Legion. The enemy were estimated to have 119
guns in the sector, 83 Italian 75 millimetre, 24 German 105s, and 12 German
150s. In addition there were estimated to. be over 100 anti-tank guns, chiefly
50 millimetre, and 'a few heavy naval guns. This force;.as was' proved by
captured documents when the Tobruk.garrison made its sortie on. 21st
November, had been concentrated for'an attack on the fortress planned to
take place on the 23rd November. The enemy strength and dispositions
were, of course; different 'by the 25th November. They had been heavily
engaged in the fighting round Tobruk, at Sidi R'ezegh -andPoinlt 17~, and they.
had been much weakened by the departure 'of Gene~al Romnmel with bothl
rmued Divisions.