Sunnenblum

[Deleted]

Operation Sunnenblum in Feb. 1941 was the German involvement in the middle east to prevent the complete collapse of the Italian Empire , the OZ infantry had kicked the Italians ass at Tobruk in what could be considered a gong show the OZ suffered a loss of 49 killed and some 300 wounded the Italians surrendered 28000 men along with tons of equipment , the Germans under Rommel lay siege on Tobruk that lasted 242 days the Empire had capital ships off shore for fire power the OZ was able to hold on , but unfortunately that's all they could do and were unable to take the offensive , in the end The Germans did take Tobruk .

[Sir John]

MS,


"the Empire had capital ships off shore for fire power the OZ was able to hold on , but unfortunately that's all they could do and were unable to take the offensive , in the end The Germans did take Tobruk ."




The garrison did not have 'capital ships" off Tobruk to assist. The largest ship used on the "Spud Run" was an RN cruiser (HMS Abdeil) and that was used as a troops ship for the return journey to Alexandria in Egypt. My FIL was on it in late October 1941. Most of the ships used were Australian destroyers, of which we lost I think two. The supply and evacuation trips from Alex were usually done at night at full speed all the way.

What they DID do was use the sunken ships in the harbour as ant-aircraft sites. The ships had usually settled on their hull upright, and they sent gun crews to operate them during German air-raids, of which they more than London!.

By far the greatest factor was that the Italian ant-tank ditch was intact, and the 50 or so oval weapons pits and mine fields every 300 yards or so were also.

The garrison not only defended itself, it also tied up many German and Italian troops in the Siege, and of course denied Rommel his supply port he so desperately needed.

......and last but by no means least, about 6 months after we handed the garrison over to the British on 7th December 1941, they promptly lost it to Rommel.

The OZ government, and the 2nd AIF, were NOT happy!

SJ

[Sir John]

PS,

Offensive was not the aim. The British asked Australia to hold it for 3 months, we held it for 8 months.

"the Australian 9th Infantry Division was the finest Infantry Division I ever faced" (TWICE, and he took a hiding both times)

Irwin Rommel.




SJ

[Sir John]

more,



It was the 6th Division 2nd AIF (the first raised after the start of WW2) that took the Italian North African garrisons.

Mersa Matruh, (Cleopatra's summer palace) Sidi Baranni, Bardia, and then Tobruk. The 6th were then turned back by Rommel at Benghazi, and what followed was called the "Benghazi Handicap", a mad scramble back to Tobruk, where the 9th and 7th had a day to prepare for the Siege and the 'Easter Battle'.

They earned the title given to them by Lord Haw Haw, the "Rats of Tobruk"



SJ

[Deleted]

Perhaps the term Capital ship was inappropriate , off shore fire power was appropriate , the Italians left the Empire with good positions to work with why the Italians weren't able to use these fortifications themselves is a wonder , Rommel found the Italians to be completely useless but could not get reinforcements because of Barbarossa .

[Sir John]

MS,


If you can Google Tobruk and find a map of the garrison and the perimeters you will see that the anti-tank ditch stops a couple of Kms from the coast at each end.

The terrain for a kilometre or two inland from the coast is NOT tank country, in fact it is just rocks and gullies etc. Most of the Red Line was well out of naval range. Google Earth will show you what I mean, and much of what I speak is still there. The 'Easter Battle' took place at the el Adem road crossing of the anti-tank ditch, at about 6 o'clock.

In fact I have never heard or read of the use of naval firepower at Tobruk, the destroyers were far too busy doing their job of supply and evacuation, and were only in port for a matter of as long as it took to unload and re-load. They departed at sunset. Those ships were referred to as "The scrap iron flotilla".

What WAS critical was the British Army artillery who did an amazing job. At the Easter Battle a group of about 30 I think German tanks were at the perimeter. The Australians let them through, but stopped the infantry etc, so the tanks rolled on thinking they would not stop until they got to the town, but the British loyal subjects and their 25 pounders with open sights, blew them to bits.

Also in great use was the captured Italian weapons and ammo, and any usable weapon was utilised as the "Bush Artillery". Italian trucks were used also. My FIL scrounged a truck mud-guard and set it up over his fox hole to protect him from the sun and wind. He lived in that for the duration.


SJ

[Deleted]

Both sides faced difficulties , Rommel had to put up with the Italians and the Empire with OZ , Rommel did wonders with a 1500 km supply line , then Monty showed up and all was well again , Monty made sure he had everything he needed to make a success of his up coming campaign , something the Empire should have done in 1939 instead of just jumping in and make matters worse .

[Sir John]

If it wasn't for the AIF showing the Brits and the Yanks how to fight, we would have lost!

[Deleted]

The AIF didn't do much for the Yanks that the yanks didn't return a hundred fold .

[Sir John]

I have yet to meet a Yank that could count to 100!

[Sir John]

found it!

The Tobruk perimeter as at June 1942, would not have changed since April 1941.

The areas north of the east west road is all 'wadi's' - gullies, etc.

The Easter Battle took place at the el Adem road crossing to the south of the perimeter at about 6 o'clock.

If you look to the far west you will see a point called the 'Fig Tree'. not far from the perimeter. This is in fact a clump of 4 fig trees that has a cave weathered out at the base. During the siege it was used as a medical station and Bob spent some time there.

Amazingly, those trees are still there, and probably more healthy than in 1941. The cave is now filled with debris etc.


Another little anecdote,

Bob was captured, and spent a short time in a POW compound. He and a mate escaped and made their way along the coast back to their lines. They actually SWAM from point to point until they passed the perimeter. You can see the coast line and its contours.


SJ

Attachments:

[Sir John]

www.2-15battalionaif.net.au/index.php/campaigns/33-tobruk/45-fig-tree


These pics are wrongly attributed to me, I just found them and sent them in.


SJ

[Deleted]

Aug 1, 2013 18:07:55 GMT -5 Sir John said:

I have yet to meet a Yank that could count to 100!

You're starting to cross the line.

[boxcar]

Oh Denny, some blokes have to unzip his pants to count to eleven.

[Deleted]

There are times when I'm willing to cut the Empire a little slack even though they've been a useless burden through two wars to end all wars , the Diggers in Vietnam were quite good and though their AO area of operation was small they did an excellent job .