Mechili, Libya

24 Jan 1941

After Graziani's minor offensive across the Egyptian border in September of 1940, the war in the North African deserts was a string of humiliating defeats for the Italian Army, who was just not prepared to fight a "modern" war. The Italians suffered from poor training, poor equipment, poor morale, compounded by leadership that accentuated the weaknesses of the army rather than counter them.

Wavell replied to Graziani's advance tentatively at first, but with increasing force when successes mounted. The counteroffensive, which became known as Operation Compass, succeeded in taking the fortress of Bardia and Tobruk in Jan 1941, capturing large numbers of Italian troops.

The Italian army was in full retreat, with only small pockets of resistance and (larger) logistical problems slowing the British advance. A plan was conceived to cut off the Italian army's escape route south of Benghazi. To do so required cutting across Cyrenaica at Mechili, a small desert crossroads where Bambini had gathered the bulk of the remaining Italian tank forces.

This scenario is set near Mechili, as the Italians attempt to halt the British advance.

The Italians, in a rare reconnaisance coup, know that the British are approaching and are attempting to set up an ambush. Their deployment is too slow, however, and the advance force of Light Tanks catch the Italian M13/40's before they can fully set up.

Italian armor start near the town and must attempt to move at least two feet from it to set up the ambush; Italian AT guns, infantry, and artillery can set up anywhere within a foot of the village. (Italian infantry and machine guns are unlikely to have much direct effect in this scenario unless the British attempt to overrun their positions.) Italian artillery is low on ammunition and can only fire at infantry and soft targets. The Italian goal is to halt the British tanks, preserving as much as threat as possible to infantry and soft targets so Mechili can be held and later, perhaps, reinforced.

British enter the map with their Light Tanks in the lead. Cruisers cannot enter the board until the Light Tanks have entered combat. The Britsh goal is to end the threat posed by Italian armour, AT guns, and artillery so that the motorized infantry following them (in Universal Carriers and trucks) will have a fairly easy time clearing out the village.

Maps

Tables of Organization & Equipment