"Harvesting" Italians during Operation "Compass", Bardia, January 6,1941
Matilda "GLENOR" of 7th RTR, 32nd Army Tank Brigade,
on its way into Tobruk, displaying a captured Italian flag, 24 January 1941
Inspecting the results of the "Eighty-Eight"
The Undefeatable - defeated at last...
"White 2" of "D" Sq., 7th RTR, 32nd Army Tank Brigade, welcoming the New Zeelanders on November 27,1941
"White 4" T.6849 "DEFIANCE" of 4th RTR, 32nd Army Tank Brigade, enjoying a welcome rest, November 27,1941
T.6958 "PHANTOM" of 42nd RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade during Operation "Crusader", Nov/Dec 1941
T.6958 "PHANTOM" of 42nd RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade "in the Blue", next to the Morris Commercial PU Light Truck
Note white-red-white "Flash" markings and rack of "Flimsies" attached to vehicle's rear
Renaming the Italian-built "Strada dell'Asse" bypasssing Tobruk
T.7424 "GAZELLE" of "D" Sq., 7th RTR, 32nd Army Tank Brigade
[Not sure, though, if it's the same "White 2" of the Tobruk Relief Meeting shown above]
El Adem Aerodrome, Dec 15,1941
Speed Limit 5 km/h, in German and Italian
Famous T.28037 "Bellman" of B Squadron, 8th Hussars,
4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, during Operation "Crusader", Nov 1941
The first combat use of the Stuart took place on
19 November 1941 in a sharp battle between the
8th Hussars and
Kampfgruppe Stephan of Pz.Rgt.5 of the 21.Pz.Div. near
Gabr Saleh. The
8th Hussars lost 20 Stuarts, while the Germans lost two PzKpfw III and one PzKpfw II light tank. Heavy fighting by all three Stuart regiments took place the following day, and only 98 Stuarts of the initial 165 were operational by the end of the days combat.
[Source : Fletcher/Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks", Osprey 2018]
"Bellman" knocked out by the 5th Pz.Reg. near Gabr Saleh on Nov 20, 1941
The Stuarts later took part in the intense fighting for the
Sidi Rezegh airfield. The 4
th Armoured Brigade was committed to the battle on the afternoon of
22 November. During the night of 22/23 November, tanks of
I./Pz.Rgt.8 of 15.Pz.Div. stumbled into the night leaguer of the 8
th Hussars and the 4
th Armoured Brigade head-quarters. In the darkness and confusion they overwhelmed the unit, capturing the regiments commander, 167 troops and 35 Stuart tanks. Only seven Stuart tanks managed to escape the debacle.
[Source : Fletcher/Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks", Osprey 2018]
Note white-red-white "Flash" markings, yellow square marking of B Squadron and pennants attached to antenna
By Sunday
23 November 1941 ("
Totensonntag" in Germany), the 7
th Armoured Division was in a desperate situation, having suffered heavy tank losses in the preceding days, and now facing the full weight of both panzer divisions. By the end of the fighting on 23 November, the
7
th Armoured Division had been reduced to about
35 Stuarts and 40 cruiser tanks.
[Source : Fletcher/Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks", Osprey 2018]
Having shattered the most powerful British formation, Rommel decided on a rash gamble (the fatale "
dash to the wire"), and on 24 November directed his forces to a race to the Egyptian frontier, hoping to snatch a quick victory. In the end, the Afrikakorps had suffered too many losses and was too exhausted to conduct so bold a venture. In December 1941, the Afrikakorps was forced to withdraw and Tobruk was relieved.
[Source : Fletcher/Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks", Osprey 2018]
M3 "Bellman", with engine doors open, under field maintenance
The decimation of the 7
th Armoured Division in the initial fighting at Sidi Rezegh had more to do with
tactical deficiencies than with technical problems. The German armour units were able to overcome their more numerous Opponent with superior tactics, including a skilled use of tanks in co-ordination with the
highly effective 50mm PaK 38 anti-tank gun and the legendary
88mm gun. Rommel remarked to a captured British officer, ‘
What difference does it make for me if you have two tanks to my one? You send them out and let me smash them in detail. You presented me with three brigades in succession.’
[Source : Fletcher/Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks", Osprey 2018]
German troops inspecting the M3 of 5th RTR,
4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division, during Operation "Crusader", Nov 1941
T.17364 "HARRY II" of "A" sqdr., 8th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade
during Operation "Crusader", Nov/Dec 1941
The Valentine Infantry Tank received his baptism of fire in North Africa during Operation Crusader in November 1941. No less than five 'I' tank regiments were involved in the relief of Tobruk.
Inside the fortress was 32nd Army Tank Brigade, incorporating 1st RTR (armed with Cruisers), 4th RTR and 'D' Sqn. 7th RTR, both armed with Matildas.
Supporting the infantry of XIII Corps in their drive on the right flank of the relief operation were the three regiments of 1st Army Tank Brigade, 8th RTR with Valentines, and 42nd and 44thRTR with Matildas.
[Source : Bryan Perett, "British Tanks in N.Africa 1940-42", Osprey Vanguard 23]
"HARRY II" lying abondoned in the desert
XIII Corps by-passed Halfaya Pass, Sollum and Bardia, but was forced to storm the fortified zones of Omar Nuovo, Libyan Omar and Fort Capuzzo which lay astride its lines of communication.
The Omars were captured by 4th Indian Division and the two Matilda regiments, in spite of the presence of '88's at both locations, and Capuzzo was taken by 2nd New Zealand Division with 8th RTR in support.
[Source : Bryan Perett, "British Tanks in N.Africa 1940-42", Osprey Vanguard 23]
T.17672 "HAL II" of 8th RTR, 1st Army Tank Brigade, Operation "Crusader", Nov/Dec 1941
[all names of 8th RTR starting with an "H", the 8th letter in alphabet...]
On 31 December 1941 Bardia was stormed for the second time,
the attack of 2nd South African Division being led by 8th and 44th RTR, and Sollum was captured soon after.
The Axis garrison of Halfaya Pass, completely isolated, held out until 17 January.
[Source : Bryan Perett, "British Tanks in N.Africa 1940-42", Osprey Vanguard 23]
Passing the dug-in turret of a damaged Matilda captured by the Germans ago
"HARRY II" again, note early WS11 No.11 wireless antenna attached to the rear
"HAL II" with a box of "Flimsies" attached onto the left fender
"HARRY II" from the rear, the red "9" in square indicating the 9./"B" squadron
Unloading a Valentine off a White Ruxtall 922 tank transporter
[sorry for the bad photo quality]
FIRE !
Valentine IV "CULLODEN" of 10 Tp./C Squ., 40th RTR,
23rd Armd.Brig., 8st Armd Div., Ruweisat Ridge, July 22, 1942
By the beginning of the first phase of the battle at
El Alamein in July 1942, only the
23rd Armoured Brigade was equipped with Valentines - one of seven brigades participating in the battle. It consisted of
186 Valentine II and IV tanks, armed with 2-pounder guns.
On the night of 21/22 July, the 161st Indian and 6th New Zealand Infantry Brigades launched an offensive against Ruweisat Ridge and El Mireyr, which ended quickly and successfully.
On the morning of July 22, after a fierce battle, the New Zealanders reached the El Mireyr depression, and the Indians broke into Deir el-Shein.
However, as had happened more than once, the British tanks did not support their infantry in a timely manner. As a result of the counterattack of the German 15.Pz.Div., the New Zealanders lost several hundred prisoners.
Then the Valentines of 40th and 46th RTR moved forward. They went under continuous fire from anti-tank guns, and then hit a minefield. As a result, the 23rd Armoured Brigade was defeated by the approaching German 15.Pz.Div., and the New Zealand and Indian infantry were forced to withdraw.
Thus, the British offensive in the center of the position at El Alamein on July 22 ended in disaster: in one day they lost more than 100 tanks and about 1,400 men as prisoners.
[Source : Bryan Perett, "British Tanks in N.Africa 1940-42", Osprey Vanguard 23]
"CULLODEN" destroyed after the battle...
... as is "DIDO" of 46th RTR
Valentine II "CHEETAH" of 40th RTR at El Alamein, Oct 1942
by then attached to the 9th Australian Division
Crew of "CHEETAH" supplied by brave Australian YMCA volunteers
denying nearby explosions with their 1-ton Chevrolet 1300 GS...
Note spare flimsies on the rear and late summer 1942 camo with blackgreen patches over Light Stone
M3 "Grant I" of 3rd/RTR, 4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division,
with sunshield truck camo, Gazala front, late May 1942
No more than
six Churchill III tanks saw deployment in the North Africa Campaign as part of the
Second Battle of El Alamein. They were fielded as part of an
experiment to see how effectively they would perform in desert combat following their original use in the disastrous
Dieppe Raid. This detachment of Churchill tanks was known as '
Kingforce' and supported the
7th Motor Brigade, at this time part of the
1st Armoured Division, during the almost month long conflict.
Some
field modifications were applied: side rails to carry ‘
Sunshield’ frames were fitted,
stowage bins fitted to the rear of the turret,
canvas screen known as a ‘
dodger’ was fitted between the front track-guards, and the tanks were then painted with a
disruptive camouflage pattern. Tanks arrived painted in
Lightstone No.61, while the disruptive camouflage was a
chocolate paint.
On 26 October, three tanks,
T68189R, T31665R, and T68186R moved forward in support of the
Queens Bay’s Shermans assaulting
Kidney Ridge and they soon came under fire.
T31665R under 2/ Lt. Appleby advanced over a ridge and immediately came under intense enemy fire. The tank then reversed
smoking slightly, stopped, and then
burned intensely with only one wounded crewman surviving.
Later examination revealed
38 frontal hits, some from
75mm, one of which had penetrated the turret front. This had done the main damage, with two
50mm penetrating hits elsewhere. There were
8 hits on the rear of the tank from British 6 pdr guns (!), 4 of which had penetrated, as a result of the
Australian anti-tank gunners not recognising an unfamiliar tank approaching them covered in smoke.
On the other hand, Major King’s tank had more luck. It took
8 non-penetrating hits and claimed 4 hits on enemy tanks with 45 rounds expended. The objective was not taken and during the night of 26/27 October, the Motor Brigade including
‘Kingforce’ was withdrawn into reserve for a week.
The unit participated in one more action, the major tank battle of Tel el Aqqaqir on 3rd of November, to support the
2nd Armoured Brigade Shermans. After this action, tanks returned to Alexandria, and the
unit was disbanded.
The test showed that Churchills IIIs were
formidable and reliable tanks, able to take a
tremendous amount of punishment, and at that point in time, they were the
safest Allied tanks to be in.
Getting familiar with the the huge Yankees - M3 of 5./RTR on exercises
The first Grant tanks arrived in the Middle East in
November 1941 and were first used for trials and training. Shipments were slow to arrive, and the first unit equipped, the
5th Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), had only
32 at the beginning of February 1942. A gunnery instructor with the 3rd RTR recalled that "
the crews were overjoyed to be able to fire a large 14 pound shell at the Panzer tanks."
American instructor presenting the M2 75mm gun
Counter-shading the brand new Grants
By
March 1942, there were about
340 Grants and Lees (!) in Egypt along with
American liaison teams to provide training and maintenance assistance. Although the majority of the M3 medium tanks arriving in the desert were the radial engine M3, some
diesel-engine M3A5s (!) were also deployed.
Sand skirts in gray manufactured in local workshops
War correspondent's dream - 5./RTR moving in row
Efforts were made to better adapt the tanks to desert conditions.
Sand shields were fitted to tanks at workshops in Egypt, starting in January 1942, and the US plants began adding these in the factory.
Other changes were authorized in January 1942, including
improved exterior stowage and a
cloth mantlet cover for the 75mm M2 gun to reduce the intrusion of sand.
Later in the month, workshops began
plugging up the fixed-hull machine-gun ports, as this armament was judged to be useless, and the
75mm ammunition stowage was raised to 80 rounds and put in armoured bins.
Februar 17, 1942 - Sir Claude "The Auk" Auchinleck observing shooting results
M3 "Grant I" of HQ "C"sq. 3rd/RTR, 4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division,
loaded on British warflat departing to the Gazala front, March 27, 1942
At the time of the Gazala battles in May 1942, British units had
167 Grants and Lees (!) with the
1st and 7th Armoured Divisions, with more in Egypt equipping other units or being used for training or reserve. This made it the second most common tank type in the armoured divisions: there were
257 Crusaders and 149 Stuarts.
Crew members watching "T.24243" on its rendezvous with the flatcar...
Note characterstic 3RTR counter-shading camo and artistic blue-collar cartoon
M3 "Grant I" of 3rd/RTR, 4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division,
with sunshield truck camo, Gazala front, late May 1942
Generally, the Grants and Lees were not deployed in homogenous formations but with either Crusader or Stuart squadrons. In the 1
st Armoured Division and the 2
nd and 22
nd Armoured Brigades, the regiments typically had
36 Crusaders and 12 Grants, while in the 7
th, the regimental mix was
24 Grants and 20 Stuarts.
... 2 of the 6 crew members reading the welcome home mail
The result was a compromise with some regiments having
two squadrons ("B" and "C") of Grants and one squadron ("A") using the light M3 General Stuart.
This was the plan followed in the
4th Armoured Brigade.
The 3
rd RTR along with the 5
th RTR and the 8
th Hussars made up the tank elements of the 4th Armoured Brigade in the 7th Armoured Division, the famous “Desert Rats”.
Equipment tables dated 15 March 1942 allotted
20 Stuarts and 24 Grants to each regiment.
However, because of shortages the
3rd RTR commanded by Lieutenant Colonel G.P.B. Roberts, had only
16 Stuarts and 19 Grants available on the morning of 27 May 1942.
May 26, 1942, leaguer of 3./RTR - the last quiet evening for #8 "C" Squadron, with Rommel already underway...
Commanded by Brigadier G.W.Richards, the 4
th Armoured Brigade leaguered about
15 miles east of Bir Hacheim on the night of 26 May.
Unknown to them, General Erwin Rommel had launched his
operation “Venezia” that afternoon. Powerful Axis forces consisting of the Italian
Ariete Division, the German
15th and 21st Pz.Div., and the
90th Light Division swept southeast around Bir Hacheim.
The Italians moved to attack the Free French defending Bir Hacheim, but the German force moved northeast to cut behind the British positions.
Early on the
morning of the 27th, reports reached the 4
th Armoured Brigade of strong enemy forces south of Bir Hacheim. Originally ordered to move south at first light to their prepared battle positions, the movement was delayed in the confusion over the enemy’s intentions.
The brigade was finally ordered to rendezvous at 8:15 AM and the
3rd RTR, which was to
lead, moved out at 7:30 AM. With the light squadron of
Stuarts about 2000 yards in front, the
19 Grants moved in line with B Squadron commanded by Major George Witheridge on the right and C Squadron under Major Cyril Joly on the left. Colonel
“Pip” Roberts was in the center, also in a Grant.
Morning of May 27, 1942 - the battle begins...
They hardly had been moving ten minutes when the light squadron reported large dust clouds and numerous vehicles about three miles to their front. As the Grants closed up on the Stuarts,
large numbers of Panzer IIIs and IVs were identified. Moving in lines of about 20 tanks, six to eight lines were visible before disappearing into the dust clouds. Led by the
8th Panzer Regiment, these were the tanks of the
15th Panzer Division.
Ordering A Squadron’s Stuarts to protect the flank, Colonel Roberts moved the Grants into a battle line along a small ridge.
When the range closed to about a 1000 yards, the regiment’s 19 tanks opened fire with a devastating effect. As Rommels own notes show, the Grant’s 75mm gun was a
drastic shock to the Germans. For the first time, British tanks could engage the enemy beyond the effective range of the 5cm gun of the Panzer III or the short barreled 7.5cm weapon in the Panzer IV. None of the new Panzer IVs with the long barreled KwK 40 were available for this action.
Morning of May 27, 1942 - A nasty surprise for the Axis forces...
Despite their heavy losses, the weight of the German attack was not to be denied and shortly past noon
the surviving Grants, their ammunition exhausted, were forced to withdraw.
The C Squadron Leader’s tank had been knocked out and he was slightly wounded.
Major Witheridge, leading B Squadron, was on his fourth tank after three Grants had been shot out from under him.
Out of the original 19 Grants, seven, including Colonel Roberts, arrived at the rendezvous point to replenish their fuel and ammunition. Three other tanks had been sent on to the rear since their guns had been damaged rendering them useless for combat. Fighting continued in the afternoon and by the end of the day
the 3rd RTR had been reduced to five Grants and eight Stuarts.
The
8th Hussars, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel G. Kilkelly, had fared even worse during the morning. The powerful enemy force appeared about 7:30 AM before they could clear their leaguer area. C Squadron under Major J.W. Hacken was the first to engage the enemy with A and B Squadrons forming up on either side of them. A Squadron bore the brunt of the initial assault
losing all but two of its tanks followed shortly by the complete loss of B Squadron and the regimental headquarters tanks.
The regiment claimed the
destruction of 30 enemy tanks, but they had been almost wiped out with
only two Grants surviving the day.
The
5th RTR was much more fortunate than its sister regiments ending the day with only light casualties.
Good to have 80 devastating shells on board...
The
performance of the Grant during the battle was good, and its 75mm gun proved an unpleasant surprise for the Germans in numerous encounters.
A staff officer who inspected the several knocked-out tanks from the 22
nd Armoured Brigade afterwards commented that "
it is apparent that the Grant tank can take a great deal of punishment." One Grant had been
hit no fewer than 31 times, with the only damage being caused by two 50mm hits on the front visors and a rear hit by a 37mm gun. Another had been
hit 12 times with no penetrations.
Larger-caliber artillery was particularly lethal, with two of the inspected tanks penetrated and burnt out by
105mm howitzer hits (!) and another by an
88mm round that set off an internal fire.
May 28, 1942 - The remnants of a burnt out Grant I of "B" Squadron,
8th Hussars, 4th Armoured Brigade, with the usual German battlefield tourism...
Photos and/or text:
Imperial War Museum, London
Norm E. Harms,Steve Clayton "British Armour in Action - Armor No. 9", Squadron/Signal Publ., 1974
Ken Jones,Peter Chamberlain, "Lee & Grant", Classic AFV #2, Airfix Prod.Ltd., 1977
Brian Perret, "British Tanks in N.Africa 1940-42", Osprey Vanguard 23, Osprey Publ., 1981
Jim Mesko "M3 Lee/Grant - Armor No. 33", Squadron/Signal Publ., 1995
Steve Zaloga, "M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45", New Vanguard No.113, Osprey Publ., 2005
R.P. Hunnicut, "SHERMAN - A History of the American Medium Tank", Presidio Press, 2015
David Fletcher,Steve Zaloga, "British Battle Tanks - American Made", Osprey Publ., 2018
Joe DeMarco,Leife Hulbert,Peter Brown, "British M3, M3A2, M3A3 and M3A5 Grants" - PERFECT !!!
Thanks, guys !
M4A1 "Sherman II" of "C"Squadron, 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers,
2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, El Alamein, October 1942
Operation "Lightfoot" - The plan for Oct 24, 1942
While the infantry divisions were to move forward, secure the minefields ("Devil’s Garden") and prepare lanes for the armoured units to break through, the 1st and 10th Armoured divisions would then attack through the corridors created by the engineers to cut off the German supply lines and destroy the panzer reserves.
Montgomery expected a twelve-day battle broken into three stages - “the break-in, the dog-fight and the final breakout”. During the build-up to Operation Lightfoot, the British had been running a number of deceptions to make the Axis unsure of their intentions, and area of any planned attack: Some tanks had been disguised as trucks with canvas and plywood shells, and vice versa.
...
1st Armoured Division, El Alamein, October/November 1942
Meteiriya Ridge - Oct 24, 1942
...
By dawn the minefield belts remained unbroken and the Regimental Group, with much of 2nd Armoured Brigade, found itself exposed, hemmed in by minefields and unable to manoeuvre as heavy shelling began.
Vehicles started to burn as enemy guns on Meteiriya Ridge, 3000 yards to the front, successfully engaged them, a situation endured until midday when the minefield was breached. However, within a few hundred yards of the Ridge, yet another minefield was found with no apparent way around. The Brigadier ordered "to drive straight through whatever the casualties", so, after a quick check back to make certain that he really meant it, C Squadron drove into the mines.
...
Stuck in "Devil's Garden" - Oct 24-27, 1942
...
It proved a false hope to break through, as attempts to advance over the following days were baulked by further defences and counter-attacks that took a significant toll across the Brigade, with neither armour nor infantry able to make significant progress.
The situation was the same across the front although the assault had tied up the enemy’s tactical reserve, taken a large bite out of his position and used up much of his fuel, though at a high cost to the Allied infantry which was by now exhausted. A pause was now needed to withdraw the armour, reset and then attempt to push through again.
After four days spent in close contact, the 9th were taken out of the firing line to refit during the last three days of October.
...
Desert Pink officially replacing Light Stone
Counter-shading on hull bottom
Huge fuel funnel on rear hull top
Operation "Supercharge" - 2 Nov, 1942
...
9th Armoured Brigade were ordered to punch through the anti-tank screen – prepared to take 100% casualties if necessary – with 2nd Armoured Brigade ready to pass through and bring 21st Pz.Div. to battle.
The 9th Armoured Brigade, at an appalling cost (the 3rd Hussars lost all but four of its fifty-two tanks), had succeeded in punching some of the way through the German anti-tank shield as far as the Rahman track in order to allow the 1st Armoured Division to begin the break-out.
An infantry troop-leader described the situation as they moved forward:
"...As dawn broke, in the haze of dust, shapes arose. All of them were hostile in silhouette and only time told which of them were alive, which dead and innocuous. Advancing over ground which had been fought for and captured only a few hours before, was the indescribable smell of battle, of death, of explosive and burnt material...
...
Arms of Service "86" indicating the Second Senior Regiment (Batallion) of Armoued Brigade
Aqqaqir Ridge - 3 Nov, 1942
...
In the same area, the 9th Lancers had led the 2nd Armoured Brigade advance on to the plateau of Aqqaqir where they too came across the wreckage of the 9th Armoured Brigade as both regiments now found themselves engaged by the enemy’s still potent anti-tank guns and armour. For the 9th the fight that ensued was "about the worst we had ever had".
Facing a line of 88s, 105s and armour which engaged them from three sides, over six concerted counter-attacks were repulsed, with the 9th Lancers accounting for thirty-one enemy tanks in a fight that was by no means one-sided. Two of C Squadron’s Shermans were burnt out, one cruiser destroyed and five other Shermans knocked out.
Although the breakthrough had not occurred, the day’s fighting, the hammering of the panzers had succeeded in bringing Rommel’s armour to battle and reducing it significantly, causing losses the Germans could ill afford.
...
Yellow circle indicating "C" Squadron (Company)
The Breakthrough - 4 Nov, 1942
...
4th November continued with much the same slugging match though signs were coming, as the German infantry began to lose their nerve and was finally abandoning its positions and heading west.
The breakout by the 1st Armoured Division was led by the 9th Lancers as news began to arrive of large numbers of prisoners being taken to the south.
In the brief lull men who were exhausted after the action of the last few days and without the sound of shells to wake them, slept where they stopped.
On the following morning "the first thing we saw was a cold and untidy German private standing over the Colonel as he slept and saying: 'I’ve been trying to find someone to surrender to for three hours'. To which a sleepy voice replied: SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN !
M4A1 "Sherman II" of HQ 2nd Armoured Brigade, 1st Armoured Division, El Alamein, October 1942
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No publication in any form without the author's written permission.
Last Updated: Apr 18, 2023