Sidi Omar DTO (id:#57068)

Critical Hit (Operation Compass & Wavell ID: CH118)   [next]   [previous]

10:00 hours, Sidi Omar, Egypt 1940-12-17 (1 other)

Overview:

After the withdrawal of two brigades of 4th Indian Division (and until the 6th Australian Division could be properly equipped and moved forward), the British were left short of infantry. While the Royal Navy bombarded Fort Capuzzo and Sollum in support of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the 4th Armoured Brigade ranged far to the south and west, passed Sidi Omar, then hooked back north and east to approach the position from the west. The 4th Armoured was too far inland to be supported by the navy. They had also been spotted by Italian reconnaissance units, eliminating any hope of surprise. They were bombed heavily, suffering heavy casualties in what was the most devastating Italian air attack of the campaign. However, by the end of the day, 4th Armoured Brigade had seized the position and captured about a thousand Italian soldiers from the 62nd Marmarica Infantry Division. The remainder of the division was forced to retreat in fear of the encirclement. Italian retreats, complete with the capture of large numbers of enemy prisoners was soon to become an outcome of action the British would view as commonplace as the ‘Compass’ offensive moved deeper into Italian territory.

Defender: Italian (Elements 62nd Marmarica Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)