Turn 44 - Axis Turn
10th May 1941
Uh-oh, British intelligence indicates another Panzer Regiment in play - the 8th.
The action gets off to an unwelcome beginning. Cunningham was only thinking to himself the other day "Why do the Axis not attempt to sink the bombardment forces?".
Well they've just tried for the first time in ages. 9 of 21 Tomahawk fighters are lost in coming to the aid of the flotilla, but HM Ships Valiant, Arethusa and Partridge are all damaged. The raid is expensive however, 22 aircraft - including 10 bombers - are lost.
Interesting. The Axis 'weakly' attack the southwestern strongpoint. The attack was carried out purely by Italian infantry of the Pavia, Brescia and Trento Divisions - with support from German and Italian artillery. The butcher's bill is 38% vs 3% in the favour of the CW forces.
Next, the Axis go back to bombardments, and the Allied units immediately to the southwest of the port. Minor damage is inflicted here, with equally minor damage in the southwestern sector. The heaviest barrage is conducted in the southeast, but losses remain relatively light (4%).
The focus remains on Tobruk alone. All four strongpoints south of the port are bombarded. The first does not trouble the scorers of either side, the second to the southwest of the port is more concerning (8%) - as is the fourth which targets the south eastern sector (6%). These two damaging attacks sandwich a second ineffective attack on the western approaches.
As we reach the halfway point in the turn, there is no let up of the relentless pressure being applied to Tobruk. Rommel knows its significance and orders efforts to be doubled and re-doubled. Another attack in the rear area causes another 7% losses, although the southwestern and southeastern strongpoints are not affected.
Minor damage (2%) is caused in a bombardment of the southwestern stongpoint before attention finally turns elsewhere. South of Fort Maddelena the Bologna Division assaults the British armour and Australian infantry attempting to flee east. The assault is costly (19%) as RAF bombers help the troops and the attack is beaten off - although not before the 1st RTR and the 1st Rangers retreat (6%). The Australian infantry hold alongside the 7th Support Group HQ. Inevitably attention returns to Tobruk and a bombardment of the southeastern strongpoint, causing 2% damage.
The southeast is the target again - 2% losses this time around and this is followed up in the southwest and another 5%. A barrage against the western approaches incurs more loss on the attacking artillery 6% vs 2%.
As the turn enters its final quarter, the Italians make another attempt south of Fort Maddelena, but an infantry bombardment achieves little except leaving shells in the sand.... Two more attacks against the southern strongpoints at Tobruk sees another 3% losses.
The Italians fail to record any further success against the Anglo Australian force south of Maddelena, but the turn cannot end without more pain for Tobruk. A bombardment in the southeast sees another 3% damage, before an assault is made against the southwest strongpoint. This is a big attack, and obviously what Rommel was building up to.
