The Crusader Project

[bcgames]

"The aim of this blog is to accompany the preparation of a complete history incorporating the Axis and Commonwealth perspectives of the Winterschlacht (Winter Battle) in North Africa, November 1941 to February 1942. The battle was known as "Operation Crusader" to the British, the 2nd (British) Offensive to the Italians, and as the 'Winterschlacht' (winter battle) to the Germans. The start date is universally agreed to be 17 November 1941, while the end date is 15 January for the British (thus excluding the Axis counter-offensive of late January), while it is 6 February for the Axis, including the counteroffensive."

https://rommelsriposte.com/

[bcgames]

An interesting expose' on the loss of the battleship HMS Barham to U-Boat attack in the Mediterranean during Operation Crusader:

https://rommelsriposte.com/2019/11/26/t ... ms-barham/

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The End Outside Tobruk – 4 December 1941



https://rommelsriposte.com/2019/12/04/t ... mber-1941/

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Supreme Sacrifice – the loss of HMS Kandahar

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Operation Crusader: Innovation in Action – Airborne Artillery Spotting

"Operation CRUSADER saw a range of innovations on the Empire side, in particular related to the integration of air/land battle..."

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The Crusader Project: Editorial Note – Numbering/Naming Corps and Units

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Before Bruneval – Chasing Radar in Libya

I thought this was an interesting article on the use of RADAR by the Axis in Libya for fighter control...and the Allied efforts to capture it.

[bcgames]

The Crusader Project: An unlucky group – the Regia Marina’s Dardo Series II Destroyers

"...after almost three years of war, this group of elderly destroyers had been wiped out by enemy action. They had participated collectively in over 450 wartime missions, sailing over 140,000 miles. 198 missions were convoy escorts. These ships had worked hard, and found a hard end, fighting in all cases against superior odds but not giving up. Over 480 sailors went down with them, including every one of their commanding officers."

[bcgames]

The Crusader Project: Axis merchants lost on the North Africa Route – 1941-1943

"The most helpful Lorenzo Colombo, owner of the excellent Con la pelle appesa a un chiodo blog has taken time during the lock-down to type up the list. He summed up as “sunk” a few ships that were actually run aground and considered total losses: Sebastiano Venier (Jason), Regulus, Vettor Pisani, Napoli, etc. These were lost to all effects and purposes as well as if they had been sunk. The list does not include warships and ships sunk in port for whatever reason..."

[bcgames]

Mystery Plane Loss (?) – Benghazi 31 October 1941

"Background

In the records of Marine Bordflak Kompanie Süd, the Kriegsmarine unit supplying German merchants with anti-aircraft capability, there are quite a few records of engagements between the anti-air gunners and attacking planes. Claims were meticulously recorded and verification by witnesses sought...

...One such claim was made in a report on 6 November 1941, by the gun commander of an anti-aircraft gun on the German merchant SS Brook, one of the smaller vessels plying primarily the coastal route from Tripoli to Benghazi..."

[bcgames]

3rd Squadron RAAF. These guys show up throughout The Desert War--and the game. A film from 1942...

[bcgames]

The Insect Gunboats
https://rommelsriposte.com/2008/12/03/the-insects/