Operation Compass

[Michael Miller]

I heard an audio podcast today on Operation Compass at thehistorynetwork.org/1610-operation-compass/

This site has done several related to the campaign to greater or lesser extent, including the two immediately preceding this with the WWI defense of Tanganyika by the Germans, and the repulse of the first Italian invasion of Ethiopia. There was also a two part biography of Erwin Rommel a few years back. 

I should add that the podcast suggested that Maletti Group was the most motorized of the Italian formations in Libya, which the CNA OB doesn't seem to agree with. They also appear to have overstated the number of CW troops at the outset as something like 35000, certainly not borne out by a look at the initial WDF deployment.

[ATD]

I've downloaded the podcast, thanks. Will listen to it when I have a free moment.

Certainly the CNA order of battle indicates that three of the five infantry battalions were motorised. The setup indicates forty truck points commencing at that location, so there's plenty available to save their boots leather.

[Michael Miller]

Ah, it does indeed. So expect to see Maletti going for a nice joy ride across the desert in those ever-so-reliable vehicles of theirs. At least the Italians should never get lost, they can just follow the trail of broken down equipment back to the origin.

[ATD]

I don't believe a word of it -- all this information to put us off the scent! : )

Those CV33 "tanks" come as a bit of a shock, when one sees the size of it compared to the crew. I believe the term used is "tankette".

[Michael Miller]

For reference, below is an image showing a (US) soldier standing in a CV-33.