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    The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks - Tobruk, Libya, 1941: [Illustrated Edition]
    The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks - Tobruk, Libya, 1941: [Illustrated Edition]
    The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks - Tobruk, Libya, 1941: [Illustrated Edition]
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    The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks - Tobruk, Libya, 1941: [Illustrated Edition]

    By Colonel Ward Miller

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    Illustrated with 7 maps and 15 photos
    In April and May 1941, the previously successful blitzkrieg tactics of the German Army met defeat by the outnumbered Australian forces of the 9th Division at Tobruk. The Australian infantry achieved victory through a successful all-around defense against tank attacks in force. By employing all available assets in a combined arms effort, well-supported light infantry forces defeated a heavier armored force.
    The 9th Australian Division Versus the Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks-Tobruk, Libya, 1941 provides the reader with a valuable historical context for evaluating how light infantry forces can confront armored attacks. This CSI special study also reveals how light infantry forces operated and were supported and sustained in a desert environment-a message that has continuing relevance for today’s Army.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLucknow Books
    Release dateAug 15, 2014
    ISBN9781782892663
    The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks - Tobruk, Libya, 1941: [Illustrated Edition]
    Author

    Colonel Ward Miller

    See Book Description

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      Book preview

      The 9th Australian Division Versus The Africa Corps - Colonel Ward Miller

      This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING—www.picklepartnerspublishing.com

      To join our mailing list for new titles or for issues with our books – contact@picklepartnerspublishing.com

      Or on Facebook

      Text originally published in 1924 under the same title.

      © Pickle Partners Publishing 2013, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

      Publisher’s Note

      Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

      We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

      The 9th Australian Division Versus the Africa Corps:

      An Infantry Division Against

      Tanks--Tobruk, Libya, 1941

      by

      Colonel Ward A. Miller

      August 1986

      TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Contents

      TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

      FOREWORD 5

      I. TOBRUK: THE CONTEXT OF THE BATTLE 6

      Introduction 6

      Background 10

      Combat Organization of Friendly Forces 21

      Combat Organization of Enemy Forces 24

      II. THE BATTLE 26

      The Easter Battle Chronology 26

      10 April 26

      11 April (Good Friday) 28

      12 April 30

      13 April (Easter Sunday) 30

      14 April 34

      Critical Events 40

      III. CONCLUSIONS 42

      Analysis of German and Australian Capabilities 42

      Force Structure 42

      Organization and Tactics 42

      Weapons and Equipment 42

      Intelligence 43

      Command and Control 43

      Training 44

      Senior Leadership 45

      Cohesion and Morale 46

      Battlefield Experience 46

      Logistical Support 46

      Terrain and Weather 47

      Good Fortune 47

      Final Assessment 47

      APPENDIX A — Tobruk Fortress — Order of Battle, 14 April 1941 55

      APPENDIX B — The North African Campaigns 60

      APPENDIX C — German Offensive Tactics 61

      APPENDIX D — British Antitank Operations 64

      Organization 64

      Positions 64

      BIBLIOGRAPHY 66

      NOTICES 68

      FOREWORD

      In April and May 1941, the previously successful blitzkrieg tactics of the German Army met defeat by the outnumbered Australian forces of the 9th Division at Tobruk. The Australian infantry achieved victory through a successful all-around defense against tank attacks in force. By employing all available assets in a combined arms effort, well-supported light infantry forces defeated a heavier armored force.

      The 9th Australian Division Versus the Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks-Tobruk, Libya, 1941 provides the reader with a valuable historical context for evaluating how light infantry forces can confront armored attacks. This CSI special study also reveals how light infantry forces operated and were supported and sustained in a desert environment-a message that has continuing relevance for today's Army.

      LOUIS D. F. FRACHE

      Colonel, Infantry

      Director, Combat Studies Institute

      I. TOBRUK: THE CONTEXT OF THE BATTLE

      Introduction

      The North African theater during the early stages of World War II provided British and American forces with valuable battlefield experience and training in the tactical employment of units and weapon systems. The desert war was also a deadly proving ground for the development of new weapons and techniques and demonstrated the need, as well as the methods, for ensuring close coordination between ground, air, and naval forces. In addition, the infantryman in North Africa learned to fight against tanks in a desert environment.

      During 10-14 April 1941 and from 30 April to 4 May 1941, the newly formed 9th Australian Division repelled two major German Africa Corps tank assaults against their defensive positions around the strategic fortress at Tobruk, Libya. The 9th Division, although relatively untried, rushed from Palestine to North Africa in order to help delay the German attack on Egypt (see map 1).

      During both engagements, the Australians fought from a static defense in depth. Australian infantrymen occupying the first line of defense allowed the German tanks to pass through their initial perimeter into extensive minefields. British and Australian artillery and antitank gunners, deployed well to the rear of the infantry and supported by British tanks, then engaged the German tanks with devastating direct fire. As the German infantrymen, artillerymen, and machine gunners following the tanks passed through the perimeter, the Australian infantry, lying in wait on the flanks, moved in behind them with rifle fire and bayonets. At the same time, British fighter planes overhead, supported by antiaircraft artillery, attempted to fight off the attacking German dive-bombers and fighter aircraft.

      At the conclusion of the Easter Battle, known German and Italian losses were 150 killed in action (KIA), 250 prisoners of war (POWs), 29 tanks destroyed out of 112 available,{1} and 17 aircraft destroyed.{2} The Tobruk garrison losses were twenty-six KIA, twenty-four wounded in action (WIA), four tanks destroyed, one aircraft destroyed, and one artillery gun disabled.{3}

      In the second action, the Battle of the Salient, known German and Italian losses were 167 KIA, 574 WIA, and 213 missing in action (MIA). Out of eighty-one tanks available, twelve tanks were destroyed and thirty-two were damaged but recovered. The garrison had 59 KIA, 355 WIA, and 383 MIA.{4}

      Map 1 – The Eastern Mediterranean

      In both battles, the German's combined arms attack featured

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