The action at Mechili was an engagement between units of the British 7th Armoured Division of the Western Desert Force and Italian forces of the 10th Army during Operation Compass.
The Italian Army redeemed itself from the campaign's previous disastrous fiascoes. The previous British advantages in reconnaissance, maneuver, and artillery support were greatly reduced due to the British supply shortages in fuel and artillery ammunition, the battle field was now hilly and broken terrain, and they had not yet set up forward air fields. The Italian army positioned well, set up effective fields of fire, maneuvered well, had successful local counter-attacks, and inflicted casualties commensurate with what they received. They delayed the British for days, and retreated in good order with lively and effective rearguard actions.
At the coast the British pursued West along the Via Balbia and inland pursued WSW to cut the Italian retreat at the Battle of Beda Fomm.
Indian Army during World War II. In 1941, the brigade was surrounded atMechili by Axis forces during Operation Sonnenblume and suffered many casualties...
positions atMechili. On 24 January 1941, the British 7th Armoured Division dislodged the Special Armored Brigade during the actionatMechili, and the...
Bardia January 9–26: First Battle of Tobruk January 25: First Battle of Mechili January 24–26: Battle of Derna February 5: Fall of Benghazi February 5–7:...
retreated from Derna and Mechili round the Jebel Akhdar towards the port of Benghazi. The Babini Group was destroyed south of the port at the Battle of Beda...
and Mechili. In September 1940 the Italian invasion of Egypt had begun but stopped after 62 mi (100 km) at Sidi Barrani where the Italians dug in. At first...
and water shortage permitted. A considerable British force was captured atMechili, which led to the British retreat continuing to Tobruk and then on to...
desert and the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade repulsed an attack atMechili, which led to O'Connor at the Cyrcom headquarters (Neame had left to visit Gambier-Parry)...
Division held a line from Derna, along Wadi Derna to Mechili, with the Babini Group atMechili, Giovanni Berta and Chaulan, guarding the flank and rear...
the neutrality of French Morocco in accordance with the Second Armistice at Compiègne during World War II. Allied military planners anticipated an all-American...
French to the Allied side. Later, all French forces were withdrawn from action and properly reequipped by the Allies. Giraud supported that but also preferred...
reconnoitring that morning. In the afternoon, to the east of Sidi Rezegh, at the Actionat Point 175, elements of Ariete overran the 21st New Zealand Battalion...
Giarabub: December 1940 – March 1941 Battle of Bardia: January 1941 Battle of Mechili: January 1941 Capture of Kufra: January–March 1941 Battle of Beda Fomm:...
hooked east and crossed the desert south of the Jebel el Akdar hills to Mechili. Securing northern Cyrenaica, Kirchheim's Brescia column linked up with...
ISBN 978-1-86126-839-6. Franklyn, Harold (1956). The Official names of the Battles, Actions and Engagements fought by the land forces of the Commonwealth during the...
(24 km) to the rear of Gabès at Wadi Akarit, while the 164th Light, 15th Panzer and 21st Panzer divisions fought rearguard actions. El Hamma was evacuated...
Group garrisoned a camp at Nibeiwa,12 mi (19 km) south of the port of Sidi Barrani. The British had fought a delaying action during the Italian advance...
Tobruk") pulled back to Tobruk to avoid encirclement after actionsat Er Regima and Mechili and reached Tobruk on 9 April 1941. There prolonged fighting...
Air Forces Air Transport Command. The port at Dakar had a large supply depot that was used to support action Mediterranean Area. From Dakar planes flew...
1942 to 21 June 1942 The division took part in the following battles, actions and engagements: Bardia: 31 December 1941 to 2 January 1942. Some 8,000...
the Axis rear lines into the desert and then turned eastwards to reach Mechili, still in British hands, with almost no losses. For his leadership during...
April 1941, his brigade, the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade, was surrounded atMechili by numerically superior Axis forces. Being encircled, the allied forces...
area around Tobruk and El Adem and advance further west to take Derna and Mechili. Poor British signals security gave Rommel notice of the operation and...
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