#410414_01v Tobruk - Easter Monday - North Africa 1941

Tobruk, Eastern Cyrenaica, Libya: April 14th, 1941. (Scenario Size: Regiment. Head to Head or German Human vs Allied AI. This scenario uses variable objective victory points) The second major Easter battle occurred three days after the heavy engagement on the 11th. Rommel decided that the port could be taken on the run, just that it required more meticulous preparation. During the evening of April 13th, German Pioniers managed to breach the wire and fill in sufficient of the anti-tank trench to make it passable, During the Sunday night a few platoons from MG-Bataillon 8 managed to setup within the Australian defenses with the express aim of allowing the 38 tanks from Panzer-Regiment 5 to push onto Tobruk supported by the remaining companies of MG-Bataillon 8. The weakened Panzer Regiment passed through the German infantry just before dawn and advanced unmolested. The following infantry were engaged by the defenders and separated from the panzers. It was then the Panzer Regiments turn to be directly engaged by 25 pounder artillery and AT guns firing over open sights. The Panzers found themselves fired upon from all sides, when two tank squadrons from 1st Royal Tank Regiment intervened, forcing the Germans to try and pull back. The subsequent withdrawal was extremely costly with 17 panzers lost and MG-Bataillon 8 essentially destroyed with nearly 800 casualties. Rommel had failed again to take Tobruk on the fly.