#411121_04v Tobruk Breakout - North Africa 1941

Tobruk, Libya, November 21st, 1941. (Scenario Size: Brigade. Commonwealth Human vs Axis AI, or HTH). After the 8th Army misread the results of the fighting on the previous day as resulting in the DAK retreating, orders were issued to the Tobruk garrison to begin their planned breakout. The plan was to push to Ed Duda and meet up with the XXX Corps relief forces moving from Sidi Rezegh. The garrison committed most of their artillery and all of their tanks to the effort, outside of a diversionary attack at the other end of the fortress perimeter. Unknown to the British forces, some German troops had taken over positions in the front line just prior to Crusader beginning, in preparation for the planned Axis offensive to finally take Tobruk. Also, minefields were much more extensive than was known, leading to tank losses and constricted advances when the assault started. This led to very difficult fighting on both sides, with crippling losses to some of the Axis forces involved. Although Ed Duda was not reached, the bulge opened by this attack was literally a thorn in the Axis flank, tying down large German and Italian forces in static positions to contain it to prevent a push to Ed Duda, and crippling half of the Bologna division.