#32 - Operation Crusader - Armor Phase (19-23 Nov 1941) - PzC 04 Tobruk '41

Mishefa, 19 November 1941: The Crusader Battles can be divided into four distinct phases and the first of these was clearly dominated by the tank. Though both sides used terrain and territorial objectives to control the action but the destruction of enemy armor was the only objective that mattered. This campaign covers the actions from the opening British moves through the multi-layered battles between Sidi Rezegh and the frontier. As the battle opened, the British had the edge with 490 tanks in 7th Armoured Division to 260 in the two German Divisions. But German tactics, specifically their use of combined arms, made them the clear winners of the armored battle. By 23 November, 7th Armoured Division was down to 114 tanks while German strength was 160. Add to this the destruction of the 5th South Africa Brigade and most of the 7th Support Group, and the prospects of a British victory were indeed very slim.