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Gallabat-Metemma

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Title
Gallabat-Metemma
Description
Gallabat-Metemma was Britain's first land offensive of the East Africa campaign. On November 6th, 1940, Brigadier J.W. Slim led the British assault. Under his command were the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade, 12 tanks from the 4th Royal Tank Regiment and …
Subject
Source
Publisher
Date
1940-11-06
Scenario#
3704
Scenario Description
Gallabat-Metemma was Britain's first land offensive of the East Africa campaign. On November 6th, 1940, Brigadier J.W. Slim led the British assault. Under his command were the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade, 12 tanks from the 4th Royal Tank Regiment and some equipment from the Royal Artillery Regiment. The Italian forces of the 4th Colonial Brigade were deployed in a mud and stone fort on the hill at Gallabat. To the east of the Boundary Khor (a deep dry watercourse) the 77th and 25th Colonial Battalions and 6 mountain guns were stationed in Metemma. The Royal Artillery laid down a fierce barrage on the fort supported by the tanks. Stiff opposition from the Italians in the fort was finally overcome and the position fell. The 77th and 25th battalions then counter-attacked but were thrown back. Before Slim's forces could regroup for the push on Metemma, they were hit from both the air and by the Italian mountain guns. On the ground the British were superior to their Italian enemy, but after an initial British air strike, swarms of Axis fighters and bombers took control of the sky for the Italians. The British fell back which ended the offensive.
Location
Metemma, Ethiopia
Battle Narrative
The East African campaign was fought in East Africa during the Second World War by Allies of World War II, mainly from the British Empire, against Italy and its colony of Italian East Africa, between June 1940 and November 1941. The British Middle East Command with troops from the United Kingdom, South Africa, British India, Uganda Protectorate, Kenya, Somaliland, West Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Sudan and Nyasaland participated in the campaign. These were joined by the Allied Force Publique of Belgian Congo, Imperial Ethiopian Arbegnoch and a small unit of Free French.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Italian
British
Additional Information
Game Type: Standard
Board Type: Countryside
Website Access: Classified
Collection:

Geolocation