Operation BATTLEAXE

The Tiger convoy of May 1941 reached Alexandria laden with 238 of the latest British tanks and 43 Hurricanes for the R.A.F. These Tiger cubs had been rushed through the Straights of Gibraltar in the hopes of an early Allied …

1941-06-16

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The Tiger convoy of May 1941 reached Alexandria laden with 238 of the latest British tanks and 43 Hurricanes for the R.A.F. These Tiger cubs had been rushed through the Straights of Gibraltar in the hopes of an early Allied offensive to relieve the siege of Tobruk. The Allied plan of action had the 4th Indian Division assault the heavily entrenched Sollum-Halfaya Pass area while the 7th Armoured Division would roll up the Axis flank around Fort Capuzzo. But the British plans were discovered by Rommel's ínfamous Wireless Intercept Company, and the Desert Fox prepared for the onslaught. About the most even-sided engagement of the campaign was when 4th Armoured Brigade (with 90 brand—new “I” tanks) rammed into Panzer Regiment 8 (with about 80 panzers) at the Battle of Capuzzo.

Fort Capuzzo, Libya

Operation Battleaxe (15–17 June 1941) was a British Army offensive during the Second World War to raise the Siege of Tobruk and re-capture eastern Cyrenaica from German and Italian forces.[h] It was the first time during the war that a significant German force fought on the defensive. The British lost over half of their tanks on the first day and only one of three attacks succeeded. The British achieved mixed results on the second day, being pushed back on their western flank and repulsing a big German counter-attack in the centre. On the third day, the British narrowly avoided disaster by withdrawing just ahead of a German encircling movement. The failure of Battleaxe led to the replacement of British General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief Middle East, by Claude Auchinleck; Wavell took Auchinleck's position as Commander-in-Chief, India.

Wikipedia: Operation Battleaxe

German

British Commonwealth