TANK BATTLE IN DESERT

Southland Times, Issue 24601, 25 November 1941, Page 5

TANK BATTLE IN DESERT

GREAT STRUGGLE “LIKE PREHISTORIC ARENA” (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. “The tank battle around Sidi Rezegh seen from the air looked like a huge prehistoric arena, with firebreathing, scaly-hided monsters pitted against one another in a terrific struggle,” said a British fighter pilot in Cairo. “These monsters lumber slowly forward, swing this way and that way, each intent on the other’s destruction,” he added. “The battle seems to be raging for miles. The enemy used to pop off at us when we attacked, but since Friday their hands have been full trying to stand up to British tank attacks. Guns are blazing away on all sides. We hear the crackle of the firing above the roar of our engines and the gun-flashes outdo any firework display I have ever seen. It looked like a concentrated hell of shell against shell and steel against steel.” METHODS OF FIGHTING Desert tank battles usually occur at a range of between 300 and 800 yards, although often as much as 1200 yards, says The Daily Telegraph’s Cairo correspondent. The battles extend over a vast area and the tanks manoeuvre, firing continuously until one side has lost such a proportion of its forces that the survivors make off. Fire-power, speed and armour are the three decisive factors and the American tanks have shown their superiority over the Germans in these respects, particularly repeatedly outpacing their opponents and being able to take heavy punishment. Human losses in these actions are comparatively low and it is not uncommon for a tank to be knocked out without casualties to its crew.

Mr W. Averill Harriman, expediter of the Lend-Lease programme, broadcasting from the Middle East, said: “When the first American tanks were unloaded I inspected them with General Sir Claude Auchinleck. An American sergeant drove the general in a tank to demonstrate it. General Auchinleck, on his return, said: ‘lt is a fine weapon, manoeuvrable and sturdy. How many can you send?’ Many have arrived in the intervening months. Your pilots also have confidence in the Marylands and Tomahawks. The hearts of all Americans are with your troops in the desert fighting. We hope and pray our tanks and planes are serving them well, allowing us to claim a share in the critical battle.

FIERCE ATTACKS FROM AIR Axis Supply Column Wrecked (Rec. 9.25 p.m.) CAIRO, Nov. 24. An attack on a supply column on the El Adem-Croma road began with a Tomahawk raid at noon. The Tomahawks blocked the road by destroying 20 vehicles and killing and wounding about 100 men. Two more squadrons strafed the column three hours later, setting fire to petrol tankers and other lorries. A squadron of “Hurry” bombers (bomb-carrying Hurricanes) carried out a most damaging raid at dusk and scored direct hits on four lorries with four bombs. Other members of the squadron destroyed on an average of three vehicles each. One pilot- described a particularly devastating raid on an east-bound Italian supply column near Tobruk. “There were hundreds of vehicles and we took them by complete surprise,” he said. “We swept down to 40 feet or less and gave it to them right down the line and then back and then back again, shooting them up for nearly an hour’ and completely wrecking the convoys. You have seen men in the talkies when they are shot throw up their hands and pitch forward. I saw at least 100 go down 'that way. We were so close we could have picked our victims. It was a pleasure to be giving these fellows a taste of their own medicine.” AXIS REINFORCEMENTS Air Vice-Marshal A. Conyngham, commanding the air force in the Western Desert confirmed that the Axis was rushing up air reinforcements. He pointed out that the Axis had an advantage in the proximity of Italy, Crete and Tripoli and added that Junkers with trailer-gliders were not a factor to be ignored. He paid a tribute to the Tomahawks, which, he said, were the reason for the absence of the Stukas.

A South African force is reported to be driving towards an Italian armoured division which has re-formed 30 miles west of El Adem, presumably in an effort to screen an Axis withdrawal to Derna.

Cairo Royal Air Force circles report that not a single Royal Air Force supply vehicle so far has been lost. The size of the Royal Air Force’s problem can be judged from the fact that a squadron making several sorties daily uses between 3000 and 4000 gallons of petrol daily.