Monday, January 20, 2020

The Australians ready to attack in the north after 26 October 1942

The Australian historian thinks that Montgomery, circa 26 October 1942, was just thinking of "crumbling" operations int he north to wear down the enemy forces. What General Morshead was proposing was leading up to a breakout to the west. They were nominally just continuing the ongoing attack towards the north. Morhead wanted to take the coast road to make evacuation operations easier. In any case, Montgomery opted for continued major attacks from the night of 27 to 28 October 1942. Morshead did not want to wait and wanted to continue the attack northward immediately. He wanted to take the coast road and for "three kilometers to the west". The Australians would use "all three of the brigades". They would also use a portion of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, but just one regiment. They would have extra artillery from the "51st, 2nd New Zealand and 10th Armoured Division." They would also have the support of all three medium artillery regiments. That would give the Australians the impressive number of guns: 360.

At the beginning of the Australian attack, the 20th Brigade would hold the "flanks". The 2/13th Battalion would move forward "along the switch line". They would hold a position "south of Thompson's Post". What was to be the left would have the 2/17th Battalion in position at Trig 29. The third battalion, the 2/15th, would move north on the west flank. After those initial moves, the 26th Brigade would move into action. The plan was for the 2/23rd Battalion and the 46th RTR to attack northeast the goal being to cut the coast road "about Kilo 113". The 2/48th Battalion would attack the enemy's rear by moving eastwards. The 2/24th Battalion would move along and take Thompson's Post. The attack would be from the north. The 24th Brigade would continue to hold the coast road defenses. They would also capture the enemy post near "the Kilo 109 area". Each brigade would have a field company in support. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.

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