General Alan Cunningham

When General Alan Cunningham had recommended to General Auchinleck, in the face of Rommel's "Dash to the Wire", and with mounting tank casualties, the the 8th Army withdraw, he was relieved of his command. This was quite an abrupt move, but Auchinleck felt that the situation was not lost and would not allow a retreat. General Auchinleck seems to have problems with personnel decisions. Making General Cunningham his commander was based on the Cunningham's brilliant East African campaign, which had nothing to do with either armoured warfare or the desert. In any case, General Cunningham was sent home to England where he was made Commandant of Staff College Camberley. He served in that capacity from 1942 to 1943, when he was appointed as Commander in Chief Northern Ireland. He served in Northern Ireland until 1944, when he became General Officer Commander in Chief Eastern Command. After the war, he returned to the Middle East as High Commissioner and Commander in Chief Palestine. He oversaw the end of British occupation, when sparked the formation of the State of Israel and the war between the Arabs and the Israelis. General Cunningham retired from the service in 1948, when he was about 61 years old. He lived to a great age, as he only died in 1984 (he had been born in 1887).
Sources:

1. http://www.generals.dk/general/Cunningham/Sir_Alan_Gordon/Great_Britain.html
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Gordon_Cunningham

General Cunningham left the front on 24 November 1941

From the Official History, we know that General Cunningham took off under fire from visiting General Norrie and 30th Corps. As he flew east, he could see the Germans moving forward on the ground, and that they were in and around the frontier. To make matters worse, no one in a command position new what was happening on the ground. The RAF had to withdraw, due to the reduced security at the forward landing grounds. That meant that tactical reconnaissance suffered greatly. Air Vice-Marshal Coningham realized that the RAF would need to withdraw to landing grounds much farther east. That meant severe overcrowding at the receiving landing grounds. At one, there were 175 aircraft parked "wing-tip-to-wingtip", an inviting target. Fortunately for the RAF, the Germans were oblivious to what was happening. British fighter operations proceeded with great difficulty, but the day bombers were able to hit targets near Bir el Gubi, El Adem, and Acroma. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.

Rommel based his tactics on WWI infiltration tactics

Rommel had learned the practice of infiltration tactics on the Italian front in WWI. A Frenchman had the idea, but the Germans developed and perfected infiltration tactics. There is a Wikipedia page on the subject. What the Germans did from the late 1930's was to take the infanty infiltration concept and apply that to armoured forces. The example which first got everyone's attention was in the Ardennes, in May 1940. That was when Rommel, commanding the 7th Panzer Division, along with others, slipped through the Ardennes, rather than attacking the Maginot Line, and threw the Allies into a panic. This was the opposite of what General Montgomery liked. He like set piece battles where he could assault a position. The earliest instance of the British using these tactics was in the Western Desert, when General O'Connor beat a much larger Italian army by moving small forces through empty spaces to surprise the Italians. They also slipped into the Italian camps with tanks and infantry, catching them by surprise. Rommel had written a book on the subject called Infanterie greift. That was the book that Patton read.

"The Lone Sentry" has an interesting page on the 50mm PAK38

I was looking for more information about the 50mm PAK38 anti-tank gun. "The Lone Sentry" has a good page that includes information from an Intelligence Bulletin from February 1943. One piece of information that I had not realized, but which makes sense, is that hits on "the junction of the turret and hull" would fuse the metal and jam the turret.

The 50mm PAK38 was a potent anti-tank gun

The 50mm PAK38's that decimated C Squadron of the 3rd Royal Tanks on the tenth day of the Crusader battle were potent anti-tank guns, especially in late 1941. My copy of Anti-Tank Weapons, from the WW2 Fact Files, says that the 50mm PAK38, firing conventional AP shot could penetrate 61mm at 500 meters. C Squadron was "taken out" at almost point-blank range. In fact, my copy of Weapons of the Third Reich shows that at 30mm angles, the PAK38 could penetrate 73mm at point blank range and 67mm at 250 meters. This page has the armour thicknesses on the Stuart. The thickest armour on the Stuart was 51mm, so the 50mm PAK38 could easily penetrate the Stuart's armour at close range.

The Official History on the "Dash to the Wire"

Early on 24 November 1941, Rommel decided to take the mechanized units in the DAK to the frontier. He personally led the rapid advance, starting at 10am. The 21st Panzer Division, with 5th Panzer Regiment with Rommel, led the movement. They left the Sidi Rezegh area heading for the Trigh al Abd, with the intent to take that to the border area. They slipped past the 7th Armoured Division and hit the British rear elements, scattering them. Some of the 30th Corps HQ and staff were put in the bag. The Germans also gained stores and water supplies. The soft vehicles of the B Echelons were panicked and they headed East.

The 22nd Armoured Brigade and the 4th Armoured Brigade were in position, offering cover to the New Zealand Division. The 7th Support Group and remnants of the 7th Armoured Brigade were able to hit the Germans in their northern flank and cause some damage. The 1st South African Brigade had artillery that was able to hit the Germans, as well. The 5th Panzer Regiment was slowed by these attacks. Still, Rommel with the rest of the 21st Panzer Division were able to gain the frontier by 4pm. They had travelled 60 miles on the way, averaging about 10mph.

This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.

Robert Crisp was still feeling the effects of almost being killed, along with his crew

Still on the tenth day of the Crusader Battle, Robert Crisp and his tank crew were going to be safe, and be able to withdraw. Robert was still feeling the effects of almost being killed by the German anti-tank guns. He was relieved that his gunner was not badly wounded, and shouted at him to calm down. Robert now wondered what had happened to the rest of C Squadron, as they were "chugging along casually through the deserted silence of the ravine". As they got to the top of the hill, he saw four burning Stuarts from his squadron and three immobilized. He could also see the German anti-tank gunners waiting for new prey. The Germans were herding the surviving tank crews who had been taken prisoner. Robert wondered if he might be able to charge the anti-tank guns, take them by surprise, and release the prisoners. Without a gunner to fire the Browning machine gun, that seemed unlikely to succeed. Robert was just as glad to decide to not make the attack. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

After running upon some 50mm PAK38's on the tenth day

On the tenth day of the Crusader Battle, Robert Crisp had run upon some German 50mm PAK38's. Initially, they had only put a hole in his water tins. He looked around and saw some knocked out Stuarts, with their crews taking cover behind the knocked out tanks. There were dead, among the crews, as well. There was another shot, which penetrated the turret of Robert's tank and wounded his gunner. He started firing his machine gun at the anti-tank gun crew. Robert's Stuart was hit twice more, with more water spilled. When the machine gun stopped firing, Robert told his driver to head over the edge of the escarpment. The tank hesitated and then moved, as his driver Whaley, gunned the engine. Robert realized that they had escaped and had descended the slope safely. They had shot by the German motorcyclists, just missing them. Robert shouted to Whaley to turn right into a ravine that offered a safe escape. The turret had been turned to the rear. As the radio operator offered aid to the wounded gunner, Robert told him to traverse the turret to the front. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

Down the ravine

Robert Crisp's driver had just barely averted disaster, at the edge of a steep ravine. Robert looked down and was amazed at what he saw. Immediately below was an overturned German halftrack motorcycle, presumably a Kettenkrad, or perhaps a regular motorcycle and sidecar with a track instead of a wheel. There were three German soldiers with their arms raised in surrender. Further down the hill were a variety of vehicles, some upright and some on their side or top. Those still upright were racing away. As Robert watched "a great lorry went plunging down the escarpment out of control". Robert ordered his gunner to fire down the slope. Suddenly, there was a loud "bang" and Robert was suddenly "drenched from head to foot". He realized that the water on the back of the tank had taken a hit. He saw a gun flash, and got scared, because there were some 50mm PAK38's emplaced and aiming at him. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

The 3rd RTR attacks

The 4th and 22nd Armoured Brigades paused on the ridge. Robert Crisp reported to his Colonel that his C Squadron was ready to attack. The C.O. of the 3rd RTR told them that Alec Gatehouse sent a message "Go like hell and good luck". After the C.O. signed off, the Stuarts started to slowly move. Robert Crisp told his driver to increase speed and told his gunner to load the two guns. The rest of C Squadron could be seen to each side, as they raced down the incline to the Trigh Capuzzo. Only whent the tanks were halfway down the hill did the Germans notice them. The column scattered in the opposite direction from the attack. Robert's plan was to run past the vehicles, turn, and start shooting. Instead, the ground dropped away. The driver saw the danger about the same time and tried to stop. They succeed, just barely, stopping before going over the edge. Only the front sprocket wheels protruded over the drop. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

From the Official History: German tank strength on 24 November 1941

In footnotes on page 54 of Vol.III, the Official History lists the German tank strength on 24 November 1941:

5th Panzer Regiment:  45 tanks, consisting of 11 Pzkw II, 28 Pzkw III, and 6 Pzkw IV

8th Panzer Regiment:  61 tanks, consisting of 18 Pzkw II, 36 Pzkw III, and 7 Pzkw IV

The new men start off for their first action of the Crusader Battle

Still on the tenth day of the Crusader Battle, Robert Crisp instructed the new men in his squadron to follow his tank and in the initial run up to the ridge line, to stay turret down. They needed to maintain surprise before they attacked the transport. Robert had divided his 10 tank squadron into troops of three tanks. He appointed Harry Maegraith as commander of one of them. The 4th Armoured Brigade and 22nd Armoured Brigade tanks spread out along the ridge line, overlooking the Trigh Cappuzo. The 22nd Armoured Brigade, with their Crusaders, would hit the head of the column. The 4th Armoured Brigade would hit further back. The 4th Armoured Brigade, at this stage, may have just had the 3rd RTR and the 5th RTR. As they looked over the ridge, there was a very large column of transport, and there was a great amount of dust in the air, reducing visibility. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

After Alec Gatehouse's briefing on the tenth day of the Crusader Battle

Robert Crisp left Alec Gatehouse's briefing on the tenth day of the Crusader Battle with the impression that the Germans had suffered in their rush to the frontier. Robert wasn't ready to believe that the Germans were beaten yet. When he returned to C Squadron, Robert found that the new crews and tanks had arrived. One young man had just arrived in North Africa seven days before. Robert instructed the new officer to stay close to him in action and gave him a few basic survival tips. Robert must have done so, hoping that the young man would remember some of what he had told him. Robert started to talk to the new arrivals about movement in formation, when he was called to an urgent meeting with his CO. They were to move directly into combat, never even having driven together. The 4th Armoured Brigade was to head for the Trigh Capuzzo to support the 22nd Armoured Brigade in an attack on about 2,000 Axis transport. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

Rommel and General Cruewell disagreed on the course of action

The Afrika Korps commander, General Crüwell, wanted to finish beating the British near Tobruk, following his victory at Sidi Rezegh. Rommel, disagreed, and wanted to go east, to relieve his troops on the frontier. General Crüwell saw the initial victory at Sidi Rezegh as just a first step in destroying the British armoured forces. He had, in fact, removed the 7th Armoured Brigade, and might well have done the same with the 4th and 22nd Armoured Brigades. By the morning of 24 November 1941, Rommel felt like the British were too weak to raise the seige of Tobruk, so he might head to the east, in good blitzkrieg fashion, and see if he could panic the British further. He had seen the British tendency to panic when confronted with rapidly moving armoured forces in April and June 1941. Now would be an opportunity to try the same gambit. From what we know now, it would have worked, but for Auchinleck. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.

Back to the Official History from the night of 23/24 November 1941

After General Cunningham had consulted with General Auchinleck, he changed his dispositions. 13th Corps would now have command of all infantry operating against the besiegers of Tobruk. He took control of "the 70th Division and all in trantry north of a line east and west through Sidi Azeiz. General Godwin-Austen's orders were to retake Sidi Rezegh and El Duda, regardless of the cost. 11th Indian Brigade would be brought forward to join 13th Corps, after having been guarding the supply line. The 5th Indian Brigade was also ordered forward to rejoin the division. 30th Corps was to regroup, but be ready to support Dan Pienaar's 1st SA Brigade and the New Zealand Division. After the hard fought battle on 23 November, Rommel ordered the DAK commander to take his force to the frontier to relieve the forces trapped there. They would have the Ariete Armoured Division and the Trieste Motorized Division in company. Group Böttcher was left to prevent the New Zealanders from breaking into Tobruk. Böttcher's group had "one battalion of 361st Infantry Regiment; two battalions of 155th Lorried Infantry Regiment; 900th Engineer Battalion; and elements of the Army artillery". This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official history.

On the tenth day, Alec Gatehouse briefed the officers

On the tenth day, Alec Gatehouse turned to the maps and talked about the situation to the officers, including Robert Crisp, acting squadron commander. Robert wasn't much interested in what was happening back at the wire. No one there understood what Rommel was trying to accomplish. They all assumed that the critical battle would be fought south of Tobruk, where they were. The expectation was that a corridor would be opened to Tobruk, that would allow the New Zealand brigade to enter. They were at Belhamed, with Italians and Germans between them and Tobruk. They knew that Rommel and the two panzer divisions were headed back toward Tobruk. His intent was a large unknown. Did he intend to take back Sidi Rezegh, now occupied by British forces? The future movements of the 4th Armoured Brigade were yet to be determined. They might sit where they were, ready to engage enemy forces that passed near, or they might head west to Acroma, if Rommel proved to have been defeated. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

Morning of the tenth day of the Crusader Battle

The 4th Armoured Brigade had stayed in place on the morning of the tenth day of the Crusader Battle. Robert Crisp had general forboding of what might happen next. He said "every action has an equal and opposite reaction". Alec Gatehouse had a conference for squadron commanders at 9am. Since Robert was acting as squadron commander, he was there. They met a Alec Gatehouse's tank. The status was that the 7th Armoured Brigade had been sent to the rear. The 22nd Armoured Brigade had brought up to a strength of 42 tanks, from salvaging and repairing tanks. 4th Armoured Brigade had grown to 77 tanks, so they were the strongest unit left in 30th Corps. The nasty truth was that they now had 119 tanks of the original 600 tanks left on strength. They found out that General Cunningham had been relieved of his command. He was replaced by General Neil Ritchie. None of them had ever heard of General Ritchie, a staff officer. They knew that they army had lacked a resolute commander, so they were willing to give General Ritchie a chance. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

Cyril Joly arrived with the 12 Stuarts

Robert Crisp appointed his friend Harry Maegraith has temporary and unofficial second in command. When Cyril Joly and the twelve Stuarts arrived, he brought along a novelty to the 3rd RTR: a "Mess lorry". Not only that, the Mess lorry had a crate of beer. Amazingly, the crate had survived the start of the campaign and the "Dash to the Wire". In the afternoon of the ninth day, the 3rd RTR moved "to Bir Berraneb, the favourite leaguering and mustering area of the brigade". Cyril Joly told the soldiers of the B-Echelon adventure on the night before. They had not been able to join the brigade, that night. In the night, they had gone off on the wrong bearing. When the lead officer realized that they had missed their objective, they stopped where they were for the rest of the night. In the early light, they set off, headed east. They picked up an armoured car escort along the way. They thought that they must be friendly, until suddenly, they were stopped at gunpoint, and were "put in the bag". Robert Crisp doesn't tell us how they learned what had happened to the captured column. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

"C.O's Orders" on the ninth day

At 1:30pm, on the ninth day of the Crusader Battle, the officers were called to meet for "C.O's Orders". Robert Crisp went with his friend Harry Maegraith. They found out that the battalion medical officer had rejoined the 3rd RTR, after getting lost in the flap surrounding the "Dash to the Wire". Doc MacMillan had been with the battalion at Calais and Greece, so Robert was glad to have him back. Cyril Joly, at the time with the 3rd RTR B-Echelon, was bringing 12 new Stuarts to the battalion. Cyril Joly eventually wrote his own war book, a novel, called Take These Men (Echoes of War). The twelve new tanks would bring the battalion strength to 22 tanks. They would now be organized into a HQ with 3 Stuarts, an A Squadron with 9 Stuarts, with Robert Crisp in charge of C Squadron, with 10 Stuarts. Robert knew that this just a temporary measure, until more senior officers rejoined the battalion. Robert was just a captain at this time. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.

Early afternoon on the ninth day of the Crusader Battle

In the early afternoon on the ninth day of the Crusader Battle, after Robert and his companions had washed. Many of the troops decided to write home, while Robert lay on his back and relaxed. He had gotten his "valise and sleeping bag". He had to pick out the usual pieces of shrapnel, before he could use the sleeping bag. Robert's crew were discussing their lunch plans. They had boiled beef pudding, canned potatoes, "tinned pears", "condensed milk", and "hot tea". One of his crew obviously had a flare for cooking and a good deal of ingenuity. They crushed biscuits to make the dough for a "pastry". They added water and then wrapped the dough around the beef. They made a "desert oven" from sand and a tin, and placed the dish in the oven and baked. When the beef pastry was hot, they "ate it". they had an extremely enjoyable meal from simple ingredients. This is based on the account in Robert Crisp's book Brazen Chariots.