During the Battle of Bardia the V, XX, LXI, and LXII tank battalions "L" were destroyed. On 7 January 1941 the headquarter of the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment with the remnants of the I Tank Battalion "M" and the LXIII Tank Battalion "L" were surrounded with other Italian forces at Tobruk. On 20 January during the British capture of Tobruk the position of the 4th regiment was overrun by the 19th Australian Brigade with such ferocity that 70% of the officers, including both battalion commanders, and 50% of the troops of the regiment were killed in action. On 13 January the VI Tank Battalion "M" with M13/40 tanks had arrived from Italy and joined the Babini Group with its V and XXI tank battalions "M". On 24 January the Babini Group clashed inconclusively with the 7th British Armoured Division at Mechili. After Mechili the Italian army retreated further East to Beda Fomm, where the British successfully cut off the line of retreat and destroyed the Italian 10th Army with its III, V, VI, and XXI tank battalions "M" on 6-7 February during the Battle of Beda Fomm.