page_title: Operation Crusader
section_title: Bir el Gubi
hierarchical_section_title: Operation Crusader / Battle / Third phase / Bir el Gubi
caption_attribution_description: English: Italian mobile artillery unit in the Bir el Gobi desert
context_page_description: Operation Crusader was a military operation of the Western Desert Campaign during the Second World War by the British Eighth Army, against the Axis forces in North Africa commanded by Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel. The operation was intended to by-pass Axis defences on the Egyptian–Libyan frontier, defeat the Axis armoured forces and relieve the 1941 Siege of Tobruk.
  On 18 November 1941, the Eighth Army launched a surprise attack. From 18 to 22 November, the dispersal of British armoured units led to them suffering 530 tank losses, inflicting Axis losses of about 100 tanks. On 23 November the 5th South African Brigade was destroyed at Sidi Rezegh, while inflicting many German tank casualties. On 24 November Rommel ordered the "dash to the wire", causing chaos in the British rear echelons but allowing the British armoured forces to recover. On 27 November the New Zealanders reached the Tobruk garrison, relieving the siege.
  The battle continued into December, when supply shortages forced Rommel to narrow his front and shorten his lines of communication. On 7 December 1941 Rommel withdrew the Axis forces to the Gazala position and on 15 December ordered a withdrawal to El Agheila.
context_section_description: Following the withdrawal of 2nd NZ Division, Ritchie had reorganised his rear echelon units to release the 5th and 11th Indian Infantry Brigades of the 4th Indian Infantry Division and the 22nd Guards Brigade. By 3 December the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade was in action against a strongpoint near Bir el Gubi, about 25 mi (40 km) south of Ed Duda. The I and II battalions, 136th "Giovani Fascisti" Regiment from this hilltop position fought off repeated attacks by the British armour and Indian infantry units during the first week of December;
  Although Norrie had an overwhelming superiority in every arm in the area of Bir Gubi, the failure to concentrate them and co-ordinate the action of all arms in detail had allowed one Italian battalion group to frustrate the action of his whole corps and inflict heavy casualties on one brigade.
  — John Gooch
  The Eighth Army infantry were left vulnerable because Norrie had been ordered to send the 4th Armoured Brigade east to cover against the developing threat to Bardia and Sollum. On 4 December, the "Pavia" and "Trento" Divisions counter-attacked the 70th Infantry Division to contain them within the Tobruk perimeter and reportedly recaptured the Plonk and Doc strong points. On 5 December, the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade continued its attrition attack against Point 174. As dusk approached the Afrika Korps and the "Ariete" armoured division intervened to relieve the Young Fascist garrison at Point 174 and attack 11th Indian Infantry Brigade. Crüwell was unaware that 4th Armoured Brigade, with 126 tanks, was over 20 miles (32 km) away and he withdrew to the west. The Indian Brigade had to be withdrawn to refit and be replaced by the 22nd Guards Brigade. Crüwell could have attacked on 6 December as the 4th Armoured Brigade made no move to close up to 22nd Guards Brigade but hesitated for too long and was unable to strike a conclusive blow before dark. By 7 December, the 4th Armoured Brigade had closed up and the opportunity lost; Neumann-Silkow, the commander of the 15th Panzer Division was mortally wounded late on 6 December.
caption: Italian field gun portée
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