Axis Amphibious assault on Tobruk 1941

[Andy H]

British Intelligence learn't on November 16th 1941 that the Italian San Marco marine Btn had arrived in North Africa. Some 6 days earlier the British had learn't that leave had been cancelled in the Panzergruppe and that the Trento Mot Division had been brough up to Tobruk, plus Landing Craft. Sometime later the British found some 500 rubber boats in the area.

Does anyone have any further information on this proposed amphibious assault?

Regards

Andy H

[Inspecteur Clouzot]

I vaguely remember plans for an "end run" amphibious attack, that were quickly shelved. I remember these as a way to do an Anzio (a successful one, that is!) against the Allied line in Egypt, so that would be odd for November 1941 at a time when the Axis was planning to attack Tobruk.

No idea where I read that from at the moment, if memory comes back I'll try to post more details here.

[Andy H]

That would be great.

One wonders what the specific objective(s) for such an op would be? One Marine Btn can cause trouble but it wont last long without larger support. What Naval support would they recieve?, what transport vessels were to be used for the Marine Btn to reach it drop-off point?

Regards

[Andreas]

Trento replaced Bologna (I think) in the siege line, so they probably had nothing to do with any amphibious assault.

The assault was planned for 21 November. I never heard anything of an amphibious stage, all the accounts I have read agree that it was a straightforward job, with elms. 15.PD and Div. zbV Afrika attacking up the Via Balbia from the SE of the siege lines, with the tanks exploiting the breakthrough, and the fortress collapsing in two days.

Crusader spoiled the party.

All the best

Andreas

[Andy H]

The British OH on its Intelligence in Vol II, gives a reference of CAB44/92 which refers to it within Section I, chapter G: General Auchinleck's offensive; phase II, the launching of operation "Crusader", 1941 Nov.18-30, by Lieutenant-Colonel G. R. Johnston

Regards

Andy H

[quillin]

Maybe the battalion was just going to be used as a reserve, or to make up for losses in a division.
Or, even better, the way i would do it, recon. the battaljon approaches from seaside with the rubber boats, sneaks towards the frontline, do some havock, mayby raid a small headquartar and if there lucky, they might find a map showing all the defences in the area.
plus, if it's all over, it forces the allied troops to patrol the seaside, troops needed for the frontline.

[Andreas]

I just don't see what the point of that would be. They had a lot of information about the defenses, and they really only needed that in the breakthrough sector, which was quite far from the sea.

The only possible use I could see is to send these guys into the harbour after the assault has started to prevent demolitions while the forces from land fight their way through.

But who knows, there seems to be nothing in writing.

All the best

Andreas

[Kuno]

There was not only planing but as well preparation AND training for such amphi-landing in TOBRUK. Even one of the very few "Land Wasser Schlepper" has been employed there. There are photos of that subject in the book of W. Troika "Küstenjäger".

[Andreas]

There was not only planing but as well preparation AND training for such amphi-landing in TOBRUK. Even one of the very few "Land Wasser Schlepper" has been employed there. There are photos of that subject in the book of W. Troika "Küstenjäger".

You are certain that was in 1941? Because there is zero information on that in the Panzergruppe reports on planning the assault in 1941.

All the best

Andreas

[13emeDBLE]

Hi all,

As I can talk in my different sources, no amphibious assault planned in 1941 against Tobruk.

The training of Kampfgruppe Hecker was for an special operation in May 42 during the Theseus operation (against Gazala line).

The assault plannend against Tobruk in 1941 is very similar to the assault effectively launched in June 42, and there was no amphibious operations planned.

The LWS arrived in 1942 in NA.

In 1941 there was some specials operations, landing parties against West Egypt railway, but no real amphibious assault...

Regards,

CM

[Kuno]

Sorry to come back to the subject that late. Since I do not have the above mentioned book at hand here in Libya, I cannot confirm the date of the training for that operation. I even doubt that such is mentioned in the book - there is hardly any text.

What other sources would be available to read about such operation (respectively planned operation)?

[Andreas]

Kuno

You won't find anything on this because it was a British intel scare, only. There was no plan for an amphibious assault on Tobruk in autumn 41 that I have been able to discern. But there were British intelligence warnings of such an attack in early November, and e.g. the 2/13 Battalion, as well as 7 RTR were alerted.

I have no idea why the official intelligence history is repeating this scare, since it would have had access to the German planning documents.

So to sum up, it was a real British scare, but not a real Axis plan.

All the best

Andreas

[david]

In the light of a complete absence of any contemporary documents, I'm inclined to agree wholeheartedly with Andreas.