Trieste mot. division error 26-27th may

[valentine III]

Apparently Trieste mot. division lost direction and ended in front of the minefields between Bir Hakeim and Got-el-ualeb and instead of going southwards and then east-northwards to rejoin the rest of axis mobile forces, they decided to go straigth ahead and cross the minefields.

They had a few very difficult days and had the difficult task of opening a pass under fire. They lost some tanks from XI carristi and armoured cars from 8th Bersaglieri corazzato bat.

But who was causing this loses, just mines and harassing fire?

Or some mobile column from the French brigade or the 150th british brigade?

Many thanks

[Dili]

Check the Trieste story in Africa here http://www.scribd.com/doc/19467623/quaderno-SISM-1999

[valentine III]

Thanks Dili a very interesting document. But it doesn't give any details about the forces that oppossed the minefield crossing.

Very interesting also the chapter about the Italian armoured forces in the first campaign: Sidi Barrani-Compass.

[Dili]

Okay. I didn't remembered what was in the book, just know that it had something about Trieste. I think you need to get a book about that battle.

[valentine III]

Dili, I have some and no one gives the details. Most even don't say anything about Trieste movements and "Aggredisce e vincerai" the Trieste story does not give details too. Just something related to Trieste.

[Dili]

That's bad maybe someone in an Italian forum can help you, there is also Comando Supremo forum some Italians go there. I am more of a generalist and that kind of operational detail isn't something that does interest me much so i don't research it.

[valentine III]

From the corps army report on 27th May Trieste lost about 12 M13/40 from XI bat. Carristi on its first engagement trying to breach the minefields aganist oposition. Some because of the mines but the most because of enemy fire. Who did fire aganist them?

Also 8th Bersaglieri AB41's suffered loses when ordered to advance next day without care for the mines.