Bir Hakeim Italian tank losses

[keith A]

Can anyone tell me what tanks were lost by the Ariete Division on 27 May 1942 at the battle of Bir Hakeim. I have seen that they lost 32. My interest is in those lost to the 75s of the DBLE.

[nmao]

Hello.
No additional detail, but your info seems right:
"leaving behind 32 burning vehicles that had been destroyed by the 75 mm guns and even the 40 Bofors of the Marine Fusiliers. Also, Colonello Prestisimone, who led the assault, is wounded and taken prisoner along with 91 others."
http://www.birhakeim-association.org/Te ... eBatBH.htm

Some additional info:
http://www.comandosupremo.com/forums/to ... entry84012

I seem to recall most of the fighting was with IX Tank Battalion.

regards,

-Nuno

[David W]

Nuno (and others),

Do you know if the French were using the new 40mm A/P rounds that were available for the Bofors in 1942, or regular A/A HE?

Thanks.

[keith A]

Another interesting piece of information is that according to the Ordre de la Liberations site three French Foreign Legion gun commanders of CAC2 were very successful. Claims are made for a Spaniard SGC Jaime Turrell y Turull (6 tanks), a German SGT Hermann Eckstein (5 tanks) and Sgt Imre Kocsis, a Hungarian (2 tanks). All appear to be using the modified 75mm antichars gun. Were there any official documents assigning victories to gun commanders at Bir Hakeim?

regards

Keith