Ariete during Gazala - Battle of Knightsbridge

[Patton42]

I am looking for information, or links, to find out some details concerning the action taking place on 6/10/42 during the Battle of Gazala, just south of Knightsbridge. In it I have heard the Ariete pushed back an attack by the 1st and 6th Royal Tank Regiment, The British suffered the loss of 20 tanks (Grants and Stuarts) and the Italians 2 of their M13/40's.

Any info?

Thanks.

[jwsleser]

I have checked both versions of the Italian OH and the UK OH and no action is described on 10 June. What is your source for the information?

1 and 6 RTR were originally part of the 1st Armoured Bde. All my sources indicate that the brigade was piecemeal-ed out to replace losses in other brigades. I am not sure if they fought as battalions during Gazala.

However it is possible that some sort of smaller action happened on 10 June that the OHs overlooked.

Pista! Jeff

[Patton42]

Thank you. I found a mention on Wikipedia - not always 100% reliable, that's why I came here. It was on a page dedicated to Semovente da 75/18. I copied below. I did just notice the bibliography it sites, which I have added to bottom. Also, in Ian Walkers Iron Hulls Iron Harts on page 124 he mentions Rommel giving grudging praise to the Italians for weeks of fighting around Knightsbridge. But it appears the action he is describing is a few days before June 10.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semovente_da_75/18

"The most successful action fought by Semovente da 75/18 took place on 10 June 1942, south of Knightsbridge, during the Battle of Gazala. Thirty M3 Grant and ten M3 Stuart of 1st and 6th Royal Tank Regiment attacked a position held by the Ariete division but were repelled by Semovente da 75/18s as well as some M13/40s and gun trucks, losing three Grants and two Stuarts from 6th Royal Tank Regiment and twelve Grants and three Stuarts from 1st Royal Tank Regiment.[5] The Italians lost two M13/40s.[6]"

Pignato, Nicola. Storia dei mezzi corazzati II. Fratelli Fabbri Editori. pp. 208–214.
Pignato, Nicola (2004). Italian Armored Vehicles of World War Two. Squadron/Signal publications. ISBN 0-89747-475-9.


Thanks for your help.

[Urmel]

Here is the 6 RTR war diary entry for the day of 10 June.

0600 – 2 patrols of A Sqn sent out to our old position. Orders received from Bde for attack on tanks on ridge SW of KNIGHTSBRIDGE. 2nd Armd Bde attacking from NE. Regt has RHA in support. 1st RTR covering left flank.
0745 – Regt moved off from leaguer area.
0900 – Regt reached area West of un-named BIR 382409 and came under fire from enemy tanks and A/Tk guns. C Sqn on left, B Sqn on right, A Sqn watching flanks.
0910 – C Sqn pushed forward to engage enemy tanks.
0915 – One enemy tank set on fire.
0940 – Heavy fire from 88mm Bty to left flank, 2 Grants knocked out.
0950 – 1 Grant and 1 Honey knocked out and another enemy tank set on fire. Very heavy and accurate fire from 88’s, caused Regt to withdraw slightly. Bty RHA gave support and engaged the enemy guns.
1030 – Tank attack reported coming in on 1st RTR on left. C Sqn moved round quickly to give support.
1100 – Patrol of A Sqn sent out to look at 2 burning Grants and try and locate crews, driven off by A/TK fire.
1400 – Some crews of the tanks knocked out in the morning walked in and reported that Italian infantry had been sent to destroy the damaged tanks and presumably had captured Capt RS Kemp, 2Lt Williams and 2Lt Wilkinson (wounded) and some of the crews. Remainder of the day was spent in this area, some slight shelling. After dark Regt withdrew and leaguered some 3 miles back.
Losses 3 Grants
2 Stuarts
Claims 2 enemy tanks destroyed. Several other tanks and A/Tk guns thought to have been damaged or destroyed.

http://warlinks.com/armour/6th_royal_tank/6rtr_42.php

[jwsleser]

Thanks Urmel. It is difficult to say there wasn't a fight when the losers have documented it. Do you have a copy of Ariete's war diary for this period?

Patton

I don't have either of the sources listed in the Wiki article. Some more books I will need to buy. It does appear that there was a fight on 10 June. The UK losses in the Wiki article for the 6th RTR match those in the diary, so the article looks to be accurate.

Pista! Jeff

[Patton42]

Thank you!!! So now it is a matter of tying them to Ariete.

Look forward to more info.

And if confirmed, why is there not more general info or recognition of this? Seems like it would of been a decent tactical victory, small as it is. But does not appear to be much written on it. Seems worthy....

Thanks again.

[Urmel]

Afraid I don't have the WD for that period. I might have a German report that can shed some light. The 88s could have been Italian.

[Dili]

Or could have been 90mm but it would be on trucks.