While I don't disagree with the general point i.e. there was a definite limit to how much force the Axis could supply in North Africa, the numbers you quote give the wrong idea.David W wrote:F.W.I.W, I think the biggest problem is going to be adequately supplying any additional Italian forces in the North African theatre. Bear in mind that of the three ports used by the Axis, only one (Tripoli) was in their hands for the entire campaign. Also look at the ports capacities, and compare them with the requirements of a typical Italian or German Division.
Tripoli: 45,000 Tonnes per Month maximum.
Benghasi: 24,000 Tonnes per Month maximum.
Tobruk: 18,000 Tonnes per Month maximum.
Typical Monthly requirements of an Italian Division: 8,000 Tonnes per Month MINIMUM. German Division: 11,000 Tonnes per Month MINIMUM.
Do the sums and you will see how stretched the Axis were in supplying the existing forces, never mind having to cope with even more.
1/ When you match the total port capacity to the figures you provide for Axis divisions, it looks like PAA should have starved to death. Let's see: at the time of Gazala port capacity was 45,000+24,000 = 69,000. There were 3 German divisions (33,000 tons), so just 4.5 Italian divisions would have used it all up, and there were more than these.
2/ When you compare total port capacity according to these figures with the actual deliveries - as listed in the Italian official histories, and used e.g. by Van Creveld in the relevant chapter of "Supplying War" - then there is an "impossibility" of supply landed for the months where the figures are negative. The formula is port capacity minus tonnage delivered, taking into account which ports were under Axis control e.g. only Tripoli from March to May 1941, Tobruk only starting in July 1942, etc.
mars-41 -34 183
avr-41 -47 753
mai-41 -36 472
juin-41 -14 331
juil-41 -56 076
août-41 6 724
sept-41 -14 956
oct-41 1 487
nov-41 -4 614
déc-41 39 157
janv-42 15 908
févr-42 -21 170
mars-42 -3 965
avr-42 21 412
mai-42 -81 389
juin-42 -17 439
juil-42 46 673
août-42 -4 491
It shows that theoretical port capacities could - and were - improved upon.