Loss of Ariete artillery at first Alamein

Discussions on WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean. Hosted by Andy H
Post Reply
User avatar
Kingfish
Member
Posts: 3348
Joined: 05 Jun 2003, 17:22
Location: USA

Loss of Ariete artillery at first Alamein

#1

Post by Kingfish » 05 Aug 2019, 11:56

Captured equipment included twelve 105-millimetre guns, eleven 88-millimetre and Russian 76·2-millimetre, sixteen 75-millimetre and five 25-pounders, a total of forty-four heavy artillery pieces, as well as some 20-millimetre dual purpose (anti-aircraft and anti-tank) guns, mortars, and other small arms.
Souce: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... p-c16.html

How did the loss of it's artillery affect the division's performance at Alam Halfa and 2nd Alamein?
Were the losses made up, and if so how and from what source?
The gods do not deduct from a man's allotted span the hours spent in fishing.
~Babylonian Proverb

User avatar
DrG
Member
Posts: 1408
Joined: 21 Oct 2003, 23:23
Location: Italia

Re: Loss of Ariete artillery at first Alamein

#2

Post by DrG » 08 Aug 2019, 15:00

The Italian official history (Mario Montanari, "Le operazioni in Africa Settentrionale - III - El Alamein"), chapter 7, note 31, tells that, while British sources provide the data that you have quoted, the Ariete lost 16 47/32 guns, 6 75/27 guns, 6 88 mm guns, 1 90 mm gun and 7 105 mm guns. It doesn't explain this discrepancy.
The following note 32 states that Ariete was able to rebuild a tank platoon and a section of 90 mm guns, provided by the 15. Panzer Division, the V bersaglieri battalion with a command platoon and a company.
If you are interested in this topic, the book of the official history of the three battles of El Alamein is available also in English language:
http://www.esercito.difesa.it/storia/Uf ... amein.aspx


User avatar
jwsleser
Member
Posts: 1363
Joined: 13 Jun 2005, 15:02
Location: Leavenworth, KS
Contact:

Re: Loss of Ariete artillery at first Alamein

#3

Post by jwsleser » 08 Aug 2019, 17:34

From the same source, by 2nd Alamein (Alam Halfa), most of the artillery losses had been replaced from Italy.

Pista! Jeff
Jeff Leser

Infantrymen of the Air

Post Reply

Return to “WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean”