Campaign
2 primary works • 3 total works
Book 73
The first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed nine Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. One of the results of this dramatic victory was the arrival of General Rommel and his Afrikakorps at Tripoli in March 1941.
Book 209
The War of 1812 has the strange distinction of being largely forgotten by both of its main participants, and yet its outcome was critically important to the future of North America. In 1814, the Americans launched a last offensive in an attempt to seize Canada. This Niagara campaign saw a number of pitched battles including Chippawa, Lundy's Lane, and Cook's Mill, where the Americans, under competent leaders such as Winfield Scott, matched the British shot for shot. However, due to poor planning the campaign failed and Canada survived as an independent state.
Osprey's Campaign title for the first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass, which was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940. Lt Gen. Richard O'Connor launched what amounted to a British 'Blitzkrieg'. In less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th Armoured Division raced across the desert to cut off the retreating Italians, and O'Connor's men destroyed 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.