Operation Compass 1940
Wavell's whirlwind offensive
Published on 18. August 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
96 pages
978-1-85532-967-6 (ISBN)
Description
A highly illustrated, absorbing account of the first battle of the desert war: the British against the Italians.
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 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.
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 9 Italian divisions, and took 130,000 prisoners. In March 1941 General Rommel and the Afrikakorps landed at Tripoli.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
87 b/w; 12 col
Dimensions
Height: 248 mm
Width: 184 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
325 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85532-967-6 (9781855329676)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
08/2013
1st Edition
Osprey Publishing
€16.49
Available for download
E-Book
08/2013
1st Edition
Osprey Publishing
€16.49
Available for download
Persons
Jon Latimer is a serving officer with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (TA) and has a number of articles published on military history in British Army Review, Military History and World War II. He has carried out extensive research into the war in the desert.
Jim Laurier is a native of New Hampshire. He graduated with honours from the Paiers School of Art, Connecticut, in 1978 and has worked as a freelance illustrator ever since, completing assignments in a wide variety of fields. Jim has a keen interest in military subjects, both aviation and armour, and is a Fellow member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, the New York Society of Illustrators and the American Fighter Aces Association.
Jim Laurier is a native of New Hampshire. He graduated with honours from the Paiers School of Art, Connecticut, in 1978 and has worked as a freelance illustrator ever since, completing assignments in a wide variety of fields. Jim has a keen interest in military subjects, both aviation and armour, and is a Fellow member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, the New York Society of Illustrators and the American Fighter Aces Association.
Content
Italy enters the War
Opposing Commanders
Opposing Armies
Opposing Plans
Frontier skirmishes
The Italians invade Egypt
The attack on the camps
Buq Buq
Bardia
Tobruk
Beda Fomm
Aftermath
Chronology
Wargaming Operation Compass
Bibliography
Opposing Commanders
Opposing Armies
Opposing Plans
Frontier skirmishes
The Italians invade Egypt
The attack on the camps
Buq Buq
Bardia
Tobruk
Beda Fomm
Aftermath
Chronology
Wargaming Operation Compass
Bibliography