Post by Diarist on Nov 12, 2015 10:44:20 GMT 1
Northern Front
Early this morning 17 Ca.101 and 7 Ca.111 bomber-aircraft, escorted by 8 Ro.1 and 5 CR.20 fighters attacked Adwa. Adwa is the site of a humiliating Italian defeat in 1895 during the 1st Italo-Abyssinian conflict. They were intercepted by 20 Fairey IIIDs from Axum and a few got past the fighter screen to attack the bombers. Shortly later 21 Fairey IIIDs from Mekele arrived to attack the Italian bombers who were now unescorted. Most of the bombers released their bombs over unpopulated territory and tried to escape. Unconfirmed reports state that each side lost 6 fighters but 12 of the 17 bombers didn't arrive back at their home base.
On the ground the Italian I Army Corp reached the main Abyssinian line of defence at Fiya K'eshi 6km north of Adigrat. The road is on a ridge at 2500m above sea-level but to the south is a 250m higher plateau. The road hasn't been blocked, it has been blown off the side of the slope. To advance further the Italians had to descend the slopes north and west of this mountain but in both directions the area had been extensively mined and were covered by machine-gun fire and 24 ex-British 18-pounder guns were shelling the Italian troops. Another hillside demolition sent a rock avalanche on to the rear echelons of this column and Molotov-cocktails were thrown to complete the chaos. This time there was no Italian air support to drive away the defenders.
At Menebeyti, 6km north-east of this position, columns of the 2nd CCNN Division have been held up by blocked roads in a steep-sided valley. They were also under fire from MG's and artillery then during a lull a dozen Fairey IIIDs attacked which the Italians at first thought were friendly.
II Army Corps on the Italian right had Rama behind them but 8km further south at De'aro Tekle the road winds steeply uphill and the Italian troops were in a very exposed position. They were under continuous but light artillery fire and machine guns kept them pinned down if they tried to escape down to lower terrain. All afternoon they were under intermittent air attack. Casualties were mounting for both I and II Corps and the advances have been stopped.
Only the Eritrean Corps in the Italian centre made some progress but they also had to deal with road blocks and air attacks. The terrain doesn't allow them to come to the aid of I or II Corps.
Near to the Sudanese border Abyssinian troops advanced 25 km nearer to Tesseney. They have air support from a squadron of Fairey IIID's based at Humera. The Italians have sent a company of the XXVII Battalion indigeni and the "Celere" (fast) Group from Tesseney to block this force.
The fighting near Assab in southern Eritrea has greatly diminished. Hawker Horsleys from Kabri Dar transferred to Jijiga then attacked the Askari troops on this front. Two of the eleven aircraft were lost.
Southern Front
Dolo has been captured but Italian forces have been halted after 3 squadrons of Ethiopian aircraft had several dogfights with Italian aircraft. Italian columns on the ground were also bombed and strafed.
The sudden appearance of an Abyssinian air force has taken the Italians completely by surprise.
Early this morning 17 Ca.101 and 7 Ca.111 bomber-aircraft, escorted by 8 Ro.1 and 5 CR.20 fighters attacked Adwa. Adwa is the site of a humiliating Italian defeat in 1895 during the 1st Italo-Abyssinian conflict. They were intercepted by 20 Fairey IIIDs from Axum and a few got past the fighter screen to attack the bombers. Shortly later 21 Fairey IIIDs from Mekele arrived to attack the Italian bombers who were now unescorted. Most of the bombers released their bombs over unpopulated territory and tried to escape. Unconfirmed reports state that each side lost 6 fighters but 12 of the 17 bombers didn't arrive back at their home base.
On the ground the Italian I Army Corp reached the main Abyssinian line of defence at Fiya K'eshi 6km north of Adigrat. The road is on a ridge at 2500m above sea-level but to the south is a 250m higher plateau. The road hasn't been blocked, it has been blown off the side of the slope. To advance further the Italians had to descend the slopes north and west of this mountain but in both directions the area had been extensively mined and were covered by machine-gun fire and 24 ex-British 18-pounder guns were shelling the Italian troops. Another hillside demolition sent a rock avalanche on to the rear echelons of this column and Molotov-cocktails were thrown to complete the chaos. This time there was no Italian air support to drive away the defenders.
At Menebeyti, 6km north-east of this position, columns of the 2nd CCNN Division have been held up by blocked roads in a steep-sided valley. They were also under fire from MG's and artillery then during a lull a dozen Fairey IIIDs attacked which the Italians at first thought were friendly.
II Army Corps on the Italian right had Rama behind them but 8km further south at De'aro Tekle the road winds steeply uphill and the Italian troops were in a very exposed position. They were under continuous but light artillery fire and machine guns kept them pinned down if they tried to escape down to lower terrain. All afternoon they were under intermittent air attack. Casualties were mounting for both I and II Corps and the advances have been stopped.
Only the Eritrean Corps in the Italian centre made some progress but they also had to deal with road blocks and air attacks. The terrain doesn't allow them to come to the aid of I or II Corps.
Near to the Sudanese border Abyssinian troops advanced 25 km nearer to Tesseney. They have air support from a squadron of Fairey IIID's based at Humera. The Italians have sent a company of the XXVII Battalion indigeni and the "Celere" (fast) Group from Tesseney to block this force.
The fighting near Assab in southern Eritrea has greatly diminished. Hawker Horsleys from Kabri Dar transferred to Jijiga then attacked the Askari troops on this front. Two of the eleven aircraft were lost.
Southern Front
Dolo has been captured but Italian forces have been halted after 3 squadrons of Ethiopian aircraft had several dogfights with Italian aircraft. Italian columns on the ground were also bombed and strafed.
The sudden appearance of an Abyssinian air force has taken the Italians completely by surprise.