Post by Diarist on Jan 21, 2016 4:59:26 GMT 1
During the night the remainder of the 91st Field Artillery Regiment was moved to Buq Buq and the 92nd Field Artillery Regiment moved forward to support elements of 13th Infantry Brigade in the desert. After the initial Royal Navy bombardment the RAF bombers from 208th Squadron bombarded El Adem airfield south of Tobruk. The fighter bombers at Mersa Matruh attacked airfields at Fort Capuzzo and an airfield south-west of Bardia. The 241st CCNN Legion at Fort Capuzzo was also strafed. The 91st and 92nd FA Regiments bombarded the Italian positions south of Bardia and at Fort Capuzzo for over two hours before retiring behind their infantry support units. Task Force W, two battleships with the aircraft-carrier Béarn, attacked the Italian forces at Derna then proceeded to bombard Tobruk and Bardia before heading to Alexandria in order to rearm.
Since British forces are outnumbered it is hoped that Italian forces feel provoked and will be drawn deep into Egypt where they will be more vulnerable to British counter-attacks.
At Siwa the fighters strafed and bombed the airfield at Giarabub. The bulk of 17th Infantry Brigade moved nearer to defensive positions east of Italian positions at Giarabub but have been given no orders to assault the Italian garrison.