Post by Diarist on Jan 25, 2016 11:05:56 GMT 1
During the early hours the 71st and 92nd Recon Battalions maneuvered around the salt lake then headed northeast to Al Assah held by X Libyan Bn. Near to the coast the 13th and 22nd Algerian Tirailleurs Regiments of the 2nd NA Infantry Division supported by a battalion of FT-17 tanks advanced south of Mellahet el Brega attacking the Italian forces south of Abu Kammash. The 1st Colonial Division later advanced on their right flank. The Italian defenders, 1st and 2nd Libyan Regiments, had been subjected to naval bombardment for three hours and the artillery of the two divisions were firing a mix of HE and smoke rounds slowing creeping forward ahead of advancing infantry.
The ground was badly cratered but progress, although slow at first, was being made. By lunchtime Al Assah had been taken and the 1st Colonial was approaching Zelten. The Algerian regiments had turned northeast to prevent the Italian forces in Abu Kammash from retreating eastwards. The 11th Zouaves Regiment now advanced from Ra's Ajdir to Abu Kammash. The French 2nd Battleship Squadron and French bombers in Tunisia have been targeting Italian formations around Zelten all day.
In the evening the Italian 1st Libyan Regiment in Abu Kammash had surrendered and the remnants of the 2nd Libyan Regiment in Zelten had retreated eastwards.