Post by Diarist on Jan 31, 2016 6:02:12 GMT 1
During the night the 71st and 92nd Recon Battalions had advanced to Aljmail, south of Zuwara and headed northeast to cut off the remnants of the Italian Libyan Colonial Division retreating from Zelten. The Italians were being chased by the 2nd North African Infantry Division. The 3rd Libyan Infantry Regiment supported by the 1st Libyan Artillery Regiment attacked the 71st and 92nd Recon Battalions southeast of Zuwara in the hope of allowing the Libyan Colonial Division to continue its retreat eastwards. The French 2nd Battleship Squadron and French bombers in Tunisia quickly thwarted this plan. The 3rd Regiment suffered heavy losses before retiring to its starting position in Sabratha.
The 2nd North African Infantry Division followed the Italians to Sabratha while the French 1st Colonial Division cleared Zuwara. It then headed eastwards on the 2nd NA Division's right flank. Sabratha now became the main target for naval gunfire and air support.
