Post by Diarist on Feb 21, 2016 8:34:04 GMT 1
The Battle of Keren has commenced between the 154th Infantry Brigade and the 19th Italian (Gavinana) Division which is beginning to arrive from Abyssinia. The Highlanders have the upper hand because of complete British air superiority in the region. The 3rd (21 April) CCNN Division has taken up defensive positions east of Shambuko. The Italian I Army Corps, which now consists of the 5th (Pusteria) Alpine Division, the 1st (23rd of March) CCNN Division and 2nd Eritrean Division, is passing through Asmara to approach Massawa from the west. The main Abyssinia force has now arrived at the Eritrean border but is showing little enthusiasm to advance further.
An Italian air attack against the British fleet turned into a disaster for the Italians because they were first met by three squadrons of Hawker Harts which were planning to attack the airfields around Asmara. Most of the Italian fighters engaged the RAF while the remainder accompanied the twenty bombers to look for the fleet which they didn't because it had returned to Aden the previous evening to resupply. On their return they were met by the Royal Air Force again and with little fuel they could only try to evade the British fighters, with little success. The British fleet returned in the early afternoon.
