Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: Homer_J_Simpson

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.etherington/month/thismonth/12.htm

January 12th, 1941

UNITED KINGDOM: Minesweeping trawler HMS CELIA commissioned. (Dave Shirlaw)

SICILY: RAF Hurricane fighters based on Malta attack Catania airfield on Sicily in an attempt to prevent German and Italian planes from attacking Malta while temporary repairs are carried out on the crippled aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. (Jack McKillop)

NORTH AFRICA: 33 Squadron is detailed to go to Greece.
ETHIOPIA: The Italian Duke of Aosta sends the Elite Savoia Grenadiers to defend Keren. (Jack McKillop)


6 posted on 01/12/2011 5:29:40 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies ]


To: Homer_J_Simpson

http://worldwar2daybyday.blogspot.com/

Day 500 January 12, 1941

Operation Compass. As the Italian defenses at Tobruk are the same as Bardia, Australian 6th Division plans to use the same tactics to pierce the wire and anti-tank ditches at a weak point and peel back the lines of gun pits from the inside. However, they have to wait while British 7th Armoured Division repairs as many Matilda tanks as possible and for fuel and ammunition to be brought up. Matildas are moved forward on heavy artillery tractors to preserve their tacks and engines. HMS Protector lays anti-torpedo nets at Bardia and departs for Alexandria with 1058 Italian POWs.

British aircraft based on Malta attack the airbase at Catania, Sicily, to prevent German and Italian bombers from attacking British shipping in the Mediterranean and the island of Malta. They are trying to protect damaged British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious which limped into Valletta, Malta, for repairs due to Stuka attack.


7 posted on 01/12/2011 5:31:23 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson ("Every nation has the government that it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre (1753-1821))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson