Posted 08 November 2006 - 07:14 PM by Davide Pastore
This is the result of today's work (cross-checking Montanari's history of the war in Libya with Pignato & Cappellano's history of Italian tanks plus additional sources). Hope there are not too many errors.
Note: I discovered that sometimes authors have difficulties with the Roman numerals...
This is particularly true for the battalions in the "Sixty" series. Better to cross-check before accepting data at face value, even from an authoritative source :wink:
Major Units
I-Rgrp = I Raggruppamento (Col. Aresca) of Comando Carri Armati della Libia (gen. Babini)
formed on 29 aug 40 (I-XXI-LXII-LXIII)
Only for administrative purposes. Soon discontinued
II-Rgrp = II Raggruppamento (Col. Trivioli) of Comando Carri Armati della Libia (gen. Babini)
formed on 29 aug 40 (II-XX-LX-LXI)
Only for administrative purposes. Soon discontinued
I/B.G.S. = I Raggruppamento (Col. Aresca) of Brigata Corazzata Speciale (gen. Miele, later gen. Babini)
formed on 25 nov 40 (I-II-XXI)
II soon detached with Raggruppamento Maletti
Disappeared due to attrition
II/B.G.S. = II Raggruppamento (Col. ?) of Brigata Corazzata Speciale (gen. Miele, later gen. Babini)
formed on 25 nov 40 (III-LX)
V added on 06 jan 41
Destroyed in the battle of Beda Fomm
RgrpB = Raggruppamento Bignami (Col. Bignami)
formed on 22 jan 41 (VI-XXI) as Front reserve
VI soon detached
Destroyed in the battle of Beda Fomm
Battalions
Note: since the numeration is unequivocal, I omitted "M" and "L"
I
10 jun 40 - Albania
08 jul 40 - 36 M.11/39 tanks disenbarked at Bengasi (part of naval actions leading to Punta Stilo)
13 ? jul 40 - moved to Tobruk by road
29 aug 40 - included into I-Rgrp
25 nov 40 - included into I/B.G.S.
09 dec 40 - with I/B.G.S. (of XXII Corps) at Marsa Lucch (in general reserve)
11 dec 40 - with I/B.G.S. at Bardia
15 dec 40 - with I/B.G.S. at Tobruk
17 dec 40 - had 5 efficient M.11/39 tanks with I/B.G.S. at Ain el-Gazala, plus many inefficient ones left at Tobruk
Later - 39 inefficient M.11/39 tanks (from both I and II) in Tobruk buried in the sand as fixed pillboxes (eventually 10 put again in service). Excess personnel sent to Bengasi to join the re-equipped XXI
21-22 jan 40 - forces in Tobruk destroyed. Detached tanks (now only 4) are at Derna, lost shortly later on an unknown day
II
10 jun 40 - Albania
08 jul 40 - 36 M.11/39 tanks disenbarked at Bengasi (part of naval actions leading to Punta Stilo)
13 ? jul 40 - moved to Tobruk by road
29 aug 40 - included into II-Rgrp (one company detached with Colonna Maletti, along with one unidentified L company)
19 oct 40 - had 27 M tanks efficient
25 nov 40 - included into I/B.G.S. on paper, but apparently never joined it. At the time all remaining tanks were with Raggruppamento (or Colonna) Maletti
09 dec 40 - had 22 M tanks efficient. Destroyed at Alam el-Nibeua with the Raggruppamento (part of XXI Corps)
III
10 jun 40 - not yet formed
? oct 40 - 37 M.13/40 tanks disenbarked (at Tripoli ?)
25 nov 40 - included into II/B.G.S.
17 dec 40 - had 25 (two coys) M.13/40 tanks with II/B.G.S. at el-Mechili, plus 13 (one coy) tanks at Bardia, including inefficient vehicles
03-05 jan 41 - company in Bardia destroyed
23 jan 41 - the combined force of II/B.G.S. (III-V) was 57 M.13/40 tanks, at el-Mechili (under XX Corps).
06 feb 41 - had 12 tanks
06-07 feb 41 - destroyed along Via Balbia during the battle of Beda Fomm
V
10 jun 40 - not yet formed
? dec 40 - 37 M.13/40 tanks disenbarked at Tripoli
17 dec 40 - at Bengasi, in transit to Ain el-Gazala
06 jan 41 - included into II/B.G.S.
23 jan 41 - the combined force of II/B.G.S. (III-V) was 57 M.13/40 tanks, at el-Mechili (under XX Corps)
24 jan 41 - 7 tanks lost in battle
06 feb 41 - had 24 tanks
06-07 feb 41 - destroyed along Via Balbia during the battle of Beda Fomm
VI
10 jun 40 - not yet formed
? jan 41 - disenbarked at ?
22 jan 41 - included into RgrpB, as Front reserve
04 feb 41 - detached to Colonna Villanis (part of Bengasi defences)
06 feb 41 - destroyed along Via Balbia at the start of the battle of Beda Fomm
IX
10 jun 40 - reserve of XX Corps, at ?
Later - 17 L.3 tanks lost in early combats
29 aug 40 - still with XX Corps, only unit left ouside the Raggruppamenti
Later - attached to 2ª div Libica
09 dic 40 - with 2ª div Libica (of Gruppo Divisioni Libiche) at Alam el-Tummar. Destroyed there with the division
XX
10 jun 40 - reserve of XXI Corps, at ?
08 jul 40 - attached to 1ª div Libica
29 aug 40 - included into II-Rgrp, at Bardia
Later - attached to 64ª div (Catanzaro)
09 dec 40 - with 64ª div (Catanzaro, of XXI Corps) at Bug Bug
11 dec 40 - most part destroyed at Tishdida with the division
Later - few surviving tanks attached to 2ª div CC.NN. (28 ottobre, of XXIII) at Bardia
03-05 jan 41 - forces in Bardia destroyed with the division
XXI
10 jun 40 - reserve of XXII Corps, at ?
29 aug 40 - included into I-Rgrp
25 nov 40 - included into I/B.G.S.
09 dec 40 - with I-Rgrp (of XXII Corps) at Marsa Lucch (in general reserve)
11 dec 40 - with I-Rgrp at Bardia
15 dec 40 - with I-Rgrp at Tobruk. No efficient tank left
Later - merged into LXIII (reformed) at Tobruk. Personnel sent to Bengasi
17 jan 41 - re-equipped with 36 M.13/40 disenbarked at Bengasi. Some personnel received from I
22 jan 41 - included into RgrpB, as Front reserve
05 feb 41 - at Sceleidima
06-07 feb 41 - destroyed along Via Balbia during the battle of Beda Fomm
LX
10 jun 40 - attached to 60ª div (Sabratha) of X Corps, at Jefren
29 aug 40 - included into II-Rgrp, at Bardia ?
25 nov 40 - included into II/B.G.S.
09 dec 40 - with I-Rgrp (of XXII Corps) at Marsa Lucch (in general reserve). Moved to Bardia
17 dec 40 - had 28 L.3 tanks (less than half were efficient) with II/B.G.S. at el-Mechili
23 jan 41 - had 25 L.3 tanks (as above) with II/B.G.S. at el-Mechili
06-07 feb 41 - destroyed along Via Balbia during the battle of Beda Fomm
LXI
10 jun 40 - attached to 61ª div (Sirte) of XX Corps, at Giordani
08 jul 40 - attached to 2ª div Libica
29 aug 40 - included into II-Rgrp, at Bardia ?
Later - attached to 1ª div CC.NN. (23 marzo, of XXIII) at Bardia
According to Montanari: 03-05 jan 41 - destroyed in Bardia with the division
According to Pignato & Cappellano: 15 dec 40 - moved out and reached el-Mechili, where 6 or 7 L.3 were upgunned with 12.7mm HMGs or 20mm Solothurn ATRs. Later joined II/B.G.S. in the fight of 6-7 feb 41, and a few of its L.3 escaped to el-Agheila - the only Italian tanks to survive Compass
LXII
10 jun 40 - attached to 62ª div (Marmarica) of XXI Corps, at Bardia
29 aug 40 - included on paper into I-Rgrp but still detached with 62ª div (Marmarica), at Bardia
09 dec 40 - with 62ª div (Marmarica, of XXIII Corps) at Sidi Omar and Halfaya
11 dec 40 - attached to elements of 2ª div CC.NN. (28 ottobre, of XXIII Corps) and mostly destroyed near Bug Bug
14 dec 40 - 11 remaining tanks again attached to 62ª div (Marmarica, XXIII Corps) at Bardia
03-05 jan 41 - forces in Bardia destroyed with the division
LXIII
10 jun 40 - attached to 63ª div (Cirene) of XXI Corps, at El Adem
29 aug 40 - included on paper into I-Rgrp but still detached with 63ª div (Cirene), at Bardia
09 dec 40 - with 63ª div (Cirene, of XXI Corps) at Bir Sofafi. Transferred to 64ª div (Catanzaro, of XXI Corps) at Bug Bug
11 dec 40 - most part destroyed at Tishdida with the division
Later - reformed in Tobruk with surviving personnel of XXI and LXIII, equipped with 32 inefficient L.3 tanks stationed there (buried in the sand as fixed pillboxes)
21-22 jan 40 - destroyed in Tobruk
Note: XLI-XLII-XLIII are typos (see note above :wink: ) for LXI-LXII-LXIII, XVIII is a very bad typo for LXIII [original error in Montanari, page 206], LXIV is just a plain mistake