Mike
As with anything involving the R.E., there is not an easy answer. There are several variations depending on whose work you decide is correct. I will begin with the information provided by Davide Pastore using information from
Storia della Artiglieria Italiana, Parte V, Volume XVI. I don’t know if this is verbatim presentation or whether Davide used the data from multiple places in the book and reorganized the data in its present form.
R.O.M. - Rgrp. Oasi Meridionali [a.k.a. Rgrp. Maletti]
- 3ª/XLIII [43°] Gruppo da 105/28 (4x 105/28 ) [attached from 22° Rgrp. Art. C.d'A.]
- III/12° Gruppo da 75/27 (12x 75/27) [attached from Tobruk defences] [note #9]
- IV Gruppo [Libico] da 65/17 (12x 65/17) [7ª, 8ª, 9ª batterie]
- ? Compagnia da 47/32 (8x 47/32) [provisional unit ?]
- ? Compagnia da 47/32 (8x 47/32) [provisional unit ?]
- 4ª (?) Batteria da 20/65 (8x 20/65)
- 12ª /42° Batteria da 20/65 (8x 20/65)
[note #9: identification of this unit is a pure guess]
This OB matches the one found in Montanari vol I, pp. 597. Montanari doesn’t identify the units, only gives size and number of types. Montanari doesn’t list the 20/65 c.a. and adds a cp. mortari da 81. Davide noted that he didn't include mortars as they are infantry weapons, not artillery.
In
La prima offensiva britannica in Africa Settentrionale (p. 95, fn1), the btr. da 105/28 is identified as from the 21˚ rgt. art., not the 22˚. Davide does state that in some cases he made an educated guess, but he also gives an exact identification of the unit to the battery level. I wish I had a copy of
Storia della Artiglieria Italiana to see if the unit is stated or whether it is an educated guess.
Pages 95-96 from
La offensiva gives the Alam Nibeua camp a total of 24 guns of various calibers, 55 MGs, 14 da 47/32 c.c., 11 da 20/65 c.a., 9 Solothourns, and 22 carri M11/39. The Alam el Iktufa camp had 6 guns, 19 MGs, 6 da 47/32 c.c., 2 da 20/65 c.a., and 9 Solothourns.
From that, I see the OB as:
R.O.M. - Rgrp. Oasi Meridionali [a.k.a. Rgrp. Maletti]
- 3ª/XLIII [43°] Gruppo da 105/28 (4x 105/28 ) [attached from 22° Rgrp. Art. C.d'A.]
- III/12° Gruppo da 75/27 (12x 75/27) [attached from Tobruk defences]
- IV Gruppo [Libico] da 65/17 (12x 65/17) [7ª, 8ª, 9ª batterie]
- ? Compagnia da 47/32 (8x 47/32) [provisional unit ?]
- ? Compagnia da 47/32 (8x 47/32) [provisional unit ?]
- 4ª (?) Batteria da 20/65 (8x 20/65)
- 12ª /42° Batteria da 20/65 (8x 20/65)
- cp. mortari da 81 (9 x 81mm)
Pista! Jeff