Five days later, in Elphik, Libya, the largest battle in the history of the North African War of World War II took place. The initiator of the battle was British Field Marshal Montgomery. The British North African army led by Montgomery blocked the retreat of the German North African Army.
Thinking that they had a plan, they immediately divided their troops into two groups to outflank the German North African Army from Elphick, hoping to capture an infantry division of the North African Army left behind in Merin. However, unexpectedly, the British army's encirclement had not yet been closed.
On the right flank of the British army appeared a large force of German troops.
The commander of the right-wing British army is Lieutenant General Kularik. From top to bottom, the British believe that the main force of the German army is still blocked by the Chinese army in the northeast of Liai, and that what is left in Merlin is only a lone army, so Kularik
Rick's command was very unrestrained. Not only was there a severe disconnect between his vanguard force and the main force, but there was also a lack of necessary regular communications. The leader of Kularik's department was an armored division, and the division commander was Major General Rupel.
Greedy for success, in order to gain speed, he left behind the only infantry regiment under his command and only led the armored troops to advance lightly. As a result, they ran into a well-arranged ambush circle by the Germans about 30 kilometers away from Merlin.
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In this battle, Rommel invested two armored divisions and one tank division at once. When hundreds of German tanks and chariots appeared in front of Rupel like magic soldiers descending from the sky, the British were completely overwhelmed.
Terrified.
"What's going on? Why is there the main force of the German tank force here?" When the German tanks started firing to provoke the battle, Ruppel screamed, still unable to believe his eyes.
Needless to say, in the early stage of the competition between British and German tanks, the British were at an absolute disadvantage. Now, even though the British have equipped many Chinese-made Jiguang-type Mandrill tanks, they have also developed a tank with performance comparable to the German Type-6 tanks.
"Cromwell" cruise tank, but because its tank troops have long been defeated by German tank troops, often even if the number of tanks on both sides is equal to that of the British army, they can only be the loser.
You can't defeat them even with equal strength, let alone being at a complete disadvantage in terms of strength now. The victory or defeat of this battle has already been decided before it even starts.
Although it was a battle with no suspense about the outcome, Rommel still exerted a lot of effort, not only personally commanded, but also used his troops very carefully. While retaining enough reserves, he invested all the available troops at once.
From Rommel's point of view, he actually had no choice but to use force. The reason also lies in himself, because he did not believe in the goodwill released by the Chinese, and even always felt that this was a Chinese conspiracy, so he did not
He was able to recall the tanks and tanks that were originally intended to snipe the Chinese army in a timely manner. In this way, when he led the main force and was out of danger, he recalled the lagging tank unit. This unit was completely out of touch with the main force.
, taking into account the influence of the desert terrain in North Africa, the four armies of France, Britain, Germany and Italy in North Africa have a very high degree of mechanization. Rommel originally planned to use infantry to give Montgomery a good look, and in that case, although it would be a surprise to his old opponent, but
The casualties of the German army will certainly not be low. Now that the Chinese have no intention of destroying most of their tanks, Rommel will certainly not be stupid enough to continue to use infantry to ambush the British when they can use tank troops to participate in the battle.
In order to keep up with the pace of the main force, more than two-thirds of Germany's tank troops and armored vehicle troops went through long-distance attacks for two days and one night.
A surprise.
If Ruppel was more careful, it would not be difficult to find out the clues. As one of the most elite tank soldiers in the world, the quality of German tank soldiers, among other things, would certainly not be too low. Naturally, they would not be as good as they are now. We have fired three or four rounds in this way, but there are few hits in the collective escape. This is not due to lack of energy. At this time, if Rupel had not panicked and rushed to command the troops to retreat and break out, but had made a desperate attempt and risked his life. Although they will inevitably be destroyed in the end, they will definitely cause huge casualties to the Germans.
Opportunities always come to those who are willing. If Ruppelt was not prepared, their defeat was doomed.
For Kularik, the destruction of Rupert Division was just the beginning. After losing Rupert Division, the only armored unit, and losing the most effective anti-tank unit, waiting for Kularik The British infantry of the Crooked Forces could only feel the despair brought by the torrent of steel.
At about 5:30 in the afternoon on this day, Kularik, who had just received the news that the entire Rupel Division was destroyed, was about to order the entire army to build fortifications on the spot. The leading German tank troops had already appeared in front of his troops.
Naturally, it was another encirclement and annihilation battle without any suspense, and when Kularik's men became either corpses in the desert or prisoners of war of the German army, the British left wing force in front became a lone army.
At around three o'clock in the afternoon on the third day, when the British left wing was cut and surrounded by Rommel's North African Army in the desert east of Merlin, Montgomery, who knew that the situation was over, had to ask Chen Shichang and Chu Tiange for help. Send troops to help rescue the surrounded British army.
When Montgomery's request for help telegram was sent to him by Chen Shichang's adjutant Li Yage, the latter was fighting with the captain and first officers of the aircraft carrier Tianwang.
"The British have sent a telegram again." Guo Cairen, the captain who defeated the Tianwang aircraft carrier, is a landlord. Because the three trump cards he took were all rubbish, he seemed very enthusiastic about Li Yage's arrival.
"He's here again to ask why we didn't bomb the German armored forces." asked the first officer who defeated the Tianwang aircraft carrier.
Just three days ago, when Ruppel's troops were being attacked by German tanks, Montgomery sent a telegram asking the Chinese why they did not bomb the German armored forces.
Chen Shichang didn't even have the heart to take a second look at this telegram, so it was naturally impossible for him to reply.
"The British are here to ask for help this time. Marshal Montgomery sent it personally. He also asked the commander-in-chief to forgive him for his previous rudeness."
"You're not sincere enough." Guo Cairen glanced at Chen Shichang, then threw the cards on the table and said, "The main seat has official business, so this card can't be played."
Chen Shichang frowned, looked at him unhappily and said, "What kind of virtue? You know you are not sincere enough, so keep fighting."
Guo Cairen said with a sneer on his face: "The British are our allies after all, do you mind?"
Chen Shichang turned over his cards, took a look and said: "It is indeed a hand of rubbish. No wonder." Then he said to Li Yage: "This reply means that I have gone to the North African Expeditionary Force Headquarters and can't be contacted now. , so I cannot respond."