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Does anyone out there have detailed information on why Rommel attacked the Mersa Brega position head on when as far as i can see there was no good reason not to outflank this strong position only a few miles to the south?

This was a tactic he used time and time again, but why not here??

I have read several accounts of this action but with no clues why this course was never taken. :chin:

Even the new WSF title by HPS has a Mersa Brega scenario and the Axis can outflank the position with ease, also the scenario 'Enter Rommel' in HPS Tobruk 41 has wide open space to the south, it is a bit of a mystery to me. :conf:

What do you mean by detailed information Darran?

Rommel attacked head on at Mersa Brega simply because his authority (from his commander Garibaldi) was to mount no more than a reconnaissance in force to determine the strength of the British position. Under no circumstances was he to "round the bend" into the Cyrenacian bulge. So recon he did and when the British started to crumble he made the decision to disregard his orders and push on and seize the opportunity. But when he set out, he clearly had no intention of disobeying his orders, which is what he would have had to have to mount an envelopment of the Mersa Brega position from the SE.

Hope that helps.

steel god Wrote:What do you mean by detailed information Darran?

Rommel attacked head on at Mersa Brega simply because his authority (from his commander Garibaldi) was to mount no more than a reconnaissance in force to determine the strength of the British position. Under no circumstances was he to "round the bend" into the Cyrenacian bulge. So recon he did and when the British started to crumble he made the decision to disregard his orders and push on and seize the opportunity. But when he set out, he clearly had no intention of disobeying his orders, which is what he would have had to have to mount an envelopment of the Mersa Brega position from the SE.

Hope that helps.

Thank you Paul, yes i think i missed the obvious point here! LOL :rolleyes: