#05b - The May Day Battles (30 April-2 May 1941) - PzC 04 Tobruk '41

Ras el Medauar, 30 April 1941: From the commanding hill, located at the southwest corner of the Tobruk perimeter, a defender can observe, and interdict, all traffic passing south of the fortress. On the flip side, an attacker that successfully breaks into the defenses in this area, can use the same hill to observe, and interdict, all movement within the fortress. The hill was known as the Ras el Medauar. It was here that Rommel decided to launch his first prepared attack against Tobruk. This was to be no thrown together affair such as the attack in April had been. The newly arrived 15th Panzer Division would lead the way, follow-up elements would include battlegroups of the German 5th Light, and the Italian Brescia and Ariete Divisions. Also, in contrast to the previous attempt, the plan called for the opening of a broad penetration before the panzers were to thrust to the interior. The attack hit the sector defended by the 2/24th Australian Battalion at dusk, on 30 April, after an intense artillery and Stuka barrage. The only real effect of the preliminary German fire was to break all the communication wires to the front. This left Battalion, Brigade, and Division command very much in the dark about the situation, resulting in a withholding of reserves. The perimeter companies held out in isolated groups throughout the night, but by dawn, the full weight of 15th Panzer had taken its toll. The panzers then lunged into the interior, only to impale themselves on the newly laid minefield in their path. By afternoon, the Australian command had recovered, and reserves were being fed in to stabilize the situation. In the end both sides would fall short of their objectives... Rommel, by not taking Tobruk, Morshead, by not maintaining the integrity of the perimeter. This scenario includes the entire Tobruk perimeter.