Combe Force

Combe Force, or Combeforce, was an ad hoc flying column formed by the British Army for a specific purpose during the latter stages of Operation Compass. Combe Force was formed to cut across the open desert of Cyrenaica and cut off the retreating Italian Army which was traveling along the coastal road, the Via Balbia. Combe Force was formed for this one purpose during the early stages of the North African Campaign in World War II.

Creation

Combe Force was created by Major General Michael O'Moore Creagh towards the end of Operation Compass.

In early December 1940, the British launched the Operation Compass counterattack against the Italian forces which had invaded Egypt in September. At that time, the Italians advanced only as far as Sidi Barrani and established defensive positions there in a series of fortified camps. These camps were overrun during the initial stages of Operation Compass. As Operation Compass progressed, Italian garrisons in Bardia and then Tobruk were isolated and captured. By February 1941, the remaining Italian forces in Cyrenaica were withdrawing down the Via Balbia with the British 7th Armored Division and the Australian 6th Infantry Division close behind.^[1]

Combe Force was created to cut across the open desert and block the escape route of the slow moving Italian columns as they traveled down the coastal highway from Benghazi.^[2] Combe Force was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel John Combe.

Composition

Because speed was of the essence and because the available British tanks needed more time for replenishment, Combe Force was to consist of formations which utlilized wheeled vehicles. The composition of Combe Force was as follows:

• 11th Hussars
• 2nd Rifle Brigade - From the 7th Support Group
• C Battery 4th Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) with 25-pounder guns - From the 7th Support Group
• 106th Battery RHA with nine 37 mm anti-tank guns portee mounted on trucks^[3]

See also

• Italian Tenth Army
• British 7th Armoured Division

Footnotes

1. ^ Walker, Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts, pg. 64
2. ^ Walker, Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts, pg. 64
3. ^ Macksey, Beda Fomm: Classic Victory, pg. 135

References

• Macksey, Major Kenneth (1971). Beda Fomm: Classic Victory. Ballentine's Illustrated History of the Violent Century, Battle Book Number 22. Ballantine Books. 
• Walker, Ian W. (2003). Iron Hulls, Iron Hearts : Mussolini's elite armoured divisions in North Africa. Marlborough: Crowood. ISBN 1-86126-646-4. 

This article about a specific British military unit is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations of the British Army in World War II Military units and formations disestablished in 1941 United Kingdom military unit and formation stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР Geek Radio Daily Keyword tracking Look at other dictionaries: John Frederick Boyce Combe — Major General John Frederick Boyce Combe CB DSO (1 August 1895 12 July 1967) was a British Army officer before and during World War II.Early lifeJohn Frederick Boyce Combe was the son of Captain Christian Combe and Lady Jane Seymour Conyngham.In… …   Wikipedia Monkton Combe School — Motto Verbum Tuum Veritas (Thy Word is Truth) Established 1868 …   Wikipedia Robert Grierson Combe — VC (August 5, 1880 ndash; May 3, 1917), was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.DetailsHe was 36 years… …   Wikipedia Operation Compass — Part of the Western Desert Campaign of World War II Italian soldiers taken prisoner during Operation Compass …   Wikipedia Western Desert Campaign — Part of North African Campaign …   Wikipedia Michael O'Moore Creagh — Michael Creagh Born 1892 Died 1970 (aged 77 or 78) Allegiance …   Wikipedia 7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom) — Desert Rats redirects here. For other meanings see desert rat. 7th Armoured Division Active 1938–1958 Country United Kingdom Branch British Army Type …   Wikipedia 11th Hussars — The 11th Hussars (Prince Albert s Own) was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. HistoryThe regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood s Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the… …   Wikipedia Michael O'Moore Creagh — Le Major General (Général de division) Sir Michael O Moore Creagh KBE MC ( 16 mai 1892 1970) était un officier britannique qui servit durant la Première et la Seconde Guerre mondiale. De 1939 à 1941, il dirigea la 7e division blindée,… …   Wikipédia en Français Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) — Infobox Military Unit unit name= The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort s Own) caption= Cap Badge of The Rifles dates= 1816 1966 country= United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland allegiance= branch= British Army type= Infantry role= size=… …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”