Changes

==Battle of Tobruk==

==Battle of Tobruk==

Following the capture of Bardia, the 7th Armoured Division with an Australian brigade, the British Northumberland Fusiliers and the New Zealand Service Corps advanced to take forward positions at Sidi Begassem outside Tobruk. The Italian defences at Tobruk comprised General della Mura's 61st ''Sirte'' Division, backed up by 45 tankettes, 20 medium tanks and 200 other guns. In overall command was General Petassi Manella, commander of the XX Corps. The attacking Allied infantry force comprised the 16th, 17th and 19th Brigades of the Australian 6th Division under Major-General Iven MacKay. The Free French Forces in the form of their Marines would also support the Australian attack. The RAF Blenheim bombers from Nos. 55 and 113 Squadron along with the Mediterranean Fleet in the form of HMS ''Ladybird'', HMS ''Terror'', HMS ''Aphis'' and HMAS ''Stuart'' and HMAS ''Vampire'', would play an important role in softening up the Tobruk defences.

Following the capture of Bardia, the 7th Armoured Division with an Australian brigade, the British Northumberland Fusiliers and the New Zealand Service Corps advanced to forward positions at Sidi Begassem outside Tobruk. The Italian defences at Tobruk comprised General della Mura's 61st ''Sirte'' Division, backed up by 45 tankettes, 20 medium tanks and 200 other guns. In overall command was General Petassi Manella, commander of the XX Corps. The attacking Allied infantry force comprised the 16th, 17th and 19th Brigades of the Australian 6th Division under Major-General Iven MacKay. The Free French Forces in the form of their Marines would also support the Australian attack. The RAF Blenheim bombers from Nos. 55 and 113 Squadron along with the Mediterranean Fleet in the form of HMS ''Ladybird'', HMS ''Terror'', HMS ''Aphis'' and HMAS ''Stuart'' and HMAS ''Vampire'', would play an important role in softening up the Tobruk defences.

After nearly a fortnight of preparations, General O'Connor attacked on 21 January and Tobruk was captured on 22 January, yielding around 15,000 or 35,000<ref>"Tobruk, which had been by-passed, was attacked on 21 January and surrendered next day with a further bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The Desert Air War 1939 – 1945, Richard Bickers, p.48, Pen and Sword, 1991</ref><ref>"Tobruk was attacked on 21 January and fell next day — yielding a bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The New Cambridge Modern History. Volume XII, p.761, 1960</ref><ref>"The 7th Armored drove westward to isolate Tobruk, which was attacked on 21 January and fell the next day with 30,000 prisoners."  An analytical history of World War II, Volume 1, Edward Norman Peterson, p.276, P. Lang, 1995</ref><ref>"Yet, on 21 January 1941, Tobruk had fallen to the aggressive 7th Australian Division, yielding 35, 000 prisoners, their equipment and their supplies." The Elite: The Special Forces of the World, John Pimlott, p. 1135, Marshall Cavendish, 1987</ref>

After nearly a fortnight of preparations, General O'Connor attacked on 21 January and Tobruk was captured on 22 January, yielding around 15,000 or 35,000<ref>"Tobruk, which had been by-passed, was attacked on 21 January and surrendered next day with a further bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The Desert Air War 1939 – 1945, Richard Bickers, p.48, Pen and Sword, 1991</ref><ref>"Tobruk was attacked on 21 January and fell next day — yielding a bag of 30,000 prisoners."  The New Cambridge Modern History. Volume XII, p.761, 1960</ref><ref>"The 7th Armored drove westward to isolate Tobruk, which was attacked on 21 January and fell the next day with 30,000 prisoners."  An analytical history of World War II, Volume 1, Edward Norman Peterson, p.276, P. Lang, 1995</ref><ref>"Yet, on 21 January 1941, Tobruk had fallen to the aggressive 7th Australian Division, yielding 35, 000 prisoners, their equipment and their supplies." The Elite: The Special Forces of the World, John Pimlott, p. 1135, Marshall Cavendish, 1987</ref>