Changes

==Miteiriya==

==Miteiriya==

General Auchinleck is determined to retain the initiative and orders another two brigade-sized attacks on the night of 26/27 July, planning to push through the supposedly demoralized Italian defeders. However, the Australian attack against Miteiriya Ridge meets unexpected tough resistance from machinegunners and antitank gunners from the ''Trento'' and the attack is halted, with an infantry battalion surrounded by armoured cars from the ''Trieste'' with the coming of daylight. Supporting British armour runs into a minefield, and the Australians are forced to surrender to the Italians.<ref>"Assuming that the Italians were demoralized and easy pickings was a mistake, which the 9th Australian Division, the heroes of the defense of Tobruk in 1941, learned to its regret. A night attack against the Trento and Trieste Divisions, after some initial success, was bloodily repulsed, one entire battalion of Australian infantry being overrun." Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel, Daniel Allen Butler, p. 352, Casemate, 2015</ref>The Australian 2/28th Battalion loses 65 men killed and 490 captured in the attack against the ''Trento'' and ''Trieste'' Divisions.

General Auchinleck is determined to retain the initiative and orders another two brigade-sized attacks on the night of 26/27 July, planning to push through the supposedly demoralized Italian defeders. However, the Australian attack against Miteiriya Ridge meets unexpected tough resistance from machinegunners and antitank gunners from the ''Trento'' and the attack is halted at dawn soon after daylight, with an infantry battalion surrounded by armoured cars from the ''Trieste'' that arrive ahead of the German panzers.<ref>"The Bn was completely surrounded by ARMORED CARS which worked forward under cover of fire from enemy tanks further back, while 20mm, MMG and mortar fire kept the heads of our own troops well down. In this manner the enemy was able to cut off and dispose of sections and platoons one by one, until at 1030 hrs Bn HQ area was occupied by several ARMORED CARS and surviving personnel taken prisoner. An effort had been made to hinder the enemy armored vehicles by bringing Arty fire to bear on them before they dispersed. Unfortunately the only communication with Bde was by one wireless set WT repaired by Sigs, after about eight hours work. Messages reporting the situation were sent immediately once this set was capable of functioning, i.e., about 0930 hrs onwards. Last message was “All up, overrun!”." [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1026672/?image=5  July 1942 Diary by Lieutenant S. A. Walker]</ref>Supporting British armour runs into a minefield, and the Australians are forced to surrender to the Italians.<ref>"Assuming that the Italians were demoralized and easy pickings was a mistake, which the 9th Australian Division, the heroes of the defense of Tobruk in 1941, learned to its regret. A night attack against the Trento and Trieste Divisions, after some initial success, was bloodily repulsed, one entire battalion of Australian infantry being overrun." Field Marshal: The Life and Death of Erwin Rommel, Daniel Allen Butler, p. 352, Casemate, 2015</ref>The Australian 2/28th Battalion loses 65 men killed and 490 captured in the attack against the ''Trento'' and ''Trieste'' Divisions.

The 8th Army is now completely exhausted, and by 31 July General Auchinleck orders an end to offensive operations in favour of strengthening the defence lines to be able to meet any future counter-offensive.

The 8th Army is now completely exhausted, and by 31 July General Auchinleck orders an end to offensive operations in favour of strengthening the defence lines to be able to meet any future counter-offensive.