Changes

==Battle strength==

==Battle strength==

After Major-General Hendrik Klopper’s surrender at Tobruk, both sides found themselves exhausted and weakened from the tough fighting. Nevertheless, on 23 June 1942, Rommel seized the initiative. Rommel planned to strike first the British strongpoint locted south of Mersa Matruh, where Lieutenant-General William Gott’s XIIIth Corps, comprising the 1st British Armored Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division were positioned. He then planned to pass through the 15th Panzer Division and Italian ''Trieste'' and ''Ariete'' Armoured Divisions to cut off and encircle Mersa Matruh.

After Major-General Hendrik Klopper's surrender at Tobruk, both sides found themselves exhausted and weakened from the tough fighting. Nevertheless, on 23 June 1942, Rommel seized the initiative. Rommel planned to strike first the British strongpoint locted south of Mersa Matruh, where Lieutenant-General William Gott's XIIIth Corps, comprising the 1st British Armored Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division were positioned. He then planned to pass through the 15th Panzer Division and Italian ''Trieste'' and ''Ariete'' Armoured Divisions to cut off and encircle Mersa Matruh.

Rommel’s formations had commandeered captured British vehicles for their advance as many Axis vehicles had been worn out or lost in the fighting. He had on paper, the 15th Panzer, 21st Panzer and 90th Light Divisions, supported by the Italian ''Brescia'', ''Trento'', ''Trieste'', ''Ariete'' and ''Littorio'' Divisions. In reality, the Germans had only 44 tanks left in service for the forthcoming battle while Italians had only 14 operational tanks. To make matters worse, the three German divisions were much reduced in numbers and had only a combat strength of around 2,500 men left. But the Italian divisions would remedy the situation, with 6,000 available combat troops. The British Commonwealth forces on the other hand, had eight strong infantry brigades in position, with the British 1st British Armored Division at full strength with 160 tanks.

Rommel's formations had commandeered captured British vehicles for their advance as many Axis vehicles had been worn out or lost in the fighting. He had on paper, the 15th Panzer, 21st Panzer and 90th Light Divisions, supported by the Italian ''Brescia'', ''Trento'', ''Trieste'', ''Ariete'' and ''Littorio'' Divisions. In reality, the Germans had only 44 tanks left in service for the forthcoming battle while Italians had only 14 operational tanks. To make matters worse, the three German divisions were much reduced in numbers and had only a combat strength of around 2,500 men left. But the Italian divisions would remedy the situation, with 6,000 available combat troops. The British Commonwealth forces on the other hand, had eight strong infantry brigades in position, with the British 1st British Armored Division at full strength with 160 tanks.

==Axis advance==

==Axis advance==