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→Battle of Beda Fomm
Creagh's division was ordered to cut through Msus and Antelat, while the Australian 6th Division pursued the Italians along the coastal road at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar mountains. The poor terrain was difficult going for the armoured columns, and Creagh took the bold decision to send a "flying column" (christened Combe Force) south-west across the virtually unmapped Libyan Desert. Combe Force, under Lieutenant Colonel John Combe of the 11th Hussars, consisted of 11th Hussars, a squadron of King's Dragoon Guards, 2nd Rifle Brigade, a Royal Air Force armoured car squadron, anti-tank guns from 3 Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) and 'C' battery 4 RHA. The force totalled about 2,000 men. In order to maintain speed, only light and Cruiser tanks were part of the Combe Force column.
Creagh's division was ordered to cut through Msus and Antelat, while the Australian 6th Division pursued the Italians along the coastal road at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar mountains. The poor terrain was difficult going for the armoured columns, and Creagh took the bold decision to send a "flying column" (christened Combe Force) south-west across the virtually unmapped Libyan Desert. Combe Force, under Lieutenant Colonel John Combe of the 11th Hussars, consisted of 11th Hussars, a squadron of King's Dragoon Guards, 2nd Rifle Brigade, a Royal Air Force armoured car squadron, anti-tank guns from 3 Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) and 'C' battery 4 RHA. The force totalled about 2,000 men. In order to maintain speed, only light and Cruiser tanks were part of the Combe Force column.
On 5 February, Combe Force arrived at the Benghazi–Tripoli road and set up road blocks near Sidi Saleh, some 20 miles (32 km) north of Ajedabia and 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Antelat. The leading elements of the Italian Tenth Army arrived some 30 minutes later and were forced to come to a halt. On the evening, 4th Armoured Brigade had reached Beda Fomm, overlooking the coastal road some 10 miles (16 km) to the north of them, while 7th Armoured Support Group took a more northerly route to threaten the retreating Italian Tenth Army's flank and rear and prevent a breakout across the desert. Under the cover of darkness, the Italian force regrouped and counter-attacked. The fighting was intense and at times threatened to break through the British lines.
==Battle of Giarabub==
==Battle of Giarabub==