Resuming its advance after the fall of Tobruk on 22 January 1941, 13th Corps (the new designation for Western Desert Force) headed for the Mechili. From that area an attacker or defender could dictate whether any further advance toward Tripolitania would be possible. It was the southern flank of the Italian position in Libya. If O'Connor could secure it, he could advance to the west and cut north to trap the last of 10th Army (about 40,000 men) blocking the coastal plain near Dema.

By 24 January, both sides were building up their strength in the Mechili locale. The Italians had their newly arrived Babim Armored Brigade. The British had as much of their 4th Armored Brigade tanks as the maintenance shops could keep running after the last six weeks of moving and fighting.

A clash of armor occurred near Mechili on the 24th between the Babim group and 4th Armored. It resulted in the Italians backing off with high losses but returning with greater numbers later in the day. The next day, joined by the 7th Armored Brigade, the British planned to surround the Italian tanks at Mechili but their prey had left the area. Meanwhile, the Australians continued to press against the Derna positions but were making little impression on the defenders there. The Italians did not give up the Derna line and head down the coast road to Tripolitania until the 29th.

Early February 1941 saw the return of supply shortages to 13th Corps and the possibility that troops from the Western Desert might transfer to Greece. O'Connor determined to break the impasse in the desert by attempting an end run of 150 miles through the open desert from Mechili to Msus. The objective was to cut the enemy line of retreat at Soluch. There would be no air support and only 40 medium and 80 light tanks were available for the effort. Supply would follow the combat forces by truck. They had to complete the operation in three days since they could only outfit two supply convoys to follow the attacking units on their cross country march.

The advance started on 4 February. The main enemy they met on the way to Msus was the rocky terrain that caused vehicle breakdowns and delay. On that day, most of the Italians on the coast were passing the town of Brace heading south and to safety.

Realizing that time was crucial, a 2,000 man mobile group containing no tanks, named Combe Force, left from Msus to cut the coastal road. The goal was to delay any withdrawing enemy, in the area of Antelat at Beda Fomm. Combe Force set out on its mission on 5 February. They reached Beda Forum later that day.

Not long after starting to dig in, the British spotted the approach of Italian transports accompanied by a few combat troops. The British force began firing at the enemy and the Italians attacked in ever increasing strength throughout the day. Fortunately for Combe Force, the first attackers had no tanks. When tanks did appear, they fought along the road and the force's 25-pdr guns sited on both sides of the road picked them off.

As Combe Force fought to block the highway against an increasing number of arriving Italians, 4th Armored Brigade moved to join it on the 5th. During that day, its three armored regiments raced westwardto attack the lengthening Italian road column sitting stationary along the coast waiting for the blockage at Beda Forum to be removed. That night the British tanks had to back off to replenish their fuel tanks. However, their actions did relieve the pressure on Combe Force further south.

On the 6th, as the 10th Army cleared Brace on its way south, Italian armor from the Babim Brigade spread out along the retreating column. The goal of some was to hold off the Australians, some to protect the landward side of the army as it moved, and the rest to clear Combe Force out of the way. This prevented the 10th Army from concentrating the required number of tanks needed to push Combe Force aside and effect an escape to the south.

Throughout the 6th, tanks of 7th Armored Brigade joined 4th Armored Brigade. They dueled with Italian tanks between Soluch and El Magrum. The fight sputtered to a halt as night approached. That evening saw an attempt by Italian tanks to bypass Combe Force through the desert. A combination of poor going in the sandy conditions and vigilant British anti-tank crews foiled the nocturnal maneuvers.

Early on 7 February, more Italian trucks, men, and tanks converged on the point held by Combe Force. With the Australians pushing on their rear, they had no place else to go and were determined to breakthrough the puny British force holding the road ahead of them.

The Italians attacked at dawn. The assault went well supported by large amounts of artillery. Their tanks, much reduced in number, pressed forward after knocking out most of the British antitank guns. Even though overrun by enemy tanks, the Tommy infantry stuck to their positions and prevented the Italian foot soldiers from supporting the tanks. As a result, the British eliminated all the Italian AFVs a short distance inside the British lines. Exhausted by the weather and combat, and with the sound of British tank engines approaching from the north and east (4th Armored Brigade), white flags began to appear all along the Italian lines. Over 25,000 men, with 200 guns and 1,500 wheeled vehicles of 10th Army surrendered that day at Beda Forum.

O'Connor's offensive was a complete success. They lost less than 2,000 killed, wounded and missing during an advance of 500 miles. They destroyed an Italian army of ten divisions and caused it to lose 130,000 prisoners, 400 light and medium tanks and 900 artillery pieces. Egypt was relieved of the threat of invasion, and Italian morale was shattered. The main question after Beda Forum was what would the Axis do to redeem their position in North Africa. Their answer was Erwin Rommel and two more years of desert warfare. The Battle for Africa had only just begun.

More O'Connor's Offensive

Introduction
Harbingers of War
Egypt and the Five Day Raid
Beda Fomm

Counterpoint: Desert Storm 1940 (OP11)