Battle of Kufra

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= Battle of Kufra
partof=Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatre
North African Campaign, Western Desert Campaign


caption= Map showing the location of Kufra and demonstrating its isolation
date= 31 January, 1941 – 1 March, 1941
place= Kufra, Libya
result= Free French and British victory
combatant1=flagicon|France|free Free French Forces
flag|United Kingdom
combatant2= flagicon|Italy|1861-state Italy
commander1= flagicon|France|free Colonel Leclerc
commander2= flagicon|Italy|1861-state Colonel Leo
strength1= flagicon|France|free Free French Forces
350 men
2 x light armoured cars
1 x 75 mm mountain gun
flag|United Kingdom
26 x LRDG trucks with 76 crew
strength2=flagicon|Italy|1861-state Italy
580 men
2 x Auto-Saharan Company patrols
casualties1=
casualties2=

The Battle of Kufra (also spelled Koufra, or Cufra) in 1941 resulted in Italy losing control of the important but isolated oasis of Kufra in southeastern Cyrenaica in the colony of Italian North Africa ("Africa Settentrionale Italiana", or ASI).

The Buma airfield at Kufra, together with the radio post, were used by the Italian armed forces for air resupply and communications with Italian East Africa ("Africa Orientale Italiana", or AOI), explaining the oasis' strategic importance and why it was a point of conflict during World War II.

Pre-1931

During the "interwar period," Kufra was an important trade and travel route for various nomadic desert people including the Senussi. The Senussi made the oasis their capital at one point in response to encroaching British, Italian, and French designs on the region. When it appeared the Italians were the most aggressive nation in the region, the Senussi called upon the French to help defend their capital. In 1931, the Italians established themselves at Kufra.

Battle for Kufra

In Chad, Colonel Philippe Leclerc had at his disposal 5,000 Senegalese light infantymen ("tirailleurs") from the Senegalese Light Infantry Regiment of Chad ("Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais du Tchad", or RTST) in twenty companies in different garrisons, and also three camel cavalry ("méhariste") groups in three areas: Borkou, Tibesti, and Ennedi.

Chad had declared for Free France ("Françaises Libres") and, on the orders of Charles de Gaulle in London, Colonel Leclerc and the intrepid Lieutenant-Colonel Camille d’Ornano (commander of the Free French Forces in Chad) were tasked with attacking Italian positions in Libya with the motley forces at their disposal. Kufra was the obvious target. The task of striking at the heavily defended oasis at Kufra was made all the more difficult by the necessity to use inadequate transport to cross sand dunes and by the fine, powdery soil ("Fech Fech"). The area was considered by some to be impassable to vehicles.

Fortunately for the French, assistance was received from Major Pat Clayton of the British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), who was keen to join with the Free French to test the Italians. Clayton had under his command G (Guards) and T (New Zealand) patrols, a total of seventy-six men in twenty-six vehicles.

In order to assist in the attack against Kufra, a raid was first mounted against the airfield at the oasis of Murzuk, capital of the Fezzan region of Libya. Ten Free French (three officers, two sergeants, and five native soldiers) under D’Ornano met Clayton’s LRDG patrols on 6 January 1941 at Kayouge. The combined force reached Murzuk on 11 January. In a daring daylight raid, they surprised the sentries and swept through the oasis, devastating the base. The majority of the force attacked the main fort, while a troop from T patrol under Lieutenant Ballantyne engaged the airfield defences, destroying three Caproni aircraft and taking a number of prisoners.

The success of the raid was tempered by the loss of a T patrol member and the loss of d’Ornano. Another wounded French officer cauterised his leg wound with his own cigarette, much to the admiration of the LRDG. A diversionary raid by French camel cavalry failed after it was betrayed by local guides. This prompted Leclerc to relegate these troops to reconaissance duties only.

After the success of the Murzuk raid, Leclerc, who had assumed overall command, marshalled his forces to take on Kufra itself. Intelligence indicated that the Oasis was defended by two defensive lines based around the El Tag fort which included barbed wire, trenches, machine guns and light AA defences. The garrison was thought to comprise a battalion of Askaris (colonial infantry) under Colonel Leo, plus supporting troops.

In addition to the static defences, the oasis was defended by patrols of the Auto-Saharan Company ("La Compania Auto-Avio-Sahariana", also known as the "Saharianas"), a specialized mobile force similar to the LRDG except that they were able to call upon the support of their own air arm. Leclerc could not pinpoint the Saharianas, so he tasked the LRDG with the job of hunting them down. Unfortunately for the LRDG, a radio intercept unit at Kufra picked up their radio traffic and they were spotted from the air. The defenders at Kufra had been on their guard since Murzuk.

G patrol had been kept in reserve and Major Clayton was leading T patrol, 30 men in 11 trucks. The patrol was at Bishara on the morning of 31 January when an Italian aircraft appeared overhead. The trucks scattered and made for some hills, and the plane flew away without attacking them. The patrol took cover among some rocks in a small wadi at Gebel Sherif and camouflaged the trucks, before preparing to have lunch. The plane returned and circled over the wadi, where it directed a patrol of the Auto-Saharan Company to intercept the LRDG.

During fierce fighting, the LRDG patrol came off second best to superior Italian firepower and constant air attack. After severe losses, the surviving seven trucks of the patrol were forced to withdraw, leaving behind their commanding officer, who was captured along with several others. Other survivors, led by New Zealand Trooper Ronald Moore, embarked on epic journeys to seek safety. After this reverse, the LRDG force was forced to withdraw and refit, leaving Leclerc the services of one LRDG vehicle from T patrol crucially equipped for desert navigation.

Leclerc pressed on with his attack, in spite of losing a copy of his plan to the enemy with the capture of Major Clayton. After conducting further reconnaissance, Leclerc reorganized his forces on 16 February. He abandoned his two armoured cars and took with him the remaining serviceable artillery piece, a crucial decision.

On 17 February, Leclerc’s forces brushed with the "Saharianas" and despite a disparity in firepower were able to drive them off, as the Kufra garrison failed to intervene.

Following this, El Tag was surrounded, despite a further attack from the Saharianas and harassment from the air, the French laid siege to the fort. The lone 75 mm gun was placed 3,000 m from the fort, beyond range of the defences and accurately delivered 20 shells per day at regular intervals.

Despite having superior numbers, Italian resolve faltered. Negotiations to surrender began on 28 February. Finally, on 1 March 1941, the Free French captured El Tag and, with it, the oasis at Kufra.

ee also

* North African Campaign timeline
* List of World War II Battles
* Sudan Defence Force

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.battlefront.co.nz/Article.asp?ArticleID=465 The Battle for Kufra]
* "Histoire de Guerre" Issue 30; November 2002.
* Morgan, M. "Sting of the Scorpian" 2000 Sutton Publishing Ltd, Gloucestershire, England, UK ISBN 0-7509-2481-0
* Kelly, Saul. "The Hunt for Zerzura, the Lost Oasis and the Desert War" 2002 john Murray (Publishers) Ltd, London, England, UK ISBN 0-7195-6162-0