mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
|
Post by mac on Apr 24, 2019 12:01:34 GMT
April 25 is ANZAC Day here, the date of the landing at Gallipoli Turkey by Australian and New Zealand troops in WW1 (if interested see movie of the same name (worth seeing) with young unknown actor Mel Gibson).
This is a link to a documentary about the defense of Tobruk by the ANZACs (military and naval) and British artillery (cheers Ian) and Indian forces (about 1000) in 1941. We have had a recent discussion on Pass and Haul ass but this was a case for Rommel of Pass and we fry your ass, so he needed to take Tobruk. Anyway here is a nostalgic look at the Rats of Tobruk.
Cheers
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 24, 2019 14:25:13 GMT
Post by yanmacca on Apr 24, 2019 14:25:13 GMT
Mac at first I thought you had posted a link to the movie 'The Desert Rats' starring Richard Burton. But I must admit, I like these old flag waving doc's as you do find some great footage, that ship being sank in Tobruk harbour for instance.
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 24, 2019 15:01:54 GMT
Post by yanmacca on Apr 24, 2019 15:01:54 GMT
What we should have learnt from Tobruk is the failure of Rommel’s forces to break a 360% defense, sure he turned the British many times, mainly because he had an open flank to exploit.
Bottom line is that even the German tanks of that period [no Tigers or Panthers yet] where vulnerable to even the 2 pdr ATGs and even artillery and given that the terrain was relatively flat, any armour could be met head on and knocked out.
I saw that the footage, captured Italian guns mounted on the back of trucks, these were 75mm AA guns, even these were effective against armour especially firing along a flat trajectory plus being AA guns, they had a high muzzle velocity.
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 24, 2019 15:23:35 GMT
Post by quincannon on Apr 24, 2019 15:23:35 GMT
I have always considered Australian forces among the Giants. Tobruk was their finest hour.
The importance of Tobruk was of course its harbor, and the fact that the harbor being in German hands would have shortened Rommel's supply lines by several hundreds of miles. Had Rommel captured the place in 1941 I have no doubt that the British would have been driven out of Egypt, back into Palestine and perhaps further, and the Suez Canal blocked. The irony though is that when Rommel did capture Tobruk in 42 it did not matter. The invasion of Russia sealed Rommel's fate as far as Middle Eastern conquest goes.
|
|
mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 14:00:21 GMT
Post by mac on Apr 25, 2019 14:00:21 GMT
Here it is if you can stand the subtitles. Cheers
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 14:46:55 GMT
Post by yanmacca on Apr 25, 2019 14:46:55 GMT
I have it in my collection Mac, along with these; The Light Horsemen The Odd Angry Shot Attack Force Z Kokoda
I used to have an old movie on a USB, called ''The Fighting Rats of Tobruk'' with Chips Rafferty, but I deleted it because it was shite.
|
|
benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 19:27:26 GMT
Post by benteen on Apr 25, 2019 19:27:26 GMT
Back in the day there was a TV series called "Rat Patrol" which supposedly mirrored the action of the desert rats.
Be Well Dan
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 19:41:20 GMT
Post by yanmacca on Apr 25, 2019 19:41:20 GMT
Go on Dan, knock yourself out my friend and remanis!
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 20:20:39 GMT
Post by quincannon on Apr 25, 2019 20:20:39 GMT
Rat Patrol Dan, was more along the lines and using the methods of the Special Air Service, Popski's Private Army, or the Long Range Desert Group. You have probably heard of two of these organizations, but I would bet not Popski. PPA or its official title Number 1 Demolition Squadron, was international in flavor, much like Rat Patrol. Many consider it the best of the bunch, having a nearly unlimited charter to produce mayhem, and visit destruction upon the Germans in both North Africa, and later in Italy, where they were until the end of the war. Popski himself, was an exiled Russian who became a British citizen, living in Egypt, an Arabist, and was commissioned into the British Army, first as a behind the lines intelligence officer, and later organized and commanded PPA. His name was Vladimir Peniakoff, and he got the name Popski from a British cartoon character, and the organization looked like the United Nations in miniature.
He wrote a book after the war entitled "Popski's Private Army: and the book is an unconventional warfare classic. Excellent read, so good in fact, it is on my special book shelves, reserved for only the very best, and always near at hand.
|
|
benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 20:31:20 GMT
Post by benteen on Apr 25, 2019 20:31:20 GMT
Go on Dan, knock yourself out my friend and remanis!
Hi Ian, Thanks for the link. It brings back memories for an old geezer Be Well Dan
|
|
benteen
First Lieutenant
"Once An Eagle
Posts: 406
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 20:32:19 GMT
Post by benteen on Apr 25, 2019 20:32:19 GMT
Rat Patrol Dan, was more along the lines and using the methods of the Special Air Service, Popski's Private Army, or the Long Range Desert Group. You have probably heard of two of these organizations, but I would bet not Popski. PPA or its official title Number 1 Demolition Squadron, was international in flavor, much like Rat Patrol. Many consider it the best of the bunch, having a nearly unlimited charter to produce mayhem, and visit destruction upon the Germans in both North Africa, and later in Italy, where they were until the end of the war. Popski himself, was an exiled Russian who became a British citizen, living in Egypt, an Arabist, and was commissioned into the British Army, first as a behind the lines intelligence officer, and later organized and commanded PPA. His name was Vladimir Peniakoff, and he got the name Popski from a British cartoon character, and the organization looked like the United Nations in miniature. He wrote a book after the war entitled "Popski's Private Army: and the book is an unconventional warfare classic. Excellent read, so good in fact, it is on my special book shelves, reserved for only the very best, and always near at hand. Chuck, Very informative post, I appreciate it Be Well Dan
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 25, 2019 20:38:48 GMT
Post by quincannon on Apr 25, 2019 20:38:48 GMT
Get the book. You would enjoy it.
|
|
|
Post by yanmacca on Apr 26, 2019 13:55:42 GMT
|
|
mac
Brigadier General
Posts: 1,790
|
Tobruk
Apr 27, 2019 13:13:13 GMT
Post by mac on Apr 27, 2019 13:13:13 GMT
It is good Ian and it is a young Burton. There is also Chips Rafferty and a very young Charles Tingwell and Robert Newton.
|
|
|
Tobruk
Apr 28, 2019 20:25:44 GMT
Post by Beth on Apr 28, 2019 20:25:44 GMT
Rat Patrol followed by Combat was my usual late night viewing while babysitting in high school. I loved those shows.
Speaking of old shows. I have a key word search on my DVD for Alamo as well as words related to LBH. Last night it picked up that old show 'Time Tunnel" where they were at the Alamo. It was SO bad I could only watch a few minutes. I can't believe I loved that show as a kid. It's amazing how becoming familiar with the history of the events allows you to make better viewing choices.
|
|