military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (02/09/91)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Sunday, 9 February, 1941 General O'Connor's troops reach El Agheila and halt their advance. General Wavell must now redeploy some of his forces to aid Greece. The Royal Navy meanwhile bombards Genoa. Participating in the attack are the battleship HMS Malaya, the battlecruiser Renown, and the cruiser Sheffield. The achieve complete surprise over the Italian shore batteries, which are further confounded by a heavy mist and inflict no damage on the attackers. The bombardment does substantial damage to the city and to shipping in the harbor. Aircraft from the HMS Ark Royal lay mines off La Spezia. German maritime bombers score against a British convoy; the Condors sink five ships off the Azores. Vichy Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Flandin resigns, to be replaced by Admiral Darlan. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@att.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "Give us the tools and we'll finish the job." - Winston Churchill