Jove said:
Yes it was hopeless, but that had a lot to do with a large allied formation behind Rommel. Without that wouldn't the supply situation change?
Doubtful, the Regia Marina's fuel stock by late October 1942 was down to 16,000 tons, with a average monthly consumption of about 58,000 tons that year they were forced to cut down on convoy escorts, that coupled with Malta rebounding in late August (Not enough aircraft and aviation fuel to keep it 'neutralized'.) and an increasingly effective use of Ultra to hit the ships carrying fuel, made the logistical situation steadily worsening.
J.J.E. said:
Beating Rommel at El Alamein was quite an achievement, but he had the help from Rommel's bad supply status and the lousy Italians.
Ah, so only thing holding back the 230,000 Allied troops were 27,000 Germans? The 53,000 Italians had nothing to do with it? If we try to assume that only the Germans were doing anything worthwhile, then isn't it a rather paltry show by the Allies?
October 23-29 1942, 4,500 Italians were the only thing standing between the Allies and the Axis rear in the southern sector at El Alamein. Outnumbered 1 to 13 in men, 1 to 5 in artillery and 1 to 70 in tanks, they still held the Allies at bay for a week, until Rommel ordered them to retreat on November 2.
Even fervent anti-Italian historian Macgregor Knox acknowledges that the
Ariete,
Folgore and
Giovani Fascisti divisions were equals to the Germans. And the
Trieste and
Littorio weren't far behind the Germans.
