Tank Warfare: El Guettar

In mid-March 1943, the 1st Ranger Battalion captured the El Guettar Oasis with virtually no resistance. The Italian forces defending the oasis withdrew and took up positions in the surrounding hills. On 20 March, the Rangers, along with the 1st ID, attacked them, capturing over 500 prisoners and large quantities of ammunition and equipment. Elements of the 16th and 18th IRs and the 1st ID took up positions in the mountains east of the oasis, blocking Highway 15 to Gabes. Forces from the 601st and 899th AT Battalions were in the second echelon, facing the highway. The division’s artillery took up positions along the Keddab Ridge. The German command transferred the most combat-ready 10th TD, which had more than 100 tanks and armored personnel carriers, and in the shortest possible time prepared a plan for a counteroffensive with the goal of capturing El Guettar.

• Two operations of 7 moves for each side (El Guettar, March 23, 1943).
• A detailed recreation of the terrain covering an area of over 200 square kilometers: ridges and mountains, semi-desert with rugged terrain, swamps and long ravines.
• Historical organization charts of units at the time of the offensive.