Operation Nicety - Jalo Oasis

Greetings, I'm Fuchs. A history and gaming geek.

At the moment I am very actively playing a modification called Forgotten Hope 2* and now I want to make a map for this Battlefield 2 mod.

Now I have chosen Operation Nicety, better known as Jalo Oasis, but information is scarse. In Septembre 1942 a SAS LRDG (Sudanese troops) started a raid on a oasis controlled by German forces, it was unsuccesfull and they retreaded when fresh Italian reinforcements where in the neighbourhood. Still I have a small weakness for the LRDG and I think this would make a nice addition to the game FH2.

There for I am looking for all sorts of information and I'm sure some of you know something

Anyways, everything is welcome, a map of the area would make me the most happy person in the world. All info is appreciated though, my own knowledge on it is even pathetic but I want to do this :p

So thanks in advance for all the help!

- Fuchs

* A little explanation on what FH2 exactly is. The Forgotten Hope team is very experienced at creating WW2 realism games for the Battlefield series, they already finished Forgotten Hope 1 for Battlefield 1942 and currently Forgotten Hope 2 is in production. At the moment North-Africa/Med is already released and Normandy 1944 is in production. I'm a big fan of this modification and recently I started learning to map and now I need something for my first map and that is going to be Jalo Oasis.

 

Welcome there.

LRDG, SAS and Jalo. Try this...

http://coleraine-battery.tripod.com/page190831.htm

 

I placed this in your introduction thread but I should have waited for your new thread.

I assume you have read the book by Peter C. Smith on Operation Agreement.

If not!

Tobruk; Rommel; Royal Marines; Mediterranean warfare 1942;

MASSACRE AT TOBRUK: The story of Operation Agreement.
Foreword by Lieutenant-Colonel E. H. W. Unwin, Royal Marines.

Quote:
The North African port that became the main focus of three warring armies in World War II. Heroically defended once; cleverly captured once, in the autumn of 1942 it became the objective of a highly complex and daring series of British operations designed to render it useless to supply Rommel's forces prior to the Battle of El Alamein. The attacks went seriously, and fatally, awry and all foundered with heavy loss of life among the various Army units, special forces and naval vessels engaged. It turned into a humiliating defeat of which little or nothing has since been written.
Using newly released documents, and both German and Italian sources, the author probed behind the reasons for the operation and Churchill's part in them, the planning, or lack of it; the compromise of secrecy rumour and the disastrous actions themselves. The resulting tragedy was similar to that of Dieppe the same year, and for many of the same reasons, but has been little studied. British casualties were heavy, both from the assaulting forces and the Royal Navy support vessels, while Axis losses were minimal and disruption caused practically nil. It has always been held that the Axis knew in advance of British plans, but the author comes to a very different conclusion.
Fully illustrated with many photos from Allied, German and Italian sources.
In the USA Michael L. Shakespeare wrote:- "Mr Smith does a credible job of analyzing Operation Agreement in a crisp, well-paced narrative. His book is peppered with interesting vignettes of the battle action." He concluded that; "For those who truly care about the North African campaign, Mr. Smith's book is essential reading."

 

Thanks guys, this will certainly help

 

A couple of other links to Tobruk on WW2Talk

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/battle-specifics/9832-tobruk.html

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/veteran-accounts/6123-jules-dorrian-story.html

 

Thanks but I know everything about Tobruk and the game already got 2 levels about it. The Siege and the Fall of Tobruk. I already searched this forum for threads about Jalo oasis, as I did on many other forums and I got the most hits here so I was hoping people know something about Jalo, map, combat info, anything.

 

The following link takes you to the map of the capture of Jalo

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Tobr-fig-WH2Tob45a.html

The following link takes you to the index page of The Relief of Tobruk. The story of Jalo is part of the story of Tobruk so go to this link and check up on references to Force E and Jalo particularly pages 298 and 351-352.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Tobr-i1.html

This next section has some references to the battle at Jalo and puts it in context with Op Crusader. It is similar to but more detailed than my previous link on the subject.


The Diversion The Force ‘E’ diversionary line of attack was based on an earlier plan that had been rejected because of the difficult terrain involved.

When Operation Crusader started on November 18/19 1941 the Coleraine Battery Troops (40mm AA Bofors) were in the area of Jarabub. This was south of the main battle and to the west of Siwa Oasis. X Troop were out on the ground on a Brigade exercise. At that time, Major Siderfin was in command of Coleraine Battery.

The Force was divided into three groups. Y Troop provided AA cover for the tail-end Maintenance Column which consisted of one hundred trucks. Two guns were placed on either flank of this column.


Battery HQ and Z Troop were responsible for providing AA protection to the other Force ‘E’ units advancing on the four Italian held forts 240 miles away at Aujila, Jikara, Jalo and Geof-el-Matar. Before reaching these four objectives, they had to travel through the dreaded Sand Seas, believed by many to be impassable.

By the 21st the going had deteriorated. There were many small wadis and dusty limestone depressions. The Troops managed to get their guns through the difficult terrain by running out the field gun tractor’s 30 metre winch cable, setting the sand channels below the tractor wheels and then winching the guns forward.



The column was attacked six times that day. “But to little affect, thanks largely to the gallant action of 6 LAA Battery.” (Brett-James, 1951) The war diary records that the guns claimed hits and all ranks behaved magnificently under heavy bombing and machine gun fire.

At noon on that date one of the Battery cooks, Gunner Paddy Toner from Coleraine was killed when the column was strafed by a German Bf 110 fighter. His 3-ton truck had just taken a field gun tractor in tow when the column was attacked by a group of Junkers, Fiat bombers and Bf 110’s (Doherty p.183) Paddy was on board a Canadian 3-ton Chevvy truck, trapped between two 40-gallon drums of fuel when he was strafed. Paddy was the first Garvagh man to die in action. He was 35 years old and the son of Mr and Mrs WJ Toner from North View Cottage, Feeney.

There was a second death in the Battery that day, twenty-one year old Gunner Willie Wisoner died in No 1 General Hospital, Cairo from the complications of diphtheria. Willie had arrived in a convoy from the desert the day previously. He was the son of John and Mary Ann Wisoner from Tobermore.

On November 22nd Force ‘E’ captured the first fort, Aujila. Lt Clark and Sgts Burns and Murray entered Aujila at 5pm after being bombed once en route. On the same day Y Troop, in defending the maintenance column were subject to a four hour bombing and strafing attack.

The enemy aircraft concentrated on attacking the four Bofors on the flanks of the column rather than the body of the column itself. Again, the Battery Troops behaved magnificently, damaging two aircraft and shooting down a Fiat bomber. Driver Ron Hutchinson was commended on his noble work of keeping the guns supplied with ammunition throughout the battle.

On their way to Jikara on November 23rd the Battery used the Bofors gun in a ground role. They attacked four Italian guns that had halted Colonel Ghrobblar’s advance on the fort. This Italian group consisted of two 47mm guns and two 20mm guns.

In this action Lt Jackson crawled forward in order to observe and direct the fall of shot of the Bofors onto the Italian gun sites. The second burst of fire from Sgt Albert Curry’s gun hit one of the 47mm guns. All the Italian gun crews then surrendered and Jikara was taken (Doherty, p185).

What is remarkable about this action was it was carried out by Lt Jackson and Sgt Curry while they were in full view of the enemy artillery. Lt Martin Jackson was awarded the Military Cross and Sgt Curry was mentioned in despatches (MID) for their brave action.


The third Italian held fort attacked by Force E was Jalo. The battle started at 8:30am when fourteen Italian aircraft attacked the advancing column. Sgts Burns and Murray accounted for one aircraft each in that attack. Fort Jalo fell on the evening of the 24th with 670 prisoners taken, but it was at a cost. Brigadier Reid lost 11 killed and 30 wounded. (Murphy, 1961)

There were other operations against the German supply routes and lines of communications between Agedabia and El Agheila.

Then on November 26th 1941 tragedy struck the Battery again. Gunner W Montgomery from Z Troop was killed in action. The circumstances were similar to the Paddy Toner incident. The column was strafed by German fighters.
WT McKee was with Willie when he died in the Field Ambulance. Gunner Montgomery was buried in the Benghazi War Cemetery. After the Desert war, the Battery returned home for Christmas leave. WT McKee visited Willie’s mother and gave her the New Testament he had read to Willie before he died.

On November 28th 1941, Brigadier Reid posted out a Special Order of the Day. In that order he especially mentioned the Coleraine Battery, “whose services have been superb and an example to us all”.

The Allies lifted the siege of Tobruk on December 4th 1941 and the Germans retreated to El Agheila.
Y and Z Troop remained with Brigadier Reid’s Force ‘E’ while X Troop was redeployed.

The fourth Italian held fort to be captured, Geof-el-Matar, fell to Col Short’s column on December 21. The garrison surrendered as soon as a 25-pounder opened fire.

On 12 December 1941 L/Bdr. Alex Wilton at the age of 39 years, died in action at Mersa Matruh.

It was in December that Stirling’s unit achieved a spectacular operational success by supporting the next phase of the Force ‘E’ operation. Stirling approached a fellow Scots Guards officer, Brigadier John Marriott. He let it be known that he was looking for a suitable operational tasking. Marriott passed him on to Brigadier Reid, the officer who had taken over his 29 Brigade command. Brigadier Reid informed him that on December 22nd, Force ‘E’ had to meet up with Marriott in the Antelat-Agedabia area. Because there was a threat of Axis aircraft from Agedabia interdicting his column, Reid wanted Stirling to deal with the threat. (Mortimer, p29-30, 2004)

Stirling duly obliged on the night of December 14/15 by tasking Paddy Mayne to Tamit where he destroyed twenty four aircraft. On the same night Frazer and three troopers were inserted by the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) to the Agedabia airfield. These men destroyed thirty seven aircraft that night.

On Christmas Eve, Jock Lewes destroyed an aircraft at Nofilia and Paddy Mayne returned to Tamit and destroyed another twenty seven aircraft. This action allowed Force ‘E’ to meet up with Marriott’s group without serious opposition from Axis aircraft.

But, in the early stages of the operation, the rugged terrain had depleted the unit’s fuel supplies. The delay in fuel replenishment had slowed their advance. Despite getting close to the coast road, Force ‘E’ were unable to complete their final task, cutting the supply lines to the retreating Africa Korps as they had already passed Force ‘E’ target locations.

Early in January 1942, Brigadier Jock Campbell, who started the “Jock Column” concept, was operating in the same area as Force ‘E’.

On January 16 at the last Italian fort to be captured, Geof-el-Matar, Brigadier Reid presented decorations to Col Ghrobblar, Col Short, Lt Jackson and Capt Pearson.


The following day the Battery ended its association with Force ‘E’. Battery HQ, Y and Z Troop left Force ‘E’ and joined 22nd Guards Brigade. They were stationed at Samhaudia, south of Agedabia. The Battery operated from there until they moved to the Gazala Line on February 7 (Doherty, p187.1988).

The terrain Force ‘E’ operated in was too difficult for Axis heavy armour but the column did face strong counter-attacks from Axis aircraft. The Battery lost two of its men in these attacks.

The field-gun tractors were not ideal vehicles for the terrain. The war diary noted that even when the field gun tractors were in tandem with the 3-ton trucks they still had to be dug out. On several occasions the Force E columns were travelling without AA cover because some of the guns were stranded in soft sand. The war diary noted that the guns should have been fitted with sand tyres.

The diversionary unit also suffered the same fate as advancing units on the coastal road. They ran out of fuel on many occasions before they could complete their task.

Overall, Operation Crusader achieved its objective. It lifted the siege on Tobruk and forced the Axis to retreat. There were 38,000 Axis casualties and 18,000 British and Commonwealth casualties. But Auchinleck experienced the same fate as Wavell had the previous year. The rout was halted in order to supply reinforcements in the Far East against the Japanese threat. (Perrett, p130 1988)

Brigadier Reid wrote a final letter to the Battery Commander on January 17th 1942. It reads as follows;

“My Dear Siderfin,
Before you leave us I would like you to know, and all of your men to know, how very much we have appreciated all you have done to help this column carry out its task with the apparent success which it has done.
I have already told you that in the early days the steadfastness of the column to air attack was to a very great extent the result of the fine fighting spirit and example set by your officers and men.
We shall miss you very greatly and it is my hope and that of all in Force ‘E’ that we may meet once more at a not too distant date.
In the meantime, wherever you go, the best of good fortune to you all. There is no need for me to make any remark as to what your conduct is likely to be. You will be setting another example to other troops I have no doubt. I give my best thanks to 6 LAA Battery, may you all flourish.

I am most sincerely,
Reid Brigadier
29th Indian Infantry Brigade”

 

Awesome find! Thank you so much. This certainly will help.

 

@ Fuchs; could it be that there is some sort of a mix up here in this thread? When you are alking about Op Nicety, then above Force E (Oasis force) had nothing to do with it because Op Nicety took place nearly one year later. Further it was as per my knowledge not an LRDG/SAS operation but executed by the SDF (Sudan Defence Force). The defenc of the oasis was done by the Italians alone as far as the place is concerned but there was some assistance by the Luftwaffe and if I am not wrong, the Wehrmacht had sent reinforcements from Agedabia down to Gialo - however, they were too late.

 

...and don't forget: If you search for "Jalo" you will only find the English part. The Italians write it "Gialo" ;-)

 

To give a little bit a better impression:

The aerial pic was taken by the Germans in 1942. As far as I know before the LRDG had to abandon it. The white marks show where they have seen the trucks.

The yellow building is the Italian fort and the lila marked building shows the Presidio. The old fort - which was also defended- is not shown on that picture.

 

Sorry Fuchs, as Kuno states, I stand corrected.

Op Nicety took place one year after Op Crusader. It was a failed attack on Jalo (Gialo) Oasis by the SDF and the LRDG. This was part of Operation Rosemary.

Referred to in the comprehensive WW2 List of operations on The War Room site at
THE WAR ROOM

 

..."Rosemary"?

 

From The War Room

Rosemary was a British Op on 1942 09 13 in North Africa. It was the covername for SAS, LRDG and other Special Forces raids in Cyrenica around this date.

See also AGREEMENT, CARAVAN, BIGAMY, NICETY on The War Room.

Also

Operation Agreement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Kuno

Gialo. Guess your original language is German. Some more information about Gialo might be found here:

http://www.afrika-korps.co.uk/forum/...ighlight=gialo

I gave it the various names because all info regarding the Italian fort etcetera was welcome, to attract more information, you know? Though while writing that my knowledge was also very very low. Yes, I have searched on the various variations, Gialo, Jalo sometimes they even use Galo or Djalo from what I've found. Though my native language is Dutch I have learned English and German in the past years so thanks, that page looks very useful.
Also you sir, deserve a cake for giving me that aerial picture! That was exactly what I was looking for!

Now I am still not sure which one I should do.. The SAS raid on Jalo? Ok it was an easy match for the defenders but with a game it would be a nice scenario.
Anyways, tell me what you think Kuno, after searching this forum a bit and seeing your knowledge about Lybia etc. I was already waiting for you to post here. Thanks.

Also more information about the garrisson, the old fort, the village and the oasis itself is also very welcome.

 

Some topographical Info, maps and photos on Jalo Oasis transcribed directly from Brg Reids account, mistakes and all.

The oasis of Jalo is approximately twenty-two miles in circumference, about four miles from north to south and five miles from east to west. On the north of the oasis the ground consists of small three to four foot mounds at distances varying from five to ten yards.

These are the remains of old coconut trees and date palms and make a natural obstacle for mechanically propelled vehicles.

There are three to four tracks running through this area.

To the east and west of Jalo Fort the country was sandy and undulating with various small clumps of huts, wells and pumpkin patches. To the south the coconut palms and the evergreen shrubs thinned out somewhat. The sand was very heavy and very little cover existed.

A peculiar feature here was the number of large mounds about fifteen feet high and sixty yards in diameter. There were many of these and they were covered in evergreen bushes. They were natural but so spaced as to form small bastions or emplacements which lent themselves admirably to the construction of machine-gun or Breda etc posts.

 

Would dare to doubt the coconut palms

Second pic from left is probably not Gialo but it rather looks like the fort of Augila in the neighbourhood.

 

Thanks guys! This gave me a good insight on the nature around Jalo.
Ok, I've made the decision to portray the SAS raid on the Jalo fort. Those where Italians right?

 

I am actually not aware on any SAS raid against Gialo...

 

The assault to take Jalo oasis was carried out by the Sudan Defence Force along with S1 and S2 Patrols of the LRDG. The first attack on the night of 15 September was easily repelled by the defenders who had been alerted of the operation and been strengthened. The attackers withdrew on 19 September as an Italian reinforcing column approached the oasis.

Sudanese forces together with S1 and 2 of the LRDG, it was more a raid then an attack.

Oh and what shape did the Old Fort had and where was it located? Thats rather important info for me, thanks in advance.