Editing Operation Compass (section)

=== Derna–Mechili ===

{{Main|Babini Group|Action at Mechili, 24 January 1941}}

[[File:Tobruk Agedabia road2.jpg|thumb|{{centre|Tobruk–Agedabia, 1940–1941}}]]
The area east of the [[Jebel Akhdar (Libya)|Jebel Akhdar]] mountains was garrisoned by XX Corps (Lieutenant-General Annibale Bergonzoli) with the 60th Infantry Division "Sabratha" and the Babini Group, which had {{nowrap|120 tanks.}} The tank force included {{nowrap|82 new}} M.13/40 tanks, which needed ten days to be made battle-worthy but had been rushed forward anyway. The ''Sabratha'' Division held a line from Derna, along Wadi Derna to Mechili, with the Babini Group at Mechili, Giovanni Berta and Chaulan, guarding the flank and rear of the infantry.{{sfn|Macksey|1972|pp=121–123}}{{sfn|Playfair|1957|p=353}} On 23 January, the 10th Army commander, General [[Giuseppe Tellera]] ordered a counter-attack against the British, to avoid an envelopment of XX Corps from the south. Next day, the Babini Group, with ten to fifteen of the new M.13/40s, attacked the 7th Hussars as they headed west to cut the Derna–Mechili track north of Mechili. The British swiftly retired, calling for help from the 2nd RTR, which complacently ignored the signals. The British lost several tanks and knocked out two M.13s, until eventually, the 2nd RTR mobilised, caught the Italian tanks sky-lined on a ridge and knocked out seven M.13s, for the loss of a cruiser and six light tanks.{{sfn|Long|1952|p=242}}{{sfn|Macksey|1972|p=123}}

To the north, the 2/11th Australian Battalion engaged the ''Sabratha'' Division and ''Bersaglieri'' companies of the Babini Group at Derna airfield, making slow progress against determined resistance. The 19th Australian Brigade began to arrive in the morning and Italian bombers and fighters attacked the Australians. The Italians swept the flat ground with field artillery and machine-guns, stopping the Australian advance {{cvt|3000|yd|mi+km}} short of the objective.{{sfn|Long|1952|pp=242–245}} On 26 January, the 2/4th Australian Battalion cut the Derna–Mechili road and a company crossed Wadi Derna during the night against bold Italian counter-attacks.{{sfn|Macksey|1972|pp=124–127}} The Italians disengaged on the night of {{nowrap|28/29 January,}} before the garrison was trapped and rearguards of the Babini Group cratered roads, planted mines and booby-traps and managed to conduct several skilful ambushes, which slowed the British pursuit.{{sfn|Long|1952|pp=250–253, 255–256}} Derna was occupied unopposed on 29 January and the Australians began a pursuit along the {{lang|it|Via Balbia}}, closing on Giovanni Berta during 31 January.{{sfn|Macksey|1972|pp=127–129}}