Editing Operation Compass (section)

===Western Desert Force===

[[File:Mk1CruiserTank.jpg|thumb|{{centre|[[Cruiser Mk I|Cruiser Tank Mk I (A9)]]}}]]
[[Middle East Command]] (General [[Archibald Wavell]]) had about {{nowrap|36,000 soldiers,}} some outside Egypt, {{nowrap|120 guns}} and {{nowrap|275 tanks}}. The RAF had {{nowrap|162 aircraft}} composed of two squadrons of [[Hawker Hurricanes|Hurricanes]], one of [[Gloster Gladiators]], three of [[Bristol Blenheim]]s, three of [[Vickers Wellington]]s and one of [[Bristol Bombay]]s, about {{nowrap|46 fighters}} and {{nowrap|116 bombers.}}{{sfn|Playfair|1957|p=262}} The [[Western Desert Force]] (WDF) was commanded by [[Lieutenant-General]] [[Richard O'Connor]] with the [[4th Indian Infantry Division]] (Major-General [[Noel Beresford-Peirse]]) and the 7th Armoured Division (Major-General Sir [[Michael O'Moore Creagh]]). From 14 December, troops of the [[6th Division (Australia)|6th Australian Infantry Division]] (Major-General [[Iven Giffard Mackay]]), replaced the 4th Indian Division, which was sent to East Africa, less one brigade. The British had some fast [[Cruiser Mk I]], [[Cruiser Mk II]] and [[Cruiser Mk III]] tanks with [[Ordnance QF 2-pounder]] guns, which were superior to Fiat M11/39 tanks. The British also had a battalion of [[Matilda II]] [[infantry tank]]s that while slow, were also equipped with the 2-pounder; the armour of the Matildas could not be penetrated by Italian [[anti-tank gun]]s or field guns.{{sfn|Pitt|2001|p=102}}