Editing Operation Compass (section)

==Battle of the Camps==

===Nibeiwa===
{{Main|Attack on Nibeiwa}}

[[File:Matilda Compass.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|right|{{centre|A [[Matilda II|Matilda tank]] of the [[7th Royal Tank Regiment]] in the [[Western Desert (North Africa)|Western Desert]].}}]]
At {{nowrap|5:00 a.m.}} on 9 December, a detachment of artillery commenced diversionary fire from the east on the fortified camp at Nibeiwa for an hour, which was held by the Maletti Group and at {{nowrap|7:15 a.m.}} the divisional artillery began a preliminary bombardment. The 11th Indian Infantry Brigade, with 7th RTR under command, attacked Nibeiwa from the north-west, which reconnaissance had established as the weakest sector. By {{nowrap|8:30 a.m.,}} Nibeiwa had been captured; Maletti had been killed in the fighting along with {{nowrap|818 men,}} {{nowrap|1,338}}  were wounded; {{nowrap|2,000 Italian}} and Libyan soldiers were taken prisoner.{{sfn|IOH|1979|p=374}} Large quantities of supplies were captured for British casualties of {{nowrap|56 men.}}{{sfn|Playfair|1957|pp=267–268}}

===The Tummars===

The attack on Tummar West began at {{nowrap|1:50 p.m.,}} after the 7th RTR had refuelled and artillery had bombarded the defences for an hour. Another approach from the north-west was made and tanks broke through the perimeter, followed twenty minutes later by the infantry. The defenders held out for longer than the Nibeiwa garrison but by {{nowrap|4:00 p.m.}} Tummar West was overrun except for the north-eastern corner. The tanks moved on to Tummar East, the greater part of which was captured by nightfall. The 4th Armoured Brigade had advanced to Azziziya, where the garrison of {{nowrap|400 men}} surrendered and light patrols of the [[7th Hussars]] pushed forward to cut the road from Sidi Barrani to Buq Buq, while armoured cars of the 11th Hussars ranged further west. The tanks of 7th Armoured Brigade were held in reserve ready to intercept an Italian counter-attack.{{sfn|Playfair|1957|pp=268–269}} The 2nd Libyan Division suffered {{nowrap|26 officers}} and {{nowrap|1,327 men}} killed, {{nowrap|32 officers}} and {{nowrap|804 men}} wounded, with the survivors being taken prisoner.{{sfn|IOH|1979|p=375}}

===Maktila===

Unaware of the situation at the Tummars, Selby sent units to cut the western exits from Maktila but the 1st Libyan Division filtered through and escaped.{{sfn|Playfair|1957|p=269}} Selby Force followed up the retreat as the 1st Libyan Division moved the {{cvt|15|mi}} from Maktila to Sidi Barrani and drove part of the column into sand dunes north of the coast road. Cruiser tanks of the [[6th Royal Tank Regiment]] (6th RTR) arrived in a sandstorm and overran the Italians in the dunes at about {{nowrap|5:15 p.m.,}} then joined Selby Force to continue the pursuit. The Italian defenders were caught at Sidi Barrani, in a pocket {{cvt|10|by|5|mi}} backing on to the sea. When the British attacked again at dawn on 11 December, mass surrenders began everywhere, except at Point 90 where troops of the 2nd Libyan Division held out for a short time, after which {{nowrap|2,000 troops}} surrendered.{{sfn|Pitt|2001|p=114}}

===Sidi Barrani, Buq Buq and Sofafi===

{{Main|Battle of Sidi Barrani}}

On 10 December, the 16th Infantry Brigade was brought forward from 4th Indian Division reserve and with part of the 11th Indian Brigade under command, advanced in lorries to attack Sidi Barrani. While moving across exposed ground, some casualties were incurred but with support from artillery and the 7th RTR, it was in position barring the south and south western exits to Sidi Barrani by {{nowrap|1:30 p.m.}} The British attacked at {{nowrap|4:00 p.m.}} supported by the divisional artillery and the town fell by nightfall; the remains of the two Libyan Divisions and the 4th CC.NN. Division "3 Gennaio" were trapped between the 16th Infantry Brigade and Selby Force. On 11 December, Selby Force and some tanks attacked and overran the 1st Libyan Division and by the evening, the 4th CC.NN Division "3 Gennaio" had also surrendered. On 11 December, the 7th Armoured Brigade was ordered out of reserve to relieve the 4th Armoured Brigade in the Buq Buq area, mop up and capture large numbers of men and guns. A patrol from the 7th Support Group entered Rabia and found it empty; the 63rd Infantry Division "Cirene" had withdrawn from Rabia and Sofafi overnight. An order to the 4th Armoured Brigade to cut them off west of Sofafi arrived too late and the Italians were able to retire along the escarpment and join Italian forces at Halfaya.{{sfn|Playfair|1957|p=270}} Italian casualties were {{nowrap|2,184 men}} killed, {{nowrap|2,287 troops}} wounded and {{nowrap|38,000 prisoners.}}{{sfn|IOH|1979|p=374}}

===Exploitation===

[[File:MatildaII.jpg|thumb|left|{{centre|Matilda tank with crew displaying a captured Italian flag}}]]
Over the next few days the [[4th Mechanized Brigade (United Kingdom)|4th Armoured Brigade]], on top of the escarpment and the [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]] on the coast, attempted a pursuit but supply problems and the large number of prisoners (twenty times the number planned for) impeded the advance. Italian forces crowded along the coast road and retreating from Sidi Barrani and Buq Buq, were bombarded by ''Terror'' and the two gunboats, which fired on the Sollum area all day and most of the night of 11 December. Late on 12 December, the only Italian positions left in Egypt were the approaches to Sollum and the area of Sidi Omar.{{sfn|Playfair|1957|pp=271–273}}

The Italians had lost {{nowrap|38,289 Italian}} and Libyan casualties, most taken prisoner, {{nowrap|73 tanks}} and {{nowrap|237 guns,}} against {{nowrap|634 British}} casualties.{{sfn|Playfair|1957|pp=271–273}} The WDF paused to reorganise and then moved quickly west along the {{lang|it|Via della Vittoria}}, through [[Halfaya Pass]] and re-captured Fort Capuzzo in [[Libya]].{{sfn|Bierman|Smith|2002|p=46}} On 7 December, Wellington bombers from Malta and Blenheim bombers from Egypt carried out raids on the Italian air bases at [[Castel Benito]], [[Benina]] and [[El Adem]], the attack on Castel Benito being particularly successful, with hits on five hangars and strafing runs which hit many Italian aircraft; the attacks continued until the end of the year.{{sfn|Richards|1974|pp=270, 273}}