Acroma
From OMGWiki
Acroma is a small village in eastern Libya, west of Tobruk, that served as a fueling station, logistics hub, airport, and strong point.
This map was created by Steinmarder. It was designed exclusively for the OMG modification for Company of Heroes.
This four player map is still in beta.
Contents |
History
The defense against Rommel's drive across Cyrenaica towards Suez consisted of a number of irregularly spaced strong points or 'boxes' linked by deep minefields. Those nearest the Axis forces were held by infantry, while those further back served as reserve static positions and as bases from which the armor could operate. The chief 'box', known as Knightsbridge, was round a junction of tracks about 20 kilometers west of Tobruk and 16 kilometres south of Acroma, commanding all the tracks by which supplies came up to the front. The Eighth Army's advance fueling stations and airfields were at Acroma, El Adem, El Duda, Sidi Rezegh and Gambut, while by February 1941, Gazala aerodrome, taken from the Italians early in the campaign, housed two Commonwealth squadrons. Knightsbridge was thus a key position, and the pivot on which the armor maneuvered during the heavy fighting which commenced in late May 1942.
On 14 June Auchinlek authorized Ritchie to withdraw from the Gazala Line. The defenders in the El Adem and two neighboring boxes held firm and the 1st South African Division was able to withdraw along the coastal road practically intact. The road could not accommodate two divisions so the remaining two brigades of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division had to find an alternative. They could not retreat directly east because of the presence of the Axis armor so, instead, they attacked south west breaking through the lines of the Italian X Corps' Brescia and Pavia Divisions and headed south into the desert before turning east and heading back to friendly territory.
It was clear to Auchinleck that London would not contemplate a withdrawal to the stronger defensive positions around the Egypt-Libya frontier. Auchinleck's orders to Ritchie on 14 June therefore were to hold a line running south east from Acroma (west of Tobruk) through El Adem to Bir El Gubi. However, by the evening of 15 June the strong point at Point 650 had been overrun and on 16 June the defenders at Point 187 had been forced by failing supplies to evacuate. Throughout that day the defensive boxes at El Adem and Sidi Rezegh were also under heavy pressure from the Afrika Korps. On 17 June both had been evacuated and any chance of preventing the encirclement of Tobruk had vanished. Ritchie ordered Eighth Army to withdraw to the defensive positions at Mersa Matruh, some 100 miles east of the frontier, leaving Tobruk to hold out and threaten the Axis lines of communication in much the same way as in 1941.
Map Description
After breaching the Gazala Linein May 1942, Rommel's forces head north towards Tobruk.
Allied forces make a last stand at Acroma, trying to stop the axis forces, or at least give the remaining troops in Tobruk more time to dig in.
Creator's Comments
The town has been destroyed by light field artillery and air strikes prior to the assault.
The defenders have established defensive positions in the rubble and the surrounding desert.
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Tactics & Tips
- The layout encourages swift flanking and intelligent movement.
