Special Armored Brigade

The Special Armored Brigade, more commonly identified in historical accounts as the Babini Group or Raggruppamento Babini, was an improvised armoured formation of the Royal Italian Army in Italian North Africa. It was organized in Libya in late 1940, as Italy attempted to assemble a larger armoured force from tanks already in the colony and units dispatched from mainland Italy. The formation took its name from General Valentino Babini, who was placed in charge of the Libyan Tank Command and subsequently commanded the group. Its creation reflected the difficult circumstances facing Italy after the invasion of Egypt and the beginning of the British Operation Compass in December 1940. Italian armoured forces in Libya were dispersed among corps, infantry divisions and special tactical groups. The new formation combined medium M13/40 tanks with L3/35 tankettes and supporting combat arms. Its intended structure included Bersaglieri infantry, a motorcycle battalion, artillery, anti-tank companies, engineers and logistical units. In practice, the group was incomplete, unevenly trained and frequently committed piecemeal rather than as a concentrated armoured formation. The group suffered from serious equipment and readiness limitations. Many of its M13/40 tanks came from an early production batch affected by mechanical defects, including unreliable fuel systems, engine wear and fragile armour. Tank transporters were scarce, so vehicles often had to travel long distances under their own power, causing breakdowns before they reached battle. Communications were also weak: only a small number of tanks carried radios, leaving many crews dependent on visual flag signals. Crews and officers had limited experience with the new medium tanks, while the pressure of the British advance left little time for training, maintenance or acclimatization. The Babini Group operated around Mechili, Derna and the Jebel Akhdar during the retreat of the Italian Tenth Army. On 23 January 1941, a counter-attack against British armoured units near Mechili temporarily disrupted the advance and inflicted losses, although British reinforcements later defeated the attacking Italian tanks. The group also supported the defence of Derna, where its Bersaglieri and associated artillery helped resist Australian attacks. As the Italian position deteriorated, the formation served increasingly as a rearguard, covering the withdrawal westward from Derna and Mechili toward Benghazi. The formation was effectively destroyed at Beda Fomm on 6–7 February 1941. British Combeforce cut the Litoranea Balbo, the main coastal road, trapping the retreating Italian army. The remaining Italian tanks were not concentrated quickly enough to break through before the British position was reinforced. The group was defeated in detail, with historical accounts indicating that perhaps only nine tanks escaped southward. The Special Armored Brigade therefore had a short operational life and did not become a permanent peacetime brand or institution; it is best understood as a wartime military unit rather than a commercial brand.

The unit emerged from Italy’s attempt to reorganize and reinforce its armoured forces in Libya after the opening of Operation Compass. The Royal Italian Army had transferred several tank battalions from Europe to North Africa, but these formations remained dispersed and were not uniformly equipped. The Libyan Tank Command was established in August 1940 under General Valentino Babini, bringing Italian tanks in the colony under a more coordinated command structure. Its inventory included M11/39 and M13/40 medium tanks as well as large numbers of L3/35 tankettes. The Special Armored Brigade was ordered into existence at Marsa Lucch in late November 1940. It incorporated the III and V M13/40 tank battalions, elements of the 4th Tank Infantry Regiment’s light tank battalions, and a substantial combined-arms support structure. The planned organization included three Bersaglieri battalions, a motorcycle battalion, artillery, anti-tank units, engineers and supply personnel. The design was ambitious, but the battlefield situation made systematic preparation impossible. Some tanks arrived only shortly before combat, and the absence of adequate transporters forced many vehicles to make long road movements on their tracks. The formation’s operational difficulties were aggravated by the shortcomings of its equipment. Early M13/40 vehicles experienced fuel-pump and engine problems, variable fuel consumption and failures caused by prolonged movement. Their armour was vulnerable, and most tanks lacked wireless communication. Commanders consequently relied on flags and other visual signals, which made coordinated manoeuvre difficult in the desert. Tank crews had little time to train on the new vehicles, and units were often detached to reinforce separate defensive positions rather than employed as a single brigade. During the British advance, elements of the group were sent toward Sollum, Sidi Aziz, Halfaya and Tobruk, while other components were assembled around Mechili and Derna. In January 1941 the group supported the Italian XX Corps and the 60th Infantry Division Sabratha. When British and Australian forces threatened to envelop the Derna position, General Giuseppe Tellera ordered a counter-attack. On 23 January, approximately ten to fifteen M13/40s engaged British cavalry and armoured units near Mechili. The Italian attack initially achieved surprise and damaged several vehicles, but the British 2nd Royal Tank Regiment responded after receiving warning and knocked out a number of the attackers. The group subsequently helped defend the Derna area. Its 10th Bersaglieri Regiment participated in fighting around the airfield and the approaches to the town, using artillery and machine-gun fire to slow Australian attacks. As the Italian front collapsed, the group was ordered to disengage and form part of the rearguard for the retreating Tenth Army. It moved with the wider withdrawal through the Jebel Akhdar toward Benghazi, while Italian commanders attempted to preserve remaining tanks and establish further defensive positions farther west. The retreat ended at Beda Fomm. British forces used Combeforce to block the Via Balbia south of Benghazi, placing the Italian column between the blocking force and pursuing units. The remaining Italian tanks were unable to mass rapidly enough for a coordinated breakthrough. British reinforcements strengthened the roadblock, and the Babini Group was destroyed in successive engagements on 6 and 7 February 1941. Only a small number of tanks, possibly about nine, escaped to the south. The group ceased to exist as an effective formation after the battle.

• 1941

  Counter-attack near Mechili

  [1]Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group attacked British armoured units near Mechili on 23 January, temporarily delaying the British advance before being repulsed.

• 1941

  Defence of Derna

  [1]Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Bersaglieri and tank elements supported the defence of Derna as Australian forces pressed against the Italian position.

• 1941

  Destruction at Beda Fomm

  [1]Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The formation was destroyed during the Italian retreat after Combeforce cut the coastal road at Beda Fomm on 6–7 February.

• 1940

  Libyan Tank Command established

  [1]Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Marshal Rodolfo Graziani ordered the creation of a command structure placing Italian tanks in Libya under General Valentino Babini.

• 1940

  Special Armored Brigade organized

  [1]Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Babini Group was formed at Marsa Lucch from medium tanks, light tankettes and supporting combined-arms units.

A temporary combined-arms armoured formation intended to concentrate Italy’s available tanks in Libya during the Western Desert Campaign.

• 1941Derna–Mechili operations

  Cyrenaica · Italian Libya

  The group operated with the Italian XX Corps around Mechili and Derna, conducting a counter-attack and supporting the defence of the Derna approaches.

  Outcome. The British and Australian advance continued, forcing the Italian withdrawal toward Benghazi.

  Source
• 1941Battle of Beda Fomm

  Southern Benghazi area · Italian Libya

  The retreating formation attempted to operate within the larger Italian column after British Combeforce blocked the Via Balbia.

  Outcome. The group was defeated and effectively destroyed; only a small number of tanks may have escaped southward.

  Source
• 1940Operation Compass

  Egypt and Italian Libya

  The British offensive beginning in December 1940 exposed the weakness and dispersion of Italy’s armoured forces. The Babini Group was committed to the defensive battles and retreat that followed the collapse of the Italian position in Egypt.

  Outcome. The Italian Tenth Army was driven westward, and the group was eventually destroyed during the retreat.

  Source

• 1941

  Use as a rearguard during the retreat from Derna and MechiliStrategy

  Background

  The collapse of the Italian position forced the Tenth Army to withdraw westward toward Benghazi.

  Action taken

  The group was used to cover the retreat and delay British and Australian forces rather than being preserved for a later concentrated counter-offensive.

  Aftermath

  Its remaining tanks were trapped and destroyed at Beda Fomm.

  Source

• 1940

  Creation of a concentrated Libyan armoured formationStrategy

  Background

  Italian armoured units in Libya were dispersed among corps, divisions and tactical groups while British forces were preparing or conducting Operation Compass.

  Action taken

  The Royal Italian Army combined medium tanks, light tankettes and several supporting arms into the Special Armored Brigade under General Valentino Babini.

  Aftermath

  The formation entered combat before its equipment, communications and training problems had been resolved, limiting its effectiveness.

  Source

1. 1Babini Groupen.wikipedia.org