[PanzerBob]

KG Griffin War Diary, 03 Nov 1945

Warfare being what it is, my three day deadline for the Suez Operation came and went. Allied counter-attacks north of our position, were more successful than planned for and the plan was delayed by the Allied attacks plus several sand storms.

This delay gave us the advantages of getting more exact intelligence on the defences on the canal and wearing down of enemy resources. This meant some change of tactics in the upcoming attack. With the delays We were able to preposition our start positions and rethink how to secure those two objectives.

The plan was now changed to have my quickest units formed into Fast Attack Group to hit the pontoon bridge before it could taken out or blown up. The other group my Heavy Attack Group would have the rail road bridge objective. Each group had one of our Hubz Gps and Div Recce units assigned to them, plus 8 barges and a 17cm Bn and 122mm Bn assigned in support.

Intelligence had the enemy in a wide zone around the Suez Canal. Aside from old defensive works the British Forces arrayed ahead of us appear to have adopted a mobile defensive posture.

Again an early morning assault was in order with wear and tear on my men and the machines war being a concern in the heat of the Sinai Desert.

We opened the operation with a combined smoke and HE barrage. Divsional Recce raced forward and within minutes of crossing into the Zone, and made initial contacts with Tommy tanks and infantry in positions as shown on the Map Graphic. Besides fire being reported from several Comets, new tanks were spotted and likely had taken out our first casualities, 2x armoured cars and a Panther G.

See attached Battle Graphic

Obersturmbannführer PanzerBob