Operation Compass exploited a gap between Italian fortified camps that were too widely separated to support one another. O'Connor's troops crossed the desert at night and turned north into the positions, while a decoy force with dummy tanks occupied attention elsewhere. Although the attacking force was smaller in manpower, it had more tanks, including heavily armoured Matildas that most Italian antitank weapons could not penetrate. The 4th Indian Division and 7th Royal Tank Regiment attacked Nibeiwa from the rear after a bombardment from the east, then continued against the Tummar camps. Meanwhile, the 7th Armoured Division moved toward the coast to cut the retreat. Saul David's account gives the three-day result as about 40,000 prisoners, 237 guns and 73 tanks captured, for 624 British casualties.
Chapter · 3:29:19-3:31:32
Operation Compass broke the Italian camp system
A night approach through gaps, decoy tanks, protected Matildas and a drive to the coast allowed O'Connor's smaller force to break the Italian camp system.