7. A Tactically Successful Raid, that Nonetheless Missed its Target
The Commandos set off to their targets on November 15th, and despite heavy rains, reached their attack positions on the night of November 17th. At midnight, they struck in a meticulously executed attack – and discovered they had been acting on poor intelligence. Rommel was not at the targeted HQ, but in Italy, where he had been since November 1st. The Desert Fox would not return to the field until November 18th – the day after the raid. Only 3 German supply officers and an enlisted soldier were killed, and a fuel depot was destroyed. In exchange, the raiders were wiped out, and only two members managed to evade pursuit and reach British lines 37 days later. All the rest were either killed or captured.
