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Since December 1940 the 1st Company of the Third Battalion of the 32nd Tanks Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Elio Castellano, was defending the Italian coastal stronghold of Bardia, in North Africa - in today's Libya.
The Company was equipped with 13 inadequate 13/40 13-ton Medium Tanks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_M13/40) flanked by some almost useless CV35 Light Tanks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L3/35), and was waiting for the offensive of an English army that was galvanized by the victory in the battle of Sidi Barrani and supported by 23 much more performing and modern Mediums Tanks Mk II Matilda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_II).
The Italian forces, subjected since January 3 to a heavy naval bombardment and supported by an inadequate artillery, had no chance to resist, but their temper was underestimated by the English command that was soon forced to use more forces in the field of what has been budgeted
Italian tankers, forced to fight in tanks which weight were half than their opponents and even without radio - had to communicate with each other with visual signals! - carried on their strenuous resistance for 3 long days, forcing the British to leave on the field 17 Matilda Tanks and to destroy tank by tank all the heroic Italian crews.
While the British succeeded in capturing 30,000 Italian infantrymen, on the evening of December 5, 1941 the italian 1st Tank Company - whose crew from that day are known as THE LIONS OF BARDIA - had no longer any survivors alive...
Following, the poignant and wonderful motivation for the Gold Medal for Military Valor awarded to Sergeant Tanker Bruno Galas, one of the Bardia Lions:
During an action against enemy forces penetrated in the cornerstone of one of our strongholds, he rejected the break-in but remained with the tank damaged and no cover. Under heavy fire he provided to repair it and resumed the combat, fueled by new enemy units. Hit a second time and immobilized in his tank, continued the fire with the cannon, targeted by all the enemy tanks. Struck by a grenade exploding inside the tank, setting it on fire, he sacrificed his life to duty.
Bardia (A.S.), January 3, 1941.
The 32nd Tanks Regiment still exists today, framed within the 132th "Ariete" Armored Brigade and armed with the Main Battle Tank ARIETE.
The 1st Company of the regiment is called "LEONI DI BARDIA", and the Company's Commander's Tank proudly displays the red flag with the LION in the center.
HONOR TO THE LIONS, THE LIONS OF BARDIA!
Edited by Dardan73 - 3/1/2020, 09:09
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