Deleted member 1487
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Crusader
Historically the Brits nearly bungled their major relief effort of Tobruk in November-December 1941 and any number of PODs could have had them lose, rather than successfully push Rommel back to his March 1941 starting position. So what if they had? Let's say they lose their nerve, as nearly happened, and pull back before suffering irrepairable damage to their forces and leave Rommel still besieging Tobruk as of December 1941, but with both sides terribly bloodied from the fighting and Rommel in control of the battlefield and able to recover and repair AFVs. What now? Toburk is no closer to falling, Malta is inflicting catestrophic losses to Axis shipping, resulting in the lowest money of supplies arriving in Libya (December 1941) since the war began, though that would be changed quickly due to the arrival of Kesselring and his air fleet. Rommel cannot invade Egypt. It is still stalemate, but now, at least temporarily, with Rommel nearly out of supplies of ammo and fuel and the Brits having convinced themselves they lost a major battle and cannot attack against for months. Certainly Cunningham, commander of the 8th army would be getting fired and perhaps the recently appointed Auchinleck, CiC of Middle East Command, might get the boot too. What do both sides do after yet another British defeat and the status quo being temporarily maintained?
Historically the Brits nearly bungled their major relief effort of Tobruk in November-December 1941 and any number of PODs could have had them lose, rather than successfully push Rommel back to his March 1941 starting position. So what if they had? Let's say they lose their nerve, as nearly happened, and pull back before suffering irrepairable damage to their forces and leave Rommel still besieging Tobruk as of December 1941, but with both sides terribly bloodied from the fighting and Rommel in control of the battlefield and able to recover and repair AFVs. What now? Toburk is no closer to falling, Malta is inflicting catestrophic losses to Axis shipping, resulting in the lowest money of supplies arriving in Libya (December 1941) since the war began, though that would be changed quickly due to the arrival of Kesselring and his air fleet. Rommel cannot invade Egypt. It is still stalemate, but now, at least temporarily, with Rommel nearly out of supplies of ammo and fuel and the Brits having convinced themselves they lost a major battle and cannot attack against for months. Certainly Cunningham, commander of the 8th army would be getting fired and perhaps the recently appointed Auchinleck, CiC of Middle East Command, might get the boot too. What do both sides do after yet another British defeat and the status quo being temporarily maintained?