Junkers Ju 87 Stukas as they deployed at Djidjelli and Philippeville airfields. As the Tunisian Campaign developed, forward movement was slowed by terrain and shortages: most units in 'Torch' had only 50 per cent of their vehicle establishment, and AA units frequently had to lend theirs to other units for urgent transport tasks. By the end of November the AA deployment had reached planned levels, but V Corps' advance had been held by the rapid arrival of German forces. As the Allies built up strength for a renewed advance, the emphasis for the AA units turned to defence for the ports and airfields against heavy attacks by the Luftwaffe. By January the arrival of reinforcements allowed 22 AA Bde to be fully committed to airfield defence, while 52 AA Bde provided front line support for V Corps and was prepared to follow up any breakthrough towards Tunis. By mid-January 1943, 52 AA Bde was deployed as follows: Bougie port: Bty 58th (Kent) HAA Rgt, Bty 76th (Gloucestershire) HAA Rgt, 'V' AA Operations Room (AAOR) Constantine airfield: Bty 72nd (Hampshire) HAA Rgt Djidjelli airfield: Bty 71st (Forth) HAA Rgt Philippeville port and airfield: Bty 72nd HAA Rgt, Trp 71st HAA Rgt Youks-les-Bains Airfield: Bty 72nd HAA Rgt Thelepte Airfield: Bty 72nd HAA Rgt Ain Beida Airfield: Trp 71st HAA Rgt One US Army AA Artillery/Coastal Artillery battalion also under command The policy of forward deployment paid off: when General von Arnim launched a counter-offensive against V Corps in February (Operation Ochsenkopf), 52 AA Bde was able to provide 32 HAA and over 200 LAA guns to cover the combat zone, while transferring 24 HAA and 72 LAA guns to the Free French XIX Corps. Behind, 62 AA Bde moved up to relieve 52 AA Bde of responsibility for Bougie and Djidjelli. By mid-March 1943, 52 AA Bde was deployed as follows: Forward areas: 2 Btys 80th (Berkshire) HAA Rgt Philippeville: 79th HAA Rgt, Bty 64th LAA Rgt, 567 S/L Bty from 30th (Surrey) S/L Rgt Youks le Bains: Bty 71st HAA Rgt, Bty 29th LAA Rgt Tebessa Airfield: 1 Btys 72nd HAA Rgt, Bty 63rd LAA Rgt Constantine: Trp 72nd HAA Rgt Ain Beida: Bty 71st HAA Rgt As the fighting continued in April, the HAA guns in forward positions were increasingly used to fire on ground targets to supplement the medium artillery. In one week, 20–27 April, 72nd HAA Rgt