Tobruk and Benghazi. Allied ships were also targeted along the Egyptian coast to Alexandria from 23 November to 12 December 1942. The group reported 20 Ju 88s ready for action on 1 December. It transferred from Heraklion to Catania, Sicily. Under the command of Major Rudolf Hallensleben, it escorted Axis convoys between Italy and Africa. A shortage of transportation aircraft necessitated the use of the group to transport fuel to North Africa from 6 December. Some of its Staffeln conducted anti-submarine patrols by utilising its Ju 88s as Maritime patrol aircraft. Operations over Algeria and or Tunisia are known to have been flown until 10 December. It flew bombing operations over Tunisian ports and Algiers on 12 and 30 January. It bombed Algiers again on 2 March. The group bombed Tripoli. It was removed from operations from 12 to 17 March 1943 to Ansbach, Germany for rest and refit. On 9 December it lost two Ju 88s in a collision during an air battle with No. 272 Squadron RAF Bristol Beaufighters. On 4 January 1943 another pilot was wounded. Another Ju 88 was lost and the pilot of another wounded in an attack on Thelepte airfield. USAAF Curtiss P-40 Warhawks of the 59th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group intercepted. The Ju 88s managed to bomb the airfield damaging two P-40s. On the 15 January another loss was reported. Three days later on 18 January, Staffelkapitän of 1. Staffel, Günther Haussmann and his experiences crew were reported missing. After another loss on 22 January, 2. Staffel lost its commanding officer Oberleutnant Fritz Köhler. Another loss was reported on 8 and 21 February. On 3 and 5 March I. Gruppe lost an aircraft on each night. The latter loss was in the area No. 89 Squadron RAF night fighters operated. II./KG 76 remained on operations until the 26 April 1943. It was based at Crete until 26 December 1942. Its base was bombed on 23 and 24 December. The group began operations over Algeria and the Battle of Tunisia. Béjaïa and Bône were bombed on 21 and 23 January. It attacked Tripoli on 14 and 26 February. On 3 March its staffeln attacked Algiers. The group sustained heavy losses and was reduced to only five crews by 15 April. The group's first known loss occurred on 21 January when it lost a Ju 88 to a No. 153 Squadron RAF night fighter