El Alamein
Page 35
XII CORPS
(Lieutenant-General B.G. Horrocks)
(BGS: George Erskine)
7th ARMOURED DIVISION (Major-General A.F. Harding):
4th Light Armoured Brigade (M.G. Roddick): 4/8th Hussars, The Scots Greys and 1st KRRC (motor battalion)
22nd Armoured Brigade (G.P.B; Roberts): 1st and 5th RTR, 4th City of London Yeomanry and 1st Rifle Brigade (motor battalion)
131 Lorried Infantry Brigade. See under 44th Infantry Division
Divisional Troops:
Household Cavalry Regt, 11th Hussars and 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry (armoured cars)
RA: (CRA, Roy Mews): 3rd RHA, 4th and 97th Field Regts, 65th Anti-Tank Regt, 15 Light AA Regt
RE: 4th and 21st Field Sqns, 143rd Field Park Sqn
Under command: 1ère and 2ème Brigade Française Libre (Général Pierre Koenig)
44th Reconnaissance Regt (from 44th Division)
44th (HOME COUNTIES) INFANTRY DIVISION (Major-General I.T.P. Hughes):
131 Infantry Brigade (W.D. Stainer): 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th The Queen’s (became incorporated in 7th Armoured Division on 1 November)
132 Infantry Brigade (L G. Whistler): 2nd Buffs, 4th and 5th Royal West Kent Regt
133 Infantry Brigade. See under 10th Armoured Division
Divisional Troops:
RA: (CRA, H.R. Hall): 57th, 58th, 65th and 53rd Field Regts, 57th Anti-Tank Regt, 30th Light AA Regt
RE: 11th, 209th and 210th Field Coys, 211th Field Park Coy and 577th Army Field Park Coy
Others: 6th Cheshire Regt (machine-gun battalion)
50th (NORTHUMBRIAN) INFANTRY DIVISION (Major-General J.S. Nichols):
69th Infantry Brigade (E.C. Cooke-Collie): 5th East Yorkshire Regt, 6th and 7th Green Howards
151 Infantry Brigade (J.E.S. Percy): 6th, 8th and 9th Durham Light Infantry 1st Greek Infantry Brigade Group (Col Katsotas)
Divisional Troops:
RA: (CRA, Claude Eastman): 74th, 111th, 124th and 154th Field Regts, 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regt, 34th Light AA Regt
RE: 233rd and 505th Field Coys, 235th Field Park Coy
Others: 2nd Cheshire Regt (machine guns)
XXX CORPS
(Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese, Bt)
(BGS: G.P. Walsh)
51st (HIGHLAND) INFANTRY DIVISION (Major-General D.N. Wimberley):
152 Infantry Brigade (G. Murray): 2nd and 5th Seaforth Highlanders, 5th Cameron Highlanders
153 Infantry Brigade (D.A.H. Graham): 5th Black Watch, 1st and 5/7th Gordon Highlanders
154 Infantry Brigade (H.W. Houldsworth): 1st and 7th Black Watch, 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Divisional Troops:
RA (CRA, G.M. Elliot): 126th, 127th, and 128th Field Regts, 61st Anti-Tank Regt, 40th Light AA Regt
RE: 274th, 275th and 276th Field Coys, 239th Field Coy
Others: 1/7th Middlesex Regt (machine guns), 51st Reconnaissance Regt
2nd NEW ZEALAND DIVISION (Major-General B.C. Freyberg, VC):
9th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom) (John Currie): 3rd Hussars, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, Warwickshire Yeomanry and 14th Sherwood Foresters (motor infantry)
5 NZ Infantry Brigade (Howard Kippenberger): 21, 22 and 23 NZ Battalions, 28 Māori Bn
6 NZ Infantry Brigade (William Gentry): 24, 25 and 26 NZ Bns
Divisional Troops:
2nd NZ Divisional Cavalry Regt (light tanks)
NZA (CRA, C.E. ‘Steve’ Weir): 4th, 5th and 6th Field Regts, 7th NZ Anti-Tank Regt, 14th NZ Light AA Regt
NZE: 6th, 7th and 8th NZ Field Coys, 5th NZ Field Park Coy
Others: 27 NZ Bn (machine guns)
9th AUSTRALIAN DIVISION (Major-General L.J. Morshead)
20th Australian Infantry Brigade (W.J.V. Windeyer) 2/13th, 2/15th and 2/17th Australian Infantry Bns
24th Australian Infantry Brigade (Arthur Godfrey): 2/28th, 2/32nd and 2/43rd Australian Infantry Bns
26th Australian Infantry Brigade (D.A. Whitehead): 2/23rd, 2/24th and 2/48th Australian Infantry Bns
Divisional Troops:
RAA (CRA, A.H. Ramsay): 2/7th, 2/8th and 2/12th Australian Field Regts, 3rd Australian Anti-Tank Regt, 4th Australian Light AA Regt
Engineers: 2/3rd, 2/7th, 2/13th Australian Field Coys, 2/4th Australian Field Park Coy, 2/3rd Australian Pioneer Bn
Others: 2/2nd Australian Bn (machine guns)
4th INDIAN DIVISION (Major-General F.S. Tuker):
5th Indian Infantry Brigade (D. Russell): 1/4th Essex Regt, 4/6th Rajputana Rifles, 3/10th Baluch
7th Indian Infantry Brigade (A.W.W. Holworthy): 1st Royal Sussex Regt, 4/16th Punjabi Regt, 1/2nd Ghurka Rifles
161st Indian Infantry Brigade (F.E.C. Hughes): 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 1/1st Punjabi Regt, 4/7th Rajputs
Divisional Troops:
RA (CRA, H.K. Dimoline): 1st, 11th and 32nd Field Regts, 149th Anti-Tank Regt, 57th Light AA Regt
RE: 2nd, 4th and 12th Field Coys, 11th Field Park Coy
Others: 6th Rajputana Rifles (machine guns)
1st SOUTH AFRICAN DIVISION (Major-General D.H. Pienaar)
1st SA Infantry Brigade (C.L. de W du Toit) 1st Royal Natal Carabiniers, 1st Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles, 1st Transvaal Scottish
2nd SA Infantry Brigade (W.H.E. Poole): 1/2nd Field Force En, 1st Natal Mounted Rifles, Cape Town Highlanders
3rd SA Infantry Brigade (R.J. Palmer): 1st Imperial Light Horse, 1st Durban Light Infantry, 1st Rand Light Infantry
Divisional Troops:
SA Artillery (CRA, F Theron) 1st, 4th and 7th SA Field Regts, 1st SA Anti-Tank Regt, 1st SA Light AA Regt
SA Engineers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th SA Field Coys, 19th SA Field Park Coy
Others: Regiment President Steyn and one coy Die Middelandse Regt (machine guns)
30th CORPS TROOPS and Troops in Corps Reserve
23rd Armoured Brigade Group (G.W. Richards): 8th, 40th, 46th and 50th RTR, 121st Field Regt RA, 168 Light AA Battery, RA, 295th Army Field Coy, RE, 7th Light Field Ambulance
Armoured Cars: 4/8th South African Armoured Car Regt
RA: 7th, 64th and 69th Medium Regts
RE: 66th Mortar Company
WESTERN DESERT AIR FORCE ORDER OF BATTLE
Air Headquarters Western Desert (Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham)
No. 1 Air Ambulance Unit (DH86)
No. 3 (South African Air Force) Wing
Squadrons:
Nos. 12 and 24 (SAAF) (Bostons)
No. 21 (SAAF) (Baltimores)
No. 232 Wing
Squadrons:
Nos. 55 and 223 (Baltimores)
US 12th Bombardment Group
Squadrons:
81st, 82nd, 83rd and 434th (Mitchells)
No. 285 Wing
Squadrons:
No. 40 (SAAF) and No. 208 (Hurricanes)
No. 60 (SAAF) (Baltimores)
Flights, Other units:
No. 1437 Strategic Reconnaissance Flight (Baltimores)
No. 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Flight detachment (Various)
211 GROUP
Squadrons
Nos. 6 and 7 (SAAF) (Hurricanes)
No. 233 Wing.
Squadrons
Nos. 2 and 4 (SAAF) and No. 260 (Kittyhawks)
No. 5 (SAAF) (Tomahawks)
No. 239 Wing
Squadrons
Nos. 3 and 450 (Royal Australian Air Force) and Nos. 112 and 250 (Kittyhawks)
No. 244 Wing
Nos. 92, 145 and 601 Squadrons (Spitfires)
No. 73 (Hurricanes)
United States 57th Fighter Group
Squadrons
64th, 65th and 66th (Warhawks)
212 GROUP
No. 7 (SAAF) Wing
Squadrons
Nos. 80, 127, 274 and 335 (Hurricanes)
No. 243 Wing
Squadrons
Nos. 1 (SAAF), 33, 213 and 238 (Hurricanes)
ITALIAN ARMY ORDER OF BATTLE
C-
in-C: Maresciallo d’Italia Ettore Bastico
X Corpo d’Armata
(Generale di Corpo d’Armata Edoardo Nebba; Generale di divisione Enrico Frattini in temporary command until 26 October)
9o Reggimento bersaglieri
16o Reggimento artiglieria d’armata
27a Divisione Autotrasportabile ‘Brescia’ (Generale di divisione Brunetto Brunetti):
19o Reggimento fanteria ‘Brescia’
20o Reggimento fanteria ‘Brescia’
55o Reggimento artiglieria
27o Battaglione misto Genio.
185a Divisione paracadutisti ‘Folgore’ (Generale di divisione Enrico Frattini):
186° Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti
187° Reggimento fanteria paracadutisti
185° Reggimento artiglieria paracadutisti
17a Divisione Autotrasportabile ‘Pavia’ (Generale Nazzareno Scattaglia):
27o Reggimento fanteria ‘Pavia’
28o Reggimento fanteria ‘Pavia’
26o Reggimento artiglieria ‘Rubicone’
17o Battaglione misto Genio.
XX Corpo d’Armata (Generale di Divisione Giuseppe de Stephanis)
132a Divisione Corazzata ‘Ariete’ (Generale di Divisione Adolfo Infante):
132o Reggimento Carristi
8o Reggimento Bersaglieri
132o Reggimento Artiglieria Corazzata
V (DLI) e VI (DLII) Gruppo Semoventi
RECO Ariete (Reparto Esplorante Corazzato):
LII Battaglione Carri
III Gruppo Corazzato Nizza (cavalleria Corazzata)
CXXXII Battaglione misto Genio.
133a Divisione Corazzata ‘Littorio’ (Generale di divisione Gervasio Bitossi):
133o Reggimento Carri
12o Reggimento Bersaglieri
III Battaglione (gruppo squadroni)’Lancieri di Novara’
III Reggimento Artiglieria Celere
133o Reggimento Artiglieria Corazzata
CCCII Gruppo Artiglieria
DLIV Gruppo Semoventi
DLVI Gruppo Semoventi
101a Divisione motorizzata ‘Trieste’
(Generale di divisione Francesco La Ferla):
65o Reggimento fanteria motorizzata ‘Valtellina’
66o Reggimento fanteria motorizzata ‘Valtellina’
8o Battaglione bersaglieri autoblindo
21o Reggimento artiglieria motorizzata ‘Po’
32o Battaglione misto del genio motorizzato
XI Battaglione carri
XXI Corpo d’Armata (Generale di Corpo d’Armata Enea Navarini; Generale di divisione Alessandro Gloria in temporary command until 26 October)
7o Reggimento bersaglieri
8o Reggimento artiglieria d’armata
102a Divisione Motorizzata ‘Trento’ (Generale di brigata Giorgio Masina):
61o Reggimento Fanteria ‘Sicilia’
62o Reggimento Fanteria ‘Sicilia’
7o Reggimento bersaglieri
46° Reggimento Artiglieria motorizzata ‘Trento’
LI Battaglione misto Genio
25a Divisione fanteria ‘Bologna’ (Generale di divisione Alessandro Gloria):
39° Reggimento fanteria ‘Bologna’
40° Reggimento fanteria ‘Bologna’
205° Reggimento artiglieria
25° Battaglione misto Genio
IN ARMY RESERVE
16a Divisione fanteria ‘Pistoia’ (Generale di divisione Giuseppe Falugi)
35° Reggimento fanteria ‘Pistoia’
36° Reggimento fanteria ‘Pistoia’
3° Reggimento artiglieria ‘Fossalta’
51° Battagione del Genio
136a Divisione fanteria ‘Giovani Fascisti’ (Generale di divisione Ismaele di Nisio)
136° Reggimento fanteria ‘Giovani Fascisti’
136° Reggimento artiglieria semovente
GERMAN ARMY ORDER OF BATTLE
PANZERGRUPPE AFRIKA
GOC (and C-in-C Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee):
General der Kavallerie Georg Stumme
(Chief of Staff: Generalmajor Alfred Gause)
19. Flak-Division (General Heinrich Burchard): Stab/Flak-Regiment 102, Stab/Flak-Regiment 135, Stab/Flak-Regiment 66.
DEUTSCHES AFRIKA KORPS (‘DAK’)
(General der Panzertruppen Wilhelm von Thoma)
15. Panzer-Division (Generalmajor Gustav von Vaerst):
Stab der Division
Divisions-Kartenstelle (mot) 33
Kradmelder-Zug
Panzer-Regiment 8
Panzerjäger-Abteilung (mot) 33
Schützen-Brigade (mot) 15
Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 115
Maschinengewehr-Bataillon (mot) 8
Kradschützen-Bataillon (mot) 15
Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot) 33
Nachrichten-Abteilung (mot) 33
Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 33
Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 33
Feldersatz-Bataillon 33
21. Panzer-Division (Generalmajor Heinz von Randow)
Stab der Division
Divisions-Kartenstelle (mot) 200
Kradmelder-Zug
Panzer-Regiment 5
Panzerjäger-Abteilung (mot) 39
Schützen-Regiment (mot) 104
Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 155
Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot) 3
Nachrichten-Abteilung (mot) 200
Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 200
Feldersatz-Bataillon 200
Panzer-Nachrichten-Kompanie
Panzer-Funk-Kompanie
leichte Nachrichten-Kolonne
90. leichte Division (Generalmajor Theodor Graf von Sponeck):
Stab der Division
Divisions-Kartenstelle (mot) 259
Infanterie-Regiment (mot) 200
Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 155
Infanterie-Regiment Afrika 361
Sonderverband 288
Kolbeck-Bataillon schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 707
schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 708
Panzerjäger-Abteilung (mot) 190
Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 190
Aufklärungskompanie (mot) 580
Nachrichten-Abteilung (mot)
Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 900
Feldersatz-Bataillon
164. leichte Division (Generalleutnant Carl-Hans Lungershausen) :
Stab der Division
Panzer-Grenadier Regiment 125
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 382
Panzergrenadier-Regiment 433
schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 707 (von der 90. leichten Div)
schwere Infanteriegeschütz-Kompanie 708 (von der 90. leichten Div)
Flak-Abteilung (mot) 609
Artillerie-Regiment (mot) 220
Aufklärungs-Abteilung (mot) 220
Nachrichten-Kompanie (mot) 220
Panzerpionier-Bataillon (mot) 220
AUFKLÄRUNGSGRUPPE:
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 33
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 580
Flak-Abteilung 612 (- 1./612)
Fallschirmjäger-Brigade 1 (Ramcke) (Generalmajor Hermann Bernhard Ramcke):
I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2
I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3
II./Fallschirmjäger-Battalion 5
Fallschirmjäger-Lehr-Battalion/ XI.Flieger-Korps
II./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment
Panzerjäger-Kompanie
GRUPPE AND KAMPFGRUPPE AT ALAMEIN
AFRIKAKORPS STAB KAMPFGRUPPE
This Gruppe was formed in April 1942.
2./Flak-Abteilung 606
1 Zug/Panzerjäger-Abteilung 39 (4 x 47mm Panzerjäger I self-propelled guns)
1 Panzer-Zug (5 PzKpfw IIs)
1 Zug, 1./Pioniere-Bataillon 33
1 Panzerspähwagen-Zug/Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3 (Armoured Cars)
AUFKLÄRUNGSGRUPPE
This Gruppe was formed on 22 A
ugust 1942, and put under the command of Schützen-Brigade 15. The Italian XX Corpo Reconnaissance Group was instructed to co-operate with this Gruppe. Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 33
Aufklärungs-Abteilung 580
Flak-Abteilung 612 (12 x 20mm self-propelled Flak)
Commander: Oberst Erwin Menny
GRUPPE BAADE
This Gruppe was formed on 17 July 1942.
Stab Panzergrenadier-Regiment 115
1 Bataillon/Panzergrenadier-Regiment 115
1 Panzer-Zug/Panzer-Regiment 5
1 Artillerie-Batterie
Commander: Oberst Ernst-Günther Baade
GRUPPE BESDE
This Gruppe, also known as Abschnitt Mitte, was formed on 25 June 1942, from units of the 15. Panzer-Division. The Gruppe, along with Gruppe Warrelmann and Gruppe Dedekind, was under the overall command of Oberst Baade.
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 33
Panzer-Pionier-Bataillon 33
III. /Artillerie-Regiment 33
Commander: Major Besde
GRUPPE DEDEKIND
This Gruppe, also known as Abschnitt West, was formed on 25 June 1942, from units of the 15. Panzer-Division. The Gruppe, along with Gruppe Warrelmann and Gruppe Besde, was under the overall command of Oberst Baade.
Infanterie-Regiment 115 (III. /115 and two Kompanien, I. /115)
I. /Artillerie-Regiment 33
leichte Flak-Abteilung
Commander: Major Dedekind
KAMPFGRUPPE FISCHER
Formed on 3 November 1942, to cover the 15. Panzer-Division while it withdrew to new positions.
Panzerjäger-Abteilung 605
III. /Artillerie-Regiment 33
I./Flak-Regiment 33
II. /33 Luftwaffe
Commander: Hauptmann Fischer
GRUPPE HAIN
On 16 September 1942, the Panzerarmee informed DAK that Feldersatz-Bataillon 33, Feldersatz-Bataillon 200 and the 90. leichte Division Versorgungsführungs-Bataillon was to be tactically subordinated to the Armee as Gruppe Hain; under the command of Major Hain.
Feldersatz-Bataillon 33
Feldersatz-Bataillon 200
90. leichte-Division Versorgungsführungs-Bataillon
12. Küsten Artillerie-Batterie
Commander: Major Hain