Second Battle of El Alamein

Second Battle of El Alamein

The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...

 Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the battle, 23 October – 3 November 1942.

British 8th Army

Under the command of Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery

• 1st Army Tank Brigade under Brigadier Price
  • 42 Royal Tank Regiment
  • 44 Royal Tank Regiment

both equipped with minesweeping Matilda tanks

• 1st Armoured Brigade (reforming) under Brigadier G.N. Todd
  • 4th Hussars (elements)
  • 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars (elements)
  • 2 Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
    Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
    The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
    
    

• 12th Anti-aircraft Brigade
  • 14 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
    Royal Artillery
    The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
    
    
  • 16 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
  • 27 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
  • 88 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
  • 94 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
  • 27 Searchlight Regiment RA (two troops)

• 2nd Anti-aircraft Brigade
  • 2 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
  • 69 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA (199 & 261 batteries)

• 21st Indian Infantry Brigade
  21st Indian Infantry Brigade
  The 21st Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted from the Quetta Brigade in September 1940, and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division. In March 1941, it was transferred to the 10th Indian Infantry Division and took part in...
  
   (reforming) under Brigadier J.J. Purves
  • 1st battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles
    6th Rajputana Rifles
    The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
    
    
  • 3rd battalion 7th Rajput Regiment
    7th Rajput Regiment
    The 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
    
    
  • 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles
  • 9th Indian Field Company, Indian Engineers

Army Troops

• 6 Royal Tank Regiment (B Squadron)
• 6 South African Armoured Car Regiment (One troop)

• 566 Army Troops Company RE
  Royal Engineers
  The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
  
  
• 568 Army Troops Company RE
• 25 Field Company South African Engineers
• 27 Field Company, South African Engineers
• 31 Field Company, South African Engineers

• 8th Army Signals

British X Corps

X Corps (United Kingdom)

The X Corps was a British Army formation in the First World War and was later reformed in 1942 during the North African campaign of the Second World War as part of the Eighth Army.- First World War :...

Under command of Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden

Herbert Lumsden

Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden, CB, DSO, MC, psc was a British Army general during World War II.-Early career:...

• 571 Field Company RE
• 572 Field Company RE
• 573 Field Company RE
• 570 Field Park Company RE

• 10 Corps Signals

British 1st Armoured Division

under Major-General Raymond Briggs

Raymond Briggs (British Army officer)

Major-General Raymond Briggs CB DSO was a British Army officer who led 2nd Armoured Brigade at the Second Battle of El Alamein.-Military career:...

• 12th Royal Lancers
  12th Royal Lancers
  The 12th Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. In 1960, it was amalgamated with 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, to form 9th/12th Royal Lancers .-History:...
  
  

• 2 Regiment RHA
  Royal Horse Artillery
  The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
  
  
• 4 Regiment RHA
• 11 Regiment RHA [ex 8th Armoured Division] (equipped with M7 Priest
  M7 Priest
  The 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during World War II. It was given the official service name 105 mm Self Propelled Gun, Priest by the British Army, due to the pulpit-like machine gun ring, and following on from the Bishop and...
  
  )
• 76 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 42 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 1 Field Squadron RE
• 9 Field Park Squadron RE (from 8th Armoured Division)

• 1 Armoured Division Signals

British 2nd Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier Arthur Fisher

92 Sherman, 68 Crusader, one Grant = 161 tanks

• 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
  2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
  The 2nd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685 by King James II. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in 1959....
  
  
• 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
  9th Queen's Royal Lancers
  The 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, or the Delhi Spearmen, were a cavalry regiment of the British Army. They are best known for their roles in the Indian mutiny of 1857 and for their part in the North African campaign of World War II including the retreat to and the battle of El Alamein in 1942.-Early...
  
  
• 10th Royal Hussars
  10th Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales's Own)
  The 10th Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1715 to 1969.-Early history:In response to the Jacobite Rebellion, the regiment was raised in 1715 as Humphrey Gore's Regiment of Dragoons...
  
  
• Yorkshire Dragoons (Motor battalion)
• X company 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun
  Machine gun
  A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
  
  )

British 7th Motor Brigade

under Brigadier Thomas J. Bosville

• 2 Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps
• 2 Bn Rifle Brigade (detached less support company to Hammerforce)
• 7 Bn Rifle Brigade

Hammerforce (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

• 4/6 South African Armoured Car Regiment
• 146 Field Regiment RA
• 73 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 56 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
• Z company 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers (machine Gun)
• 7 Field Squadron RE
• 9 Field Squadron RE

British 10th Armoured Division

under Major-General Alexander Gatehouse

Alexander Gatehouse

Major-General Alexander Hugh Gatehouse DSO & bar MC was a British Army officer who commanded 10th Armoured Division during World War II.-Military career:...

• Royal Dragoons

• 1 Regiment RHA
• 5 Regiment RHA (attached from 8 Armoured Div)
• 104 Regiment RHA (attached from 8 Armoured Div)
• 98 Field Regiment RA
• 84 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 53 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA

• 2 Field Squadron RE
• 3 Field Squadron RE
• 6 Field Squadron RE (attached from 8th Armoured Division)
• 141 Field Park Squadron RE

• 10 Armoured Division Signals

8th Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier Edward C.N. Custance

45 Crusader, 57 Grant, 31 Sherman = 133 tanks

• 3 Royal Tank Regiment
  Royal Tank Regiment
  The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
  
  
• The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
  Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry
  The Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry is one of the five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry , an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army. Designated as 'S' Squadron, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry's current role is to support the Formation Reconnaissance Regiments and the Joint Chemical Biological Nuclear...
  
  
• Staffordshire Yeomanry
• 1st Bn The Buffs

British 24th Armoured Brigade (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

under Brigadier Arthur G. Kenchington

2 Grants, 93 Sherman, 45 Crusader = 140 tanks

• 41 Royal Tank Regiment
  Royal Tank Regiment
  The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
  
  
• 45 Royal Tank Regiment
• 47 Royal Tank Regiment
• 11 Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps

British 133rd Infantry Brigade (attached from 44th Infantry Division)

under Brigadier Alec W. Lee

• 2nd Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
• 4th Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
• 5th Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
• W Coy. 1 Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun) (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

British 8th Armoured Division

under Major-General Charles Henry Gairdner

• 6 Field Squadron RE (detached to 10th Armoured Division)
• 9 Field Squadron RE (detached to 1st Armoured Division)
• 145 Field Park Squadron RE
• 8 Armoured Division Signals

British XIII Corps

XIII Corps (United Kingdom)

XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...

Under command of Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks

Brian Horrocks

Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a British Army officer. He is chiefly remembered as the commander of XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden and other operations during the Second World War...

• 4/6 South African Armoured Car Regiment (one troop)

• 578 Army Field Company RE
• 576 Corps Field Park Company RE

• 13 Corps Signals

British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division

under Major-General John Nichols

• 2 Bn Cheshire Regiment (machine gun bn)

• 74 Field Regiment RA
• 111 Field Regiment RA
• 124 Field Regiment RA
• 154 Field Regiment RA
• 102 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 34 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 233 Field Company RE
• 505 Field Company RE
• 235 Field Park Company RE

• 50 Northumbrian Division Signals

1st Greek Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Pausanias Katsotas

• 1st Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Infantry Battalion
• 3rd Infantry Battalion

• 1st Greek Field Artillery Regiment
• 1st Greek Machine Gun Company
• 1 Greek Field Company, Greek Engineers

British 151st Infantry Brigade (attached to 2nd New Zealand Division 29 October to 3 November)

under Brigadier Joscelyn E.S. Percy

• 6 Bn Durham Light Infantry
  Durham Light Infantry
  The Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
  
  
• 8 Bn Durham Light Infantry
• 9 Bn Durham Light Infantry

British 69th Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Edward C. Cooke-Collis

• 5 Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
  East Yorkshire Regiment
  The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
  
  
• 6 Bn Green Howards
• 7 Bn Green Howards

2nd Free French Brigade Group (under command)

• 5 Bn de Marche
• 11 Bn de Marche

• 21 & 23 North African Antitank Coys.
• 2 Coy. Free French Engineers

British 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division

under Major-General Ivor T.P.Hughes

• 44 Reconnaissance Battalion (detached to 7th Armoured Division)
• 6 Bn Cheshire Regiment
  Cheshire Regiment
  The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
  
   (machine gun bn)

• 53 Field Regiment RA
• 57 Field Regiment RA
• 58 Field Regiment RA
• 65 Field Regiment RA
• 57 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 30 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 11 Field Company RE
• 209 Field Company RE
• 210 Field Company RE
• 211 Field Park Company RE
• 577 Army Field Company (attached)

• 44 Home Counties Division Signals

British 131st Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier William Donovan Stamer

• 1/5 Bn Queens Regiment
• 1/6 Bn Queens Regiment
• 1/7 Bn Queens Regiment

British 132nd (Kent) Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Lashmer Whistler

Lashmer Whistler

General Sir Lashmer Gordon Whistler GCB, KBE, DSO & Two Bars, DL , known as Bolo, was a British army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. In the Second World War he achieved senior ranks serving with Field Marshal Montgomery in North Africa and Europe...

• 4th Bn. The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
  The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1961. It was formed as The Queen's Own as part of the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 50th Regiment of Foot and the 97th Regiment of Foot...
  
  
• 5th Bn. The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
• 2nd Bn. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
  The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
  The Buffs , formerly the 3rd Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army until 1961. It had a history dating back to 1572 and was one of the oldest regiments in the British Army being third in order of precedence...
  
  

British 133rd (Lorried) Infantry Brigade

Detached to 10th Armoured Division

British 7th Armoured Division

under Major-General John Harding

John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton

Field Marshal Allan Francis John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton, GCB, CBE, DSO, MC was a British Army officer and Governor of Cyprus from 1955 to 1957, Cyprus being a British colony at that time....

• 1 Household Cavalry Regiment
  Household Cavalry Regiment
  The Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
  
  
• 11th Hussars
  11th Hussars
  The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
  
   [under command from 4th Armoured Brigade, in reserve]
• 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
  Derbyshire Yeomanry
  The Derbyshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794, which served as a cavalry regiment and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and provided two reconnaissance regiments in the Second World War, before being amalgamated into The Leicestershire...
  
   [under command from 8th Armoured Div]
• 44 Reconnaissance Regiment (under command from 44th Infantry Division)

• 3 Regiment RHA
• 4 Field Regiment RA
• 97 Field Regiment RA
• 65 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 15 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 4 Field Squadron RE
• 21 Field Squadron RE
• 143 Field Park Squadron RE

• 7 Armoured Division Signals

British 4th Light Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier Marcus G. Roddick

57 Stuart, 14 Grant = 71 tanks and 9 armoured cars

• Royal Scots Greys
  Scots Greys
  The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ....
  
  
• 4th/8th Hussars
• 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps
  King's Royal Rifle Corps
  The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
  
  

British 22nd Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier George "Pip" Roberts

George Philip Bradley Roberts

Major-General George Philip Bradley Roberts CB, DSO, MC, , better known as "Pip", was a British commander of an armoured division during the Second World War.-Military career:...

57 Grant, 50 Crusader, 19 Stuart = 126 tanks

• 1 Royal Tank Regiment
  Royal Tank Regiment
  The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
  
  
• 5 Royal Tank Regiment
• 4 County of London Yeomanry
  County of London Yeomanry
  Several British Army regiments have born the title County of London Yeomanry . Most have been mounted, then armoured regiments.-1st County of London Yeomanry:...
  
  
• 1 Bn Rifle Brigade

1st Free French Brigade Group (under command)

under Brigadier Marie Pierre Koenig

Marie Pierre Koenig

Marie Pierre Kœnig was a French army officer and politician. He commanded a Free French Brigade at the Battle of Bir Hakeim in North Africa in 1942....

• 1 Bn. Foreign Legion
• 2 Bn. Foreign Legion
• 3 Bn Pacific Marine Infantry

• 3rd Field Regiment RA (attached)
• 1st Free French Artillery Regiment
• 2 Anti-aircraft Coy. 1st Marine Fusiliers
• 2 Free French Anti-tank Coy.
• 22 North African Anti-tank Coy.

• 1 Field Company Free French Engineers

with (under command)

• 1 Free French Flying Column
• Armoured Car Squadron and Portee troop, 1 Marocco Spahis
• 1 Free French Tank Coy.
• Anti-aircraft troop, 1 Bn Foreign Legion

British XXX Corps

Under the command of Lieutenant General Oliver Leese

Oliver Leese

Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, 3rd Baronet, KCB, CBE, DSO was a British general during World War II.-Early years:...

• XXX Corps Defence Squadron
• C Regiment, 4/6 South African Armoured Car Squadron

• 7 Medium Regiment RA
• 64 Medium Regiment RA
• 69 Medium Regiments RA

• 66 Mortar Coy RE (two sections detached to 9th Australian Division)
• 11 Field Company, South African Engineers
• 13 Field Company, South African Engineers
• 22 Field Park Company, South African Engineers

• XXX Corps Signals

9th Australian Division

under Major General Leslie Morshead

Leslie Morshead

Lieutenant General Sir Leslie James Morshead KCB, KBE, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian soldier, teacher, businessman, and farmer, with a distinguished military career that spanned both world wars...

• 9 Division Cavalry Regiment
• 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion
• 2/3 Pioneer Battalion

• 2/7 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
• 2/8 Field Regiment, RAA
• 2/12 Field Regiment RAA
• 3 Anti-tank Regiment, RAA
• 4 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RAA

• 2/3 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers
• 2/7 Field Company RAE
• 2/13 Field Company RAE
• 2/4 Field Park Company RAE

• 9 Australian Division Signals

Australian 24th Brigade

under Brigadier Arthur H.L. Godfrey

• 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion, Western Australia (WA)
• 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Victoria (Vic.)
• 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, South Australia (SA)

Australian 26th Brigade

under Brigadier David A. Whitehead

• 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.
• 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.
• 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion, SA
  2/48th Battalion (Australia)
  The 2/48th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during the Second World War. Raised in Adelaide in South Australia in August 1940, the battalion formed part of the 26th Brigade and was initially assigned to the 7th Division, although it was later transferred to...
  
  

Australian 20th Brigade

under Brigadier H. Wrigley

• 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion, New South Wales (NSW)
• 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Queensland (Qld)
• 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division

British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (World War II)

For the First World War unit, see 51st Division .The 51st Infantry Division was a British Territorial Army division that fought during the Second World War...

under Major General Douglas Wimberley

Douglas Wimberley

Major-General Douglas Neil Wimberley CB, DSO, MC was commander of the 51st Division at the Second Battle of El Alamein in World War II and lead it across North Africa to Sicily....

• 51st Bn Reconnaissance Regiment
• 1/7 Bn Middlesex Regiment (machine gun bn)
• 50th Royal Tank Regiment (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade)

• 126 Field Regiment RA
• 127 Field Regiment RA
• 128 Field Regiment RA
• 61 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 40 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 274 Field Company RE
• 275 Field Company RE
• 276 Field Company RE
• 239 Field Park Company RE

• 51st Highland Division Signals

British 152nd Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier George Murray

• 2 Bn Seaforth Highlanders
  Seaforth Highlanders
  The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
  
  
• 5 Bn Seaforth Highlanders
• 5 Bn Cameron Highlanders
  Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
  The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1793. In 1961 it was merged with the Seaforth Highlanders to form the Queen's Own Highlanders...
  
  

British 153rd Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Douglas Graham

• 5 Bn Black Watch
  Black Watch
  The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
  
  
• 1 Bn Gordon Highlanders
• 5/7 Bn Gordon Highlanders

British 154th Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Henry W. Houldsworth

• 1 Bn Black Watch
• 7 Bn Black Watch
• 7 Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

2nd New Zealand Division

New Zealand 2nd Division

The 2nd New Zealand Division was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces during World War II. It was commanded for most of its existence by Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, and fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and Italy...

under Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg

• 2 NZ Division Cavalry Regiment
• 27 Bn (machine gun bn)

• 4 Field Regiment Royal NZ Artillery
• 5 Field Regiment RNZA
• 6 Field Regiment RNZA
• 7 Anti-tank Regiment RNZA
• 14 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RNZA

• 6 Field Company Royal NZ Engineers
• 7 Field Company RNZE
• 8 Field Company RNZE
• 5 Field Park Company RNZE

• 2 NZ Division Signals

New Zealand 5th Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Howard Kippenberger

Howard Kippenberger

Major-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED, , known as Kip, served as a New Zealand soldier in both World Wars.-Personal life:Howard Kippenberger married Ruth Isobel Flynn, of Lyttelton in 1922...

• 21 Battalion
• 22 Battalion
• 23 Battalion
• 28th Māori Battalion
  Maori Battalion
  The 28th Battalion, more commonly known as the Māori Battalion, was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War. It was formed following pressure on the Labour government by some Māori MPs and Māori organisations throughout the country wanting a full Māori...
  
  

New Zealand 6th Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier William Gentry

• 24 Bn New Zealand Infantry
• 25 Bn New Zealand Infantry
• 26 Bn New Zealand Infantry

British 9 Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier John Currie

John Cecil Currie

Brigadier John Cecil Currie DSO & two Bars, MC was an officer in the British Army during World War II.As part of Iraqforce , Brigadier Currie commanded the 9th Armoured Brigade during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. His brigade was part of Hazelforce commanded by Brigadier J.A...

35 Sherman, 37 Grant, 46 Crusader =118

• 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars
• Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
  Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
  The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
  
  
• Warwickshire Yeomanry
  Warwickshire Yeomanry
  The Warwickshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794, which served as a cavalry and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an armoured regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own...
  
  
• 14 Bn Sherwood Foresters

South African 1st Infantry Division

under Major-General Dan Pienaar

Dan Pienaar

Major General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar CB, DSO & Bar was a South African World War II military commander.Pienaar joined the artillery branch of the Natal Police in 1911, and transferred to the Union Defence Forces when they took over the NP in 1913...

• 8th Royal Tank Regiment
  8th Royal Tank Regiment
  The 8th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1960. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It originally saw action as H Battalion, Tank Corps in 1917....
  
   (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade, in reserve until 31 October)
• 3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaissance Regiment
• Regiment President Steyn
  Regiment President Steyn
  Regiment President Steyn is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
  
   (Machine gun battalion)
• 2nd Regiment Botha (in reserve until 31 October)

• 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery
  Cape Field Artillery
  The Cape Field Artillery is an artillery regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
  
  , South African Artillery
• 4th Field Regiment, SAA
• 7th Field Regiment, SAA
• 1st Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, SAA
• 1st Anti-tank Regiment, SAA

• 1 Field Company, South African Engineers
• 2 Field Company, SAE
• 3 Field Company, SAE
• 5 Field Company, SAE
• 19 Field Park Company, SAE

• 1 SA Division Signals

South African 1st Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier E.P. Hartshorn

• 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
• 1st Royal Natal Carabineers
• 1st Transvaal Scottish
  Transvaal Scottish Regiment
  The Transvaal Scottish Regiment is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
  
  

South African 2nd Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier Evered Poole

Evered Poole

Major General William Henry Evered Poole, CB, CBE, DSO, Commander of the US Legion of Merit, Commander of the French Légion d'honneur, Croix de Guerre avec Palme, Mentioned in Despatches, was a South African soldier before and during World War II and afterwards a diplomat.-Early life:In October...

• 1st Cape Town Highlanders
  Cape Town Highlanders Regiment
  The Cape Town Highlanders Regiment is a mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
  
  
• 1st Natal Mounted Rifles
  Natal Mounted Rifles
  The Natal Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
  
  
• 1st/2nd Field Force Battalion

South African 3rd Infantry Brigade

under Brigadier ?

• 1st Imperial Light Horse
• 1st Rand Light Infantry
  Rand Light Infantry
  The Rand Light Infantry is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit.-History:...
  
  
• 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry

4th Indian Infantry Division

under Major-General Francis Tuker

Francis Tuker

Lieutenant General Sir Francis Ivan Simms Tuker KCIE CB DSO OBE was a British Indian Army officer.-Military career:...

• Central India Horse (Reconnaissance)
• 5th Bn 6th Rajputana Rifles
  6th Rajputana Rifles
  The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
  
   (machine gun)

• 1 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
  Royal Artillery
  The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
  
  
• 11 Field Regiment RA
• 32 Field Regiment RA
• 149 Anti-tank Regiment RA
• 57 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA

• 2 Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners
• 4 Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners
• 12 Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners
• 11 Field Park Company, Madras Sappers and Miners

• 4 Indian Division Signals

5th Indian Infantry Brigade

5th Indian Infantry Brigade

The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted for the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade in September 1939, and assigned to the 4th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade fist moved to Egypt and took part in the early battles in North...

under Brigadier Dudley Russell

Dudley Russell

Lieutenant-General Sir Dudley Russell KBE, CB, DSO, MC was an officer in the British and Indian Armies during World War I and World War II.-Early career:...

• 1/4 Bn The Essex Regiment
• 4 Bn (Outram's) 6th Rajputana Rifles
  6th Rajputana Rifles
  The 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
  
  
• 3 Bn Queen Mary's Own 10th Baluch Regiment
  10th Baluch Regiment
  The 10th Baluch or Baluch Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. After the Partition of India, it was transferred to the Pakistan Army. In 1956, it was amalgamated with the 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments...
  
  

7th Indian Infantry Brigade

7th Indian Infantry Brigade

The 7th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1939, by renaming the Poona Independent Brigade as the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade and renumbered 4th in June 1940, A second 7th Brigade was formed in June 1940, and assigned...

under Brigadier Arthur Holworthy

• 1 Bn The Royal Sussex Regiment
  Royal Sussex Regiment
  The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
  
  
• 4 Bn 16th Punjab Regiment
  16th Punjab Regiment
  The 16th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 15th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
  
  
• 1 Bn 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles

161st Indian Infantry Brigade

161st Indian Infantry Brigade

The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the Indian Army. It was formed in November 1941 and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade were then sent to Cyprus as a garrison in case of a German invasion...

under Brigadier Francis E.C. Hughes

• 1 Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
• 1st Bn 1st Punjab Regiment
  1st Punjab Regiment
  The 1st Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 14th, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regiment....
  
  
• 4th Bn 7th Rajput Regiment
  7th Rajput Regiment
  The 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
  
  

British 23rd Armoured Brigade

under Brigadier George W. Richards

186 Valentine tanks

• 8 Royal Tank Regiment
  Royal Tank Regiment
  The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
  
   (detached to 1 SA Division)
• 40 Royal Tank Regiment (dettached to 9 Australian Division)
• 46 Royal Tank Regiment
• 50 Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 51st Highland Division)

• 121 Field Regiment RA
• 168 Battery, 56 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA

• 295 Army Field Coy. RE (three troops detached to 50th Royal Tank Regiment with 51st (Highland) Division)

Panzer Army Africa

Panzer Army Africa

As the number of German armed forces committed to the North Africa Campaign of World War II grew from the initial commitment of a small corps the Germans developed a more elaborate command structure and placed the now larger Afrika Korps, with Italian units under this new German command structure,...

(commanded by Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall

Generalfeldmarschall

Field Marshal or Generalfeldmarschall in German, was a rank in the armies of several German states and the Holy Roman Empire; in the Austrian Empire, the rank Feldmarschall was used...

) Erwin Rommel

Erwin Rommel

Erwin Johannes Eugen Rommel , popularly known as the Desert Fox , was a German Field Marshal of World War II. He won the respect of both his own troops and the enemies he fought....

)
(Lieutenant-General (General der Panzertruppe

General der Panzertruppe

General der Panzertruppe was a rank of German Army General introduced by the Wehrmacht in 1935. As the commander of a Panzer Corp this rank corresponds to a US Army Lieutenant-General...

) Georg Stumme

Georg Stumme

Georg Stumme was a World War II German general most notable for his brief command of the Axis forces at the beginning of the Second Battle of El Alamein.-Biography:...

 was in command at the start of the battle in Rommel's absence on sick leave)

German 90th Light Afrika Division

(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Ernst Strecker)

• 155th Panzergrenadier
  Panzergrenadier
  is a German term for motorised or mechanized infantry, as introduced during World War II. It is used in the armies of Austria, Chile, Germany and Switzerland.-Forerunners:...
  
  Regiment (with 707th Heavy Infantry Gun Company)
• 200th Panzergrenadier Regiment (with 708th Heavy Infantry Gun Company)
• 346th Panzergrenadier Regiment (should be 361st, 346th assigned to 217th Inf Div, the 361st was formed in theatre from former French Foreign Legionnaires of German origin)
• 190th Artillery Regiment
• 190th Anti-tank Battalion
• under command: Force 288 (Panzergrenadier Regiment Afrika, the three battalions listed after this are not part of this 8-to-10 company detachment)
  • 605th Anti-tank Battalion
  • 109th Anti-aircraft Battalion
  • 606th Anti-aircraft Battalion

German 164th Light Afrika Division

German 164th Infantry Division

The 164th Division was a unit of the Wehrmacht in World War II. It was initially created as the 164th Infantry Division in November 1939 and took part in the invasion of Greece in April 1941. In January 1942, consolidating Axis seizure of the island during the Battle of Crete, the 164th was...

(Major-General (Generalleutnant) Carl-Hans Lungershausen)

• 125th Infantry Regiment
• 382nd Infantry Regiment
• 433rd Infantry Regiment
• 220th Artillery Regiment
• 220th Engineer Battalion
• 220th Cyclist Unit
• 609th Anti-aircraft Battalion

Ramcke Parachute Brigade

Ramcke Parachute Brigade

Fallschirmjäger-Brigade AfrikaFallschirmjäger-Brigade RamckeLuftwaffen-Jäger-Brigade 1The Fallschirmjäger-Brigade Ramcke was an elite German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Brigade which saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre during World War II.-History:Following the costly success of Operation...

(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke

Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke

Hermann-Bernhard "Gerhard" Ramcke was a German general. He was a recipient of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Swords, Oak Leaves, and Diamonds, one of only 27 people in the German military so decorated...

)

• 1st Bn 2nd Parachute Regiment
• 1st Bn 3rd Parachute Regiment
• 2nd Bn 5th Parachute Regiment
• Lehrbattalion Burkhardt
• Parachute Artillery Battery
• Parachute Anti-tank Battalion

German Africa Corps

Afrika Korps

The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...

(Major-General (Generalleutnant) Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma

Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma

Wilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma was a German officer who served in World War I, in the Spanish Civil War, and as a General der Panzertruppe in World War II.-Early life:...

)

German 15th Panzer Division

(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Gustav von Vaerst)

• 8th Panzer Regiment
• 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment
• 33rd Artillery Regiment
• 33rd Anti-tank Battalion
• 33rd Engineer Battalion

German 21st Panzer Division

(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Heinz von Randow

Heinz von Randow

Heinz Friedrich von Randow was a German army general.- Life :Randow was born in Grammow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He became an ensign in 1910, then attended the military academy and became lieutenant on 20 November 1911, five days after his 21st birthday. He was then in the 2nd Mecklenburgian Dragoon...

)

• 5th Panzer Regiment
• 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment
• 155th Artillery Regiment
• 39th Anti-tank Battalion
• 200th Engineer Battalion

Italian Army Africa

(Marshal Ettore Bastico

Ettore Bastico

Ettore Bastico was an Italian military officer before and during World War II. He held high commands during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War , the Spanish Civil War, and the North African Campaign....

)

(Note: other than the Pistoia Division and rear-area troops, the Italian Army HQ in Africa had only administrative control over Italian formations. All Italian formations were under the tactical control of Rommel's Panzer Armee Afrika.)

16 Motorised Division Pistoia

16 Motorised Division Pistoia

The 16 Motorised Division Pistoia was an Motorised Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Division was mobilized in June 1940, as an infantry division and was sent to the French border and held in reserve for the Italian First Army. In October 1941, it was motorised and sent...

• 35th Infantry Regiment
• 36th Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Fossalta Artillery Regiment (mot)
• 16th Mortar Battalion
• 16th Anti-Tank Company
• 51st Engineer Battalion

Italian X Corps

(Lieutenant General Edoardo Nebba; Major General Enrico Frattini in temporary command to October 26)

• 9th Bersaglieri Regiment
• 16th Corps Artillery Group
• 8th Army Artillery Group

Italian 27 Infantry Division Brescia

(Major General Brunetto Brunetti)

• 19th Infantry Regiment
• 20th Infantry Regiment
• 1st Mobile Artillery Regiment
• 27th Mixed Engineer Regiment

Italian 17 Infantry Division Pavia

Italian 17 Infantry Division Pavia

17 Motorised Division Pavia or 17 Divisione Autotrasportabile Pavia was a North African type infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Pavia was formed in October 1939 and sent to Libya. It was never completely motorised but despite this limitation, it was considered to...

(Brigadier General N. Scattaglia)

• 27th Infantry Regiment
• 28th Infantry Regiment
• 26th Artillery Regiment
• 17th Mixed Engineer Battalion

Italian 185 Parachutist Division Folgore

(Major General Enrico Frattini)

• 185th Parachutist Regiment
• 186th Parachutist Regiment
• 187th Parachutist Regiment
• 185th Parachutist Artillery Regiment

Italian XX Motorized Corps

(Lieutenant General Giuseppi de Stephanis)

• 8th Army Artillery Group (part)
• 90th Engineer Company

Italian 132 Armoured Division Ariete

Italian 132nd Armored Division Ariete

The Ariete Armoured Division was an armoured division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939 as the second armoured division in the Italian Army after the 131 Armoured Division Centauro. The division fought in the North African Campaign until being destroyed during the...

(Major General Francesco Arena)

• 132nd Armoured Regiment
  • IX, X, XII Tank battalions (roughly 100 Fiat M14/41
    Fiat M14/41
    The Fiat M14/41 was a four person medium tank that served from 1941 in the Royal Italian Army. The official Italian designation was Carro Armato M 14/41...
    
     tanks total);
• 8th Bersaglieri Regiment (motorised)
  • V and XII Bersaglieri motor rifle battalions;
  • III Bersaglieri support weapons battalion.
• 132nd Artillery Regiment (motorised)
  • I & II battalions (75/27 field guns
    Cannone da 75/27 modello 06
    The Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 was a field gun used by Italy during World War I and World War II. It was a license-built copy of the Krupp Kanone M 1906 gun. It had seats for two crewmen attached to the gunshield as was common practice for the period. Captured weapons were designated by the...
    
    ) ;
  • III battalion (105/25 howitzers);
  • IV mixed AA battalion 90/53
    Cannone da 90/53
    The Cannone da 90/53 was an Italian designed cannon, and one of the most successful anti-aircraft guns to see service during World War II. It was used both in an anti-aircraft role and as an anti-tank gun...
    
     and 20mm
    Breda Model 35
    The Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/65 modello 35 , also known as Breda Model 35, was a 20 mm anti-aircraft gun produced by the Società Italiana Ernesto Breda of Brescia company in Italy and used during World War II. It was designed in 1932 and was adopted by the Italian armed forces in 1935...
    
     guns;
  • V & VI battalions semoventi M40 da 75/18 (roughly 10 semoventi and carri commando each);
  • I/24 howitzers battalion (in reinforcement);
  • an 88/56 battalion.
• 3rd Battalion Nizza Cavalleria (AB41 Armoured cars)
• 32nd Mixed Engineer Battalion (motorised)

Italian 133 Armoured Division Littorio

(Major General G. Bitossi)

• 133rd Tank Regiment
  • IV, XII & LI tank battalions (M14/41).
• 12th Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment
• 3rd Artillery Regiment
• 133rd Artillery Regiment (part)
  • included two battalions of Semovente 75/18
    Semovente 75/18
    The Semovente 75/18 was an Italian self-propelled gun of the Second World War. It was built by mounting the 75 mm Obice da 75/18 modello 34 mountain gun on the chassis of a M13/40 or M14/41 tank. The first 60 were built using the M13/40 chassis and a subsequent 162 were built on the M14/41...
    
    
• 3rd Tank Group Lancieri di Novara (Fiat L6/40
  Fiat L6/40
  The Fiat L6/40 was a light tank used by the Italian army from 1940 and on through World War II. The official Italian designation was Carro Armato L 6/40...
  
   light tanks)

Italian 101 Motorised Division Trieste

Italian 101 Motorised Division Trieste

101 Motorised Division Trieste or 101 Divisione Trieste was an Motorised Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Trieste was formed in 1939 and served in Albania and North Africa where it surrendered to the Allies in 1943....

(Brigadier General Francisco La Ferla)

• XI Tank Battalion (M14/41)
• 65th Infantry Regiment
• 6th Infantry Regiment
• 21st Artillery Regiment
• 8th Armoured Bersaglieri Battalion (AB41 Armoured cars)
• 52nd Mixed Artillery Battalion

Italian XXI Corps

(Lieutenant General Enea Navarini; Major General Alessandro Gloria in temporary command to October 26)

• 7th Bersaglieri Regiment
• 24th Corps Artillery Group
• 8th Army Artillery Group (part)

Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento

Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento

The 102nd Motorised Division Trento was a motorised infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was formed in 1939 and kept in reserve in Italy until it was moved to North Africa in February 1941. It took part in Axis attacks across North Africa, following the Allied Operation...

(Brigadier General Giorgio Masina)

• 61st Infantry Regiment
• 62nd Infantry Regiment
• 46th Artillery Regiment

Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna

Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna

The 25 Semi-Motorised Division Bologna was an Semi-Motorised Infantry division of the Italian Army during World War II. It was stationed in Tripolitania and was sent to Libya for the Italian invasion of Egypt...

(Major General Giorgio Masina)

• 39th Infantry Regiment
• 40th Infantry Regiment
• 205th Artillery Regiment
• 25th Engineer Battalion