
This humungous post is still a work in progress for a battle on 27 Oct 2018. It now forms part of the Campaign Orders of Battle page for NQM. This post has been modified several times to form a reduced orbat to fit onto an 11 x 5 foot squared table at Trebian’s Shedquarters, or in my Den.

Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery Comd car (C3), FAC HQ (C3)

Under direct Army Command

Army Troops
-
6th South African Armoured Car Regiment (One troop – not modelled)
-
B Squadron, 6th Royal Tank Regiment
- Crusader II Tank (could be Grant or Stuart M3) (S1)
-
566th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
- 568th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
25th Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
27th Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
31st Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
- 1st? Tank Delivery Regiment Scammel Tank Transporter (L1)
-
8th Army Signals “Monty’s Caravan” Signals Truck (C3)


Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden Comd staff car (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
571st Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
572nd Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
573rd Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
570th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (L3)
-
X Corps Signals Signals Truck (C3)

Major-General Raymond Briggs Comd Grant Tank (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
1st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper Base (E1)
-
9th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers (from 8th Armd Div) Truck (L3)
Brigadier Arthur Fisher Crusader II (C3)
92 Sherman, 68 Crusader, one Grant = 161 tanks[2] (3 Shermans, 2 Crusaders)
Brigadier Thomas J. Bosville Dingo Armd Car (C3)
-
2nd Battablion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps Infantry in Carrier + 6pdr Atk (F3)
-
2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (detached less support company to Hammerforce)
-
7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade Infantry stand in Carrier + 6pdr Atk (F3)
Hammerforce (attached from 8th Armoured Division)
-
4th/6th South African A/C Regt Marmon-Herrington III (R3)
+ 2 Recce Markers
-
146th (Pembroke & Cardiganshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery Universal Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3) (or portee)
-
Z Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun) Infantry MMG stand (S3)
-
7th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
9th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)

Major-General Alexander Gatehouse Comd Dingo (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
2nd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
3rd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
6th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (attached from 8th Armoured Division) Sapper base (E1)
-
141st Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (L3)
Brigadier Edward C.N. Custance Crusader II (C3)
45 Crusaders, 57 Grants, 31 Sherman = 133 tanks (1 Crusader, 2 Grants , 1 Sherman)

Brigadier Arthur G. Kenchington Crusader II (C3)
2 Grants, 93 Shermans, 45 Crusaders = 140 tanks (1 Crusader, 3 Shermans)
Brigadier Alec W. Lee Dingo Armd Car or Signals Truck (C3)
-
2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Infantry stand (F3)
-
4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Infantry stand (F3)
-
5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment Infantry stand (F3)
-
W Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun) (attached from 8th Armoured Division) Infantry MMG stand (S3)

Major-General Charles Gairdner Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3) (This divisional HQ does not need to be modelled)
(all brigades stripped away from the division prior to the Second Battle of El Alamein)
- 23rd Armoured Brigade
24th Armoured Brigade
- 133rd Infantry Brigade
Support Units
- 8th Support Group
-
6th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (detached to 10th Armoured Division)
-
9th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (detached to 1st Armoured Division)
-
145th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers
-
8th Armoured Division Signals Signals truck (C3)

Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks Comd staff car (C3)
-
578th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
576th Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (E3)

Major-General John Nichols Comd staff car (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
505th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
235th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (E3)
Colonel Pausanias Katsotas Comd in Jeep (C3)
-
1st Infantry Battalion Infantry stand (F3)
-
2nd Infantry Battalion Infantry stand (F3)
-
3rd Infantry Battalion Infantry stand (F3)
-
1st Greek Field Artillery Regiment Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
1st Greek Machine Gun Company Infantry MMG stand (S1)
-
1st Greek Field Company, Greek Engineers Sapper base (E1)
151st Infantry Brigade (attached to 2nd New Zealand Division 29 October to 3 November)
Brigadier Joscelyn E.S. Percy Comd in staff car (C3)
-
6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
Brigadier Edward C. Cooke-Collis Comd in staff car (C3)
2nd Free French Brigade Group (under command)
-
21st and 23rd North African Anti-Tank Companies Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (S2)
-
2nd Company, Free French Pioneer base (E1)

Major-General Ivor T.P.Hughes Comd staff car (C3), LOG/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
44th Reconnaissance Battalion (detached to 7th Armoured Division)
-
6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (machine gun battalion)
-
53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
57th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
58th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
65th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
57th Atk Regiment, Royal Artillery Universal Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
30th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Morris Limber (S3), 40mm Bofors AA (S3) (or portee)
-
11th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
209th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
210th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
211th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (E3)
-
577th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers (attached) Sapper base (E1)
Brigadier William Donovan Stamer Comd staff car (C3)
-
1/5th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Infantry (F3)
-
1/6th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Infantry (F3)
-
1/7th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Infantry (F3)
Brigadier Lashmer Whistler Comd staff car (C3)
Detached to 10th Armoured Division

Major-General John Harding Comd staff car (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
1st Household Cavalry Regiment Daimler armoured car (R3)
+ 2 Recce Markers
-
11th Hussars [under command from 4th Armoured Brigade, in reserve] Morris CS9 armoured car (R3) + 2 Recce Markers
-
2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry [under command from 8th Armoured Div] Humber A/C or Bren Carrier (R3) + 2 Recce Markers
-
44th Reconnaissance Regiment (under comd from 44th Inf Div)Universal Carrier or Dingo lt recce car (R3) + 2 Recce Markers
-
4th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
21st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
143rd Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (E3)

Brigadier Marcus G. Roddick M3 Stuart Tank (C3)
57 (2) Stuart, 14 (1) Grant = 71 tanks and 9 armoured cars

Brigadier George “Pip” Roberts M3 Stuart Tank (C3)
57 (2) Grant, 50 (2) Crusader, 19 (1) Stuart = 126 tanks
1st Free French Brigade Group (under command)
Brigadier Marie Pierre Koenig Comd Jeep (C3)
-
1st Battalion, Foreign Legion Infantry stand (F3)
-
2nd Battalion, Foreign Legion Infantry stand (F3)
-
3rd Battalion, Pacific Marine Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
3rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (attached) Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
1st Free French Artillery Regiment Renault limber + 75mm gun (S3)
-
2nd Anti-Aircraft Company, 1st Marine Fusiliers
-
2nd Free French Anti-Tank Company
-
22nd North African Anti-Tank Company Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (S2)
with (under command)
-
1st Free French Flying Column Automitrailleuse Dodge ‘Tanake'(F2),
-
Armoured Car Squadron and Portee troop, 1st Marocco Spahis Portee 75mm M1897 or ‘Conus gun’ SPG (S3)
-
1st Free French Tank Company Crusader III Tank (S1)
-
Anti-Aircraft troop, 1st Battalion, Foreign Legion ?25 mm CA mle 39 towed/portee (S3)

Lieutenant General Oliver Leese Comd in staff car (C3)
-
XXX Corps Defence Squadron Infantry MMG (S1)
-
C Squadron, 4th/6th South African Armoured Car Regiment Marmon Herrington (R1)
-
66th Mortar Company, Royal Engineers (two sections detached to 9th Australian Division. Fired only HE during the campaign but trained for chemical warfare) 4.2″ Mortar (S1)
-
11th Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper (E1)
-
13th Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper (E1)
-
22nd Field Park Company, South African Engineers Low Loader + D7 bulldozer (L3)

Major General Leslie Morshead Comd staff car (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
9th Division Cavalry Regiment Crusader III or M3 Stuart Tank (F3)
-
2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion Infantry MMG stand (F3)
-
2/3rd Pioneer Battalion 3 (E1) Pioneers
-
2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Arty Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
2/8th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Arty Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
2/12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Arty Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Australian Arty Univ. Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
4th LAA Regiment, RAA Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors/portee AA (S3)
-
2/3rd Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
2/7th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
2/13th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
2/4th Field Park Company, Royal Aust Engineers Low Loader or Truck (E3)
Brigadier Arthur H.L. Godfrey Commander with Mortar (C3)
-
2/28th Australian Inf Battalion, Western Australia (WA) Infantry (F3)
-
2/32nd Australian Inf Battalion, Victoria (Vic.) Infantry (F3)
-
2/43rd Australian Inf Battalion, South Australia (SA) Infantry (F3)
Brigadier David A. Whitehead Commander with Mortar (C3)
Brigadier H. Wrigley Commander with Mortar (C3)
-
2/13th Australian Inf Battalion, New South Wales (NSW) Inf (F3)
-
2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Queensland (Qld) Inf (F3)
-
2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW Infantry stand (F3)

Major General Douglas Wimberley Comd staff car (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
126th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
127th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
128th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
61st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery Univ. Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3) (or portee)
-
274th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
275th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
276th Field Company, Royal Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Low Loader or Truck (L3)
-
51st Highland Division Signals Signals Truck (C3)
Brigadier George Murray Commander with Mortar (C3)
Brigadier Douglas Graham Commander with Mortar (C3)
-
5th Battalion, Black Watch Infantry stand (F3)
-
1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders Infantry stand (F3)
-
5th/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders Infantry stand (F3)
Brigadier Henry W. Houldsworth Commander with Mortar (C3)

Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg Comd in Dingo (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
4th Field Regiment, RNZA Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
5th Field Regiment, RNZA Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
6th Field Regiment, RNZA Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
7th Anti-Tank Regiment, RNZA Universal Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3)
-
6th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
7th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
8th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
5th Field Park Company, Royal NZ Engineers Low Loader (L3)
5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade
Brigadier Howard Kippenberger Comd with Mortar (C3)
-
21st Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
22nd Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
23rd Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
28th (Māori) Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
6th New Zealand Infantry Brigade
Brigadier William Gentry Comd with Mortar (C3)
-
24th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
25th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)
-
26th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry Infantry stand (F3)

Brigadier John Currie Crusader III Tank (C3)
35 (1) Sherman, 37 (1) Grant, 46 (2) Crusader =118

Major-General Dan Pienaar Comd Dingo (C3), Signals van (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
8th Royal Tank Regiment (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade, in reserve until 31 Oct)[nb 1] Valentine II Tank (F3)
-
3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaissance Regiment Marmon Herrington A/C (R3) + 2 recce markers
-
Regiment President Steyn (machine gun battalion) Inf MMG (F3)
-
2nd Regiment Botha (in reserve until 31 October) Infantry stand (F3)
-
1st Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
2nd Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
3rd Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
5th Field Company, South African Engineers Sapper base (E1)
-
19th Field Park Coy, SAE Low Loader or Truck (L3)
1st South African Infantry Brigade
Brigadier E.P. Hartshorn Comander with Mortar (C3)
2nd South African Infantry Brigade
Brigadier Evered Poole Comander with Mortar (C3)
3rd South African Infantry Brigade
Brigadier R.J. Palmer Comander with Mortar (C3)

Major-General Francis Tuker Comd India Patt Carrier (C3), Log/POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)
-
1st Field Regiment Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
11th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
32nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery Quad FAT + 25pdr (S3)
-
149th Atk Regt RA Ind Patt Carrier + 6pdr (S3)
-
57th LAA Regt RA Morris FAT + 40mm Bofors (s3) (or portee)
-
2nd Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners Sapper base (E1)
-
4th Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners Sapper base (E1)
-
12th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners Sapper base (E1)
-
11th Field Park Company, Madras Sappers and Miners Low Loader or Truck (L3)
Brigadier Dudley Russell Comander with Mortar (C3)
Brigadier Arthur Holworthy Comander with Mortar (C3)
Brigadier Francis E.C. Hughes Comander with Mortar (C3)
Corps Reserve

Brigadier George W. Richards
186 (6) Valentine tanks
-
121st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (Used as close support for the Valentine Regts) Bishop self-propelled 25pdr (S3)
-
168th Bty, 56th LAA Regt RA Morris FAT + 40mm Bofors (s1)
Notes:
*Started in 2015. D- Day 27 Oct 2018.
I haven’t shown the dozens of corps and army level RASC companies used for ferrying infantry battalions and supplies from railhead to front lines.
Use of 4.2″ mortar HE ammunition is mentioned mainly in 66 Smoke Squadron RE.
Note also links within the text referring to regimental histories, mainly to determine which equipment was in use at the time of the battle. Where no evidence could be found, I have gone with the most likely TO&E, simplified for NQM, so for example, an armoured brigade that would have had a mix of tanks in each regiment has been shown with one tank type in each.
There is considerable lattitude in representing command stands. Use whatever command vehicles you have. I’m not attempting to model this orbat in it’s entirety.
Sources
This monster post was originally cut and pasted from Wickipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein_order_of_battle [Accessed 3/8/2015]
Then modified for formatting and NQM orbat strengths, modified several times until everything fits onto the 11 x 5ft table.
The following sources were referred to:
Alamein by C.E.Lucas Phillips (1965). Pan Books, London.
British Forces Battle of El Alamein 23 October 1942. Available from: http://www.cgsc.edu/CARL/nafziger/942BJOC.pdf [Accessed 3 Aug 2015]
War Diaries for 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars. Available at: http://www.warlinks.com/armour/2nd_rgh/index.php [Accessed 3/8/2015]
British Formation Badges 1939-1945 by Peter Ghiringhelli (2007).
Available from: http://www.petergh.f2s.com/flashes.html [Accessed 31/10/2016]