The Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiments, Royal Artillery at Alamein

 

The anti-aircraft assets deployed at El ALAMEIN by 8th Army, above divisional level troops, are summarised below as a CSO Orbat:

12th Anti-Aircraft Brigade

• 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Morris 6×4 Light AA Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3) (or portee)

• 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3) (or portee)

• 27th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3) (or portee)

• 88th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Matador Limber + 3.7″  AA (s3)

• 94th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Matador Limber + 3.7″  AA (s3)

• 27th (London Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery (two troops)

  • Searchlight (C1)
    

57 HAA was despatched in October, presumably arriving after the Battle of El ALAMEIN

QF 3inch 20cwt AA Gun

“In October 1942, 57th (Wessex) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment with 213, 214 and 215 Batteries was sent to North Africa to join 12 AA Bde in Eighth Army. Two of the batteries were equipped with the older 3-inch 20 cwt gun on a modernised trailer, rather than the newer 3.7-inch. This was because the lighter 3-inch was easier and quicker to deploy in the rough country anticipated for this campaign. The regiment remained with 12 AA Bde to the end of the campaign in May 1943“

(Routledge, p. 179; Table XXIV, p. 162; Table XXV, p. 164.) in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Wessex_Artillery#cite_note-RA-35 accessed 19/9/2016

• 2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade (for HQ and railway protection[1]) HQ with 8th Army HQ
  

  • 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Morris Limber + 40mm Bofors AA (s3)

  • 69th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery (199th and 261st batteries)

    • Matador Limber + 3.7″  AA (s3)