8th Army NQM DSO Orbat at ALAMEIN

 

8th-army8th Army at ALAMEIN  Divisional Scale Orbat

Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery

Comd staff car (C3), HQ Signals Truck (L3), Tac Air HQ Truck (L3), Log HQ Truck (L3)

Under direct Army Command

  • 12th Anti-Aircraft Brigade

    • 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • 16th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

    • 27th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

    • 88th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • 94th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

      • Matador Limber (s3), 3.7″  AA (s3)

Matador Tractor and 3.7" AA Gun

Light AA Regiments and 27th (London Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

    • 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

      • Morris Limber (s3), 40mm Bofors AA (s3)

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

      • Matador Limber (s3), 3.7″  AA (s3)

Army Troops

Marmon-Herrington Mk II

  • 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment (One troop)

  • B Squadron, 6th Royal Tank Regiment

    • Crusader II Tank (could be Grant or Stuart M3) (S1)

  • 566th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers – Sapper (E3)

  •  568th Army Troops Company, Royal Engineers – Sapper (E3)

  • 25th Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 27th Field Company, South African Engineers – Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 31st Field Company, South African Engineers – Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 1st? Tank Delivery Regiment – Scammel Tank Transporter (L1)

  • 8th Army Signals – “Monty’s Caravan” Signals Truck (s3)

10th-corpsX Corps

Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Austin K2 Ambulance (L3), Leyland Retriever Workshop Truck (L3)

  • 571st Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 572nd Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 573rd Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 570th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

  • X Corps Signals – Signals Truck (C3)

1st-armdiv1st Armoured Division

Major-General Raymond Briggs

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

Humber Armoured Car MkII

  • 1st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers – Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 9th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers (from 8th Armd Div) – Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 1st Armoured Division Signals – Signals Truck (C3)

2nd Armoured Brigade  Brigadier Arthur (“Frank”) Fisher

Crusader (C3), Dingo  Armd Car (C3), Signals Truck (C3)

92 Sherman, 68 Crusader, one Grant = 161 tanks[2] (3 Shermans, 2 Crusaders)

Comd 15cwt Truck (CS3), Rifles in 15cwt Truck (F3*), 15cwt limber  + 2pdr or 6pdr Atk (S2)

7th Motor Brigade 

Brigadier Thomas J. Bosville

Dingo  Armd Car (C3), Signals Truck (C3)

  • 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps  (Motor Battalion)

    • Comd Carrier + MMG + 3″ Mortar (CS3), 2 Rifles in Carrier (F3*), Carrier  + 6pdr Atk (S2)

  • 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (detached less support company to Hammerforce)

  • 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Motor Battalion)

    • Comd Carrier + MMG + 3″ Mortar (CS3), 2 Rifles in Carrier (F3*), Carrier  + 6pdr Atk (S2)
Hammerforce (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

  • 4th/6th South African Armoured Car Regiment

    • 3 Marmon-Herrington III (@R1)

  • 146th (Pembroke & Cardiganshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Universal Carrier (S3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

  • Z Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun)

  • 7th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 9th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

10th-armdiv10th Armoured Division

Major-General Alexander Gatehouse

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

  • 2nd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 3rd Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 6th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 141st Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 10th Armoured Division Signals

    • Signals Truck (C3)

8th Armoured Brigade  8th Armd Bde

Brigadier Edward C.N. (Neville) Custance

Grant Tank (C3), Dingo  Armd Car (C3), Signals Truck (C3)

45 Crusaders, 57 Grants, 31 Sherman = 133 tanks (1 Crusader, 2 Grants , 1 Sherman)

Grant Claridges specs from Panzerserra

 24th Armoured Brigade (Fresh from UK, attached from 8th Armoured Division)

Crusader II (C3), Dingo  Armd Car (C3), Signals Truck (C3)

Brigadier Arthur G. Kenchington

2 Grants, 93 Shermans, 45 Crusaders = 140 tanks (1 Crusader, 3 Shermans)

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

Brigadier Alec W. Lee

  • 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • W Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun) (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

8th-armdiv8th Armoured Division

Major-General Charles Gairdner

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

(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)

13th-corpsXIII Corps

Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

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

    • Marmon Herrington armoured car(R1)

  • 578th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 576th Corps Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • XIII Corps Signals

    • Signals truck (C3)

50th-infdiv50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division

Major-General John Nichols

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

  • 2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (machine gun battalion)

  • 233rd Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 505th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 235th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

    • Low loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (E3)

  • 50th Northumbrian Division Signals

    • Signals Truck (C3)
1st Greek Infantry Brigade

Colonel Pausanias Katsotas   – Comd in Jeep,

  • 1st Infantry Battalion – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2nd Infantry Battalion – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 3rd Infantry Battalion – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 1st Greek Field Artillery Regiment – FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 1st Greek Machine Gun Company – MMG (S1)

  • 1st Greek Field Company, Greek Engineers – Sapper (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), Signals van (C3)

  • 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry  – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

69th Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Edward C. Cooke-Collis

2nd Free French Brigade Group (under command)

  • 5th Battalion de Marche – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 11th Battalion de Marche – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 21st and 23rd North African Anti-Tank Companies – Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (S2)

  • 2nd Company, Free French Engineers – Sapper (E1)

44th-infdiv44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division

Major-General Ivor T.P.Hughes

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

  • 53rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 57th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 58th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 65th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 57th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Universal Carrier (L3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 30th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

  • 11th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 209th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 210th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 211th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 577th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers (attached)

    • Sapper (E3)

  • 44th Home Counties Division Signals

    • Signals Truck (C3)
131st Infantry Brigade

Brigadier William Donovan Stamer

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 1/5th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

    • – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 1/6th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

    • – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 1/7th Battalion, Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey)

    • – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)
132nd (Kent) Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Lashmer Whistler

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

133rd (Lorried) Infantry Brigade

Detached to 10th Armoured Division

7th-armdiv-1st7th Armoured Division see also here

7armd-div

Major-General John Harding

170 Armoured cars

Comd staff car (C3), Ammo Truck (L3), POL Truck (L3), Ambulance (L3), Workshop Truck (L3)

  • 4th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 21st Field Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 143rd Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 7th Armoured Division Signals

    • Dorchester Armoured Command Vehicle (C3)

4th Light Armoured Brigade

Brigadier Marcus G. Roddick

M3 Stuart Tank (C3)

57 (2) Stuart, 14 (1) Grant = 71 tanks and 9 armoured cars

22nd Armoured Brigade

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), signals van (L3)

  • 1st Battalion, Foreign Legion – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2nd Battalion, Foreign Legion  – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 3rd Battalion, Pacific Marine Infantry –  Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (attached)

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 1st Free French Artillery Regiment

    • FOO (O1), Renault limber (S3), 75mm gun (S3)

  • 2nd Anti-Aircraft Company, 1st Marine Fusiliers

  • 2nd Free French Anti-Tank Company

  • 22nd North African Anti-Tank Company

  • 1st Field Company, Free French Engineers – Sapper (E1)

with (under command)

30th-corpsXXX Corps

Lieutenant General Oliver Leese

Comd in staff car (S3)

  • XXX Corps Defence Squadron

    • ??? MMG (S1)

  • C Squadron, 4th/6th South African Armoured Car Regiment

    • Marmon Herrington (R1)

  • 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Matador Limber (s3), 5.5″  gun (s3)

  • 64th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Matador Limber (s3), 5.5″  gun (s3)

  • 69th (Caernarvon & Denbigh Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, RA

    •  FOO (O1), Matador Limber (s3), 5.5″  gun (s3)

  • 66th Mortar Company, Royal Engineers – 4.2″ Mortar (S1) – (two sections detached to 9th Australian Division. Fired only HE during the campaign but trained for chemical warfare)

  • 11th Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 13th Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 22nd Field Park Company, South African Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • XXX Corps Signals

    • Signals truck (C3)

9th-australian-division9th Australian Division and also here

Major General Leslie Morshead

Comd staff car (C3)

  • 9th Division Cavalry Regiment –  Crusader III or M3 Stuart Tank (F3)

  • 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion

  • 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion – Truck (L3), Comd, 2 Pioneers (E3)

  • 2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 2/8th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 2/12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

    • 2 Universal Carrier (S3), 2 6pdr (S3)

  • 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

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

  • 2/3rd Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 2/7th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 2/13th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 2/4th Field Park Company, Royal Australian Engineers

    • Low loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 9th Australian Division Signals – Signals truck (C3)

24th Australian Brigade

Brigadier Arthur H.L. Godfrey

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion, Western Australia (WA)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Victoria (Vic.)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, South Australia (SA)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)
26th Australian Brigade

Brigadier David A. Whitehead

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion, SA

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)
20th Australian Brigade

Brigadier H. Wrigley

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion, New South Wales (NSW)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Queensland (Qld)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

51st-infdiv51st Highland Infantry Division

Major General Douglas Wimberley

Comd staff car (C3)

  • 126th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 127th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 128th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 61st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Universal Carrier (S3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 40th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Bedford QLB Limber (s3), 40mm Bofors AA (s3)

Bedford QLB Artillery Tractor with Bofors 40mm AA Gun

  • 274th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 275th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 276th Field Company, Royal Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 239th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 51st Highland Division Signals

    • Signals Truck (C3)
152nd Infantry Brigade

Brigadier George Murray

Comd in staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

153rd Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Douglas Graham

Comd in staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 5th Battalion, Black Watch

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 5th/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)
154th Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Henry W. Houldsworth

  • 1st Battalion, Black Watch – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 7th Battalion, Black Watch – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

2nd-new-zealand-infantry-division2nd New Zealand Division

Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg

Comd in M3 Stuart Tank (C3) [2]

  • 4th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 5th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 6th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 7th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

    • Universal Carrier (S3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

    • Morris Limber (s3), 40mm Bofors AA (s3) 

  • 6th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 7th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 8th Field Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 5th Field Park Company, Royal New Zealand Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 2nd New Zealand Division Signals

    • Signals truck (C3)
5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Howard Kippenberger

Comd in staff Car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 21st Battalion, New Zealand Infantry – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 22nd Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 23rd Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 28th (Māori) Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

6th New Zealand Infantry Brigade

Brigadier William Gentry

Comd in staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 24th Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 25th Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

  • 26th Battalion, NZ Inf – Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

9th Armd Bde9th Armoured Brigade

Brigadier John Currie

Crusader III Tank (C3)

35 (1) Sherman, 37 (1) Grant, 46 (2) Crusader =118

1st-south-african-division1st South African Infantry Division

Major-General Dan Pienaar

Comd Dingo (C3),  signals van (C3)

  • 8th Royal Tank Regiment (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade, in reserve until 31 Oct)[nb 1]

    • Valentine II Tank (C3)

  • 3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaissance Regiment

    • 3 Marmon Herrington armd cars (@R1)

  • Regiment President Steyn (machine gun battalion)

  • 2nd Regiment Botha (in reserve until 31 October)

    • Comd Sp (s3),  Rifle (f3)

Marmon Herrington FAT with 25 pdr

  • 4th Field Regiment, South African Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 7th Field Regiment, South African Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Marmon-Herrington FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, South African Artillery

    • Morris Limber (s3), 40mm Bofors AA (s3)

  • 1st Anti-Tank Regiment, South African Artillery

    • Universal Carrier (S3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 1st Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 2nd Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 3rd Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 5th Field Company, South African Engineers

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 19th Field Park Company, South African Engineers

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 1st South African Division Signals

    • Signals truck (C3)
1st South African Infantry Brigade

Brigadier E.P. Hartshorn

Comd staff car (C3)

2nd South African Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Evered Poole

Comd Staff Car (C3)

3rd South African Infantry Brigade

Brigadier R.J. Palmer

Comd staff car (C3), signals van (C3)

4th-indian-div4th Indian Infantry Division

Major-General Francis Tuker

Comd India Patt Carrier (C3), signals van (C3)

  • 1st Field Regiment Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Karrier KT4 Spider FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 11th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Karrier KT4 Spider FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 32nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • FOO (O1), Karrier KT4 Spider FAT (S3), 25pdr (S3)

  • 149th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • India Patt Carrier (S3), 6pdr (S3)

  • 57th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

  • 2nd Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 4th Field Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 12th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners

    • Truck (L3) + optional trailer (L3), 3 Sappers (@E1)

  • 11th Field Park Company, Madras Sappers and Miners

    • Low Loader (L3), D7 bulldozer (L3)

  • 4th Indian Division Signals

    • Signals truck (C3)
5th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Dudley Russell

Comd India Patt Carrier (C3), signals van (C3)

7th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Arthur Holworthy

Comd India Patt Carrier (C3), signals van (C3)

61st Indian Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Francis E.C. Hughes

Comd India Patt Carrier (C3), signals van (C3)

India Pattern Carrier FoW with 3 crew

Corps Reserve

23rd Armoured Brigade (Brigade Group)

Brigadier George W. Richards

186 (6) Valentine tanks

  • 121st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (Used as close support for the Valentine regiments)

    • 3 ton truck limber (L3), Bishop self-propelled 25pdr (S3)

Bishop SPG Left Front Threequarter View

  • 168th Battery, 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

    • Morris Limber (s1), 40mm Bofors AA (s1) (or portee)

  • 295th Army Field Company, Royal Engineers (three troops detached to 50th Royal Tank Regiment with 51st (Highland) Division)

Notes:

Use of 4.2″ mortar HE ammunition is mentioned mainly in 66 Smoke Squadron RE. The Nafziger text [4] (http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/nafziger/942BJOC.pdf) is my main source for determining equipment types.

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. It has no effect on the fighting power of the brigade. Failing that, if a captioned contemporary picture of equipment appears credible, I have taken that as evidence.

There is considerable lattitude in representing command stands. Use whatever vehicles you have, or want to model.

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 for DSO .

The following additional sources were referred to:

[1] 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]

[2] Alamein by C.E.Lucas Phillips (1965). Pan Books, London

[3] The Desert Rats by Robin Neillands (1995). Orion Books Ltd, London

[4] http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/CGSC/CARL/nafziger/942BJOC.pdf

Joslen, Lt. Col. H.F., Orders of Battle, Second World War, 1939 – 1945, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1960. Copyright GFN 1992 British Forces Battle of El Alamein 23 October 1942

“11th Hussars
By far the most experienced regiment in the theatre, the “Cherrybums” epitomised the informal professionalism of the Desert Rats. The men in this regiment wore reddy-brown berets.
06/40-03/41: Rolls Royce and/or Morris C9 and up to one Guy armoured car per Troop.
03/41-10/41: Marmon Harrington armoured cars with up to 1/3 with captured Breda or Solothurn guns in each Troop.
10/41-02/43: Humber armoured cars. At first MkI and MkII Humbers – before Alamein they get MkIII Humbers.
02/43-05/43: 2 Daimler armoured cars and 1 Dingo scout car in every Troop. One jeep mounted infantry platoon and one White Scout Car mounted infantry platoon in the squadron. Squadron HQ continued to use Humber armoured cars because they were roomier and better suited as a squadron command vehicle.
Sources:
PRO WO169/220, WO169/1390, WO169/4490, WO169/9320
CLARKE.D.W, The Eleventh at War. Being the story of the XIth Hussars, Prince Albert’s Own, through the years 1934-1945, Michael Joseph: London, 1952.

1st Royal Dragoons
Arrived in Egypt in 1941 and trained by 11th Hussars, the “Royals” were a very experienced regiment. The men in this regiment wore grey berets.
05/41-08/42 Marmon Harrington III armoured cars with up to a 1/3 with a captured Breda or Solothurn per Troop.
08/42-02/43 Humber armoured cars and up to one Daimler armoured car per Troop.
02/43-05/43 Humber armoured cars and up to 1 AEC armoured car per Troop.
Sources:
PRO WO169/1383, WO169/4478, WO169/9310
Pitt-Rivers.J.A, The Story of the Royal Dragoons, 1938-1945. Being the history of the Royal Dragoons in the campaigns of North Africa, the Middle East, Italy and North-West Europe, William Clowes & Sons: London, 1956

12th Lancers
Veterans of the 1940 French campaign, where they played an important part in the fighting. The 12th Lancers had a reputation for being very well connected, and many of their officers enjoyed swift promotion paths. They were usually attached to 1st Armoured Division. In common with most British regular cavalry regiments, men wore side caps and officers wore flat peaked caps rather than RAC black berets.
12/41-02/43 Humber armoured cars.
03/43-05/43: 2 Daimler armoured cars and 1 Daimler Dingo scout car per Troop. Squadron HQ had Humbers.
Sources:
PRO WO169/4482, WO169/9326
Stewart, P. F, History of the XII Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s), O.U.P., London, 1950

King’s Dragoon Guards
More usually called the KDGs or the “Welsh tankies”. In common with most British regular cavalry regiments, men wore side caps and officers wore flat peaked caps rather than RAC black berets.
02/41-03/43 Marmon Harrington III armoured cars with up to 1/3 with captured guns per Troop.
06/42-03/43 Up to one Daimler armoured car per Troop.
03/43-05/43 2 Humber armoured cars and 1 AEC armoured car per Troop.
Sources:
PRO WO169/1384, WO169/4477, WO169/9312
McCorquodale.D, History of the King’s Dragoon Guards, 1938-1945, Glasgow 1950

Household Cavalry
The “tin tummies” saw limited action at Alamein.
10/42-12/42: Marmon Harringtons and up to one Daimler armoured car per Troop.
Sources:
PRO WO169/4476 war diary
WYNDHAM, Everard Humphrey, The Household Cavalry at War: First Household Cavalry Regiment, Gale & Polden: Aldershot, 1952

2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
The Derbyshire Yeomanry saw limited action at Alamein.
10/42-12/42: Humber armoured cars and up to one Daimler armoured car or up to one AEC armoured car per Troop.
Sources:
PRO WO169/4493
JONES, Capt.A.J, The Second Derbyshire Yeomanry. An account of the Regiment during the World War 1939-45, White Swan Press: Bristol, 1949

1st Derbyshire Yeomanry
A Yeomanry regiment who fought in Tunisia with First Army. They had an organisation which was very very unusual of three different armoured cars in a Troop!
12/42-05/43: 1 Daimler armoured car (Lieutenant), 1 Humber III and 1 Dingo scout car per Troop
Sources:
PRO WO175/293

4th South African Armoured Car Regiment
The South Africans in their Marmon Harringtons were highly regarded.
/41-12/42 Marmon Harrington armoured cars, up to 1/3 with captured guns

Régiment de Spahis Marocains, Free French Flying Column
10/42-05/43: Marmon Harrington III armoured cars, some with captured guns.

Squadrons were usually supported by attached AT portees (Deacons were especially effective in Tunisia), RHA, and Motor riflemen. Typically a “Jock Column” had a squadron of armoured cars, a a Troop of AT guns, Troop or Battery of field artillery, and a Motor Company of riflemen in 15-cwt trucks. Jock Columns were widely used in early-mid 1942, when there was something of a mania in Eighth Army for splitting up formations into small combined-arms “penny packets”. But while, once Montgomery took over, much tighter control exercised, Jock Columns continued to be used, and columns of armoured cars and riflemen led the pursuit of Rommel across North Africa.  Breda portees equipped 106th Royal Horse Artillery in 1940-41, and some of these were briefly attached to 11th Hussars – but that is the only time Breda portees were used with armoured cars,”

https://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=126&view=topic&forumid=13&postid=9595

3 responses to “8th Army NQM DSO Orbat at ALAMEIN”

  1. Pingback: 7th Armoured Division | Not Quite Mechanised

  2. jim thompson
    19/04/2018 at 22:13

    i love your work, do not miss a publishing.
    can you point me to a reference for various unit flash #s and colors for british el alamien ?

    Like

    Reply

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