On the Workbench – More Maultiers

The new Plastic Soldier Company German Medium Trucks box is an excellent offering – Five easy to build trucks straight out of the box, with options for an Opel Blitz, Mercedes L3000, or Maultier version of either. Five trucks for £17 pounds or so, roughly £3.40 a truck.

Why do I like plastic kits better than resin or metal? They build up into square models, and they are easy to convert. So looking at the sprues more carefully, there are not five trucks in the box, but ten! All that is absent, are five cab backs that cannot easily be seen, five sets of front wheels and five chasses. Any self-respecting bodger will have spare wheels in the spares box. The card from the box itself, with judicious use of cork or plasticard will do the rest. Call it £1.70 per truck – excellent!

Even after giving a sprue away, I rapidly assembled four Blitzes and four L3000s, making half of them into Maultiers. I was looking for photographic evidence of Maultiers in North Africa, but could only find them in Italy. Each sprue comes with a spare tyre, so these were made up into two sets of wheels for two of the trucks. En masse, any slight inaccuracies in the wheels should disappear.

In case anyone is wondering, The four trucks furthest away are complete kit builds and the Maultiers closest to the camera are the bodges. Soaring off into speculation, I think that PSC missed a trick by not offering the Chevrolet  cab and the office body on the box art; after all, everyone does a model of a Blitz.

I would have preferred the office body, rather than another cargo body version, but I suspect most wargamers don’t want as many logistic or HQ vehicles as me. Either way, the box is excellent value and is recommended.

Humble Pie is Delicious!

Having ranted about the Plastic Soldier Company (PSC) 6 pdr in my last post, I put the model together and was pleasantly surprised to find that I was wrong! Next to a Peter Pig (PP) 6 pdr, the PSC offering actually looks slightly smaller, wider and thinner. Next to a 1/76 model it is obviously 1/100.

From top to bottom: Airfix PP, PSC 6 pdrs

A correctly-scaled standing figure should be able to rest his shirt pocket on the top of the gun shield and crouch down to see through the gunsight, but as the PSC gunshield is 14mm off the ground, and the PP is 13mm neither is possible. However, as the PSC gunner is 11mm to his eye when kneeling, he must be a Guardsman, making the gun look smaller than it really is! Others have already commented that Flames of War models are exaggerated in the vertical axis to compensate for the thickness of the figure base, as common FoW practice is not to base tanks. Olicanalad’s excellent basing shows why this should not be an issue.

I fished my Airfix 6pdr out, and it is noticibly larger than the PSC 15mm jobbie, but here’s the thing; the PP overscale barrel looks more like the picture below to my eyes than the PSC offering, which is visually a little thin but is probably to scale (I don’t have a micrometer handy)*.

With the 3.7cm Pak, the situation is reversed. Here, the PSC offering is visibly higher (15mm) and longer than PP (12mm). (The gun is listed as 1.17m tall).

In appearance however, the PP 3.7cm Pak 36 looks too small, but this is due to the thickness of the figure bases, as I was too lazy to do what YesthatPhil does, which is to shim the gun up. I looked more closely at the crew figures on the PSC sprues to find a visible difference in height and bulk between different figures on the same sprue – so I’m still not entirely happy. At least I can use the PSC 6 pdrs! Previously, I never really cared about this sort of stuff; must be getting old.

*We’ve been here before.

MOSCOW Surrounded

20 Motorised Infantry Division halts the advance of 2 Guards Mechanised Corps

Depleted as they were from the previous Summer’s Drive on MOSCOW, 7 Panzer and 20 Motorised Infantry Divisions still managed to blunt the breakthrough by 1st Shock Army on the city’s southern flank. No less dangerous though, was the northern flank breach.

The initial bridgehead was widened until it burst through the reserve line and soon, long columns of Soviet infantry could be seen trudging through the snow on their way west.

Dislodged from their prepared defences on the canal line, all the disorganised infantry defenders could do was fall back to the east or south into MOSCOW.

Attempts by 20 Motorised Infantry to halt the Soviet advance lacked vigour as they had yet to recover from halting 2 Guards Mechanised Corps. 7 Panzer Division  was in no shape to assist, having had its own battle with 1 Guards Tank Corps, so retired west to refuel and reorganise. As part of its reorganisation,  20 Motorised Infantry was redesignated 20 Panzer Grenadier Division.

The defenders in MOSCOW were in crisis, with continued enemy infantry attacks from the east and south, and the rail line of communication to the west in Soviet hands. LittleHitler formally declared MOSCOW to be a fortress even as a relief  by 3 Panzer Korps was prepared.

Retreating Fascist Forces see MOSCOW Dwindle in the Gathering Gloom

See More Frontline Soviet News Footage on P.B.Eye-Candy

On the Workbench – Scratchbuilt searchlight

Sometimes a project starts with a rummage through the bits box; this was one such. Having transcribed the ALAMEIN orbat, I needed something to represent 27th (London Electrical Engineers) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery.

The core was a German ROCO searchlight/radar body, with extra gubbins added to make it look more British.

Its not every day that a regiment has engineers and artillery in its title. I well remember a demonstration at Chatham of the TA searchlight troop, as a young Sapper subaltern, back in the late ’70s. Credit went to the Troop Commander for being able to keep a straight face when shouting the command “Expose!” in front of the assembled audience. Very illuminating that was!

The model is pretty generic as I want to be able to use it for various nationalities, so it has no figures on the stand and will probably appear at 8th Army HQ or an airstrip as extra clutter.

 

On the Workbench – Mini Monty

Rather than just grumble about the way that 15mm has morphed into chibi 20mm, I decided to demonstrate my case by turning a beautifully sculpted 1/72 scale (25mm) Monty into a 15mm Fat Controller. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you … Mini Monty.

It took a mere 4 razor saw cuts to remove 10mm from the figure’s chest, abdomen, femur and legs. the worst of it is, he looks pretty good next to the flames of war fellow on his left in the picture below.

I’ve been watching too much Game of Thrones recently; bring more *i*s and wine!

On the Workbench – Ground Crews

As aircraft fly in to the NQM boxes, they need ground crew to keep them in the air. My last purchase of Skytrex Italians left me with a fair number of spare figures, even after building a couple of infantry divisions. I could find very little by way of original pictures of Italian or Soviet ground support equipment- generator trailers and the like – so it left me a free hand to improvise with the central part of an Airfix 8.8cm Flak bogie in 20mm scale. A couple of spare wheels glued on was all it took.

The Italians fared better with a couple of bicycles and some 1/300th scale signal bodies doubling as generators.

Finally, a couple of figures chopped off at the legs provided a dug-in security detachment.

Here they are with slightly more than an undercoat on them.

Storm from the Northwest – Days 6 to 9

Six months of real time have elapsed since day five of this battle and its resumption on day six. To recreate a long narrow thrust along a railway line in hilly, forested country, the operation is now being prosecuted along the length of my pasting table, again with the lateral scale massively compressed. YesthatPhil took most of the photos for this battle as his camera skills exceed mine by a considerable margin.

Link to the map

Day six of the offensive began with 4th Tank Corps continuing the attack west along the line of the railway to VELIKIE LUKIE. The  Soviet infantry in the line regrouped and paused as 1st Guards Rifle Division passed through the forward positions and assembled for an assault. Heavy artillery support began to pound VYSHNY VOLOCHYOK.

http://city.samondeo.com/vyshny-volochyok-russia.php

From the contemporary aerial photographs, note the relatively open nature of the suburbs and railway sidings even today, apart from the town centre.

4th Tank Corps continued to press west, with 16th Motor Rifle Corps following on, poised to support either 1GR or 4Tk.

The regrouped Silesians of 8th Infantry Division in VYSHNY VOLOCHYOK braced themselves for a renewed infantry assault as 1st Guards Rifle Division shook out into attack formation, supported by Katyushas, Sturmoviks and KV-1s. Apparently the latter were more plentiful in the north.

Historically, 8th Inf were a good unit with a distinguished reputation. They suffered heavy casualties in the initial campaign and were returned to France to convert to a Jäger division; their model counterparts fared no less well. Despite spirited counterattacks that caused delays of a day, they were pushed out of the city with heavy losses by 1GR, reinforced by 16MR when the first assault showed signs of losing momentum.

Ideally, you would really like something heavier than 3.7cm anti-tank against KV-1s. Yes, those are Soviets behind the dug-in anti-tank position. No, those are not party balloons, they are pin markers*.

Meanwhile, 4Tk were stopping for nothing and no-one. They met the advanced positions of a defended belt and attacked it straight from the line of march … with not unexpected results. Plenty more light armour was available if it was needed. 4Tk‘s T-70s discovered the defending minefields in the traditional way. This is why the Desantny prefer to ride on the T-34s if anyone gives them a choice.

Some distance into difficult country astride the railway, 269 Infantry Division‘s main defensive line provided the defence in depth for the front.

Katyushas and infantry deployed as the armour fought on down the railway. More Sturmoviks appeared overhead; “… wo ist die Luftwaffe?” The heavy and medium dice below are all falling on the German infantry!

When all seemed lost, 8th Panzer Division appeared in a counter attack. The bulk of the division was strung across the frozen countryside, but enough appeared to persuade the Soviets that there would be no more progress on this axis of advance before further reinforcements arrived.

*Thanks to Jaap Boender for pointing out on Facebook that the pins look like party balloons.

8th Army Order of Battle at Alamein

This humungous post is still a work in progress for a battle a year or so in the future. Eventually it will form part of a Campaign Orders of Battle page.

8th Army

Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery

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

Under direct Army Command

• 1st Army Tank Brigade Brigadier Price (equipped with minesweeping Matilda tanks, allotted to XXX Corps for minefield clearance[1]) – HQ groups with HQ XXX Corps
  

  • 42nd Royal Tank Regiment

    • Matilda Scorpion (E1)

  • 44th Royal Tank Regiment

    • Matilda Scorpion (E1)

• 1st Armoured Brigade Brigadier G.N. Todd (reforming)

  • 4th Hussars  (1 M3 Stuart?)

  • 8th (King’s Royal Irish) Hussars  (1 Grant?)

  • 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (1 Crusader III?)

• 12th Anti-Aircraft Brigade

  • 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

  • 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

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

  • 94th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

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

    • Searchlight
      

• 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)

• 21st Indian Infantry Brigade Brigadier J.J. Purves (reforming; used for HQ protection, camouflage and guard duties[1]) HQ with 8th Army HQ
  

  • 1st Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles

    • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

  • 3rd Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment

    • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

  • 2nd Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles

    • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

  • 9th Indian Field Company, Indian Engineers

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

Army Troops

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

  • Marmon-Herrington III

• 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)

X Corps

Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden

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

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

• X Corps Signals

  • Signals Truck (C3)
    

1st Armoured Division

Major-General Raymond Briggs

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

• 12th Royal Lancers

  • Humber Armoured Car (R1)

• 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 

  • FOO (O1), Limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

• 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery

  • FOO (O1), Limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

• 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Honourable Artillery Company) [ex 8th Armoured Division]

  • FOO (O1), M7 Priest (S3), Limber (S3)
    

• 76th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Deacon 6pdr Portee (s3) + Ammo Truck (s3)

• 42nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 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 Fisher

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

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

• 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s Bays)

  • Crusader II (S3), Sherman (S3)

• 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers

  • Sherman (S3)

• 10th Royal Hussars

  • Sherman (S3)

• Yorkshire Dragoons (Motor battalion)

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

• X Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (MMG)

  • MMG (S1)

7th Motor Brigade

Brigadier Thomas J. Bosville

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

• 2nd Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

  • 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

  • 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 Armoured Division

Major-General Alexander Gatehouse

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

• Royal Dragoons

  • 3 Daimler A/C (R1) or 3 Humber A/C (R1)

• 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery

  • FOO (O1),Quad limber (L3), 25pdr (S3)

• 5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (attached from 8 Armoured Div)

  • FOO (O1),Quad limber (L3), 25pdr (S3)

• 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (attached from 8 Armoured Div)

  • FOO (O1),Quad limber (L3), 25pdr (S3)

• 98th (Surrey & Sussex Yeomanry Queen Mary’s) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • FOO (O1),Quad limber (L3), 25pdr (S3)

• 84th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Universal Carrier (L3), 6pdr (S3)

• 53rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 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

Brigadier Edward C.N. Custance

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

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

• 3rd Royal Tank Regiment

  • Grant Tank (S3)

• Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry

  • Grant Tank (S3)

• Staffordshire Yeomanry

  • Sherman Tank (S3)

• 1st Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

 24th Armoured Brigade (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)

• 41st Royal Tank Regiment

  • Sherman Tank (S3)

• 45th Royal Tank Regiment

  • Sherman Tank (S3)

• 47th Royal Tank Regiment

  • Sherman Tank (S3)

• 11th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps

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

Brigadier Alec W. Lee

• 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

8th 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

• 40th Royal Tank Regiment
• 46th Royal Tank Regiment
• 50th Royal Tank Regiment
• 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own)

24th Armoured Brigade

• 41st Royal Tank Regiment
• 45th Royal Tank Regiment
• 47th Royal Tank Regiment
• 11th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

133rd Infantry Brigade

• 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
• 4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
• 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

Support Units

8th Support Group

• 14th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters
• 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry
• 5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
• 11th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Honourable Artillery Company)
• 104th (Essex Yeomanry) Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
• 146th (Pembroke and Cardiganshire) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

• 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)

XIII 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 (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)

• 74th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 124th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 154th (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Universal Carrier (L3), 6pdr (S3)

• 34th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 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 (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 2nd Infantry Battalion

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 3rd Infantry Battalion

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 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 (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

69th Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Edward C. Cooke-Collis

• 5th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 6th Battalion, Green Howards

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 7th Battalion, Green Howards

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

2nd Free French Brigade Group (under command)

• 5th Battalion de Marche

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 11th Battalion de Marche

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 21st and 23rd North African Anti-Tank Companies

  • Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (S2)

• 2nd Company, Free French Engineers

44th (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)

• 44th Reconnaissance Battalion (detached to 7th Armoured Division)

• 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (machine gun battalion)

• 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 (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

132nd (Kent) Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Lashmer Whistler

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

• 4th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 2nd Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

133rd (Lorried) Infantry Brigade

Detached to 10th Armoured Division

7th Armoured Division

Major-General John Harding

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

• 1st Household Cavalry Regiment

  • 3 Daimler armoured car (@R1)

• 11th Hussars [under command from 4th Armoured Brigade, in reserve]

  • 3 Morris CS9 armoured car (@R1)

• 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry [under command from 8th Armoured Div]

  • 2 Humber A/C (R1), Bren Carrier (R1)

• 44th Reconnaissance Regiment (under comd from 44th Inf Div)

  • Universal Carrier (R3), Dingo lt recce car (R3)

• 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery

  •  Universal Carrier limber (S3), 37mm Bofors Atk Gun (S3) (or 2pdr/6pdr)
    

• 4th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 65th (Suffolk & Norfolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • Universal Carrier (L3), 2pdr (S3)

• 15th (Isle of Man) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 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

• Royal Scots Greys

  • M3 Stuart Tank (C3)

• 4th/8th Hussars

  • M3 Grant Tank (C3)

• 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

  • Comd Carrier + MMG + 3″ Mortar (CS3), 2 Rifles in 15cwt truck (F3), 15cwt truck  + 2pdr Atk (S2)

22nd Armoured Brigade

Brigadier George “Pip” Roberts

M3 Stuart Tank (C3)

57 (2) Grant, 50 (2) Crusader, 19 (1) Stuart = 126 tanks

• 1st Royal Tank Regiment

  • M3 Grant Tank (C3)
    

• 5th Royal Tank Regiment

  • M3 Grant Tank (C3)

• 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters)

• Crusader MkII Tank (C3), Crusader MkII Tank (F3)
  

• 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade

  • Comd Carrier + MMG + 3″ Mortar (CS3), 2 Rifles in 15cwt truck (F3), 15cwt truck  + 2pdr Atk (S2)

1st Free French Brigade Group (under command)

Brigadier Marie Pierre Koenig

Comd Jeep (C3), signals van (L3)

• 1st Battalion, Foreign Legion

  • Comd, Hotchkiss MMG, 81mm Mortar (CS3), 3 Rifles (s3)

• 2nd Battalion, Foreign Legion

  • Comd, Hotchkiss MMG, 81mm Mortar (CS3), 3 Rifles (s3)

• 3rd Battalion, Pacific Marine Infantry

  • Comd, Hotchkiss MMG, 81mm Mortar (CS3), 3 Rifles (s3)

• 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

  • Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (S2)

• 1st Field Company, Free French Engineers

  • Sapper (E1)

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 (S2)?

XXX 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

• 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

  • 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 Division

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), Quad limber (S3), 25pdr (S3)

• 2/8th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

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

• 2/12th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

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

• 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

  • Universal Carrier (S3), 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 (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

26th Australian Brigade

Brigadier David A. Whitehead

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

• 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion, SA

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

20th Australian Brigade

Brigadier H. Wrigley

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

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

51st Highland Infantry Division

Major General Douglas Wimberley

Comd staff car (C3)

• 51st Battalion, Reconnaissance Regiment

  • Universal Carrier (R3), Dingo lt recce car (R3)

• 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (machine gun battalion)

• 50th Royal Tank Regiment (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade)

  • Valentine II Tank (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

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

• 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)

• 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 5th Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

153rd Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Douglas Graham

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

• 5th Battalion, Black Watch

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 5th/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

154th Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Henry W. Houldsworth

• 1st Battalion, Black Watch

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 7th Battalion, Black Watch

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

2nd New Zealand Division

Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg

Comd in staff car (C3)

• 2nd New Zealand Division Cavalry Regiment

  • Universal Carrier (R3), Mk VI tank (R3)

• 27th (Machine Gun) Battalion

• 4th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

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

• 5th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

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

• 6th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery

  • FOO (O1), Quad limber (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 (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 22nd Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 23rd Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 28th (Māori) Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

6th New Zealand Infantry Brigade

Brigadier William Gentry

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

• 24th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 25th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 26th Battalion, New Zealand Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

9th Armoured Brigade

Brigadier John Currie

Crusader III Tank (C3)

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

• 3rd (The King’s Own) Hussars

  • Crusader II Tank (C3)

• Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

  • Grant Tank (C3)
    

• Warwickshire Yeomanry

  • Sherman Tank (C3)
    

• 14th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters

  • Comd Carrier + MMG + 3″ Mortar (CS3), 2 Rifles in 15cwt truck (F3*), 15cwt truck  + 2pdr Atk (S2)

1st 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 arrmd cars (@R1)

• Regiment President Steyn (machine gun battalion)

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

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery, South African Artillery

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

• 4th Field Regiment, South African Artillery

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

• 7th Field Regiment, South African Artillery

  • FOO (O1), Quad limber (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)

• 1st Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Royal Natal Carabineers

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Transvaal Scottish

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

2nd South African Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Evered Poole

Comd Staff Car (C3)

• 1st Cape Town Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Natal Mounted Rifles

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st/2nd Field Force Battalion

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), Vickers MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

3rd South African Infantry Brigade

Brigadier R.J. Palmer

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

• 1st Imperial Light Horse

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Rand Light Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

4th Indian Infantry Division

Major-General Francis Tuker

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

• Central India Horse (Reconnaissance)

  • 2 India Patt Carrier (R1), Vickers MkVI Tank (R1)

• 5th Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles (machine gun battalion)

• 1st Field Regiment Royal Artillery

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

• 11th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

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

• 32nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

  • FOO (O1), Quad limber (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)

• 1/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 4th (Outram’s) Battalion, 6th Rajputana Rifles

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 3rd (Queen Mary’s Own) Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

7th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Arthur Holworthy

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

• 1st Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 4th Battalion, 16th Punjab Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Battalion, 2nd King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

61st Indian Infantry Brigade

Brigadier Francis E.C. Hughes

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

• 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 1st Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

• 4th Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment

  • Comd (s3), 3 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), 3″ Mortar (s3)

Corps Reserve

23rd Armoured Brigade

Brigadier George W. Richards

186 (6) Valentine tanks

• 8th Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 1 SA Division)

• 40th Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 9 Australian Division)

• 46th Royal Tank Regiment

  • Valentine II Tank (C3)

• 50th Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 51st Highland Division)

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

  •   3 ton truck limber (L3), Bishop self-propelled 25pdrs (S3 or 3 x S1)

• 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:

I do not show machine gun battalions, as I account for the guns in the infantry battalions.  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.

Sources

This monster post was 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.

The following sources were referred to:

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]

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

On the Workbench – Austin K6 Crash Tender

Some time ago, I bought an Austin K6 crash tender from MMModels.co.uk ; remember the Airfix one? Also on the bench are some early war Germans, who are going to end up as ground crew and security detachments.

I have a couple of weeks of unplanned sick leave – nothing serious; a junior rafting colleague mixed up his ambition and his ability, so I am nursing a broken metacarpal from fending off one of his rafters who boarded my raft without warning at the end of the session. It’s a bit like ‘Chindit‘ Wingate slipping on the soap getting out of his bath.

It turns out that two of the things that I can’t do is drive to work or safely hold a scalpel. On the plus side, I can type and eat left-handed with chopsticks. The time freed up should be put to good use on the blog.

The cataloguing of my NQM boxes is coming along nicely too – even if  only at five finger speed.

On The Workbench – Trucks

Rooting through my storage boxes unearthed two Matadors and three Zis-5s that been waiting since spring to be assembled; a T-70 that will probably end up, minus its turret, as an artillery tractor; and a Poundland truck. The Poundland jobbie responded to a bit of cork on the front to make a radiator, with a cut down RoCo rear body. It looks vaguely Italian now.