Second Battle of El Alamein order of battle

Second Battle of El Alamein Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the battle, 23 October – 4 November 1942.

British 8th Army
Under the command of Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery


 * 1st Army Tank Brigade under Brigadier Price
 * 42 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 44 Royal Tank Regiment
 * both equipped with minesweeping Matilda tanks


 * 1st Armoured Brigade (reforming) under Brigadier G.N. Todd
 * 4th Hussars (elements)
 * 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars (elements)
 * 2 Royal Gloucestershire Hussars


 * 12th Anti-aircraft Brigade
 * 14 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
 * 16 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
 * 27 Light Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
 * 88 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
 * 94 Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment RA
 * 27 Searchlight Regiment RA (two troops)


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


 * 21st Indian Infantry Brigade (reforming) under Brigadier J.J. Purves
 * 1st battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles
 * 3rd battalion 7th Rajput Regiment
 * 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles
 * 9th Indian Field Company, Indian Engineers

Army Troops

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


 * 566 Army Troops Company RE
 * 568 Army Troops Company RE
 * 25 Field Company South African Engineers
 * 27 Field Company, South African Engineers
 * 31 Field Company, South African Engineers


 * 8th Army Signals

British X Corps
Under command of Lieutenant-General Herbert Lumsden


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


 * 10 Corps Signals

British 1st Armoured Division
under Major-General Raymond Briggs


 * 12th Royal Lancers


 * 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 11 Regiment RHA [ex 8th Armoured Division] (equipped with M7 Priest)
 * 76 Anti-tank Regiment RA
 * 42 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA


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


 * 1 Armoured Division Signals

British 2nd Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier Arthur Fisher

92 Sherman, 68 Crusader, one Grant = 161 tanks
 * 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
 * 9th Queen's Royal Lancers
 * 10th Royal Hussars
 * Yorkshire Dragoons (Motor battalion)
 * X company 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers (machine gun)

British 7th Motor Brigade
under Brigadier Thomas J. Bosville
 * 2 Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps
 * 2 Bn Rifle Brigade (detached less support company to Hammerforce)
 * 7 Bn Rifle Brigade

Hammerforce (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

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

British 10th Armoured Division
under Major-General Alexander Gatehouse
 * Royal Dragoons


 * 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 5th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (attached from 8 Armoured Div)
 * 104 Regiment RHA (attached from 8 Armoured Div)
 * 98 Field Regiment RA
 * 84 Anti-tank Regiment RA
 * 53 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment RA


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


 * 10 Armoured Division Signals

8th Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier Edward C.N. Custance

45 Crusader, 57 Grant, 31 Sherman = 133 tanks
 * 3 Royal Tank Regiment
 * The Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers)
 * Staffordshire Yeomanry
 * 1st Bn The Buffs

British 24th Armoured Brigade (attached from 8th Armoured Division)
under Brigadier Arthur G. Kenchington

2 Grants, 93 Sherman, 45 Crusader = 140 tanks
 * 41 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 45 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 47 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 11 Bn Kings Royal Rifle Corps

British 133rd Infantry Brigade (attached from 44th Infantry Division)
under Brigadier Alec W. Lee
 * 2nd Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
 * 4th Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
 * 5th Bn, The Royal Sussex Regiment
 * W Coy. 1 Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers (Machine Gun) (attached from 8th Armoured Division)

British 8th Armoured Division
under Major-General Charles Henry Gairdner
 * 6 Field Squadron RE (detached to 10th Armoured Division)
 * 9 Field Squadron RE (detached to 1st Armoured Division)
 * 145 Field Park Squadron RE
 * 8 Armoured Division Signals

British XIII Corps
Under command of Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks


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


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


 * 13 Corps Signals

British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
under Major-General John Nichols
 * 2 Bn Cheshire Regiment (machine gun bn)


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


 * 233 Field Company RE
 * 505 Field Company RE
 * 235 Field Park Company RE


 * 50 Northumbrian Division Signals

1st Greek Infantry Brigade
under Colonel Pausanias Katsotas
 * 1st Infantry Battalion
 * 2nd Infantry Battalion
 * 3rd Infantry Battalion


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

British 151st Infantry Brigade (attached to 2nd New Zealand Division 29 October to 3 November)
under Brigadier Joscelyn E.S. Percy
 * 6 Bn Durham Light Infantry
 * 8 Bn Durham Light Infantry
 * 9 Bn Durham Light Infantry

British 69th Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Edward C. Cooke-Collis
 * 5 Bn East Yorkshire Regiment
 * 6 Bn Green Howards
 * 7 Bn Green Howards

2nd Free French Brigade Group (under command)

 * 5 Bn de Marche
 * 11 Bn de Marche


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

British 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division
under Major-General Ivor T.P.Hughes


 * 44 Reconnaissance Battalion (detached to 7th Armoured Division)
 * 6 Bn Cheshire Regiment (machine gun bn)


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


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


 * 44 Home Counties Division Signals

British 131st Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier William Donovan Stamer
 * 1/5 Bn Queen's Royal Regiment
 * 1/6 Bn Queen's Royal Regiment
 * 1/7 Bn Queen's Royal Regiment

British 132nd (Kent) Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Lashmer Whistler
 * 4th Bn. The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
 * 5th Bn. The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
 * 2nd Bn. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

British 133rd (Lorried) Infantry Brigade
Detached to 10th Armoured Division

British 7th Armoured Division
under Major-General John Harding


 * 1 Household Cavalry Regiment
 * 11th Hussars [under command from 4th Armoured Brigade, in reserve]
 * 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry [under command from 8th Armoured Div]
 * 44 Reconnaissance Regiment (under command from 44th Infantry Division)


 * 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
 * 4 Field Regiment RA
 * 97 Field Regiment RA
 * 65 Anti-tank Regiment RA
 * 15 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA


 * 4 Field Squadron RE
 * 21 Field Squadron RE
 * 143 Field Park Squadron RE


 * 7 Armoured Division Signals

British 4th Light Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier Marcus G. Roddick

57 Stuart, 14 Grant = 71 tanks and 9 armoured cars
 * Royal Scots Greys
 * 4th/8th Hussars
 * 1st Bn King's Royal Rifle Corps

British 22nd Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier George "Pip" Roberts

57 Grant, 50 Crusader, 19 Stuart = 126 tanks
 * 1 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 5 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 4 County of London Yeomanry
 * 1 Bn Rifle Brigade

1st Free French Brigade Group (under command)
under Brigadier Marie Pierre Koenig
 * 1 Bn. Foreign Legion
 * 2 Bn. Foreign Legion
 * 3 Bn Pacific Marine Infantry


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


 * 1 Field Company Free French Engineers

with (under command)
 * 1 Free French Flying Column
 * Armoured Car Squadron and Portee troop, 1 Marocco Spahis
 * 1 Free French Tank Coy.
 * Anti-aircraft troop, 1 Bn Foreign Legion

British XXX Corps
Under the command of Lieutenant General Oliver Leese


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


 * 7 Medium Regiment RA
 * 64 Medium Regiment RA
 * 69 Medium Regiments RA


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


 * XXX Corps Signals

9th Australian Division
under Major General Leslie Morshead


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


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


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


 * 9 Australian Division Signals

Australian 24th Brigade
under Brigadier Arthur H.L. Godfrey
 * 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion, Western Australia (WA)
 * 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Victoria (Vic.)
 * 2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, South Australia (SA)

Australian 26th Brigade
under Brigadier David A. Whitehead
 * 2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.
 * 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic.
 * 2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion, SA

Australian 20th Brigade
under Brigadier H. Wrigley
 * 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion, New South Wales (NSW)
 * 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Queensland (Qld)
 * 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

British 51st (Highland) Infantry Division
under Major General Douglas Wimberley


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


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


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


 * 51st Highland Division Signals

British 152nd Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier George Murray
 * 2 Bn Seaforth Highlanders
 * 5 Bn Seaforth Highlanders
 * 5 Bn Cameron Highlanders

British 153rd Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Douglas Graham
 * 5 Bn Black Watch
 * 1 Bn Gordon Highlanders
 * 5/7 Bn Gordon Highlanders

British 154th Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Henry W. Houldsworth
 * 1 Bn Black Watch
 * 7 Bn Black Watch
 * 7 Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

2nd New Zealand Division
under Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg


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


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


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


 * 2 NZ Division Signals

New Zealand 5th Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Howard Kippenberger
 * 21 Battalion
 * 22 Battalion
 * 23 Battalion
 * 28th Māori Battalion

New Zealand 6th Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier William Gentry
 * 24 Bn New Zealand Infantry
 * 25 Bn New Zealand Infantry
 * 26 Bn New Zealand Infantry

British 9 Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier John Currie

35 Sherman, 37 Grant, 46 Crusader =118
 * 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars
 * Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry
 * Warwickshire Yeomanry
 * 14 Bn Sherwood Foresters

South African 1st Infantry Division
under Major-General Dan Pienaar


 * 8th Royal Tank Regiment (attached from 23rd Armoured Brigade, in reserve until 31 October)
 * 3rd South African Armoured Car Reconnaissance Regiment
 * Regiment President Steyn (Machine gun battalion)
 * 2nd Regiment Botha (in reserve until 31 October)


 * 1st Field Regiment, Cape Field Artillery, South African Artillery
 * 4th Field Regiment, SAA
 * 7th Field Regiment, SAA
 * 1st Light Anti-aircraft Regiment, SAA
 * 1st Anti-tank Regiment, SAA


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


 * 1 SA Division Signals

South African 1st Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier E.P. Hartshorn
 * 1st Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
 * 1st Royal Natal Carabineers
 * 1st Transvaal Scottish

South African 2nd Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Evered Poole
 * 1st Cape Town Highlanders
 * 1st Natal Mounted Rifles
 * 1st/2nd Field Force Battalion

South African 3rd Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier ?
 * 1st Imperial Light Horse
 * 1st Rand Light Infantry
 * 1st Royal Durban Light Infantry

4th Indian Infantry Division
under Major-General Francis Tuker


 * Central India Horse (Reconnaissance)
 * 5th Bn 6th Rajputana Rifles (machine gun)


 * 1 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
 * 11 Field Regiment RA
 * 32 Field Regiment RA
 * 149 Anti-tank Regiment RA
 * 57 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA


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


 * 4 Indian Division Signals

5th Indian Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Dudley Russell
 * 1/4 Bn The Essex Regiment
 * 4 Bn (Outram's) 6th Rajputana Rifles
 * 3 Bn Queen Mary's Own 10th Baluch Regiment

7th Indian Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Arthur Holworthy
 * 1 Bn The Royal Sussex Regiment
 * 4 Bn 16th Punjab Regiment
 * 1 Bn 2nd King Edward's Own Goorkha Rifles

161st Indian Infantry Brigade
under Brigadier Francis E.C. Hughes
 * 1 Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
 * 1st Bn 1st Punjab Regiment
 * 4th Bn 7th Rajput Regiment

British 23rd Armoured Brigade
under Brigadier George W. Richards

186 Valentine tanks
 * 8 Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 1 SA Division)
 * 40 Royal Tank Regiment (dettached to 9 Australian Division)
 * 46 Royal Tank Regiment
 * 50 Royal Tank Regiment (detached to 51st Highland Division)


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


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

Panzer Army Africa
(commanded by Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erwin Rommel) (Lieutenant-General (General der Panzertruppe) Georg Stumme was in command at the start of the battle in Rommel's absence on sick leave)

German 90th Light Afrika Division
(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Ernst Strecker)
 * 155th Panzergrenadier Regiment (with 707th Heavy Infantry Gun Company)
 * 200th Panzergrenadier Regiment (with 708th Heavy Infantry Gun Company)
 * 346th Panzergrenadier Regiment (should be 361st, 346th assigned to 217th Inf Div, the 361st was formed in theatre from former French Foreign Legionnaires of German origin)
 * 190th Artillery Regiment
 * 190th Anti-tank Battalion
 * under command: Force 288 (Panzergrenadier Regiment Afrika, the three battalions listed after this are not part of this 8-to-10 company detachment)
 * 605th Anti-tank Battalion
 * 109th Anti-aircraft Battalion
 * 606th Anti-aircraft Battalion

German 164th Light Afrika Division
(Major-General (Generalleutnant) Carl-Hans Lungershausen)
 * 125th Infantry Regiment
 * 382nd Infantry Regiment
 * 433rd Infantry Regiment
 * 220th Artillery Regiment
 * 220th Engineer Battalion
 * 220th Cyclist Unit
 * 609th Anti-aircraft Battalion

Ramcke Parachute Brigade
(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke)
 * 1st Bn 2nd Parachute Regiment
 * 1st Bn 3rd Parachute Regiment
 * 2nd Bn 5th Parachute Regiment
 * Lehrbattalion Burkhardt
 * Parachute Artillery Battery
 * Parachute Anti-tank Battalion

German Africa Corps
(Major-General (Generalleutnant) Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma)

German 15th Panzer Division
(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Gustav von Vaerst)
 * 8th Panzer Regiment
 * 115th Panzergrenadier Regiment
 * 33rd Artillery Regiment
 * 33rd Anti-tank Battalion
 * 33rd Engineer Battalion

German 21st Panzer Division
(Brigadier-General (Generalmajor) Heinz von Randow)
 * 5th Panzer Regiment
 * 104th Panzergrenadier Regiment
 * 155th Artillery Regiment
 * 39th Anti-tank Battalion
 * 200th Engineer Battalion

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

16 Motorised Division Pistoia

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

136 Infantry Division Giovani Fascisti

 * 2 Infantry Battalions

Italian X Corps
(Lieutenant General Edoardo Nebba; Major General Enrico Frattini in temporary command to October 26)
 * 9th Bersaglieri Regiment
 * 16th Corps Artillery Group
 * 8th Army Artillery Group

Italian 27 Infantry Division Brescia
(Major General Brunetto Brunetti)
 * 19th Infantry Regiment
 * 20th Infantry Regiment
 * 1st Mobile Artillery Regiment
 * 27th Mixed Engineer Regiment

Italian 17 Infantry Division Pavia
(Brigadier General N. Scattaglia)
 * 27th Infantry Regiment
 * 28th Infantry Regiment
 * 26th Artillery Regiment
 * 17th Mixed Engineer Battalion

Italian 185 Parachutist Division Folgore
(Major General Enrico Frattini)
 * 185th Parachutist Regiment
 * 186th Parachutist Regiment
 * 187th Parachutist Regiment
 * 185th Parachutist Artillery Regiment

Italian XX Motorized Corps
(Lieutenant General Giuseppi de Stephanis)
 * 8th Army Artillery Group (part)
 * 90th Engineer Company

Italian 132 Armoured Division Ariete
(Major General Francesco Arena)
 * 132nd Armoured Regiment
 * IX, X, XII Tank battalions (roughly 100 Fiat M14/41 tanks total);
 * 8th Bersaglieri Regiment (motorised)
 * V and XII Bersaglieri motor rifle battalions;
 * III Bersaglieri support weapons battalion.
 * 132nd Artillery Regiment (motorised)
 * I & II battalions (75/27 field guns) ;
 * III battalion (105/25 howitzers);
 * IV mixed AA battalion 90/53 and 20mm guns;
 * V & VI battalions semoventi M40 da 75/18 (roughly 10 semoventi and carri commando each);
 * I/24 howitzers battalion (in reinforcement);
 * an 88/56 battalion.
 * 3rd Battalion Nizza Cavalleria (AB41 Armoured cars)
 * 32nd Mixed Engineer Battalion (motorised)

Italian 133 Armoured Division Littorio
(Major General G. Bitossi)
 * 133rd Tank Regiment
 * IV, XIII & LI tank battalions (M14/41).
 * 12th Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment
 * 3rd Artillery Regiment
 * 133rd Artillery Regiment (part)
 * included two battalions of Semovente 75/18
 * 3rd Tank Group Lancieri di Novara (Fiat L6/40 light tanks)

Italian 101 Motorised Division Trieste
(Brigadier General Francisco La Ferla)
 * XI Tank Battalion (M14/41)
 * 65th Infantry Regiment
 * 6th Infantry Regiment
 * 21st Artillery Regiment
 * 8th Armoured Bersaglieri Battalion (AB41 Armoured cars)
 * 52nd Mixed Artillery Battalion

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


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

Italian 102 Motorised Division Trento
(Brigadier General Giorgio Masina)
 * 61st Infantry Regiment
 * 62nd Infantry Regiment
 * 46th Artillery Regiment

Italian 25 Infantry Division Bologna
(Major General Giorgio Masina)
 * 39th Infantry Regiment
 * 40th Infantry Regiment
 * 205th Artillery Regiment
 * 25th Engineer Battalion