NQM Gazala Campaign Orbats

This is a work in Progress as I rough out the framework for a North African Campaign, with text taken wholesale from  http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-north-african-campaign/timeline :

In broad terms, there were 3 Major British desert land offensives: Compass (December 1940), Crusader (November 1941) and Lightfoot/Supercharge (October/November 1942).
These were followed by Torch (November 1942) and Vulcan (April 1943 ) in Tunisia

1940

10 June: Italy declared war on Great Britain and France; Canada declared war on Italy.
11 June: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa declared war on Italy.
11-12 June: East Africa campaign began.
4 August: Italy invaded British Somaliland.
13 September: Italy invaded Egypt.
28 October: Italy invaded Greece.
9 December: Operation Compass, the first Western Desert offensive began.
16 December: British offensive opened in Italian East Africa; Egypt cleared of Italian forces.

1941

6 February: OKW issue order for Operation Sonnenblume.
22 January: Tobruk in Libya fell to British and Australian troops.
7 February: Benghazi captured by British.
12 February: German forces under General Erwin Rommel arrived in TRIPOLI.
17 February: Instructions issued to military commanders for a Greek expedition.
6-7 March: British troops entered Greece.
24 March: Rommel captured EL AGHEILIA in Libya with little resistance.
30 March: Enemy counter offensive began in the Western Desert. German armour and Italian infantry advanced.
3 April: British evacuated BENGHAZI.
6 April: Germany invaded Yugoslavia and Greece.
10 April: Australians forced to withdraw to TOBRUK.
12-13 April: Rommel encircled TOBRUK. Siege began.
14 April: German attack on TOBRUK repulsed.
22-29 April: Evacuation of troops from Greece to Crete and Egypt.
27 April: Germans entered Athens. Greece surrendered to Germany.
15 May: Operation Brevity. Limited counterattack by Wavell retook HALFAYA pass.
17 May: Italian forces in East Africa surrendered.
20 May: German airborne invasion of Crete began. MALEME airfield captured.
26 May: Operation Skorpion began.
28-31 May: British and Commonwealth troops evacuated from Crete.
2-11 June: The Cauldron Battle around BIR HAMAT/SIDI MUFTAH
15-18 June: Operation Battleaxe failed to relieve TOBRUK.
4-6 October: BENGHAZI and TRIPOLI raided by RAF.
18 November: Operation Crusader began in the Western Desert. New Zealand Division crossed the Libyan frontier into Cyrenaica.
21 November: Tank battle between British 8th Army and Axis forces began south and south-east of TOBRUK.
23 November: Totensonntag
26 November: New Zealand Division linked up with garrison at TOBRUK.
27-30 November: Axis forces returned to TOBRUK front.
2 December: Heavy RAF raids on Axis supply bases in TRIPOLI and BENGHAZI.
10 December: Siege of TOBRUK lifted.
11 December: Germany declared war on United States.
16 December: Rommel began retreat to EL AGHEILA.
24 December: 8th Army captured BENGHAZI.


1942

2 January: 8th Army captured BARDIA.
6 January: Rommel commenced offensive at EL AGEDABIA.
8 January: Rommel repulsed and withdrew during sandstorms.
21 January: Rommel commenced second offensive.
23 January: Axis troops took EL AGEDABIA.
29 January: Rommel's forces retook BENGHAZI.
20 February: Western Desert frontline stabilised at GAZALA.
26 May: Rommel launched Operation Venezia to recapture TOBRUK.
5 June: The "Cauldron" battle around SIDI MUFTAH.
12 June: The "Knightsbridge" crisis at BIR BEL(L)EFAA.
21 June: Rommel captured TOBRUK.
30 June: Rommel reached EL ALAMEIN.
1 July: First Battle of EL ALAMEIN.
7 August: General Bernard Montgomery took command of 8th Army.
2 September: Montgomery drove Rommel back by  in the Battle of ALAM HALFA.
21 September: Rommel handed over command of Italian-German Panzer Army to General Stumme and left for Germany.
23 October: Operation Lightfoot (Second Battle of El Alamein) began. New Zealand Division captured MITEIRYA RIDGE.
25 October: General Stumme died. Rommel returned to North Africa.
28 October: RAF disrupted German armour reforming for possible counter attack at EL ALAMEIN.
2 November: Operation Supercharge began. 8th Army broke through Axis forces at EL ALAMEIN. New Zealand Division opened a way for British armour.
8 November: Operation Torch began. American and British forces land in French Morocco and Algeria under Lieutenant General Eisenhower.
11 November: Axis forces driven out of Egypt.
13 November: TOBRUK fell to the 8th Army
20 November: BENGHAZI recaptured by British forces.
13 December: Rommel withdrew from EL AGHEILA.
Fieseler Storch Fi 156. (1937), [STOL Army Cooperation]. All Fronts. (Tankzone model from the Author's collection)

1943

23 January: 8th Army under General Montgomery entered TRIPOLIi.
29 January: 8th Army advance parties entered Tunisia.
27 February: 8th Army took up position opposite the MARETH LINE, Tunisia.
6 March: Rommel attacked 8th Army in Tunisia and was repulsed.
9 March: Rommel left North Africa and returned to Germany on sick leave.
20-28 March: 8th Army broke through the MARETH LINE.
5 April: Operation Flax. Allied air operation cut Axis air supply lines to North Africa
6 April: Axis forces in Tunisia withdrew as British and American forces link up.
22 April: Operation Vulcan. First Army offensive began against TUNIS.
7 May: Operation Strike. Operation Retribution was an air and sea blockade of Axis Naval forces to cut off North Africa.
7 May: Allies captured TUNIS.
12-13 May: German and Italian troops surrendered in North Africa.

Sources:
  1. 'The North African Campaign timeline',  http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/the-north-african-campaign/timeline, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage). I simply cut and pasted the text, deleted specific references to the Kiwi divisions and tidied up the tenses used to the past tense. Otherwise this can be considered an edited quote from this website. I have added further dates for German Offensives. The NZ site may have drawn it's (uncredited) text from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_African_Campaign_timeline, as Wiki cites reference sources and the NZ Ministry for culture doesn't. The two texts are too similar to be coincidental.
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Compass
  3. Ellis, J. (1993) The World War II Databook. London: BCA
  4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Flax
  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Retribution
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Skorpion
  7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Sonnenblume (Don't miss the Hindi verion on youtube :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB7YYIQvzbQ - Sadly, there is no singing!)
 
Forces built up piecemeal in the desert on both sides, so I have taken an arbitary snapshot round about the time of the first GAZALA battles (November 1941) as the basis for a mini campaign. As ever, I am open to suggestions and comments from those with a better knowledge of the period.

British and Commonwealth Forces

Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command: General Claude Auchinleck

British Eighth Army

Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham, succeeded on 26 November by Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie
Model of a Nissen hut with a Campari sun umberella outside.

XIII Corps (Gott)
  • 1st South African Division (Major-General Pienaar) - Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3)

XXX Corps

Lieutenant-General Willoughby Norrie
Comd Car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3)
Comd Car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3)
  • Divisional troops
    • 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment - Marmon Harrington Armd Car (s3)
  • 102nd Royal Horse Artillery - FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
  • 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA - Bofors 40mm (s3) + limber (s3)

XIII Corps

Lieutenant-General Reade Godwin-Austen
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3) 40mm Flak + Truck (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3), 40mm Flak (s3) + Truck (s3)
  • 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade - Comd (s3), Signals Vehicle (s3), Rifle stand (s3) (Defence Platoon)
  • 18th Infantry Battalion - Comd (s3), 3-4 Rifle Stands (s3), VickersMMG (s3), 3″Mortar (s3), ATkRifle (s3) (Boyes)
  • 19th Infantry Battalion - (As 18 Bn above)
  • 20th Infantry Battalion - (As 18 Bn above)
  • 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade - (As 4th Bde above)
    • 21st Infantry Battalion
    • 22nd Infantry Battalion
    • 23rd Infantry Battalion
  • 6th New Zealand Infantry Brigade - (As 4th Bde above)
    • 24th Infantry Battalion
    • 25th Infantry Battalion
    • 26th Infantry Battalion
  • Divisional troops
    • (Reconnaissance) - Marmon Herrington Armd Car (3)
    • 1 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
    • 25 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
    • 31 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3)

Tobruk Garrison

Major-General Ronald Scobie
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 40mm Flak + Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop truck (s3)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), Workshop Truck (s3) 40mm Flak + Truck (s3)
  • Polish Independent Carpathian Rifle Brigade
    • I Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • II Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • III Carpathian Rifle Battalion
    • 11 Czechoslovakian Infantry Battalion
    • 2/13 Australian Infantry Battalion
    • Carpathian Machine Gun Battalion
    • Carpathian Field Regiment FOO (s1), Limber (s3), 25pdr (s3)
***The Brigade was a mix of Valentines and mostly Matildas

Oasis Force

Brigadier Denys Reid
  • 29th Indian Infantry Brigade - (As 4th NZ Inf Bde above)
  • 6th South African Armoured Car Regiment - Marmon Harrington Armd Car (3)

Army Reserve


 

Bickers' (1991) pulls a common pre-internet trick of historians in giving the orbat for the Desert Air Force (DAF) that does not mesh with the date of June 1940 for their antagonists, the Regia Aeronautica. For this orbat, one has to do some judicious trawling of the net. Wickipedia came up with a surprising amount of information, the structure of which is quoted directly below. Nierhorster was useful as always. The numbers below are for a 1:30 ratio campaign, but it would probably be more sensible to use a 1 sqn = 1 aircraft model for the early operations, about a 1:10 or 1:12 ratio. If you do that, then each strength point is represented by a model that is destroyed on its second hit if it has not already sensibly flown off on its first.

Desert Airforce June 1940

 Air Commadore Collinshaw

HQ 202 Group, MA'ATEN BAGUSH
(http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark031.htm)
(http://nt-magazine.at.ua/publ/11)
33 Squadron RAF  80 Squadron RAF  112 Squadron RAF   - 1Gladiator (s3)

 No. 208 Squadron RAF - 1 Lysander (s1)

 

1st Free French Brigade Group at BIR HAKIEM
Converted Peter Pigs from Phil Steele's collection. Copyright Phil Steele.
Crucial to any GAZALA Battle is the contribution of General Koenig's Free French Brigade (1FF) at BIR HAKIEM. Fortunately, I don't have to model them as Phil Steel has already made an excellent job of it in 15mm, allbeit he painted them originally as Vichy French. . 1FF seemed to be plentifully supplied with 75mm artillery of one sort or another, which I have amalgamated into the 1st Flying Column portee.

1st Free French Brigade (1FF) (Gen Koenig) - 1 Command Jeep (s3), 1 Signals Vehicle (s3)
1st Free French Tank Coy – 1 Crusader I,II OR III (s2) (But I own a Char 2C, so see my stand-in on the blog wallpaper!)
1st Free French Flying Column – 1 Automitraillaise Dodge (s2), 1 portee 75mm M1897 or 'Conus gun' SPG (s3)
1st Fusiliers Marine - Comd (s3), 3 Rifle Stands (s3), Hotchkiss MMG (s3), 81mm Mortar (s3), ATkRifle (s3) (Boyes)
2nd Bn French Foreign Legion – As 1FM above.
3rd Bn Infanterie Marine Pacifique - As 1FM above.
1st Moroccan Spahis - As 1FM above.
Engineer – 1 Engineer Stand (s3)
Anti-tank – 1 Fordson WOt2 25mm CLA portee (s3)
Anti-aircraft – 1 25 mm CA mle 39 towed/portee (s2)
Logistic – 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 Workshop Truck (s3), 1 Fuel Tanker (s3), 1 Ambulance (s3)

Later on, at ALAMEIN :

1st Free French Division : (Gen Koenig)
- Compagnie de QG51 : Lt Muracciole
- 2e Bataillon de la Légion Etrangère : Cl Amilakvary
- 1e Bataillon d'Infanterie de Marine et du Pacifique : Cdt Bouillon
- 22e Compagnie Nord Africaine : Cpt Lequesne
- 1e Regiment d'Artillerie : Cdt Laurent-Champrosay
- 1e Bataillon de Fusilliers- Marins (A.A.) : CC Amyot d'Inville
- Compagnie Anti-Chars (A.T.) : Cpt Jacquin
- 1e Compagnie de Sapeurs-Mineurs : Cpt Desmaisons
- 1e Compagnie Transmissions : Cpt Renard
- 101e Compagnie Auto (transport) : Cpt Dulau
- Atelier Lourd de Réparations Auto n°1 : Cpt Bell
- Intendance : Int Bouton
- Groupe d'exploitation n°1 : Lt Foussat
- Groupe Sanitaire Divisionnaire n°1 : Med-Cdt Vignes
- Ambulance Chirurgicale Légère : Med-Cdt Durbach
- Hôpital de Campagne Hadfied-Spears : Med Ch Vernier

Sources:

  1. Corbonnois, D. (2004) L'odyssée de la Colonne Leclerc : Les Français Libres au combat sur le front du Tchad, 1940-43
  2. http://minitracks.forumpersos.com/t155-engins-francais-depuis-1941-a-1945
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_Demi-Brigade_of_the_Foreign_Legion
  4. Haugh, D. (2002) http://www.warwheels.net/images/AMDodgeTanakeDATASHEET.pdf
  5. Bishop, C. (1998) The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II. p.190. Sterling Publishing.
  6. Latimer, J. (2002) Alamein. p.329.
  7. Post by Reasoner, D. (2006) http://testofbattle.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2916&sid=2b9b5a228faeb353ef45af3326d173d3

German and Italian forces

balcony
Supreme Commander North Africa: General Ettore Bastico
Model of a a comfortable hotel somewhere in TRIPOLI with a grand balcony for reviewing parades.

Italian Mobile Army (XX) Corps

Lieutenant-General Gastone Gambara  Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3), Ambulance Truck (s3), 
Signature Corps Troops
(from amalgamating troops that appear in divisions in small numbers)
Mixed AA Battalion - 1 Cannone da 90/53 (s3) + limber (s3), 1 20/65 modello 35(s3) + limber (s3) (both may be self-propelled)
Artillery Battalion - 1 Comd (s3),  FOO (s3), 100mm Howitzer (s3) + limber (s3)
Anti-tank Batalion - 1 Semovente 75/18 (s3), 1 Semovente 47/32 (s3)
Armoured Bersaglieri Recce Battalion - Autoblinda AB 41 (s3)



Ariete

  • 132 Armoured Division Ariete (General Mario Balotta) 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3), 1 Autoblinda 41 (3)
  • 132nd Armoured Regiment -  1 Comd car (s3)
    • VII Tank Battalion - 1 M13/41 (s3)
    • VIII Tank Battalion - 1 M13/41 (s3)
    • IX Tank Battalion - 1 M11/39 (s3)
  • 32nd Light Armoured Regiment - 1 L6/39 (s3)
  • 8th Bersaglieri Regiment (Motorised) - 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 1 47mm Atk (s3)
    • III Motorcycle Battalion   (later, II Motorised, as V)  Comd m/c or car (s3), 2 m/c (s3), m/c MG (s3)
    • V and XII Motorised Battalions 4 Truck (s3), 2 Bn Comd (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortars (s3) 
  • 132nd Artillery Regiment - 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 FOO (s1), 1 75/25 Gun (s3) + Limber (s3)
littorio

  • 133 Armoured Division Littorio, Major General Gervasio Bitossi- 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3), 1 Autoblinda 41 (3)
    • 133rd Tank Regiment - 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 M13/41 (s3), 1 M11/39 (s3)
    • 12th Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment - 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3),  1 47mm Atk (s3), 1-2 m/c (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 2 Bn Comd (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortars (s3)
    • 3rd Artillery Regiment - 1 Comd Car (s3), 1 FOO (s1), 1 75/25 Gun (s3) + Limber (s3)
    • 133rd Artillery Regiment (part) - (see corps troops)
    • 3rd Tank Group Lancieri di Novara - 1 L6/39 (s3)
     
    trieste

  •  101 Motorised Division Trieste - 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 65th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 66th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 9th Bersaglieri Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3)
  • 21st Artillery Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 FOO (s3), 1 Truck Limber (s3), 1 105mm Gun (s3), 1 Light Truck Limber (s3), 1 47mm PaK [may be Semovente L/40 da 47/32] (s3), 1 Limber (s3)
  • RECAM (Reconnaissance Unit of the Mobile Army Corps)  1 Saharina (s3)

Panzer Gruppe Afrika

General der Panzertruppe Erwin Rommel
Comd car or SdKfz 250 [Greif] (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3) Ambulance Truck (s3), Armd Car (s3)

DAKpalmDeutches Afrika Korps

Generalleutnant Ludwig Crüwell
Comd car [or captured Dorchester] (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3) Ambulance Truck (s3), Armd Car (s3)
  • DAK Artillery -  Comd car or SdKfz (s3), FOO (s1), Sdkfz 7 Limber (s3), 210mm Gun (s2)
  • DAK 605 Panzerjaeger Abteilung(Battalion) - Panzerjaeger 1b 4.7cm (s3)
  • DAK 606 Flak Abteilung - SdKfz 10/4 2cm 30 (s2), SdKfz 10 limber (s2)
  • 33rd/II Luftwaffe Flak Abteilung -  Flak 8.8cm (s2), SdKfz 7 limber (s2), 20mm Flak 38 L/113 (s2), SdKfz 10 limber (s2)
15.PD2
8.PR

  • 8th Panzer Regiment Comd PzIII (s3), 4 PzIII** (s3)
15PzDiv8Pz

8th Panzer Regiment is equipped with Pz III Hs.

  • 115th Infantry Regiment Comd Sdkfz 250, 251 or 263 (s3), 2 Comd car (1 may be an Sdkfz 250 or 251) (s3), 37mm Pak (s3), 2 Sdkfz 251 [incl 2 MG42] (s3), 2 Truck (s3), 8 Rifle (s3), 2 81mm Mortars (s3), 2 MG42 (s3)
115th Infantry  armoured battalion and motorised battalion. 
15PzDivGep

Once painted, these PSC plastic late-war Germans should be a good match for my older Peter Pig Afrika Korps infantry.
15PzDivMot


  • 33rd Artillery Regiment Comd car (s3), FOO (s3), Sdkfz 11 Limber (s3), 105mm Gun or  SiG 33 (s3), Sdkfz 10 Limber (s3), 50mm Pak (s3)

21.PD1
  • 5th Panzer Regiment Comd PzII (s3), 3 PzIII** (s3), 1 PzIV (s3)
  • 104th Infantry Regiment  As 115th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 155th Artillery Regiment As 33rd Artillery Regiment Above. 1 Lorraine Schlepper  15cm (s3) may be substituted for the 105mm
90ltAfrika
(Renamed 90th Light Africa Division from 28 November 1941) (Generalmajor Max Sümmermann until 10 December (killed in action), then Generalmajor Richard Veith)
Comd car (s3), Signals Truck (s3), 20mm Flak Truck (s3), Ammo Truck (s3), POL Truck (s3), Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 155th Infantry Regiment 3 Comd car (s3), 37mm Pak (s3), 2 81mm Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 8 Rifle (s3), 4 Mg 42 (s3)
  • 361st Infantry Regiment  As 115th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • Panzerjaeger Abteilung 605 Panzerjäger Ib 4.7cm (s3), sIG 33 (s1)
** For variety, instead of 4 PzIIIs, 1 PzII, 2 PzIIIs and 1 Pz 4 could be modelled, counting them all as medium tanks.
savona

  • 55th North African Infantry Division 'Savona' (General Fedele de Giorgis) 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 15th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 4 Truck (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 16th Infantry Regiment  As 15th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 12th Artillery Regiment Comd car (s3), FOO (s3), Truck Limber (s3), 105mm Gun (s3), Light Truck Limber (s3), 47mm Pak (s3)

Italian XXI Corps

Lieutenant-General Enea Navarrini   1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signal van (s3), 1 Ambulance (s3), 1 Armd Car (3)

Signature Corps Troops
(from amalgamating troops that appear in divisions in small numbers)
Mixed AA Battalion - 1 Cannone da 90/53 (s3) + limber (s3), 1 20/65 modello 35(s3) + limber (s3) 
Artillery Battalion - 1 Comd (s3),  1 FOO (s3), 1 100mm Howitzer (s3) + limber (s3)
Anti-tank Batalion - 1 Semovente 75/18 (s3), 1 Semovente 47/32 (s3) (both may be towed with limber)


pavia
  • 27th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 28th Infantry Regiment  As 27th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 26th Artillery Regiment  As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
bologna
  • 39th Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 40th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 205th Artillery Regiment As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
brescia
  • 19th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 20th Infantry Regiment  As 39th Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 55th Artillery Regiment  As 12th Artillery Regiment Above.
trento
  • 102 Motorised Division Trento 1 Comd car (s3), 1 Signals Truck (s3), 1 20mm Flak Truck (s3), 1 Ammo Truck (s3), 1 POL Truck (s3), 1 Engineer Truck (s3), 2 Engineer (s3)
  • 61st Infantry Regiment 1 Comd car (s3), 1 81mm Mortar (s3), 6 Rifle (s3), 2 MG (s3), 2 45mm Mortar (s3)
  • 62nd Infantry Regiment  As 61st Infantry Regiment Above.
  • 46th Artillery Regiment  1 Comd car (s3), 1 FOO (s3), 1 Truck Limber (s3), 1 105mm Gun (s3), 1 Light Truck Limber (s3), 1 47mm PaK [may be Semovente L/40 da 47/32] (s3)
*Trucks: 4 small trucks each carrying 2 stands, or 2 large trucks each carrying 4 stands. APCs carry the same as a small truck – 2 stands and have an integral MG stand that can dismount in defence if the APC is not destroyed.

References

1.http://www.enotes.com/topic/Operation_Crusader_order_of_battle
 2. Greene, J. and Massignani, A. (1999). Rommel's North Africa Campaign: September 1940-November 1942. Da Capo Press
3. This truck showcased on the Duchy of Alzheim Blog belonged to General Bergonzoli of the Centauro division (not present at GAZALA). Even so, it would make an excellent signals truck for one of the armoured divisions.
4. by Hunter, B. (2006) Axis History forum. http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=104408


After the first successful British campaign in the Western Desert against the Italians, the Deutches Afrika Korps (DAK) entered the theatre. Nierhorster (see reference links) gives orbats for the invasion of CRETE that include 5 Squadra Aerea (air fleet ). The first Luftwaffe order of battle in North Africa, about the time of the attacks on TOBRUK, in March 1941 that I have been able to find from (http://sturmvogel.orbat.com/LWJul42.html) looks like this, supplemented by Dr Chris McNabb's (2009) Order of Battle: German Luftwaffe in WWII,which itself quotes Sturmvogel, and Nierhorster as references:

The Luftwaffe enters the Mediterranean

First to arrive in North Africa in Jan/Feb 1941 was X Fliegerkorps, followed in November 1941 by Luftflotte 2.
UnitAircraftTotalSvcble
X Fliegerkorps
I/JG 27Bf 1093425
III/ZG 26Bf 1102522
Stab/LG 1Ju 88A11
I/LG 1354
II/LG 12511
III/LG 12711
II/KG 26He 111H285
III/KG 263012
III/KG 30Ju 88A156
KüFlGr 506114
I/StG 1Ju 872521
Stab/StG 333
Bf 11040
I/StG 3Ju 873013
Stab/KG zbV 1Ju 5221
I/KG zbV 12714
II/KG zbV 13919
III/KG zbV 14129
KGr zbV 9259
KGr zbV 172448
McNabb cites 300 (10) Aircraft for X Fliegerkorps rising to 450 (15) aircraft, but on page 80, two tables appear to duplicate aircraft on the same date. I believe at present that a typo has reproduced strengths for Feb-Mar 1941 erroneously as January in the second table. Note that I have converted servicable numbers to 1:30 ratio NQM strength points (SPs) approximating between the two tables below, and this is for the whole Mediterranean theatre.

X Fliegerkorps (Jan-Apr 1941)

GELA (Sicily) - JG 26/27 - 1 Bf 109E (4)
 
Diecast 1/100 Bf 109 from the Author's collection

PALERMO (Sicily) - ZG 26 - 1 Bf 110 (2)
(http://www.354thpmfg.com/FighterAircraft_Messerschmitt110.html)

CATANIA (Sicily) - LG1 - 1 Ju 88A (2), 1 Ju 88D (2) 
Junkers Ju88 (1939) [Medium Bomber] Author's collection

(North Afrika) - StG2 -  2 Ju 87B (2)
TRAPANI (Sicily) - Stg 1 - 2 Ju 87R (2)
 
1/144 Ju 87 Stuka from the Author's collection

COMISO (Sicily) - KG26 - 2 He 111H-3 (2)
 
Heinkel He111. (1936), [Medium Bomber] Author's collection

(Sicily) - KG zbV 1/9 - 1 Ju 52 (3), 1 Ju 52 (2)
(http://www.modelingmadness.com/scott/axis/luft/ju/ju52.htm)

Wickepedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fliegerf%C3%BChrer_Afrika) adds the following, supplemented by McNabb:

Luftflotte 2 (MittelMeer-Afrika)(Nov 1941- Jan 1942)

Arrived in November 1941 and took X Fliegercorps under command but shown below in January 1942 by which time Fliegerfuehrer Afrika and II FliegerKorps were also under command

Fliegerkorps II

(Sicily) - KG zbV 1/400 - 2 Ju 52 (3)
GELA? (Sicily) - JG 53 - 1 Bf 109F-4 (3), 1 Bf 109F-4 (2)
CATINA (Sicily) - NJG2 - 1 Ju 88C-6 (2)
 
Ju 88C-6 copyright Simon Schatz at luftwaffe-aviation-art.blogspot.com

CATANIA (Sicily) - KG54/77 -1 Ju 88A-4 (3)
COMISO (Sicily) - KG26 - 1 He 111H-3 (1) (Transferred from X Fliegerkorps)

  • JagdKommando Kreta
A Model of a rather large and posh Cretan Hotel ought to suffice for this HQ. It should sit unmolested on your dining room sideboard, throughout the game, looking grand! (no citation for this idea!!)

Fliegerführer Afrika(Ägyptenfeldzug)

(Libya) - ZG26 -  1 Bf 110C-4 (1)
(Libya/Egypt) - JG27 -  1 Bf 109F-4 (3)
(Libya/Egypt) - SG3 -  1 Ju 87D-1 (3), 1 Ju 87D-1 (2)

Luftwaffe Kommando Sudost

  • Luftgau Afrika (Admin and Supply organisation) (see: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Germany/HB/HB-10.html)
  • Koluft Libyen
  • Libya - 2.(H)/14 (Aufklärungsgruppe 14 - recce) - 1 Hs 126b (s3)
(copyright Steve Bathy)

II Seenot Dienstfuhrer (Emergency Sea Rescue Service HQ)

1 Do 24 (s3) - This could be split into 3 strength points; one at each of the bases below:
 
(http://www.ipmslivonia.org/ipms/Gallery/Do-24/PR-Do24.htm)
  • 15 Seenotkommando (BENGASI)
  • 16 Seenotkommando (DERNA)
  • Seenotkommando (TRIPOLI)

II Sanitats-Flugbereitschaft Bengasi (Casualty Evacuation)

BENGASI - 1 Fieseler Storch (s3)
 
Fieseler Storch Fi156. (1937), [STOL Army Cooperation]. All Fronts. (Tankzone model from the Author's collection)

Fliegerführer Afrika(Libyen-Tunesien)

  • Verbindungsstaffel und Flugbereitschaft der Fliegerkorps Tunis (Liaison and Army Air Cooperation Staff HQ?)

General der Deutschen Luftwaffe beim Oberkommand der Kgl.Ital Luftwaffe (ITALUFT)

XIX.Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee/Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca (Flak Div.) Kommando (Flak Div 19)

Flak Regiment 102
1 88L56 FlaK 18 (s2) and Sdkfz7 Limber (s2), 1 x 20L113 FlaK 38 (s2) and Sdkfz10 Limber (s2)
Flak Regiment 135: as above

V Squadra Aerea (Italian 5th Air Fleet)

  • Battaglione Paracadutisti Libici Fanti dell'Aria (15/01/1940  DERNA defending El FTEIAH airport) - Comd (s3), 1 SM.75 (s1). 1 SM.81 (s2)
  •  
    1 st Battaglione Paracadutsiti Libici "Fanti dell'Aria" - Comd (s3), 4 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), Mor (s3)
    • Battaglione Paracadutsiti National Libici - Comd (s3), 4 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), Mor (s3)
  • Group "Pancano":
    • ?? Second Platoon of Border Guard against tank (4 pieces of 47/32)*
    • 14 th Battery controcarri and light anti-aircraft (12 pieces 20/65) - 20/65AA (s1)
    • elements, 60 th Bersaglieri motorcycle company - MC sidear MMG (s3)
    • Platoon training, The Battalion, 4th Medium Tank Regiment (4 tanks M11/39)*
    (*the small elements ignored by NQM are included for interest)
    • Group II, 10 th Artillery Regiment "Volturno" (8 pieces of 75/27) - 75/27 (s1)
Available at :  (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fanti_dell'aria)
  • Battaglione Paracadutisti Folgore (This became a division later) - Comd (s3), 4 Rifles (s3), MMG (s3), Mor (s3)

Comando Aeronautica del Libya (until 15 July 1940)

Libya Air Command – Settore Est BENGAZI/TOBRUK (  after 15 July 1940)
(quoted  from http://comandosupremo.com/regiaaeronautica.html/3 with additions)
  • 2nd Sahara Recon Squadriglia (EL ADEM) - Ca.309 (s1) Ghibli

  • 127th and 137th Recon Flights (EL ADEM) - Ro.37bis (s2) Lince

  • 13th Bomber Division “PEGASO” (BENGHAZI)
    • 14th Stormo (Bomber Wing)
      • Bombardment Gruppo 44 (6,7 Sqa @ 5 bombers) - 1 SM.79 (s1) Sparviero (Some sources cite SM.81s for this Gruppo reflecting that about 30 a/c of both types were spread between the two squadrons)
        • Bombardment Gruppo 45 (2,22 Sqa @ 5 bombers) – 1 SM.81 (s2) Pipistrelli
  • 10th Stormo
    • 30th and 32nd Bombardment Gruppos (BENINA) - 1 SM.79 (s3)

  • 14th Fighter Brigade “REX”  (TOBRUK)
    • 8th and 10th Squadriglia (@ 25-30 fighters)(TOBRUK) - 1 CR.32 (s3), 1 CR.42 (s3) Falco

Libya Air Command – Settore Ovest TRIPOLI (after 15 July 1940)
  • 1st Sahara Recon Squadron (EL ADEM) - Ca.309 (s3) Ghibli
  • 26th Independent Recon Squadron (HON)- Ca.309 (s3) Ghibli
  • 122nd and 136th Recon Flight (MELLAHA/TRIPOLI) - Ro.37bis (s2) Lince
  • 15th Stormo:
    • 46th and 47th Bombardment Gruppos (TARHUNA) - 1 SM.79 (s3), 1 SM.81 (s1)
  • 33rd Stormo:
    • 35th and 37th Bombardment Gruppos (BIR BHERA) - 1 SM.79 (s3)
  • 50th Ground Attack Stormo:
    • 12th Ground Attack Squadron (SORMAN) - Ba.65 (s1)
    • 16th Ground Attack Squadron (SORMAN)  - Ca.310bis (s2)
  • 2nd Fighter Stormo:
    • 13th Fighter Squadron (CASTEL BENITO) - Cr.42 (s3)Falco
    1st Sahara Recon Squadron (MELLAHA) - Ca.309 (s1) Ghibli

XIX.Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee/Armata Corazzata Italo-Tedesca (Flak Div.) Kommando

(Flak Div 19 - see http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/19fladiv.htm and http://www.feldgrau.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13015)
Comd Car (s3), 1 88L56 FlaK 18 (s1) and Sdkfz7 Limber (s1), 1  20L113 FlaK 38 (s3) and Sdkfz10 or Horch Limber* (s3)
  • Flak Regiment 135: as above
*A note on self propelled (SP) artillery pieces in general. They should also have an ammunition  limber, which may be a separate truck or trailer, which gives them the same profile as a towed gun and limber.








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