The Orders of Battle for Totensontag, 23 November 1941

The Re-fight
The Scenario
The Participants
The Generals
The Orders of Battle
The Battlefield
The Historic Battle
The Re-fight Outcome

Sidi Rezegh, 23 November 1941

British Force

30th Corps, Lieutenant-General C.W.M. Norrie

1st South African Division, Major-General G.E. Brink

4th South African Armoured Car Regiment

Headquarters

1 Command Armoured Car

A Squadron

1 Command Armoured Car

2 Recon Armoured Cars

B Squadron

1 Command Armoured Car

2 Recon Armoured Cars

C Squadron

1 Command Armoured Car

2 Recon Armoured Cars

5th South African Brigade, Brigadier B. F. Armstrong

Brigade Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Forward Observer Stand

2 Cars

1 Staff Radio Truck

1st Battalion, South African Irish, Maj. C. McN. Cochran
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Mortar Stand

1 Light Tuck

A Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

B Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

C Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

D Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

1 Troop, 1st South African Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

1 40L56 AA Gun

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 Light Truck

2nd Battalion, Regiment Botha, Lt.-Col. Mason
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Mortar Stand

1 Light Tuck

A Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

B Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

C Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

D Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

1 Troop, 1st South African Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

1 40L56 AA Gun

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 Light Truck

3rd Battalion, Transvaal Scottish, Major Rosser
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Mortar Stand

1 Light Tuck

A Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

B Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

C Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

D Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

1 Troop, 1st South African Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

1 40L56 AA Gun

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 Light Truck

C Company, Regiment President Steyn

1 Machine Gun Command Stand

2 Machine Gun Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

3rd South African Field Regiment, Lt-.Col. I. B. Whyte
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Forward Observer Stand

2 Cars

1 Staff Radio Truck

2 Medium Ammo Trucks with Trailers

7th South African Field Battery, Maj. Harris

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Quad Prime Movers

1 Medium Ammo Truck

8th South African Field Battery, Maj. Berry

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Quad Prime Movers

1 Medium Ammo Truck

9th South African Field Battery, Maj. Greenwood

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Quad Prime Movers

1 Medium Ammo Truck

1st Battery, 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Quad Prime Movers

1 Medium Ammo Truck

3rd South African Anti-Tank Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

3 2-pounder AT Guns Portee Mount

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 18-pounder Gun

1 Quad Prime Mover

1 Medium Ammo Truck

D Battery, 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (detached from 7th Support Group)

1 Command Stand

1 Car

3 2-pounder AT Guns Portee Mount

1 Medium Ammo Truck

2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Guards (detached from 4th Armoured Brigade Group)
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Mortar Stand

1 Light Tuck

A Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

B Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

C Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

D Company

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

B Echelon, 5th South African Brigade
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

4th South African Reserve Motor Transport Company

12 Medium Trucks with Trailers

12 Support Stands

5th South African Brigade Workshops

3 Medium Trucks

3 Support Stands

11th South African Field Ambulance, Major Melzer

2 Medium Ambulance Trucks

2 Support Stands

7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery (Off-board)

Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Forward Observer Stand

2 Cars

1 Staff Radio Truck

2 Medium Ammo Trucks with Trailers

A Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 4.5-inch Guns

1 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

B Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 4.5-inch Guns

1 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

7th Armoured Division, Major-General W.H.E. Gott

7th Armoured Brigade, Brigadier G.M.O. Davy

7th Hussars

1 Crusader Command Tank

2 Crusader Tanks

2nd  Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment

1 Cruiser Command Tank

2 Cruiser Tanks

7th Support Group, Brigadier J.C. Campbell

4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, Lt.-Col. Currie
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Forward Observer Stand

2 Cars

1 Staff Radio Truck

2 Medium Ammo Trucks with Trailers

A Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

B Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Off-board)
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Forward Observer Stand

2 Cars

1 Staff Radio Truck

2 Medium Ammo Trucks with Trailers

A Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

B Battery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

4th Armoured Brigade, Brigadier A.H. Gatehouse

8th Hussars, Major P. Sandbach

1 M3 Stuart Command Tank

3rd Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment, Major ‘Bob’ Crisp

1 M3 Stuart Command Tank

2 M3 Stuart Tanks

5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment

1 M3 Stuart Command Tank

2 M3 Stuart Tanks

22nd Armoured Brigade, Brigadier J. Scott-Cockburn

Headquarters

1 Crusader Command Tank

1 Crusader CS Tank

Composite Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Carr
Headquarters

1 Command Stand

1 Car

B Company. 1st Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

1 Infantry Command Stand

2 Infantry Stands

3 Light Trucks

2 Universal Carriers

C Battery, 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery

1 Command Stand

1 Car

2 Gun Crew Stands (ds)

2 25-pdr Guns

2 Gun Tractors

1 Medium Ammo Truck

1 Troop, D Battery, 102nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Northumberland Hussars)

1 2-pounder AT Gun Portee Mount

1 Troop, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

1 40L56 AA Gun

1 Gun Crew Stand (ds)

1 Light Truck

Composite Squadron, elements of 3rd and 4th County of London Yeomanry, and 2nd Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, Major Walker

3 Crusader Tanks

German Force

Deutches Afrikakorps, Lieut.-General Ludwig Cruewell

15TH PANZER DIVISION, Major-General Neumann-Silkow

Divisional Troops, with:

Division Headquarters, with:

Headquarters Company, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck

8th Panzer Regiment, Lt.-Col. Cramer

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 command PzKw III command variant

Headquarters Company, with:

1 staff radio SdKfz 251
1 recon PzKw IIF

Maintenance Company, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 SdKfz 7 recovery tractor

I Battalion, Maj. Fenski
Headquarters, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

2 Light Companies, each with:

1 command PzKw IIIG
1 PzKw IIF
2 PzKw IIIGs

Medium Company

1 command PzKw IVE
1 PzKw IIF
1 PzKw IV

II Battalion
Headquarters, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

2 Light Companies, each with:

1 command PzKw IIIG
1 PzKw IIF
2 PzKw IIIGs

Medium Company

1 command PzKw IVE
1 PzKw IIF
1 PzKw IV

15th Rifle Brigade, Colonel Menny

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck

115th Rifle Regiment, Lt.-Col. Zintel
Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car

Headquarters Company, with:

1 staff radio truck
1 engineer stand
1 gun crew stand
1 50L60 AT gun
3 light trucks
1 recon motorcycle infantry stand

Infantry Gun Company, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 150L12 infantry gun
1 medium truck
1 medium ammo truck

I Battalion, Major von Grolman

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck

3 Companies, each with:

1 command infantry stand
2 infantry stands
1 weapons stand
2 medium trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

2 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 medium trucks

Heavy Company, with:

1 engineer stand
1 gun crew stand
1 37L45 AT gun
2 light trucks

II Battalion

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck

3 Companies, each with:

1 command infantry stand
2 infantry stands
1 weapons stand
2 medium trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

2 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 medium trucks

Heavy Company, with:

1 engineer stand
1 gun crew stand
1 37L45 AT gun
2 light trucks

200th Rifle Regiment
Headquarters

1 command stand
1 car

707th Infantry Gun Company (Self-Propelled)

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 SP 150mm infantry gun
1 medium ammo truck

2nd Machinegun Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Finke

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car
2 recon motorcycle infantry stands

2 Machinegun Companies, each with:

1 command MMG stand
2 MMG stands
3 light trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

1 command MMG stand
2 NMG stands
1 light truck
2 SdKfz 251/1

Weapons Company, with:

1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 gun crews
37L45 AT gun
1 50L60 AT gun
1 medium truck
2 light trucks

15th Motorcycle Battalion, Maj. Von Debschütz

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen

3 Motorcycle Companies, each with:

1 motorcycle command infantry stand
2 motorcycle infantry stands
1 motorcycle weapons stand

Machinegun Company, with:

2 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 medium trucks

Heavy Company, with:

1 engineer stand
1 gun crew stand
1 37LA5 AT gun
2 light trucks

33rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Captain Héraucourt

Headquarters Company, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 staff radio truck

Scout Car Company, with:

1 command SdKfz 222
1 recon SdKfz 234
2 recon SdKfz 221s

Motorcycle Company, with:

1 command motorcycle infantry stand
1 motorcycle weapons stand
2 motorcycle infantry stands

Heavy Company, with:

1 gun crew stand
1 37L45 AT gun
1 engineer stand
2 light trucks

33rd Antitank Battalion

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
2 28/20 sPzBchs stands
2 light trucks
1 light general supply truck with trailer

3 Antitank Batteries, each with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
2 gun crew stands
1 37L45 AT guns
1 50L60 AT gun
2 light trucks

33rd Artillery Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Crasemann (Off-board)

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car

Headquarters Battery, with:

2 support stands
1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

2 Field Battalions, each with:
Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 FO stand
2 kubelwagens
1 support stand
1 medium baggage truck with field kitchen
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

3 Artillery Batteries, each with:

1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 105L28 howitzer
1 medium tractor

Medium Battalion
Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 FO stand
2 kubelwagens
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

3 Howitzer Batteries, each with:

1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 150L30 howitzer
1 medium tractor

33rd Engineer Battalion

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

3 Engineer companies, each with:

1 command stand
3 engineer stands
2 medium trucks

2 Heavy Flak Batteries, 135th Flak Regiment, each with

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 88L56 AA gun
1 heavy tractor

5th Panzer Regiment (Attached from 21st Panzer Division), Lieut.-Colonel Stephan

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 command PzKw III command variant

Headquarters Company, with:

1 staff radio SdKfz 251

Maintenance Company, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 SdKfz 7 recovery tractor

I Battalion, Maj Mildebrath
Headquarters, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

1 Light Company, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

2 PzKw IIIG

Medium Company, with:

1 command PzKw IVE

II Battalion, Maj Friedrichs
Headquarters, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

1 Light Company, with:

1 command PzKw IIIG

2 PzKw IIIG

Medium Company, with:

1 command PzKw IVE

 

21ST PANZER DIVISION, Major-General von Ravenstein

Divisional Troops, with:

Division Headquarters, with:

Headquarters Company, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck

104th Rifle Regiment, Lieut.-Colonel Knabe

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car

Headquarters Company, with:

1 staff radio truck
1 engineer stand
1 band
1 gun crew stand
1 50L60 AT gun
3 light trucks
1 recon motorcycle infantry stand

I Battalion, Major Bach
Headquarters

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck

3 Companies, each with:

1 command infantry stand
2 infantry stands
1 weapons stand
2 medium trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

2 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 medium trucks

Heavy Company, with:

1 engineer stand
2 gun crew stands
1 37L45 AT gun
1 50L60 AT gun
3 light trucks

II Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel von Echardstein
Headquarters

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck

3 Companies, each with:

1 command infantry stand
2 infantry stands
1 weapons stand
2 medium trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

2 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
2 medium trucks

Heavy Company, with:

1 engineer stand
2 gun crew stands
1 37L45 AT gun
1 50L60 AT gun
3 light trucks

8th Machinegun Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Ehle
Headquarters Company, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
2 recon motorcycle stands

2 Machinegun Companies, each with:

1 command MMG stand
2 MMG stands
3 light trucks

Machinegun Company, with:

1 command MMG stand
2 MMG stands
1 light truck
2 SdKfz 251/1s

Antitank Company, with:

1 command stand
1 car
2 gun crew stands
2 50L60 AT guns
2 light trucks

Weapons Company, with:

1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
1 50L60 AT gun
1 gun crew stand
1 medium truck
1 light truck

11th Infantry Gun Company, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 150L12 infantry gun
1 medium truck
1 medium ammo truck

708th Infantry Gun Company (self-propelled), with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 SP 150mm infantry gun
1 medium ammo truck

3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Lieut.-Colonel Freiherr von Wechmar

Headquarters Company, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 staff radio truck

Scout Car Company, with:

1 command SdKfz 222
2 recon SdKfz 222s
1 recon SdKfz 232

Motorcycle Company, with:

1 command motorcycle infantry stand
1 motorcycle weapons stand
2 motorcycle infantry stands

Heavy Company, with:

1 gun crew stand
1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 37L45 AT gun
1 75L12 infantry gun
1 engineer stand
2 light trucks
1 medium truck

39th Antitank Battalion

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 light general supply truck with trailer

3 Antitank Batteries, each with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
2 gun crew stands
2 50L60 AT guns
2 light trucks

155th Artillery Regiment, Colonel Bruer (Off-board)

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car

2 Field Battalions, each with:
Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 FO stand
2 kubelwagens
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

3 Artillery Batteries, each with:

1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 105L28 howitzer
1 medium tractor

Medium Battalion, with:
Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 FO stand
2 kubelwagens
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

2 Howitzer Batteries, each with:

1 gun crew stand (ds)
1 150L30 howitzer
1 medium tractor

Gun Battery, with:

1 gun crew stand(ds)
1 105L52 gun
1 medium tractor

200th Engineer Battalion

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 medium general supply truck with trailer

3 Engineer Companies, each with:

1 command engineer stand
2 engineer stands
2 medium trucks

155th Infantry Regiment (Motorized), Colonel Marks

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 car
1 staff radio truck

3 Battalions, each with:

Headquarters, with:

1 command stand
1 kubelwagen
1 gun crew
1 371A5 AT gun
1 light truck
1 medium general supply truck

3 companies, each with:

1 command infantry stand
1 weapons stand
2 infantry stands
2 medium trucks

Weapons Company, with:

3 MMG stands
1 8cm mortar stand (ds)
3 medium trucks

 

 

 

Interested parties and participants should contact Johan Schoeman at Cell: 0828944388 or email him at johans@rsi.co.za for directions.