23rd October 1942

[antarmike]

Today 1942 see the ground forces commence the second (and final) Battle of El-Alemein.

 

The RAF have been in action for days winning air supremacy, but now it is the Army's turn

 

Contrary to a popular myth the Battle did not start with a massive 1000 gun barrage, nor did all the guns fired at the same time.

 

Prior to the actual barrage, there was a diversion by the 24th Australian Brigade, this involved the 15th Panzer Division being subjected to heavy fire for a few minutes. Then at 9.40p.m. (Egyptian Summer time) on the October 23 on a calm, clear evening under the bright sky of a full moon, Operation Lightfoot began, The fire plan had been carefully planned so that all 882 guns from the Field and Medium batteries' first rounds would land across the entire 40 mile front at the same time. After twenty minutes of heavy general bombardment, the guns switched to precision targets in support of the advancing infantry. The shelling plan continued for five and a half hours, by the end of which each gun had fired about 600 rounds.

 

As infantry advanced Sappers attempted to clear a path through the minefields, but so thorough was Rommel#s preperation, they failed spectacularly to do this. The minefield belt was five miles deep. Some tanks moved forward, but kicked up so much dust visibility was zero. To make the situation worse the leading tanks bogged. and by the end of the first night the leading tanks were not very far forward at all.

[antarmike]

Saturday 24 October did not start well for the German headquarters. The accuracy of the Allied barrage destroyed German communications and Georg Stumme, who commanded the Axis forces while Rommel was in Germany, died of a heart attack. Temporary command was given to Major-General Ritter von Thoma.

 

Meanwhile, XXX Corps had still only dented the first minefields because of the depth of Rommel's defence. Not enough of the minefields had been cleared to enable X Corps to pass through. The tanks had to stay put but all day long artillery and the Allied Desert Air Force attacked Axis positions to waer them down.

 

The airforce flew over 1000 missions that day.

 

Panzer units counter-attacked the 51st Highland Division just after sunrise, only to be stopped in their tracks. By 4:00 p.m. there was little progress. Late in the day, Axis tanks from the 15th Panzer Division and Italian Littorio Divisions moved forward to engage the 1st Armoured Division and the first major tank battle of El Alamein began. Over 100 tanks were involved in this battle and by dark half were destroyed while neither position was altered.