Myself and some other Combat Mission players are trying to organize a El Alamein tournament based on the battle for Ruin Ridge, July 26/27. We've done some research into the order of battle, but I was wondering if someone who owns the HPS game could help us out as well. So far, our big question is justhow understrength the units were, especially the Axis. I don't know if that kind of thing is copyrighted by HPS, I don't want to pirate anything. If anyone doesn't mind helping, please email me. Thanks a lot!
harriso81 at gmail dot com.
I don't think there's any copyright issues involved, however like most titles, the HPS Title for EA42 doesn't have troop strengths for every day covered in the title. The battle for Ruin Ridge comes at the end of what is traditionally called the first Battle of Alamein. The game will likely have the information on troop strength you are looking for at the start of that battle, but that's a month or so in advance of the date of battle you're looking for, and after a month of combat, no doubt significantly different.
I have some good sources for the CNA and will see what I can find for you, without looking too long, but not sure what I can find given these the facts above. I assume you have exhausted the internet sources?
Here's what I've come up with so far.
Ruin Ridge, July 26/27
British Attack force consisted of 2/28 Australian Battalion under the Command of Major McCarter; and the 2/3rd Ant-Tank Battalion. The Infantry battalion reported 65 dead and 490 captured, which means it was at full strength. The battalion also reported the loss of 13 Bren Carriers (all destroyed), which I can't find a reference for, but that strikes me as a battalion's complement of carriers as well. The AT battalion of that era for the Aussies would have been a company of 2 pdrs (12 guns) and 3 companies of 6 pdrs (36 guns), in the assault they would have been portee mounted on lorries.
As for Axis defenders, so far I have only references to Italians supported by Germans, but no details. I'll keep looking.
This source here (awm.gov.au) indicates that the 2/28th ran into strong German elements. I/361st and I/200th of the 90th Light. It seems that after a long night in which the 2/28th achieved it's objective on Ruin Ridge, it was infiltrated and surrounded by the Germans, and asked for help the following morning. The 50th RTR was sent to provide relief, but the Germans countered with Group Briehl (3rd Recce Btln, and II/200th btln, and ATGs) attacking from one direction and another group composed of the I/115th btln supported by armor and artillery attacked from the opposite direction and destroyed 20 of 25 of the 50th's Valentines.
I didn't find any listings for strengths of these battalions, but they should be fairly easy to find, I found this info on the web in about 30 minutes so I'm thinking you guys didn't exhaust yourselves trying :rolleyes:
With 2 battalions on the ALlied side, and as many as 4-6 worth on the Axis side, this may be quite large for a CMAK scenario I would think, although I don't have a lot of knowledge about what that system is capable of. It does look like a one sided affair though.
Wow, Steel God, thanks for the research. I've been busy, otherwise I would have replied sooner. We have something sort of operational in mind, with mulitiple maps. Keep an eye on the CM board in a few months if you want to see it come to fruition. Thanks again!