Gazala Battles May 1942
TO&E Part 1:
Axis Formations

21st Corps: (7th Bersaglieri regt,
102nd Trento and 60th Sabratha inf. divisions)

by Jeff Glasco

Corps Headquarters Troop Quality: Trained, Morale: 7

    1 command stand
    1 car
    1 staff radio stand

7th Bersaglieri Infantry Regiment

Troop Quality: Regular, Morale: 9

    Regimental Headquarters
      1 command stand
        1 car
        1 staff radio truck
        1 recon AB-41 armored car

    Motorcycle Company

      1 command motorcycle infantry stand
      2 motorcycle infantry stands
      1 motorcycle MMG stand

    10th Bersaglieri Infantry Battalion

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car
        1 recon motorcycle infantry stand

      2 Infantry Companies, each with:

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

      Antitank Company, with:

        1 command stand
        2 47L32 AT guns
        2 gun crew stands
        2 light trucks

    8th Bersaglieri Infantry Battalion, (as 10th Bersaglieri Infantry Battalion)

    8th Bersaglieri Weapons Battalion

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car

      Antiaircraft Battery, with:

        2 20L65 AA guns
        2 gun crew stands
        2 light trucks

      Mortar Company, with:

        1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
        1 medium truck

      Machinegun Company, with:

        2 MMG stands
        1 medium truck

      Antitank Company, with:

        1 command stand
        2 47L32 AT guns
        2 gun crew stands
        2 light trucks

    Frank's Notes

    7th Bersaglieri Regiment originally came to Africa as the organic Bersaglieri of the Trento motorized division. Since Trento was dismounted as soon as it arrived (to augment the Italian supply columns), 7th Bersaglieri was kind of an orphan unit from the start. One battalion apparently got left behind in Italy, and one (I believe the 11th) got sent down to guard one of the southern oases. This meant that the regiment fought with two battalions (the 8th Motorcycle and 10th Motorized) through most or all of 1941, and I think it still had only those two battalions present at Gazala. The Italians tended to form heavy weapons and antitank battalions by reforming motorcycle battalions, so I think the dual listing of the 8th "infantry" and 8th heavy weapons are just two different takes on the same battalion.

102nd Trento Infantry Division

Troop Quality: Regular, Morale: 8

    Divisional Headquarters
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff radio truck

    61st Motorized Infantry Regiment

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car
        1 staff radio truck

      I Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command infantry stand
          1 recon motorcycle infantry stand
          1 47L32 AT gun
          1 gun crew stand
          2 light trucks

        3 Infantry Companies, each with:

          3 infantry stands
          1 MMG stand

      II Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment)

      III Weapons Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 car

        Antiaircraft Battery, with:

          2 20L65 AA guns
          2 gun crew stands
          2 light trucks

        Mortar Company, with:

          2 81mm mortar stands (ds)
          2 medium trucks

        Machinegun Company, with:

          2 MMG stands
          1 medium truck

        Antitank Company, with:

          1 command stand
          2 47L32 AT guns
          2 gun crew stands
          2 light trucks

    62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment

      Regimental Headquarters, (as Headquarters, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment)

      I Battalion, 62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment)

      II Battalion, 62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment)

      III Weapons Battalion, 62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment, (as III Weapons Battalion, 61st Motorized Infantry Regiment)

    46th Artillery Regiment

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car
        1 staff telephone truck

      I Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 spotter stand
          2 cars
          1 staff telephone truck
          1 medium ammo truck with trailer

        3 Batteries, each with:

          1 100L16 howitzer
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 tractor
          1 support stand
          1 medium truck

      II Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment, (as I Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment)

      III Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment,

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 spotter stand
          2 cars
          1 staff telephone truck
          1 medium ammo truck with trailer

        3 Batteries, each with:

          1 75L27 field gun
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 tractor
          1 medium ammo truck

      IV Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment, (as III Battalion, 46th Artillery Regiment)

      412th Antiaircraft Battery

        1 command stand
        1 car
        2 20L65 AA guns
        2 gun crew stands
        2 light trucks

      414th Antiaircraft Battery, (as 412th Antiaircraft Battery)

    551st Divisional Weapons Battalion

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car

      Antiaircraft Battery, with:

        2 20L65 AA guns
        2 gun crew stands
        2 light trucks

      Machinegun Company, with:

        2 MMG stands
        1 medium truck

      Mortar Company, with:

        1 81mm mortar stand (ds)
        1 medium truck

      Antitank Company, with:

        1 command stand
        2 47L32 AT guns
        2 gun crew stand

    51st Mixed Engineer Battalion

      Battalion Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car

      Engineer Company, with:

        2 engineer stands
        1 medium truck with supply trailer

      Signal Company, with: (provides staff signal vehicles for division)

60th Sabratha Infantry Division

Troop Quality: Green, Morale: 6 unless otherwise noted
    Divisional Headquarters
      1 command stand
      1 car
      1 staff radio truck

    85th Infantry Regiment

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car
        1 staff telephone truck

      85th Mortar Battery, with:

        1 81mm mortar stand
        1 ammo porter stand

      85th Antitank Company, with:

        1 47L32 AT gun
        1 gun crew stand
        1 light truck

      I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment,with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 recon infantry stand

        3 Infantry Companies, each with 3 infantry stands

        Weapons Company, with:

          2 MMG stands
          2 45mm mortar stand
          1 20mm Solothuen ATR stand

      II Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      III Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment)

    86th Infantry Regiment

      Regimental Headquarters, (as Headquarters, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      86th Mortar Battery, (as Mortar Battery, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      86th Antitank Company, (as Antitank Company, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      I Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      II Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment)

      III Battalion, 86th Infantry Regiment, (as I Battalion, 85th Infantry Regiment)

    3rd Artillery Regiment Troop Quality: Regular, Morale: 8

      Regimental Headquarters, with:
        1 command stand
        1 car
        1 staff telephone truck

      I Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 spotter stand
          2 cars
          1 staff telephone truck
          1 medium ammo truck with trailer

        3 Batteries, each with:

          1 75L27 field gun
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 tractor
          1 support stand
          1 medium truck

      II Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, (as I Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment)

      III Battalion, 3rd Artillery Regiment, with:

        Battalion Headquarters, with:
          1 command stand
          1 spotter stand
          2 cars
          1 staff telephone truck
          1 medium ammo truck with trailer

        3 Batteries, each with:

          1 100L16 howitzer
          1 gun crew stand (ds)
          1 tractor
          1 support stand
          1 medium truck

    Frank's Notes

    As bad as the Sabratha Division was, I think Green might be going too far. How about Trained, Morale: 7? Artillery should be a notch above the rest of the division, in any case.

Gazala Battles May 1942 TO&E Part 1: Axis Formations TO&E

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