THE BATTLE OF EL ALAMEIN 1942

The Battle of El Alamein, 23 October-4 November 1942, taking its name from Egyptian railway halt west of Alexander, marked a turning point in the war in North Africa. The German-Italian army was forced into full-scale retreat and its position worsened considerably due to lack of supplies and fuel especially when German supply column were always strafed by the RAF planes. after the Allied landing in French North Africa, however for the Commonwealth army the battle also had the psychological effect of finally breaking the myth of German invincibility.

THE OFFENSIVE OPENS

Operation Lightfoot, a codename given by the in somewhat poor taste to the line of hundred of thousands of mines, It opened with a massive barrage on the evening 23rd of October. It took the Germans by surprise and seriously disrupted communications. General George Stumme , commanding in Rommel's absence on sick leave, died after a heart attack going  forward to find out what was happening. The battle started well but resistance began to stiffen quickly as German forces reacted, the 9th Australian division took all it's objectives but the armour was to advance through the Highlands and 2nd new Zealand div. where more difficulties had bean encountered and heavy casualties suffered. The Commonwealth forces had failed to reach their first day objectives, The battle continued for the next couple of days, and some serious German counterattacks were repulsed, As Rommel returned he concentrated on what armour he could muster after the attritional fighting of the previous days to counterattack the British salient created by their 1st Armoured Division . but were stopped by British antitank guns,artillery and air power, As Montgomery's forces slowly reduced the Axis positions, although the progress was slow.

The German 88 Flak was successfully converted as an ant-tank gun in Africa as it was proven very effective at knocking British tanks at extremely long distances, it was best exploit by the Germans as ant-aircraft, artillery and ant-tank gun,  The 88 gun was feared by the Allied forces after suffering unacceptable losses especially at the African campaign, although it was not the most powerful gun the Germans had possessed, it was the most mobile, had rapid rate of fire, can be accurately aimed that no Allied tanks could withstand it's firepower , It was considered as the best gun of the war it was lethal and versatile, in some occasions in Africa where it was best exploit the first issuing of the 88 guns as anti-tank were used against the Matilda's a new heavy tank of the British where it was knocked out easily by only few 88 guns especially during Operation Battleaxe. later it was mounted to the Tiger1 and other various German heavy tanks and assault guns.

The M3 "Grant" Medium tank was a US built, it first saw action in the Western Desert of Africa in early 1942 although it has a number of flaws the British appreciated it's powerful 75mm gun that is mounted in its hull, that is powerful enough to the panzers.