The 1st Armoured Division, comprised of the 7th Motorized Brigade and the 4th and 22nd Armoured Brigades, was in the open desert another five miles to the southwest, placed there to protect against a flanking maneuver around the open southern flank.
The 1st Armoured Division's 22nd Armoured Brigade was in the open desert another five miles to the southwest. The division had been buttressed by the temporary assignment of two brigades from 7th Armoured division, whose 7th Motorized Brigade and 4th Armoured Brigade protected against a flanking maneuver around the open southern flank.