The 9th Australian Division plan for an attack to the north at 2nd El Alamein

Although General Morshead's plan for October 1942 for an attack to take the coast road towards the north had a great deal of artillery support, the Australian historian says that most of the guns were generally in position to support the attack. The exception was the artillery support for the 2/13th Battalion. Not only did they have suitable artillery support, but they had "timed enfilade fire by the machine-guns of Macarthur-Onslow's composite force". The historian mentions that to support the attack towards the coast road, the guns would fire "in enfilade". To fire in support of the attack to the east, into the rear of the enemy, they would have "to fire in the face of the advancing infantry." The historian says: "For the latter phase the plan provided for timed concentrations about 200 yards deep receding ahead of the infantry".

General Morshead discussed his plans with his corps commander, Leese, on 27 October 1942. He then met with Montgomery where Morshead spoke of the need for armor support on their "left flank". Montgomery agreed that what Morshead planned were appropriate tactics to use. Montgomery was skeptical that the armor would actually do what he needed.

Morshead than presented the plan to his brigade commanders and other senior officers (we think) in the afternoon of 27 October. The 20th Brigade commander had been absent due to "a severe illness". Morshead held a final briefing at 7am on 28 October and followed up with a written order. They would make the attack during the night of 28 to 29 October. The 20th Brigade would be "relieved by the 152nd Highland Brigade." After that, the 20th Brigade would move into the spot previously occupied by the 26th Brigade. That would allow the 26th Brigade to conduct the planned attack. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Australian Official History.