High Desert

8/11/2019 High Desert

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Life's but a walking shadow ...

It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signify nothing.

W. Shakespeare

HIGH COMMANDGrand tactical rules

for the second World War

Copyright 2005 - 2006 Richard Affinati

Game Designer:Richard Affinati (ITALY)

Graphics Wizard and Chief Playtester:Mike Patton (USA)

Acknowledgments:

Norman MacKenzieKiss Rommel

Luca MazzamutoAlto ComandoLorenzo Sartori

Dadi & PiomboAndrew CarlessTranslations

Historical Backgroundwww.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk and www.topedge.com

QUESTIONS:

Please direct any questions or comments about the game to:

Riccardo Affinati: [email protected]

CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION:


Dedication:HIGH COMMAND is dedicated as a token of remembrance to the soldiers

of the Second World War.


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HIGH COMMANDGrand tactical rules

for the second World War

GAME PHILOPHY

For many years we played Napoleonicbattles in such a tactical way that warga-mers would never allow us to field morethan a couple of Division per side. Thenwe discovered methods that allowed usto simulate entire battles without themgetting too complicated. However todaythat old destructive mentality still ruinsour Second World War games, preven-ting us from recreating entire battles.At the most, expert wargamers put a fewmore tanks and platoons on immensetables and worry about tactical problemsand the thickness of armour, without e-xmaning the strategic or gaming aspectsthat are implicit in combats between in-fantry division and armoured brigades.With HIGH COMMAND we can play theentire Normandy landigs, or even the

battles on the Russian Front or in Africa.Richard Affinati

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

When Benito Mussolini declared war onthe Allies on 10th June 1940, he alreadyhad over a million men in the Italian Armybased in Libya. In neighbouring Egyptthe British Army had only 36,000 menguarding the Suez Canal and the Arabian

oil fields. On 13th September, 1940, Mar-shall Rodolfo Graziani and five Italian di-visions began a rapid advance into Egyptbut halted in front of the main British de-fences at Mersa Matruh. Although out-numbered, General Archibald Wawellordered a British counter-offensive on 9thDecember, 1940. The Italians sufferedheavy casualties and were pushed backmore than 800km (500 miles). British tro-ops moved along the coast and on 22nd

January, 1941, they captured the port ofTobruk in Libya from the Italians.

Ligth Tank M.3A1 STUART III

Adolf Hitler was shocked by the defeatsbeing suffered by the Italian Army and inJanuary 1941, sent General Erwin Rom-mel and the recently formed DeutschesAfrica Korps to North Africa. Rommelmounted his first attack on 24th March1941, and after a week of fighting he pu-shed Archibald Wawell and the BritishArmy out of most of Libya. However, un-der Lieutenant General Lesile Morsheadthe British managed to hold vital forward

supply base at Tobruk.

Aerchibald Wawell attempted a counter-attack on 17th June, 1941, but his troopswere halted at Halfaya Pass. Three we-eks later he was replaced by GeneralClaude Auchinleck.

On 18th November, 1941, Auchinleckand the recently formed Eighth Armywent on the offensive. Erwin Rommel

was forced to abandon his siege of To-bruk on 4th December, and the followingmonth had moved as far west as Archo-bald Wawell had achieved a year pre-viously. Aware that Wavell's supply lineswere now overextended, Rommel, afterobtaining reinforcements from Tripoli,launched a counterattack. It was now theturn of the British Army to retreat. Afterlosing Benghazi on 29th January, ClaudeAuchinleck ordered his troops to retreat

to Gazala.


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Over the next few months the EighthArmy, under Lieutenant General Neil Ri-chie, established a line of fortificationsand minefields. Erwin Rommel launchedhis offensive on 26th May. The Italian in-

fantry attacked at the front while Rommelled his panzers round the edge of thefortifications to cut off the supply routes.

Ritchie outnumbered Rommel by two toone but he wasted his advantage by notusing his tanks together. After defeatinga series of small counter-attacks Rommelwas able to capture Sidi Muftah. On 12thJune, two of the three British armouredbrigades were caught in a pincer move-ment and were badly defeated. Two dayslater Neil Richie, with only 100 tanks left,abandoned Gazala. Rommel returned toTobruk and took the port on 21st June,1942. This included the capture of over35,000 British troops. However, Rommelnow only had 57 tanks left and was for-ced to wait for new supplies to arrive be-fore heading into Egypt.

In July 1942, General Erwin Rommel andthe Italo-German Panzer Armee Afrika,(part of the Deutsches Africa Korps) wereonly 113km (70 miles) from Alexandria.The situation was so serious that Win-ston Churchill made the long journey toEgypt to discover for himself what nee-ded to be done. Churchill decided to ma-ke changes to the command structure.General Harold Alexander was placed incharge of British land forces in the Middle

East and Bernard Montgomery becamecommander of the Eighth Army.

On 30th August, 1942, Erwin Rommelattacked at Alam el Halfa but was repul-sed by the Eighth Army. Montgomery re-sponded to this attack by ordering his tro-ops to reinforce the defensive line fromthe coast to the impassable Qattara De-pression. Montgomery was now able tomake sure that Rommel and the German

Army was unable to make any further a-dvances into Egypt.

Erwin Rommel

Over the next six weeks Montgomery be-gan to stockpile vast quantities of wea-pons and ammunition to make sure thatby the time he attacked he possessedoverwhelming firepower. By the middle ofOctober the Eighth Army totalled 195,000men, 1,351 tanks and 1,900 pieces ofartillery. This included large numbers ofrecently delivered Sherman M4 andGrant M3 tanks. On 23rd October Mon-tgomery launched Operation Lightfoot

with the largest artillery bombardmentsince theFirst World War. The attack ca-me at the worst time for the DeutschesAfrica Korps as Eewin Rommel was onsick leave in Austria. His replacement,General Geaorge Stumme, died of a he-art-attack the day after the 900 gun bom-bardment of the German lines. Stumewas replaced by General Ritter von Tho-ma and Adolf Hitler phoned Rommel toorder him to return to Egypt immediately.


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The Germans defended their positionswell and after two days the Eighth Armyhad made little progress and BernardMontgomery ordered an end to the at-tack. When Erwin Rommel returned he

launched a counterattack at Kidney De-pression (27th October). Montgomerynow returned to the offensive and the 9thAustralian Division created a salient inthe enemy positions.

Winston Churchill was disappointed bythe Eighth Army's lack of success andaccused Montgomery of fighting a "half-hearted" battle. Montgomery ignored the-se criticisms and instead made plans fora new offensive, Operation Supercharge.

On 1st November 1942, Montgomerylaunched an attack on the Deutsches A-frica Korps at Kidney Ridge. After initiallyresisting the attack, Rommel decided heno longer had the resources to hold hisline and on the 3rd November he orderedhis troops to withdraw. However, AdolfHitler overruled his commander and the

Germans were forced to stand and fight.

The next day Montgomery ordered hismen forward. The Eighth Army brokethrough the German lines and ErwinRommel, in danger of being surrounded,was forced to retreat. Those soldiers onfoot, including large numbers of Italiansoldiers, were unable to move fast e-nough and were taken prisoner.

For a while it looked like the the Britishwould cut off Rommel's army but a sud-den rain storm on 6th November turnedthe desert into a quagmire and the cha-sing army was slowed down. Rommel,now with only twenty tanks left, managedto get to Sollum on the Egypt-Libya bor-der. On 8th Novembre Erwin Rommellearned of the Allied invasion of Moroccoand Algeria that was under the commandof General Dwigth D. Eisenhower. His

depleted army now faced a war on twofront.

Cruiser Tank Mk.VI(A.15) CRUSADER II

The British Army recaptured Tobruk on12th November, 1942. During the El Ala-mein campaign half of Rommel's 100,000man army was killed, wounded or takenprisoner. He also lost over 450 tanks and1,000 guns. The British and Commonwe-alth forces suffered 13,500 casualtiesand 500 of their tanks were damaged.However, of these, 350 were repairedand were able to take part in future bat-tles.

Winston Churchil was convinced that thebattle of El Alamein marked the turning

point in the war and ordered the ringingof church bells all over Britain. As he saidlater: "Before Alamein we never had avictory, after Alamein we never had a de-feat."

Allied troops continued to advance onTunis, the capital of Tunisia. GeneralKenneth Anderson got to within 12 milesof Tunis before being attacked at Djedei-da by General Walther Nehring and the

Deutsches Africa Korps . A further at-tempt by the Allies to reach Tunis washalted by bad weather on 24th Decem-ber, 1942.

General Jurgen von Arnim now arrived totake control of the German forces in Tu-nisia. In January 1943 he was joined byGeneral Erwin Rommel and his army insouthern Tunisia. Rommel was in retreatfrom Egypt and was being chased by Ge-

neral Bernard Montgomery and the 8thArmy.


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Montgomery now spent several weeks inTripoli building up his supplies. Arniumand Rommel decided to take this oppor-tunity to attack Allied forces led by Gene-ral Kenneth Anderson at Faid Pass (14th

February) and Kasserine Pass (19th Fe-bruary). The Deutsches Africa Korpsthen headed for Thala but were forced toretreat after meeting a large Allied forceon 22nd February, 1943. General HaroldAlexander was now sent to oversee Al-lied operations in Tunisia whereas Gene-ral Erwin Rommel was placed in com-mand of the German forces. On 6thMarch 1943, Rommel attacked the Alliesat Medenine. General Bernard Montgo-mery and the 8th Army fought off the at-tack and the Germans were forced to wi-thdraw. Rommel now favoured a full re-treat but this was rejected by Adolf Hitler.

On 9th March, Rommel left Tunisia onhealth grounds and was replaced by Ge-neral Jurgen von Arnim as commander ofthe Deutsches Africa Korps. Arnium nowconcentrated in defending a 100 mile arc

across north-east Tunisia. By April 1943the Allies had over 300,000 men in Tuni-sia. This gave them a 6-to-1 advantagein troops and a 15-to-1 superiority intanks. The Allied blockade of the Medi-terranean also made it difficult for theGerman Army to be supplied with ade-quate amounts of fuel, ammunition andfood. The Allies now decided to makeanother effort to take Tunis. General O-mar Bradley, who had replaced General

Gorge Patton, as commander of the 2ndCorps, joined General Bernard Montgo-mery for the offensive. On 23rd April the300,000 man force advanced along a 40mile front. At the same time there was adiversionary attack by the 8th Army atEnfidaville.On 7th May 1943, British for-ces took Tunis and the US Army captu-red Bizerte. By 13th May all Axis forcesin Tunisia surrendered and over 150,000were taken prisoner.

www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk

Bernard Montgomery

WEAPONS IN NORTH AFRICA

The fact that Rommels DAK (DeutschesAfrika Korps)in North Africa containedequipment which was far more advancedand effective than the Eighth Armies e-quivalent meant that the campaign lastedmuch longer than it may have done o-therwise, whilst at the same time therewere not sufficient numbers of them tobecome a decisive factor in the cam-paign. For instance, when the Britishlaunched Operation Crusader in late No-vember 1941 the8th Army outnumberedthe combined Axis force (118,000 men to113,000), had 680 tanks (with 500 in re-serve or in supply) to Rommels 390 and1000 British planes confronted 320 Axisaircraft. The 88mm flak gun was used asan anti-tank gun more and more fre-quently as the conflict progressed andthe Allies were slow to grasp its efect u-

pon the battlefield. At a startling 2000yards it could still penetrate the Britishtanks frontal armour, which made it anextremely lethal weapon in the Germansarmoury and a severe threat to the Bri-tish tanks throughout the Desert War. Allthe technical edges which Rommels Afri-ka Korps had over the Eighth army hel-ped Rommel to inflict heavy losses onthe British, inevitably lengthening the de-sert war. This had to weighed up against

the fact that the Italians weapons wereas much a liability as were the German


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ones superior. The Afrika Korps did notreceive sufficient numbers of these supe-rior weapons, such as the Panther andTiger tanks or the 88mm flak guns to e-nable it to be a decisive factor in the

campaign, but there wereenough to len-gthen the Desert war considerably.

COMMANDERS AND THEIR TACTICSIN THE WESTERN DESERT

In literature on the North African Cam-paign in the Second World War, bothRommeland Montgomeryas portrayed attactical genius`s that turned certain defe-at into victory; this is due to the fact thathistory prefers to glorify people and bat-tles rather than an aspect of warfaresuch as supplies. Rommel`s crowningglory is said to have been at Gazala inMay 1942 and Montgomery`s at El Ala-mein in October 1942. Likewise in Octo-ber 1942 Montgomery enjoyed a numeri-cal superiority that no other British com-mander had possessed in North Africa asthe Eighth army had received 300 Sher-

man tanks more capable of matching thelower grade Panzer tanks and 100 selfpropelled guns in time for the El Alameinoffensive, so from these statistics it isclear that logistical considerations weremuch more decisive factors than SecondWorld War literature cares to mention.One couldn`t help feeling a little sorry forthe man at this time. He had shown him-self a brilliant fighter in the desert; threetimes he had escaped Montgomery`s ef-

forts to surround his panzer army; he hadbeen consistently starved of supplies andequipment.

1Rommel was constantly held

back by the lack of fuel and ammunition,which highlights the fact that supplieswere a much more significant factor thancommanders and their tactics. There isalso the fact that both strategies werevery similar aswell. At Gazala Rommelsattack was in accordance with the bestGerman textbookstrategy and looking

back on the battle of France, it all soun-ded rather familiar. This was the case

Panzer IV

with Montgomery`s strategy too; wheredeception was to play a key role and an

attack was to be made in the supriseflank with the aim of outflanking and en-circling the enemy. This clearly showsthat the tactics employed at Gazala andEl Alamein although effective, were notoriginal. Rommel successfully attacked atGazala, but then ignored Hitler and Ca-vallero`s orders to pause, and pursuedthe retreating Eighth Army 250 miles ac-cross the desert to El Alamein. To put itbluntly, Rommel had over-stretched him-self4and this was as much a failure ashis Gazala battle had been a success,but again literature selectively excludesthis in order to sustain the popular imageof Rommel as a tactical genious. Mon-tgomery showed extreme caution whenpursuing the Axis forces after El Alamein,which he could afford to do as his over-whelming numerical superiority neccesi-tated no hasty pursuit and the forces

from the Torch landings now formed the1st Army which was also advancing inthe direction of Tunis. Rommel was for-ced to go on the offensive at Alam Halfa-because he knew the advantage of nu-merical superiority would soon lay in thehands of the Eighth Army. Fuel was inshort supply and the Afrika Corps hadinsufficient Air support and all these fac-tors led to Rommels defeat.

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BASING

We play with units (HQ, Artillery, Recon,Infantry, Tank, Motorised Infantry) on ba-se (measuring 3cm x 3cm for 6mm mi-

niatures; 6cm/12cm for 20mm or plastic1/72), upon wich we then place the rightsort of soldier or vehicles. A base repre-sent a battalion, more or less. If you havetroops that are already based for anothersystem you wont have to change the ba-sing as they are all the same. If you haveto start from scratch then try to createsome small dioramas, using your creati-vity and modelling ability.A truck and 3 or 4 soldiers will be enoughto represente a Motorised Infantry unit, aRecon unit could be represented by anarmoured car and a couple of motorbike;and for a tank unit, one tank will do.

IRREGULAR MINIATURE3 Apollo Street, York YO10 5AP, UK

Tel/Fax: (in UK) 01904 671101

Tel/Fax: (overseas)+44 1904 671101 Email :

[email protected]

6mm World War II - Armoured Divisions

40 Tanks and Vehicles and 20 Infantry strips (80figures) Armoured Division Packs, for any Nation,Year and Theatre. Made up to our own realisticand balanced composition.

CONTENTS

FIGURESGerman British Russian French Italian Ameri-

can Japanese Other Nations

TANKS, VEHICLES & GUNSGerman Italian Japanese Polish French British

& Commonwealth American Russian

AIRCRAFTGerman British Polish French Italian Rus-

sian American Japanese

PACKS

Armoured Divisions Battlepacks

BRITISH ARMOURED DIVISION

GERMAN PANZER DIVISION

HQ

TANK TANK

TANKRECON

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

ARTILLERY ARTILLERY

HQ

TANK TANK

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

TANK

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

MOTORISEDINFANTRY

RECON

ARTILLERY 88 MM RECON


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BATTLE SET-UP

1. The table is divided into Zones a foot square, with bigger tables tending to impro-ve the battle (preferably by extending it Southwards). The top (North) is considered

the Mediterranean and the south is the desert "sand sea".2. Select forces using the Force Cards3. Deploy British minefields followed by Axis ones4. Deploy Italian forces, then British and lastly the Germans

Defences indicate minefields and dug-in positions with minefields being placed rightup to the centre line if wished.

Troops must be at least 6" - 15cm from the centre line. You need not put a Division'stroops near their HQ but this could be risky!

A Supply base (use a tent or supply truck model) is placed in the centre of each"Supply" Zone. For a bigger table you might add other Supply bases further South.

Mediterranean Ocean

(optional) 120cm x 10cm(optional) 48 x 4

Axis Supply30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

Axis Defences30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

British Defences30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

British Supply30cm x 30cm

12 x 12


12 x 12

Axis Defences30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

British Defences30cm x 30cm

12 x 12


12 x 12


12 x 12

Axis30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

British30cm x 30cm

12 x 12


12 x 12

Axis30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

Axis30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

British30x30cm

12 x 12

British30cm x 30cm

12 x 12

Southern Desert120cm x 30 or 60cm

48 x 12 or 24


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TURN SEQUENCE

1. The German-Italian player may repla-ce a Dispersed unit (one for the entirearmy).

2. The German-Italian player may movehis units (including the replacements)and place aircraft units.3. The German-Italian units may fire.4. The British player may replace aDispersed unit (one for the entire army).5. The British player may move his units(including the replacements) and placeaircraft units.6. The British units may fire.

There are 9 to 12 turns in a day.Throwbefore each turn from 10 to 12 with a 5+indicating the game has ended.

HEADQUARTERS (HQ)

Once per turn for the whole army the He-adquarters (HQ) can bring back to thebattlefield any unit from its own Divisionthat was previously Dispersed (i.e. pla-

ced in the Remplacements box). Thismeans that the player must decide wichHeadquarters (HQ) will use the availablereplacement that turn. If a unit that co-mes back into play is Dispersed again itcan be replaced afterwards. The HQ isone of the most important units as it canbring Dispersed units removed from thegame back into play. You can move unitsto anywhere on the battlefield but themay be Destroyed and not Dispersed

if they are too far from the HQ.It is also assumed that the HQ is wherethe batteries of light artillery and anti-craftunits are located. The HQ cannot beDestroyed, unless there are no otherunits in its Division left on the table. Inthis case it is considered Destroyed.The Dispersed HQ is not removed fromthe battlefield, but in the next turn it re-places itself, without being able to repla-ce other units in its Division. The unit that

is replaced is placet next to its Headquar-ters (HQ).

The Dispersed HQ immediately moves15cm/6 directly to its rear (distant byenemy), and it cannot move or fire andno unit in its Division can be replaced un-til the HQ is back in action. In any case a

Dispersed HQ has a command radiumof 30cm for its Division, impeding the De-struction of units in the Division within30cm if they are hit during combat, butnot their Dispersion. If the HQ is shot a-gain must go back 15cm/6.

Headquarters (HQ) Rommel

MOVEMENT

Units have a 360 frontale and their mo-vement is always straight in anydirection. They may not move closet than5cm from an enemy unit. Units can onlyleave the battlefield from their set-upside. They are considered Dispersed.You can measure anything during thegame.

FIRING

You can only fire on a unit that is withinfiring range and sighting range. If a unitin the Division manages to see an enemyunit, it is assumed that the whole Divisioncan see it. A Division may not spot onbehalf of other Divisions. You may fire atone unit at a time and you need to roll a5+. Units will fire at the closet enemy unit

except for artillery that can fire at anytarget. Units do not block line of sigth.


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SAVING THROW

Every time a unit is hit it must make a sa-ving throw or be removed as Dispersed(removed from the battlefield and put in a

box labelled Remplacements), and thenmay be return later during the battle (seeHQ). Those units that are not within 30cm or 12 of their Division HQ are classi-fied as Destroyed and removed from thebattle (without the possibility of being re-placed).Tanks and Recon automatically fail theSaving Throw if hit by a 88mm (Tiger orArtillery).

TERRAIN

Only Artillery can fire over hills, woods orvillages. If a unit is on top of a hill or wi-

thin woods or villages the spotting rangefor enemies that want to sight them is re-duced by 8cm, and units in woods, hillsor villages get a +1 modifier on their Sa-ving Throw (except for tanks). Villages,woods and hills have a standard size of12cm x 12 cm.

GERMAN STUKAS & BRITISH AIRFORCE

Each side is allowed up to two air-strikesper turn that can be used against any e-nemy unit. Roll a dice:5 6 = the target must make a savingThrow or become Dispersed (Destroyedif not within 30cm from the HQ).2 4 = no effect.1 = if the attack is within 30cm of an e-nemy HQ, the attacking aircraft is Destro-yed. From that moment onwards you ha-

ve one less air attack per turn for the restof the battle.

Italian Tank

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Each player gets 3 Victory Point (VPs)

for every Tank unit destroyed; 2 VictoryPoints for each Light Tank or Artillery(88mm) destroyed; each Supply basedestroyed counts as five VP's; and oneVictory Point for every other type of e-nemy unit destroyed. If there are lessthan 5 VP difference between the totalsthen the game is a DRAW; between 5and 9 is a VICTORY and a differencegreater than 10 is a DECISIVE VIC-TORY. All the Dispersed units that werewaiting to come back as Replacementsare considered automatically Destroyed,i.e. all units that have not been replacedat the end of the established number ofturns and are still Dispersed are conside-red Destroyed.

If you destroy all three enemy Supply Ba-ses you may opt to end the game andclaim an immediate Major Victory!

German teams


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MINEFIELDS

Each side can have up to 60cm or 24" ofminefields (a base depth deep). To crossan enemy minefield dice per unit that

tries:

5-6 = Get through OK, stopping on otherside;2-4 = unit stopped in front of minefield;1 = the unit is Scattered (or Destroyed ifnot near the HQ)!

To clear a one base wide Gap (allowingup to six units to pass through each turn),get an infantry unit adjacent to the mine-field and throw with a 5 or 6 to create aGap. Note that only one infantry unit perDivision may try this per turn(representing the Divisional engineers /pioneers; count the Free French"Brigade" as a Division for this rule).

DUG IN

Up to 16 units may begin as Dug-in (insubstantial trenches, protected by barbedwire, suitable model bases being requi-

red).Infantry, artillery, 88mm's, and HQ's im-prove their saving throw to 4+ and allowsthem to Spot 7,5cm or 3" further, as wellas allowing them shooting in the Dug-inphase. Note: troops Dug-in on a Hilltoponly increase Spotting by 7,5cm or 3"maximum. Tanks and Recon can be "in"the trenches but get no benefit fromthem. Troops in captured positions donot get the Spotting bonus as the tren-ches probably face the wrong way! Alter-natively you may simply remove capturedpositions.

ITALIAN PROBLEMS

Count the Italian HQ distance as 22,5cmor 9" rather than 30cm or 12". Italian FootInfantry is short of AT weapons, so requi-

re a 6 to hit Tanks.

Italian soldiers to Bardia


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ORGANIZATION

*These have no HQ but can be attached out to another HQ for the battle.

British Tanks can be any mix of Infantry

(heavy) or Cruiser (light fast) tanks.

Italian "88mm" were either their own

90mm AA guns or attached Luftwaffeforces. The numbers of 88mm are exag-gerated because their tactical effect wastruly brutal! Light AT and support bat-teries are assumed parcelled out a-mongst the infantry.

Force Division HQ Recon TankMotorised

Infantry

Foot

InfantryArtillery 88mm

German Panzer 1 2 3 4 - 1 1

90th Light

and 164 Infanterie 1 2 - 6 - 1 1

Italian Tank or Special 1 - 4 2 - 1 1

Motorised 1 - - 7 - 1 1

Infantry 1 - - - 6 2 -

British Armoured 1 1 3 4 - 2 -

Infantry 1 1 - 9 - 2 -

Free French, Australian orNeozeland Brigade

1 - - 3 - 1 -

Armoured Brigade - - 3* - - - -

5 Leichtedivision 1 2 2 3 - 1 1

15 Schutzen Brigade 1 1 - 4 - 1 -

22 Fallschirmjager 1 - - - 2 1 -

Black Shirtor Libyan

1 - - - 4 1 -

Tactical group, Montemurro,Santamaria, Maletti, ecc.

1 1 1 2 - - 1

Selby Group

or Polish Brigade1 1 - 1 - 1

Detachment 1 1 3 - 2

USA Armoured 1 1 6 3 - 3 -

Infantry 1 1 - 9 - 4 -

Folgore 1 - - - 6 2 Anti tank

Artillery 88 mm


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UNITS

German tank

Nationality Battalion type Spotting Range Saving throw Speed

All nations Head Quarters (HQ) 15cm or 6 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

Reconnaissance(Recon)

22,5cm or 9" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9"

Foot Infantry 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 7,5cm or 3"

Motorised Infantry 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

Artillery 15cm or 6" 45cm or 18 6 15cm or 6"

Supply Base - - 6 -

Anti-tank gun 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

German Tanks 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 4+ 15cm or 6"

88mm 15cm or 6" 30cm or 12" 6 15cm or 6"

Fallschirmjager 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 7,5cm or 3"

Schwere Panzer Abtei-lung 501 (only Tunisiacampaign)

15cm or 6" 22,5cm or 9" 3+ 10cm or 4"

Italian Tanks 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 15cm or 6"

Folgore Infantry 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 7,5cm or 3"

Bersaglieri Infantry 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

British or

USAInfantry Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 4+ 15cm or 6"

British Cruiser Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9"

Light Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"


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September 1940. The Italian Tenth Armyunder Marshal Rodolph Graziani invadedEgypt from Libya. At Sidi Barrani, 60 milesinto Egypt, the Italian armyset up a series of

fortifies camps in the desert. Eight miles tothe east. The British Western Desert Forceunder Ge. Sir OConnor was based at MersaMatruh, the terminus of the railway and roadleading out fron Alexandria. In a surprisemarch OConnor army of 36.000 circledsouth of the Italian defenses and attack thesidi Barrani encampments from the flank andrear on December 9. The first Axis threat tothe Suez Canal was smashed.

1) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

FORCE CARDS. Each side may chooses one card and then randomly deal trhee more. This is their

strength for the oncoming battle. For a quicker battle have four rather than five cards. Allow inexpe-rienced players to choose two of their deal. Once you have got used to the system, you can add o-ther forces as you wish, and feel free to have your favourite Divisions rather than those noted. Weare not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel from the post of a high-ranking leader.

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atSollum. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Losing their"last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after any Major De-feat as they were constantly replaced!

Divisions that suffered half their bases Destroyed (ignore Dispersed), are left out of the Force Cardpack for the next game. All formations return to strength for their next use.

ITALIAN CARDS

BolognaItalian

Infantry

Division

SabrathaItalian

Infantry

Division

SavonaItalian

Infantry

Division

PaviaItalian

Infantry

Division

BresciaItalian

Infantry

Division

SirteItalian

Infantry

Division

1CC. NNItalian

Infantry

Division

(Black Shirt)

Blank!:PlanesfromMalta

sink

supplyconvoy!

BRITISH CARDS

7th BritishArmoured Division

4th (Indian):British Infantry Division

New ZealandInfantry

Brigade

6th British:Infantry Division

Blank!Troopsdiverted

to Greeceor Mala-

ya!

Tobruk

Italian last standMarsa Lucch Bardia Sollum Sidi el-Barrani

Marsa Matruh

British last stand


16/26

16


1941. In Great Britains first offensive of theNorth African campaign, the British XIIICorps, crossed the Egyptian frontier intoLibya, following its victory at Sidi Barrani. At

the small Mediterranean port of Bardia, Ge.Sir OConnor army surrounded 45,000 tro-ops of the Italian Tenth Army under the ove-rall command of Marshal Graziani, on Ja-nuary 3, 1941. Leaving mop-up operationsto the infantry, the 7th Armoured raced westalong the coast road (Via Balbia) to the for-tress of Tobruk.

2) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: FIRST BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

FORCE CARDS. Each side may chooses one card and then randomly deal three more. This is their


THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atSidi Barrani. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Losingtheir "last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after any MajorDefeat as they were constantly replaced!


ITALIAN CARDS

CireneItalian

Infantry

Division

CatanzaroItalian

Infantry

Division

MarmaricaItalian

Infantry

Division

SpecialItalian

Division

MalettiTactical

Group

1 LibyanItalian

Infantry

Division

2CC. NNItalian

Infantry

Division

(Black Shirt)


sink

supplyconvoy!

BRITISH CARDS

7th BritishArmoured Division

4th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision

Detachment6th (Australian)British Infantry

Division


to Greeceor Mala-

ya!

Selby Group

Beda Fomm

Italian last standBengasi Derna Tobruk Bardia

Marsa Matruh

British last standSidi Barrani


17/26

17


1941. Gen. Erwin Rommels first Axis offen-sive in North Africa began on March 24, at ElAgheila, Libya. Meeting thin British resistan-ce, he drove eastward rapidly, recapturing

an evacuated Benghazi on April 4 and rea-ching Tobruk four days later. Rommels tro-ops stormed Tobruk durino April 10-14 andagain on April 30 but were beaten back eachtime. Meanwhile the Axis counterattack car-ried eastward to the Egyptian frontier on A-pril 28.

3) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: FIRST AXIS OFFENSIVE.



THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atAgedabia. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Losingtheir "last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after any MajorDefeat as they were constantly replaced!


AXIS CARDS

BolognaItalian

Infantry

Division

PaviaItalian

Infantry

Division

BresciaItalian

Infantry

Division

132nd ArieteItalian Tank

Division

5 LeichtedivisionGerman

Division

15th PanzerGerman

Division

TrentoItalian

Motorised

Division


sink

supplyconvoy!

BRITISH CARDS


7th BritishArmoured

Division

3 BritishArmoured

Brigades

18 (Australian)British Infantry

Brigade


to Greeceor Mala-

ya!

9 (Australian)British Infantry

Division

Marsa el-Brega

Axis last standEl Agheila Ageidana Derna Tobruk

Sollum

British last standBardia


18/26


19/26

19


1942. On January 21, two weeks after theBritish Eight Army had pursued his Panze-rarmee Afrika back to El Agheila, Libya, theGerman general Rommel turned and counte-

rattacked in western Cyrenaica. The Gazaladefeat and esnuing retreat cost the Britishabout 45,000 casualties, largerly prisoners,plus the los of another 33,000 men in thesurrender of Tobruk. The long months offighting and pursuit finally ended on June 25when the British made a stand at their Mersamatruh base.

5) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: SECOND AXIS OFFENSIVE.



THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atAin el Gazala. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Lo-sing their "last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after anyMajor Defeat as they were constantly replaced!


AXIS CARDS

15th PanzerGerman

Division

21st PanzerGerman

Division

90th LightGerman

Division

TriesteItalian

Motorised

Division

132ndArieteItalian

Tank

Division

BresciaItalian

Infantry

Division

PaviaItalian

Infantry

Division


sink

supplyconvoy!

BRITISH CARDS

7th BritishArmoured

Division

1st South

AfricanBritish

InfantryDivision

Free FrenchBritish Infantry

Brigade

1st BritishArmoured

Brigade


to Greeceor Mala-

ya!

1st BritishArmoured

Division


50BritishInfantryDivision

El Agheila

Axis last standBir Hacheim Ain el Gazala Tobruk

Marsa Matruh

British last stand


20/26

20


1942. The last Axis eastward thrust had be-en blocked at Alam halfa two months before.On the night of October 23-24, under coverof an 800-gun artillery barrage, Gen. Leeses

XXX Corps struck west from the village of ElAlamein. For seven long days the EighthArmy slugged at the Axis defenses, mannedchiefly by the veteran Africa Korps-15th and21st Panzers and 90th Light. On two of the-se days, October 27 and 28, Rommels ar-mor counterattacked fiercely but was beatenback by the Eighth Army. The Axis withdra-wal, begun the night of Novembre 4-5, conti-nued without letup for 15,000 miles ...

6) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: THIRD BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

FORCE CARDS. Each side may chooses one card and then randomly deal four (British) and three

(Axis) more. This is their strength for the oncoming battle. For a quicker battle have four rather thanfive cards. Allow inexperienced players to choose two of their deal. Once you have got used to thesystem, you can add other forces as you wish, and feel free to have your favourite Divisions ratherthan those noted. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel fromthe post of a high-ranking leader.

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atKidney Ridge. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Lo-sing their "last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after anyMajor Defeat as they were constantly replaced!


El Daba

Axis last standKidney Ridge Ruweisat

El Alamein

British last standSidi Abdel Rahman

AXIS CARDS

15th PanzerGerman

Division

21st PanzerGerman

Division

90th LightGerman

Division

TriesteItalian

Motorised

Division

132ndArieteItalian

Tank

Division

BresciaItalian

Infantry

Division

PaviaItalian

Infantry

Division


sink

supplyconvoy!

BRITISH CARDS

7th BritishArmoured

Division

1st South

AfricanBritish

InfantryDivision

10 BritishArmoured

Division

51st British(Higjhland)

InfantryDivision


to Greeceor Mala-

ya!

1st BritishArmoured

Division




21/26

21


19421943. The Anglo-American invasionof French Northwest Africa on Novembre 11provoked a quick Axis reaction in Tunisia.The German general Jurgen von Arnim con-

cetrated most of the Axis strength in the nor-thern cities of Tunis and Bizerte. On Fe-bruary 14 Rommels 10th and 21st Panzerdivisions of the veteran Africa Korps lungedout of faid toward Kasserine Pass, the gate-way to the communications hub of Tebessa.The German attack at Kasserine proved tobe the last successful Axis offensive in Afri-ca. Three Axis divisions, trapped betweenAllied forces in Bizerte and Tunis, surrende-red on May 9. The six-month battle of Tuni-sia ended the North Africa campaign.

7) NORTHWEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: TUNISIA.

FORCE CARDS. Each side may chooses one card and then randomly deal four (British) and trhee(Axis) more. This is their strength for the oncoming battle. For a quicker battle have four rather thanfive cards. Allow inexperienced players to choose two of their deal. Once you have got used to thesystem, you can add other forces as you wish, and feel free to have your favourite Divisions ratherthan those noted. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel fromthe post of a high-ranking leader.

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start atKasserine. A Victory pushes the enemy back one area; a Major Victory pushes two spaces. Losingtheir "last stand" area means total defeat! You should rename the British commander after any MajorDefeat as they were constantly replaced!


Mdenine

Allies last standel Kef Kasserine Mareth Uadi Akarit

Enfidaville

Axis last stand

AXIS CARDS

15th PanzerGerman

Division

21st PanzerGerman

Division

SchwerePanzer

Abteilung 501

TriesteItalian

Motorised

Division

CentauroItalianTank

Division

SupergaItalian

Infantry

Division

10 PanzerGerman

Division

Blank!:Planes

from Malta

sink supplyconvoy!

ALLIES CARDS

7th BritishArmoured

Division

1st BritishInfantry

Division

10 BritishArmoured

Division

1st USAInfantry

Division

1st USAArmoured

Division

1st BritishArmoured

Division




22/26

22


8) NORTHWEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: BEDA FOMM.

1941. On February 5 the 7th Armoured reached the coast at Beda Fomm, well beyond Benghazi,blocking the retrat into Tripoli of Marshal Grazianis Italian Tenth Army. After two days of futile effortto break through the British defenses, the entire Italian army of 20,000 men surrendered.

The game table is approx 60 (150cm) x 36 (90cm).

THE FORCEBritish(Special Force)1 HQ (Major Combe), 1 Recon, 3 Tank, 2 6pdr Anti-tank, 4 Motorised Infantry.

Italian (Gen. Bergonzoli)1 HQ, 3 Tank (M13-40), 9 Foot Infantry, 1 Tank Light (L3).

* Count the Italian HQ distance as 22,5cm or 9" rather than

30cm or 12".** Italian Foot Infantry is short of AT weapons, so require a 6

to hit Tanks.*** Italian Tanks automatically fail the Saving Throw if hit bya Anti-tank.

Victory Conditions

The Italian win if they can exit the equivalent of six units

(stands), off the eastern edge of the board. The gameends when all Italian stands are off table or destroyed.

BritishDeployementItalian

Deployement

Road

Hill

Head Quarters (HQ)* 15cm or 6 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

Reconnaissance

(Recon)22,5cm or 9" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9"

Foot Infantry** 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 7,5cm or 3"

Motorised Infantry 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6"

6pdr Anti-tank*** 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6 6 15cm or 6"

Tank (British) 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 4+ 15cm or 6"

All nations Battalion type Spotting Range Saving throw Speed

Tank (Italians) 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 15cm or 6"

easternedge


23/26


24/26

24


9) NORTHWEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN:HALFAYA PASS, 15

THJUNE, 1941.

Background

The 11th Indian Brigade was ordered to destroy

the enemy forces in the area of Halfaya pass aspart of Wavells 'Operation Battleaxe' during thesummer of 1941. Aided by Matildas of the 4thRTR, the 11th was to advance on the Sollum -Sidi Barrani coastal road and take positions heldby 'Reverend' Bachs Afrika Korp forces. The at-tack begins at dawn on June 15th.

British order of battle

11th Indian Brigade1 X HQ (Brigadier R.A. Savory), 4 X Motorised

Infantry (2nd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infan-try), 4 X Motorised Infantry (1st Battalion, 6th Ra-jputana Rifles), 4 X Motorised Infantry (2nd Bat-talion, Queens own Cameron Highlanders), 2 xArtillery (25 pdrs)..

Tank Unit3 x Tank (Matilda IIs of the 4th RTR).

German order of battle

1 X HQ (Reverend Wilhelm Bach), 4 X MotorisedInfantry (1st Battalion, 104th Infantry Regiment).

1 x HQ (Supports weapons), 1 X Artillery (88mmFlak), 1 X Artillery (105mm Howitzer), 1 x Tank(Pz II), 1 X Light Anti-tank gun, (Tanks automati-cally fail the Saving Throw if hit by a Anti-tank gunor 88mm Flak).

2 x Minefields (4 X 4 - 10cm X 10cm).

Scenario basis and terrain

The game length is 15 turns starting with Britishturn 1 and ending with German turn 15. Terrainfeatures are as per scenario map (60 X 36 150cm X 90cm). Wadis provide soft cover to in-

fantry or support weapons.

Victory Conditions

British : Capture the Pass above and below theescapment.

German: Prevent the British from capturing theground above and below the escarpment.Any other result is a draw

Deployment and arrivals

The on board German forces may deploy any-where on the board as shown. All on-board forcesstart dug-in (hard cover). The British forces de-ploy as shown:

Scenario Map

Halfaya

Pass

German Deployment Zone

Halfaya Pass Scenario, June 15th 1941 8th ArmyDeployment

Wadis

Sea


25/26

25


INDEX

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2

GAME PHILOPHY 3

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 3

WEAPONS IN NORTH AFRICA

6

COMMANDERS AND THEIR TACTICS IN THE WESTERN DESERT 7

BASING 8

MINIATURE

8

BATTLE SET-UP 9

TURN SEQUENCE 10

HEADQUARTERS (HQ) 10

MOVEMENT 10

FIRING 10

SAVING THROW 11

GERMAN STUKAS & BRITISH AIR FORCE 11

VICTORY CONDITIONS 11

MINEFIELDS 12

DUG IN 12

ITALIAN PROBLEMS 12

ORGANIZATION 13

UNITS 14

SCENARIO: ITALIAN OFFENSIVE 15

SCENARIO: FIRST BRITISH OFFENSIVE 16

SCENARIO: FIRST AXIS OFFENSIVE. 17

SCENARIO: SECOND BRITISH OFFENSIVE. 18

SCENARIO: SECOND AXIS OFFENSIVE. 19SCENARIO: THIRD BRITISH OFFENSIVE. 20

SCENARIO: TUNISIA. 21

SCENARIO: BEDA FOMM. 22

SCENARIO: HALFAYA PASS, 15THJUNE, 1941 24


26/26

26

d i i

DESERT WAR, 1940 - 1943.

EASTERN FRONT, 1941 - 1945.

ITALIAN FRONT, 1943 - 1945.

WESTERN FRONT, 1944 - 1945.

PACIFIC, 1941 - 1945.


Documents

High Desert