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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: affinati@tin.it
CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION:
www.accademiawargame.it
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.
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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@irregularmin.fsnet.co.ukwww.irregularminiatures.co.uk
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
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
Axis Supply30cm x 30cm
12 x 12
Axis30cm x 30cm
12 x 12
British30cm x 30cm
12 x 12
British Supply30cm x 30cm
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
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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
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 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!
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
CireneItalian
Infantry
Division
CatanzaroItalian
Infantry
Division
MarmaricaItalian
Infantry
Division
SpecialItalian
Division
MalettiTactical
Group
1 LibyanItalian
Infantry
Division
2CC. NNItalian
Infantry
Division
(Black Shirt)
Blank!:PlanesfromMalta
sink
supplyconvoy!
BRITISH CARDS
7th BritishArmoured Division
4th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision
Detachment6th (Australian)British Infantry
Division
Blank!Troopsdiverted
to Greeceor Mala-
ya!
Selby Group
Beda Fomm
Italian last standBengasi Derna Tobruk Bardia
Marsa Matruh
British last standSidi Barrani
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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.
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 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!
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.
AXIS CARDS
BolognaItalian
Infantry
Division
PaviaItalian
Infantry
Division
BresciaItalian
Infantry
Division
132nd ArieteItalian Tank
Division
5 LeichtedivisionGerman
Division
15th PanzerGerman
Division
TrentoItalian
Motorised
Division
Blank!:PlanesfromMalta
sink
supplyconvoy!
BRITISH CARDS
4th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision
7th BritishArmoured
Division
3 BritishArmoured
Brigades
18 (Australian)British Infantry
Brigade
Blank!Troopsdiverted
to Greeceor Mala-
ya!
9 (Australian)British Infantry
Division
Marsa el-Brega
Axis last standEl Agheila Ageidana Derna Tobruk
Sollum
British last standBardia
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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.
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 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!
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.
AXIS CARDS
15th PanzerGerman
Division
21st PanzerGerman
Division
90th LightGerman
Division
TriesteItalian
Motorised
Division
132ndArieteItalian
Tank
Division
BresciaItalian
Infantry
Division
PaviaItalian
Infantry
Division
Blank!:PlanesfromMalta
sink
supplyconvoy!
BRITISH CARDS
7th BritishArmoured
Division
1st South
AfricanBritish
InfantryDivision
Free FrenchBritish Infantry
Brigade
1st BritishArmoured
Brigade
Blank!Troopsdiverted
to Greeceor Mala-
ya!
1st BritishArmoured
Division
5th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision
50BritishInfantryDivision
El Agheila
Axis last standBir Hacheim Ain el Gazala Tobruk
Marsa Matruh
British last stand
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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!
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.
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
Blank!:PlanesfromMalta
sink
supplyconvoy!
BRITISH CARDS
7th BritishArmoured
Division
1st South
AfricanBritish
InfantryDivision
10 BritishArmoured
Division
51st British(Higjhland)
InfantryDivision
Blank!Troopsdiverted
to Greeceor Mala-
ya!
1st BritishArmoured
Division
4th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision
50BritishInfantryDivision
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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!
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.
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
4th (Indian)BritishInfantryDivision
50BritishInfantryDivision
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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
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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
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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
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d i i
DESERT WAR, 1940 - 1943.
EASTERN FRONT, 1941 - 1945.
ITALIAN FRONT, 1943 - 1945.
WESTERN FRONT, 1944 - 1945.
PACIFIC, 1941 - 1945.
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