HIGH COMMAND, Africa

www.accademiawargame.it 2

Life's but a walking shadow ...

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

W. Shakespeare

HIGH COMMAND Grand tactical rules for the second World War

Game Designer: Richard Affinati (ITALY)

Graphics Wizard and Chief Playtester: Mike Patton (USA)

Acknowledgments:

Norman MacKenzie “Kiss Rommel” Luca Mazzamuto “Alto Comando” Lorenzo Sartori “Dadi & Piombo” Andrew Carless “Translations” Historical Background www.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:

www.accademiawargame.it

Dedication: HIGH COMMAND is dedicated as a token of remembrance to the soldiers of the Second World War.

www.accademiawargame.it 3 HIGH COMMAND Grand tactical rules for the second World War

GAME PHILOPHY

For many years we played Napoleonic battles in such a tactical way that wargamers would never allow us to field more than a couple of Division per side. Then we discovered methods that allowed us to simulate entire battles without them getting too complicated. However today Ligth Tank M.3A1 STUART III that old destructive mentality still ruins our Second World War games, preven- Adolf Hitler was shocked by the defeats ting us from recreating entire battles. being suffered by the Italian Army and in At the most, expert wargamers put a few January 1941, sent General Erwin Rom- more tanks and platoons on immense mel and the recently formed Deutsches tables and worry about tactical problems Africa Korps to North Africa. Rommel and the thickness of armour, without e- mounted his first attack on 24th March xmaning the strategic or gaming aspects 1941, and after a week of fighting he pu- that are implicit in combats between in- shed Archibald Wawell and the British fantry division and armoured brigades. Army out of most of Libya. However, un- With HIGH COMMAND we can play the der Lieutenant General Lesile Morshead entire Normandy landigs, or even the the British managed to hold vital forward battles on the Russian Front or in Africa. supply base at Tobruk.

Richard Affinati Aerchibald Wawell attempted a counter-

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND attack on 17th June, 1941, but his troops were halted at Halfaya Pass. Three we- When Benito Mussolini declared war on eks later he was replaced by General the Allies on 10th June 1940, he already Claude Auchinleck. had over a million men in the Italian Army based in Libya. In neighbouring Egypt On 18th November, 1941, Auchinleck the British Army had only 36,000 men and the recently formed Eighth Army guarding the Suez Canal and the Arabian went on the offensive. Erwin Rommel oil fields. On 13th September, 1940, Mar- was forced to abandon his siege of To- shall Rodolfo Graziani and five Italian di- bruk on 4th December, and the following visions began a rapid advance into Egypt month had moved as far west as Archo- but halted in front of the main British de- bald Wawell had achieved a year pre- fences at Mersa Matruh. Although out- viously. Aware that Wavell's supply lines numbered, General Archibald Wawell were now overextended, Rommel, after ordered a British counter-offensive on 9th obtaining reinforcements from Tripoli, December, 1940. The Italians suffered launched a counterattack. It was now the heavy casualties and were pushed back turn of the British Army to retreat. After more than 800km (500 miles). British tro- losing Benghazi on 29th January, Claude ops moved along the coast and on 22nd Auchinleck ordered his troops to retreat January, 1941, they captured the port of to Gazala. Tobruk in Libya from the Italians. www.accademiawargame.it 4 Over the next few months the Eighth Army, under Lieutenant General Neil Ri- chie, established a line of fortifications and minefields. Erwin Rommel launched his offensive on 26th May. The Italian infantry attacked at the front while Rommel led his panzers round the edge of the fortifications to cut off the supply routes.

Ritchie outnumbered Rommel by two to one but he wasted his advantage by not using his tanks together. After defeating a series of small counter-attacks Rommel was able to capture Sidi Muftah. On 12th June, two of the three British armoured brigades were caught in a pincer movement and were badly defeated. Two days later Neil Richie, with only 100 tanks left, abandoned Gazala. Rommel returned to Tobruk and took the port on 21st June, 1942. This included the capture of over 35,000 British troops. However, Rommel now only had 57 tanks left and was forced to wait for new supplies to arrive be- Erwin Rommel fore heading into Egypt.

In July 1942, General Erwin Rommel and Over the next six weeks Montgomery be- the Italo-German Panzer Armee Afrika, gan to stockpile vast quantities of wea- (part of the Deutsches Africa Korps) were pons and ammunition to make sure that only 113km (70 miles) from Alexandria. by the time he attacked he possessed The situation was so serious that Win- overwhelming firepower. By the middle of ston Churchill made the long journey to October the Eighth Army totalled 195,000 Egypt to discover for himself what nee- men, 1,351 tanks and 1,900 pieces of ded to be done. Churchill decided to ma- artillery. This included large numbers of ke changes to the command structure. recently delivered Sherman M4 and General Harold Alexander was placed in Grant M3 tanks. On 23rd October Mon- charge of British land forces in the Middle tgomery launched Operation Lightfoot East and Bernard Montgomery became with the largest artillery bombardment commander of the Eighth Army. since theFirst World War. The attack ca- me at the worst time for the Deutsches On 30th August, 1942, Erwin Rommel Africa Korps as Eewin Rommel was on attacked at Alam el Halfa but was repul- sick leave in Austria. His replacement, sed by the Eighth Army. Montgomery re- General Geaorge Stumme, died of a he- sponded to this attack by ordering his tro- art-attack the day after the 900 gun bom- ops to reinforce the defensive line from bardment of the German lines. Stume the coast to the impassable Qattara De- was replaced by General Ritter von Tho- pression. Montgomery was now able to ma and Adolf Hitler phoned Rommel to make sure that Rommel and the German order him to return to Egypt immediately. Army was unable to make any further a- dvances into Egypt. www.accademiawargame.it 5 The Germans defended their positions well and after two days the Eighth Army had made little progress and Bernard Montgomery ordered an end to the attack. When Erwin Rommel returned he launched a counterattack at Kidney De- pression (27th October). Montgomery now returned to the offensive and the 9th Australian Division created a salient in the enemy positions. Cruiser Tank Mk.VI(A.15) CRUSADER II

Winston Churchill was disappointed by the Eighth Army's lack of success and The British Army recaptured Tobruk on accused Montgomery of fighting a "half- 12th November, 1942. During the El Ala- hearted" battle. Montgomery ignored the- mein campaign half of Rommel's 100,000 se criticisms and instead made plans for man army was killed, wounded or taken a new offensive, Operation Supercharge. prisoner. He also lost over 450 tanks and 1,000 guns. The British and Commonwe- On 1st November 1942, Montgomery alth forces suffered 13,500 casualties launched an attack on the Deutsches A- and 500 of their tanks were damaged. frica Korps at Kidney Ridge. After initially However, of these, 350 were repaired resisting the attack, Rommel decided he and were able to take part in future bat- no longer had the resources to hold his tles. line and on the 3rd November he ordered his troops to withdraw. However, Adolf Winston Churchil was convinced that the Hitler overruled his commander and the battle of El Alamein marked the turning Germans were forced to stand and fight. point in the war and ordered the ringing of church bells all over Britain. As he said The next day Montgomery ordered his later: "Before Alamein we never had a men forward. The Eighth Army broke victory, after Alamein we never had a de- through the German lines and Erwin feat." Rommel, in danger of being surrounded, was forced to retreat. Those soldiers on Allied troops continued to advance on foot, including large numbers of Italian Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. General soldiers, were unable to move fast e- Kenneth Anderson got to within 12 miles nough and were taken prisoner. of Tunis before being attacked at Djedei- da by General Walther Nehring and the For a while it looked like the the British Deutsches Africa Korps . A further at- would cut off Rommel's army but a sud- tempt by the Allies to reach Tunis was den rain storm on 6th November turned halted by bad weather on 24th Decem- the desert into a quagmire and the cha- ber, 1942. sing army was slowed down. Rommel, now with only twenty tanks left, managed General Jurgen von Arnim now arrived to to get to Sollum on the Egypt-Libya bor- take control of the German forces in Tu- der. On 8th Novembre Erwin Rommel nisia. In January 1943 he was joined by learned of the Allied invasion of Morocco General Erwin Rommel and his army in and Algeria that was under the command southern Tunisia. Rommel was in retreat of General Dwigth D. Eisenhower. His from Egypt and was being chased by Ge- depleted army now faced a war on two neral Bernard Montgomery and the 8th front. Army. www.accademiawargame.it 6 Montgomery now spent several weeks in Tripoli building up his supplies. Arnium and 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 Korps then headed for Thala but were forced to retreat after meeting a large Allied force on 22nd February, 1943. General Harold Alexander was now sent to oversee Al- lied operations in Tunisia whereas Gene- ral Erwin Rommel was placed in command of the German forces. On 6th Bernard Montgomery March 1943, Rommel attacked the Allies at Medenine. General Bernard Montgo- WEAPONS IN NORTH AFRICA mery and the 8th Army fought off the attack and the Germans were forced to wi- The fact that Rommels DAK (Deutsches thdraw. Rommel now favoured a full re- Afrika Korps) in North Africa contained treat but this was rejected by Adolf Hitler. equipment which was far more advanced and effective than the Eighth Armies e- On 9th March, Rommel left Tunisia on quivalent meant that the campaign lasted health grounds and was replaced by Ge- much longer than it may have done o- neral Jurgen von Arnim as commander of therwise, whilst at the same time there the Deutsches Africa Korps. Arnium now were not sufficient numbers of them to concentrated in defending a 100 mile arc become a decisive factor in the cam- across north-east Tunisia. By April 1943 paign. For instance, when the British the Allies had over 300,000 men in Tuni- launched Operation Crusader in late No- sia. This gave them a 6-to-1 advantage vember 1941 “the 8th Army outnumbered in troops and a 15-to-1 superiority in the combined Axis force (118,000 men to tanks. The Allied blockade of the Medi- 113,000), had 680 tanks (with 500 in re- terranean also made it difficult for the serve or in supply) to Rommels 390 and German Army to be supplied with ade- 1000 British planes confronted 320 Axis quate amounts of fuel, ammunition and aircraft. The 88mm flak gun was used as food. The Allies now decided to make an anti-tank gun more and more fre- another effort to take Tunis. General O- quently as the conflict progressed and mar Bradley, who had replaced General the Allies were slow to grasp its efect u- Gorge Patton, as commander of the 2nd pon the battlefield. At a startling 2000 Corps, joined General Bernard Montgo- yards it could still penetrate the British mery for the offensive. On 23rd April the tanks frontal armour, which made it an 300,000 man force advanced along a 40 extremely lethal weapon in the Germans mile front. At the same time there was a armoury and a severe threat to the Bri- diversionary attack by the 8th Army at tish tanks throughout the Desert War. All Enfidaville. On 7th May 1943, British for- the technical edges which Rommel’s Afri- ces took Tunis and the US Army captu- ka Korps had over the Eighth army hel- red Bizerte. By 13th May all Axis forces ped Rommel to inflict heavy losses on in Tunisia surrendered and over 150,000 the British, inevitably lengthening the de- were taken prisoner. sert war. This had to weighed up against the fact that the Italians weapons were www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk as much a liability as were the German

www.accademiawargame.it 7 ones superior. The Afrika Korps did not receive sufficient numbers of these superior weapons, such as the Panther and Tiger tanks or the 88mm flak guns to e- nable it to be a decisive factor in the campaign, but there were enough to len- gthen the Desert war considerably.

COMMANDERS AND THEIR TACTICS IN THE WESTERN DESERT

In literature on the North African Cam- paign in the Second World War, both Panzer IV Rommel and Montgomeryas portrayed at tactical genius`s that turned certain defe- with Montgomery`s strategy too; where at into victory; this is due to the fact that deception was to play a key role and an history prefers to glorify people and bat- attack was to be made in the suprise tles rather than an aspect of warfare flank with the aim of outflanking and en- such as supplies. Rommel`s crowning circling the enemy. This clearly shows glory is said to have been at Gazala in that the tactics employed at Gazala and May 1942 and Montgomery`s at El Ala- El Alamein although effective, were not mein in October 1942. Likewise in Octo- original. Rommel successfully attacked at ber 1942 Montgomery enjoyed a numeri- Gazala, but then ignored Hitler and Ca- cal superiority that no other British com- vallero`s orders to pause, and pursued mander had possessed in North Africa as the retreating Eighth Army 250 miles ac- the Eighth army had received 300 Sher- cross the desert to El Alamein. To put it man tanks more capable of matching the bluntly, Rommel had over-stretched him- 4 lower grade Panzer tanks and 100 self self and this was as much a failure as propelled guns in time for the El Alamein his Gazala battle had been a success, offensive, so from these statistics it is but again literature selectively excludes clear that logistical considerations were this in order to sustain the popular image much more decisive factors than Second of Rommel as a tactical genious. Mon- World War literature cares to mention. tgomery showed extreme caution when One couldn`t help feeling a little sorry for pursuing the Axis forces after El Alamein, the man at this time. He had shown him- which he could afford to do as his over- self a brilliant fighter in the desert; three whelming numerical superiority neccesi- times he had escaped Montgomery`s ef- tated no hasty pursuit and the forces forts to surround his panzer army; he had from the Torch landings now formed the been consistently starved of supplies and 1st Army which was also advancing in equipment.1 Rommel was constantly held the direction of Tunis. Rommel was for- back by the lack of fuel and ammunition, ced to go on the offensive at Alam Halfa- which highlights the fact that supplies because he knew the advantage of nu- were a much more significant factor than merical superiority would soon lay in the commanders and their tactics. There is hands of the Eighth Army. Fuel was in also the fact that both strategies were short supply and the Afrika Corps had very similar aswell. At Gazala Rommels insufficient Air support and all these fac- attack was in accordance with the best tors led to Rommels defeat. German textbookstrategy and looking back on the battle of France, it all soun- www.topedge.com ded rather familiar. This was the case

www.accademiawargame.it 8 BASING

We play with units (HQ, Artillery, Recon,

Infantry, Tank, Motorised Infantry) on ba- HQ TANK TANK se (measuring 3cm x 3cm for 6mm mi- niatures; 6cm/12cm for 20mm or plastic 1/72), upon wich we then place the right sort of soldier or vehicles. A base repre- sent a battalion, more or less. If you have RECON MOTORISED troops that are already based for another TANK INFANTRY system you won’t have to change the basing as they are all the same. If you have to start from scratch then try to create some small dioramas, using your creati- MOTORISED MOTORISED MOTORISED vity and modelling ability. INFANTRY INFANTRY INFANTRY A truck and 3 or 4 soldiers will be enough to represente a Motorised Infantry unit, a Recon unit could be represented by an armoured car and a couple of motorbike; and for a tank unit, one tank will do. ARTILLERY ARTILLERY

BRITISH ARMOURED DIVISION IRREGULAR MINIATURE 3 Apollo Street, York YO10 5AP, UK Tel/Fax: (in UK) 01904 671101

Tel/Fax: (overseas)+44 1904 671101 Email : [email protected] www.irregularminiatures.co.uk HQ TANK TANK 6mm World War II - Armoured Divisions

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

FIGURES German British Russian French Italian Ameri- can Japanese Other Nations

MOTORISED MOTORISED RECON TANKS, VEHICLES & GUNS INFANTRY INFANTRY German Italian Japanese Polish French British & Commonwealth American Russian

AIRCRAFT German British Polish French Italian Rus- sian American Japanese ARTILLERY 88 MM RECON

PACKS

Armoured Divisions Battlepacks GERMAN PANZER DIVISION

www.accademiawargame.it 9 BATTLE SET-UP

Mediterranean Ocean (optional) 120cm x 10cm (optional) 48” x 4”

Axis Supply Axis Defences British Defences British Supply 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12”

Axis Supply Axis British British Supply 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12”

Axis Axis British British 30cm x 30cm 30cm x 30cm 30x30cm 30cm x 30cm 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12” 12” x 12”

Southern Desert 120cm x 30 or 60cm 48” x 12” or 24”

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 Cards 3. Deploy British minefields followed by Axis ones 4. Deploy Italian forces, then British and lastly the Germans

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

Troops must be at least 6" - 15cm from the centre line. You need not put a Division's troops 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.

www.accademiawargame.it 10 TURN SEQUENCE The “Dispersed” HQ immediately moves 15cm/6” directly to its rear (distant by 1. The German-Italian player may repla- enemy), and it cannot move or fire and ce a “Dispersed” unit (one for the entire no unit in its Division can be replaced un- army). til the HQ is back in action. In any case a 2. The German-Italian player may move “Dispersed” HQ has a command radium his units (including the replacements) of 30cm for its Division, impeding the De- and place aircraft units. struction of units in the Division within 3. The German-Italian units may fire. 30cm if they are hit during combat, but 4. The British player may replace a not their Dispersion. If the HQ is shot a- “Dispersed” unit (one for the entire army). gain must go back 15cm/6”. 5. The British player may move his units (including the replacements) and place aircraft units. 6. The British units may fire.

There are 9 to 12 turns in a day. Throw before 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 the battlefield any unit from its own Division Headquarters (HQ) Rommel that was previously “Dispersed” (i.e. placed in the “Remplacements” box). This MOVEMENT means that the player must decide wich Headquarters (HQ) will use the available Units have a 360° frontale and their mo- replacement that turn. If a unit that co- vement is always straight in any mes back into play is “Dispersed” again it direction. They may not move closet than can be replaced afterwards. The HQ is 5cm from an enemy unit. Units can only one of the most important units as it can leave the battlefield from their set-up bring “Dispersed” units removed from the side. They are considered “Dispersed”. game back into play. You can move units You can measure anything during the to anywhere on the battlefield but the game. may be “Destroyed” and not “Dispersed” if they are too far from the HQ. It is also assumed that the HQ is where FIRING the batteries of light artillery and anti-craft units are located. The HQ cannot be You can only fire on a unit that is within “Destroyed”, unless there are no other firing range and sighting range. If a unit units in its Division left on the table. In in the Division manages to see an enemy this case it is considered “Destroyed”. unit, it is assumed that the whole Division The “Dispersed” HQ is not removed from can see it. A Division may not spot on the battlefield, but in the next turn it re- behalf of other Divisions. You may fire at places itself, without being able to repla- one unit at a time and you need to roll a ce other units in its Division. The unit that 5+. Units will fire at the closet enemy unit is replaced is placet next to its Headquar- except for artillery that can fire at any ters (HQ). target. Units do not block line of sigth.

www.accademiawargame.it 11 SAVING THROW

Every time a unit is hit it must make a saving throw or be removed as Dispersed (removed from the battlefield and put in a box labelled “Remplacements”), and then may be return later during the battle (see HQ). Those units that are not within 30 cm or 12” of their Division HQ are classi- fied as Destroyed and removed from the battle (without the possibility of being re- Italian Tank placed). Tanks and Recon automatically fail the Saving Throw if hit by a 88mm (Tiger or VICTORY CONDITIONS Artillery). Each player gets 3 Victory Point (VPs) for every Tank unit destroyed; 2 Victory Points for each Light Tank or Artillery (88mm) destroyed; each Supply base destroyed counts as five VP's; and one Victory Point for every other type of e- nemy unit destroyed. If there are less TERRAIN than 5 VP difference between the totals then the game is a DRAW; between 5 Only Artillery can fire over hills, woods or and 9 is a VICTORY and a difference villages. If a unit is on top of a hill or wi- greater than 10 is a DECISIVE VIC- thin woods or villages the spotting range TORY. All the Dispersed units that were for enemies that want to sight them is re- waiting to come back as Replacements duced by 8cm, and units in woods, hills are considered automatically Destroyed, or villages get a +1 modifier on their Sa- i.e. all units that have not been replaced ving Throw (except for tanks). Villages, at the end of the established number of woods and hills have a standard size of turns and are still Dispersed are conside- 12cm x 12 cm. red Destroyed.

If you destroy all three enemy Supply Ba- GERMAN STUKAS & BRITISH AIR ses you may opt to end the game and FORCE claim an immediate Major Victory!

Each side is allowed up to two air-strikes per turn that can be used against any e- nemy unit. Roll a dice: 5 – 6 = the target must make a saving Throw or become Dispersed (Destroyed if 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 have one less air attack per turn for the rest of the battle. German teams

www.accademiawargame.it 12 MINEFIELDS DUG IN

Each side can have up to 60cm or 24" of Up to 16 units may begin as Dug-in (in minefields (a base depth deep). To cross substantial trenches, protected by barbed an enemy minefield dice per unit that wire, suitable model bases being requi- tries: red). Infantry, artillery, 88mm's, and HQ's im- 5-6 = Get through OK, stopping on other prove their saving throw to 4+ and allows side; them to Spot 7,5cm or 3" further, as well 2-4 = unit stopped in front of minefield; as allowing them shooting in the Dug-in 1 = the unit is Scattered (or Destroyed if phase. Note: troops Dug-in on a Hilltop not near the HQ)! only increase Spotting by 7,5cm or 3" maximum. Tanks and Recon can be "in" To clear a one base wide Gap (allowing the trenches but get no benefit from up to six units to pass through each turn), them. Troops in captured positions do get an infantry unit adjacent to the mine- not get the Spotting bonus as the tren- field and throw with a 5 or 6 to create a ches probably face the wrong way! Alter- Gap. Note that only one infantry unit per natively you may simply remove captured Division may try this per turn positions. (representing the Divisional engineers / pioneers; count the Free French "Brigade" as a Division for this rule). ITALIAN PROBLEMS

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 soldiers to Bardia www.accademiawargame.it 13 ORGANIZATION Motorised Foot Force Division HQ Recon Tank Artillery 88mm Infantry Infantry German Panzer 1 2 3 4 - 1 1 90th Light 1 2 - 6 - 1 1 and 164° Infanterie 5° Leichtedivision 1 2 2 3 - 1 1 15° Schutzen Brigade 1 1 - 4 - 1 - 22° Fallschirmjager 1 - - - 2 1 - Italian Tank or Special 1 - 4 2 - 1 1 Motorised 1 - - 7 - 1 1 Infantry 1 - - - 6 2 -

Folgore 1 - - - 6 2 Anti tank Black Shirt 1 - - - 4 1 - or Libyan Tactical group, Montemurro, 1 1 1 2 - - 1 Santamaria, Maletti, ecc. British Armoured 1 1 3 4 - 2 - Detachment 1 1 3 - 2 Infantry 1 1 - 9 - 2 - Free French, Australian or 1 - - 3 - 1 - Neozeland Brigade Selby Group 1 1 - 1 - 1 or Polish Brigade Armoured Brigade - - 3* - - - -

USA Armoured 1 1 6 3 - 3 -

Infantry 1 1 - 9 - 4 -

*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 Luftwaffe forces. The numbers of 88mm are exag- gerated because their tactical effect was truly brutal! Light AT and support batteries are assumed parcelled out a- mongst the infantry.

Artillery 88 mm

www.accademiawargame.it 14 UNITS

Nationality Battalion type Spotting Range Saving throw Speed

All nations Head Quarters (HQ) 15cm or 6” 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6" Reconnaissance 22,5cm or 9" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9" (Recon) 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 Tunisia 15cm or 6" 22,5cm or 9" 3+ 10cm or 4" campaign) Italian Tanks 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 15cm or 6"

Light Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 6 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 Infantry Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 4+ 15cm or 6" USA British Cruiser Tank 15cm or 6" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9"

German tank

www.accademiawargame.it 15

1) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: ITALIAN OFFENSIVE.

September 1940. The Italian Tenth Army under Marshal Rodolph Graziani invaded Egypt from Libya. At Sidi Barrani, 60 miles into Egypt, the Italian armyset up a series of fortifies camps in the desert. Eight miles to the east. The British Western Desert Force under Ge. Sir O’Connor was based at Mersa Matruh, the terminus of the railway and road leading out fron Alexandria. In a surprise march O’Connor army of 36.000 circled south of the Italian defenses and attack the sidi Barrani encampments from the flank and rear on December 9. The first Axis threat to the Suez Canal was smashed.

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 inexperienced 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. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel from the post of a high- ranking leader.

ITALIAN CARDS Blank!: 1°CC. NN Planes Bologna Sabratha Savona Pavia Brescia Sirte Italian from Italian Italian Italian Italian Italian Italian Infantry Malta Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Division sink Division Division Division Division Division Division (Black Shirt) supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! Troops New Zealand 7th British 4th (Indian): 6th British: diverted Infantry Armoured Division British Infantry Division Infantry Division to Greece Brigade or Mala- ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Sollum. 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!

Tobruk Marsa Matruh Marsa Lucch Bardia Sollum Sidi el-Barrani Italian last stand British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 16

2) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: FIRST BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

1941. In Great Britain’s first offensive of the North African campaign, the British XIII Corps, crossed the Egyptian frontier into Libya, following its victory at Sidi Barrani. At the small Mediterranean port of Bardia, Ge. Sir O’Connor army surrounded 45,000 troops of the Italian Tenth Army under the ove- rall command of Marshal Graziani, on Ja- nuary 3, 1941. Leaving mop-up operations to the infantry, the 7th Armoured raced west along the coast road (Via Balbia) to the for- tress of Tobruk.

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 inexperienced 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. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel from the post of a high- ranking leader.

ITALIAN CARDS Blank!: 2°CC. NN Planes Cirene Catanzaro Marmarica 1° Libyan Special Maletti Italian from Italian Italian Italian Italian Italian Tactical Infantry Malta Infantry Infantry Infantry Infantry Division Group Division sink Division Division Division Division (Black Shirt) supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! 4th (Indian) Troops 6th (Australian) 7th British British diverted Selby Group Detachment British Infantry Armoured Division Infantry to Greece Division Division or Mala- ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Sidi Barrani. 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 Defeat as they were constantly replaced!

Beda Fomm Marsa Matruh Bengasi Derna Tobruk Bardia Sidi Barrani Italian last stand British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 17

3) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: FIRST AXIS OFFENSIVE.

1941. Gen. Erwin Rommel’s first Axis offensive in North Africa began on March 24, at El Agheila, Libya. Meeting thin British resistan- ce, he drove eastward rapidly, recapturing an evacuated Benghazi on April 4 and rea- ching Tobruk four days later. Rommel’s troops stormed Tobruk durino April 10-14 and again on April 30 but were beaten back each time. Meanwhile the Axis counterattack car- ried eastward to the Egyptian frontier on A- pril 28.

AXIS CARDS Blank!: Planes Bologna Pavia Brescia Trento 132nd Ariete 5° Leichtedivision 15th Panzer from Italian Italian Italian Italian Italian Tank German German Malta Infantry Infantry Infantry Motorised Division Division Division sink Division Division Division Division supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! 4th (Indian) Troops 9° (Australian) 7th British 3° British 18° (Australian) British diverted British Infantry Armoured Armoured British Infantry Infantry to Greece Division Division Brigades Brigade Division or Mala- ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Agedabia. 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 Defeat as they were constantly replaced!

Marsa el-Brega Sollum El Agheila Ageidana Derna Tobruk Bardia Axis last stand British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 18

4) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: SECOND BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

1941—1942. The second British offensive in Libya was ordered by a new Middle East commander, Gen. Sir Auchinleck and direct by a new combat leader, Gen. Alan Cunnin- gham. The attack, called Operation Cruse- der, was launched on Novembre 18. The initial attack of British armor reached Sidi- Rezegh, the key to besieged Tobruk, on No- vembre 19. Rommel counterattack fiercely driving to the British rear at the Egyptian frontier. Then, on the night of December 7-8, Rommel, short of supplies, began to fall back across Cyrenaica. The British occupied Gazala and Benghazi. The pursuit finally ended at El Agheila on January 6, 1942.

AXIS CARDS Blank!: 132nd Planes Trento Brescia Pavia Savona Ariete 15th Panzer 21st Panzer from Italian Italian Italian Italian Italian German German Malta Motorised Infantry Infantry Infantry Tank Division Division sink Division Division Division Division Division supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! 2nd New 1st South 70° 4th (Indian) Troops 7th British 1st British 4th British Zealand African British British In- diverted Armoured Armoured Armoured British British Infantry fantry Divi- to Greece Division Brigade Brigade Infantry Infantry Division sion or Mala- Division Division ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

El-Agheila Sidi Sidi Barrani Agedabia Bir Hacheim Bir el-Gobi Sollum Axis last stand Rezegh British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 19

5) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: SECOND AXIS OFFENSIVE.

1942. On January 21, two weeks after the British Eight Army had pursued his Panze- rarmee Afrika back to El Agheila, Libya, the German general Rommel turned and counterattacked in western Cyrenaica. The Gazala defeat and esnuing retreat cost the British about 45,000 casualties, largerly prisoners, plus the los of another 33,000 men in the surrender of Tobruk. The long months of fighting and pursuit finally ended on June 25 when the British made a stand at their Mersa matruh base.

AXIS CARDS Blank!: 132nd Planes Trieste Brescia Pavia 15th Panzer 21st Panzer 90th Light Ariete from Italian Italian Italian German German German Italian Malta Motorised Infantry Infantry Division Division Division Tank sink Division Division Division Division supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! 1st South 50° 5th (Indian) Troops 7th British African Free French 1st British 1st British British British diverted Armoured British British Infantry Armoured Armoured Infantry Infantry to Greece Division Infantry Brigade Brigade Division Division Division or Mala- Division ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Ain 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 any Major Defeat as they were constantly replaced!

El Agheila Marsa Matruh Bir Hacheim Ain el Gazala Tobruk Axis last stand British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 20

6) NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: THIRD BRITISH OFFENSIVE.

1942. The last Axis eastward thrust had been blocked at Alam halfa two months before. On the night of October 23-24, under cover of an 800-gun artillery barrage, Gen. Leese’s XXX Corps struck west from the village of El Alamein. For seven long days the Eighth Army slugged at the Axis defenses, manned chiefly by the veteran Africa Korps-15th and 21st Panzers and 90th Light. On two of these days, October 27 and 28, Rommel’s armor counterattacked fiercely but was beaten back by the Eighth Army. The Axis withdra- wal, begun the night of Novembre 4-5, continued without letup for 15,000 miles ...

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 than five cards. Allow inexperienced players to choose two of their deal. Once you have got used to the system, you can add other forces as you wish, and feel free to have your favourite Divisions rather than those noted. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel from the post of a high-ranking leader.

AXIS CARDS Blank!: 132nd Planes Trieste Brescia Pavia 15th Panzer 21st Panzer 90th Light Ariete from Italian Italian Italian German German German Italian Malta Motorised Infantry Infantry Division Division Division Tank sink Division Division Division Division supply convoy! BRITISH CARDS Blank! 1st South 50° 4th (Indian) 51st British Troops 7th British African 10° British 1st British British British (Higjhland) diverted Armoured British Armoured Armoured Infantry Infantry Infantry to Greece Division Infantry Division Division Division Division Division or Mala- Division ya!

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Kidney 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 any Major Defeat as they were constantly replaced!

El Daba El Alamein Sidi Abdel Rahman Kidney Ridge Ruweisat Axis last stand British last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 21

7) NORTHWEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: TUNISIA.

1942—1943. The Anglo-American invasion of French Northwest Africa on Novembre 11 provoked 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 Rommel’s 10th and 21st Panzer divisions of the veteran Africa Korps lunged out of faid toward Kasserine Pass, the gate- way to the communications hub of Tebessa. The German attack at Kasserine proved to be the last successful Axis offensive in Afri- ca. Three Axis divisions, trapped between Allied forces in Bizerte and Tunis, surrendered on May 9. The six-month battle of Tuni- sia ended the North Africa campaign.

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 than five cards. Allow inexperienced players to choose two of their deal. Once you have got used to the system, you can add other forces as you wish, and feel free to have your favourite Divisions rather than those noted. We are not doing an exact recreation of the campaign, but will aim at its feel from the post of a high-ranking leader.

AXIS CARDS

Blank!: Trieste Centauro Superga 15th Panzer 21st Panzer Schwere 10° Panzer Planes Italian Italian Italian German German Panzer German from Malta Motorised Tank Infantry Division Division Abteilung 501 Division sink supply Division Division Division convoy!

ALLIES CARDS

50° 4th (Indian) 7th British 1st British 10° British 1st USA 1st British 1st USA British British Armoured Infantry Armoured Infantry Armoured Armoured Infantry Infantry Division Division Division Division Division Division Division Division

THE CAMPAIGN

The aim is, in a series of battles, to push the enemy back until Africa is cleared. Note that we start at Kasserine. 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 Defeat as they were constantly replaced!

Médenine Enfidaville el Kef Kasserine Mareth Uadi Akarit Allies last stand Axis last stand

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

www.accademiawargame.it 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 Graziani’s Italian Tenth Army. After two days of futile effort to break through the British defenses, the entire Italian army of 20,000 men surrendered.

Hill British Italian Deployement Deployement Road

eastern edge

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

THE FORCE British (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).

All nations Battalion type Spotting Range Saving throw Speed

Head Quarters (HQ)* 15cm or 6” 15cm or 6" 6 15cm or 6" Reconnaissance 22,5cm or 9" 15cm or 6" 5+ 22,5cm or 9" (Recon) 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"

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

* 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 by a 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 game ends when all Italian stands are off table or destroyed.

www.accademiawargame.it 23

TANK - BRITISH TANK - BRITISH TANK - BRITISH

MOTORISED INFANTRY - BRITISH MOTORISED INFANTRY - BRITISH MOTORISED INFANTRY - BRITISH

6pdr ANTI-TANK - BRITISH 6pdr ANTI-TANK - BRITISH MOTORISED INFANTRY - BRITISH

HQ - BRITISH RECON - BRITISH HQ - ITALIAN

TANK - ITALIAN TANK - ITALIAN TANK - ITALIAN

FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN LIGHT TANK - ITALIAN FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN

FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN

FOOT INFANTRY - ITALIAN BEDA FOMM The Units and Markers: Print-off and/or photocopy the units onto tan (for Allied) and gray (for Italian) paper. Then glue strips of the units onto cardboard. (Here, I would mark the backs of the units with a colo to distinguish them when they are "dispersed"/flipped.)www.accademiawargame.it Finally, sciss them out. 24

9) NORTHWEST AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: Scenario basis and terrain HALFAYA PASS, 15TH JUNE, 1941. The game length is 15 turns starting with British Background turn 1 and ending with German turn 15. Terrain features are as per scenario map (60” X 36” – The 11th Indian Brigade was ordered to destroy 150cm X 90cm). Wadis provide soft cover to in- the enemy forces in the area of Halfaya pass as fantry or support weapons. part of Wavells 'Operation Battleaxe' during the summer of 1941. Aided by Matildas of the 4th Victory Conditions RTR, the 11th was to advance on the Sollum - Sidi Barrani coastal road and take positions held British : Capture the Pass above and below the by 'Reverend' Bachs Afrika Korp forces. The at- escapment. tack begins at dawn on June 15th. German: Prevent the British from capturing the

ground above and below the escarpment. British order of battle Any other result is a draw

11th Indian Brigade Deployment and arrivals 1 X HQ (Brigadier R.A. Savory), 4 X Motorised

Infantry (2nd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infan- The on board German forces may deploy any- try), 4 X Motorised Infantry (1st Battalion, 6th Ra- where on the board as shown. All on-board forces jputana Rifles), 4 X Motorised Infantry (2nd Bat- start dug-in (hard cover). The British forces de- talion, Queens own Cameron Highlanders), 2 x ploy as shown: Artillery (25 pdrs)..

Tank Unit 3 x Tank (Matilda IIs of the 4th RTR).

German order of battle

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

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

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

Scenario Map

Sea

Halfaya Pass

Wadis

Halfaya Pass Scenario, June 15th 1941 8th Army German Deployment Zone Deployment

www.accademiawargame.it INDEX 25

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. 19 SCENARIO: THIRD BRITISH OFFENSIVE. 20 SCENARIO: TUNISIA. 21 SCENARIO: BEDA FOMM. 22 SCENARIO: HALFAYA PASS, 15TH JUNE, 1941 24

www.accademiawargame.it 26

DESERT WAR, 1940 - 1943.

EASTERN FRONT, 1941 - 1945.

ITALIAN FRONT, 1943 - 1945.

WESTERN FRONT, 1944 - 1945.

PACIFIC, 1941 - 1945.