The Gamers, Inc. Operational Combat Series: DAK-II: Deutsches Afrika Korps, Vol. I ©2004. Multiman Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents: Playtesting, Proofing, and so on: Perry 2nd Edition Introduction Andrus, John Best, Jim Daniels, Dean Essig, Volume I This edition does three things: I’ve General Rules, pgs 1-11 Keith Fortner, Owen Fuller, Simon Hoare, corrected all known errata; I’ve made some Axis Special Rules, pgs 11-13 Scott Johnstone, Warren Kingsley, Rod Allied Special Rules, pgs 13-16 Miller, Dave Powell, Nigel Roberts, Rick changes based on player feedback; and I’ve made adjustments to the game needed because General Options, pgs 16-18 “First to Lose Rommel” Robinson, Bob Axis Options, pgs 18-19 of the 3rd edition Series rules. See the “Change Allied Options, pgs 19-20 Runnicles List” on page 62 for a full listing of what was done. Scenarios: • Compass Training Scenario (7.1), pgs 20-22 2nd Edition Comments & Suggestions: Introduction • Small Italian Offensive (7.2), pgs 22-23 Shannon Cooke, Dave Demko, Morris • Sidi Barrani Tr’ng Scenario (7.3), pgs 23-25 Hadley, Scott Johnstone, Michael Junkin, DAK is a simulation covering the entire • Compass Campaign Start (7.4), pgs 25-27 campaign in the Western Desert theater in • March 41 Campaign Start (7.5), pgs 27-29 Rod Miller, Paul Rozek • Brevity Small Scenario (7.6), pgs 29-30 World War II. It covers all the actions in • Brevity Campaign Start (7.7), pgs 31-33 Research Assistance: Perry Andrus, Marco Eastern Libya/Western Egypt from • Battleaxe Small Scenario (7.8), pgs 33-35 Battarelli, Dirk Blennemann, Ulrich September 1940 through November 1942. • Battleaxe Campaign Start (7.9), pgs 35-37 Units which participated in this campaign • Crusader Small Scenario (7.10), pgs 38-40 Blennemann, Joseph Vanden Borre, Vance • Crusader Campaign Start (7.11), pgs 40-43 von Borries, James Broshot, Frank are shown in great detail from division down • Jan 42 Campaign Start (7.12), pgs 43-46 Chadwick, Marco Ferrari, Dave Freidrichs, to battalion level (with occasional company- • Gazala Small Scenario (7.13), pgs 46-49 sized formations). The maps, drawn at the • Gazala Campaign Start (7.14), pgs 49-52 Owen Fuller, Andrea Galliano, Jack • July 42 Campaign Start (7.15), pgs 52-56 Greene, Alessandro Massignani, Mark scale of 5 miles to the hex, are a compilation • 1st Alamein Small Scen. (7.16), pgs 56-57 Milke, George Nafzinger, Dave Powell, of numerous sources including Italian Official • Alam Halfa Camp. Start (7.17), pgs 57-61 Steve Rothwell, Dr. Thomas Scheben, records and German wartime military maps. DAK is an intense and massive DAK-II Change List, pg 62 Mauro Spaziani, Anthony Stauton, Bill Axis Map Tables, pg 63 Stone, Mauro De Vita, Mike Yaklich simulation of this campaign, but is also Allied Map Tables, pg 64 intended to be readily playable. Graphics: Dean N. Essig This game is the culmination of a Volume II Production Management: Sara Essig lifelong dream for myself and a number of • 3rd Alamein Campaign Start (7.18), pgs 1-5 others involved in this project. Enjoy! • 3rd Alamein Small Scenario (7.19), pgs 5-7 • The Desert Campaign Sept 40-Nov 42, The George Nafzinger Collection was of (The whole Super Burrito) (7.20), pgs 8-10 assistance in this project and can be The Players: The Axis Player is called the purchased from: Axis Player. The Allied Player is Counter Manifest, pgs 10-14 sometimes called Commonwealth Player Historical Notes, pgs 14-22 George Nafzinger From All Tank to All Arms (Study Article) PO Box 1522 or British Player as well as Allied Player pgs 22-25 West Chester, OH 45069-1522 in these rules. Annotated Bibliography, pgs 25-27 Designer’s Notes, pgs 27-29 Arabic for Desert Foxes, pg 29 Armies of the Second World War OOBs 1.1 Multiple counters Abbreviations, pg 30 were used in this project. These can be for the same unit. Allied Order of Arrival, pgs 30-35 obtained from: Allied Order of Withdrawal, pgs 35-36 Take great care in selecting units to use, Stone & Stone Axis Order of Arrival, pgs 36-39 as a number of units are represented by Allied Variable Withdrawal Table, pg 40 5250 Piedmont Court different counters as those units develop Santa Rosa, CA 95409 Volume III throughout the campaign (new weapons, Weather Tables, pg 1 organizations, etc.). Be sure to select the Terrain Effects on Combat, pg 2 counter with the correct ratings and symbols Terrain Effects on Movement, pg 3 as listed in the set up or order of arrival. More Quality Wargames Since 1988 Common Rebuilt Chart, pg 4 detail is provided for those units which Random Events Table, pgs 4-7 Air and Land Distance Charts, pg 8 See Page 63, volume I for the frequently change than for those which never DAK Component List... do. Some units have graphic reminders of time-sensitive rules. Page 1 DAK-II: Deutsches Afrika Korps, volume I OCS #5 1.2 Too Much Map 1.5 “Campaign” Rules 2.0 Variations to Area, Not Enough Each scenario lists whether or not it Table Space... uses the “Campaign Rules”. These rules the Series Rules are marked with “c” before their case 2.1 Hedgehogs Some players might find the complete number (as in c 1.10). If a scenario does not 2.1a Map Printed Hedgehogs. layout of DAK beyond their ability to set require the Campaign Rules, ignore all Hedgehogs printed on the map cannot be up due to limited table space. These players rules so marked. Furthermore, some destroyed, reduced, or improved. will be happy to find that the game comes optional rules are also marked as Campaign EXCEPTION: Tobruk’s Hedgehogs (printed with multiple smaller scenarios and is even Rules. These cannot be applied to the as Level 3) start the campaign (Sept 1940) as arrayed such that the campaign games scenarios which do not use the Campaign Level 1 and only attain their full value on 1 themselves are not out of reach. Play can be Rules. done by leaving Map E aside until absolutely Apr 41. This upgrade occurs regardless of necessary (i.e. the war has moved to eastern which side owns the Tobruk position (all the Egypt). Even this space savings can be 1.6 Set Up Notations hedgehog hexes making up the fortress done in two ways: First, Map E can be In addition to the usual OCS notations, boundary) at that time—If complete dispensed with entirely and the scenarios identify Axis unit nationality by ownership is in doubt on 1 April, delay the Commonwealth can run its war from typeface: upgrade until the end of the first turn in Alexandria. Second, an Abstract of Map E which one player (or the other) clearly owns has been provided as a player’s aid which • Normal typeface Axis units are Italian all of the Tobruk Hedgehog hexes. can be used in the place of the real Map E. • Italic typeface units are German, e.g. Map printed Hedgehogs (and the Either method can be easily used. 21.Pz Div. improvements to the Tobruk fortifications) To save even more space yet still play do not count against the player’s Hedgehog the campaign scenarios, it is possible 1.7 Pre-Game limitations below. (although it is far more clumsy than doing away with Map E!) to play with Map A on Decisions Design Note. The Italian Army allowed the a separate table. Given Map A’s importance In addition to the usual things players pre-war Tobruk fortifications to go to seed. to both the game and especially the Axis must decide before playing any game (who Additionally, they had neight the time or the logistical effort, one should only attempt gets which side, where to put the pretzels, equipment to improve them after Compass this if space is absolutely at a premium. when to order the pizza...), the following began. The Commonwealth troops DAK is an excellent game for those must be determined before beginning any occupying these forts began a crash program who have gotten into “vertical gaming” DAK game (some of these are Campaign of improvements only after German (playing the game while mounted on a Rules and can be ignored in scenarios not intervention in the theater (in late March, wall, or ceiling, using magnets or sticky using them): 1941). For the sake of simplicity, the putty materials). Due to its reasonably low • Arrival and Departure of the German improvement of these Hedgehogs occurs counter density, this method of play will Flieger Korps by Random Event or regardless of which side currently owns work quite well. Historical schedule? them—if the Axis has already regained • Allied withdrawals by Variable control of the fortress, one can assume they 1.3 “Simulcast” Turns Withdrawal and Return Table or by would be as interested as the Allies in Historical schedule? improving the works. In the rare event the Be sure to apply series rule 2.4 when • Historical Tiger Convoy or Player Italians don’t lose Tobruk in the first place (a playing this game. Demanded one? pretty impressive performance on their part, • Determine the Options to be used in if playtesting is any indication!), one can 1.4 OCS Standard Play, if any (see section 6.0) assume they would have swept the cobwebs Marker Sheets out of the various bunkers they had already built. This game contains the standard OCS Marker sheets (actually, two of them). On 2.1b Hedgehog Limits.