Afrika Korps

23 Dec 2016

Written by: Phil by: Phil Yates Editors: Peter Editors: Peter Simunovich, John-Paul John-Paul Brisigotti Graphic Design: Casey Design: Casey Davies, Sean Goodison, Victor Pesch Assistant Writers: Writers: James James Brown, Andrew Haught, Chris Townley, Townley, Nigel Slater, Luke Melia Proof Readers: Mark Readers: Mark Goddard, Sean Ireland, Mitch Kemmis, Paul Kitchin, Michael McSwiney, Huw Peregrine-Young, Stephen Smith, Gregg Siter.

Miniatures Design: Evan Design: Evan Allen, Tim Adcock, Matt Bickley, Will Jaynes Internal Art: Vincent Wai, Warran Mahy Miniatures Painting: Painting: Aaron Aaron Mathies Playtest Groups: Dad’s Groups: Dad’s Army (Gavin Van Rossum), Houston (Mike Callahan), La Brigada de Madrid ( Jorge Sancho), Northern Battle Gamers (Nigel Slater).

Afrika Korps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

90. Leichte Afrika Division. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Special Special Rules Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Africa Rifle Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Africa Rifle Company HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Africa Rifle Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 5cm ank-hunter Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 29 Sd Kf Kfz 10 10/4 Li Light AA AA Pl Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 29

War in the Desert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Te Fall of obruk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Battle of Alam El Halfa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Battle of Medenine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 10

Know Your Panzers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rommel’s Af Afrika Ko Korps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Afrika Korps Force Force.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Panzer Regiment 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12 14 15 16

Panzer II III ank Co Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 17 Panzer III ank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 .18 Panzer III (Uparmoured) ank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 18 Panzer III ank Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 19 Panze anzerr III III (Upa (Uparm rmou oure red) d) ank ank Pla Plato toon on . . . . . . . . .19 Panzer II III (M (Mixed) a ank Pl Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Panzer II Light ank Platoon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 .21

Panzer Regiment 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Panzer IV ank Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 23 Panzer IV ank Company HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 .24 Panzer IV IV ank Pl Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 25

Support Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 iger He Heavy ank Pl Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 30 Mard arder (7 (7.62) 62) an ankk-hun hunter Pla Platoon. . . . . . . . . . . .32 8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 32 Sd Kfz Kfz 221 221 & 222 222 Lig Light Scou Scoutt roop roop . . . . . . . . . .33 Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Scout roop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 .33 Panzer II OP Observation Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 10.5cm Artillery Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 34 15cm (Sf) (Sf ) Lorrain Lorrainee Schlepp Schlepper er Artillery Artillery Battery Battery . . . 35 Ju 87 Stuka Dive Dive Bomber Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Paintng Afrika Korps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Aircraft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . anks Infantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . basing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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© Copyright Battlefront Miniatures Ltd., 2017. ISBN: 9780987668998

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Soldiers! Tis magnificent success is due your courage, endurance, and perseverance. Te battle is not yet over. Forward then to the final destruction of the enemy. — Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel Te North African desert is a harsh and forbidding place. Arid rocky wastes are interspersed with patches of soft sand, where the only vegetation is scattered clumps of desert thorn bushes. Roads are few and poor. In the vast swathes of arid, trackless waste, navigation is often no easier than on a ship at sea, far out of the sight of land. All supplies must be carried to the front by long, straggling supply columns, which are constantly hounded by air attacks. Fuel is always too scarce, and even water is a precious resource. It is a brutal environment where only the toughest and most resourceful can survive, let alone fight.

Te Deutsches Afrika Korps (German (German Africa Corps), DAK for for short, is a force of tough, hard-hitting veterans. Victory after victory has given them supreme confidence in their ultimate success. Tey are willing to make the necessary sacrifices to win. Long experience, backed by a doctrine that stresses manoeuvre over head-to-head fights, has left them better able to exploit tactical opportunities than just about any other force in the world. Te Afrika Korps has two main types of tanks, the lighter Panzer III and the heavier Panzer IV. Tese panzers are well armoured, well armed, and have good mobility, making them superior overall to the multitude of British and American tanks they face. Te massive iger tank arrived too late for the pivotal battles at El Alamein, but joined the Afrika Korps for for the defence of unisia. Armed with the famous '88', '8 8', it easily destroys enemy tanks at long ranges, while its own thick hide is impervious to return fire. Tere aren't many of these monsters, but each one is a significant force in its own right.

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In the wide-open spaces of the Western Desert, defence against tanks is paramount, so the rifle companies include plenty of anti-tank guns and some light anti-aircraft halftracks to enable them to take on anything that they face. Te Afrika Korps is a fully-mechanised force, and it has both self-propelled anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and artillery, as well as more conventional towed weapons. Teir guns are generally of higher calibre and more powerful than the Allied equivalents, especially the dual-purpose '88', dreaded by every Allied tanker. Known more formally as the 8.8cm FlaK36, this gun has outstanding range and penetration against tanks, and the reach to hit any aircraft. Speaking of aircraft, the equally famous Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber provides the Afrika Korps with heavy fire support wherever it is needed. If you want a small elite force with some of the best equipment in the world, this is the army for you. You'll be outnumbered, but your skill and the quality of your troops will enable you to overcome any obstacle.

Te following special rules are characteristic of German Afrika Korps forces, reflecting their own style of equipment, tactics, and approach to battle.

AFRIKA KORPS

PROTECTED AMMO

Te Afrika Korps is is experienced and confident of success.

German tanks stored their ammunition in armoured bins. Tis significantly reduced ammunition explosions when tanks were knocked out. Te increased crew survival rate gave tank crews considerable confidence in their tanks. anks with Protected Ammo have a better Remount rating.

STORMTROOPERS Stormtrooper tactics learned le arned during the First World War emphasised the importance of initiative and decisive action. Tis emphasis carried over to training and combat in the Second World War. War. A Unit may attempt a second Movement Order after succeeding in its first Movement Order. Te second Movement Order must be different from the first.

THIRD REICH German soldiers have defeated all comers, no matter what the odds, and conquered much of the world. Tey believe in themselves and are confident of victory, so take heavy casualties in their stride knowing that success is certain. roops of the Tird Reich have a better Last Stand rating.

PANZERS German tanks, as with all German engineering, are carefully designed and make good use of technology.

HEAT Te German army was the first to experiment with High Explosive Anti-ank (HEA) warheads in combat. When a HEA warhead explodes, it forms a jet of metal that can punch through a tank’s armour. Since it doesn’t rely on velocity, it is equally effective at any range. Tis enabled them to up-gun the Panzer III from the standard 5cm gun to surplus 7.5cm guns from the short-barrelled Panzer IV, IV, giving it i t a new lease leas e of life. A eam’ eam’s Armour rating is not increased inc reased by +1 if it is more than 16”/40cm away when hit by HEA weapons.

TIGER TANKS Only the best crews were recruited for the heavy iger tanks.

ESCORT TANKS When the powerful iger tank entered service, there were only a handful available, so the Germans assigned each one a lighter Panzer III tank as an escort to protect it from enemy tank-hunting parties. Unsurprisingly, Unsurprisin gly, the escort tanks were often knocked out, leaving the iger tanks to carry on alone. You You may add one Escort tank, either a Panzer III (Uparmoured) or a Panzer III (7.5cm), for each iger tank in a Heavy Panzer Platoon for the points shown in the unit organisation. Use the characteristics shown on the Panzer III ank Platoon and Panzer III (uparmoured) ank Platoon cards for these tanks. Ignore Bailed Out or Destroyed Escort tanks when determining if the Unit is In Good Spirits, so if there are no Bailed Out or Destroyed iger tanks, the unit will be In Good Spirits. A iger Heavy ank Platoon has a Last Stand rating of 2+, whether or not it has Escort tanks. tan ks.

TIGER ACE iger crews were hand picked as the best of the best. Tey had confidence in themselves and their machines, and fought on when the odds against them appeared insurmountable. iger Aces have a better Last Stand rating and a significantly better Remount rating.

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NORWAY

S O V I E T U N I O N

ESTONIA SWEDEN

LATVIA

Moscow

LITHUANIA

North Sea

DENMARK Minsk

G REAT BRITAIN

POLAND Berlin

NETHERLANDS

London Dunkirk

Kursk Kharkov

Warsaw Kiev

G E R M A N Y BELGIUM SLOVAKIA

Paris

CRIMEA

F R A N C E

HUNGARY

Sevastopol

SWITZERLAND

ROMANIA

Black Sea

YUGOSLAVIA

VICHY FRANCE

BULGARIA

ITALY CORSICA

SPAIN

ALBANIA

Rome

TURKEY

GREECE

SARDINIA

SICILY

Algiers

unis

CRETE

Oran

TUNISIA

ALGERIA MOROCCO

Mediterranean Sea

Kasserine Pass ripoli Benghazi

LIBYA

Beda Fomm El Agheila

4

Gazala Mersa Alexandria Matru h obruk El Alamein

E G Y P T

Rostov

On 10 June 1940 the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, known as Il Duce , declared war on Great Britain and France. He had dreams of a new Roman Empire, which he would start by kicking the British out of North Africa. In September, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani led a 250,000-strong army out of the Italian colony of Libya into British-held Egypt. Te Italian enth Army, lacking motorised transport, advanced slowly at the pace of their marching infantry. Te British and Commonwealth defenders, the 30,000strong Western Desert Force under General Archibald Wavell, were heavily outnumbered and equipped with outdated equipment. However, they were well trained and determined. Wavell conducted a fighting retreat, his tanks continually harassing and delaying the advancing Italians. Graziani stopped to wait for reinforcements and supplies at Sidi Barrani, less than a quarter of the way to Alexandria, Britain’s general headquarters in Africa. Tere, the Italians dug in, building a series of fortified camps.

Rommel immediately launched a daring offensive, catching the weakened British off guard. Tey were driven back from El Agheila in disarray. Te German forces swept onward, recapturing Benghazi. In just 12 days, Rommel reversed the tide of the campaign and drove the British back out of Libya apart from the 9 th Australian Division and assorted other troops left behind in the port of obruk, denying the Axis a vital Mediterranean supply port. Te besieged ‘Rats of obruk’ steadfastly resisted everything the Germans and Italians threw at them. Tey could not break out and escape, but the need to keep them contained made it much harder for Rommel to press his advantage.

Te British made two attempts to relieve obruk. In May Operation Brevity recaptured the Halfaya Pass, but the British were thrown back again later that day. In June Operation Battleaxe aimed to encircle the Germans, but the Afrika Korps’ effective use of mobile tank tactics and antitank guns—especially the dual-role 88mm gun—repelled When Wavell launched a counteroffensive on 9 December the attack with heavy losses. Having failed to lift the siege of obruk, Wavell was replaced by General Claude Auchinleck. 1940, code-named Operation Compass, its success surprised both the Italians and the British. Wavell’s more mobile Tanks to the Ultra programme, Auchinleck knew Rommel forces were able to pick off the dispersed Italian positions planned to launch a massive attack on obruk in November one by one. What was planned as a five-day raid turned 1941, and made plans to pre-empt him with his own attack. into a general advance, pushing the Italians right back into Reinforced and re-supplied, the newly designated Eighth Libya. Te triumphant British captured Bardia and obruk Army now had over 400 tanks, including the speedy new before making an ambitious thrust through the desert that Crusader and the American-built M3 Stuart (which the cut off the retreating Italians at Beda Fomm, wiping out the British nicknamed the ‘Honey’). He launched Operation enth Army. Te British suffered fewer than 2000 casualties Crusader on 18 November, taking the Germans by surprise. in Operation Compass, while Italy lost over 130,000 men Te plan was for the 7 th Armoured Division to destroy the killed or captured in a campaign lasting two months. Axis panzer force while the infantry pushed through and Te British advance halted at El Agheila, unable to continue linked up with the obruk defenders. Te plan started to further due to vehicle breakdowns, exhaustion and the long, unravel when the British tanks were outfought by the Afrika Korps at Sidi Rezegh. But the British fought grimly on and straggling supply line from their base in Egypt. Tinking the Italians beaten, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill eventually, after days of chaotic fighting, Rommel was forced redeployed several of the best divisions from Africa t o Greece, to withdraw. Te obruk garrison was finally able to break to help defend against the expected German attack there. out on, joining up with advancing New Zealand troops. Unfortunately for his plans, a new factor was about to enter Meanwhile, the South Africans re-captured Bardia and the desert war. After the embarrassing defeat of his Italian Sollum on the Libyan border. allies, Hitler was reluctantly forced to either send help or Once again, the Axis front line was pushed back to El risk facing British domination of the Mediterranean. So, Agheila. Operation Crusader proved that the Afrika Korps in February 1941 a brilliant commander, Generalmajor could be beaten, but the Eighth Army had suffered much Erwin Rommel, was sent to Africa at the head of the newly heavier casualties. formed Deutsches Afrika Korps . With two panzer divisions and motorised support, the Afrika Korps was a small, highlymobile force.

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Having retaken Libya, the British found themselves with the familiar problem of supply. aking advantage of his shorter supply lines, Rommel re-equipped his battered forces and counterattacked once more. By early February 1942, Operation Teseus had brought the Afrika Korps , the Italian 20 Mobile Corps, and the rest of the newly-formed Panzer Armee Afrika (Africa ank Army) to the gates of obruk once again. Equally exhausted, both sides dug in and prepared for a renewed offensive. Rommel struck first, launching Operation Venice on 27 May 1942. Expecting the British to be wary of being surrounded and cut off, Rommel swung south of the Gazala Line defences to engage the British armoured divisions in a mobile battle while sending 90. Leichte Afrika Division, a motorised infantry force further east to cut the British forces off entirely.

DERNA

Gazala

Determined, but uncoordinated, British counterattacks halted his drive and trapped the Afrika Korps and the Italian Ariete armoured division with their backs to the British minefields. Ten, while the Germans were at their most vulnerable, the British command hesitated. Rommel wasted no time, throwing his full force into forcing a path through a brigade of the 50 th Northumbrian Division defending the Gazala Line. After determined resistance, the defenders were eventually beaten, giving Rommel a clear line of supply. Resupplied with fuel and ammunition, Rommel attacked again. Keeping the Afrika Korps concentrated, he easily defeated the piecemeal British attacks. On 14 June, having suffered horrendous casualties, the remaining British armour fell back towards obruk. Tis left the infantry holding the Gazala Line to fight their way out of the encirclement on their own. Auchinleck ordered that obruk must be defended at all costs, but was able to do little to halt the German advance. On 17 June, the Afrika Korps encircled obruk once again. Te defenders were in disarray and most of the mines had been lifted to strengthen the Gazala Line. Resurrecting the plan of attack from November 1941, Rommel launched his assault on obruk on 20 June.

TOBRUK Knightsbridge he Cauldron El Adem

BARDIA

Bir Hacheim Sollum

Sidi Barrani

Mersa Matru h Minqar Qaim

KEY German Movement British Defences Roads National Border

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Tis time he succeeded, with obruk surrendering the next morning. Rommel captured 35,000 soldiers and a vast amount of fuel, rations, transport and equipment—5000 tons of food, 2000 serviceable vehicles, and 1400 tons of much-needed petrol. With this bounty, he was able to continue his advance, not needing to wait for supplies from ripoli (1250 km or 775 miles away) and Benghazi (370 km or 230 miles away). With his customary haste, the newly-promoted Generalfeldmarschall Rommel began the pursuit of the retreating British army. Auchinleck hoped to delay the German advance at Mersa Matruh, 380 km (240 miles) to the rear where defences had been built against earlier Italian and German advances. Te plan was the same as at Gazala. Tree infantry divisions would form a line strung out into the desert with the remaining British armour behind, ready to counterattack any penetration. Tis time though, they wouldn’t have extensive minefields to protect them. Te British, Indian, and New Zealand divisions were still occupying their defensive positions when the first German troops from 15. Panzer Division arrived on 26 June, clashing with the British armour. Te next day the rest of the Afrika Korps and the Italian 20 Mobile Corps attacked in earnest. By the end of the day the British armour and been driven off and all three of the defending infantry divisions were surrounded. Once again it would be up to the infantry to fight their way clear without assistance from their tanks.

Te New Zealand Division, defending Minqar Qaim south of Mersa Matruh, launched a bayonet charge at 0200 hours on 28 June, cutting their way through 21. Panzer Division. Unfortunately, the 50 th Northumbrian Division (now stranded for the second time in six weeks) and the 10 th Indian Divisions did not receive the order to break out until the next day. Teir breakout attempts on the night of 28 June were costly as the German and Italian forces were ready and waiting. 90. Leichte Afrika Division assaulted the next morning capturing the port and 6000 prisoners. Te next defensive position was to be at Fuka, but 21. Panzer Division, pressing on from Mersa Matruh, arrived there mixed in with the retreating British troops, capturing a further 1600 prisoners with little fighting. In just over a week Panzer Armee Afrika had smashed every attempt by the Eighth Army to stop them, advancing another 560km (350 miles). Te British headquarters were in a total panic, burning confidential papers in huge bonfires and preparing to evacuate Egypt. Auchinleck’s last stand was to be at El Alamein. Te battered survivors of Gazala and Mersa Matruh formed another line, and once again the British armour formed the reserve. Te exhausted Axis forces prepared for one last effort, launching their attack on 1 July. Tree days of heavy fighting failed to break the British line. Ten on 5 July, the British counterattacked, halting Rommel’s advance just 100 km (60 miles) from Alexandria.

PORT SAID ALEXANDRIA Fuka el El Eisa

El Alamein Ruweisat Ridge Alam El Halfa

Q

a

t

r t a

a

D

e

p

r

e

s

s

i o n

CAIRO

7

Te First Battle of El Alamein continued for most of July 1942 as the British and Commonwealth forces struggled to gain control of the high ground of Ruweisat Ridge and el El Eisa. By the end of the month both sides were exhausted and the lines had solidified into belts of minefields stretching from the coast at El Alamein to the impassable Qattara Depression. With the Royal navy interdicting most of his supplies, Rommel now found himself at the end of an overstretched supply line facing a British force that was getting steadily stronger. Despite his supply problems, by the middle of August the two panzer divisions of the Afrika Korps had received nearly 100 new tanks, mostly up-armoured Panzer III tanks. With those repaired from the previous battles he now had over 200 tanks ready for combat, half of them the deadly new long-barrelled models. Supporting these were 240 Italian light tanks in 20 Mobile Corps. Unfortunately, the British were gaining strength faster. Tey now had twice as many armoured divisions as at Gazala, although two were still training for desert operations in the rear. In the front line they had four armoured brigades. Te two heavy armoured brigades had 150 Grant heavy tanks and 100 Crusader and Honey tanks, the light armoured brigade was mostly equipped with light Honeys, and the infantry-support brigade had more than 100 Valentine infantry tanks. Outnumbered and knowing it would only get worse, Rommel had to win soon or lose a battle of attrition. Rommel decided to attempt a repeat of the Battle of Gazala, striking around the southern end of the British line, throwing them into confusion and panic, and chasing them out of Africa. Unfortunately for this plan, the British had just changed their leadership. General Bernard Montgomery had taken over and was determined to change how the British fought. Gone were operations at less than divisional strength and the uncoordinated attacks of the past. For the first time, Te British would fight as an army rather than a collection of independent brigades. Rommel launched his attack on the full moon of the night of 30 August, forcing his way through the minefields south of the British line. Progress was slow as he was constantly harassed by attacks from the 4 th Light Armoured Brigade and RAF bombers. Instead of dawn it took until midday 31 August to clear the minefields. Worse than the delay was the unplanned fuel expenditure. With just days of fuel available, the pressure was on to win as soon as possible. o make matters worse, the expected British armoured counterattacks had not materialised. Instead of throwing themselves

8

on his guns, he would have to hunt the British armoured forces down. Attacks by Italian and German infantry against the main British defences attempted to distract the British from the main attack to the south. Meanwhile, with 15. Panzer Division leading and 21. Panzer Division following, Rommel swung northwards, seeking the British armour. owards dusk the Germans found the British tanks massed along the Alam El Halfa ridge, supported by massed artillery and anti-tank guns. For the first time the Afrika Korps were served their own medicine as they attacked tanks backed by guns. By nightfall they had lost 30 tanks for just 21 British tanks destroyed. Overnight bombing and raids on his supply lines caused more damage, so much so that the next day, 1 September, 21. Panzer Division was immobilised. With just 15. Panzer Division operational (the Italians were covering his left flank), Rommel attempted the Alam El Halfa ridge again. Te Germans were working their way around the British flank when the second heavy armoured brigade entered the fray. Unable to entice the British into their usual futile charges and finding no weakness in the British defences, the Germans once again pulled back at nightfall. Realising that he wasn’t going to bounce the British out of position and lacking the supplies for a sustained fight, Rommel ordered the Axis forces to withdraw on the morning of 2 September. Te day was mostly quiet as both sides prepared for the next phase of the battle, although another raid by the 4 th Light Armoured Brigade destroyed 57 fuel trucks making Rommel’s task that much harder. Realising that Rommel was withdrawing, Montgomery ordered the New Zealand Division, reinforced with a British brigade, to attack southwards and cut the German line of withdrawal on the night of 3 September. Te attack ran into a stiff defence by German and Italian paratroopers and failed to reach its objectives, allowing the remaining Axis units to pass back through the minefields early on 4 September. With the Axis forces back where they started the battle was over. While many officers suggested that Montgomery should send his own armoured divisions after the defeated Panzer Armee Afrika , Montgomery declined to do so. Te German and Italian forces were still largely intact, and while the British armour had beaten them fighting a carefully-planned defensive battle, he had doubts about their ability to do so in a swirling mobile battle. Instead, Montgomery continued with his own preparations, getting ready for the Second Battle of Alamein, one he confidently expected to be a decisive victory. All Rommel could do now was rebuild his battered forces and prepare for the coming blow.

TRIESTE

DIVISION

el el Eisa

KEY

el el Makh Khad M i t e i r y a

9TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION

EL ALAMEIN R i d g e

GERMAN UNIT

German Movement

ITALIAN UNIT

Italian Movement

BRITISH UNIT

British Movement British Defences

BOLOGNA

DIVISION

1ST SOUTH AFRICAN DIVISION

rain racks

Deir el Abyad Deir el Shein

Roads

164. LEICHTE AFRIKA DIVISION PAVIA

5TH INDIAN DIVISION

DIVISION

e R u w e i s a t R i d g El Mreir 23 ARMOURED BRIGADE BRESCIA

DIVISION

A

2ND NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Bab el Qattara

A l a

m

44TH (HOME COUNTIES) DIVISION

8 ARMOURED BRIGADE

N a y i l

90. LEICHTE AFRIKA DIVISION

Deir el Muhafid

20 MOBILE CORPS

21. PANZER DIVISION

m a

H a

d g e R i

22 ARMOURED BRIGADE

FOLGORE

DIVISION

l

l e

a l f

Deir el Munassib Jebel Kalakh

15. PANZER DIVISION

21. PANZER DIVISION

15. PANZER DIVISION

R a

g i

l D

e

p

r e

s

s

i

o n

AFRIKA KORPS RECONNAISSANCE GROUP

Naq Abu Dweis

Qarat el Himeimat

Q a t

t

a

r

a

D

e

p

r

e

s s

i

4 LIGHT ARMOURED BRIGADE

o n

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In the Second Battle of El Alamein, Montgomery reversed conventional wisdom and attacked with his infantry rather than his armour. Having broken through the minefields and taken the German and Italian front lines, he forced them to counterattack against his tanks and artillery. A week-long battle bled the Panzer Armee , destroying half of their tanks and chewing up their infantry and supplies. A second attack finished the job, forcing Rommel to retreat, leaving the Italian armoured divisions as a rearguard and abandoning the immobile Italian infantry to their fate. Following the pattern of the previous two years, the pursuit quickly pushed Rommel out of Egypt and retook obruk. Halting at El Agheila, Rommel received new Panzer III tanks equipped with short 7.5cm guns and more long-barrelled Panzer IV tanks, but Allied landings in Morocco and Algeria drew away most of the planned replacements to unisia. Rather than pursuing Rommel all the way to El Agheila, Montgomery halted his forces at obruk and spent a month preparing another offensive. Tis time there would be no return for Rommel and the Panzer Armee Afrika . When the attack came, it combined a frontal holding attack by infantry while another force crawled its way through virtually impassable terrain south of the El Agheila position, nearly taking Rommel by surprise and surrounding the Axis force. Evading the trap, Rommel broke away, retiring to another defensive position astride the Wadi Zem Zem at Buerat. Despite a lengthy supply line, Montgomery’s preparations paid off and Buerat fell to another ‘left hook’ through the ITALY

SARDINIA

difficult going of the Wadi Zem Zem. Once again Rommel retreated, abandoning the port of ripoli, and took up positions along the Mareth Line, the old French fortifications along the unisian border. Following up, Montgomery halted and regrouped, bringing up supplies for the next stage. Rommel, ever the opportunist, took advantage of the pause to turn westwards and attack the American forces threatening his rear. Te parallel Operations Morning Breeze and Spring Wind smashed the American defences and pushed through the Kasserine Pass before being halted short of ébessa, it’s objective, by a combined British and US defence. Having failed to defeat the US forces in southern unisia, Rommel turned back east launching Operation Capri, an attack on Montgomery’s forces at Medenine. Forewarned by intelligence sources, the British were ready and waiting, smashing the offensive in a single afternoon. wo weeks later Montgomery was ready for his own offensive. Te initial attacks on the Mareth Line were halted by the Iª Armata Italiana (First Italian Army) as Panzer Armee Afrika was known after Kasserine Pass once Rommel took overall command of the Axis forces in unisia. However, Montgomery’s right hook through impassable terrain once again outflanked the defences forcing the Axis troops to withdraw to the Wadi Akarit. When a frontal assault on the new defensive position broke through, linking up with the Americans approaching from the rear after their victory at El Guettar, the Axis defence of southern unisia collapsed, opening the way for the final defeat of the Axis forces in unisia.

G R E E C E

T U R K E Y

CYPRUS

SICILY

Bizerte TUNIS CRETE

Mediterranean Sea ébessa

Sousse

MALTA

Kasserine Pass Sfax Gafsa Wadi Aka rit Mareth

Medenine

T U N I S I A A L G E R I A

10

obruk

TRIPOLI

Benghazi

ALEXANDRIA Mersa Matruh p r e

a r a

Buerat

D e

El Alamein

s s i o

n

t t

a

Q

El Agheila LIBYA

E G Y P T

CAIRO

Sbeitla Kasserine Pass Faïd Sidi Bou Zid

Djebel elil

SFAX Chebket en Nouiges Maknassy

2 CORPS Sened

GAFSA

10. PANZER DIVISION

El Guettar

21. PANZER DIVISION

o ual e n N t e r Se b k

La Skhirra

15. PANZER DIVISION

CENTAURO

DIVISION

21 CORPS

20

CORPS

r it i Aka d a W

30

CORPS

GABÈS

KEY GERMAN UNIT

German Movement

ITALIAN UNIT

Italian Movement

BRITISH UNIT

British Movement

AMERICAN UNIT

American Movement rain racks Roads

15. PANZER DIVISION

20

10 CORPS ebaga

n e L i h e t r a Mareth M

CORPS

21

CORPS

30

NZ

CORPS

CORPS AFRIKA KORPS 4TH INDIAN DIVISION

Medenine

11

PANZER III (SHORT 5 CM) Until the First Battle of El Alamein, the vast majority of German tanks were the short-barrelled Panzer III. Tis tank outclassed every British tank until the arrival of the American-built Grant tank.

Crew (5): Weight: Length: Width: Height: Weapons: Armour: Speed: Engine:

Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 21.50 tonnes 5.52m (18’ 1") 2.95m (9' 8") 2.50m (8' 2") 5cm KwK L/42 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

PANZER III (LONG 5 CM) Te handful of long-barrelled 5cm gun-armed Panzer III tanks available at Gazala and the First Battle of El Alamein were a match for any British tank, even the new Grant heavy tank.


Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 21.50 tonnes 6.28m (20' 7") 2.95m (9' 8") 2.50m (8' 2") 5cm KwK39 L/60 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

PANZER III (UPARMOURED) By Alam El Halfa, nearly half of the Panzer III tanks available were the latest model combining the long 5cm gun with thicker armour, equal to anything they faced.


Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 22.70 tonnes 6.28m (20' 7") 2.95m (9' 8") 2.50m (8' 2") 5cm KwK39 L/60 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50 +20mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

PANZER III (7.5CM) At El Agheila, Rommel received the final model of the Panzer III. Armed with a short-barrelled 7.5cm gun, it matched or exceeded the armour penetration of the long 5cm. Unfortunately the bigger gun limited the amount of extra armour it could carry, making it less well protected than the uparmoured long 5cm model.


12

Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 23.00 tonnes 5.52m (18’ 1") 2.95m (9' 8") 2.50m (8' 2") 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50mm (+20mm on driver's plate) 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

TIGER Te massive iger tank was planned to be in service for the Battle of El Alamein. echnical problems delayed its arrival in North Africa until later in the year when they were shipped to unisia to fight there. Tey fought alongside the Afrika Korps in the Battle of Kasserine Pass.


Commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 57.00 tonnes 8.45m (27' 9") 3.70m (12' 2") 2.93m (9' 7") 8.8cm KwK36 L/56 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 80 - 100mm 38 km/h (23 mph) Maybach HL 210 P45 480 kW (650 hp)

PANZER II Te Panzer II was designed as a training tank, but war overtook Germany' s plans and they used it as a light tank. Each battalion and regiment had a light platoon for scouting and flank security.


Commander/gunner, driver, radio op 9.50 tonnes 4.81m (15’ 9") 2.28m (7' 6") 2.15m (7' 1") 2cm KwK30 L/55 gun MG34 7.92mm MG 15 - 35mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 62 TR 104 kW (140 hp)

PANZER IV (SHORT 7.5 CM) Te short-barrelled Panzer IV was designed as an artillery support tank to back up the lighter Panzer III. It's heavy 7.5cm gun made it particularly useful against anti-tank guns.


commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 22.30 tonnes 5.92m (19’ 5") 2.84m (9' 4") 2.68m (8' 10") 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

PANZER IV (LONG 7.5CM) As the desert war went on, increasing numbers of Panzer IV were armed with the long-barrelled 7.5cm KwK40, switching from an artillery support role to a heavy anti-tank support one.


Ccommander, gunner, loader, driver, radio op 23.00 tonnes 6.62m (21' 9") 2.84m (9' 4") 2.68m (8' 10") 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 gun 2x MG34 7.92mm MG 30 - 50mm 40 km/h (25 mph) Maybach HL 120 TRM 220 kW (300 hp)

13

Tere exists a real danger that our friend Rommel is becoming a kind of magical or bogey-man to our troops, who are talking far too much about him. He is by no means a superman, although he is undoubtedly very energetic and able. — British General Claude Auchinleck on Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel Under the leadership of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, the Deutsches Afrika Korps (or DAK ) trounced the British Eighth Army time and again. Te ‘Desert Fox’ as he became known gained an almost mythical status as a military genius to both friend and foe alike. Rommel owed his success to a combination of his own experience and hard-driving nature, and the superb t roops he commanded. Serving as a Leutnant in the First World War, Rommel showed an aggressive style that led to spectacular victories over forces much stronger than his own. Tis style served him well in North Africa over twenty years later when he commanded Panzer Armee Afrika (Africa ank Army) against the numerically superior Eighth Army. By the time of the Battle of Gazala in mid-1942, the Afrika Korps , the German armoured component of Panzer Armee Afrika , had been fighting in the desert for over a year and was made up of battle-hardened veterans who had won almost every battle and expected to win more. Even after their defeat in the Second Battle of El Alamein, the soldiers

of the Afrika Korps had faith that Rommel would reverse the situation and lead them to victory once again. Despite being made up of whatever bits and pieces Rommel could wrangle from a High Command focussed on the much bigger battles of the Eastern Front, the Afrika Korps grew to be a powerful combat force. Starting with just 5. Leichte Division (5th Light Division), Rommel built the Afrika Korps up to include 15. Panzer Division, 21.Panzer Division (a much strengthened 5. Leichte Division ), and 90. Leichte Afrika Division (90th Light Africa Division, a motorised infantry division). Panzer Armee Afrika also included 164. Leichte Afrika Division , the Ramcke Parachute Brigade, two Italian armoured divisions, and six Italian infantry divisions. Each panzer division fielded a regiment of Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks and a regiment of infantry reorganised with fewer men and extra anti-tank guns for the fighting in Afr ica. Te light Africa divisions had three infantry regiments, but no tanks. All had a wide variety of powerful support from self-propelled guns, artillery, reconnaissance, and aircraft.

DEUTSCHES AFRIKA KORPS General der Panzertruppe Walter Nehring (up to First Alamein) General der Panzertruppe Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma (from Second El Alamein) General der Panzertruppe Gustav Fehn (from El Agheila) General der Panzertruppe Hans Cramer (from Kasserine Pass)

15. PANZER DIVISION

21. PANZER DIVISION

90. LEICHTE AFRIKA DIVISION

PANZER REGIMENT 8

PANZER REGIMENT 5

LEICHTE INFANTERIE RGT 155

8th ank Regiment (p. 16)

5th ank Regiment (p. 22)

155th Light Infantry Regiment

SCHÜTZEN REGIMENT 115



115th Rifle Regiment

104th Rifle Regiment

200th Light Infantry Regiment (p. 26)

AUFKLÄRUNGS ABTEILUNG 33



33rd Reconnaissance Battalion

3rd Reconnaissance Battalion

361st Light Infantry Regiment

ARTILLERIE REGIMENT 33



33rd Artillery Regiment

155th Artillery Regiment

580th Reconnaissance Battalion

I/FLAK REGIMENT 43

FLA-BATAILLON 617


1st Btn, 43rd Anti-Aircraft Regiment

617th Anti-Aircraft Battalion

1. SCHWERE PANZER ABT 504 st

th

1 Coy, 504 Heavy ank Battalion (attached in unisia)

190th Artillery Regiment

FLA-BATAILLON 606 606th Anti-Aircraft Battalion

Te commanders of the Deutsche Afrika Korps led from the front and were frequently wounded, or captured. Nehring was wounded in an air raid, von Toma was captured, Fehn was wounded, and Cramer surrendered his command.

14

AFRIKA KORPS FORCE Your Force must contain at least one Formation, and may contain as many Formations as you like.

MEDIUM TANK FORMATIONS

LIGHT TANK FORMATIONS

INFANTRY FORMATIONS

PANZER IV TANK COMPANY

PANZER III TANK COMPANY

AFRICA RIFLE COMPANY

MG108

MG101

MG102

MG109

OR

AFRIKA KORPS SUPPORT UNITS You may eld one Support Unit from each box.

ANTI-TANK

ARMOUR

RECONNAISSANCE

RECONNAISSANCE

MARDER (7.62CM) TANK HUNTER PLATOON

TIGER HEAVY TANK PLATOON

MG118

MG111

SD KFZ 221 & 222 LIGHT SCOUT TROOP

SD KFZ 221 & 222 LIGHT SCOUT TROOP

SD KFZ 231 HEAVY SCOUT TROOP

SD KFZ 231 HEAVY SCOUT TROOP

MG116

MG116

MG117

MG117

ARTILLERY

ARTILLERY

ANTI-AIRCRAFT

ANTI-AIRCRAFT

10.5CM ARTILLERY BATTERY

10.5CM ARTILLERY BATTERY

8.8 CM HEAVY AA PLATOON

SD KFZ 10/4 LIGHT AA PLATOON

MG120

MG120

MG122

MG115

15CM (SF) LORRAINE SCHLEPPER ARTILLERY BATTERY

AIRCRAFT

MG119

OBSERVER

JU 87 STUKA DIVE BOMBER FLIGHT MG123

PANZER II OP OBSERVATION POST MG121

FORMATION SUPPORT You may eld compulsory Combat Units (with a black box) from the above Formations as Support Units.

ALLIED SUPPORT You may eld one compulsory Unit from a Italian Formation as Support and one Italian Formation as an Allied Formation.

WILDCARD

?

15

Panzer Regiment 8 , the 8th Armoured Regiment, fought as part of 10. Panzer Division in the campaigns in Poland and France in 1939 and 1940. When the panzer divisions were split in two in early 1941, Panzer Regiment 8 was used to form the new 15. Panzer Division . Te new division was rushed to Libya as the core of Rommel's new Afrika Korps to stop the British from clearing the Italians from North Africa. Rommel, with his characteristic audacity, attacked the British instead. Panzer Regiment 8 fought in all of Rommel's battles in North Africa, and continued to fight in unisia after Rommel was invalided home. Te regiment's official organisation remained the same for the entire campaign, with two battalions, each of four companies of tanks. Te first three companies in each battalion were equipped with the excellent Panzer III tank, supported by the fourth company with its heavier Panzer IV tanks. Te light Panzer II tank was used for secondary duties like guarding the flanks and route reconnaissance. Te Afrika Korps usually fought as a single powerful entity, so the history of Panzer Regiment 8 is very much the history of the Afrika Korps as a whole. Te exception to this is during the opening fighting in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Clever British deception operations kept 21. Panzer Division on guard in the south, leaving 15. Panzer Division and the Italian 133 rd Littorio Armoured Division to face the British attack alone.

Te regiment started the Second Battle of El Alamein on 23 October 1942 with 111 tanks: 12 Panzer II, 38 Panzer III (short 5cm), 43 Panzer III (mostly uparmoured), 2 Panzer IV (short 7.5cm), 15 Panzer IV (long 7.5cm), and 1 command tank. By the time 21. Panzer Division rejoined it a week later, the regiment had lost half of its Panzer II and Panzer III tanks, and two thirds of the Panzer IV tanks that had been taking the brunt of the long-range anti-tank fighting. Te British breakout almost finished the division, reducing it to a mere seven tanks, mostly the old short-bar relled Panzer III. From this low point, the regiment quickly recovered. At the Battle of El Agheila in December, the regiment had 21 Panzer III tanks, evenly split between the uparmoured 5cm type and the newest 7.5cm type being rushed to the front. Tese were backed by six long-barrelled Panzer IV (rising to 15 a month later at Wadi Zem Zem). Fresh reinforcements strengthened the division to a grand total of 56 tanks for the Battle of Kasserine Pass. A bare shadow of its former self, the regiment penetrated deep into the US Army's position before being finally stopped at Tala and Djebel Hamra. After this last hurrah, the regiment turned back east to face the British again. oo late to change the course of the campaign, the regiment received a handful of the powerful new iger tanks during the retreat back to Enfidaville.

PANZER REGIMENT 8

15. PANZER DIVISION, AFRIKA KORPS, MAY 1942

R

R

R

REGIMENT HQ

LIGHT PLATOON

LIGHT PLATOON

3 Panzer III tanks

5 Panzer II tanks

5 Panzer II tanks

REGIMENTAL HQ I BATAILLON

II BATAILLON

I

II

I

BATTALION HQ

LIGHT PLATOON

BATTALION HQ

LIGHT PLATOON

3 Panzer III tanks

5 Panzer II tanks

3 Panzer III tanks

5 Panzer II tanks

BATAILLON HQ

BATAILLON HQ

1

2

5

6

1. (LIGHT) COMPANY 22 Panzer III tanks




3 3. (LIGHT) COMPANY 22 Panzer III tanks

16

II

4

4

4. (MEDIUM) COMPANY 10 Panzer IV tanks 5 Panzer II tanks

7 7. (LIGHT) COMPANY 17 Panzer III tanks

8

8

8. (MEDIUM) COMPANY 10 Panzer IV tanks 5 Panzer II tanks

PANZER III TANK COMPANY LIGHT TANK FORMATION

You must eld the Formation HQ and one Combat Unit from each black box. You may also eld one Combat Unit from each grey box.

HEADQUARTERS

PANZER III TANK COMPANY HQ MG101

MG102

OR

ARMOUR

ANTI-TANK

ARMOUR

ARMOUR

PANZER III TANK PLATOON




MG104, MG105, OR MG107

MG104, MG105, OR MG107

MG104, MG105, OR MG107

MG104, MG105, OR MG107

PANZER IV TANK PLATOON MG109

ARMOUR

PANZER II LIGHT TANK PLATOON MG110

You may eld a Combat Unit from a black box as a Support Unit for another Formation.

Feldwebel Dietz snapped awake as his loader shook him. Head swiveling as he tried to reorient himself, he realized that he’d dozed o again. It was the heat, the heat, the sand that seemed to go for ever, and the lack of sleep. His mind drifted again. Maybe a couple of hours a night since this cursed battle began, he gured. He must have only slept a few seconds, as nothing seemed to have changed, they were still moving slowly across the desert towards a rise shimmering in the distance. Black dots wavering on the horizon resolved themselves into rapidly approaching British Crusader tanks, banishing all drowsiness in an instant. ‘Target, tanks, 1200m,’ he called to Gerber, his gunner. The turret was already swinging to bear. At least someone’s awake, the thought passed through his mind. Gerber's rst shot left the lead Crusader a burning wreck. Two o thers followed in quick succession as the rest of his platoon red, yet the British kept coming. The ring was at a fever pitch with both sides trading shots, the Crusaders closing the range alarmingly fast. So far the light British guns had been bouncing of the thick armour of his panzers, but if they got much closer, or worse onto his anks, that would quickly change. Accurate shots tore into the British unit, leaving hulks of burning tanks everywhere and the few remaining Crusaders vanishing into their own dust clouds as they made hasty retreat. Dietz was able to muster a smile at his gunner, but both men knew the British would be back, and back in force.

17

PANZER III TANK COMPANY HQ OPTIONS You can field either a Panzer III ank Company HQ with the choice of a short 5cm, long 5cm, or 7.5cm gun, or a Panzer III (Uparmoured) ank Company HQ with increased armour and a long 5cm gun as your Formation HQ unit.

PANZER III TANK COMPANY HQ • TANK FORMATION

MOTIVATION

STORMTROOPERS •

IS HIT ON

CONFIDENT 4+ Conquerors Last Stand

2x Panzer III (7.5cm) 1x Panzer III (7.5cm)

16 POINTS

2x Panzer III (short 5cm) 1x Panzer III (short 5cm)

10 POINTS

Protected Ammo Remount

8 POINTS

VETERAN

CAREFUL

3+ 3+

SIDE & REAR

3+

TOP

TACTICAL

TERRAIN DASH

CROSS COUNTRY DASH

ROAD DASH

CROSS

10”/25CM

12”/30CM

18”/45CM

20”/50CM

3+

ROF HALTED MOVING

RANGE

WEAPON

ANTIFIRETANK POWER

Panzer III (7.5cm)

24”/60CM

2

1

9

3+

Panzer III (short 5cm)

24”/60CM

2

1

8

4+

Panzer III (long 5cm)

28”/70CM

2

1

9

4+

Panzer III (MGs)

16”/40CM

4

4

2

6

NOTES

HEAT

PANZER III (SHORT 5 CM)

PANZER III (LONG 5 CM)

(GAZALA TO EL ALAMEIN)

(GAZALA TO EL ALAMEIN) ARMOUR

FRONT SIDE & REAR TOP

WEAPON

RANGE

5 3 1

FRONT

5 POINTS

Replace any or all Panzer III (short 5cm) with Panzer III (long 5cm) for +2 points each.

ROF HALTED MOVING

ANTIFIRETANK POWER

Panzer III (short 5cm)

24”/60CM

2

1

8

4+

Panzer III (MGs)

16”/40CM

4

4

2

6

NOTES

4+

ARMOUR

SKILL

OPTION

•

ARMOUR

5 3 1


WEAPON

RANGE

ROF HALTED MOVING

ANTITANK

FIREPOWER


28”/70CM

2

1

9

4+

Panzer III (MGs)

16”/40CM

4

4

2

6

5 3 1

NOTES

PANZER III (UPARMOURED) TANK COMPANY HQ 2x Panzer III (uparmoured) 16 POINTS 1x Panzer III (uparmoured) 8 POINTS Te Panzer III is Germany's standard tank, making up over two-thirds of their tank strength. It has good mobility, is well armoured, and is armed with an effective 5cm (2-inch) gun. Manned by veteran crews that are confident in their abilities and Germany's eventual victory, they are capable of defeating just about any tank in the world.

18

PANZER III TANK PLATOON OPTIONS You can field either a Panzer III ank Platoon with the choice of a short 5cm, long 5cm, or 7.5cm gun, a Panzer III (Uparmoured) ank Platoon with increased armour and a long 5cm gun, or a Panzer III (Mixed) ank Platoon with a mixture of types as your Formation HQ unit.

PANZER III TANK PLATOON 5x Panzer III (7.5cm) 4x Panzer III (7.5cm) 3x Panzer III (7.5cm)

40 POINTS

5x Panzer III (short 5cm) 4x Panzer III (short 5cm) 3x Panzer III (short 5cm)

25 POINTS

32 POINTS 24 POINTS

20 POINTS 15 POINTS

OPTION

•


PANZER III (7.5CM) (EL AGHEILA TO WADI AKARIT)

PANZER III ARMOUR


ARMOUR

6 3 1


5 3 1

HEAT arget armour is not increased for range over 16"/40cm WEAPON

RANGE

ROF HALTED MOVING

ANTITANK

FIREPOWER


28”/70CM

2

1

9

4+

Panzer III (MGs)

16”/40CM

4

4

2

6

NOTES

WEAPON

RANGE

ROF HALTED MOVING

ANTIFIRETANK POWER

Panzer III (7.5cm)

24”/60CM

2

1

9

3+

Panzer III (MGs)

16”/40CM

4

4

2

6

NOTES

HEAT

PANZER III (UPARMOURED) TANK PLATOON 5x Panzer III (uparmoured) 40 POINTS 4x Panzer III (uparmoured) 32 POINTS 3x Panzer III (uparmoured) 24 POINTS As the Allies built bigger and better tanks with more powerful guns, the Panzer III began to lose its advantage. Te Germans responded by fitting an additional 20mm plate in front of the driver's plate and on the gun mantlet. Tis restored its effectiveness, but pushed the tank's weight up, almost to the limits of the chassis.

19

PANZER III (MIXED) TANK PLATOON 5x Panzer III (short 5cm) 4x Panzer III (short 5cm) 3x Panzer III (short 5cm)

25 POINTS 20 POINTS 15 POINTS

LONG 5CM OPTION •


ARMOUR OPTION •

Uparmour any or all Panzer III (long 5cm) to Front 6 for +1 point each.

7.5CM OPTION •

Replace any or all short 5cm with 7.5cm for +3 points each.

Te veteran panzer regiments of the Afrika Korps received new tanks to replace those lost in battle. Over time this lead to units having a mix of tried and true old warhorses and the latest and greatest.

PANZER III FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

WELL ARMED: All models of the Panzer III are well

HEAT: Te latest model of the Panzer III uses the newly-

armed, particularly the later ones. Tis allows them to go head-to-head with enemy tanks, although using cover and careful manoeuvre is still recommended when outnumbered.

perfected HEA (High-Explosive Anti-ank) ammunition in its short 7.5cm gun. Tis gives it the penetrative power of a much longer weapon. As HEA relies on explosive energy rather than brute force to penetrate armour, its effectiveness does not reduce with range.

WELL PROTECTED: Te Panzer III has a good level of armour protection of a combat tank. It's front armour is thick enough to defeat most enemy guns (particularly smaller weapons like the 2 pdr and 37mm).

20

PROTECTED AMMO: Te Panzer III has armoured ammunition stowage bins, making it much less likely to burn when hit. Tis gives its crew greater confidence, making them less likely to abandon a tank before it is destroyed.

PANZER II LIGHT TANK PLATOON 5x Panzer II (2cm) 4x Panzer II (2cm) 3x Panzer II (2cm)


Te Panzer II is small and light, limiting its ability to handle enemy tanks is open battle. Because its 2cm (¾-inch) gun is effective against armoured cars and light tanks, but has no effect on heavy tanks, it is used to scout out routes of advance and to chase off enemy reconnaissance.

PANZER II FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

SMALL: Te Panzer II is a small tank that is cheap and easy

SPEARHEAD: Te Panzer II tanks of the light platoon

to produce. While it is outclassed by most combat tanks, it is very effective as a flank screen against armoured cars. SKILFUL: German tank crews are well trained and experienced. Tey fight smart using clever tactics and know how to avoid getting hit.

spearhead the advance, finding the best routes for ward and driving off enemy scouts.

21

When news of the loss of the Italian enth Army in Libya reached Germany, they quickly formed 5. Leichte Division (5th Light Division) as a blocking force to stop the British from conquering all of Italian North Africa. Te new division was draw from 3. Panzer Division , and based around Panzer Regiment 5 (5th ank Regiment) with the addition of an two machine-gun battalions, two anti-tank battalions, two anti-aircraft battalions, a reconnaissance battalion, and an artillery battalion. Although conceived as a defensive force, Rommel promptly led 5. Leichte Division and 15. Panzer Division in an offensive that threw the British out of Libya and surrounded obruk. Wanting to continue his attack into Egypt, Rommel requested reinforcements to convert 5. Leichte Division into a fully-fledged armoured division, 21. Panzer Division, but with the invasion of Russia underway, was declined. In his usual fashion, Rommel pushed ahead anyway, using units from 15. Panzer Division to equalise the strength of the two divisions and using the excess, along with corps troops, to form 90. Leichte Afrika Division (90th Light Africa Division). 21. Panzer Division soon became the most famous German division in Africa, taking part in every battle alongside the rest of the Afrika Korps . Te two battalions of Panzer Regiment 5 were strong and well equipped on 25 May, 1942, at the start of Operation Venezia , the attack on the Gazala line. Each had around 67 Panzer III and 10 Panzer IV tanks, supported by 15 light Panzer II tanks. Tis made them nearly twice as strong as the opposing British armoured battalions, and unlike the British, all of their combat tanks were well armed and armoured.

I

0

I

1

I

Te Battle of Gazala, the Battle of Mersa Matruh, and the First battle of El Alamein cost the division heavily. By 20 July, the regiment was down to 22 Panzer III, 3 Panzer II and one command tank. Fortunately, repairs and new replacements significantly boosted the regiment's strength for the Battle of Alam El Halfa where for the first time it had almost as many of the new long-barrelled uparmoured Panzer III as the older short-barrelled ones, and most of its Panzer IV were also of the long-barrelled type. Around this time the light Panzer II platoons began to disappear, being replaced by a third platoon of Panzer IV tanks. British deception plans convinced the Germans that a British breakthrough in the south was the plan for the Second Battle of El Alamein, so 21. Panzer Division spent the first part of the battle waiting with the Italian 132 nd Ariete Armored Division for an attack that never came. With insufficient fuel to recover from a mistimed deployment, it wasn't until it was clear that the British attack in the north was the main effort that it could move north where it took over the fight from the mauled 15. Panzer Division . Te division could not stop the British onslaught, and spent the next three months fighting a rearguard action to the border of unisia. Te depleted regiment had a total of 54 tanks at the start of the Battle of Medenine. In this unfortunate attack, the division lost 19 tanks attacking a British defence backed by dozens of 6 pdr anti-tank guns and a number of powerful new 17/25 pdr anti-tank guns. After this defeat, 21. Panzer Division fought a series of rearguard actions at El Hamma, Wadi Akarit, and Enfidaville before finally surrendering with the fall of unis.

2

BATTALION HQ 3 Panzer III tanks

100

101

400

1. COMPANY HQ

I

401

4. COMPANY HQ

I

3

5

I

I

4

6

I7

LIGHT PLATOON 111

411

121

112

113

122

123

114

115

124

125

1. PLATOON

2. PLATOON

131

141

412

5 Panzer II tanks

421 413

422

423

414

424

1. PLATOON

2. PLATOON

I

I

10

8

I

I

9

11

I

LIGHT PLATOON

132

133

142

143

432

433

134

135

144

145

434

435

3. PLATOON

4. PLATOON

1. (LIGHT) COMPANY 22 Panzer III tanks 2. (LIGHT) COMPANY 22 Panzer III tanks 3. (LIGHT) COMPANY 22 Panzer III tanks

22

5 Panzer II tanks

431

3. PLATOON

4. (MEDIUM) COMPANY 10 Panzer IV and 5 Panzer II t anks

I. BATTALION, PANZER REGIMENT 5

21. PANZER DIVISION, AFRIKA KORPS, MAY 1942

12

PANZER IV TANK COMPANY MEDIUM TANK FORMATION


HEADQUARTERS

PANZER IV TANK COMPANY HQ MG108

ARMOUR

ARMOUR

ARMOUR

ARMOUR

PANZER IV TANK PLATOON



PANZER II LIGHT TANK PLATOON

MG109

MG109

MG109

MG110


The British Guards were tough, but today they were on the losing end of the ght. They'd been abandoned by their tanks, left to rely on their artillery to protect them. That might have worked against their own tanks, thought Oberleutnant Fischer, but not against his panzers. Surveying the ridge, he could see the British gun positions, squat ugly guns waiting for the panzers to advance into range. 'Feuer!', he signalled, dropping his raised arm. The stubby guns of his Panzer IV support tanks barked in answer, sending their shells arcing through the air towards the waiting guns. As the rst shells threw spouts of stone and dust into the air as the tanks red a second volley, and a third. He almost felt sorry for the British as he watched the regiment's Panzer III tanks advance into the attack. The gunners were under re and could do nothing in return but wait until the tanks came within range. Then of course, their suering would intensify as the Panzer III tanks added their re to the maelstrom. Still, the sooner this ght was over, the sooner they would win this war and go home.

23

PANZER IV TANK COMPANY HQ 2x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) 1x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm)

12 POINTS 6 POINTS

OPTIONS

•

Replace any or all Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) with Panzer IV (long 7.5cm) for +4 points each.

Te Panzer IV equips one company of each tank battalion. It's role is to provide heavy fire support for the lighter Panzer III tanks of the other companies. Initially the companies had two platoons of short-barrelled Panzer IV tanks After the Battle of El Alamein, the proportion of Panzer IV tanks increased as artillery support. As the Battle of Gazala (although not necessarily their overall numbers), so when the regiment progressed, long-barrelled versions arrived, was reduced to one battalion, the fourth company's third platoon was replacing the artillery support role with a heavy sometimes equipped with Panzer IV tanks as well. anti-tank capability.

Feldwebel Baumer scanned the ridge though his binoculars. He studied the British anti-tank guns dug in along the top before returning to the imposingly tall tanks, much closer positioned in a depression along its base. Swaying as his tank dipped into a hollow, he lowered his eld glasses to watch the Panzer III tanks out front cautiously advancing towards the enemy. ' Panzers Halt!' , the order crackled over the radio, followed by ' Feuer Frei! ' Baumer had already picked out his target, the one on the left of the closest group. The new Amerikaner panzers, the 'Grants', looked tiny at this distance. Hopefully the new gun would penetrate them—it was supposed to, even at this range. Only one way to nd out. 'Target, tank, left end of the group. Range 1800 metres. Armour piercing. Fire!' The round hit the ground well short of the target. They must be even bigger than they looked! 'Range 2100 metres. Fire!' Watching through his binoculars, he saw that the shot was on for range, but slightly o to the right. The Grants were starting to re back, engaging the closer Panzers. An adjustment and his gunner red again. This time there was no error. The crew started boiling out of the big British tank as it started smoking. Good shooting, he thought, especially at this range. And, the new gun seems to be doing the job, he added as he noticed several more British tanks billowing black smoke along the line. I like it, he smiled.

24

PANZER IV TANK PLATOON 4x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) 3x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) 2x Panzer IV (short 7.5cm)


OPTIONS

•

Replace any or all Panzer IV (short 7.5cm) with Panzer IV (long 7.5cm) for +4 points each.

As the war progressed, the biggest problem the panzer troops faced changed from being hidden anti-tank guns, for which the short-barrelled Panzer IV was the answer, to increasingly heav- At the start of the Battle of Gazala, the handful of long-barrelled Panzer IV ily armoured enemy tanks. Fitting the Panzer tanks available lacked ammunition. Tis was quickly resolved, and the IV with a long-barrelled anti-tank gun was the growing numbers of these powerful tanks started making their presence answer to this new problem. known as they started knocking out British tanks at long range.

PANZER IV SHORT 7.5CM FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

FIRE SUPPORT: Te short-barrelled 7.5cm KwK37 is

ARTILLERY: Te short-barrelled Panzer IV had the capa-

designed to support the smaller Panzer III with long-range artillery fire to neutralise anti-tank guns. If that doesn't work, its close-range firepower is e ven more formidable.

WELL PROTECTED: Like its smaller brother, the Panzer IV has a good level of armour protection, enabling it to take on enemy tanks on equal terms.

LONG 7.5CM FEATURES LONG RANGE: Te 7.5cm KwK40 mounted on the Panzer IV is over 3.2 metres (10' 6") long giving it a high muzzle velocity and considerable long-range accuracy.

GOOD PENETRATION: Te long-barrelled 7.5cm KwK40 gun can punch through any medium tank at long range, and even heavy tanks at short range.

bility to fire bombardments at a range of several kilometre s, annoying the British whose tanks could not respond. Tis was particularly useful for engaging anti-tank guns from outside their effective range.

PROTECTED AMMO: Te Panzer IV has armoured ammunition stowage bins, making it much less likely to burn when hit. Tis gives its crew greater confidence, making them less likely to abandon a tank before it is destroyed.

SMOKE: Te short-barrelled Panzer IV carried a smoke round for blinding anti-tank guns while the rest of the force manoeuvred for the kill.

25

When Rommel's Afrika Korps landed in unis it was lacking in infantry. Te extent of this problem was brought home at the start of the siege of obruk. Rommel responded by gathering all the miscellaneous infantry units he could (including the somewhat exotic 361st Light Infantry Regiment of ex-French Foreign Legionaries) into a division named Division zbv Afrika (Division for special service, Africa). By the beginning of 1942, this division had been organised into 90. Leichte Afrika Division (90th Light Africa Division). With three times as much infantry as the panzer divisions, the role of 90. Leichte Africa Division was to assault and capture British defensive boxes that blocked or threatened the panzers' supply lines. Teir first task was supposed to be the capture of obruk, but the British Operation Crusader interrupted that plan. In the Battle of Gazala, the division swung wide around the British defences heading for obruk. On the way they captured General Frank Messervy the commander of the British 7th Armoured Division. However, pretending to be an officer's servant, he managed to escape! Unable to capture the airfield at El Adem on the fly, 90. Light Africa Division rejoined the rest of the Afrika Korps in the 'Cauldron', fighting its way back westward to link up with the Italians opening a supply route through the British defensive line. Te division then moved to Bir Hacheim at the southern end of the line and joined the Italians there in trying to capture the position from its Free French Defenders. en days of battle ended when the French broke out, abandoning their position after an epic defence. Te German supply lines were now free of interference.

With the Afrika Korps back in supply after a week trapped in the Cauldron, they went on the offensive. 90. Leichte Afrika Division took the British defensive boxes at Knightsbridge and El Adem, then following the plan of the previous year, assaulted and captured obruk. Chasing the British back to the El Alamein line, the division captured Mersa Matruh before being stopped by South African and Australian troops defending El Alamein. Te heavy casualties of the Battle of Gazala, the assault on obruk, and the First Battle of El Alamein bled the exhausted division white, a situation not helped by the extremely long supply line that led back through 1000km (600 miles) or more of desert, then across the Mediterranean Sea where convoys had to run the gauntlet of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. After a month recovering its strength, 90. Leichte Afrika Division covered the Afrika Korps ' left flank in the Battle of Alam El Halfa. Tere it took part in blocking the New Zealand Division's night attack into the Deir el Munassib, securing the line of retreat of the entire Afrika Korps . In the Second Battle of El Alamein, the division returned to the northern sector of the line, facing off against the 9th Australian Division again in week-long and extremely tough fight, before finally being forced to give ground.

90. Leichte Afrika Division fought stubborn rearguard actions all the way back to unisia, where it successfully defended the Mareth Line, then when that was outflanked, the Wadi Akarit. When that fell, the division fought again as a rearguard al the way back to Enfidaville, when it surrendered after the capture of unis ended Axis resistance in North Africa.


90. LEICHTE AFRIKA DIVISION, AFRIKA KORPS, MAY 1942 REGIMENT HQ I BATAILLON

II BATAILLON

BATTALION HQ

BATTALION HQ

14. KOMPANIE

3X 5CM PAK38 GUNS

3X 5CM PAK38 GUNS

2X SMG34 MACHINE-GUNS

9-18X MG34 MACHINE-GUNS 3X 8CM GW34 MORTARS

1. KOMPANIE

5. KOMPANIE



9-18X MG34 MACHINE-GUNS

9-18X MG34 MACHINE-GUNS

3X 8CM GW34 MORTARS

3X 8CM GW34 MORTARS

3X 2.8CM SPZB41 AT RIFLES


3-9X 5CM PAK38 GUNS

3-9X 5CM PAK38 GUNS


3-9X 5CM PAK38 GUNS

2. KOMPANIE PANZERJÄGER BATAILLON 190 9X 5CM PAK38 GUNS

2. KOMPANIE

6. KOMPANIE

AS ABOVE

AS ABOVE

1. KOMPANIE

26

FLA-BATAILLON 606 12X SD KFZ 10/4 2CM SP GUNS

3. KOMPANIE

7. KOMPANIE

AS ABOVE

AS ABOVE

4. KOMPANIE

8. KOMPANIE

707. KOMPANIE

AS ABOVE

AS ABOVE

6X 15CM SP GUNS

AFRIKA RIFLE COMPANY INFANTRY FORMATION


HEADQUARTERS

AFRICA RIFLE COMPANY HQ MG112

INFANTRY

INFANTRY

INFANTRY

AFRICA RIFLE PLATOON



MG113

MG113

MG113

ANTI-TANK

ANTI-TANK

ANTI-TANK

5CM TANK-HUNTER PLATOON



MG114

MG114

MG114

ANTI-AIRCRAFT

SD KFZ 10/4 LIGHT AA PLATOON MG115


27

AFRICA RIFLE COMPANY HQ 2x MP40 SMG team

2 POINTS

After taking heavy casualties in the siege of obruk, infantry units in Africa were reorganised to have 'fewer men, more weapons'. Each company was organised as a self-contained battlegroup with its own anti-tank and artillery capability. Tis allowed the tanks to operate independently from the infantry, giving them the freedom to manoeuvre against the enemy.

AFRICA RIFLE PLATOON 4x MG34 team 1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle

7 POINTS

3x MG34 team 1x 2.8cm anti-tank rifle

6 POINTS

OPTIONS

• •

Add one sMG34 HMG for +1 point. Add one 8cm mortar for +2 points.

Te rifle platoon is small, but armed with plenty of machine-guns, a very effective heavy anti-tank rifle, and a deadly mortar.

28

Leutnant Werner was always surprised how cold the desert got at night. After a day of sweating in the hot sun, the cool night air chilled him to the bone. However, tonight he expected things to get much hotter. It'd been quiet since the slaughter at Alam El Halfa six weeks ago. Now though, there was something in the air. It was the full moon, and the British were up to something, he was convinced of it. Werner went to his command post to hear the latest news. 'All is still quiet', was all that his platoon commanders passed back to him. His watch said nearly midnight. Perhaps he'd been wrong to worry. A huge ash like sheet lightning illuminated the eastern sky from north to south. After a moment's puzzlement, Werner realised what it must be, hundreds, many hundreds of guns ring, and dropped to the bottom of his foxhole. Seconds later a rolling thunder, almost deafening in its intensity , washed over his position as shells began to rain down. The world shook as if the gods pounded a huge drum, on and on. Then, after an eternity, it stopped. Poking his head over the parapet, Werner was surprised to see that the British soldiers were overrunning his outposts, their bayonet's ashing in the moonlight. They must have come through the mineelds hard on the heels of the bombardment, almost amongst the exploding shells. The quick bursts of re from his machine- gunners, tracer arcing out into the desert, told him that his men were ghting back. Thumps from the mortar position announced out-going bombs. Followed quickly by the booms of their explosions as they laid a barrage across the front to cut o the attackers. Werner cocked his MP-40 submachine-gun, took a deep breath, stood up, and yelled, 'Let's go!' His plan was for the reserve section to counterattack before the enemy could consolidate their gains. He red from the hip as a shape loomed out of the darkness, falling as his bullets punched into its torso. A series of loud cracks to his left told of a grenade ght that ended with a sudden scream.

AFRICA RIFLE COMPANY WEAPONS MP 40 SMG: Submachine-guns (SMGs) are excellent for

SMG34 HMG: Te sMG34 is the schwere or heavy ver-

assaults where their short range was more than compensated for by their high rate of fire. Tey are much less effective though, when the user was pinned down. MG34: Te belt-fed MG34 machine-gun has a high rate of fire, sounding like canvas ripping when it fires. Its crew of three soldiers keep up a good rate of fire, even when incoming fire has them pinned down. 2.8CM ANTI-TANK RIFLE: Te 2.8cm sPzB41 is a heavy squeeze-bore anti-tank rifle. Its 2.8cm rounds are squeezed down to 2cm at the muzzle, giving them a high velocity and excellent short-range penetration. However, the squeeze-bore effect prevents them from firing high explosive (HE) rounds against soft targets. As a crew-ser ved heavy weapon, it is to cumbersome to be used in assaults.

sion of the MG34. Mounted on a tripod for long-range accuracy and with plenty of ammunition, it is an excellent defensive weapon. Te company's two machine-guns are allocated to the most exposed platoons. 8CM MORTAR: Te 8cm GW34 mortar gives the platoon an artillery weapon for bombarding enemy infantry trying to hide behind cover and knocking out enemy gu ns. 5CM GUNS: Te 5cm PaK38 anti-tank gun has outstanding penetration for such a light gun. It is also an effective infantry-support weapon, moving forward with the infantry to knock out enemy machine-guns at close range.

29

5CM TANK-HUNTER PLATOON 3x 5cm guns 2x 5cm guns

12 POINTS 8 POINTS

Te 5cm PaK38 anti-tank gun defends the rifle company against enemy tanks. Whether entrenched in a defensive position or being dragged forward in an attack, the PaK38 is useful against any type of threat.

SD KFZ 10/4 LIGHT AA PLATOON 4x Sd Kfz 10/4 (2cm) 3x Sd Kfz 10/4 (2cm) 2x Sd Kfz 10/4 (2cm)


Even before the war, the German army had recognised the need for ground troops to defend themselves against air attack, freeing their fighter aircraft for offensive tasks. Te Sd Kfz 10/4 halftrack mounts a lightweight 20mm anti-aircraft cannon on a cross-country mount, allowing it to operate with tanks or infantry as required. Although the half-track itself is unarmoured, the gun's shield gives the crew some protection

30

from incoming fire. If there are no aerial threats, the gun's range and firepower allow it to hang back out of machine-gun range while shooting up enemy infantry.

Half a dozen boxy panzers were advancing slowly in the distance, hard to see in the heat haze, sniping at the English tanks. The huge 8.8cm Flak36 anti-aircraft guns had been carefully positioned for anti-tank work. Anxious crewmen stood or squatted nearby, clutching shells. Ammo cases were stacked ready nearby. The veteran crews were used to desert warfare now, and understood how the light and heat could play tricks with a gunner's view. The British wouldn't see the guns until it was too late. Plumes of dust announced that the English tanks had taken the bait. The panzers were racing back at an angle, drawing pursuit, turrets pivoted to the rear, ring rapidly. The faster English tanks quickly closing the range.

8.8CM HEAVY AA PLATOON 4x 3x 2x 1x

8.8cm AA gun 8.8cm AA gun 8.8cm AA gun 8.8cm AA gun

24 POINTS 18 POINTS 12 POINTS 6 POINTS

Te German Army appreciated the heavy 8.8cm FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun as an anti-tank gun. It's ability to knock out any tank at long range was far more interesting to front-line soldiers than its ability to protect their supply lines from British bombing raids. As a result, German divisions were often accompanied by Luftwaffe (Air Force)

heavy anti-aircraft batteries operating as anti-tank guns. Tese units were so effective that Allied tank crews soon started referring to any effective anti-tank gun as an '88'.

8.8CM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

LONG RANGE: Te 8.8cm FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun is

LARGE GUN: Te 8.8cm Flak 36 is designed for anti-air -

accurate out to a range of several kilometres, giving it the ability to knock out tanks beyond the range at which they can reply.

craft work, making it as tall as a tank and much harder to manoeuvre. As a result it is not suitable for short-range ambushes and cannot be manoeuvred into buildings.

EXCELLENT PENETRATION: High-velocity 8.8cm

SELF-DEFENCE AA: As an anti-aircraft gun, the 8.8cm FlaK36 gun can shoot at aircraft. However, it is designed to shoot down high-altitude bombers, not fast, low-flying ground-attack aircraft, so has ROF 1 against aircraft.

armour piercing rounds can penetrate any tank in service, and have no difficulty knocking out just about any tank at any range.

31

TIGER HEAVY TANK PLATOON 2x iger (8.8cm) 1x iger (8.8cm)

58 POINTS 29 POINTS

OPTIONS

•

You may add one escort tank for each iger for +8 points each. Tese may be either: • Panzer III (uparmoured) (MG105) or • Panzer III (7.5cm) (MG106) tanks.

She was big, and no matter how many times Leutnant Klingemann saw his Tiger tank he was in awe of its size. Looking down on his escorting Panzer III, he felt immense pride and knew that every tank commander in the world would give a lot to have such a charger. And to think that as a cadet, he'd thought the Panzer III to be hug e! An ocer from the tanks they were supporting yelled up to him that they planned to advance and did he want his Tiger in front of the column. Klingemann, looked down and told the Hauptman engage the enemy from here. The ocer moved o shaking his head, but Klingemann knew that his long-barrelled 8.8 cm cannon could engage the foe at a distance and wanted to exploit that advantage. As the Hauptmann 's tanks moved ahead, Klingemann saw enemy tanks break cover to engage. The 8.8 cm cannon barked to life, shaking the 57-ton tank. A British tank disappeared in a ball of ame. Two more followed in short order. Despite the destruction the Tiger was dealing out, the enemy was too numerous to stop and the range shortened alarmingly. Without warning, the crack of the gun ring was drowned out as the tank rang like a gigantic bell. They'd been hit! 'That was right in front of me!' the driver shouted too loudly. 'I can't hear a damned thing!' Moments later, this pronouncement was followed by a slightly shaky 'Everything seems ne down here, but there's a glowing red spot on the armour!' Klingemann thought to himself that he was not only proud, but fortunate to be a Tiger commander.

32

Enfidaville

Te iger was developed as a breakthrough tank, intended to smash its way through a fortified enemy line. It was heavily armoured and well armed with a version of the 8.8cm FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun. Te resulting tank weighed 57 tons, the heaviest tank in service anywhere. Surprisingly, its massive 650 horsepower Maybach engine, 76cm (30") wide tracks, and interleaved suspension with 16 large road wheels on each side gives this monster almost as good mobility as a medium tank.

SOUSSE Kairouan

With armour of 100mm (4") on the front and 80mm (3⅛") on the sides, the iger is almost invulnerable to other tanks. Conversely, its 8.8cm KwK36 gun with its 5m (16' 2")-long gun penetrates 72mm of armour at 2000m, more than enough to deal with any other tank. Production of this monster proved unexpectedly difficult, with only a few dozen available by the end of 1942 when a company of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 (501st Heavy ank Battalion) arrived in unisia. Because of the shortage of igers tanks, each platoon was initially assigned two iger tanks and two Panzer III tanks as escorts. Te idea was to use the lighter Panzer III tanks to cover the flanks of the iger tanks and protect them from infantry assaults. As losses amongst the lighter tanks mounted, this practice was discontinued.

Djebel elil

SFAX Chebket en Nouiges

2 CORPS

Maknas sy

Sened

GAFSA

10. PANZER DIVISION

21. PANZER DIVISION

al No u n e ret Se bk 15. PANZER DIVISION

La Skhirra

CENTAURO El Guettar DIVISION

21 CORPS

20

CORPS

r it i Aka d a W

SCHWERE PANZER ABTEILUNG 504

Te Afrika Korps had to wait until March 1943 for a company of Schwere Panzer Abteilung 504 to join it. Te first combat was at Maknassy on 20-25 March against the US forces trying to cut off the defenders of the Mareth Line. Te iger tanks were ordered to defend the Wadi Akarit position in early April, but had only reached the line between Maknassy and La Skhirra by 7 April, just in time to take part in a counterattack against British troops who had broken through the Wadi Akarit position. From there the igers supported the Afrika Korps as it retreated northwards to the Enfidaville position.

30

CORPS

GABÈS

33

MARDER (7.62) TANK-HUNTER PLATOON 4x Marder (7.62cm) 3x Marder (7.62cm) 2x Marder (7.62cm)


Faced with Russian tanks that their own tanks could not easily penetrate, the Germans hastily mounted captured Russian guns on obsolete Panzer 38(t) tank chassis. Tese effective tank-hunters quickly found their way to the desert where their ability as long-range tank killers was appreciated.

MARDER (7.62) Crew (4): Weight: Length: Width: Height: Weapons: Armour: Speed: Engine:

Commander/gunner, loader, driver, radio op 10.67 tonnes 5.85m (19' 2") 2.16m (7' 1") 2.50m (8' 2") 7.62cm PaK36(r) gun MG34 7.92mm MG 11 - 50mm 42 km/h (26 mph) Praga EPA 92 kW (125 hp)

MARDER (7.62) TANK-HUNTER

34

FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

SELF-PROPELLED: Mounting the 7.62cm PaK36 (r) anti-tank gun on the Panzer 38(t) chassis created a mobile armoured tank-hunter that could knock out tanks from long range, then manoeuvre away to its next firing position. DEADLY: Captured Russian 7.62cm guns were modified to fire German 7.5cm PaK40 rounds to create a deadly anti-tank gun that could effortlessly destroy any medium tank at long range.

FORWARD FIRING: Mounting a huge gun on a small chassis requires some compromises. Te main one is that it doesn't have a turret and can only fire at targets in front of the tank.

OPEN SP GUN: With little protection from close-range fire, the crews of Marder tank-hunters prefer to stay at a distance from their targets and won't assault infantry positions unless they have no choice.

SD KFZ 221 & 222 LIGHT SCOUT TROOP 2x 2x 2x 1x

Sd Kfz 222 (2cm) Sd Kfz 221 (MG) Sd Kfz 222 (2cm) Sd Kfz 221 (MG)

3 POINTS 2 POINTS

OPTIONS

•

Replace any or all Sd Kfz 221 (MG) with Sd Kfz 221 (2.8cm) at no cost. Note: Te Sd Kfz 221 (2.8cm) does not have an MG.

SD KFZ 231 HEAVY SCOUT TROOP 2x Sd Kfz 231 (2cm)

2 POINTS

Te Afrika Korps used a mix of light and heavy armoured cars for reconnaissance and to protect themselves from marauding British armoured cars. Te more numerous light four-wheeled armoured cars were supported by giant 8-wheelers capable of moving cross-country faster than most tanks.

SCOUT TROOPS FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

WELL-ARMED: Most of the German armoured cars are well-armed with an effective 2cm gun mounted in a roomy turret with space for a commander/gunner and a loader.

SCOUT: Although difficult in the desert, the German

RECONNAISSANCE: Te scout troops press British

SPEARHEAD: One of the key roles of the scout troops

armoured cars back with determination, but in the end, they are aware of their limitations and the foolishness of attempting to assault infantry with a wheeled vehicle.

is to push back the enemy reconnaissance to allow the combat troops to work their way around the flanks of the enemy.

armoured cars were masters at using available cover to move stealthily into position.

35

PANZER II OP OBSERVATION POST 1x Panzer II

2 POINTS

Despite being rather cramped, especially when filled with an extra radio and piles of maps, the Panzer II light tank provided a convenient mount to allow the artillery's observers to keep up with the tanks in mobile operations.

10.5CM ARTILLERY BATTERY 4x 10.5cm howitzer 2x 10.5cm howitzer

14 POINTS 7 POINTS

Te 10.5cm leFH18 light field howitzer is the standard German artillery piece, supporting their attacks and helping drive off enemy counterattacks. Firing a heavier shell than the British 25 pdr gun, it is correspondingly more effective, although less versatile in the anti-tank role.

10.5CM HOWITZER

36

FEATURES

SPECIAL RULES

LONG-RANGE ARTILLERY: Te 10.5cm leFH18 howitzer has the range to drop an artillery bombardment wherever needed on the battlefield. It has the calibre to deliver enough explosive to dig infantry and guns out of their fortifications. EMERGENCY ANTI-TANK: While its main role is firing artillery bombardments, the 10.5cm leFH18 howitzer can defend itself if attacked by roving tanks.

BRUTAL: Against particularly stubborn targets, the howitzer can be rolled up to point lank range a use direct fire. In this mode its firepower is brutal, forcing infantry and guns to re-roll their saves. SLOW FIRING: While the 10.5cm howitzer is too big and heavy to fire on the move, it still uses its Moving ROF if it is Pinned Down, gaining a +1 penalty o Hit. SMOKE: Te 10.5cm howitzer has an effective smoke shell which it mainly uses to fire a smoke bombardment, screening friendly troops from enemy fire as they advance.

Afrika Korps

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