The Campaign for North Africa 42-43 Scenario

By
Bob Cross

INSTALLATION/RUNNING:

• Move the .SCE, .bmp, and .Doc files into the ..\The Operational Art of War
III\Scenarios\WWII – Mediterranean\ directory.
• Move the .eqp file into the ..\ The Operational Art of War III
\Graphics\Campaign For North Africa 42-43\ directory.
• Ensure that you have TOAW-III version 3.1.0.2, or higher, installed. (Note: to find
out which version you are running, select "help" on the menu bar, and then select
"about the Operational Art of War". If your version is not the latest, you can
download it from Matrix's website. Once you have downloaded the upgrade, execute
it. You should then be up-to-date.)
• Once OPART.exe is running, if you've done all of the above correctly, the scenario
should appear in the WWII – Mediterranean folder, and once selected, the BMP
photo should appear in the scenario briefing.

VERSION 2 CHANGES

1. This version is for TOAW III version 3.1.0.9. Since that fixes the withdrawal bug,
I’ve removed all the extra withdrawal events that had been previously required to
address that bug. The converted scenario has been checked for conversion errors.
2. Max Rounds Per Battle has been set to 3. No individual battle will last longer than
three rounds of combat. Note that the total rounds expended in any given battle will
still depend upon when the first round begins. So care is still required to ensure that
late arriving units aren’t inadvertently used. And note that there is still the same risk
of a Force Proficiency check failure. But this should clear up some risk of early turn
ending for both sides.
3. I’ve also made use of the equipment editor feature of version 3.0.1.7. NOTE THAT
THIS MEANS THE SCENARIO MUST BE PLAYED WITH THE EDITED
EQUIPMENT FILE INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT GRAPHICS SUB-FOLDER.
That has enabled me to rename the recon rifle teams to “Recon Light Rifle Squads”,
recon assault teams to “Recon Rifle Squads” and exactly match their parameters to
the original Light Rifle Squad and Rifle Squad values (except for recon ability).
Heavy Rifle Squads and SMG Squads now have recon as well. This allowed me to
delete all the Quad 20mm Flak guns that had been necessary to increase the Recon
Rifle Team to the AP of the Light Rifle Squad. Also, most armored vehicles now
have recon as well, allowing me to delete a significant number of the Light Scout
Cars. Thus, much of the kluge for hex conversion has been backed out, hopefully
making the scenario function better, and appear more historical. I also fixed the
Bishop SP Gun so that it now has an artillery range. I converted the Halftrack 75mm
SPAT into the Deacon 6-pdr SPAT it had been substituting for. Finally, all naval
vessels have had Classes constructed for them, for better modeling.
4. Remaining RN ships have been revised to reflect historical sinkings.
5. Used the expansion of the Force Movement Bias field to increase both sides from 150
to 153. Now movement allowances are at full nominal levels.
 DESIGNER'S NOTES

INTRODUCTION:

This scenario is based upon SPI's intensive 1978 wargame "The Campaign for North
Africa"(CFNA), by Richard Berg, et al. That game was a battalion-level simulation of the
Desert War from mid-September, 1940, to early-January, 1943. It contained four scenario start-
times. The first setup was on the third week of September, 1940, corresponding to the start of
Graziani’s offensive into Egypt. The second setup was on the last week of March, 1941,
corresponding to Rommel’s first offensive. The third setup was on the third week of November,
1941, corresponding to the start of Operation Crusader. The final setup was on the last week of
October, 1942, corresponding to the 2nd battle of El Alamein.

The scenario presented here creates a new (sixth) setup, starting with Gazala. It lasts 66 half-
week turns and includes 969 units. Version 1.0 of this setup corresponds to version 8.0 of the
first setup, and includes all applicable revisions of that version.

Note that this setup is the equivalent of the last 66 turns of the first three setups and includes all
the turns of the last setup. In other words, it runs to the same ending date (1st week of January,
1943) as all the other setups, but has a different starting date. But note that, unlike in the
“Crusader” and “El Alamein” setups, the Axis player moves first in this setup. That will impact
game play due to TOAW’s non-symmetrical turn structure.
ABBREVIATIONS/TRANSLATIONS:
Italian:
• Artc: Articelere (Artillery?)
• Brs: Bersaglieri (Mechanized?)
• CCNN: Camicie Nera (Blackshirt)
• CCRR: Carabinieri
• GaF: Guardia alla Fronteria, Settore di Coperature (Garrison Troops)
• LancNov: Lanceria di Novara
• Monf: Monferrato Squadrone
• NizCav: Nizza Cavalleria
• RC: Regiment Corazzata (Armored regiment)
• RECAM: Raggruppamento Esplorante del Corpo Di Manovra
• RECo: Raggruppamento Esplorante Companie (Reconnaissance company)
• G. Fascisti: Giovani Fascisti (Young Fascists)
German:
• Af: Afrika
• Auf: Aufklarungs (Reconnaissance)
• CD: Coastal Defense
• DAK: Deutsches Afrika Korps
• DSK: Die Sonderkommando Almasy
• Flak: (Anti-Air)
• Gerbergs: (Mountain Infantry)
• Kradsch: Kradschutzen (Motorcycle Infantry)
• MG: Machinegewehr (Machinegun)
• PJ: Panzerjaeger (Anti-Tank)
• Pzr: Panzer (Armor)
• Pioneer: (Engineer)
• Sch: Schutzen (Motorized Infantry)
• Sonder: Sonderverband
• Bdbg Brandenburg
Commonwealth:
• KRRC: Kings Royal Rifle Corps
• RHA: Royal Horse Artillery
• RTR: Royal Tank Regiment
• THRf: Tower Hamlet Rifles
• KDGd: King’s Dragoon Guards
• Nott Yeomen: Nottinghamshire Yeomen
• Stff Yeomen: Staffordshire Yeomen
• Wlt Yeomen: Royal Wiltshire Yeomen
• G. Howards: Green Howards
• E. York: East Yorkshires
• W. York: West Yorkshires
• S. Highland: Seaforth Highlander
• C. Highland: Cameron Highlander
• CLY: County London Yeomanry
• RWK: Royal West Kents
• Blk Watch: Black Watch
• A & S: Argyll & Sutherland
• B & H: Bedfords & Herts
• Y & L: Yorks & Lancashires
• S. Stfshre: South Staffordshires
• FFR: Frontier Force Regiment
• RGR: Royal Garhwal Rifles
• SWB: South Wales Borders
• DCLI: Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
• KOR: King's Own Royal Regiment
• PAVO: Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry, Frontier Force
• KEO: King Edward VII's Own Cavalry
• DOY Cav: Duke of York's Cavalry
• DCO: Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers
• DEO: Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
• Lg Etran: de Legion Etrangere (the French Foreign Legion)
• FFFC: Free French Flying Column
• SAS: Special Air Service Brigade
• LRDG: Long Range Desert Group
• RAF: Royal Air Force
• RAAF: Royal Australian Air Force
• RCAF: Royal Canadian Air Force
• SAAF: South African Air Force
• FFAF: Free French Air Force
• USAF: United States Air Force
• BS: Base Support
 REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE:

Legend:
Inf. = Infantry, Mechanized, Machinegun, Cavalry, Motorcycle, Airborne, Engineer, RR.
Arm. = Tank, Armored Cavalry, Armored Car, Special Forces, SPAT.
Art. = Artillery, AA, AT, SPA, Naval.
BS = Base Support (Airforce ground units) & offmap AA
Air = Airforce (aircraft units)
HQ = Headquarters (Units with HQ function only - lower HQs are in above columns)
( ) = Signifies that the units are withdrawn

AXI COM
S MO
Turn Inf. Arm. Art. BS Air HQ Total Inf. Arm. Art. BS Air HQ Total

Start 117 33 71 47 47 33 + 2 Supply 350 89 36 90 46 46 22 + 3 Supply 332

1 7 3 10

3 1 1 2 1 1 4

5 1 1 5 2 1 1 9

7 1 1 14(3) 1 7(1) 2 2 2nd NZ+ Division 28(5)

X Corps
(3rd Ind. Mot. Bde.)

9 2 1 Brigade Ramcke 4 16 2 7 9th Aus+ Division 27

18th Indian Bde
11 1 1 2 4 8th Arm. Division 7

13 2 2 1 4 (1) 5(1)

15 1 2 3 1 1 3 1 1 7

17 1 1 (3) (1) 2 3 5(4)

19 1 1 2 13 1 1 44th Inf. Division 16

21 1 1 2 4 1 1 2

23 1 3 1 5 13(1) 1 2 3 3 51st Inf. Division 23(1)

25 9 2 2 1 Pistoia Division 16 4 (2) 6 4 4 1st Greek Brigade 20(2)

Gruppe Voss 1 Supply

27 13 2 Folgore Division 18 5(3) 2 2 (22nd Guards Bde) 9(4)

164th Lt. Division
Gruppe Menny

29 6 1 Gruppe Mitte 8 1 4 1 1 7

31 4 4 1 220th Art Regiment 11 (4) 3 3 6(4)

Gruppe Pfeiffer

33 1 1 2 3 3 6

35 5 1 1 G. Fascisti Division 9 1 1 1 3
2nd Af Art Regiment
 37 2

39 1 1

41

43

45

47

49 (14) (1) (5) (9th Aus+ Division) (21)

51

53

55

57 (10th Arm. Division) (1)

59 (3) (3)

61

63

65

Total 161 37 90 53 53 44 441 172 53 126 71 72 30 528

Wd (28) (6) (8) (4) (46)
Net 161 37 90 53 53 44 441 144 47 118 71 72 26 482

SUPPLY LEVELS:

Based upon figures in CFNA, Commonwealth supply levels start at 26x2=52, and rise to
39x2=78 on turn 38. Axis supply levels depend upon the Axis convoy level. CFNA had seven
levels of weekly tonnage available, which I converted to supply levels as follows:
A 9,500 tons 12x2 = 24
B 12,250 tons 16x2 = 32
C 15,250 tons 19x2 = 38
D 18,000 tons 23x2 = 46
E 19,750 tons 25x2 = 50
F 22,000 tons 28x2 = 54
G 42,500 tons 54x2 = 108
CFNA specified which level was in effect for each month of the campaign, and I’ve set the Axis
levels accordingly. In addition, Rommel’s “borrowing” of the air forces that had been
suppressing Malta in June, 1942, allowed that base to steadily increase its interdiction of Axis
supplies. This factor is reflected in the level, as well. The Axis convoy level for each month is
as follows:
5/42: G = 54x2 = 108 – 48 = 60
6/42: F = 28x2 = 56 + 4 = 60
7/42: A = 12 – 1 = 11x2 = 22 + 38 = 60
8/42: F = 28 – 1 = 27x2 = 54 + 6 = 60
9/42: B = 16 – 2 = 14x2 = 28
10/42: D = 23 – 2 = 21x2 = 42
 11/42: A = 12 – 3 = 9x2 = 18
12/42: G = 54 – 3 = 51x2 = 102 – 42 = 60
1/43: C = 19 – 3 = 16x2 = 32 + 42 = 74

SHOCK BONUSES:

Playtests proved these to be necessary. The Axis player gets a series of air bonuses on turns 28-
30, also after he captures Tobruk or Alexandria. The “Desert Fox” rule gives the Axis a 10%
bonus till turn 40 and the Commonwealth a 10% penalty till turn 32.
Turn Axis Shock CW Shock Axis Air Shock CW Air Shock
1 104% 96% 150% 100%
3 104% 96% 125% 100%
5 104% 96% 112% 100%
7 104% 96% 100% 100%
9 104% 100% 100% 100%
…
25 100% 100% 100% 100%

Raid succeeds 93% 109% 100% 100%

Raid succeeds + 1 96% 104% 100% 100%
Raid succeeds + 3 98% 100% 100% 100%
Raid succeeds + 5 100% 96% 100% 100%
VICTORY:

There are a total of 450 victory points worth of objectives on the map. Of these, 238 points are
in Egypt and 212 are in Libya. If the game ends at about the Egyptian/Libyan border, it will
probably be a draw, since the Axis will have also gained a 25 VP bonus for taking Tobruk.

The victory point locations, and their values are as follows:

LIBYA EGYPT
Place Name X,Y VP Place Name X,Y VP
Western Map Edge 3,98 7 Sidi Omar 139,87 1
Nofilia 4,100 3 Sollum 144,82 6
Marble Arch 18,108 1 Halfaya Pass 144,83 3
El Agheila 29,112 7 Siwa 151,135 4
Maradah 29,135 2 Buq Buq 152,84 2
Mersa Brega 37,109 3 Bir Khamsa 156,97 1
Agadabia 49,100 3 Sidi Barrani 159,82 10
Antelat 57,93 1 Zawyat Shammus 167,85 1
Soluch 52,80 2 Qara 170,126 2
BENGHAZI 48,70 45 Mersa Matruh 184,87 15
El Berca 49,72 2 Gerawla 187,90 1
Benina 52,71 2 Sidi Haneish 192,91 1
El Abiar 58,68 2 Fuka 197,94 1
Barce 60,62 1 Sidi Abd el-Rahman 213,97 1
Maddelena 64,62 2 El Alamein 217,99 3
Msus 66,82 3 El Hammam 225,99 1
Augila 69,137 1 ALEXANDRIA 234,91 99
Jalo 75,139 4 “ 235,91 16
Maraua 74,62 1 CAIRO 262,116 40
Zt. Tert 86,55 1 “ 262,115 8
Mechili 90,69 3 “ 262,114 8
Derna 97,56 10 “ 263,115 7
“ 97,57 1 “ 263,116 7
Martuba 99,60 2
Tmimi 105,66 2
Rotunda Segnali 109,78 1
Bir Hacheim 113,81 1
Gazala 111,70 1
TOBRUK 122,70 50
“ 121,71 7
El Adem 121,76 2
Bir el Gubi 122,81 1
Gabr Saleh 129,86 1
Gambut 131,75 2
Giarabub 132,123 3
Giarabub Oasis 136,125 1
 Sidi Azeiz 138,80 1
Fort Maddelena 139,95 2
Menastir 141,77 1
Fort Capuzzo 142,82 3
BARDIA 143,79 24

In addition, the Axis receive permanent “propaganda” VPs for capturing Tobruk (25 points) and
Alexandria (50 points).

Victory Levels are as follows:

Margin of Victory less than 90 = Draw

Margin of Victory between 90 and 179 = Marginal
Margin of Victory between 180 and 269 = Substantial
Margin of Victory 270 or greater = Overwhelming

BMP:

The scenario photo is the exact photo used by SPI on the box cover for CFNA. I was fortunate
to find it on the National Archives web-site. Its caption read: "Rommel in action with the 15th
Panzer Division near Tobruk, 1941”.

REFERENCES:

1. "The Campaign for North Africa" (wargame), Richard Berg, Redmond A. Simonsen, Martin
Goldberger, et al., Simulations Publications, Inc., 1978.

2. "New Millennium World Atlas Deluxe" on CDROM, Rand McNally 1998.

3. "ONC G-3" (1:1,000,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1989.

4. "ONC H-4" (1:1,000,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1984.

5. "ONC H-5" (1:1,000,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1982.

6. "TPC G-3D" (1:500,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1995.

7. "TPC H-4A" (1:500,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1995.

8. "TPC H-4B" (1:500,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1991.

9. "TPC H-5A" (1:500,000), Defense Mapping Agency, 1992.

10. "The Living Earth, Pacific Rim View, A Topographical Satellite Map", Spaceshots, Inc.,
1993.
11. "Strategy & Tactics" (Magazine), Issue #87: "The Desert Fox" (article), SPI, 1981

12. "War in the East, Strategy & Tactics Staff Study Nr. 1", James F. Dunnigan, et al., SPI,
1977.

13. "Handbook on German Military Forces", US War Department, 1945, Republished by LSU
Press, 1990.

14. "Rommel - Battles and Campaigns", Kenneth Macksey, Arms and Armor Press, 1979,
Republished by Da Capo Press, 1997.

15. “Rommel’s North Africa Campaign”, Jack Greene and Alessandro Massignani, Combined
Publishing, 1994.