When compared to the enormous campaigns waged on the Eastern Front and in Western Europe during World War II, the struggle in North Africa between the British Commonwealth and the Axis might seem an unimportant sideshow. However, its influence and impact were far-reaching and dictated many strategic decisions that influenced the course of the war.

This Bolt Action campaign book will focus on the conflict in the area most commonly referred to as the Western Desert - a campaign theatre reaching from the Libyan city of Tripoli to Cairo, and the Egyptian Nile valley, a distance of some 1300 miles, a featuring some of the most hostile terrains on Earth.

It covers a period of time from September 1940 when Mussolini's Italian Army invaded British-held Egypt to the final retreat of Rommel's Afrika Korps from Egypt during October 1942. During that period the conflict witnessed much hard fighting resulting in spectacular victories and the capture of territory, equipment and prisoners for both sides whilst also subjecting them to a series of demoralising retreats where final and irrevocable defeat seemed assured.

This book has 167 pages full of content, ranging from new rules and units, full-colour images, history and backgrounds and more!

Don't forget that our Bolt Action books come with an exclusive FREE special figure, only available through ordering direct!

The highly detailed metal model that comes with The Western Desert is none other than the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel!

This book contains:

What is This Book?

Campaign Background

Operation Compass: The Fighting Begins

Scenario 1: Frontier Battle

The Italians Invade!

Scenario 2: Fort Nibeiwa, 9 December 1940

Scenario 3: The Battle for Bardia, 4 January 1941

On To Tobruk and the Race to Beda Fomm

Scenario 4: Tank Clash at Mechili, 24 January 1941

Scenario 5: Fox killed in the Open, 5 February 1941

Operation Sonnenblume

Scenario 6: Mersa Brega, 31 March 1941

The Siege of Tobruk

Scenario 7: Ras El Madauur, 13 April 1941

Operation Brevity and Battleaxe

Scenario 8: Hellfire Pass, 15 June 1941

Operation Crusader

Scenario 9: Bir El Gubi, 19 November 1941

Scenario 10: Gabr Saleh, 19 November 1941

Scenario 11: Point 175, 29 November 1941

Crusader Finale

Gazala: Rommel's Greatest Victory

Scenario 12: The Cauldron, 1 June 1942

Scenario 13: Bir Hakeim, 27 May 1942

The Jewish Brigade at Bir-El Harmat

Scenario 14: Bir-El Harmat 2 June 1942

El Alamein: The End of the Beginning

First Alamein

Last Chance for Rommel: Alam Halfa

Scenario 15: Alam Halfa, 31 August 1942

El Alamein



Operation Lightfoot



The Battle continues

Scenario 16: Outpost Snipe, 27 October 1942

Operation Supercharge

Scenario 17: The Charge of the 9th Armoured, Tel El Aqqaqir, 2 November 1942

Raid Scenarios

Scenario 18: Dawn Raid

Scenario 19: The Via Balbia Raid, 27 May 1942

British and Commonwealth New Units

Infantry Squads and Teams

Vehicles

Italian New Units

Infantry Squads and Teams

Artillery

Vehicles

German New Units

Infantry Squads and Teams

Vehicles

Artillery

Theatre Selectors

British and Commonwealth

Commonwealth Armies in Bolt Action

Italian Theatre Selectors

The Afrika Korps in Bolt Action

Free French Forces in the Western Desert

Free French Units

Special Forces in the Western Desert Campaign

Special Forces in Bolt Action

British Special Forces in the Western Desert

Italian Special Forces and Desert Raiders

German Special Forces

Heroes of the Western Desert

British and Commonwealth

German

Special Rules for Fighting Bolt Action Games in the Western Desert

Typical Terrain types for the Western Desert

Roads and Tracks

Desert Climate Effects

Environmental Effects

Weather Effects

Desert Combat Special Rules

Dug-In: Foxholes, Trenches and Gun Pits

Minefields

Model supplied unassembled and unpainted