North Africa '40 is a prequel expansion to North Africa '41, taking the campaign back to the opening stages of the war in the Western Desert. Covering the period from September 1940 through December 1941, the expansion begins with the Italian invasion of Egypt and follows the dramatic Allied counter-offensive that culminated in the destruction of much of the Italian 10th Army.
Players can explore the campaign from either side. The Allied commander must decide how aggressively to exploit the weaknesses of the Italian position while dealing with changing strategic priorities, including the diversion of Middle East Command resources to Greece in early 1941. At the same time, the approaching arrival of Rommel and German armoured forces creates pressure to achieve as much as possible before the balance of power changes.
For the Italian player, the challenge is very different. British heavy armour, particularly the formidable Matilda tanks, presents a serious battlefield problem, while the Italian forces must avoid the mistakes that historically contributed to the collapse of their position. Preserving forces and keeping the coastal route open can become increasingly important as the campaign moves towards the arrival of the Afrika Korps.
This expansion includes:
1 Rules Booklet with Historical Notes, Play Notes, Bibliography and Example of Play
1 Countersheet
1 1940 Turn Record Track
1 Player Aid Card with Allied REM Display, Victory Track and Resource Track
1 Double-Sided Allied Scenario Setup and Reinforcement Card
1 Double-Sided Italian Scenario Setup and Reinforcement Card
2 Identical Player Aid Cards
Ziplock Packaging – Not Boxed
Key Features:
Prequel expansion to North Africa '41
Extends the campaign back to September 1940
Covers the Italian invasion of Egypt and the Allied response
Includes both shorter scenarios and extended campaigns
New rules specifically reflecting the conditions of the 1940 campaign
General O'Connor represented within the system
Italian camps and Saharan forces
Libyan Tank Command
Tank reliability rules
Civilian evacuees and stragglers
Sollum Port
Post-Operation Compass refit
Optional naval rules covering British Mediterranean Fleet and Inshore Squadron support
Can be linked to the later events covered by North Africa '41
About the Game:
North Africa '40 focuses on the period before Rommel's arrival transformed the desert war. The campaign begins with Operazione E, the Italian invasion of Egypt in September 1940. Italian forces advance from Libya into Egypt, but their position soon becomes vulnerable to an Allied response.
The expansion then covers Operation Compass, the British-led counter-offensive that began in December 1940. The Allied player has the opportunity to strike at the Italian 10th Army, but must balance battlefield opportunities against the wider demands placed upon British forces in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The two principal scenarios can be played as relatively focused campaigns or extended through December 1941:
Operazione E: 12 Turns
Operation Compass: 6 Turns
Operazione E Full Campaign: 32 Turns
Operation Compass Full Campaign: 26 Turns
The longer campaigns allow the consequences of the opening operations to carry forward into 1941. The Allied player must contend with the operational shift towards Greece in February, while both sides must prepare for the arrival of Erwin Rommel and the German Afrika Korps.
A number of additional rules bring the particular character of the 1940 campaign into the North Africa '41 system. Tank reliability, Italian camps, the Libyan Tank Command, Italian Saharan forces and the post-Compass refit all influence how the campaign develops. Optional naval rules add another dimension by representing support from the British Mediterranean Fleet and Inshore Squadron.
The expansion also includes five sleds designed to help keep important units organised and readily accessible during play.
North Africa '40 provides players of North Africa '41 with the opportunity to begin the Western Desert campaign at its true opening point, exploring the Italian invasion, Operation Compass and the difficult transition into the very different campaign that followed Rommel's arrival.
Game Details:
Players: 2
Period Covered: September 1940–December 1941
Operazione E Scenario: 12 Turns
Operation Compass Scenario: 6 Turns
Operazione E Full Campaign: 32 Turns
Operation Compass Full Campaign: 26 Turns
Game Type: Operational-Level Wargame Expansion
North Africa '40 is an expansion and is not playable on its own.
You must own North Africa '41 to use this expansion. North Africa '40 is supplied in a ziplock rather than a game box.
North Africa '40 is a prequel expansion to North Africa '41, taking the campaign back to the opening stages of the war in the Western Desert. Covering the period from September 1940 through December 1941, the expansion begins with the Italian invasion of Egypt and follows the dramatic Allied counter-offensive that culminated in the destruction of much of the Italian 10th Army.
Players can explore the campaign from either side. The Allied commander must decide how aggressively to exploit the weaknesses of the Italian position while dealing with changing strategic priorities, including the diversion of Middle East Command resources to Greece in early 1941. At the same time, the approaching arrival of Rommel and German armoured forces creates pressure to achieve as much as possible before the balance of power changes.
For the Italian player, the challenge is very different. British heavy armour, particularly the formidable Matilda tanks, presents a serious battlefield problem, while the Italian forces must avoid the mistakes that historically contributed to the collapse of their position. Preserving forces and keeping the coastal route open can become increasingly important as the campaign moves towards the arrival of the Afrika Korps.
This expansion includes:
1 Rules Booklet with Historical Notes, Play Notes, Bibliography and Example of Play
1 Countersheet
1 1940 Turn Record Track
1 Player Aid Card with Allied REM Display, Victory Track and Resource Track
1 Double-Sided Allied Scenario Setup and Reinforcement Card
1 Double-Sided Italian Scenario Setup and Reinforcement Card
2 Identical Player Aid Cards
Ziplock Packaging – Not Boxed
Key Features:
Prequel expansion to North Africa '41
Extends the campaign back to September 1940
Covers the Italian invasion of Egypt and the Allied response
Includes both shorter scenarios and extended campaigns
New rules specifically reflecting the conditions of the 1940 campaign
General O'Connor represented within the system
Italian camps and Saharan forces
Libyan Tank Command
Tank reliability rules
Civilian evacuees and stragglers
Sollum Port
Post-Operation Compass refit
Optional naval rules covering British Mediterranean Fleet and Inshore Squadron support
Can be linked to the later events covered by North Africa '41
About the Game:
North Africa '40 focuses on the period before Rommel's arrival transformed the desert war. The campaign begins with Operazione E, the Italian invasion of Egypt in September 1940. Italian forces advance from Libya into Egypt, but their position soon becomes vulnerable to an Allied response.
The expansion then covers Operation Compass, the British-led counter-offensive that began in December 1940. The Allied player has the opportunity to strike at the Italian 10th Army, but must balance battlefield opportunities against the wider demands placed upon British forces in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The two principal scenarios can be played as relatively focused campaigns or extended through December 1941:
Operazione E: 12 Turns
Operation Compass: 6 Turns
Operazione E Full Campaign: 32 Turns
Operation Compass Full Campaign: 26 Turns
The longer campaigns allow the consequences of the opening operations to carry forward into 1941. The Allied player must contend with the operational shift towards Greece in February, while both sides must prepare for the arrival of Erwin Rommel and the German Afrika Korps.
A number of additional rules bring the particular character of the 1940 campaign into the North Africa '41 system. Tank reliability, Italian camps, the Libyan Tank Command, Italian Saharan forces and the post-Compass refit all influence how the campaign develops. Optional naval rules add another dimension by representing support from the British Mediterranean Fleet and Inshore Squadron.
The expansion also includes five sleds designed to help keep important units organised and readily accessible during play.
North Africa '40 provides players of North Africa '41 with the opportunity to begin the Western Desert campaign at its true opening point, exploring the Italian invasion, Operation Compass and the difficult transition into the very different campaign that followed Rommel's arrival.
Game Details:
Players: 2
Period Covered: September 1940–December 1941
Operazione E Scenario: 12 Turns
Operation Compass Scenario: 6 Turns
Operazione E Full Campaign: 32 Turns
Operation Compass Full Campaign: 26 Turns
Game Type: Operational-Level Wargame Expansion
North Africa '40 is an expansion and is not playable on its own.
You must own North Africa '41 to use this expansion. North Africa '40 is supplied in a ziplock rather than a game box.
