The Wargamer

Introduction

Panzer Campaigns: El Alamein ‘42 is a turn-based battalion level historical simulation of the World War II North African Theatre in 1942 pitting the German Afrika Corps and their Italian allies against the British 8th Army. Broken down into several separate campaigns, the battle rages across the full spectrum of offense and defense for both sides, from Field Marshall Rommel’s sweeping victory against the 8th Army at the Gazala line and Tobruk in June 1942, to Field Marshall Montgomery’s defeat of the Afrika Corps at El Alamein six months later. El Alamein is the 11th game in the Panzer Campaigns series and the game system remains largely unchanged, with a few embellishments to better emulate warfare in the North African desert. Minefields are a key to the fortified positions at Gazala, Tobruk and El Alamein, but they come with a twist in that even the owning side might lose track of them. The optional explicit supply rule is available for most of the scenarios to more accurately depict the logistical challenges associated with long pursuits across the desert. The option for the Axis to improve their supply situation by invading the island of Malta adds air and sea borne invasion scenarios to the mix. The result is a well thought out set of diverse scenarios set in the standard Panzer Campaigns universe.

As listed below, The Wargamer has reviewed all of the previous Panzer Campaigns series, so I will not attempt to provide the level of details on play mechanics present in reviews such as Korsun ’44. 

• Panzer Campaigns 1: Smolensk '41, by Joe Kussey & Greg Allen 
• Panzer Campaigns 1: Smolensk '41 Grognard discussion, by Joe Kussey & Greg Allen 
• Panzer Campaigns 2: Normandy '44, by Mike Dorn 
• Panzer Campaigns 3: Kharkov '42, by Peter Mitchell 
• Panzer Campaigns 4: Tobruk '41, by Jim Cobb 
• Panzer Campaigns 5: Bulge '44, by Ciril Rozic
• Panzer Campaigns 6: Korsun ’44 by Al Berke
• Panzer Campaigns 7: Kursk ’43 by Jim Cobb
• Panzer Campaigns 8: Sicily ’43 by Al Berke
• Panzer Campaigns 9: Rzhev ’42 by Al Berke
• Panzer Campaigns 10: Market Garden ’44 by Marty Mckone

Plot

The desert war in North Africa in World War II was very much a back and forth affair with both sides having their share of victories and defeats. The British Commonwealth forces had at first had their way with the Italians, decisively defeating the 10th Army at Beda Fomm in January 1941, but the draw off of forces to support the disastrous Greek campaign had allowed the Germans to reinforce the Italians. With the dynamic “Desert Fox,” General Erwin Rommel in command, the British had found themselves outmaneuvered and thrown back out of Libya and Cyranaica, with the exception of the isolated port of Tobruk by April 1941. Taking advantage of overextended Axis supply lines, the Commonwealth forces fought back, relieved Tobruk in November 1941 and weathering a vicious counterattack, advanced into Libya. Rommel took advantage of the Commonwealth having overextended their supply lines and in January 1942 launched an attack that drove the British back to Gazala. 

El Alamein picks up the tale at the end of May 1942 with the Axis offensive against the fortified line at Gazala. A flank attack around the line succeeds in driving the Commonwealth forces back to the Egyptian frontier after fierce fighting, once again isolating Tobruk. Anticipating a repeat of the last campaign, the British were caught off guard when Rommel launched a surprise assault on Tobruk in June, resulting in the capture of over 30,000 troops and a mountain of supplies. Resuming the advance eastwards, the Axis drove the demoralized 8th Army back deep into Egypt. The Commonwealth forces took up a position at El Alamein, which formed a defensive bottleneck short of the Nile Delta. Rommel’s forces, weakened and short of supply from the pursuit were unable to break through. By July 1942 the Axis were down to less than thirty tanks and were forced to pause and take up defensive positions themselves.

The next month saw more unsuccessful German attacks and the arrival of General Montgomery and more Commonwealth reinforcements.

After a massive build up, the 8th Army launched an assault in October. After a week of bitter fighting along the narrow front at El Alamein, the Axis were defeated and in a retreat that did not end until two weeks and 700 miles later at El Agheila. With the Allied invasion of Morocco and Algeria in November 1942, the war in North Africa now entered a new phase.