Campaigns and Commanders
Vol. 2: The King’s Officers
Developer’s Preview, Part One:
The Desert War: 1940-41 Campaign
By Doug McNair
June 2009

Campaigns and Commanders Volume I: The War in the East has been a big hit; it’s sold out twice already and we’re currently printing more. So, soon after it debuted I asked series designer Dave Murray to give us a follow-up volume, and he did not disappoint. The King’s Officers tops its predecessor by including two “standard” campaigns using the generic maps from Afrika Korps and Desert Rats, plus a “historical” campaign that takes place on the Beyond Normandy maps and uses the much more detailed campaign system from Dave’s Cassino ’44 game. British, Italian and German Leader Characters take center stage and get to fight in some very diverse combat situations over the course of three campaigns.

The Desert War: 1940-41 Campaign

This campaign game uses the maps and counters from Panzer Grenadier: Afrika Korps. It consists of nine scenarios starting with the Italian invasion of Egypt in September 1940, followed by the Allied drive to El Ageila, then covering Rommel’s arrival and the Axis advance back to the Egyptian border, and ending with the battles around Halfaya Pass. Each scenario of the campaign game is fictitious but based on actions that were typical of fighting at each location.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario One
Italy Invades Egypt
Italian Attacker, Commonwealth Defender

In September 1940 (after significant delays), the Italians crossed the Egyptian border. The initial goal of seizing the Suez Canal had been scaled back to not much more than an armored incursion. Indeed, Mussolini specifically told Army commander Rodolfo Graziani that the invasion had no territorial objectives, saying, “I am only asking that you attack the British forces facing you.” But even this very limited objective was of questionable value, since the Commonwealth forces facing the invasion were very small and scattered.

Conclusion

Since the invasion had no territorial objectives, the only logical way for the Italians to score VPs in this scenario is to destroy British steps and exit units off the east edge so that they can do more of the same to British forces farther east. Control of the road facilitates the latter for the Italians, so that’s the sole territorial consideration for either side. The Italians have lower morale than the British defenders and their thin-skinned armor support is vulnerable to British AT fire, so Leader Characters with the Rural Assault, Rifle Combat and Anti-Tank Specialist skills will play key roles in this scenario.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Two
Operation Compass
Italian Defender, Commonwealth Attacker

By December the Allies were ready to start a major offensive against the Italian forces in North Africa. Initially Operation Compass was only planned to be a five day operation, but it was extended due to its initial success.

Conclusion

The Allies first needed to punch a hole through the prepared Italian defenses. This scenario sees an Allied force attempt to capture initial Italian defensive positions and clear the way for more forces to advance.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Three
Bardia
Italian Defender, Commonwealth Attacker

With the Italian defenses breached, the next target of the Allies was the town of Bardia. The Australians led the dawn assault, and by nightfall the Italian defenses had been penetrated and 8,000 prisoners captured. It took a couple of days before the town capitulated and the garrison of 45,000 Italian troops surrendered.

Conclusion

This is a short and bloody trench assault where the Allies have superior numbers and morale, but the Italians have good artillery support and will do a lot of damage. Leader Characters with the Rural Assault Specialist skill and especially those who have managed to purchase the Machinegun Specialist skill by now will be of primary importance.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Four
Tobruk
Italian Defender, Commonwealth Attacker

Tobruk has a deep natural port that is well-protected from the elements and enemy attack. It therefore served as an excellent supply base for forces in North Africa, and would see much fighting as both sides vied for control of it. This scenario depicts an Allied attack on part of the defenses around Tobruk.

Conclusion

Here’s a wide-ranging scenario where the Allies must try to clear a path to Tobruk and the Italians must keep all paths blocked as long as possible. The fall of night partway through the scenario means any Leader Character with the Night Assault Skill will come into his own starting on Turn 1900.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Five
Beda Fomm
Italian Attacker, Commonwealth Defender

By January 1941 the Italians were in full retreat. The Allies used a "flying column" of fast-moving units in an attempt to cut the Italians off at the small coastal town of Beda Fomm, thus trapping the majority of Italian forces in North Africa. In this scenario a large force of Italians try to break through British lines to reach safety.

Conclusion

Huge Italian numbers will likely overwhelm the British line, but the British can score VPs simply by slowing Italian units long enough to prevent them from exiting the north edge by the end of play. So, British Leader Characters with the Rifle Combat and Machinegun Specialist skills plus the Mortarman/Artillerist and Forward Observer skills will be crucial to disrupting and demoralizing Italian units and keeping them on the board.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Six
El Agelia
Axis Attacker, Commonwealth Defender

The deployment of German troops in North Africa was known as Unternehmen Sonnenblume, or Operation Sunflower. The Afrika Korps arrived in North Africa just as Allied forces were being stripped of men and materiel to support operations in Europe. The Germans joined up with the remaining Italian forces and launched an attack at El Ageila.

Conclusion

Here’s an interesting scenario in which the German tanks have no German infantry support, and the Italian infantry have lower morale than the German tanks. So while it will be relatively easy for the highly-mobile Axis forces to get units off the east edge to score VPs, the German tanks may well lose their infantry support and become vulnerable to British assaults. That can rack up VPs fast for the British player, so leaders on both sides with the Rural Assault Skill will be very valuable.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Seven
Tobruk Again
Axis Attacker, Commonwealth Defender

A lightning Axis advance saw the war return to the port of Tobruk. Several assaults on the defenses of Tobruk were attempted before the Axis forces left it besieged and moved on. The Allied Operation Crusader finally broke the siege in the winter of 1941.

Conclusion

Another tough trench assault where the Axis have the numbers to succeed but not necessarily the morale. Their forces will likely lose some cohesion as they cross the open plain on the way to the fortified ridgeline, so Italian Leader Characters will get plenty of opportunities to rack-up LPs rallying units on the way to the assault.

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Eight
Operation Brevity
Axis Defender, Commonwealth Attacker

The Allied Operation Brevity was launched in May 1941 as a limited attack in preparation for a later major offensive. It was not very successful, ultimately only capturing the Halfaya Pass. In this scenario, the Allied forces attempt to capture part of a road system for use in a later offensive.

Conclusion

1940-41 Campaign Scenario Nine
Halfaya Pass
Axis Attacker, Commonwealth Defender

As Operation Brevity halted, the Axis forces took the opportunity to launch their own counterattack. The only position that operation Brevity had captured and held was the Halfaya Pass. This was the target of the Axis Operation Skorpion.

Conclusion

A final scenario in which the Italian player gets average-quality infantry supported by German tanks. To make the most of his tank support, his Leader Characters must have bought every possible combat skill by now if they’re going to have a chance of dislodging the British infantry.

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