War in the Desert

About this board game

War in the Desert is a 1–2 player historical campaign game with an approximately 720-minute playing time, recreating the struggle for North Africa and the Near East during World War II.

Using standard Europa scales and rules, the game covers the Western Desert campaigns from O’Connor’s offensive against the Italians in December 1940 through the siege of Tobruk, the battle of Gazala, and the defeat and pursuit of Axis forces at El Alamein in November 1942.

The scope also extends to Northwest Africa, beginning with the Anglo-American invasion in November 1942. Players can follow the campaign through the Axis counterattack at Kasserine Pass and on to the Axis surrender in May 1943.

War in the Desert additionally presents the struggle for control of the Near East. Its coverage includes the pro-Axis revolt in Iraq, the British conquest of Vichy France’s possessions in Syria and Lebanon, and the Allied invasion of Iraq.

• Time scale: two-week turns
• Map scale: 16 miles per hex
• Unit scale: divisions, regiments, and battalions
• Maps: nine Europa maps, including parts of maps 3C, 18A, 19A, 20A, 21A, 22A, 24A, 25A, and 32

The boxed game includes 1,680 plus 560 die-cut counters, two Europa universal marker sheets, a 64-page rules book, and separate Allied and Axis order-of-battle books. It also provides 11 charts, tables, and displays, along with three Grand Europa charts, tables, and displays.

Released in 1997, this large-scale presentation brings several connected campaigns into one historical game, from the opening fighting in the Western Desert to the conclusion of the North African and Near Eastern struggles.