Desert Armour: Tank Warfare in North Africa: Beda Fomm to Operation Crusader, 1940–41

Robert Forczyk covers the development of armoured warfare in North Africa from the earliest Anglo-Italian engagements in 1940 to the British victory over the German Afrikakorps in Operation Crusader in 1941. The war in the North African desert was pure mechanized warfare, and in many respects the most technologically advanced theatre of World War II. It was also the only theatre where for three years British and Commonwealth, and later US, troops were in constant contact with Axis forces. World War II best-selling author Robert Forczyk explores the first half of the history of the campaign, from the initial Italian offensive and the arrival of Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika to the British Operation Crusader offensive that led to the relief of Tobruk. He examines the armoured forces, equipment, doctrine, training, logistics and operations employed by both Allied and Axis forces throughout the period, focusing especially on the brigade and regimental level of operations. Fully illustrated throughout with photographs, profile artwork and maps, and featuring tactical-level vignettes and appendices analysing tank data, tank deliveries in-theatre and orders of battle, this book goes back to the sources to provide a new study of armoured warfare in the desert. Cover Half-title Title Dedication Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Preface Introduction Strategic setting Terrain and weather factors Chapter 1: Pre-war doctrinal and technological influences Britain loses its lead in armoured warfare Germany assembles a combined arms team The US Army’s delayed mechanization Italy’s mechanized façade Doctrinal summary and comparison Chapter 2: The opposing armoured forces in 1940–41 Italian armoured forces in Libya Britain’s armoured forces in the Middle East German armoured forces Chapter 3: Early armoured operations in 1940–41 Border skirmishes, June–August 1940 Disaster in Egypt, September–December 1940 The road to Beda Fomm, December 1940–February 1941 Chapter 4: The Afrika Korps arrives Interlude, February 1941 Rommel’s first offensive, March–April 1941 Stalemate, May 1941 Operation Battleaxe, June 1941 Chapter 5: The clash of armour Panzergruppe Afrika and Eighth Army, August–September 1941 Operation Crusader, first phase, 18–26 November 1941 Operation Crusader, conclusions, December 1941 The desert war at midpoint Glossary Rank table Appendices Appendix 1: Major tank deliveries to North Africa, 1940–41 Appendix 2: Tanks in North Africa, 1940–41 Appendix 2B: Penetration of tank and anti-tank guns, 1940–43 Appendix 3: Orders of battle for armoured units in North Africa, 1940–41 Bibliography Notes Index