Gazala 1942

Starting with the Italian invasion of Egypt in September, 1940, war flowed back and forth across the North African deserts for 18 months. The summer of 1942 found the Axis and Allied armies facing one another west of Tobruk, where the Commonwealth forces had dug in behind extensive minefields. Each army prepared to renew the offensive, but the Axis won that race. On the night of May 26th four mobile divisions turned the southern flank of the British line at Gazala.

Gazala simulates the critical battle in the summer of ’42 that led to the fall of Tobruk and the arrival of the Axis armies at the gates to the Nile delta. We’ve shown the battles before on a tactical level in our Desert Rats game. With 140 game pieces and one 22x17-inch map, Gazala’s three scenarios can be played in one to eight hours. The game system is very similar to that in America Triumphant and Alsace 1945, with the addition of anti-tank fire. Most units are brigades or regiments, with a few battalions as well (usually tanks). Italian, German, British, South African, Indian and Free French units are represented.

Time: 2-4 hours
# of Players: 2
Scale: 4 Kilometers per hex, units are brigades, regiments & battalions
Playing Pieces: 140
Playing Board: 22" X 17" map
Rules: 16 pages
Difficulty level: 3 out of 5
Solitaire plyability: Good