 BigRedBat  | 16 Mar 2010 5:04 a.m. PST |
I'm just getting back into WW2 after a long absence, and am looking around for a book or books which would describe some (or even part of one) of the pre-Alamein battles in the Western Desert in tactical detail. The sort of thing I'm curious about is the actual ranges at which tanks/AT guns engaged, how tank regiments were deployed, intervals between tanks, effect of dust on visibility, length of engagements and so forth. The nitty gritty. Teh sort of thing I've seen Paddy Griffith write for other periods. Can anyone suggest a book or books that cover that, please? Thanks, Simon |
| A Twiningham | 16 Mar 2010 5:33 a.m. PST |
link This is a great look at the 9th Australian Division taking on the DAK around Tobruk in 1941. Lots of tactical detail, although more specific to those actions. It is free and a good read, though. I believe that if you search around on the CARL website a bit you might find some more stuff also. |
| BigRedBat | 16 Mar 2010 6:08 a.m. PST |
Thanks, that is very much to sort of thing I'm after. I'll have a search through the website to see what else they have that's similar. What an excellent resource! Any book suggestions would also be much appreciated. Cheers, Simon |
| Rudysnelson | 16 Mar 2010 6:47 a.m. PST |
A general hgistory book is the 'Early Battles of the British Eighth Army'. |
| Corporal Steiner | 16 Mar 2010 6:57 a.m. PST |
Hi SImon I have some books that I have collected – will bring some around for you on thursday |
| Pierce Inverarity | 16 Mar 2010 7:01 a.m. PST |
I've been on the verge of buying this for three months now-- link |
 Der Alte Fritz  | 16 Mar 2010 7:08 a.m. PST |
The FOW book on North Africa provides a fairly decent overview for newbies like me. I bought that as a starter and then branched out into other books from there. |
| Rich Bliss | 16 Mar 2010 7:57 a.m. PST |
I suggest you take a look at "Benghazi Handicap" by Frank Chadwick for a comprensive take on the early desert campagns. The Italian Army is
covered in particular detail. |
aecurtis  | 16 Mar 2010 8:47 a.m. PST |
"Benghazi Handicap" as Pierce Inverarity and Rich Bliss mention, is an excellent resource. But for the specific questions you have, you might look at Donald Featherstone's old "Tank battles in miniature: A wargamers' guide to the Western Desert Campaign in 1940-1942" (PSL, 1973). From his own experiences, as well as collating a great deal of data, he addresses most of the details you're looking for. Indeed, the book is much better for getting a feel for armored warfare in the desert than it is a proper set of rules. There's a copy on eBay now, at a reasonable bid so far: auction See also: link Allen |
| BigRedBat | 16 Mar 2010 9:26 a.m. PST |
Thanks chaps- there are some excellent suggestions there! In particular I used to play Command Decision, so Chadwick is a useful suggestion; and Featherstone is always great! Cheers, Simon |
| Pierce Inverarity | 16 Mar 2010 11:07 a.m. PST |
Moreover, John Curry has recently said that he'll be reprinting Featherstone's Tank Battles: "work is starting on the first book in the Tank Battle series in April 2010." Not sure what that means exactly… excerpt that I can't wait. |
| donlowry | 16 Mar 2010 1:19 p.m. PST |
Donald Featherstone's "Tank Battles in Miniature" is all about the NA campaign and has a lot of the type of thing you mention. |
| rddfxx | 16 Mar 2010 6:00 p.m. PST |
Tank Combat in North Africa: The Opening Rounds Operations Sonnenblume, Brevity, Skorpion and Battleaxe (Schiffer Military History) (Hardcover)
by Thomas L. Jentz (Author) Interesting book with lots of tactical detail and pix. Wish he'd finish the later campaign study. |
| wrgmr1 | 16 Mar 2010 6:17 p.m. PST |
Brazen Chariots by Robert Crisp is a great read. He was a troop commander in Honey's (Stuart's). |
| Major Mike | 16 Mar 2010 9:34 p.m. PST |
It is an old book, but, you can find copies on Amazon, "Armor Command: The Personal Story of the Commander of the 13th Armor, of the CCB, 1st Armored Division and the Armor School during WWII" by Paul McDonald Robinett. It covers many engagements that occur in North Africa. |
| (religious bigot) | 16 Mar 2010 10:17 p.m. PST |
You may find something of interest here:
link
for instance:
link |
| Martin Rapier | 17 Mar 2010 3:23 a.m. PST |
There are a considerable number of personal accounts as well as analyses of things like engagement ranges etc in the rather elderly but still good 'Torbuk' by FM Lord Carver, which covers both Crusader and and Gazala. The designers notes for the old AHGC boardgame 'Tobruk' are also useful. |
| Some Chicken | 18 Mar 2010 2:15 p.m. PST |
Have to agree with rddfxx on both points: Jentz's book is probably what you are looking for and a companion work covering Crusader and after is overdue. Expensive, but worth it for the detail and hard analysis. "Benghazi Handicap" is also a good investment as others have noted. BTW does anyone know what happened to the planned follow-up volume "Decision in the Desert" ? |
