From 1940 to 1943 North Africa saw the first major desert campaign by modern mechanised armies. The British, Italians, German Afrika Korps and US Army all addressed and learned from the special problems human, logistical, mechanical and tactical of the desert environment, most significantly fighting in a terrain empty of resources and offering little chance of concealment. Paddy Griffith traces the fast-learned development in armour, artillery and infantry tactics in this exceptional arena and illustrates them with references to the major engagements in the North African theatre, which involved some of the greatest tacticians of World War II in one of the pivotal theatres.

INTRODUCTION·LESSONS OF OPERATION 'CRUSADER', WINTER 1941/2·LESSONS OF GAZALA, SPRING 1942·LESSONS OF FIRST ALAMEIN: successes of British artillery, minefields and infantry night attacks - failure of German high-risk tank tactics·MONTGOMERY: successes of Alam el Halfa and Second Alamein - new equipment and strength·TUNISIA: ARRIVAL OF US ARMY: early failures, tactical lessons and later successes - failure of German Tiger tanks

Paddy Griffith, illustrated by Adam Hook