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North Africa: Mid-war Forces Spotlight

North Africa: Mid-war Forces Spotlight 
with Phil Yates
It has been a while since we turned the spotlight on the war in the desert, but that is about to change with the release of the North Africa compilation and the accompanying starter and army sets.

Whether you are returning to the Mid-War period or starting from scratch, everything you need is now easily accessible in one place. The North Africa compilation includes all of the existing Mid-War books for the war in the desert:

  • Afrika Korps, 90th Light, and Death from Above for the Germans,
  • Armoured Fist and Red Devils for the British,
  • Avanti and more from Death from Above for the Italians, and
  • Fighting First and All American for the Americans.

North Africa: Mid-war Forces Spotlight...

Kasserine (FWBX11) Kasserine (FWBX11)
On 8 November 1942 American forces landed with a bang in North Africa, they stomed ashore and advanced on Tunisia from the west, sandwiching the German Afrika Korps and their Italian allies between the US forces and the British pushing from the east. On 19 February 1943, the American Second Corps clashed in an epic battle at Kasserine with the attacking German Panzer Divisions under the command of General Rommel, the Desert Fox.

Kasserine (FWBX11)...

Tobruk (FWBX12)
On 20th June 1942 Italian and German forces attacked the British fortifications around Tobruk, key city that sat astride the supply lines for both sides. Two Italian infantry divisions launched deversionary attacks from the west, while armoured units massed in the east with more Italian infantry ready to follow up the breakthrough. The fight for Tobruk was one of the many critical battles that determined the fate of North Africa

Tobruk (FWBX12)...

Tobruk (FWBX12)

British Crusader Armoured Squadron (BRAB15)

British Crusader Armoured Squadron (BRAB15)
“I want to impose on everyone that the bad times are over, they are finished! Our mandate from the Prime Minister is to destroy the Axis forces in North Africa...It can be done, and it will be done!.”
~Montgomery

British Crusader Armoured Squadron (BRAB15)...

German Dak Panzer Company (GEAB22)
Under the leadership of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel, the Deutsches Afrika Korps (or DAK) trounced the British Eighth Army time and time again. The ‘Desert Fox’, as he became known, gained an almost mythical status as a military genius to both friend and foe alike. Rommel owed his success to a combination of his own experience and hard-driving nature, and the superb troops he commanded. Serving as a Leutnant in the First World War, Rommel showed an aggressive style that led to spectacular victories over forces much stronger than his own.

German Dak Panzer Company (GEAB22)...

German Dak Panzer Company (GEAB22)

Italian M14/41 Tank Company (ITAB03)

Italian M14/41 Tank Company (ITAB03)
The Italians learned about modern warfare the hard way in 1940. Now they are back, showing the world what the Italian soldier can do. Fighting under the famous ‘Desert Fox’, General Rommel, they form a crucial part of the Italian-German Panzer Army. Tough, determined, skilled, and aggressive veterans, the Italians broke through the British Gazala Line to save the trapped German Afrika Korps, held the line at El Alamein, and opened the way at Kasserine Pass, before holding up the American offensive at El Guettar. Fight or die for the new Roman Empire!

Italian M14/41 Tank Company (ITAB03)...

American M3 Lee Tank Company (USAB12)
Old Ironsides, the first of the mighty Armored Force, the pioneer in the art and science of armor, the father of other divisions, the first armored division overseas, the first to land on African soil, the first to engage the German troops in World War II, the instructor of others entering combat, the first into Rome, the first of the armored divisions in days of actual field service during World War II.

American M3 Lee Tank Company (USAB12)...

American M3 Lee Tank Company (USAB12)

M6 Heavy Tank Platoon (UBX96)

M6 Heavy Tank Platoon (UBX96)
The M6 has a variety of weapons for use depending on its target. In Tunisia, each tank battalion could have fielded an M6 heavy tank platoon. The 3-inch gun is the same powerful weapon fitted to tank destroyers. It is ideal for knocking out enemy tanks, even well-armoured ones. The 37mm is more deadly than the 3-inch gun against enemy guns and machine-guns as the 3-inch gun lacks an effective High Explosive (HE) shell. The high rate of fire of the .50 cal machineguns makes them the most useful weapon against infantry in the open and the only weapon that can harm aircraft. The M6 heavy tank has enough armour to stop most anti-tank guns outright. Only the immensely powerful German ‘88’ can hope to reliably penetrate this well-protected tank.

M6 Heavy Tank Platoon (UBX96)...

M27 Tank Platoon (UBX95)
The M27 is one of the most advanced medium tanks in the world. Its gun is the most powerful weapon mounted in a tank of its size, its mobility is excellent, and its armour exceeds that of some heavy tanks. The M27 is armed with a brand-new M1 76mm gun as powerful as the tank destroyers’ 3-inch gun, but fitted with a stabiliser for effective firing on the move. The M27 takes the protection of the well-armoured M4 Sherman to the next level, creating a medium tank with armour to rival some heavy tanks.

M27 Tank Platoon (UBX95)...

M27 Tank Platoon (UBX95)

T55 Interceptor Tank Destroyer Platoon (UBX97)

T55 Interceptor Tank Destroyer Platoon (UBX97)
The T55 Interceptor operates using the Tank Destroyer Command’s ‘Seek, Strike and Destroy’ doctrine. Rather than standing in place and slugging it out, the Interceptors use their speed to race to the flanks of an enemy tank attack. Once there, they pop up behind ridges or tree lines, shoot the enemy, then duck back before the enemy can retaliate. The Interceptor’s 3-inch gun is the most powerful anti-tank weapon in the American arsenal. While quite capable of destroying tanks from the front, it is particularly devastating in their weaker flanks. The T55’s wheeled chassis makes it outstandingly fast on roads, allowing it to race into the best position to engage the enemy before they can prepare.

T55 Interceptor Tank Destroyer Platoon (UBX97)...

T14 Armoured Assault Troop (BBX70)
In September 1941, the British had expressed interest in a new assault tank as the Churchill was having teething problems. At the same time, the Ordnance Department had been looking at heavier tanks for the US Army. The T14 assault tank was seen as the solution for both these needs. The new design shared many features with the M6 heavy tank and the M4 Sherman medium tank, while incorporating British experience. The engine, transmission, and main armament were the same as the Sherman, while the tracks and suspension were based on those of the M6 heavy tank.

T14 Armoured Assault Troop (BBX70)...

T14 Armoured Assault Troop (BBX70)

Churchill GC 3-inch Gun Troop (BBX67)

Churchill GC 3-inch Gun Troop (BBX67)
With the arrival of the German Tiger tank in North Africa in late 1942, the General Staff might have revived the Churchill 3-inch Gun Carrier program and sent the existing Gun Carriers to support the Churchill tanks of the Army Tank Brigade in Tunisia. If they had done this, some battalions could have issued their allocation of Gun Carriers to a dedicated anti-tank troop in each squadron, others would have issued one to each troop to ensure that they would always be on hand when required.

Churchill GC 3-inch Gun Troop (BBX67)...

TOG 2* Armoured Troop (BBX68)
Fosters of Lincoln, who had built the original heavy tanks, created a massive 81-tonne tank, the TOG designed by ‘The Old Gang'. The German Blitzkrieg demolished their concept along with the army in France. Immediately work was started on a new version with a more powerful armament in a conventional turret. The TOG 2 was an interesting hybrid of the old and the new. The tank still had no suspension, just like the original heavy tanks, but used an advanced electric transmission. The proposed 6 pdr gun, although not yet fitted to any tank, was deemed too light for such a big tank, so they fitted the new 17 pdr anti-tank gun, producing the TOG 2*.

TOG 2* Armoured Troop (BBX68)...

TOG 2* Armoured Troop (BBX68)

Boarhound Armoured Car Troop (BBX69)

Boarhound Armoured Car Troop (BBX69)
The T18 heavy armoured car prototype was developed in 1942 by the Yellow Truck & Coach Company as a large all-wheel-drive, eight-wheeler with the front four wheels steering. Its thick armour was unusual for an armoured car, and brought the weight of the vehicle up to 26 tons—similar to contemporary medium tanks such as the M3 Lee and three times the weight of the equivalent German eight-wheeled armoured cars. In keeping with its size, the originally specified armament of an M6 37mm gun was replaced with the newly-designed M1 57mm gun, a US-manufactured variant of the British 6 pdr gun. While the United States Army was not interested in the vehicle, the successful use of armoured cars by the British led them to place an order for 2500 T18E2 armoured cars, which they promptly christened the Boarhound. High production costs led to cancellation of the initial order after only 30 were delivered.

Boarhound Armoured Car Troop (BBX69)...

Semovente (Long) SP Battery (IBX22)
The Semovente da 75/34 was an improved design armed with a lengthened 75/34 gun and a more powerful engine. The design was completed by late 1942 and Fiat Ansaldo produced 190 by September 1943 when Italy surrendered. With the Italo-German forces pushed back across the border into Tunisia, the Royal Army could have rushed early prototypes of the long-barrelled Semovente to North Africa to help stop the Allied advance. Even then, large-scale deployment would have delayed until the fighting retreat to Tunis in April 1943 while they resolved mechanical problems with the new engine and the 75/34 gun mounting.

Semovente (Long) SP Battery (IBX22)...

Semovente (Long) SP Battery (IBX22)

Semovente (90mm) Battery (IBX23)

Semovente (90mm) Battery (IBX23)
The well armoured T-34 and KV-1 tanks encountered by the Italian expeditionary corps in Russia were a rude shock as no Italian weapons could penetrate them. The Semovente da 90/53 was designed as a solution. It mounted the new 90/53 anti-aircraft gun on a lengthened M14/41 tank chassis. Fitting such a big gun on such a small tank required the engine to be moved to the centre of the tank and the gun mounted at the extreme rear. This forced the crew to operate the gun while standing on the ground behind the vehicle.

Semovente (90mm) Battery (IBX23)...

P26/40 Heavy Tank Platoon (IBX21)
By Italian standards, the P26/40 was a heavy tank, nearly twice the weight of the standard M14/41 medium tank. The P26/40 carried a bigger gun, had more armour, and was faster than the medium tanks putting it a whole generation ahead in tank design, and on a par with the Americans, British, and Germans. The P26/40 was the only Italian tank capable of engaging the British and American Grant and Sherman tanks in a frontal fight. Instead of having to rely on sheer bravery to close with the enemy for flank shots, the P26/40 had the capability of engaging from the advantage of defensive positions.anks would have arrived in Africa as the Second Battle of El Alamein began.

P26/40 Heavy Tank Platoon (IBX21)...

P26/40 Heavy Tank Platoon (IBX21)

Tiger (P) Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX189)

Tiger (P) Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX189)
The Tiger (P) was scheduled to be sent to Africa where their air-cooled engines were seen as better suited to the hot and dusty conditions. If their electric transmissions had worked, the first five Tiger (P) tanks would have arrived in Africa as the Second Battle of El Alamein began. Like the Henschel-designed Tiger, Porsche's Tiger (P) mounted the deadly '88', equally capable against tanks, guns, and dug-in infantry. The Tiger (P) used a sophisticated petrol-electric transmission. This gave it an incredible ability to go almost anywhere. However, it was somewhat unreliable, limiting the practical top speed.

Tiger (P) Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX189)...

15cm Bison Infantry Gun Platoon (GBX186)
The Bison used an enlarged Panzer II chassis to allow the heavy 15cm infantry gun to keep up with the infantry in attacks. Using a larger chassis and a less powerful gun than the 15cm (Sf ) Lorraine Schlepper, it was able to fight a mobile battle, making it more effective in an assault role. The Bison batteries were attached to infantry regiments to give them heavy close-support.

15cm Bison Infantry Gun Platoon (GBX186)...

15cm Bison Infantry Gun Platoon (GBX186)

North Africa: Mid-war Cards Packs

North Africa: Mid-war Cards Packs
These packs contain a Unit Card pack containing one of each Unit Card that relates to their book, and a Command Card pack that allow Flames Of War generals to field iconic warriors, build new types of units, field new types of equipment, enhance your commander’s capabilities, and bring new tactics and stratagems to the battlefield. The packs have been designed to assist existing players that have already bought our miniatures and built their armies under previous editions and want cards to help transition to V4.

North Africa: Mid-war Cards Packs...


North Africa: Mid-war Gaming Sets
Even though they are toy soldiers, your troops react to heavy fire like real soldiers. Sometimes they get pinned down or bail out of their tanks. They can dig foxholes for protection or go to ground, hiding from the enemy. Tokens help you keep track of the state of your troops.The Mid-war Gaming Sets each contain themed 20 gaming tokens, 16 Dice and two Objective tokens all inside a collectable themed tin.

North Africa: Mid-war Gaming Sets

North Africa: Mid-war Gaming Sets

North Africa: Mid-war Gaming Sets North Africa: Mid-war Gaming Sets

New Releases New Releases

New Releases New Releases

New Releases New Releases

Armoured Fist Landing Page Fighting First Landing Page
Armoured Fist Landing Page... Fighting First Landing Page...

Afrika Korps Landing Page Avanti Landing Page
Afrika Korps Landing Page... Avanti Landing Page...
Airborne Forces Landing Page Airborne Forces Landing Page Airborne Forces Landing Page
Airborne Forces Landing Page...

The Bison And You
As the North Africa books have been collected into a new Compilation, a variety of new units have also been added, and while you might be excited for the big names like the Tiger (P), M6 Heavy and TOG, the Bison offers an interesting alternative which had a large impact on the development of Germany’s self-propelled guns.

The Bison And You...

The Bison And You

Armoured Assault - The T14 Assault Tank In Flames of War

Armoured Assault - The T14 Assault Tank In Flames of War
With the release of North Africa Mid-War Forces, Flames of War players have an amazing range of new tanks to choose from to enhance their battles in the desert.  Amongst these are some unusual and experimental vehicles that, though they showed promise (in most cases), did not go into general deployment in WWII.  North Africa Mid-War Forces embraces these vehicles allowing players to use them in their armies.  This of course creates a trade off between historical accuracy and variety, but if you ask me, increasing your options as a player can only be a good thing.  In this article we want to take a closer look at one of these theoretical vehicles, the T14 Assault tank.

Armoured Assault - The T14 Assault Tank In Flames of War...

The TOG 2* Wild Card Unit
With the release of the North Africa Compilation, we have been re-introduced to some of the experimental vehicles that were designed and prototyped but not necessarily saw action. There are three main ways that these vehicles can be used in the game. Some are in a Formation and can be fielded as a Formation itself or as Support Unit using the Formation Support rules.  Secondly, some are in the Force Diagram as Support Units and finally we have a use for the “WildCard” slot on the Force Diagram. If one of these new units is a “WildCard” unit, then it can be fielded in this slot. Not only that, if there are more than one type of unit for the “WildCard” slot, you can field one of each of the them if you wish, as part of your force. For the British for example, there are three units that fit this category (you could field a unit of all three if you wish!). They are Churchill GC 3-Inch Gun Troop, TOG 2 * Armoured Troop, and the Boarhound Armoured Car Troop.

The TOG 2* Wild Card Unit...

The TOG 2* Wild Card Unit

The Tiger (P) In North Africa

The Tiger (P) In North Africa
If there is one tank that almost any wargamer knows, it’s the iconic German Tiger tank! I would also think that it is one of the first tanks that any German player buys ( I know it was mine!), and anyone that knows nothing about WW2, would know the Tiger by name alone. But most people do not know about its step-brother the Tiger (P), or Porsche Tiger, designed by the brilliant Ferdinand Porsche. 

The Tiger (P) In North Africa...

T18E2 Boarhound – A vehicle ahead of its time!
The Boarhound has got to be for me, one of the best looking British vehicles of WW2, and really to be accurate, it is a US designed vehicle, which the British asked to be designed given the success they’d had with armoured cars fighting against the Italians and Germans earlier in the deserts of North Africa. 

T18E2 Boarhound – A vehicle ahead of its time!...

T18E2 Boarhound – A vehicle ahead of its time!

Sturmpanzer II Bison – Support when it counts

Sturmpanzer II Bison – Support when it counts
The release of the mid war North Africa Compilation brings you some new toys to play with as an Axis player, with new units for both German and Italian forces, as well as nicely bringing together a unified support diagram for North Africa, with all the formations that were previously in booklets or just as cards like the 90th Light Division, and finally giving us a use for the Wildcard Slot!

Sturmpanzer II Bison – Support when it counts...

Using the Tiger (P) in North Africa
As North Africa is released, it brings with it a variety of new Vehicles which only existed as prototypes or only saw limited combat service, in this article we will examine the Tiger (P) looking at the historical background to this tank, it’s statistics in game as well as an examination of possible tactics and army lists.

Using the Tiger (P) in North Africa...

Using the Tiger (P) in North Africa

Kasserine and Tobruk Starter Set Scenarios

Kasserine and Tobruk Starter Set Scenarios  
Here we present two Scenarios to go with our new North Africa Mid-War Starter Sets, Kasserine and Tobruk. We took note of John from On Tabletop’s suggestion that we have a beginner’s historical scenario to go along with our starter sets and recently unboxed the Tobruk and Kasserine Starter sets. We have put together two scenarios pitting the forces from the Kasserine and Tobruk starter sets against each other in a paired match up.

Kasserine and Tobruk Starter Set Scenarios ....

Firestorm Campaign: Battle Of Gazala - 26 May- 21 June  1942
Every battle fought in World War II was part of a campaign — even as each battle was being fought the generals were planning the next one. The conclusion of every successful campaign affected the course of the war as a whole. By participating in a campaign you can make a valuable contribution to your side’s war effort.

Campaigning adds a whole new dimension to your Flames Of War battles. Individual battles become part of an unfolding story as your fortune fluctuates between victories and defeats. Instead of just a single victory, can you string together a series of victories and prove your superior generalship? Or perhaps, as you get the measure of your opponent’s force, you can turn early defeats into a triumphant reversal in a later battle.

Firestorm Campaign: Battle Of Gazala - 26 May- 21 June  1942...

Firestorm Campaign: Battle Of Gazala - 26 May- 21 June  1942

Using the Fighting First Command Cards

Using the Fighting First Command Cards
with Ryan Jeffares

The command card pack for Fighting First contains a bevy of different options in the command cards, which can customise the choices available for an American Mid War army from Fighting First.

Using the Fighting First Command Cards...

Looking At The North Africa US and German Command Cards
with John Lee
When V4 of Flames of War released, alongside the books were Unit Cards and Command Cards – this was new for the game. The Unit Cards have all the stats as in the book and rules for that unit which meant you could refer to them more easily in the game, rather than having to flick through different sections of the Army book. The addition of the command cards allowed the army book to be streamlined with the core formations and units whilst the specialising, upgrading, downgrading, warriors and non-standard formations and units moved to the new card pack.

Looking At The North Africa German Command Cards...
Looking At The North Africa USCommand Cards...

Looking At The North Africa US Command Cards

North Africa: Mid-War Formations

North Africa: Mid-War Formations
With the launch of the North Africa: Mid War Forces we have decided to publish the updated Formations from the new book for use in Mid-war for our customers who brought the now combined older books. Below you will find printable PDF files for both the Unit Cards and Force Organisation Pages for Afrika Korps, Avanti, Armoured Fist and Fighting First.

If you want to obtain a copy of the Force Organization click the link blelow and contact our customer service who can sort out shipping you a copy of the updated Force Org cards.

North Africa: Mid-War Formations...


Miniature Landscape Hobbies - Terrain for North Africa Mid-war Forces: Desert Houses


Command Card Previews
The command cards include a range of options that can enhance or change your gaming experience by adding new Formations, Upgrades and Warriors, giving you even more choice when building your force. Below you'll find previews of some of the cards rules as well as a full list of each card pack.

Avanti Command Cards Previews...
Afrika Korps Command Cards Previews...
Fighting First Command Cards Previews...
Armoured Fist Command Cards Previews...

Using the Fighting First Command Cards


Last Updated On Wednesday, March 30, 2022 by Luke at Battlefront