North Africa Operation Compass Wargame

Today on Little Wars TV, we rewind the clock to January 1941 at the height of a major British offensive across Libya. This is the climax of Operation Compass, a wildly successful operation on the verge of wrecking Italian dreams in North Africa. We set up two tabletops to refight the twin battles at Derna airfield and Fort Mechili between the Italian army and the Commonwealth's Western Desert Force. Will the British momentum continue, or can the Italians finally stem the bleeding and hold firm?
We're wargaming these battles in 6mm scale with GHQ miniatures on custom hex terrain.

[@lovelustig8142]

Yes! The African campaign is not represented enough in wargaming.

[@militarywargaming7840]

We are doing east Africa as a tester before moving onto the big one North Africa kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3_WnKFjrKasp9U

[@deeznoots6241]

Tbf it does have one of the longest wargames to play ever made dedicated: The Campaign for North Africa. An estimated completion time of 1500 hours and recommended 10 players with a 3m map board. It goes into ridiculously complex detail like Italian troops using more water because they cook pasta and every unit losing 3% of their fuel a turn due to evaporation(except the British who lose 7% a turn to represent the poorer storage method of oil drums in comparison to the Jerry can used by the Italians and Germans)

[@lovelustig8142]

Haha yes, I know of that one. But thats not a game, it's a life style.

[@tommagennis]

@@deeznoots6241 Which is, if anything, perhaps a bit too much representation.

[@bleachorange]

Desert warfare is almost always dramatic in both the tactical and operational level. I'm definitely interested to see more.

[@WargamesTonight]

Ed put on a fine wargame and the video was fun to watch. I DEFINITELY would like to see more!

[@stevovondivo2326]

"Fosters" - drunk by literally no Australian - warm or cold - free or paid...EVER 😂 Another great show - thank you Ed and gang ❤

[@stuartbaxter-potter8363]

Yes! Give us the rest of the campaign! Like Greg said, it was really cool to see the Italians take center stage for once.

[@Eruidraith]

“Il Duce!” Shouted with the energy I might invoke the Emperors favor playing imperial guard in 40K! Made me cackle, the hat really adds to it

[@LittleWarsTV]

Well we do love funny hats around here. That’s for sure…

[@elliotlane3225]

Yes, it will be great to see this theatre played out on your channel. A lot of British What-if histories start with the possibility of the fall of Egypt and the capture of the Suez Canal. Shows just how important the North African campaign was to the pre-Pearl Harbour war.

[@generalsmite7167]

It also was really important in the post Pearl Harbor war as it saw the first deployment of Americans in the European theater

[@MrEjstrud]

Please make this a series 👍 this was awesome

[@axcelis6188]

Honestly I absolutely love to see a Pyrrhic style campaign in North Africa. As I love desert warfare (in ww2) and I would love to see the interesting dynamics yall always include (Weather in a campaign for example)

[@andypickard7314]

Well done, Ed! Yes, more North Africa games, please.

[@andrewtodd5919]

The common Italian soldier gets a bad reputation. Rommel said when properly led they were as good as his German soldiers. Italian officers acted as an elite and had luxuries on campaign, never sharing the hardships of their men. Always root for Miles , today was not his day. Tony for El Duce lol. Great video guys

[@talesfromshedhq5208]

Where's Dieter and his wonderful Austrian accent when you need him! 😂😂

[@michaelmanning5379]

It's always fun to see the Italians and Brits struggle with inter-war tank designs.

[@mrgunn2726]

I say, General Miles Louch got quite the promotion to field marshal. Sadly, he is now known as 'Bloody Slouch'. A tip of the pith to Generalissmo Grigori for his stout defense of the airfield. Fantastic games all in all Little Wars team. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[@garyarmitage9359]

My sons and I are planning to refight the 1st gun-armed tank battle in North Africa which occurred at Gabr al Ahmar. A very competent Italian Tank Officer, Col. Aresca led the 4th Tank Regiment with a combined arms force including M11/39's, Bersaglieri and Royal Artillery against elements of the 7th Armored Brigade with A9 Cruisers. The Italians won the 1st gun armed tank battle in North Africa on 5 August 1940. Aresca was trying out combine arms and it was working. (Before the appearance of the Matilda) I totally agree with your assessment of the Italian Army. Folgore, the Bersaglieri, Royal Artillery and Ariete fought well and competently.

[@nepete7]

TBF, the British did not know that the Italian 11/39s were coming at Gabr al Ahmar. These early battles are fascinating, some great scenarios in both the Too Fat Lardy books and Chadwick's "Benghazi Handicap", possibly the source for the two presented here.

[@davidbarsdell6629]

Seeing the Aussies in a Wargame gives me hope of a NZ themed Wargame. Either way great episode and lovely to see Italy and its beautiful hats!!!!!!! Great work and keep it up.

[@MRFlackAttack1]

You’ll probably get so see them in the 3rd El Alamein episode.

[@LukeBunyip]

Did you spot the Kiwi Bren Carriers in some of the intro video? G'day from across the Tasman

[@EricAlainDufresne]

Please do continue with the North Africa series! All the best.

[@robertjackson9050]

Can't wait to see more of the North African campaign on your channel

[@jjsheets330]

The ED fan club approves this episode and this series 👍🏻 Our moar ED 2023 campaign has paid off. YES!!!!!!!!

[@NotMCKarl]

Great game from a CRIMINALLY underrepresented theatre of war. Bravery and daring were off the charts in the African theatre.

[@Anvilarm07]

LOL Love the intro comments about the British being scattered. The western desert is my favourite campaign in WWII and the British have a long, proud tradition of scattering their forces. OMG that terrain is gorgeous. I love Gregg's helmet. Yes please for the follow up battles. Also this is not a criticism, but I really like games with a bit more fog of war aspect. Confuse and bewilder those players, Mr. Referee!

[@babylonsburning1]

The Desert War was pivotal to WW2, before El Alamein we never won a battle after, we never lost one. More please.

[@105Gunner]

Another vote yes for more of the North African campaign and glad to finally see the great GHQ MicroArmour on LWTV!

[@sullivannix4509]

This is one of those channels where I automatically hit the like button, even before I’ve watched the video

[@peteenglish8773]

Thanks for the disclaimer about Benito, I was worried.

[@jeremybain3830]

Never clicked off another video so fast, to watch tiny soldiers do battle. Love these battles!

[@klausfritsch4350]

Thanks for going to North Africa, the most interesting theater in my opinion.

[@LittleWarsTV]

Something about it always captures the imagination. There’s a kind of odd romanticism of the desert war that lingers

[@xcandiottix]

I think a whole desert campaign would be an amazing series to watch!

[@steveholmes11]

Nice to see you adopting Commomwealth military terminology "bolloxed". 🙂

[@grahamtravers4522]

Except it was the British Empire, not the Commonwealth.

[@Vaultboy-ke2jj]

@@grahamtravers4522 The Commonwealth has been called the Commonwealth since 1926 so he’s correct

[@billmasters385]

This balanced engagement alone shows the potential for future fun and mayhem. Yes please.

[@gonatas1]

Something you guys might try is using Sam Mustafa s Rommel for large operational desert battles. We did a large Crusader game a year back that worked really well, inspired by your Normandy game. And this summer we are doing the Gazala battles.

[@gavinpearson74]

Interested to know more…as very tempted by Sam’s rules set Rommel…but only tried a small game so far.

[@gonatas1]

@@gavinpearson74 Similiar to what LWTV did with the Normandy game, we played with microarmor (1:285) with units mounted on 2” by 1.5@ bases. Our grid squares are 100mm. We expanded the desert scale closer to 2km per square to allow for representing a large area from just west of Bardia to the eastern defenses of Tobruk. Artillery ranges were adjusted to the new scale but we preserved the stacking and each unit was representing a reinforced company on the table. We figured the unique desert environment made thinner formations and more extended frontages supportable at the increased ground scale. This also allowed us to represent almost the entire Africa Korps and the 8th army involved in Crusader on a 10’ x 6’ table. Turn scale was also condensed to 12 turns per day with a night turn following. The Rommel rules were ideal for simply representing the free for all that ensued-very much in line with WWII western desert warfare. With formations fighting to pin and encircle each other we very much had a naval battle on land as you might expect.

[@byronzeigler4427]

I would love to see the rest of the North African campaign. Thank you

[@davidsumpter7117]

I have always been interested in the North African campaigns, I’d love to see more.

[@adampriestley7732]

More of the North Africa campaign and Ed please. Such a great episode.

[@metalalby920]

Great map, would love to see more modern battles

[@LittleWarsTV]

More modern you say? You’ll very much enjoy our NEXT wargame then!

[@russby3554]

​@@LittleWarsTV oh you teases!

[@peteenglish8773]

Greg likes playing the Italians because he gets to wear the fantastic pith helmet!

[@sterlingnorthum3911]

Absolutely please I would love to see the rest of the campaign finished. My wife's grandfather fought and was injured during this campaign and it's always held an interest to me after finding that out.

[@pearsonbrantley8012]

I absolutely want to see the North Africa campaign in wargame! Do it!

[@rileyosteen6470]

Love early north africa! Thank you!

[@andyedwards9222]

That was a most enjoyable pair of games. Lovely tables, definitely want to see more North African action.

[@Uncle_T]

I would very much like to see more North African battles, absofrikkinlutely!

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Great Game in all ways Guys! Oh, when mentioning the Australian contribution to world culture, you forgot the most important one; The Meat Pie Floater!!

[@mabinogion7023]

Lovely work. An underrated campaign

[@joeldawson4301]

I liked the rhetorical question at the end…… of course we want more war games from this theatre

[@Yanasubmits]

Very timely - A friend and I are about to (tonight) start a campaign - starting at Tummar West Dec 1940 - right at the start of Compass (using Rapid fire reloaded)

[@schwabrichard9829]

A great game! Keep rolling with the desert games!! North Africa needs more air time!!!

[@keithflint7243]

Another fine wargaming video. Thanks for putting it out. Of course, like everyone else, I'd like to see more! Only reservation - the accusation of Italian 'cowardice' was never directly addressed. I think we all know their problems stemmed from poor training, equipment, senior command and logistics.

[@jardinestirling1916]

Yes, definitely it will be great to see this theatre played out on your channel.

[@lawrence142002]

One thing I've learned watching these videos is that Miles, for better or worse, is almost always hyper-aggressive in his early moves no matter what.

[@markhenderson6389]

Fantastic game! The Western Desert Campaign is my favorite theater and period of WWII. Looking forward to the next battle!

[@Gunter-ug6bl]

Absolutely , I have a reasonably large force of old GHQ and CnC AFV , Guns , transport and infantry. Maybe this will inspire me to pull it out after many , Manu years.

[@alexanderhammond7205]

I could watch this as a whole season, more please!

[@user-lq3fz7px8w]

Yes, please continue the North Africa Campaign. Ed please do more . I really enjoyed this video of WWII battle.

[@chrisking1334]

Yes! Please do return to this theatre! Also: great game - thanks, Chaps!

[@teaandmedals7677]

Excellent video as ever. The WW2 war games are a joyful mix of history/entertainment I hope the Vietnam games may make a return one day ?

[@dennissaring5484]

Yes, i would like to see more games of the dessert theatre. By the way - fantastic looking scenery!

[@FigonGoT20]

great game, love the 6mm WWII games, and looking forward to the rest of your planned North Africa games!

[@reglavcor]

Always love the sound effects during the battle.

[@seanhillman1016]

Absolutely return to the North Africa. This was a great video.

[@josephgough30]

North Africa has always been one of my favorite theatres! I would love to see more wargames for this period!

[@benjaminwaterhouse4879]

My late father in law served in the 4th Indian Division in the desert. He always gave the Italians their due as hard fighters; he said their problem was poor generalship and lack of transport.

[@DrewShotsFan]

Yes, please keep this theatre going. You can't start a story and not finish it

[@randeetereshko6116]

When I played FOW we always did it in micro armor, it was so much more fun!

[@SwordlordRoy]

It's always refreshing to see a theater of the Second World War that ISN'T D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge or the Eastern Front. I would love to see more of how the Matilda II became the Queen of the Desert! wouldn't mind seeing Fall of France, Greco-Italian War, Talvisota, or Continuation War games either.

[@Grashan]

As the late, great Richard Berg said, unless Italian forces have to account for extra water rations for their soldiers to boil pasta, the game isn't truly a Campaign For North Africa.

Certainly would love to see more action in the desert!

[@wade4978]

Can't wait to see more North Africa campaigns

[@nepete7]

Love the desert war, and the games were very well presented with lovely tables and nice equipment (external stowage added to 1/285 tanks?!). Do feel compelled to note that the final comments about the historical Mechilli are off. All accounts I've read say both sides lost half a dozen tanks, the British lights initially fleeing the M13s until British cruisers arrived, shot a half dozen M13s without loss, at which point the Italians withdrew. So it was a fight, mostly a draw, but the Italians were discouraged enough to abandon the local over night.

[@mikedowd2094]

Great game, very enjoyable watch, and yes, it makes the heart sing to these English ears to hear the word "Bollocksed" eminate from American lips😅

[@bace9381]

Yes continue the battles

[@cjhuntsinger2277]

Yes! Make this a continuous narrative campaign!

[@indianajon7980]

Yes definitely want to see more! Also a review/game of "Bomber Command" which I saw in the background and have struggled to find much about.

[@Kili121416]

Great to see a desert war game. Nice to see some recognition to the Australian actions in the war. More due in future scenarios.

[@stephennutt4083]

Brilliant game - I for one would like to see more Western Desert games.

[@owenphillips1646]

Love when you guys play campaigns - makes each battle matter more.

[@alexnelson5606]

Keep it up. Would love to see more North African War games or even the Italian Campaign

[@marksargeant1019]

Yes you should return to North Africa. Ed delivered the goods with this game set on two tables. You guys could try a game set in the East Africa campaign in WW2.

[@jasonrucker4722]

Great game - please continue the desert war series.

[@bobm203]

Gents, great game, lovely terrain…look forward to more desert games & will have to get a copy of fistfull of tows. Seems to play really well….thanks

[@tonymarano913]

A great set of rules for bigger battles. I highly recommend it

[@BadWaterMotors]

Great fun. I'd love more Africa content.

[@isaacsantos6200]

Would love to see more of North Africa!

[@OverlordJake]

Ed episodes are my favorite episodes.

[@bigsarge2085]

Awesome, yes, North Africa campaign!

[@johnchristie823]

Great game, would like to see more, Thank you!!

[@radec5437]

As Italian, I am excited to see! Well done Guys!

[@markgrehan3726]

It would be awesome to see more of this setting and the real history behind it.

[@Katzbalger001]

Nice video and it seemed to be a couple of fun games. Return to North Africa, please!

[@kevinwalker3918]

Definitely more North Africa please!

[@JRSimoes]

Great job and looking forward to seeing the rest of the North African campaign!!

[@alans3023]

Interesting game and well presented. Shame that parts of the outcome hinged on lots of 1s - the always feels a bit hard to take, but then Im a firm fan of average dice.

[@paulbenson9015]

Thanks Gents, very interesting!! Yes please, would love to see more! A nice change from Europe/Russian Front. Beautiful terrain & miniatures 👍

[@robkoper841]

Always a fan of "fog of war", GM'ed games, and house rules. Well done, Ed!

[@SedgewickFairfax]

This was an excellent game and I really look forward to seeing the future Desert games. The war in the Western Desert is my favorite campaign and it just doesn't get much play here in the States. Please keep going with the desert theme

[@adamparry8897]

Absolutely would love to see additional battles

[@markmulcahey5172]

Great video, great tables and figures. Really looking forward to seeing the rest of the battles

[@ryanwhy1585]

Can't wait to watch the rest of this series!

[@phill2065]

Please finish this campaign, I was gripped the entire time!

[@acrossthetablenz]

Well presented games, thank you for putting the video together. I hope you look at some additional battles in the desert in due course.

[@davidwasilewski]

Looks like a great game. Nice terrain and 6mm WW2 minis. A proper Historical scenario and one in an underrepresented theatre. 👍

[@zilla_uk6693]

That was a great game and video, as always. I can't wait for the video on the Generals. More North Africa, please