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Afrika Korps - German Forces In The Desert 1942-43
German Forces In The Desert 1942-43

Afrika Korps
German Forces In The Desert 1942-43

The German Afrika Korps is a hard-fighting force of tough veteran troops who have won many battles and expect to win many more. Their Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks outclass the British tanks they face, and have been steadily upgraded to maintain their edge over the opposition. Their infantry are organised to have ‘few men, many weapons’, so they pack a ferocious punch whether facing infantry or tanks. These are backed by the famous ‘88’ dual-purpose anti-tank/anti-aircraft gun and the Stuka dive bomber.

Afrika Korps (FW242)...


90th Light Africa Division (GBX104)
The 90th Light Africa Division had three times as much infantry as panzer divisions making it an essential part of Rommel’s plan to defeat British defensive positions. To counter enemy tanks, the Division turned to an unlikely source of equipment. During the invasion of the Soviet Union the German army captured hundreds of excellent 7.62cm guns. German engineers were able to further improve the design making it even more deadly. To hunt down enemy tanks, guns were also mounted on halftracks to create the Diana.

90th Light Africa Division (GBX104)...

90th Light Africa Division (GBX104)

Rommel's Afrika Korps (GEAB14) Rommel's Afrika Korps (Plastic) (GEAB14)

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.

Rommel's Afrika Korps (GEAB14)...
Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon (Plastic) (GBX99)

The massive Tiger tank was planned to be in service for the Battle of El
Alamein. Technical problems delayed its arrival in North Africa until later
in the year when they were shipped to Tunisia to fight there. They fought
alongside the Afrika Korps in the Battle of Kasserine Pass.

Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX99)...
Tiger Heavy Tank Platoon (GBX99)
Panzer IV Tank Platoon (GBX97) Panzer IV Tank Platoon (Plastic) (GBX97)

The Panzer IV equips one company in each tank battalion. Its role is to provide heavy fire support for the lighter Panzer III tanks of the other companies. Initially, the companies had two platoons of short-barrelled Panzer IV tanks as artillery support. As the Battle of Gazala progressed, long-barrelled versions arrived, replacing the artillery support role with a heavy anti-tank capability. 

Panzer IV Tank Platoon (GBX97)...
Panzer III Tank Platoon (Plastic) (GBX96)

The Panzer III is Germany's standard tank, making up over two-thirds of their tank strength. It has good mobility, is well armoured, and is armed with an effective 5cm (2-inch) gun. Manned by veteran crews that are confident in their abilities and Germany's eventual victory, they are capable of defeating just about any tank in the world.

Panzer III Tank Platoon (GBX96)...
Panzer III Tank Platoon (GBX96)
8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon (GBX98) 8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon (Plastic) (GBX98)

The German Army appreciated the heavy 8.8cm FlaK36 anti-aircraft gun as an anti-tank gun. Its ability to knock out any tank at long range was far more interesting to front-line soldiers than its ability to protect their supply lines from Allied bombing raids. As a result, German divisions were often accompanied by Luftwaffe (Air Force) heavy anti-aircraft batteries operating as anti-tank guns. These units were so effective that Allied tank crews soon started referring to any effective anti-tank gun as an '88'. 

8.8cm Heavy AA Platoon (GBX98)...
10.5cm Artillery Battery (Plastic) (GBX91)

The 10.5cm leFH18 light field howitzer is the standard German artillery piece, supporting their attacks and helping drive off enemy counterattacks. Firing a heavier shell than the British 25 pdr gun, it is correspondingly more effective, although less versatile in the anti-tank role. 

10.5cm Artillery Battery (GBX91)...
10.5cm Artillery Battery (GBX91)
5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (GBX93) 5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (Plastic) (GBX93)

The 5cm PaK38 anti-tank gun defends the rifle company against enemy tanks. Whether entrenched in a defensive position or being dragged forward in an attack, the PaK38 is useful against any type of threat.

5cm Tank-hunter Platoon (GBX93)...
Afrika Korps Rifle Platoon (GE746)

After taking heavy casualties in the siege of Tobruk, infantry units in Africa were reorganised to have 'fewer men, more weapons'. Each company was organised as a self-contained battlegroup with its own anti-tank and artillery capability. This allowed the tanks to operate independently from the infantry, giving them the freedom to manoeuvre against the enemy.

Afrika Korps Rifle Platoon (GE746)...
Afrika Korps Rifle Platoon (GE746)
Marder (7.62cm) Tank-hunter Platoon (GBX101) Marder (7.62cm) Tank-hunter Platoon (GBX101)

Faced with Russian tanks that their own tanks could not easily penetrate, the Germans hastily mounted captured Russian guns on obsolete Panzer 38(t) tank chassis. These effective tank-hunters quickly found their way to the desert where their ability as long-range tank killers was appreciated.

Marder Tank-hunter Platoon (GBX101)...
15cm Lorraine Schlepper Battery (GBX95)

The 15cm (Sf) Lorraine Schlepper is a strange marriage of a First World War 15cm sFH13 howitzer hitched to a captured French Lorraine armoured supply carrier. The result is rather odd-looking but is still an effective self-propelled artillery piece.

15cm Lorraine Schlepper Battery (GBX95)...
15cm Lorraine Schlepper Battery (GBX95)
Sd Kfz 221/222 Light Scout Troop (GBX92) Sd Kfz 221 & 222 Light Scout Troop (GBX92)

The Afrika Korps used a mix of light and heavy armoured cars for reconnaissance and to protect themselves from marauding British armoured cars.

The scout troops press British armoured cars back with determination, but in the end, they are aware of their limitations and the foolishness of attempting to assault infantry with a wheeled vehicle.

Sd Kfz 221 & 222 Light Scout Troop (GBX92)...
Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Scout Troop (GBX100)

The Afrika Korps used a mix of light and heavy armoured cars for reconnaissance and to protect themselves from marauding British armoured cars. The more numerous light four-wheeled armoured cars were supported by giant 8-wheelers capable of moving cross-country faster than most tanks.

Sd Kfz 231 Heavy Scout Troop (GBX100)...
Sd Fkz 231 Heavy Scout Troop (GBX100)
Sd Kfz 10/4 2cm Light AA Platoon (GBX94) Sd Kfz 10/4 2cm Light AA Platoon (GBX94)

The Sd Kfz 10/4 half-track mounts a 20mm anti-aircraft gun on a cross-country mount, allowing it to operate with both tanks and infantry. Although the half-track is unarmoured, the gun's shield gives the crew some protection.

Sd Kfz 10/4 2cm Light AA Platoon (GBX94)...
Panzer II Tank Platoon (GBX102)

The Panzer II was designed as a training tank, but war overtook Germany's plans and they used it as a light tank.

Because its 2cm gun is effective against armoured cars and light tanks, but has no effect on heavy tanks, it is used to scout out routes of advance and to chase off enemy reconnaissance.

Panzer II Tank Platoon (GBX102)...
Panzer II Tank Platoon (GBX102)
Ju 87 Stuka Dive Bomber Flight (GBX103) Ju 87 Stuka Dive Bomber Flight (GBX103)

Every major attack by the Afrika Korps was preceded by an intensive dive-bomber bombardment designed to flatten all resistance. Ever since
the fall of France, the scream of a Stuka's dive sirens struck fear into Allied soldiers, heralding a deadly-accurate attack from the sky.

Ju 87 Stuka Dive Bomber Flight (GBX103)...
Afrika Korps Token Set (GE901)

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.

Afrika Korps Token Set (BE901)...
Afrika Korps Token Set (GE901)

Afrika Korps Dice Set (GE900)

Afrika Rats Dice Set (GE900)

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.

Afrika Korps Dice Set (GE900)...

Afrika Korps Command Cards (FW242C)

Command Cards provide Flames Of War generals with a way to further personalise and enhance their forces.

Afrika Korps Command Cards (FW242C)...

Command Cards

Afrika Korps Design Notes
with Phil Yates

Phil takes a quick look at the Afrika Korps book and talks about some of the changes that the new version of Flames Of War has wrought in them.

Afrika Korps Design Notes...

Changing A Tiger's Stripes: Part One
An Alternative Paint Scheme For The Tiger in Mid-war
with Blake Coster

Blake offers some advice on an alternative paint scheme for the Tiger in Mid-war.

Changing A Tiger's Stripes: Part One...

Changing A Tigers Stripes: Part One
Chris

Chris Joins The Afrika Korps?
Part 1 - Pondering An Army

Chris has been lucky enough over the past decade (actually 9 years but close enough) working in the Studio to have seen a lot of amazing armies either at Tournaments, in the Painting Forum, or built and painted by his co-workers around the globe.

Thinking about those armies has lead him to create a German Afrika Korps Panzer Company.

Chris Joins The Afrika Korps?...

Eye Of The Tiger:
Utilising The Tiger in Mid-war in Three Easy Steps
with Ben Polikoff

Sporting the deadly 8.8cm gun and with armour up to 100mm, the Tiger was the pinnacle of the German wartime engineering at the time of its introduction in 1942. No weapon the Allies possessed could reliably penetrate its thick hide, and even the armour of the Soviet T-34 and KV series of heavy tanks that faced it on the Eastern Front were no match for its fierce bite!

Eye Of The Tiger...

Eye Of The Tiger

From The Desert To The Steppe:
Casey’s Eastern Front Panzerkompanie
with Casey Davies

Casey shows off his Eastern Front Panzerkompanie using the plastic Panzer III, IV and Tiger miniatures.

From The Desert To The Steppe...

More Bang For Your Buck:
Getting The Most from the 8.8cm FlaK36 in Mid-war
with Blake Coster

Blake offers some advice on getting the most out of the 8.8cm FlaK36 in Mid-war...

More Bang For Your Buck...

More Bang For Your Buck

If He Hollers, Let'em Go!

If He Hollers, Let'em Go!
Rick and a friend of his, both regulars of the Battle Badgers decided to play a Mid War game. They took pictures of their 95 point game involving some beautifully painted models with the British going up againest the Afrika Korps. Check out how their battle went in the link below.

If He Hollers, Let'em Go!...


Boot Camp Battle Report
Afrika Korps vs. Desert Rats
To conclude the lessons laid out in the 4th Edition Boot Camp, Phil and James put the theory into practice by playing a 62-point game using the Free For All mission.

Boot Camp Battle Report: Afrika Korps vs. Desert Rats...

Boot Camp Battle Report: Afrika Korps vs. Desert Rats


Last Updated On Tuesday, January 14, 2020