
- BGG rank
- BGG #26,311
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Kampfpanzer: Armored Combat, 1937-40
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1973

1973
Rules assistance for Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa is a board game released in 1973 for 2–4 players, 120–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jim Dunnigan and Redmond Aksel Simonsen and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Grid Movement.
Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa, 1940-43, is an historical simulation of the tactical Combat in North Africa from 1941 to 1943. The scenarios show several common situations involving German, British and Italian Units. The combination of situations with varying forces allow an almost innumerable amount of different scenarios to be played. Desert War is basically a two-Player game. It is played in sequenced turns, during which the Players use a new & unique simultaneous plotting and moving system to move their units on the map, have combat and attempt to achieve certain objectives. The game is played in Scenarios which are various mixtures of forces and objectives. The Western Desert, stretching 1,400 miles between Tripoli and Alexandria, was described by one German general as "a tactician's paradise and a quartermaster's hell." Between March 1941, when Rommel's Afrika Korps arrived in Tripoli, and May 1943, when the last Axis troops surrendered in Tunisia, the conduct of the Desert War furnished the proof for that general's impression. Desert War is a tactical simulation designed to recreate the mechanized struggles which took place in the "perfect" tactical terrain of North Africa during World War II. The 22" x 34" two-color mapsheet depicts a composite desert battlefield on which the flat sands are sparsely interrupted by patches of rocky cover or slight differences of elevation. Each mapsheet hex represents a hundred meters of distance and each Game-Turn represents three and a half minutes of actual time. Four hundred die-cut units represent the Allied, German and Italian combat units that contest the differing Desert War situations and scenarios. Opposing infantry companies, supported by tank platoons and anti-tank and artillery batteries engage each other within the tactical game scale of Desen War. Desert War is a tactician's simulation tool. Those of you who have been following this series from PanzerBlitz and Combat Command: Tactical Armored Warfare, France 1944 through Red Star/White Star: Tactical Combat in Europe in the 1970's, know that Desert War is a development of game you won't want to miss. Game Scale: Game Turn: 3.5 minutes Hex: 109 yards / 100 meters Units: Platoon to Company Game Inventory: One 22 x 34" two-color map One single-side printed countersheet (400 1/2" counters) One 10-page folded rulebook One Simultaneous Movement Plot pad Two Scenario & Tables players aid sheet One 6-sided die Solitaire Playability: Low Complexity Level: Medium Players: 2 or more Playing Time: 2-4 hours
Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa is 120–180 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa has a complexity rating of 3.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Grid Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa are: Jim Dunnigan and Redmond Aksel Simonsen. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Desert War: Tactical Warfare in North Africa as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.