
- BGG rank
- BGG #226
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Memoir '44
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2004

Rules assistance for Wavell's War
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Wavell's War is an expansion for Balkan Front released in 2005 for 2–6 players, 720 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Frank Watson and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation.
The first Grand Europa module, Wavell's War is a module that links Europa games Balkan Front and War in the Desert together with East Africa. Ownership of both Balkan Front and War in the Desert is required for a complete play of WW, covering 1940 to 1943. It also updates Balkan Front and War in the Desert rules and counters to the latest Europa standards. It additionally provides previously published optional rules. The module provides 21 mapsheets covering all of East Africa and much of Sudan and the Arabian peninsula, 1 mapsheet overlay to Balkan Front, 3 countersheets of revised/new counters for Balkan Front and Italian East Africa, extensive play aids including eleven game charts and a scenarios and appendices book. Includes 16 scenarios. 22 quarter-size maps (14.5*12 in - 37*30,5 cm), 3 countersheets (840 counters). (from HMS/GRD website & user's description)
Wavell's War supports 2–6 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 Wavell's War is 720 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 Wavell's War 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.
Wavell's War has a complexity rating of 4.1 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Wavell's War belongs to these categories: Wargame, World War II, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Simulation. 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 Wavell's War are: Frank Watson. 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 Wavell's War as an expansion for Balkan Front. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Balkan Front to use it. Check that your edition of Balkan Front is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.