World War II Desert Tactics

World War II Desert Tactics cover

Description

Osprey's study of desert tactics employed in North Africa during World War II (1939-1945). In 1940-43 North Africa saw the first major desert campaign by modern mechanized armies. The British, Italians, German Afrika Korps and US Army all addressed and learned from the special problems - human, logistical, mechanical and tactical - of the desert environment, most significantly a terrain empty of resources and offering little chance of concealment. Paddy Griffith traces the fast-learning development of armor, artillery and infantry tactics in this exceptional situation and illustrates it using references to the major engagements in the North African theater, which involved some of the greatest tacticians of World War II in one of the pivotal arenas.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION·LESSONS OF OPERATION 'CRUSADER', WINTER 1941/2·LESSONS OF GAZALA, SPRING 1942·LESSONS OF FIRST ALAMEIN: successes of British artillery, minefields and infantry night attacks – failure of German high-risk tank tactics·MONTGOMERY: successes of Alam el Halfa and Second Alamein – new equipment and strength·TUNISIA: ARRIVAL OF US ARMY: early failures, tactical lessons and later successes – failure of German Tiger tanks

Product details

Published Apr 22 2008
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781846032905
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 50 b/w
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Elite
Short code ELI 162
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Illustrator

Adam Hook

Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his wo…

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