Battle of Alam el Halfa — Memoir ’44 Scenario

Aug 29 – Sep 6, 1942

Alam el Halfa was Rommel’s last real chance to win the desert war and grab Egypt, and he knew it. His numbers were thinning, his supplies were running dry, and time was about to turn against him. So he did what gamblers always do when the clock is running out—he rolled the dice one more time and tried the same wide flanking punch he’d used at Gazala.

But this time, the British weren’t blind. ULTRA told them exactly what was coming, and Montgomery finally did something smart: he stopped chasing glory and prepared to fight on ground of his choosing. He planted his forces on the Alam el Halfa and Ruweisat ridges, dug tanks into the sand like steel bunkers, and told Rommel, “Come get it.”

This wasn’t a battle of fancy maneuvers—it was a battle of discipline. Rommel charged in from the south and smashed straight into prepared defenses, air power, and fuel shortages he couldn’t overcome. His attack burned itself out, and with it went his last hope of victory in North Africa.

The lines are drawn, the enemy is committed, and now it’s your fight. Hold the ground, let the enemy break himself, and remember this: when the enemy makes his last move, you make sure it’s his last mistake.

~~ General Howitzer

VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 6

Complexity:

Conditions:

Desert

Context:

Historical

Location:

North Africa

Year:

1942

Summary:

8 Victory Points:

8 Medals, including three Permanent Medal Objectives for Axis control of three town hexes.

Terrain:

Desert with some ridges and a railroad track.

Troops:

Allies – 7 Infantry, 8 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 10 Infantry, 8 Armor, 2 Artillery

Special Rules:
1. North African Desert Rules – for tank movement

2. British Commonwealth Rules – Stiff Upper Lip for fighting back

3. No Airpower

4. Allied player lays out the Mines

Allied strategy

1. Watch your right flank! Historically, this is where Rommel attacked. The Axis have you out-numbered in this flank. This is their path to get to the Permanent Medals you are defending besides the railroad tracks.

2. You have 8 Armor to match the Axis’ 8 Armor. Yours are in a bit of disarray. Bring the Armor back in your left flank forward as quickly as you can and establish a line along row 10 to supplement your Infantry and Armor up on the dunes. That will be a powerful block to any enemy advances.

Axis strategy

1. Big Picture Plan – In two of the three flanks, the British either evenly match you, or outnumber you. And they are solidly in place up on Alam El Halfa Ridge, with Artillery on top and many armor units behind.

So you need to engage the enemy carefully – to keep them busy, while you push your forces up the left flank, and attempt to gain the Permanent Medals along the railroad tracks.

Author: Days of Wonder

URL

General Howitzer Battle Reports