Military Model Scene

Title: Desert Armour, Tank Warfare in North Africa
Author: Robert Forczyk
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-5188-8

'Beda Fomm to Operation Crusader, 1940-41' is a new book from Osprey. A 336-page hard-cover book, though also available in e-book formats.
After an introduction, the book is split across 5 main chapters, tackling Pre-war doctrinal and technological influences: The opposing armoured forces in 1940-41: Early armoured operations in 1940-41: The Afrika Korps arrives: and The clash of armour. Each of these is sub-divided into a number of sub-sections. Just as one example, chapter 2 is split into 3, covering Italian armoured forces in Libya, Britain's armoured forces in the Middle East and German armoured forces. There are detailed accounts of events including battles ar Beda Fomm as well as later operations with Battleaxe and Crusader. As well as the basic story of events there is assessment of the various commanders, which came and went on all sides, of their successes and failures in tactics and how they handled their forces. Plenty of illustrations throughout the book, using archive images, maps, as well as some colour artwork from the Osprey library. There is more reference detail in the 4 appendices, including the record of major tank deliveries to North Africa and more.
I enjoyed this account of the early parts of the war in North Africa, and I think the most detailed account I have read to date, with background ad wider aspects of the story, including the support or otherwise that each side received from their respective governments. Amidst the detail I do wonder at some of the command appointments that were made on all sides, and how much the leadership teams still had to learn. This is one of those books which makes me think my father would have loved to read it. He was in North Africa from early 1940 through to 1943, when he finally left Tunisia to take part in the landings at Salerno, and always had an interest in the desert war especially. A book I have no hesitation in recommending.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.

Robin