Western Desert, Europa VI, simulates the campaigns in Egypt and Libya from December 1940 until January 1943, as well as the peripheral operations on Malta and Cyprus, and in Syria and Lebanon.Two 21' x 27' maps display the battle grounds from Tripoli to the Levant, along with Cyprus, Crete, Malta, and part of Sicily. Over a dozen types of terrain are charted. More than 400 die cut cardboard counters represent the military units that took part in the campaign. The Italian 10th Army and 5th Army, Rommel's Afrika Korps, and the British 9th Army and 8th Army (containing troops of many nationalities) are deployed as individual battalions, regiments, brigades and divisions - each with its historical strengths and capabilities. Aircraft units are groups of approximately 40-50 planes organized by type (such as fighter or dive-bomber) and model (from obsolete CR.42 biplanes to Me109's and Spitfires). The rules utilize basic Europa game mechanics as a framework, with specialized rules covering the historical situation in more detail.Western Desert is designed to be played by itself as a seperate game and also to mate readily with other The Europa Series games.Game Components: two 21' x 27' maps 480 die cut counters complete set of rules chart set two dice The Europa Series Magazine References: The Europa Magazine 13 The Europa Magazine 14 The Europa Magazine 15 The Europa Magazine 16 The Europa Magazine 17 The Europa Magazine 20 The Europa Magazine 26 (Vol.V,No.4) The Europa Magazine 28 (Vol.V,No.6) The Europa Magazine 31 (Vol.VI,No.3) The Europa Magazine 33 (Vol.VI,No.5) The Europa Magazine 36 (Vol.VII,No.2) The Europa Magazine 38-39 (Vol.VII,No.4-5) The Europa Magazine 41 (Vol.VIII,No.1) The Europa Magazine 55 (Vol.X,No.3) The Europa Magazine 56 (Vol.X,No.4) - BoardGameGeek