North Africa '40 Expansion for North Africa '41

Pre-order. Expected in August 2026.

From the Publisher:

The legend continues with North Africa ’40, the prequel expansion to North Africa ’41. This expansion covers September 1940 to December 1941. Scenarios cover both Operazione E (the Italian invasion of Egypt; 12 turns) and the Allied counter-offensive, Operation Compass (6 turns). Both scenarios can be extended through December 1941 for an Operazione E full campaign (32 turns) or an Operation Compass full campaign (26 turns).

Can you as the Allied commander bag the Italian 10th Army? Will you be ready for theater whiplash, the Middle East Command operational shift to Greece in February 1941? Will you be prepared for the entry of Rommel and the German panzers?

Can you as the Italian commander find an answer for the enemy heavy armor, the Matilda tanks? Will you find solutions to the grave errors your historical counterpart made? Will you have the coastal road open for the arrival of Rommel and the DAK blitzkrieg to the Suez Canal?

The answers to those questions you will find in a journey filled with tension, excitement, and rich World War 2 history!
New rules cover all the significant aspects of the 1940 campaign:

• General O’Connor
• Italian Camps
• Civilian Evacuees/Stragglers
• Tank Reliability
• Italian Saharan Forces
• Libyan Tank Command
• Sollum Port
• Post-Operation Compass Refit

An optional naval section in part includes the support actions of the British Mediterranean Fleet and Inshore Squadron.

The countersheet includes five sleds to help players keep important units in a convenient location.

Expansion Includes:

• One Rules Booklet with historical notes, play notes, bibliography, and example of play
• One Countersheet
• One 1940 Turn Record Track
• One Player Aid Card for the Allied REM Display, Victory Track, and Resource Track to allow players to play the game without the eastern panels of the map sheet
• One 2-sided Allied Scenario setup and Reinforcement card
• One 2-sided Italian Scenario setup and Reinforcement card
• Two Identical Player Aid Cards
• Ziplock (not boxed)

Experience the opening clashes of the desert campaign with North Africa '40 from GMT Games. Designed by Arthur Dieterly under the supervision of legendary wargame designer Mark Simonitch, this official prequel expansion to North Africa '41 covers the pivotal military operations from September 1940 through late 1941.

Engineered for 1 to 2 players with playing times ranging from 180 to 900 minutes, North Africa '40 drops you straight into Operazione E (the Italian invasion of Egypt) and Operation Compass (the lightning British counter-offensive). Featuring a streamlined counter density, specialized mechanics for Matilda heavy armor and Italian fortification camps, and a seamless link into the North Africa '41 base map, this title offers an essential historical deep dive for serious operational wargamers.

Historical Context & The Prequel Storyboard

While most desert wargames focus exclusively on the arrival of Rommel and the German Afrika Korps, North Africa '40 tells the incredible story of what came first: the dramatic collapse of the Italian 10th Army and the shocking impact of British armored doctrine in the Western Desert.

Starting in September 1940 with Marshal Graziani’s initial thrust into Egypt, the campaign quickly evolves into a high-stakes duel across hundreds of miles of open desert and coastal roads. As the Allied player, can you execute General O'Connor's daring counter-offensive, pocket entire Italian divisions, and seize the port of Tobruk? As the Axis player, can you shore up Italian defensive strongpoints, manage severe vehicle reliability issues, and hold the line until German panzer reinforcements arrive?

Signature '40X Mechanics & Specialized Desert Rules

North Africa '40 utilizes Mark Simonitch's acclaimed '40X Series framework—celebrated across titles like Normandy '44, Ardennes '44, and France '40. It retains the signature Zone of Control (ZOC) Bonds system, which models infantry screening and tactical frontlines without requiring dense walls of cardboard counters.

However, the expansion introduces dynamic historical modules specific to the 1940 campaign:

• Matilda Armor Supremacy: Models the terrifying battlefield presence of British Matilda tanks against early-war Italian anti-tank capabilities.
• Fortified Italian Camps & Saharan Units: Simulates the isolated fortified positions along the Egyptian border alongside specialized desert patrol forces.
• Mechanical Reliability & Logistics: Tracks vehicle breakdown rates, supply lines across desert tracks, and port capacities vital for sustaining long-range offenses.
• Theater Whiplash & Historical Shifts: Captures the strategic dilemmas of early 1941, including the sudden diversion of British forces to Greece just as Rommel arrives in North Africa.

Flexible Scenarios & Campaign Integration

The package includes two focused standalone scenarios—Operazione E (12 turns) and Operation Compass (6 turns)—ideal for single-session gaming. For those seeking an epic campaign experience, both scenarios can be extended into 26-turn or 32-turn grand operational campaigns that bridge directly into the setup of North Africa '41.

BOARDGAMEGENERAL ADVICE

Expert Recommendation

At Boardgamegeneral, we hold the Simonitch '40X system in the highest regard, and North Africa '40 fills a crucial gap in World War II operational wargaming. With a complexity rating of 3.80 / 5, it provides a deeply authentic command experience while maintaining a remarkably manageable counter footprint compared to traditional desert monster games.

What makes this expansion so fascinating is the asymmetry of forces. In 1940, the British possess small numbers of elite, heavily armored units, while the Italian forces hold numeric superiority but struggle with mobility and antitank weapons. Navigating these tactical trade-offs before the panzers land in Africa creates a totally fresh operational puzzle.

Note that this game is an expansion and requires North Africa '41 for the full map board and core rules. If your gaming group loves operational history, clean CRT mechanics, and deep historical narrative, North Africa '40 is a mandatory addition to your GMT collection.

Verdict: An outstanding, highly focused prequel expansion that delivers fast-paced operational maneuvers, brilliant historical chrome, and immense replay value for desert wargame enthusiasts.