Assault on Tobruk Rommel Triumphant, 20 June 1942
Players 2
Playing Time 2 to 3 hours
Period Second World War, North African Campaign
Scale Tactical Turn 2 hours
Map 650 meters per hex, covers entire area of Fortress Tobruk
Unit company size or headquarters units for larger formations

Components
1 ziploc bag or small box
1 12 page rules booklet with a black on tan cover illustration by Rodger MacGowan featuring a profile of General Erwin Rommel
255 one-sided die-cut counters in five colors
1 22" x 27" two-color map covering the area of Fortress Tobruk

Counter Manifest
85 grey German counters
27 yellow Italian counters
59 brown South African counters
77 red Indian Army counters
7 white informational counters

SimCan says:

“Assault on Tobruk is a game type simulation of the successful assault by German and Italian forces in North Africa lead [sic] by Erwin Rommel on the Allied held fortress of Tobruk in the summer of 1942 ... [It] has an historic scenario and six alternate scenarios covering the actual and potential events at Tobruk. After choosing a scenario one player takes command of the Allied forces and the other player the Axis forces.”

The Reviewer says:

“ The physical production is typical of Simulations Canada. They do a good job on a limited budget; just don’t expect the lavish production of bigger game companies. There was a serious printing error in the rules as well as an incorrect entry in the Bombardment Table, both corrected in an inserted errata sheet. The counters have some slight goofs that don’t warrant corrections (e.g., two Companies D but no Company C). They are die-cut, but not all the way to the corners; if broken apart instead of cut out, they will have fuzzy corners... Overall, this is a short, clean simple game, well researched and with appeal for North Africa buffs -- all the more so since it does with a topic not previously covered on this scale. The game will also have special appeal for old-timers longing for new games in the mold of the old Avalon Hill classics.” --Bob Proctor, F&M 25.

Comments

While never receiving too much press in its prime, this low-complexity game is a solid effort. It can be found at quite a bargain compared with comparably sized ones that are being produced today. You can purchase it new from Clash of Arms Games for under $10 in ziplock, when purchased in quantity.

Collectors Notes

Compared to some other titles from Simulations Canada, this one is quite easy to find at inexpensive prices from both Clash of Arms and eBay.

[Before bidding on a game described as ‘rare’ on eBay, check to make sure that it’s not available directly from Clash of Arms. There are some unscrupulous sellers who are quite prepared to make you pay for your ignorance. -ed]

Boone lists low, high and average prices of 3/20/9.11 at auction and 4/35/ 15.14 for sale.

Errata

Missing from 5.5: A destroyed unit is removed immediately. A suppressed unit is flipped over to indicate its condition. Such units may not move or attack, have no zone of control, and defend at half normal strength (round up). Suppressed units return to normal at the beginning of the next opposing player bombardment phase. On the bombardment table die roll 3 on the 80 column should be a DE result instead of an SU result. Clarification: For an engineer unit to be ‘located’ in a hex as in section 9.0 the engineer unit may have started the phase in the hex or have moved to the hex during the phase with other units so as to negate the effects on movement of the various fieldworks listed in the section.

Steve Newberg says:

Did you know that the Allies held a surrounded Tobruk for nine months in 1941 against everything Rommel could toss against them? Did you know in 1942 he cracked Tobruk in 18 hours? This amazing contrast led to this game. As with a lot of simulations for North Africa in WW2, the game scale had to be unusual for the systems used. Though the units are of generally company size and the time scale is two hours, the game systems are virtually operational. The historical scenario is virtually a race against time, forcing the Axis player to crack the perimeter and capture units at a remarkable pace. The various hypothetical scenarios alter the pace but not the scope. A tense little game.

[In 1941 Rommel had no maps of the Tobruk fortifications and was fighting against the Australians in prepared positions. By 1942, he had maps, the Australians were gone and the Allies had let the fortifications deteriorate. -ed]