From the game description:War in the Desert recreates the struggle for North Africa and the Near East. Using standard Europa scales and rules, the game covers the campaigns in the Western Desert, from O'Connor's offensive against the Italians in Dec 40, to the siege of Tobruk and battle of Gazala, through the defeat and pursuit of the Axis forces at El Alamein in Nov. 42 the battle for Northwest Africa from the Anglo-American invasion of Nov. 42 to the Axis counterattack at Kasserine Pass to Axis surrender in May 43 the struggle for control of the Near East, including the pro-Axis revolt in Iraq, the British conquest of Vichy France's possessions, Syria and Lebanon, and the Allied invasion of Iraq.Game Components: 1680 Die Cut Counters Seven Maps Rules Book OB Books Chart Set Game Scales:Time: Two Week Turns Map: 16 Miles Per Hex Unit: Divisions, Regiments & BattalionsWar in the Desert is a part of Games Research/Design (GR/D) The Europa Series. This is the reedition in one box of three GDW Europa games: Western Desert, The Near East and Torch. These games where linked by a set of rules (provided in Torch) who was named War in the Desert. This first edition should not be mistaken with GR/D's second edition War in the Desert. The Europa Series Collectors Series Magazine References: The Europa Magazine 13 The Europa Magazine 19 The Europa Magazine 23 (Vol.V,No.1) The Europa Magazine 25 (Vol.V,No.3) The Europa Magazine 27 (Vol.V,No.5) The Europa Magazine 31 (Vol.VI,No.3) The Europa Magazine 32 (Vol.VI,No.4) The Europa Magazine 33 (Vol.VI,No.5) The Europa Magazine 37 (Vol.VII,No.3) The Europa Magazine 40 (Vol.VII,No.6) The Europa Magazine 42 (Vol.VIII,No.2) The Europa Magazine 43-44 (Vol.VIII,No.3-4) The Europa Magazine 47 (Vol.IX,No.1) The Europa Magazine 52 (Vol.IX,No.6) The Europa Magazine 53 (Vol.X,No.1) The Europa Magazine 55 (Vol.X,No.3) The Europa Magazine 56 (Vol.X,No.4) The Europa Magazine 57 (Vol.X,No.5) The Europa Magazine 63 (Vol.XI,No.5) The Europa Magazine 69 (Vol.XII,No.5) The Europa Magazine 66 (Vol.XII,No.2) The Europa Magazine 59-60 (Vol.XI,No.1-2) The Europa Magazine 67 (Vol.XII,No.3) The Europa Magazine 71 (Vol.XIII,No.1) The Europa Magazine 76 (Vol.XIII,No.6) The Europa Magazine 78 (Vol.XIV,No.2) The Europa Magazine 79 (Vol.XIV,No.3) The Europa Magazine 80 (Vol.XIV,No.4) The Europa Magazine 81 (Vol.XIV,No.5) The Europa Magazine 82 (Vol.XIV,No.6) The Europa Magazine 87 (Vol.XV,No.5) - BoardGameGeek