North Africa 1941 Rommel's War Machine

Much has been written about the importance of the North Africa campaign during World War II, particularly because of the military, political, and economic influence it had on the course of the war. The campaign also continues to hold enduring appeal due to its notable figures, such as the Desert Fox, Erwin Rommel, its pivotal battles, and the fresh perspectives made possible through ongoing research. For these reasons, it remains a subject of lasting interest to both historians and modelers alike. 

Publication Details:

This 7 x 10 inch softcover book published by Casemate Publishers May 2026 contains 151 pages, with 151 mostly black and white images with a few color photographs, and 10 profile pages all printed on glossy heavy weight paper.

The Author:

Philip Jowett is a respected British military historian and prolific writer with over 40 military history books whose expertise focuses on 20th century warfare, particularly overlooked armies, uniforms, organizational structures, and campaigns of the Second World War era.

The book can be found at the link below on Casemate Publishers website.

https://www.casematepublishers.com/9781636245782/north-africa-1941/

Contents Page:

The author organizes the book into several sections, beginning with a timeline of events followed by an introduction. From there, he moves into a discussion of the Italian collapse, then examines the forces entering North Africa, including the siege of Tobruk, Operation Brevity, and Operation Battleaxe. He also covers the air war before concluding with Operation Crusader during November to December 1941. As in his other works, the book closes with an afterword, followed by a selection of further reading for those who wish to explore the subject in greater depth.

On page 13, we see and Australian infantryman capturing five Italian soldiers.

The author on page 16 includes a group of Matilda tanks approaching Tobruk. The detail of the  tanks are somewhat clear providing the modeler with another perspective of the vehicle he may be constructing.

An interesting image on page 23 is a Sd.Kfz 251/17 being unloaded in Tripoli.

One of the color images is seen on page 39 of an Italian propaganda postcard from 1941.

Another color profile is seen on page 58.

With regard to Operation Battleaxe, June 1941, on page 63 is a map depicting the routes of the Allied vs Axis.

A damaged British A9 Cruiser tank is depicted being transported for repairs by a Scammel on page 74, in a photograph taken during Operation Battleaxe. The scene not only captures the realities of battlefield recovery operations but also highlights the wear, damage, and logistical challenges faced during the campaign. for the modeler, this image offers an excellent reference point providing inspiration for diorama composition.

A great image is shown on page 70 depicting a Curtiss Tomahawk IIB fighter with the classic shark face nose insignia.

The author on page 81 includes a color profile of the same Curtiss Tomahawk. A good reference photo for the aircraft modeler.

On page 120 are two color profiles showing British Crusader Mk IVA and Mk VI. Another excellent group of photos for the modeler to refer to.

 In Summary:

For a new North Africa WWII title to warrant publication, particularly from a well established publisher like Casemate Publishers, it  should meet several key criteria. It should offer a fresh perspective, present clear and well-structured campaign coverage, incorporate useful maps and photographs, and deliver value for both the historian and hobbyist.

Yes, it does justify another book on North Africa during WWII. Is it useful and worthwhile? Most certainly yes since the author presents a clean, well-presented campaign study with modeling value especially with his inclusion of numerous images depicting armor, artillery and infantry soldiers.

For these reasons, I highly recommend this book for the modeler as well as the military historian.                                                                          

Back Cover

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Casemate Publishers for this review book.

Reviewed by Phillip Cavender

If you liked this review, consider joining AMPS. Your annual membership
includes six copies of AMPS's magazine, Boresight,
and helps to support our ongoing reviews.

Click here for more information about joining AMPS