BATTLE ORDERS No 28 DESERT RATS

The British Eighth Army in North Africa, 1941-1943. Formed in September 1941 from the Western Desert Force, British Eighth Army (comprising British, Commonwealth, Free French and Polish troops) went on to wage a lengthy, hard-fought campaign against Axis forces across the deserts of North Africa. The Desert War was unlike any other fought by the British Army, involving highly mobile operations covering vast distances. The hot, unforgiving climate in which the troops lived and fought was almost as troublesome as the enemy. During its two-year period of service in North Africa, Eighth Army underwent major changes in organisation, equipment and training to accustom it to desert warfare. Contents: Introduction * Combat mission * Unit organisation * Doctrine and training * Weapons and equipment * Command, control, communications, and intelligence * Combat operations * Chronology * Select bibliography * Abbreviations * Index