Max from our customer service team has been painting up an Afrika Korps army for a tournament. We couldn’t resist sharing it with you…
Sent to North Africa to bolster the Axis war effort in the Western Desert, the Deutsches Afrika Korps, under their mercurial leader – Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox – pushed the armies of the British Commonwealth almost to breaking point, earning the respect of the opponents in the dust-filled, scorching climate.
Max Ayson, from our customer service team, has been wowing us around the Warlord offices with his beautifully painted Afrika Korps army. You can see it in all its glory below, and Max tells us a little about his inspirations and motivations behind collecting the army.
Plotting victories
Why Afrika Korps?
Max: It dates back to my teenage years, making up Airfix/Revel kits. I bought loads of Panzer IIIs, trucks (even a King Tiger I painted up in DAK colours – I was young). This was really the time I started to become invested in the history of World War II and they never really left my mind. So all these years later, having already collected and built a Soviet Army, I thought I’d return to them for Bolt Action.
Painting the Army
Max: I’m building this army for a tournament in which it was encouraged for players to go out and really research a specific period and theatre on which to theme the Army. I picked the battle of Gazala of mid-1942. Being around the mid-point of the campaign, it would allow me some flexibility with the paint schemes. I envisaged that some of the early war uniforms (in bright green with the high boots) may still be in use as well as the later tan/yellow versions – I could, therefore, include both versions for some variety which I thought would make it more striking on the tabletop. It also enables me to multi-purpose my army for causal games if I fancied using it to try a late war list – without it becoming too incongruous,
Mobility is key to this DAK army
Favourite Unit
Max: I love the Pioneer Squad, kitbashed from the remnants of my plastic Afrika Korps sprues with the Blitzkrieg Pioneers kit. Whilst not initially a perfect fit, with a bit of clipping (and some patience) they were really cool to put together. I managed to include a flamethrower and minesweeper. I certainly consider it the most unique of the Army’s units.
You can see the mixture of uniforms amongst Max’s infantry
What’s Next
Max: I really want to step up the armour in the army and add some more Panzers (IIs IIIs and IVs). I’d like some trucks as well. Currently, I’ve got exclusively Hanomags as transports – which really pushes the infantry towards veterans in force selection. A few trucks will open up a bit more versatility in list building I feel.
Max’s current Panzer – More to come!
Get Started with the Afrika Korps
Inspired by Max’s efforts? Try your own hand at the Afrika Korps in Bolt Action. There are a number of easy starting points into collecting a DAK army.
Afrika Korps Bolt Action Starter Army Box Set
Sent to North Africa to bolster the Axis war effort in the Western Desert, the Deutsches Afrika Korps, under their mercurial leader – Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox – pushed the armies of the British Commonwealth almost to breaking point, earning the respect of the opponents in the dust-filled, scorching climate.
This boxed set gives you all you need to start playing with Erwin Rommel’s Afrika Korps as they face the forces of the British Commonwealth in the searing heat of the North African and Tunisian campaigns.
Providing a strong core of infantry, support weapons, a Panzer III medium tank and the deadly ’88’ anti-tank gun this set is a great starting point for your adventures in the Western Desert. Will Rommel, The Desert Fox overcome his British opponents, the Desert Rats?
Afrika Korps Starter Army contains:
• 36x Afrika Korps infantry (plastic)
• 1x Afrika Korps 8.8cm Flak 37 (plastic) with 7-man crew (metal)
• 1x Afrika Korps MMG team (metal)
• 1x Afrika Korps 81mm medium mortar team (metal)
• 1x Panzer III medium tank (plastic)
• assembly and painting instructions, stat cards, full-colour decal sheets, vehicle damage markers, and plastic bases
A Solid Core
The bulk and strength of the majority of Bolt Action armies are its core infantry blocks. This bundle includes 3 boxes of Afrika Korps (each containing 30 soldiers), with which you get a FREE metal 4-man command group (worth £6).
Web Exclusive – German Deutsches Afrika Korps, DAK 1000pt army bundle
Envisaged in a similar vein to Max’s army tactically with mobility at its heart, this set contains everything you’ll ever need to field a DAK force just like they would have been deployed in the desert! With heavy elements of infantry and transportation, this army suits those who want to control the battlefield through tactical outmanoeuvring.
This set provides everything you need to get started in Bolt Action. It has been designed to create a competitive 1000 point army which is the standard of Bolt Action games. It also comes with your order dice pack, which contains 12 order dice required to field your army, a thematic German dice bag and a FREE Armies of Germany 2nd edition book (with exclusive figure), essential for all the information about your army and the history of the German forces 1939-1945!
This set contains:
- 1 x Afrika Korps Plastic box Set
- 1 x Afrika Korps HQ Blister pack
- 1 x Afrika Korps MMG Team Blister pack
- 1 x Afrika Korps Medium Mortar Team Blister pack
- 1 x Afrika Korps 5cm PaK 38 anti-tank gun Blister pack
- 3 x Opel Blitz/Maultier Plastic box sets
- 1 x Open-topped Kfz 69/70 Horch 1a
- 1 x Sd.Kfz 231 (8-Rad) Armoured Car
- 1 x Order Dice pack – Olive Drab
- 1 x Bolt Action Afrika Korps Dice Bag
- 1 x Armies of Germany 2nd Edition with Special Miniature
This entire force has been optimised for mobile rapid offensives almost identical to its real-life counterpart. Almost all of the infantry can be placed in the back of each vehicle which makes this army extremely potent at objective type missions!
You can make this army from this set:
| Unit Type: | Unit Name: | Upgrades: | Total Cost: |
| Headquarters | Regular German DAK HQ | +1 man | 85 pts |
| Headquarters | Veteran German Heer Medic | +1 man | 38 pts |
| Headquarters | Regular Forward Observer Artillery | +1 man | 110 pts |
| Infantry | Regular German DAK Schützen Squad | +2 men, 1x SMG, 2x LMG | 103 pts |
| Infantry | Regular German DAK Schützen Squad | +1 man, 1x SMG, 2x LMG | 93 pts |
| Infantry | Veteran German DAK Schützen Squad | 1x SMG, 1x LMG | 81 pts |
| Infantry | Regular German DAK Schützen Squad | 1x SMG | 63 pts |
| Support | Regular Afrika Korps Medium Mortar Team | +Spotter | 60 pts |
| Support | Regular MMG Team | – | 50 pts |
| Artillery | Regular Afrika Korps 5cm PaK 38 Anti-tank gun | – | 75 pts |
| Vehicle | Inexperienced Truck | – | 31 pts |
| Vehicle | Inexperienced Truck | – | 31 pts |
| Vehicle | Inexperienced Truck | – | 31 pts |
| Vehicle | Inexperienced Heavy Field Car | – | 22 pts |
| Vehicle | Veteran Sd.Kfz 231 Heavy Armoured Car | – | 120 pts |
| Total Points Cost: | 993 pts |
Campaign: The Western Desert
An essential tool in playing game set in the Western desert is the Western Desert Campaign book.
Expanding your Army
Our desert German Bolt Action range is extensive. With the Armies of Germany and Western Desert books as your guide, you can expand your force in innumerable ways, making your army truly your own and distinct on the battlefields of Bolt Action. For more inspiration, check out this painting guide on Afrika Korps Kradschützen. (I don’t know about you, but they really give me a pulp adventure vibe).
Check out the full Afrika Korps range in our Webstore.
Grab a Deal
Remember for a limited time there’s a massive 25% off some of our plastic tank platoon and Zug kits, including the Tank war German starter:
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Tom Mecredy