The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. Aircraft Carriers. Thus, the North African Campaign and the naval campaign for the Mediterranean were extensions of each other in a very real sense. That move made Egypt very wary of Italy’s imperialistic aspirations. See more ideas about North african campaign, North africa and Africa. Most American aircraft carriers were busy fighting the Japanese in the Pacific. The heavily armoured Matilda was the principal 'I' (Infantry Support) tank during the first year of the campaign in North Africa. Since Adolf Hitler did not pay too much attention to the African Campaign, Rommel's supplies were neglected and rarely consisted of the latest equipment. An Italian Medium tank Carro armato M. 14/41, 752 bulit. It was produced in limited numbers as it was already considered obsolete by the time of its introduction. The 751st Tank Battalion used M3 tanks during all combat action in North Africa. The struggle for control of North Africa began as early as October 1935, when Italy invaded Ethiopia from its colony Italian Somaliland. Battle For North Africa – The Ships, Planes, and Tanks of Operation Torch. The North African campaign, the struggle of the Italians and Germans against the Allies in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia between 1940 and 1943, was a war of movement and maneuver, of dramatic changes of fortune, and it was a war in which mechanized forces - tanks in particular - excelled. The battalion trained with their new Shermans near Oran, Algeria, before shipping out to take part in the invasion of Italy. At stake was control of the Suez Canal, a vital lifeline for Britain’s colonial empire, and of the valuable oil reserves of the Middle East. There were also a few Cruisers Mk.II/IIIs. Matilda tank of the 7th Royal Tank Regiment in the Western Desert. North Africa. North Africa campaigns, (1940–43), in World War II, series of battles for control of North Africa. The main battle tanks used by the Germans in Africa were Panzer III and IV's which proved effective during Blitzkrieg, but were not up to standards on the Eastern Front.