Combat mission --6 -- Theatre of war -- Unit organization -- 10 -- Formation and early Eighth Army organization -- Divisional and brigade organization -- Post-Operation Crusader changes in organization -- Battle of Gazala and its aftermath -- Eighth Army at El Alamein, August-October 1942 -- Doctrine and training -- 28 -- Fighting methods during the early Desert War -- Influence of doctrine - the effect of Operation Compass -- Harsh German lessons -- Lessons of Operation Crusader -- Montgomery - a return to attrition -- Training for desert warfare -- Weapons and equipment -- 42 -- Dress -- Weapons -- Armour -- Artillery -- Command, control, communications, and intelligence -- 53 -- Command and control -- Communications in the Desert War -- Intelligence -- Combat operations -- 61 -- Operation Crusader - Eighth Army's debut in battle -- Battle of Gazala - Eighth Army on the defensive, May-June 1942 -- Battle of Alam el Halfa, 31 August-7 September 1942 -- Operation Pugilist - Eighth Army and the Battle of the Mareth Line, March 1943 -- Eighth Army's last battle in North Africa: Wadi Akarit, 5-6 April 1943.