El ALAMEIN No. of Turns: 26 Battle Posture: Axis = Attack Allies = Defense Per Turn Prestige Boosters: Axis = 0 Allies = 63 No.of Units Available for purchase: Axis = 4 Allies = 2 - It is a long way to Cairo and even twenty-six turns may not be enough. Still, it is open ground with lots of desert to move through and around in. No. of Objectives - 15 Axis: take all objectives. - Five are already in the hands of the Germans but all of the others are contestable and each could prove a vicious battle. All objectives are on a logical invasion route to Cairo therefore the German player may concentrate his/her entire attention on one objective at a time. But this also makes the defense easier. Prestige: Axis = 558 Allied = 1176 - This is the biggest disparity of the scenario. The Germans begin with an armor number disadvantage and the British begin with a pretty sizable air force. Therefore British can spend the bulk of their prestige on ground defenses and AA guns. Germans will not get large bonus prestige as the cities are heavily defended and far apart. Allied prestige advantage give them a big boost in this scenario. New Unit Exp: Axis = 1 Star Allied = 1 Star Air Superiority: This is a very contestable. While the Germans have the superior fighter in the FW190, the British have the advantage of AA guns and adequate fighters in the Spit IIs, Vb and the IX. Plus the fact the British begin with 4 Mosquito Fighter/Bomber that can easily wax a wounded German fighter. The Germans can win the air war but only through careful attacks and planning. Still it is more likely that free reign through the air will not be gained by either side for quite a few turns. Ground Superiority: The British number of tanks are about equal at the beginning of the game. Matilda IIs are still one of the top tanks of the scenario and very difficult to kill in the desert. GB Grants are also available and give good offensive punch. I have found they are very vulnerable to dive bomber attacks and can be taken out pretty easily in this manner. They are fairly cheap and with the high prestige the British begin with, Matilda IIs and GB Grants may be a permanent sights in the desert. Germans have the advantage on turn 2 as the gain the new PzIVf2 tanks with their improved anti-armor gun. In a straight on fight, they outmatch the Matilda II and GB Grants. But the prestige cost may be prohibitive. Germans superiority lies in their cheap Anti-tank units which may be effective in this scenario. Expect the main fight to take place in and around Tobruk and Bir Hacheim. This fight can go on awhile limiting the German advance in a scenario where time is absolutely critical. AXIS: It's a long, long way to Cairo. Press Tobruk while stretching the front to Bir Hacheim in order to force a breakthrough. Send tracked vehicles south of the escarpment across the desert as well as advancing along the coast. Drop detachments off at enemy centers of resistance to keep them from being reinforced but keep the spearheads moving. Once you break through the defile at El Alamein, send your main forces to Cairo down both main roads and a small battle group east to take Alexandria. Using your air force to protect your ground troops is vital in the deserts- especially when they are mounted in trucks. Taking airfields for your air force should be a high priority. ALLIES: Delay at Bir Hacheim and Tobruk as long as you can, then retreat step by step, making the Axis pay for each step. Make your stand between the Qattara Depression and El Alamein--make sure to have infantry and antitank units start digging in early on so they will be ready when the Axis spearheads arrive. Use your air force to pound the enemy in the desert, particularly if they try to circle around the El Alamein position to the south. General Information: The desert fighting is the same. Clear skies and hazardous desert for the wounded and out-of-fuel. The coastal road allows access to all of the major objectives including Cairo. The sea forces favor the allies with twin battle cruisers and two subs. However, the Germans do get to fire first and can damage many Allied ships not to mention the liberal use of high Naval Attack rating level bombers to sink a few of those Battle Cruisers. On turn 12 the Germans gain access to the vaunted Tiger Tank and the British get the Church III tanks. The Germans may not be able to take advantage of the Tiger due to its high cost and German low prestige outlay. Final Evaluation: Prestige Experience Axis +2 0 Allied 0 0 The tide has turned against the Germans in this scenario. Their free reign of the skies in the earlier campaigns is now challenged and the distance to the final objectives is extremely prohibitive. Every objective is fought over and difficult to maneuver around to out flank. Recommendation: +2 to the German side.