CRETE

No. of Turns:  13

Battle Posture:  Axis = Attack    Allies = Defense

Per Turn Prestige Boosters:  Axis = 80        Allies = 2

No.of Units Available for purchase: Axis = 10     Allies = 6

     - While this is a low turn count for PG the island of Crete
is small and the objectives with one exception are packed close
together in the western half of the island near the likely
landing zone of German forces.

No. of Objectives:  7 Axis: take all objectives.
     - One is already in Axis hands.  Five are close together and
concentrated on the western of the island of Crete.  The last is
in the eastern center.  The close density and the connecting
roads and pass through the mountains allow rather easy access to
these objectives and gives the Axis the advantage.

Prestige:    Axis = 524      Allies = 1058
     -  The Germans begin with an impressive array of units at
sea and airborne.  Allies will need the prestige to replace units
on the ground that will be bombed by German dive bombers.  It
would take much more prestige than is available to allow the the
Allies to contest German airpower.

New Unit Exp:   Axis = 1 Star    Allied = 1 Star

Air Superiority - The Germans begin the game with 3 FW190s
compared to the single Hurricane and Mosiquito at the lower right
of the map.    Any new allied aircraft will be spent uselessly as
the FWs get target practice.  There are areas where good AA gun
crossfire may discourage Axis bombing runs but overall the
Germans rule the air.

Ground Superiority - The British have the initial advantage due
to the chaotic nature of amphibious landings the Germans need to
undertake in the Western portion of the island.  British Matilida
IIs and artillery can cause some serious damage to amphibious
landings.  This is where the battle needs to be won by the
Allies.  Also airborne drops are somewhat unreliable and the
troopers are vulnerable without armor support.  Once the Germans
succeed in getting a foothold the battle then the Allies must
fight a retreating and delaying action even though the ground
strength advantage switches to German armor, artillery and
bombers.  They are to try to use concentrated attacks on
objective after objective because of the spacing.  This advantage
is very much favors the allies.  Because of the low turn count, a
human player running the British in Crete can fight the Germans
for every hex due to poor terrain.
   AXIS:  Your first priority is to get the paratroops safely landed on the
   island and
to screen your naval transports from hostile warships.  Although sometimes
the
Axis fleet can win the naval battle, particularly if air power is diverted
to help it,
it is more likely that the result will be a draw or the fleet will
sacrifice itself to get
the ground troops ashore on Crete. Although spreading out the landings is
desirable, it may not be practical or safe if the Allied naval threat is
severe.  The
paratroops will usually land and attack isolated cities in groups supported
by air
power while the regular army lands and fights its way east from the west
end of
the island.  Speed is important.

ALLIES:  Sinking naval transport is your first priority, and you second is
to sink
the Axis fleet so it is you rather than they who can provide shore
bombardment.
Build up your air force to keep the German air units occupied and prevent
them
from influencing the land battle.  When the Axis troops land, see if you
can hit
them effectively on the beaches, but don't sacrifice high entrenchment
levels for
this purpsoe.

General Information - The Allied fleet outnumber the German fleet
with two extra destroyers, a extra T-P boat and Sub.  However
this numerical advantage is countered by the possibility of the
German player diverting the airpower to damage Allied ships.  The
weather is generally reliable with a small chance that the planes
may be grounded for a turn or two.  The terrain is hard in areas
and paths of access to all objectives are narrow and easily
bottlenecked.

Final Evaluation -  
               Prestige            Experience
Axis             +2                    0
Allied            0                    0
The British must fight as the Germans come ashore.  They
are outnumbered and outgunned as German panzers begin to advance
onto cities once they get organized. If the British fleet can
penetrate and the British fight hard on the coast, the Germans
can be stopped quickly.  A +2 prestige bonus to the Axis gives
them more ability to repair damaged units and push through before
the low turn count ends the game for them.