MIDDLE EAST

No. of Turns:  26
     - Favors Axis.  It does seem a long way to the Bahgdad on
the map but much of the area is open uncontested lands 
quickly traversed by wheeled and tracked vehicles.  Axis aircraft
will allow for good scouting reports to allow vehicles safe and
speedy passage.

No. of Objectives:  8
     - Two are already in German hands and easily protected.  
All others are contested.  The sequence is in the natural
invasion corridor for this scenario no significant detours
for the German armored columns. The advantage is to the Axis.

Prestige:   Axis = 500       Allied = 890
     - While the Axis are low in prestige in the beginning, the 
two city hexes in Jeruselem and Beruit along with the 
airfields add siginificantly to Axis prestige in time for
the assault on Baghdad.  Allied prestige is slow in coming
and eaten up quickly.  Advantage is to the Axis.

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

Air Superiority:  While the Axis has the single best plane in 
the lone FW190a, it is expensive to buy another.  The 
BF109s are comparable to the British Spits.  The British begin
with four Spitfire IIs and two of those are overstrengthed to 12. 
So while the Germans may have dominance in the air, they can be 
challenged by British fighters in good conjunction with AA guns.
Moderate advantage to the Axis.

Ground Superiority:  Once again German tanks are equal to if
not slightly inferior to British armor at this time.  The terrain
is not ideally suited for defense.  Open desert can be used to
catch tanks out of fuel and wounded but it is more likely to
allow the more numerous tanks of the German player to encircle
defensive stands and lack of entrenchment possibilities makes
units even more vulnerable to bombing.  Matilda IIs are the main
battle tank for the British and can serve as solid the roadblocks
to Baghdad.  Still the numbers of the German tanks will
counteract British superiority.

General Info:  Clear skies will allow free rein to the 
airfleets.  The most significant reinforcement is on Allied turn
12 the GB Grant becomes available.  This is a good offensive
tank.  But its initiative of seven makes it more likely to shoot
second against the lower armored PzIIIjs.  Terrain is mostly
desert with the Jordan River and the Tigris being the major
single obstacles on the road to Baghdad.  This is the best area
for a solid defensive stand and the German player should be
prepared for a good fight in this area.

Final Evaluation:  
               Prestige            Experience
Axis              -1                   0
Allies            +1                   0

The scenario is decidedly in favor of the German side.  Quick
gains of prestige and the ability to concentrate all forces on
one objective at a time gives the Germans the advantage. 
Recommend a +2 to the Allied side.

*I didn't win as the Allies until i used the settings below OR     
the axis disbanded their fleet.


               Prestige            Experience
Axis              -1                    0
Allies            +3                    0