This first campaign is quite good. It's not impossibly difficult, yet it's hard enough - especially at Hard level - to be interesting. By the time you've completed it successfully you'll have learned a good deal about virtual warfare, H&D style.

Historically, this is one of the more authentic campaigns in H&D, in that the SAS did in fact operate extensively in northern Italy - though the date is a bit early, should be '43 at the soonest - both in self-contained units and in cooperation with the partisans.

MISSION: You're trying to rescue some shot-down RAF pilots whom the Germans are holding prisoner.

PERSONNEL: Since this is the first campaign, and not terribly hard, there's no point in risking your very best men. You do need a top-grade sniper - I recommend Smedley, he's simply the best - for the last mission, and at least one other pretty good shot; but otherwise I'd leave the A Team at home. You'll need a couple of reasonably quick and sure shooters; and, since you're going to be doing a lot of scavenging, be sure to include a few big strong boys who can carry a lot.

EQUIPMENT: Four Stens with about a thousand rounds, a couple of Enfield sniper rifles with a hundred rounds, and a dozen or so Mills grenades. That isn't much, but you're going to be picking up a lot of German equipment.

In addition, you will have to have at least six explosive charges - I suggest you take ten, extras are always good to have and they don't weigh much - and you should also take a bazooka with four rounds.

Ready? Let's get busy.