Ended my playtest during the Winter 42-43 turn.
Timing is everything in this game!
Autumn 42 saw Rommel once again chasing Montgomery back into Egypt. His second Mechanized Movement/Combat phase saw him retake Alexandria (his second time there. He was considering renting a villa), but running way ahead of his infantry and artillery, down to 2 german panzers, and 1 Italian Light tank. During non-combat, Rommel pulls back to Mersa Matruh, where his Italian Infantry and artillery finally catch up to him. Meanwhile, transports unload fresh British Medium Armor, some American Light armor, and extra infantry into Cairo from the Red Sea. The British Fleet had fallen back to the Red Sea to avoid being trapped in the Med when Alexandria fell. The safe choice, but it cedes control of the Eastern Med to the Italians.
So, at the end of the turn, Alexandria is empty, but German controlled.
So Just to see how things might go, I roll for Initiative. The Allies had had Initiative through most of '42. However, Germany wins the roll.
First chit draw is a 3. This allows the DAK, reinforced with Infantry and Artillery, to move into Alexandria. It also allows Iachino to bring up 3 transports filled with Italian Infantry, the first Italian Medium tanks, some artillery, and anti-tank guns, seriously reinforcing the German hold on Alexandria.
If the Allies had won Initiative, Monty would have retaken Alexandria without firing a shot. With no port at Mersa Matruh, it would have been more difficult to reinforce the DAK.
Timing is everything...
