In desert warfare, the heat and lack of water can sometimes be more dangerous than the enemy. The desert terrain is the second-most inhospitable to troops after a cold environment. The lack of water, extremes of heat/cold, and the lack of cover make it difficult for troops to survive. Properties and tactics The barrenness of the desert makes the capture of key cities essential to ensure the ability to maintain control over important resources, primarily clean water, and being able to keep a military well supplied. As such, that makes sieges in conventional warfare more frequent, as the defender often prepares entrenched positions to protect the cities that supply them. Camouflage and cover Many deserts have limited numbers of noticeable landmarks, which can make maneuvering through a desert a logistical nightmare. Mobility Mobility is essential to a successful desert war, which explains the heavy use of armour in battles such as in El Alamein during the Second World War. It has been noted that mobility is so important in desert warfare that battles can sometimes begin to resemble naval engagements since the actual possession of territory is less important than the positions of one's tanks (or ships). Unlike other types of terrain, which depend on roads, movement in deserts is often possible in all directions because of the wide open spaces. However, the resource-scarce desert environment means that availability of supplies can greatly constrict movement. Militaries often make use of cavalry to cross the large expanses of a harsh desert without increasing the exertion of the soldiers, who are already at a higher risk of dehydration because of the high temperatures during the day. There are many enemies to the desert fighter. They include aircraft, and tanks, which can be extremely menacing to desert guerrillas because there is little way to equal such force. Additionally, there are few places to hide from such weapons in the desert environment since there are few obstructions. Another problem is the sand dunes, mobility is reduced by 60%. With no firm and stable ground footing, it is easy to slide down or even get buried. Water scarcity Lack of water and extreme heat can also cause complications in engaging in desert warfare. Military personnel consume much higher quantities of water in the desert from perspiration and so troop movements are often limited by water carrying capacity. The scarcity of water may lead to bases