Mediterranean Strategy

[Veers]

Playing (c) so the only German units available to invade Africa are the Afrika Korps (Go Rommel!).

What are some good strategies that people have used for this theatre of war?

EDIT: Some qualifiers: I will have defeated France in the Spring of France (You know I will, Shadow:laugh:) and have already taken Yugo, Greece, Poland, Denmark, and failed to take Norway. After I defeat France I will have either the option of starting on Russia early, trying to take out Britain and/or Norway, or tackling the Med. Can't say which I'll do as I don't want to give it away, but being taking the USSR out is self-explanitory, and I've already asked about Sea Lion, I figure asking about the Med will just add to Shadow's confusion abotu my next move. :)

[Mark Stevens]

Are the Italians in the war yet? If yes, and you've already lost the Horn, then the Commonwealth troops from there will have railed to Egypt and can offer a decent defence: maybe even attack. Recce the Mediterranean islands with the Italian navy - any (even Malta) looking weakly garrisoned? Might be worth a manly sea assault backed by all the bombers you can muster, especially as their capture will activate more German Africa Corps units. You'll definitely need to send some of the mainland Italian forces to North Africa, even if you're just planning to hold there. If this leaves the Italian mainland ports looking vunerable, consider stiffening the defence with Germans; this also helps if an Allied attack takes Messina or Rome and triggers Italian surrender, but every German corps left sitting in Italy is one less for the crucial Russian Front.

Once France falls for real, you're allowed to ship eligible Axis troops (not German regular units) to the Vichy ports in the Levant (historically the Allies forestalled this by attacking Vichy Lebanon-Syria, but you never know). Even a couple of Italian units will draw Commonwealth troops away from Egypt, if you're planning to attack it.

What you don't really want is the classic El Alamein bottleneck, as the Allies gradually raise more units there and will eventually push the Italians and Germans back. It's far better to let the Commonwealth troops advance, then enclrcle and destroy them in the desert. However the difference between luring them out of the El Alamein line, and the Italian position degenerating into a rout, is a very fine one.

Consider activating Spain: some quite strong units, a small Atlantic navy and ideally placed for a land attack on Gibraltar, but you'll get the Vichy troops reverting to the Allies, plus a few guerillas in Spain itself, and Portugal offering a port and supply point to an Allied sea landing.

You could be really aggressive and try for Turkey; but this will then give the Soviets the option to attack Germany first, cancelling the 'Barbarossa' bonus.

You've got the initiative in the early stages of the scenario: pity not to use it.

[Veers]

Thanks, Mark, I will keep all of that in mind as I carve Shadow's African holdings up. :)