When to move Amphib HQs to Britain?

[Grotius]

So it's November 1943, and my Allies are slowly slogging their way through Italy. Slow going; I'm still 70 miles south of Naples and just now moving on Taranto. But I don't see any more Amphibious HQs in my scheduled reinforcements (did I overlook some?), so I guess I have to move them out of the Med to Britain some time in early 1944. I imagine I'll need them up there by February or March to give them two months or more to prep? I ask because they sure are useful in Italy.

[carlkay58]

The weather will not turn for the better in northern France until June. You could risk an invasion earlier, but the bad weather can play havoc with your air support. So the amphibs should be switched by late January/mid February at the latest for some good prep before the invasion. I prefer sending the main invasion in the ETO at 95 prep points to cut down on losses and improve the landing CV because you most likely will be landing against enemy troops in level 2 forts.

[marion61]

And the sooner you get them back to England you can usually get two divisions prepped, and carlkay's time frame is about when I send them back.

[ByTheNumbers]

I send the Amphib HQ units back after I sent the AFHQ into Sicily (or wherever I choose to send the invasion) once the area around the invasion area is secure. Essentially, once I shipped everybody (minus Air Force HQ's and such) and before reinforcements usually start arriving in N. Africa, I'll begin sending the Amphib HQ's back to the UK. Once they arrive, I'll send them to various ports and begin preparing for the invasion into mainland Europe.

You do get 2 Amphib HQ units as reinforcements at the end of Feb '44. If you set those two units up for invasion the moment you get them, they will be ready (50 prep) a little bit before June of that year. If you use those reinforcements as a benchmark, then the Amphib HQ units you begin with should be in the UK before the end of Feb '44 at the latest. I'd recommend as early as possible so you can accumulate as many prep points as you can like Carlkay suggests.

[Grotius]

Thanks for all the replies and good advice. Much appreciated!