Malta interdiction and Axis counters

[Helsingor]

Hi,

Returning to this game after a long break from it, and I have two newbieish questions about Malta.

1. When does an Allied-occupied Malta begin to have a chance to reduce supply levels for Axis ports in North Africa?
As soon as the Italians enter the war? When the DAK deploys? Or some other date?

2. Apart from capturing Malta with Amphib or Paratroopers, can the Axis player do anything to reduce or eliminate the effect, like reduce the supply level of Valetta or the ports? IRL, I think heavy Axis bombing in mid-1942 drastically diminished Malta's air interdiction capacity for a while (and helped Rommel get the supplies to reach El Alamein). Is there something similar in the game mechanics?

Thanks

[PvtBenjamin]

I think the NA supply is only reduced if Malta supply 5 or greater. Obviously takes a lot of resources for the Axis to accomplish Malta <5 over a long period of time.

[AlexSF]

Well if all it takes to cancel Malta is reducing its supply below 5 then a rocket 3hexs away will do the trick !
Anyone knows for sure if Malta is under 5 it will stop reducing Axis supply in Africa?

[PvtBenjamin]

Patch Notes

"SUPPLY SCRIPT events such as the Malta Supply Reduction event for Axis resources in North
Africa, will require #SOURCE_POSITION units to have a strength >= 5 or the event will not fire.
Suppression as opposed to outright capture of locations such as Malta will now be possible in
order to negate the supply reduction effects."

[Taxman66]

FYI, you will need to knock the ports down as well as the town itself.