Malta [capture]

[sPzAbt653]

I don't think the Allies can defend Malta without airbases in Africa [the Royal Navy cannot defend against an air assault], and with an Axis controlled Malta, the Commonwealth can not defend Egypt [even with Allied Malta, holding Egypt is a difficult task against a determined Axis effort]. So I think that unless the Axis player is going for Sealion, then taking Malta is a good choice regardless the cost in MPP's because the benefit is an Axis controlled Mid-East. Additionally, the Axis don't really need the LW in Russia at the beginning, it's more important to have Malta [unless the Axis is going 'all in' to Russia early].

[The Land]

So what does Malta actually add to the Axis effort in Africa?

Usually I think there will be 2 Axis HQs there (one Italian and one German). With 2 HQs around, does disruption to the port supply values have an important effect?

[Taxman66]

UK surface ships would have to go after units blockaiding Malta's ports. Then Italian light ships find them then Axis air nukes them.

UK CVs have 3 choices:
1. Attack axis units blockaiding the ports.
2. Intercept axis bombers attacking Malta.
3. Attacking axis air units on Sicily.

All these options indicate allied naval units in the area. Axis subs, DD, CL can then find them and the axis air will then go after them when found.

[PvtBenjamin]

ORIGINAL: The Land

So what does Malta actually add to the Axis effort in Africa?

Usually I think there will be 2 Axis HQs there (one Italian and one German). With 2 HQs around, does disruption to the port supply values have an important effect?

When Port supply goes below 5 you can't transport in or out. This can have a major impact on reinforcing or retreating.

[Cameraeye]

I want to know the same as The Land. Is it better to...

A. Operate all those axis air units to Sicily?
B. Fly the air units down and save on mpps?
C. Fly the air units down before the fall of France?

[sPzAbt653]

It is better to fly the air units to Malta in order to save the MPP's. BUT this could end up taking too long and can even put you into 1941 with Malta still holding out. So, fly them if you can, otherwise spend the MPP's to get them there.

You can certainly start flying the Luftwaffe out of France before France falls if you have things under control there.

[Freetalk7]

Capturing Malta is, not simply difficult, but IMPOSSIBLE.  The Italian navy has blockaded both ports for many turns.  The supply of both ports seems to be Zero.  The navy has also bombarded the anti air unit on Malta for many turns, seemingly getting hits on it.  (by the way the navy is taking many hits back from the anti air until there, despite the fact that it seems to have zero attack against naval units).  In addition both Italian and German bombers have bombed the Malta unit regularly again seemingly getting hits.  I cannot naval invade as the unit on Malta cannot be destroyed.  Numerous bombers and naval attacks, many hits.  It simply does not end!  help please

[The Land]

ORIGINAL: Freetalk7

Capturing Malta is, not simply difficult, but IMPOSSIBLE.  The Italian navy has blockaded both ports for many turns.  The supply of both ports seems to be Zero.  The navy has also bombarded the anti air unit on Malta for many turns, seemingly getting hits on it.  (by the way the navy is taking many hits back from the anti air until there, despite the fact that it seems to have zero attack against naval units).  In addition both Italian and German bombers have bombed the Malta unit regularly again seemingly getting hits.  I cannot naval invade as the unit on Malta cannot be destroyed.  Numerous bombers and naval attacks, many hits.  It simply does not end!  help please

The method is correctly described in this thread. You are probably not concentrating enough air units, or you have not waited until Malta's supply is at 0.

[Freetalk7]

Well into 1942. Malta has been hit by atleast 3 and sometimes 4 bombers each turn, plus atleast 5 ships per turn. And despite doing little damage for some reason the ships are taking hits? Thus around 7 or 8 attackes each turn for a year. No discernable affect whatsoever. The island has been totally blockaded throughout all that.

[forestrouse]

I also had trouble Aaking Malta when I tried it as an experiment. The method described in this forum looks like it will work at the cost of committing a very large portion of the Axis airforce to the task.

I have a couple of questions for sPzAbt653:

1) What turn did you start the attack on Malta? What turn did this method succeed?

2) How did the Italians end up with 6 air units? For example, Barbarossa starts with 2 Italian air units (June 1941) with a per-turn income of something like 120 MPPs. Fighters and bombers cost of order 250-300 MPPs without upgrades. That implies order 10 turns to just purchase the additional 4 Italian aircraft. Given the other Italian costs, it really is more of order 20 turns. I assume your variant helps with this, but I am curious on what are the economic parameters for what you did?

3) My experiment was successful, but when I was playing, it took until 1943 for the strategy to succeed. This was without your major commitment of air power. Case of winning the battle but losing the war. By the time Malta fell, the Middle East situation had deteriorated making the capture of Malta meaningless.

I found that I would get close to eliminating the AA unit with one Luftwaffe Tactical Bombing unit and the Italian Medium bomber but then weather would ground the air force which would allow the AA unit to recover. Then the cycle would start again. Were you able to bomb the AA unit to nothing in a couple of turns with this commitment of airpower?

4) I have found that a concerted Axis strategy will cause Egypt to fall in early 1942 without devoting any resources to Malta. I don't know how realistic this is - historically, Malta played a large role in interdicting Axis supplies. Rommel might well have won Operation Crusader if he didn't go looking for fuel dumps which allowed the British to recover. Tobruk probably falls too easliy. Nevertheless - why, in game terms, should we concentrate on Malta when a well organized campaign will conquer Egypt anyway?

Look forward to hearing back from you!

[PvtBenjamin]

If you are playing the '39 scenario you will need to take Malta after France falls (second 1/2 of '40). If you attack in '42 your opponent may have level 3-5 AA, contrary to popular belief in another post AA is very effective once you get to level 3-5 in protecting cities/ports/etc.

The Axis attacker need to drive the supply in Malta and both ports to zero. Yes it takes a large air force but you are on your way to NA. The bombers also need to be attached to HQs. If the attack isn't conducted correctly the Malta AA can gain experience which makes it much more difficult.

It generally takes my opponents 2-3 turns unless they get bad weather. I have level 2 AA when they attack.

gl

[forestrouse]

Okay thanks on that. My only other question is how can the Italians afford the 6 aircraft shown?

[PvtBenjamin]

I think the examples here were from the custom 653 scenario , which I've never played, 3 + years ago. I think there is an Italian fighter and one or two bombers in the standard '39 scenario by late '40. This example doesn't have a German HQ or Maritime Bomber which you should have.

Getting the supply to zero key, BB's most effective.

[mdsmall]

ORIGINAL: Freetalk7

Well into 1942. Malta has been hit by atleast 3 and sometimes 4 bombers each turn, plus atleast 5 ships per turn. And despite doing little damage for some reason the ships are taking hits? Thus around 7 or 8 attackes each turn for a year. No discernable affect whatsoever. The island has been totally blockaded throughout all that.

I suspect your problem is that while you have reduced the two ports on Malta to zero by blockading them, the town of Valetta still has a supply level above 0. Remember that the town regains 1 supply level every turn because it is a Secondary Supply hex. So, while you may be scoring hits on the AA unit, the British can reinforce it every turn if their supply level is 1 or above. You are probably not concentrating enough fire-power each turn from Italian battleships and/or Medium Bombers to knock down the supply level of the town to 0 every turn. Check out the several threads on how to capture Malta elsewhere in this Forum.