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I'm toying with the idea of doing an "Operation Torch", seizing Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. But the idea is to have the invasion force ship directly from the US using long range amphibs (instead of coming from the UK), and also to only land on the African West Coast and take a hike from there (instead of landing in the med in Algeria and Tunisia too). I'd declare war just when I'm about to land. Once this is done, I'd meet up with the British forces from Egypt (smashing the Africa Corps from two sides) and then do a Husky.

Would that make sense to you?

Germans still have ships and subs, but I have no fear of German naval presence that far South in the Atlantic, also my transports would be well escorted. But the thing that bugs me is that the cost of the long range Amphib transports is really quite high.

Alternatively, I could leave Western Africa alone, beat the German Africa Korps just from Egypt only, then take Tunisia, and then ship the US troops over to Lybian and Tunisian ports by using cheap regular transports and do Husky. Would you think that to be more effective?

I pretty much did what you describe. Hiking from Morocco is a real pain and you will lose a few turns in those mountains [:D] Land directly in Algiers, once Algeria surrenders you get Casablanca too.

As for grand strategy, doing Torch then Husky is historical and fun, but from a pure efficiency point of view it's not really useful compared to the price in MPPs. In my following game I focused all my ressources for an Overlord in 1943. Once you liberate France, Vichy France usually goes back to France in a couple of turns (+Algeria, Syria, Tunisia...without a fight). You can then invade Italy through the North, which is much easier supply wise.

Thanks, that mostly confirms what I was thinking. I might do something like this nevertheless - at least one time - to just have some "historical" fun. On the other hand, I just got a lucky shot at Rommel in Egypt last turn and the German HQ is gone. So maybe in my current game I just route them from Lybia with the British and then get the US forces over there by normal transports.

The reason why I don't go for an early Overlord is I want to see how the AI does against itself in Russia for a bit longer without too much interference from my side (Soviets are AI controlled).