BB shore bombarding Malta? Not working as I think it should

[Lebatron]

New to the game. Playing with FOG off and Novice level. As such I managed to destroy the British fleet in the Med and have now decided to take out Malta, so I surround it with my BB's and attack. In theory, I thought I would gradually destroy that AA there. Seems reasonable to assume that much bombarding would level any defense there. I also chose that route because I wanted to avoid using planes to do it since its defended by AA. I also see no way to amphib as the AA takes up the only hex. It was either bomb it to death with Air or BB's. Discovered that this game instead considers this BB attack an econ attack and does not do a lick of damage to the AA. EVER! Dumb design choice to have BB shore bombarding act this way. Am I missing a way to change the attack type?

Another weird result of this attack is how the AA seems to get a hit back every time I tried it. I'd get a tiny amount of econ damage to Britian for my effort and in reality Britain does more harm with a single hit back on the BB. The formula would say something like 0/0 with some 20%. What does that even mean. That it's a 20% chance my BB takes a hit back? Seems more like 100% because I surround the island and almost every BB takes a hit. From an AA no less! An AA gun is hurting a BB? Hilarious. And almost 100% of the time. I guess I like to know how that AA's hard attack value is high enough to do that. Also is the only way to take Malta is to risk Air against the AA?

I'd like to take Malta just because it would be cool to do so. Seems I had the resources (with all them BB's) but now I need to divert German Air to do this. The game tells me Malta has an effect on my supply to Africa. I have no idea how much of an impact it has. It's opaque. Is it tiny or big? A boardgame would be clear on this. Here it's voodoo.

[BillRunacre]

The ships will primarily target enemy resources, and this is what may result in them receiving damage as shore batteries will be firing back at them.

The 20% chance denotes the chance of your ships' shells hitting the AA unit, although that does not guarantee that they will damage it.

The best way to take Malta is through the use of airpower, with the ships playing a supporting role by positioning them next to the port to prevent the port providing supply to the defending unit, and also bombarding Valletta to reduce its ability to provide supply. However, air power (with a HQ present to command it) will be needed to reduce the defender before an Amphibious Transport attacks it to finish it off.

Or, if you are really lucky, the airpower will finish it off, allowing a Paratroop to land there.

Malta is however difficult to take, and while capturing it is definitely advantageous, over-investing here could lead to defeats elsewhere...

[vasper]

imho, the capture of Malta is not worth the MPP spent on it (the cost of repairing aviation and amphibious vehicles). It disrupts supplies, but after the capitulation of Greece, and the capture of Crete (much easier than Malta) - this does not matter much

[stormbringer3]

If I go after Malta, I tac bomb it until the AA is gone. Then I drop a Fallschirmjager. After a few turns Malta rebuilds, and the Fallschirmjager can move out. Use the BBs as mentioned above.

[Duedman]

If you drop Malta‘s supply to zero with battleships (and blockade the 2 ports) the combat readiness of the AA gun drops significantly and it is a lot easier to take out. Also it can only partially be repaired which makes it even easier ti finish.

Battleships only will never do the trick tho

[vasper]

If you drop Malta‘s supply to zero with battleships (and blockade the 2 ports) the combat readiness of the AA gun drops significantly and it is a lot easier to take out. Also it can only partially be repaired which makes it even easier ti finish.

Battleships only will never do the trick tho

The Allied fleet dominates the Mediterranean, you will lose those Italian battleships near Malta.

[Duedman]

If you drop Malta‘s supply to zero with battleships (and blockade the 2 ports) the combat readiness of the AA gun drops significantly and it is a lot easier to take out. Also it can only partially be repaired which makes it even easier ti finish.

Battleships only will never do the trick tho

The Allied fleet dominates the Mediterranean, you will lose those Italian battleships near Malta.

Not necessarily. If the Royal Navy was involved in France and has to repair its carriers, it might be too late so save Malta.
And even with full carrier support it a dangerous move to engage the sizable Italian Navy while Sicily is stacked with Luftwaffe planes