I am only 3 games of A&A Global 1940 “old.” That is a terribly small sample size but in those three games (no bids) I have seen Allies 2, Axis 1. In the two games I have seen the Allies win, BOTH GAMES they defended Malta. In the one game I have seen the Axis win (and they won it in a rout) UK went for Taranto. Again, small sample size, 3 games old.
In the Taranto raid, The UK won (barely), sunk the BB and shot down 3 fighters (1 German) that were never replaced by Italy. They survived with 1 AC and 1 fighter on it, lost the strat bomber. Italians ignored the carrier on their turn, went after Alexandria (got it), sunk the French fleet with bomber and sub (lost sub), took Southern France, sunk the UK cruiser (sent from 91) in Malta with their own cruiser and destroyer (lost dd), and reinforced Tobruk with two more land units. Then they placed another transport in 95 and an inf in Rome. Collected money. Ger-2, they mopped up the UK carrier, landed 3 fighters in Rome for scramble (and never even bothered to try Sea lion) and started cranking infs and artillery for Russia invasion. By Italy-2, they had complete control of the Med and were getting bonuses. By Italy 4 they had Egypt. Axis went on to win.
In the two Allied victories, The Italians sent EVERYTHING they had at the malta fleet of UK Carrier, 2 fighters, 2 cruisers 1 dd, and 1 transport.
First game, they retreated after one round losing ONLY 2 empty Italian transports and the sub, but destroyed the UK transport, dd, and carrier (planes landed safely in malta.) Built transport. France moved their two ships to 92. UK-2, finished Italians in Libya (had total control of Africa), UK moved their two cruisers to 92, flew bother fighters and tac bomber in Malta to Gibraltar, build airbase in Gibraltar and just “sat there” for the next 2 turns. Italy never tried to attack it (never enough ships and planes.) Germany was never in position with the Luftwaffe to attack it until Ger-4, and by then, the US was getting ready to move to the Med. Italy never got any objective bonuses, Egypt never fell (always had far too many pieces), and the Middle East was never threatened. Italy finished the game with an intact BB in defeat.
Second game the Italians stayed and wiped out Malta fleet entirely, Italy left with just 1 cruiser and 1 damaged BB in 96. Two fighters and bomb flew back to Rome. France moved ships to 91. UK-2, Strat bomber and Tac Bomber in Malta sacrificed themselves to finish the limp Italian fleet (all UK and Italian ships and UK planes destroyed in med), captured Libya (had total control of Africa) but on Italy-2 they started getting bonuses of no allied ships in Med. Big whoop? That was the majority of their income, It was Italy 3 before they even tried for Syria. Game was over on US-5.
I think I need to play more. So far all I’ve seen is even if UK wins Taranto, they still lose the war.