@Marshmallow:
Sorry, but… no! ;)
Sorry, but yes.
I personally like both, Taranto or stacking fleet in 92 with no Taranto, however hiding fleet in the red sea is objectively bad (especially as Italy can cut them off then through Suez), so is the common overated middle east play. UK must bother Germany from 110. Total middle east and med focus plays into the German hands.
How are you going to cut the UK out of the Med on I1 if the UK destroys blockers to sea zones 96 and 99? Are you planning to take Trans Jordan during the non-combat round? Or with that German transport that mysteriously appeared in the Med?
You can clear the blockers on I1, but you can’t lock the UK out because you can’t take Trans Jordan. On UK2 the UK moves back into sea zone 98 and places a build of one carrier and two destroyers. The UK fleet now has two loaded carriers, five destroyers (six once the French destroyer reaches sea zone 98), and at least one cruiser (two if the sea zone 91 cruiser was used as a blocker on UK1).
The combined Italian fleet and air force cannot handle that fleet – depending on UK1, I1, and UK2 Italian losses they may not even be able to dent it. The only way the Axis can destroy that UK fleet is to sacrifice the Luftwaffe. Good luck getting Moscow if you do that!
If you don’t sacrifice the Luftwaffe, the UK has won the Med. Egypt is safe, the Italian fleet dies on UK3 or runs far away (outside the Med far!), Italy’s income gets convoyed away starting on UK4 at the latest, and the UK starts ferrying fighters to Moscow on UK4. The Italian ground troops in Africa die at the UK’s convenience.
So yeah, sea zone 81 works nicely. I stand by my position that this is the strongest UK play in the Med.
Marsh
I’m with JDOW on this. The Italians can take Trans Jordan with their transport unless UK puts blockers but the would just get kill by the Italians or the Luftwaffe and that would weaken the UK’s Med fleet. If UK purchased 1 carrier and 2 destroyers R2 that would totally give Germany the best opportunity to do a Sea Lion with taking fewer casualties than normal. You have a nice idea but it would only work on beginners (no offense). Because I’m a moderate player and I see a flaw in your strategy.