Okay, here is my problem in trying to save the Italian fleet:
Say Germany buys nothing on G1 and sends the Luftwaffe, subs and BB after the Royal Navy. UK thinks “Oh my God, Germany’s going to invade London!” So, the UK plays conservatively, does NOT do Taranto, leaves blockers in SZ 96 & SZ 99 to protect Egypt and buys a typical defense buy for London (I usually go with 6 infantry and 1 fighter). UK also pulls everything from Scotland into London and does NOT scramble. Now, let’s assume the Italian DD in SZ 96 didn’t hit so the Malta fighter survived and landed on the carrier in SZ 98. The fighter in Gibraltar flies up to London. Now England has at their disposal 5 fighters and 1 Strategic bomber in London plus 1 fighter and 1 tac on the carrier in SZ 98.
Or, let’s go a step further and say the fighter/tac landed in Egypt and the carrier moved to SZ 81 so the Indian fighter and tac could land on it. All together the RAF is now at 7 fighters, 2 tacs and 1 bomber.
ROUND 2: Now Germany says “Forget you, I’m going after Russia.” and buys a bunch of land units and aircraft accordingly. He pulls what is left of the Kriegsmarine back into the Baltic to hide from the RAF in London, with the exception of subs of course. So all Germany has in the way of navy is 1 BB, 1 CA and 1 transport, which is in no way any kind of Sealion threat.
Now, what is to keep England from sending all that air power down into the Med and totally pasting the Italian fleet? Italy will take some losses in trying to clear out the British ships in the Med and the French. Even if they don’t go after the French, then the French may even attack the Italians, which could cost Italy further losses. What ever is left of Italy’s navy will be easy pickings for that monster RAF. The London planes, at least the fighters, may not get at the Italians until round 3, OR, if the Italians lost enough ships in battling the UK and French ships, the London planes may not even be needed. UK could finish them off with the planes from Egypt and India along with the strategic bomber from London.
Either way, the end result is all of Italy’s ships sitting on the bottom of the Med. That means no more progress for Italy. Even if they managed to land troops in Egypt, Trans Jordan or Syria, they won’t last very long. The UK will mop them up with a few land units and overwhelming air superiority.
Any ideas on how to stop this?