Good thoughts!
I also like the tr in z71.
I’ll look at it again, but I’d like to be able to go in on Taranto with as little fleet and as much air as possible. Saving the ac is precious. If saving also the cr in z98 while still pulling off Taranto, UK has splendid prospects in Africa on the long term. Getting 4 figs into z97 is pretty heavy.
I don’t worry too much about the Ethiopians. Actually, I’d rather have them spread out and taking UK-territories, so that Russia can have those precious Axis-areas instead (not sure that’s a viable strategy though, since Russia needs 100 % to the defence of Moscow). :)
This is why I rather leaned towards the fig in Malta than the tr in z71. What say you?