Red Flood

**SwordsMaster** · 03-26-2007, 13:51

Originally Posted by Franconicus

B) What about the British activities against the supply for Africa? Make proposals!

C) What about Crete?

Crete should be considered, planned and charted for when the FJ finish their re-equipment, retraining and resupplying. But it should not happen yet, at least for as long as Greece and Tobruk are in enemy hands.

We must convince the italians to give us more escort. And increase our air presence in the area in both bombers and reconassaince planes to make sure we know whats'a crackin'

**King Kurt** · 03-26-2007, 14:48

I would go for A2 - Rommel's head long dash has left us in a dangerious position. Let us fall back a little, dig in and wait for the counter-attack - that puts us at an advantage to hit them when they are worn down. Also Hoth needs to exhert his authority.

Our supply problems - more Italian naval support, bigger, better supported convoys and use all those Italian submarines to support our convoys. Finally what about bringing some German submariners to man the Italian boats - use the german commanded boats - with their more aggresssive tactics and better skill - to mount an aggressive submarine cordon around Alexandria.

Crete - is it worth the potenial casualties? Malta has shown our ability, so we do not need the Crete operation to prove our worth - let's wait for a better target. The only advantage that Crete will bring is the potential of inflicting casualties on the Royal Navy if they have to evacuate English troops - and we have to win for that to happen. Malta showed the strengths and weaknesses - we should not waste our valuable weapon of the airbourne arm.

**Stig** · 03-26-2007, 14:51

Just leave Crete. Once we have Tobruk we will have a short supply route. Then with the FJ we can make a dash for Alexandria. We should convince the German high command that we need more troops in Africa, and since we're only here to help the Italians we should ask them as well for obvious reason (they might be insulted if we take over again).

Plus I think it might be well to send U-boats into the Med to support our convoys ... as I said before.

**Franconicus** · 03-26-2007, 14:54

There are already two other German tank divisions on the way, the 3. and the 4.. Both are excelelent units. And you will get an extra pioneer regiment. I think your problem is not how to get more divisions, but how to ship them and how to supply them.

We already asked Dönitz about subs. He said he could not send some before fall.

**Stig** · 03-26-2007, 14:57

Then visit Hitler himself, convince him that Africa is important for more then 1 reason.
1. Oil.
2. Palestine.
3. Possible new route into Russia.
4. Possibly Muslim allies once we get there.
5. Very possibly a route into India.

**King Kurt** · 03-26-2007, 15:59

Getting U-boats to the med is difficult due to Gibraltar - strong currents as well as the British - that is why I suggested german crews for Italian subs - they have loads of boats, but they never performed well, so may be an injection of german skill - either as complete crews or cadres in boats - would be interesting.

**Stig** · 03-26-2007, 16:03

The Italians won't accept that unless we buy the Italian subs.

**AggonyDuck** · 03-26-2007, 21:39

A What is the right strategy at Africa?

2) Hoth thinks that the situation is alarming. He wants to retreat the divisions to Gazala. This is the right place to wait for more planes and the promised pioneer regiment. Here they should be able to repel a Britsh invasion and then assault Tobruk.

The situation is alarming and I'd rather do a organised withdrawal than suffer a severe reverse. Additionally we shouldn't be caught up in costly sieges, we should stick to mobile battles and try to defeat the Brits in the open. But for now we need to pull back and reinforce our units, and secure our position for the next dash.

B) What about the British activities against the supply for Africa? Make proposals!

Get the Italian frogmen to concentrate their operations against British naval forces in Crete and Alexandria. If we can incapacitate some of the British ships in their ports, perhaps the Italians might build up the confidence to assign heavier escorts to the convoys.

As to the British desert raids. It would be useful to move supplies in large heavily escorted convoys. Maybe requesting an additional Panzer Reconnaisance battalion or two, who have the task of stopping outflanking maneuvers by British patrols, might be wise. Additionally it might be good to get a company or two of Brandenburgers to operate against British supplies.

But as it is, we might have to make do with what we have and come up with ways to utilise them properly. We have to come up with a way to counter British naval power with light naval forces and airpower.

C) What about Crete?

Start the planning for an eventual assault. It would be a good way to both damage British naval power and to acquire a decent base to strike against the RN. But that said, if we can seize Alexandria and the Suez, Crete will not be needed.