In our games, UK NEVER builds an IC in Egypt. It’s been thought about, but always figured that’s practically a gift for the Italians. With Germany sending a couple of planes down to S Italy, Taranto is almost never successful. Just in our last game, UK tried it sending everything they had in the MED against SZ 97 – Fighter from Gibraltar, Fighter from Malta, CV, Tac, CA and DD from SZ 98. They lost all of that and managed to wound the BB, kill the CA, the Italian fighter and both German planes. Very costly for both sides, but the end result was Italy still had it’s transports plus the BB would be repaired on Italy’s turn. Meanwhile, there is no more British naval or air presence in the MED. The Italians still have a CA, 2 DDs and a sub in SZ 95, plus two more planes on N Italy, so the small French fleet there should pose no problem. VIOLA! The MED is cleared of Allied warships and Italy just gained a 5 point NO.
And you still have 3 transports to ferry troops to Africa, particularly Egypt. This can be handled in 2 ways:
1 – Did the British attack your force on Tobruk? If they did, oftentimes they are strong enough to pound them good and you will lose those forces. On the plus, this leaves Egypt VERY weak – probably the 2 ANZAC inf plus maybe 1 British inf from the Sudan. Land your 3 transports of troops there and take Egypt on round 1.
2 – Did the British pull back to protect Egypt? If this is the case, use your transports to ferry over troops from S Italy and take Greece along with the men and tank on Albania. Use your Tobruk force to take Alexandria. Now you have a strong force right there in Alexandria plus any troops you can get over with your 3 transports. If Britain attacks the force on Alexandria, well, that will weaken your overall force but ALSO weaken Egypt’s defenses. If Britain sits back to defend at full strength, then you have much more to hit her with. Plus, if you moved your remaining planes to S Italy round 1, you can use them in this battle and land them in Alexandria when you are done. Result, Italy has Egypt round 2, plus you already have Greece and you should have taken S France with your force in N Italy round 1. That’s 3 of the 4 territories and another 5 point NO for Italy.
Also, if Germany DOES pull a Sealion and is successful, odds are you will keep Egypt and be able to spread all over Africa relatively quickly because once you kill what little UK and French forces are there, then there won’t be any more. Africa and the Middle-East are YOURS!