This is a full-scale historically-based campaign between Britain and Italy in the Mediterranean, commencing in July 1941.
As with all SAS WW2 scenarios, you can play for either side against the computer, or another player; and you can swap sides at any time during game play. For the British, you play as Richard Howe, a descendant of one of Britain's most successful Admirals; for the Italians, you carry the name of your distant famous relative Francesco Carraciola, successful Admiral and Prince!
The odds are rated as "about even" for both sides.
The campaign starts with the moves for both sides already done, and unless players modify the moves for either or both sides before the turn is run, there will be a LOT of action in the first turn!
Note: By default, SAS WW2 campaigns have 'emergency tactical responses' enabled for players. If you are inexperienced in SAS WW2, or just want a quicker game, you will need to disable some or all of the emergency tactical response options. See tactical responses for help on this topic.
Axis forces have captured Greece and Crete. Rommel's Afrika Korps has recently chased the British Western Desert Force all the way back to the Egyptian border. Only the small town of Tobruk holds out, garrisoned by tough Australian troops. All of Egypt - including the major port of Alexandria - now is like a ripe plum to be picked in the next Axis offensive. Malta lies battered under tons of Axis bombs.
The stage is set for a classic contest: the allies must strive to maintain the lifeline of convoys between Gibraltar, Malta and Alexandria; the Axis is determined to support and strengthen their forces in Libya, ready for the next offensive.
On paper, the Italians have the more powerful navy, a much larger airforce, and a strategically superior position. But they are prone to cautious moves. The better trained, more aggressive British navy is ready to accept the fight.
The starting naval forces, including ships under construction, are historically accurate except for the inclusion of three aircraft carriers for the Italians: the Aquila and an escort carrier, the Sparviero, have been completed ahead of time; while a sister to the Aquila, the Guiseppe Miraglia, is still under construction. Yet these carriers will do little to improve the fighting power of the Italian fleet - the Italian doctrine remains defensive, and the carriers are equipped with aircraft suited mainly to fighter defence.
Each side has a navy in the theatre of just under 1 million tonnes, and a merchant navy of over 200,000 tonnes. The British have a slight advantage in capital ships; the Italians, a substantial superiority in numbers of destroyers and especially submarines.
Players can of course add to the specified construction programs as resources allow, so this campaign can result in large navies by war's end.
The Italians start with nearly 1500 aircraft deployed, including over 200 German combat aircraft of Fliegerkorps X and Fliegerfuhrer Afrika, based in Sicily and Libya. The Sicilan-based aircraft in particular are especially suited to anti-shipping attacks and give the Italians a powerful punch. But they will not be replaced as they are lost - Hitler has the Russian Campaign on his mind and is diverting all important resources to that theatre.
Against that, the British can muster less than half that number; but they are well trained and the carrier-based aircraft are mobile and will remain a serious thorn in the Italian side.
The map covers over 2.6 million square nautical miles - which at around one tenth the size of the Pacific and Atlantic maps represents a relatively small-scale theatre.
Both sides start with historical levels of technology.
Troops are included in this scenario. For both sides, the supply and transport of troops to North Africa is the major strategic driver. Good play can see either side bring the land campaign in North Africa to a favourable conclusion. The loss of Alexandria would be a fatal blow to the British. The loss of Libya for the Italians less so. Both sides are re-building their ground forces after the failure of allied Operation Battleaxe to relieve Tobruk, which still holds out, encircled by strong Axis forces.
| GENERAL SETTINGS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Countries | UK, Italy | |
| Start Date | July 1941 | |
| Map | Mediterranean. 43 * 27 hexes; hex scale = 48nm. | |
| Land-based air? | Yes | |
| Carrier-based air? | Yes | |
| Design your own ships? | Yes | |
| Troops? | Yes | |
| COUNTRY-SPECIFIC SETTINGS | ||
| UK | ITALY | |
| Ports | *Gibraltar (Home Port) *Alexandria Malta Tobruk |
*La Spezia (Home Port) *Venice *Taranto Naples Palermo Cagliari Messina Piraeus Rhodes Iraklion Tripoli Benghazi Sallum |
| (* = has ship construction and repair facilities) | ||
| Starting Naval Forces | : | |
| Battleships | 6 ready 1 yet to be deployed to the Mediterranean |
4 ready 2 repairing 2 building |
| Aircraft Carriers | 3 ready 1 yet to be deployed |
2 ready 1 building |
| Cruisers | 13 ready 2 yet to be deployed |
14 ready |
| Destroyers/Escorts | 48 ready 2 yet to be deployed |
92 ready |
| Submarines | 9 ready |
36 ready. |
Notes: