NAVAL WAR FEBRUARY-7TH OF APRIL
When Convoys become an endangered Species.
The war to maintain the flow of pasta to Africa so our boys could hold the line was continuing.
A great victory came when after forcing a British fleet to withdraw from battle outside Tunisia harbor we managed to hunt it down.
Managing to corner the British fleet against the coast we managed to send all the ships to the bottom of the ocean scoring a crushing victory for the Axis!
But while the war to protect our convoys continued with great success by the 1st and the Home fleets convoys were still being sunk left and right
By the middle of February there were only 23 functioning convoys in all of Italy and 0 in reserve.
“PASTA what the hell,why doesn't Italy have any more convoys?”
“Well we could have more but someone decided we didn't need any more that we already had!”
“Well how was I supposed to know that Italians need some comfort to fight a war?? Proper German troops would be just fine without supplies!”
“Do you want to talk about Stal//”
“OH LOOK MORE VICTORIES!”
Even the venerable Warspite was sent in the depths of the Mediterranean!
But with constant attacks on my fleet from the air and with a complete inability to take down the British aircraft carriers my fleets had to go back to port until the end of the month.
But the British were also worn down..And so it was time for operation SEADOG!
“So umm boss why do we even bother about Corsica in the first place?”
“Because PASTA heavy bombers have been observed taking off from there”
“Oh god THEY ARE GOING AFTER THE PASTA FACTORIES??DEATH TO CORSICA I SAY!”
“No they are bombing Germ...you know what nvm… Yes we have to save the Italian Heavy Pasta Industry.”
The fierce air war around Sicily as the invasion of Corsica Begins.
The French Navy desperate to protect their last airport and port in the Northern Medditerenean sortie to stop the Italian fleet.
Unfortunately even though the 2nd Fleet was antiquated it was still bigger and more experience than the French fleet.
The battles around Corsica marked the end of the French fleet as a major force in the Medditerenean.
The naval campaign around COrsica
“And not a single friendly fire incident!Hey maybe even the Italians can learn!”
“Well yeah boss they didn't have to command 100 ships this time!”
“Good point we will give them more next time”
I thought I heard a sigh...nah just my idea surely.
Unfortunately with the other 2 fleet too damaged to fight and our 2 patrol grous now merged into one due to some ships starting a new career as non moving submarines we were losing a lot of convoys
And we would have no new convoys until the beginning of June
Thus a massive effort by all three fleets was undertaken resulting in some success as the end of the month approached.
And the naval bombers now had a new mission.
BOMB MALTA FLAT
Some success was achieved but at a cost
All the naval bomber and fighter cover required extensive repair after the mission.
And at the same time…
“WHAT THE HELL IS THE MAIN FLEET DOING THERE??”
“Ah yes the Duce ordered them to do a pass through the Ethiopian front to raise Morale”
“GET THEM BACK IN THE MEDDITERENEAN IMMEDIATELY!!”
I would have to take steps to deal with the Duce...soon..
But without air cover and with the most modern ships missing the fight around italy changed
And not necessarily to Italy's favor..
THOSE GOD DAMN SWORDFISH!
Thankfully the Main fleet returned soon after and with renewed air cover scored a new victory.
But in the time that took more convoys were lost.
“So...how many convoys have we left PASTA?”
He raised his hand and did a rude gesture in my direction
“Hey how dare you”
“Oops sorry wrong finger” he said not even bothering make his words believable
“So we have 1 convoy left in all of Italy..Great.....Hmm okay maybe some more convoys are important to build.. Now what should I cancel to make room...”
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