Question for MED captians

[79TransAm]

I am doing my 2nd time through SH3 in the med. What can I expect. ALot of tonnage? I have heard that the MED is the place to run into Battleships, Carriers, and Cruisers, is this true?

[Syxx_Killer]

As far as tonnage, I have never really hit the jackpot. While in the Med, though, is where I really only ever saw any warships.

[Threadfin]

Yep, I've encountered quite a few battleship TFs and cruiser TFs in the med. Two of the best grids in my experience are CJ75 and CN22. Until 1943 I've found zero convoys and the merchants are C2 or smaller for the most part, mods notwithstanding. After the Torch landings the action picks up considerably. Good hunting.

[Ula Jolly]

The Malta-Tunisia bottleneck is a fine one, but the only REAL place for TFs is Gibraltar. I don't know if they transit the place a lot, but personally I only have luck on the far west side. The Egyptian ports are nice for raiding, so is Greece. Malta is extremely ickywicky - you have to zig and zag and move about a little if you want to get a good shot on all the ships there.
In general, not that fertile an area, and you can easily feel a bit... constrained. The other flotillas have the whole Atlantic and whatnot, you have... the Med. It's warm, it smells, and there aren't any convoys to my knowledge.

[Rose]

How can you get your base to the Med? I'm a bit confused...

[JSalinger]

Once 1941 rolls around, you request a transfer to the 29th Flotilla, which at this time will be based out of the northern Italian port of La Spezia, where it will remain until 1943, when it transfers to the southern French port of Toulon until 1944, when it is disbanded. You'll be able to operate Type VIIBs and Type IXCs with 29th Flotilla.

[79TransAm]

What about alexandria? I know that alot of cruisers and BB's sailed out of that port at one time or another? Is it worth raiding or patroling near?

[Salvadoreno]

Play the Med with the NYGM TW Mod and ull have a blast

[JScones]

What about alexandria? I know that alot of cruisers and BB's sailed out of that port at one time or another? Is it worth raiding or patroling near?
Yes. But with the disclaimer of depending on what mod you run. GW has a bit. But don't expect as much as there is between the Tripoli, Tobruk and Taranto triangle.

[Der Teddy Bar]

Salvadoreno is right on the money :up:

The Mediterranean Campaign has been long overdue for a historical correct update.


The NYGM Team Member Charlie901 said...
In looking at the original SHIII Campaign, RND Layer, I was immediately distraught over how simplified the convoy routes were in the Med. Without giving away any "Spoilers" they basically all followed the same linear path, meaning the rest of the Mediterranean was left completely "Lifeless".

In conducting my research, I found the war in the Mediterranean Sea Theater, during WWII, vastly "Different" and more "Exciting" than I had previously thought and could have ever expected. No where and at no time, during WWII were convoy's so small yet so staggeringly well protected and so desperate in their need to get supplies', to desperate ports. This adds a unique and different challenge to even the most seasoned SHIII veteran. Taking chances with a convoy in the Med aren't quite as safe as in the "Deep Atlantic". Besides the challenge of shallower water the player will find himself questioning whether it's worth it or if they are in a favourable enough position to attack a convoy of only a couple Merchant ships, escorted by two-three times as many escorts. This will lead to a necessity of taking those "Long-shots" that aren't as necessary in the Atlantic.

I also wanted this Mod to be as "Dynamic" as possible. My goal in producing this Mod was to give the player the "Illusion" that they were playing a totally different and "Unpredictable" game every time through. Even though the Med is not very BIG game play wise, compared to the vast Atlantic, I wanted as much "Randomness" in the Mediterranean, Convoy wise (RND specific), as possible. I really think that I've achieved this goal in that almost every single convoy has "Random" and "Variable" waypoints and even speeds. Just because you saw that "Juicy" Gibraltar-Alexandria Convoy pass once in a certain spot, travelling in a certain direction and speed don't expect it to travel that same path again and don't expect it to look the same either!

What I did not want to do with this Mod is to add specific Historical events, like the sinking of the Bismarck, Dunkirk evacuation or Historical Task Force operations involving the sailing of various Battle Fleets. I rather simulated the Random convoy's that would have taken place preceding or following these specific events. Ultimately, I reserved this to the SCR (Scripted) Layer of the Campaign as these events are already well represented by the R.U.B. "OPs" Mod by Berry and the "Harbor Traffic" Mods by Rubini. The end result being that this mod is totally compatible with these or any other mod that alters the SHIII SCR Campaign file.


* All Allied/Axis Generic entries now have a slight chance of spawning 1-3 escorts. The probability and escort numbers grow as the war progresses. This was done to reflect the fact that almost no Merchant ships were unescorted in the Med during the war.

In addition, each and every entry was also checked for validity in travelling to and from where they "Should" be travelling (date wise) given the changes of ownership in various ports as the war progressed (This is where a lot of fixes to the "MedTraffic" entries to/from Greece were implemented). It should be noted that RUSSIAN Generic "MedTraffic" entries have a much slower rate and reduced chance of spawning escorts due to obvious reasons.

* Added entries simulating Italy's resupply traffic to/from Italy to/from all major occupied ports in North Africa during N.A. Campaign; these convoy's start/stop Historically (date wise) when each city's port is gained/lost during the battle for N. Africa. Included is the Historically correct; Taranto/Augusta convoy HA43. The makeup of the rest of these convoy's is as accurate as historically possible, for instance 2-4 troop/supply ships with at least 4+ escorts for each convoy.

* Added several Italian Hospital Ships traveling to/from N. Africa at the ports and dates that major battles took place. These ships travel alone without escort so as not to be confused with "Legitimate" targets. Note: Iambecomelife’s “Hospital Ships” Mod must be installed.

* Added random Italian warship patrols off the coast of Italy and into the Med Allied shipping lanes to simulate mine deployment and security patrols. These patrols center around the Straits of Sicily (area historically, heavily, mined by the Italians) and to the East Southeast of Malta. NOTE: I only used Italian Destroyers for this purpose due to the fact that there are currently no modded heavy Italian warships available.

During many times the entire balance of the War in the Mediterranean hinged on the desperate ability to keep the Island of MALTA resupplied. The loss of the Mediterranean war for the Axis powers during WWII has been traced to the sheer determination and ability of the British and allied forces to get badly needed supplies to this besieged island. With the loss of Malta the allies would have had great difficulties getting needed convoys through to Alexandria in a timely fashion, which eventually enabled the Allies to hold and push the Italian/Axis forces West and eventually off the N. African Coast.

* To best replicate this I've added every Mediterranean Historical Operational Convoy to the game. The following HOC's were added:

Malta Convoy, "Excess"
Malta Convoy, 'Substance'
Malta Convoy, 'Style'
Malta Convoy, 'Halberd'
Malta Convoy, 'Pedestal'
Malta Convoy, 'Harpoon'
Malta Convoy, 'Pedestal'
Malta Convoy, 'Portcullis'
Alexandria Convoy, 'Stoneage'
Alexandria Convoy, 'Vigorous'
Alexandria Convoy, 'Tiger'


Each of these HOC's will only appear one time during a career, on the exact date (and sometimes time) that they sailed, containing the exact Historical ship types and escort types and amounts (Don't say you haven't been warned!). Note: some escorts had to be slightly reduced for playability on at least one of the listed convoys with 26+ DD escorts.

* Added additional Historical Alexandria-Malta convoys; "MW-5" and "MC 4_MaltaConvoy" with Historical associated escort groups for Eastern Med theater of operations.

* 1941 Mar. 5 - Operation Lustre begins/ The Royal Navy begins escorting British and Commonwealth troop convoys from Egypt to Greece.
All to/from Greece have been altered to add escorts where appropriate for the Allies. Also deleted entries that correlated to British Merchant ships traveling to/from Greece when under Axis occupation. Finally added convoy's to mimic the Australian and B.E.Forces landing then re-supplying troops operating there.

* 24 April 1941 Allies and Greek royals evacuate from Greece to Egypt and Crete.
Added convoys to/from Greece to Alexandria and Crete to simulate the eventual Allied withdrawal and axis control of the country.

* 27-31 May 1941 - Allied troops begin to evacuate Crete.
This is simulated through several corresponding, convoy's, which load and depart from historically correct locations on the island, until June 1st when the last Allied men are carried from the island. Also added Allied/Allied warship patrols around Crete when appropriate (Date Wise).


* MAY 1941 The first of many supply trips to besieged Tobruk are made by Australian destroyers "Voyager" and "Waterhen" and other ships of the Inshore Squadron.
A series of Alexandria-Tobruk convoys are added to simulate the desperate Allied/allied resupply chain to the surrounded city, consisting of appropriately classed Military vessels that operate during the historically correct siege dates.

* Added Random Eastern Med British warship patrols with variable waypoints and speeds (Force K, Cruiser Force Q) consisting of appropriate warships (Cruisers, etc).

* 1944 October 4th - Allies land in Greece.
This is simulated again through changing the appropriate entries, adding Allied supply/troop ships and escorts, to reflect allied convoy's travelling to/from Greece again.

* JULY 1943 10th - Invasion of Sicily: Operation 'Husky'.
"HA-" and "AH-" Allied series of convoys added to correct port location on island, at appropriate dates, to simulate allied resupply traffic.

* OCTOBER 1943 British units of the US Fifth Army enter Naples on the 1st as the Germans fall back, ready to make the Allies fight long and hard for every gain over the next eight months.
"NS, SNF" Allied series of convoys added to Naples port location, at appropriate dates, to simulate allied resupply traffic. Additional Allied convoys added to/from Italian Southern port of Taranto shortly after port was seized by the Allies.

* Entries added to simulate "Random" allied warship patrols around Sicily and Southern Coastal areas of Italy to protect allied occupied areas and waters.

* Added British Historical "40_BrHaifaCnvy_01" from Alexandria to Beirut; mostly to give some "Life" to the neglected, extreme Eastern Med area.


* The following Historical convoys were also added:

Number Route Notes
-----------------------------------------------------------
E.T. North African Ports - Gibraltar From November 1942
T.E. Gibraltar - North African ports From November 1942
H.A. Tripoli - Augusta From August 1943
K. Casablanca - Brest From October 1939 to June 1940
S. Brest - Casablanca From 1939 to June 1940. French
K.S. Oran/Casablanca - Brest/St Nazaire From September 1939 to June 1940. French
L.E. Port Said/Alexandria - Famagusta/Haifa/Beirut From July 1941 (see 40_BrHaifaCnvy_xx)
M.W. West Mediterranean - Alexandria/Malta From July 1940 to 1941. Resumed November 1942. July 1943 MWF for operation Husky
N.S. North Africa - Naples
S.N. Naples - North African ports From 1943. Fast (SNF)
T.E. Gibraltar - North African ports From November 1942
T.J. Tunisia - Sicily July 1943. Invasion convoy for Operation Husky with TJF, TJM and TJS
T.S. Tripoli - Termini September 1943. Invasion convoys for Operation Avalanche with TSF and TSS
T.X. Tripoli - Alexandria From February 1943
X.T. Alexandria - Tripoli From January 1943
G.T.X. Gibraltar - Tripoli - Alexandria/Port Said From May 1943
X.T.G. Alexandria - Tripoli - Gibraltar From June 1943

[STEED]

Good place to hunt warships on my last patrol I took a small warship convoy by surprise, took out a light cruiser and a destroyer in 1942. This of course got the remaining two destroyers and one light cruiser angry, just escaped with some moderate damage.