Battle of Malta

  On May 20, 1942, the battle to capture Malta, control of the Mediterranean sea lanes and stabilize Rommel's Afrika Korps supply lines began.

  Africa. Just as Rommel was rubbing his fists and preparing to attack. His big brother rang, took a look: it was a brief notice.

  "Army High Command to Africa Army Group Rommel: Detailed plan for attack on Malta has been telegraphed, see portable cipher box. Commander-in-Chief, Manstein."

  Long Mei'er opened the titanium alloy box with a loud creak and carefully examined the attack plan. The contents were as follows:

  To ensure the smooth progress of this offensive, it is necessary to gather as many air forces as possible. The main force of African air power, the Desert Hawks Squadron FW190HSX, arrived on time at 11:00 on May 20th over the southern part of Malta, attacking the southern port of Valletta on Kemmuna Island. The attack aircraft used new-style shock flash bombs and nerve-paralyzing bombs to render the harbor defense personnel unable to fight. Protecting the harbor facilities for convenient use by our troops in the future. At the same time, attacking the British defensive positions along the Lismar-Luga line, destroying enemy permanent firepower points, air defense positions, pillboxes, and other buildings that pose a threat to infantry. Paving the way for the Italian "Folgore" Parachute Division's offensive and providing firepower support for the paratroopers' advance.

  To enhance the assault capability of the Voger Parachute Division, HQ has equipped it with 40 rocket launchers, totaling 300 pieces, and 2000 rounds of ammunition. The German army's standard submachine gun is 800 branches, each with a basic number of 320 rounds. The Voger division has a strength of 3,000 men, which will be assigned to your department after the war.

  Italian mainland Cartignano airport took off GO229 thirty aircraft, arriving at the designated sea area on May 20th at 10:00, sealing off the waters around Malta. Carrying laser-guided bombs to attack British warships that dare to break through.

  Simultaneously, the 2nd Air Wing's 260 FW190HSX attacked Kemmuna Island in the north, attacking from the Lisma-Luga line to the north. The mission was the same as that of the Desert Hawks Squadron. The main task was to paralyze Mosta Airport, provide cover for the 1st Paratrooper Brigade and ensure air superiority over Malta's main island.

  The first airborne troops of Germany landed in 20 Ju 52s at Mosta airfield and began the occupation of the whole island.

  Took off from Modica Airport FW190HSX 100 aircraft, attacking the defensive fortifications of Gozo Island. Destroying its combat effectiveness, covering part of the newly established SS "Africa" division occupying Gozo Island.

  Six "Junkers mothers" took off from German territory, carrying 60 wooden "Stuka" bombers, which were dropped over Malta to lure out the defensive anti-aircraft fire points. The coordinates of these points were then transmitted by the "Junkers mothers" to the attacking aircraft, which eliminated them one by one.

  The battle plan was to capture Malta in 5 hours and annihilate the British garrison on the island.

  After a 10-hour rest, the entire island assault force parachuted into Tobruk, Salum, Adem and other British material gathering places at 5:00 am on May 21 to protect your urgent supplies. At the same time, your department launched the Gazala campaign. Inside and outside, quickly disintegrate the enemy's combat effectiveness.

  During the battle, the headquarters air team will launch yellow smoke bombs to distinguish between enemy and friendly forces and guide your tank attack.

  The Battle of 5.21 ended.

  Romel finished reading the plan and took a deep breath. After all, Manstein was a strategic master-level task, and at a glance, he saw the key to whether the African army could win or not, that is, whether it could get sufficient supplies in time. In fact, after careful study, this problem is also the soft underbelly of most German troops. The "Hercules" plan for attacking Malta specified by him can be said to be as dense as a drizzle, and like an eagle swooping down on a rabbit, a lion devouring a sheep, under the full force attack of superior air forces and airborne forces, Malta is naturally easy to capture.

  Manstein knew that the African Corps had actually played a crucial role in the development of the entire battle. The British considered this route related to national fortune very important, and Churchill, that old fox, tried every means to win this war. The British troops facing Rommel were better equipped, had more troops and supplies than the African Corps! Rommel had always been fighting with inferior forces against a strong enemy (in fact, he was already used to it). However, the combat effectiveness of the African Corps was higher than that of the British army, and Rommel's command ability was also superior to that of the British commander Auchinleck. The biggest advantage was still the German tactics, which were a whole era ahead of the British! So every time Rommel's armored troops launched a surprise attack or encircled and attacked, they could achieve unexpected results. The British tactical guidance ideology had always been stuck at the level of World War I. Perhaps it would take the blood of more than 200,000 people in Africa to open the eyes of the British command personnel! Rommel once said to captured British soldiers: "You fight like lions, but your commanders are donkeys!" This metaphor was indeed very vivid. The British commanders were even stupider than donkeys! Manstein knew all these differences and had a broader vision than Rommel from his position at the top of the German army. This was also why the unruly Rommel was willing to be led by Manstein. Every battle commanded by Manstein did not rely on brute force, but on wisdom! It was perfect strategy and tactics! Every time he attacked, he could break through in a place where the enemy least expected it, and every time he defended, he would set up an ambush for the enemy. The sharp counterattack would start when the enemy was about to be annihilated! As early as the French campaign, Manstein's plan to secretly build a bridge was the main reason for France's defeat. Therefore, Rommel deeply approved of Manstein's attack on Malta. In fact, they were in tacit agreement. As early as the first attack on Tobruk, Rommel had proposed attacking Malta to ensure the logistics supply of the African Corps. But Hitler always believed that as long as Rommel captured Tobruk and gained a good port, Malta was an unnecessary battle that was not worth sacrificing the elite paratroopers' blood. Perhaps it was the heavy losses of German paratroopers in the Battle of Crete that made Little Hitler feel heartbroken, or perhaps he did not trust whether the Italian navy dared to fight against the British in the Mediterranean. In short, Comrade Little Hitler avoided and exempted himself from the attack on Malta, codenamed "Hercules". This shortsighted strategy had already laid the groundwork for Rommel's African Corps' failure.

  Fortunately, it is now Manstein's turn. The cunning and calculating him would not give the British a single opportunity, originally he planned to send 100 new Panther III tanks to Rommel as reinforcements. However, under the persuasion of Bai Qi, he temporarily suspended it, after all, compared to Rommel, the German army on the Eastern Front needed tanks more urgently. Rommel already had the trump card Xiao A Fu in his hand, and under Xiao A Fu's rapid transformation, the North African Army's tanks were reborn. In terms of speed, protection, firepower, and other aspects, they made significant progress. Even ordinary short-barreled Panzer III tanks had a considerable advantage when facing Grants and Matildas. The six 40mm guns installed on top of the Panzer III tank had a range of up to 800 meters. When used in conjunction with the upgraded Carl Zeiss sighting telescope, they could easily destroy the above-mentioned two British tanks with the best protection at a distance of over 1000 yards. With such a powerful tool in hand, Rommel couldn't wait to launch a surprise attack while the enemy was unprepared. However, Manstein, who had a longer vision, stopped him. The reason why he didn't transport more fuel, ammunition, and food to Rommel was that Manstein knew the British had stored large quantities of supplies in Tobruk. Everything Rommel wanted could be obtained, so Manstein's true intention was to shift the British attention by attacking Malta, and then use the strategic airlift capability that the British couldn't understand to transport paratroopers to protect the strategic supplies in Tobruk, while launching the Gazala battle with Rommel. The tanks, supported by about 700 various attack aircraft, also captured Tobruk at lightning speed. Under such a joint attack of air and land, inside and outside coordination, how could the British not be defeated!

  This plan is almost too easy for the German army to succeed! After the main road of the campaign, at least three major problems can be solved.

  Solved the logistical supply of the African army.

  Two: Capture Tobruk, Malta, and blockade the Mediterranean sea route. The British will certainly go all out to contend with the Italian Navy for control of the seas, at which time the German Air Force can heavily attack the British fleet.

  Three: Compel Churchill to heavily reinforce Auchinleck, the Suez Canal in Egypt is a vital lifeline for Britain. If ships carrying grain from India go around the Cape of Good Hope, it will take nearly a year to reach Britain. If so, Britain will starve, and Churchill's position will be untenable!

  Manstein's move was a clever and ruthless one that left Rommel utterly impressed! He redoubled his efforts in preparing for the battle.

  Thus, the "Great Power" plan to capture Malta began on schedule. The first wave of decoy planes swooped down from high altitude, pulling a terrifying whistle sound towards the anti-aircraft positions that had already been scouted by satellites! Everything was as planned, and pre-war targeted drills made pilots familiar with their targets. As the popcorn-like anti-aircraft guns sounded, the real strike began!

  FW190HSX swooped in at low altitude, 25 meters above the sea surface, and rocketed all the anti-aircraft guns that had not had time to lower their muzzles. The attack planes then mercilessly pounded the unprotected bunkers, shelters, and other places where the British could take cover! This was not war, it was a one-sided massacre!

  Detailed and precise intelligence, highly targeted pre-war exercises created extremely high efficiency for the pilots! For the British on the ground, the protection of the concrete fort was not as safe as the open space! The engineering works they had always relied on became their tomb! In a situation where there was no way to fight back, despair came quickly! Two hours! Only two hours! The British, who were completely unable to resist, waved white flags at the planes! This unprecedented airborne operation ended without even seeing a paratrooper!

  When the fully prepared, heavily armed and eager-to-show-off paratroopers landed. What they saw was row upon row of dejected prisoners of war, escorted by a low-flying FW190HSX aircraft!

  Escorting prisoners of war by plane is the most ridiculous thing!

  Romel received the news and immediately called Manstein's big brother, asking to start the campaign ahead of time. However, many planes need to be loaded with ammunition, and Malta's airport cannot keep up quickly. Therefore, Manshtein agreed to three hours later. The pilots began the Battle of Gazala after a brief rest!

  At the same time, he wants to give an account to those parachuters who have been deceived! You came here to fight a war! Not for vacation, I won't cheat you!

  The moment the order was given, the paratroopers who had been listless and disheartened suddenly regained their spirits! They threw themselves into pre-combat preparations with enthusiasm, going over once again the battle tasks they had already rehearsed to perfection.

  The paratroopers who attacked Gruyères are about to start a real fight!