Gibraltese Stalingrad

[Adam]

As far as the Canaries go - if the Spanish ship more stuff there (that the Germans may have given them), and they get a stiffening of some German troops snuck over & some Luftwaffe, it is not at all obvious that Britain can get together an amphibious assault that will be successful. IF they are prepared, U-Boats in the neighborhood would find an amphibious assault a target-rich environment, and how many escorts can the RN pull off the Atlantic run without asking for a disaster?

I would refer you to an earlier post regarding the use of WWII-era submarines to disrupt a major amphib op like this invasion of the Canaries would be:

During WW2, the submarines of all the powers never interfered with a major naval operation at the level presented in your time line. The physical nature of submarines at the time, the weapons available to them, and the manner in which they had to operate all mean that your depiction of the Torch convoys scattered and savaged to such an extent is ASB.

With Torch, we're not dealing with a few tens of merchant ships guarded by a double handful of escorts. Torch is a series of huge military convoys with a significant military escort presence.

 

[The Kiat]

On the other hand, Sebastopol prove that the axis was able to win siege battles, and was quite good at it.

A "Gibiltrar Sebastopol" outcome would sound much more reasonable than a "Gibiltrar Stalingrad" one

I was thinking it would more likely be a Gibralter Bataan, with the British force to evacuate or surrender. Unless the Royal Navy can gain air superiority and use its big guns to besiege the besiegers.

 

[Dilvish]

Does Gibralter need to be taken quickly? An active siege by itself would stop Gibralter from being used as an air and naval base.

Does possession of Gibralter do much for the Axis? To me, it seems a better idea to besiege Gibralter, and then fight off the Allied relief forces and counterattacks. With Spain as an Axis member, the straits are closed to Allied shipping anyway.

 

[BlairWitch749]

Does Gibralter need to be taken quickly? An active siege by itself would stop Gibralter from being used as an air and naval base.

Does possession of Gibralter do much for the Axis? To me, it seems a better idea to besiege Gibralter, and then fight off the Allied relief forces and counterattacks. With Spain as an Axis member, the straits are closed to Allied shipping anyway.

It only needs to fall for propaganda purposes. Once spain is in the axis, artillery closes that entrance to the med.

It makes Malta a lot more vulnerable, because convoys to her can only come from one direction, and all italian fleet assets can concentrate on the eastern med.

 

[Astrodragon]

It only needs to fall for propaganda purposes. Once spain is in the axis, artillery closes that entrance to the med.

It makes Malta a lot more vulnerable, because convoys to her can only come from one direction, and all italian fleet assets can concentrate on the eastern med.

True.

And it would be such a help to Cunningham, now he doesnt have to chase the Italians all over the Med in order to sink them....