Damn, lucky break with the +8% IC event! Its great to see another AAR where you play italy, reminds me of Bayonets Made of Milk! It'll be fun to see what you can do as italy, and if you can do better than the AI does in france!
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azid: Thanks! Italy certainly has enough IC for carriers. It's just a matter of whether it has enough IC for enough carriers. 
XHR: Of course, there's no way Il Duce is not going to be showcasing his new naval power. As for the French Med fleet, I really have no idea how big it is but given that they're split between two seas (Med and Atlantic) and the Med has traditionally been the lower priority sea I've assumed that the French Med fleet is relatively weak.
Soulitaire: The best works on strategy tend to note that grand strategy isn't just about the threat or use of force, but also the development and procurement of weapons, as it is capability that ties directly to force. You can't do something if you don't have the tools with which to do it with.
Maj. von Mauser: Nah. The production time even for escort carriers is nearly a year and a half. Given the unstable nature of European politics I can't be sure that war won't break out before I have my carriers. Given that, despite my long term strategizing, I'll still be an opportunistic bastard if the rewards are great enough, capability in the near future is more useful than slightly better capability in the further-than-near future.
Enewald: Why thank you!
ColossusCrusher: That's another big factor. My carrier practical is exactly 0 and is thus overwhelmingly shit.
Maj. von Mauser: Yep, that too. The aircraft are more important than the carrier, really. One reason why the USA built over 100 carriers during the war, many were just pieces of junk, built like Liberty ships, and were known to founder in heavy storms but they flew planes off their decks and were thus pretty valuable for lesser duties if nothing else.
stnylan: Yeah, more or less. I specifically went for techs that would finish quickly if possible. And the trading was very good too.
Vann the Red: Thanks! It wasn't too hard. Germany always has energy to spare, so I knew to take that primarily from them. The Soviet Union always has a lot of energy and rares, so I knew to take those from them. The USA initiated its two deals with me. Given the CG bug, no AI country was building enough supplies so I was basically the supply center of the entire world, a great many nations were literally begging supplies off me.
Palmyrene: Glad my AAR helps, Palmyrene! If you've got any questions, I'm of course happy to answer. And I'm curious how the French AI will react to my deployments as well. We'll just have to wait and see.
EvilFishtank: Yeah, the +8% IC was nice, though I didn't really use it for much. And BMoM is very much inspiration for this AAR. Obviously it's more serious and less comedic (notwithstanding some situational comedy) but I learnt a few strategic lessons from that game that I may or may not end up applying here. You'll notice that so far I'm much more going down Discomb's path than my own--with my primary branch being the navy rather than an army-air force combination. Nevertheless, my strategy is maritime rather than naval, whereas IIRC his was naval more than maritime overall. This will make a difference once Italy starts shooting.
XHR: Of course, there's no way Il Duce is not going to be showcasing his new naval power. As for the French Med fleet, I really have no idea how big it is but given that they're split between two seas (Med and Atlantic) and the Med has traditionally been the lower priority sea I've assumed that the French Med fleet is relatively weak.
Soulitaire: The best works on strategy tend to note that grand strategy isn't just about the threat or use of force, but also the development and procurement of weapons, as it is capability that ties directly to force. You can't do something if you don't have the tools with which to do it with.
Maj. von Mauser: Nah. The production time even for escort carriers is nearly a year and a half. Given the unstable nature of European politics I can't be sure that war won't break out before I have my carriers. Given that, despite my long term strategizing, I'll still be an opportunistic bastard if the rewards are great enough, capability in the near future is more useful than slightly better capability in the further-than-near future.
Enewald: Why thank you!
ColossusCrusher: That's another big factor. My carrier practical is exactly 0 and is thus overwhelmingly shit.
Maj. von Mauser: Yep, that too. The aircraft are more important than the carrier, really. One reason why the USA built over 100 carriers during the war, many were just pieces of junk, built like Liberty ships, and were known to founder in heavy storms but they flew planes off their decks and were thus pretty valuable for lesser duties if nothing else.
stnylan: Yeah, more or less. I specifically went for techs that would finish quickly if possible. And the trading was very good too.
Vann the Red: Thanks! It wasn't too hard. Germany always has energy to spare, so I knew to take that primarily from them. The Soviet Union always has a lot of energy and rares, so I knew to take those from them. The USA initiated its two deals with me. Given the CG bug, no AI country was building enough supplies so I was basically the supply center of the entire world, a great many nations were literally begging supplies off me.
Palmyrene: Glad my AAR helps, Palmyrene! If you've got any questions, I'm of course happy to answer. And I'm curious how the French AI will react to my deployments as well. We'll just have to wait and see.
EvilFishtank: Yeah, the +8% IC was nice, though I didn't really use it for much. And BMoM is very much inspiration for this AAR. Obviously it's more serious and less comedic (notwithstanding some situational comedy) but I learnt a few strategic lessons from that game that I may or may not end up applying here. You'll notice that so far I'm much more going down Discomb's path than my own--with my primary branch being the navy rather than an army-air force combination. Nevertheless, my strategy is maritime rather than naval, whereas IIRC his was naval more than maritime overall. This will make a difference once Italy starts shooting.
Caught up. Just started an Italy game myself last night, so I'll follow your AAR closely for pointers.
For what it's worth, my Ethiopian war (also AI-run) looked very similar to yours, including the Abyssinian invasion of Somalia. In the end, though, numbers did tell.
You clearly have a long-term strategy sketched out, which reminds me that I need one myself. It'll be interesting to see how yours works out for you.
For what it's worth, my Ethiopian war (also AI-run) looked very similar to yours, including the Abyssinian invasion of Somalia. In the end, though, numbers did tell.
You clearly have a long-term strategy sketched out, which reminds me that I need one myself. It'll be interesting to see how yours works out for you.
Stuyvesant: Our Abyssinian Wars are then probably in no way the same. I do have a very clear long-term strategy though, which is always beneficial. I have no idea how it'll work out. That's probably kind of the point of this AAR, especially given the title.
Update coming up!
I do have a very clear long-term strategy though, which is always beneficial. I have no idea how it'll work out. That's probably kind of the point of this AAR, especially given the title. Update coming up!
The First Year of Renaissance
Part 7: The Fall of Somalia, June – November, 1936
The escort carriers that were ordered in early June were the high point of the first half year for Mussolini. Unfortunately, hard on the heels of this good news and amazing progress in the Italian naval industry a woeful tale began. At some point in early May Mussolini had tacitly accepted that Abyssinia was quickly becoming a quagmire, as Grazioli had not moved an inch forward since late March. The war gradually slid off of the newspaper headlines as nothing happened and continued to happen. However, events began picking up again in June, but not in the way Mussolini could have hoped.
The Abyssinians, seeing the nonexistence of the Italian reply to their minor move into Somalia, became bolder. By late June they had dedicated at least three divisions of militia, controlled by an actual military headquarters, to the Somali frontline. And then, they started pushing. The first town to be captured was Garoowe, northeast of the already fallen Gaalkacyo. Despite Italian censorship, and unlike the fall of Gaalkacyo, Italian newspapers registered this slap in the face. There was a deluge of publicity, forcing the Italian government to clamp down and forcibly ban any mention of Somalia, save for a minor story a week later telling of a glorious counteroffensive that had driven the Abyssinians out of Somalia and a consequent invasion of southern Abyssinia.
The town of Garoowe lost to the Abyssinians!
This counteroffensive never occurred. Instead, the corps commander on the spot, Lieutenant General Bennati, cravenly did nothing. His forces did not shift from their positions, and his one infantry division remained stationed far behind the front at Muqdishu. Grazioli did not push him. Indeed, evidence has come to light that Bennati worked to hide the full scale of the disaster from Grazioli, who willingly became an accomplice in this deception by not inquiring further. Perhaps by this stage Grazioli realized he had supply problems and was thus trying to sort them out so that he could continue his offensive. His reputation, after all, was being threatened. And then, in early July, the town of Eyl fell. The Italian territory of Somalia was bisected.
Somalia, cut in two by the Abyssinians.
The Abyssinians spent the next two months marching down the coast toward Muqdishu, conquering Garacad and Hobyo. Both were normally unimportant towns but their significance becomes clear when it is realized that Bennati still had not moved his forces to deal with this threat. The short Italian frontline had been turned, Abyssinian militia were behind the Blackshirt and Somali militia that were still facing the Abyssinian border from the same positions they were occupying at the beginning of the year. Bennati had not even released his sole division of real infantry to take up any useful position. Furthermore, the Abyssinians had actually brought up their own division of real infantry, in a shocking and telling turn of events. The significance of this deployment is obvious: the Abyssinians blatantly did not consider Grazioli’s northern forces a threat to Adis Abeba despite the fact that they were athwart two roads to the Abyssinian capital.
The Abyssinians were closing in on Bennati’s corps.
In early September, the Abyssinians began the battle for Somalia. Abyssinian militia attacked Somali militia at Dhuusa Mareeb, likely to pin them down to prevent them from coming to the aid of their fellows at Beledweyne. They likely need not have bothered. Given Bennati’s craven incompetence thus far, it was very unlikely that he would suddenly do the right thing and actually do something at all. Meanwhile, at Beledweyne the Abyssinian infantry attacked Blackshirt militia. Major General Zincone’s militia fought bravely despite the crippling handicap of an incompetent officer. At first, the battle seemed to be going well. The Abyssinian forces were relatively disorganized compared to their militia opponents, and defense is always easier than attack.
The first actual fighting in Somalia.
In two weeks of fighting, the Blackshirt militia was broken. Zincone was forced to withdraw toward Mereeg. At the same time, Beledweyne fell to the Abyssinians, who then launched an all out assault on the militia positions around Dhuusa Mareeb. Major General Giorgis was a defensive specialist, but his specialist knowledge could not defeat the vast forces arrayed against him. Three Abyssinian militia divisions, and their infantry division, assaulted the Italian and Somali positions from four sides. As at Beledweyne, the militia broke in two weeks. Bennati’s corps was slowly disintegrating right in front of his unwilling and unseeing eyes.
The Abyssinians showing off their Clausewitzian learning in a way Bennati could never, ever understand.
At this point, Mussolini could not stand aside any longer. He was unwilling to let Somalia become a ruinous defeat. He broke his promise to Grazioli and personally stepped into the breach to coordinate a definitive defense of Muqdishu at least, to occupy the strong Abyssinian forces dedicated to the fighting in Somalia. He completely bypassed Bennati and sent orders directly to divisional commanders, ordering them to withdraw toward Muqdishu. It was, however, too late. Gioris’ militia was encircled and destroyed against the sea, as was D’Oro’s strong militia division. Just under twenty thousand Blackshirts and Somalis surrendered, though both generals were able to extract themselves and reach Muqdishu.
Withdrawal toward Muqdishu, before it turned into defeat and disaster.
By this time, Bennati’s corps had been nearly shattered. Of its thirty-nine thousand men, more than twenty-one thousand were dead, wounded or prisoners. Only Zincone’s three militia brigades remained, damaged by fighting around Beledweyne, as well as Major General Volpini’s two brigades of infantry. When he stepped in to intervene, Mussolini had personally ordered Commander Quillici to detach two transport flotillas under Commander Ciano and sent them to Muqdishu. In early November, the remnants of Bennati’s corps were evacuated to Ed.
Evacuation from Somalia.
The remnants of Bennati’s corps were deposited at Ed without any ceremony and Ciano returned to Italy. Bennati was reattached to Grazioli, but on the understanding that the Sword of Damocles was hanging above his head and would soon fall. Furthermore, this humiliating defeat reflected badly on Grazioli, particularly for his part in ignoring it and helping Bennati ignore it. In addition, it increased the pressure on him to produce definitive results, and to conquer Abyssinia, and particularly before the Abyssinians shifted their forces northward. Abyssinia was quickly making a mockery of Italy.
Part 7: The Fall of Somalia, June – November, 1936
The escort carriers that were ordered in early June were the high point of the first half year for Mussolini. Unfortunately, hard on the heels of this good news and amazing progress in the Italian naval industry a woeful tale began. At some point in early May Mussolini had tacitly accepted that Abyssinia was quickly becoming a quagmire, as Grazioli had not moved an inch forward since late March. The war gradually slid off of the newspaper headlines as nothing happened and continued to happen. However, events began picking up again in June, but not in the way Mussolini could have hoped.
The Abyssinians, seeing the nonexistence of the Italian reply to their minor move into Somalia, became bolder. By late June they had dedicated at least three divisions of militia, controlled by an actual military headquarters, to the Somali frontline. And then, they started pushing. The first town to be captured was Garoowe, northeast of the already fallen Gaalkacyo. Despite Italian censorship, and unlike the fall of Gaalkacyo, Italian newspapers registered this slap in the face. There was a deluge of publicity, forcing the Italian government to clamp down and forcibly ban any mention of Somalia, save for a minor story a week later telling of a glorious counteroffensive that had driven the Abyssinians out of Somalia and a consequent invasion of southern Abyssinia.
The town of Garoowe lost to the Abyssinians!
This counteroffensive never occurred. Instead, the corps commander on the spot, Lieutenant General Bennati, cravenly did nothing. His forces did not shift from their positions, and his one infantry division remained stationed far behind the front at Muqdishu. Grazioli did not push him. Indeed, evidence has come to light that Bennati worked to hide the full scale of the disaster from Grazioli, who willingly became an accomplice in this deception by not inquiring further. Perhaps by this stage Grazioli realized he had supply problems and was thus trying to sort them out so that he could continue his offensive. His reputation, after all, was being threatened. And then, in early July, the town of Eyl fell. The Italian territory of Somalia was bisected.
Somalia, cut in two by the Abyssinians.
The Abyssinians spent the next two months marching down the coast toward Muqdishu, conquering Garacad and Hobyo. Both were normally unimportant towns but their significance becomes clear when it is realized that Bennati still had not moved his forces to deal with this threat. The short Italian frontline had been turned, Abyssinian militia were behind the Blackshirt and Somali militia that were still facing the Abyssinian border from the same positions they were occupying at the beginning of the year. Bennati had not even released his sole division of real infantry to take up any useful position. Furthermore, the Abyssinians had actually brought up their own division of real infantry, in a shocking and telling turn of events. The significance of this deployment is obvious: the Abyssinians blatantly did not consider Grazioli’s northern forces a threat to Adis Abeba despite the fact that they were athwart two roads to the Abyssinian capital.
The Abyssinians were closing in on Bennati’s corps.
In early September, the Abyssinians began the battle for Somalia. Abyssinian militia attacked Somali militia at Dhuusa Mareeb, likely to pin them down to prevent them from coming to the aid of their fellows at Beledweyne. They likely need not have bothered. Given Bennati’s craven incompetence thus far, it was very unlikely that he would suddenly do the right thing and actually do something at all. Meanwhile, at Beledweyne the Abyssinian infantry attacked Blackshirt militia. Major General Zincone’s militia fought bravely despite the crippling handicap of an incompetent officer. At first, the battle seemed to be going well. The Abyssinian forces were relatively disorganized compared to their militia opponents, and defense is always easier than attack.
The first actual fighting in Somalia.
In two weeks of fighting, the Blackshirt militia was broken. Zincone was forced to withdraw toward Mereeg. At the same time, Beledweyne fell to the Abyssinians, who then launched an all out assault on the militia positions around Dhuusa Mareeb. Major General Giorgis was a defensive specialist, but his specialist knowledge could not defeat the vast forces arrayed against him. Three Abyssinian militia divisions, and their infantry division, assaulted the Italian and Somali positions from four sides. As at Beledweyne, the militia broke in two weeks. Bennati’s corps was slowly disintegrating right in front of his unwilling and unseeing eyes.
The Abyssinians showing off their Clausewitzian learning in a way Bennati could never, ever understand.
At this point, Mussolini could not stand aside any longer. He was unwilling to let Somalia become a ruinous defeat. He broke his promise to Grazioli and personally stepped into the breach to coordinate a definitive defense of Muqdishu at least, to occupy the strong Abyssinian forces dedicated to the fighting in Somalia. He completely bypassed Bennati and sent orders directly to divisional commanders, ordering them to withdraw toward Muqdishu. It was, however, too late. Gioris’ militia was encircled and destroyed against the sea, as was D’Oro’s strong militia division. Just under twenty thousand Blackshirts and Somalis surrendered, though both generals were able to extract themselves and reach Muqdishu.
Withdrawal toward Muqdishu, before it turned into defeat and disaster.
By this time, Bennati’s corps had been nearly shattered. Of its thirty-nine thousand men, more than twenty-one thousand were dead, wounded or prisoners. Only Zincone’s three militia brigades remained, damaged by fighting around Beledweyne, as well as Major General Volpini’s two brigades of infantry. When he stepped in to intervene, Mussolini had personally ordered Commander Quillici to detach two transport flotillas under Commander Ciano and sent them to Muqdishu. In early November, the remnants of Bennati’s corps were evacuated to Ed.
Evacuation from Somalia.
The remnants of Bennati’s corps were deposited at Ed without any ceremony and Ciano returned to Italy. Bennati was reattached to Grazioli, but on the understanding that the Sword of Damocles was hanging above his head and would soon fall. Furthermore, this humiliating defeat reflected badly on Grazioli, particularly for his part in ignoring it and helping Bennati ignore it. In addition, it increased the pressure on him to produce definitive results, and to conquer Abyssinia, and particularly before the Abyssinians shifted their forces northward. Abyssinia was quickly making a mockery of Italy.
Wow, I'm shocked at the performances of both Ethiopia and Italy. Looking forward to seeing you make them pay for humiliating Il Duce's armies!
While I'm still on Grazioli's side, I'm wavering.
Personally I think the might need some Backhanded help from Mussolini.
Get those supplies over there, and take personal control. One should never be beaten by the Ethiopians.
Personally I think the might need some Backhanded help from Mussolini.
Get those supplies over there, and take personal control. One should never be beaten by the Ethiopians.
It is clear that the Ethiopians must have had secret, British help. There is no way that 20,000 Italian heroes could have been slain by Ethiopian militia without foreign intervention.
Raise some Somalian Askari and let's have our revenge!
-- Beppo
Raise some Somalian Askari and let's have our revenge!
-- Beppo
Wow! And here I was thinking "ho hum its an Italian AAR...I'll read it for some amusement". I've been amused alright! Outright horrified! Seems like the AI really does know how to fight when pressed. Looking forward to seeing what Il Duce does to reverse this tide.
And here I was thinking "ho hum its an Italian AAR...I'll read it for some amusement". I've been amused alright! Outright horrified! Seems like the AI really does know how to fight when pressed. Looking forward to seeing what Il Duce does to reverse this tide.
Ouch! No, not quite the way things worked out for me... Man, that is humiliating for Grazi-whatshisface. Should be fairly easy to rectify though, if you can get a few units to actually attack Addis Abeba.
Raises the interesting question: when the AI solidly trounces another AI, does that make for a good AI or a bad AI?
Raises the interesting question: when the AI solidly trounces another AI, does that make for a good AI or a bad AI?
What on earth were the orders Bennati was ignoring? And you left him in command? You should have sacked and court martialed him the moment he landed in Ed. 
Bad, really bad. Guess the Imperium Romanum has to bring in troops from Europe otherwise you will be the laughingstock of every dictator around the globe
EvilFishtank: Yeah, it really is quite shocking.
Maj. von Mauser: I think he's just terrible at controlling his subordinates. Or he's badly influenced by them. I mean, who wouldn't take to depression when sandwiched between Moizo and Bennati?
Beppo: This must certainly be the case! Damn those British.
Jorath13: Yeah, these defeats, while unimportant (only militia lost, and only in Somalia) are quite horrifying. Can definitely understand why Mussolini wants a clean break with the past, strategically.
Stuyvesant: Yeah, Grazioli is sitting on Adis Abeba's doorstep. A couple men pointed in that direction and it's taken. And I guess it makes for a schizophrenic AI.
dublish: Oh, he will be sacked. And demoted. And left as the sole militia garrison in Abyssinia when the bigger wars are assumed to break out. Just him and his obsolete musket.
ComTrav: I can imagine why. It's bad territory to fight in, you never have enough troops to cover the area adequately and its all worthless so you don't even want to dedicate enough troops to cover the area adequately because they're needed elsewhere and that many troops there are worth far far more than East Africa ever will be, but at the same time you're already in East Africa and thus have some sort of defense commitment to it and aaaargh damn that place!
XHR: Actually, my plan is a bit different from that. But it'll get explained when I actually play that bit and then write about it.
Juan_de_Marco: Not yet. All this, the entire year of 1936, was in my first play session the Saturday after HoI3 came out. I've actually not played it since, been too busy with research and, particularly for this game, seeing how long I can delay playing just in case the 1.2 patch comes out before I need to start playing 1937. If it doesn't, ah well. If it does, sweet.
Maj. von Mauser: I think he's just terrible at controlling his subordinates. Or he's badly influenced by them. I mean, who wouldn't take to depression when sandwiched between Moizo and Bennati?
Beppo: This must certainly be the case! Damn those British.
Jorath13: Yeah, these defeats, while unimportant (only militia lost, and only in Somalia) are quite horrifying. Can definitely understand why Mussolini wants a clean break with the past, strategically.
Stuyvesant: Yeah, Grazioli is sitting on Adis Abeba's doorstep. A couple men pointed in that direction and it's taken. And I guess it makes for a schizophrenic AI.
dublish: Oh, he will be sacked. And demoted. And left as the sole militia garrison in Abyssinia when the bigger wars are assumed to break out. Just him and his obsolete musket.
ComTrav: I can imagine why.
It's bad territory to fight in, you never have enough troops to cover the area adequately and its all worthless so you don't even want to dedicate enough troops to cover the area adequately because they're needed elsewhere and that many troops there are worth far far more than East Africa ever will be, but at the same time you're already in East Africa and thus have some sort of defense commitment to it and aaaargh damn that place! XHR: Actually, my plan is a bit different from that. But it'll get explained when I actually play that bit and then write about it.
Juan_de_Marco: Not yet. All this, the entire year of 1936, was in my first play session the Saturday after HoI3 came out. I've actually not played it since, been too busy with research and, particularly for this game, seeing how long I can delay playing just in case the 1.2 patch comes out before I need to start playing 1937. If it doesn't, ah well. If it does, sweet.
Haha the Ethopian really give your troops a fight, interesting to see.
Espacilly since normally the AI kicks Ethopia very fast, but not all the time i had one game it took the AI until December to defeat them and for a while they had captured a big part of the italian provinces near their home.
Maybe you should keep them as puppet their commanders seems to know how the game work ^^
Espacilly since normally the AI kicks Ethopia very fast, but not all the time i had one game it took the AI until December to defeat them and for a while they had captured a big part of the italian provinces near their home.
Maybe you should keep them as puppet their commanders seems to know how the game work ^^
Very similar situation in my last attempt, Myth. Ethiopians got to the sea, as Bennati's forces sat passively in their dug-outs.
Il Duce was obliged to send a personal emissary to Bennati. The emissary was large man in civilian dress, with coat worn over his shoulders, and accompanied by two young men carrying violin cases. No one can be sure what was said, but the Lieutentant-General was clearly ashen faced when he emerged from the briefing...within 2 weeks, the Somali force was on the offensive, and the Ethiopians were forced back into their own territory. Must have had an effect on Grazioli too, as he started to move pretty quickly afterwards, as well!
Still it was pretty alarming for a while, watching the whole Italian war machine being humliated before the eyes of the world, and the dread memory of Adowa growing larger!
Il Duce was obliged to send a personal emissary to Bennati. The emissary was large man in civilian dress, with coat worn over his shoulders, and accompanied by two young men carrying violin cases. No one can be sure what was said, but the Lieutentant-General was clearly ashen faced when he emerged from the briefing...within 2 weeks, the Somali force was on the offensive, and the Ethiopians were forced back into their own territory. Must have had an effect on Grazioli too, as he started to move pretty quickly afterwards, as well!
Still it was pretty alarming for a while, watching the whole Italian war machine being humliated before the eyes of the world, and the dread memory of Adowa growing larger!
I like the fact that generals in game are now just as frustrating as they were in real life.