Under The Hood -- 1940
After the fall of France, Germany battled the British in the skies over London and in and under the chilly waters of the north Atlantic. However, the British never submitted, and Hitler’s boasted invasion never took place. Apparently, the Royal Navy was able to safeguard the island kingdom from invasion.
As Hitler’s armies swept through northern Europe in 1939 and ‘40 much like Mussolini’s had in southern Europe in 1938 and ‘39, it became apparent that there was a difference. Mussolini, even if only in his own mind, was attempting to liberate the people from dysfunctional regimes and integrate them as citizens in what he believed would be a better form of government. He made war on petty Balkan dictators and Spanish anarchists and radicals. He did not wage war on populations, just governments. Without getting into details, Hitler’s armies did not demonstrate the same level of chivalry and goodwill. It was then that Mussolini realized that Hitler might be insane and that something truly dangerous and barbaric was taking place north of the Alps. Something would need to be done, for the sake of civilization itself.
However, what could be done? Germany’s army was far more mighty, and Italy was now practically alone on the continent of Europe with her violent neighbor. Mussolini did all he could. He exhorted his population to ever greater and more strenuous efforts to prepare for the Empire’s defense.
In the later half of 1940, Italian researchers had made a number of advancements in an effort to keep pace with the military juggernaut to the north.
An advancement in RADAR detection was made and Italy began construction of its first RADAR station in Trieste. It was hope that this modern marvel would one day give Mussolini an idea of what is going on over the Alps. RADAR was also added to Italian capital ships. Anti-tank ammunition, muzzle velocity, barrel and sights were improved from behind the times to state of the art. Computers were developed to aid researchers. And most significantly, on July 27, 1940, the General Staff developed an organizational technique called “superior firepower” which provided a reliable way to coordinate a complex division with five brigades, as opposed to four. This opened the door to the improvement of every division in the Regio Esercito.
Italy started adding anti-tank brigades to its infantry divisions.
Advancements were also made in small aircraft design, making them cutting edge, and improvements were made in fighter pilot and ground crew training doctrines. RADAR was added to Italian screen warships. Another major achievement was reached on September 18, 1940 when the Italian General Staff developed the equipment and doctrines for a powerful new brigade, mechanized infantry.
This brigade was important to Mussolini as it represented a powerful infantry based brigade that could be combined with the new and lethal Semovente 90/53.
A superior firepower combined arms division consisting of two mechanized brigades, two anti-tank Semovente brigades and one artillery Semovente brigade resulted in a powerful division capable of punching a hole in any enemy line.
Carboni’s Ariete corps was immediately upgraded to this new type of division and it compared favorably to Messe's legacy armor division.
The new Mechanized division had 110% of the soft attack firepower and 150% of the hard attack firepower of the older armor division. It was also twice as concentrated on the battlefield. It used more supplies and a great deal more fuel, but it was a significant advance.
Finally, Italian industry improved coal processing technologies. Italian Destroyers and escorts were fitted with anti-submarine warfare equipment, and the general staff improved operations level organization reducing the time between attacks for Italian divisions.
As of early 1941, the Empire had considerably expanded the Regio Esercito.
The Empire started expanding the Regia Aeronautica's interceptor squadrons.
The Regia Marina added a second carrier task force and expanded it's troop transport capability, enhancing Mussolini's ability to project force.