Oct 39: The Empire Strikes Back
ITALY NAVAL INTELLEGENCE: Intelligence continues to be gathered on the Royal Navy with the following results:
Capitol Ship Practical: 17.1
The British are currently researching:
Submarine Engine
Destroyer Crew Training
Aircraft Carrier Engine
Aircraft Carrier Anti-air
FRANCO-ITALIAN WAR--Battle for Torino:
(above) A: French mountain troops push into the Italian Alps while French infantry storms Italian breastwork's south of the strategic city of Torino (blue arrows). Italy counter counterattacks (red arrows) along the coast, stopping the French advance in its tracks. Italian mobile units then over-ran all French positions and capture Nice. The Italian mobile infantry corps then drives north-west threatening to encircle the entire French army.
B: The French army beats a hasty retreat and narrowly avoids encirclement. Italian mobile forces then continue their drive down the coast all the way to Toulon (red arrows).
C. The French army forms a hasty defensive line (white arrows) west of Toulon and west of Torino. Meanwhile, Italian reserves advance (green arrows) to the angle in the French defensie line and prepare for assault.
SECOND BATTLE OF MALTA—Opening Phase: After the fall of Malta the British hastily assemble their mobile infantry, and make a surprise attack on Malta in early November.
(above) On November 6th a cruiser task force under Commander Iachino is dispatched to reconnoiter the enemy fleet. What is discovered is a 29 ship task group lead by the carriers Illustrious and Ark Royal. The heavy guns of battleships Revenge, Barham, and Warspite provide shore bombardment.
The enemy quickly swatted the cruiser task group aside, and the invasion of Malta continued uninterrupted. Italy received the “Unsuccessful Battle of Calabria” card, and chose the “Navy has disappointed us” option.
SECOND BATTLE OF MALTA—Operation Shark: Rome plans for the defense of Malta in the face of invasion call for separate battleship task groups to attack from different directions. In the event the Allies have other task groups laying in wait, it is expected that at least 2-3 groups will still make it to Malta.
(above) Plans for Operation Shark. Italian battleship groups from Palarmo, Tripoli, Benghazi, and Taranto (blue arrows) will converge on Malta from different directions. Once in place, the four will then sortie to attack the British fleet at Malta (red arrows).
The designated battleship groups include a prototype group, standard group, elite group, and one reserve group made up of ships from the fleet reserve at Toranto.
(above) Operation Shark was executed on November 7 resulting in the first major naval engagement of the War. Commander Brivonesi and 18 ships faced British Commander Bruce-Fraser and his 14 ships (less transports). The Italian fleet easily outmaneuvered the British and scored many hits, but unfortunately could not get through to the aircraft carriers. Interceptors from Palermo provide air cover for the operation.
(above) At 11:00 November 9 all forces in Operation Shark were ordered to return to base (RTB). After a full day of fighting the Italian formations were an expended force. The British invasion of Malta continued unhindered.
Note; This battle was a draw as the forces all disengaged in an orderly manner. Italian fleets returned to their respective bases under the sorte command.
(above) On November 13 a combined cruiser and fast cruiser fleet were sent in to sink any straggling transports. This force was met by a fairly depleted group of CAGs from Ark Royal, Illustrious, and Formidable. Despite their poor condition, the CAGs forced the cruiser groups to retreat.
SECOND BATTLE OF MALTA—Air War: Following the failure of Operation Shark the air force was sent in to bomb the British into submission.
(above) On November 15 Italian interceptors encounter fresh waves of British CAGs from Ark Royal, Formidable, Illustrious, and a new carrier, Victorious.
(above) Land bombers (center top), and alternatively naval bombers (center bottom), pound the British fleet continuously hoping to sink as many ships as possible. They are not successful in sinking any ships, nor landing any hits on British aircraft carriers.
SECOND BATTLE OF MALTA—Ground War: Two divisions of reserve infantry from Benghazi were assigned to defend Malta.
(above) The British invasion began on November 6. Here, the Italian defenders are tasked with holding the island for at least two weeks in order to give the Navy and Air force time to relieve them. Unfortunately, British aircraft carriers were too strong to overcome, and the island eventually fell on November 16. Italy received the “Disastrous Battle of Malta” card, and elected the “My men have failed me” option.
Note: Italy has not yet completed its “decryption” research, so disposition of the attacking forces were not known. It is believed, however, these were motorized infantry supported by light tanks.
ITALIAN NORTH AFRICA--Battle for Tobruk:
(above) A: Following the conquest of Malta the British sent their mobile infantry and light tanks to the border of Libya. This army easily brushed aside the colonial militia and began the battle of Tobruk.
B: The Italian Desert corps counterattacks to the south. Frontal assaults on Tobruk are rebuffed. British and Iraqi forces then regroup and concentrate their efforts on the Desert Corps. The Desert corps is finally pushed back leaving Tobruk open to attack from two sides.
Following this defeat, Field Marshall Messe was transferred from Army Group Milan to head the Libyan Army. Messe's job is to rapidly re-organize these forces and halt the Allied advance ahead of Bengazi.
ITALIAN NORTH AFRICA--Battle for Tripoli:
(above) A: With the Italians otherwise occupied at Tobruk, France sent light armored divisions to test the defenses at Tripoli.
B: Italy sends its invasion fleet and lands two (2) divisions of marines on the coast behind French lines. Having severed French supply lines, Italian forces now attack in all directions (red arrows). French armor in the southern desert retreat to the fortress of Gabes (purple arrows), while the other half of the armored force is surrounded and eliminated. The threat to Tripoli has been eliminated.
(above) On its way to the landing near Tripoli the invasion fleet encountered and defeated four (4) light cruisers of the British Humber force. For this galant action Italy received the “Victorious Naval Battle of Calabria” card, electing “The navy has done great work” option. This action fairly cancels the previous loss at Calabria.
NAVAL COMBAT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN—Balance of Power:
(above) In the final analysis Italy sunk three (3) battleships, one (1) heavy cruiser, and one (1) light cruiser, against a loss of just four (4) destroyers (three of which were the old WW1 style). This galant action has tipped the balance of power in capitol ships, for the time being, to the Regia Marina.
Still, Italy was unsuccessful against the British carriers. British CAGs were severely damaged and nearly defeated, which gives hope for the future. To ready itself for the next engagement Italy will upgrade its air craft engines and interceptor armaments. Research ahead into updated bombs and air-launched torpedo's will also be given priority. The fleet will all recieve updated anti-aircraft guns and RADAR, and two new Hipper-class heavy cruisers along with three new destroyers and two light cruisers will be built.
Next Time: Franco-Italian War Heats Up.