Naval OOB Planning for Italy, 1938-1944

Baltasar said:

You are building more modern escorts, aren't you?

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No. There is no modernization effort right now except for AA guns, but Italy will eventually roll out new engines and guns for CL, DD, BB and HC. The practicals are still rising in the current FY, so it's more cost effective at present to build existing designs. Really like practicals over 13 before moving to improved (read more costly) designs.

Note, there's a report on practicals in the next posting.

Jul '40: After the Fall of France




ITALY STRATEGIC PLANNING--Production Queue for FY '41:



(above) ARMY: The basic plan for the army is to build one more Desert Corps, which is required for Operation Swordfish. When possible the amphibious troops will be upgraded (u) to marines. Also when possible, the Alpina divisions will be upgraded from two (2) brigades each to three (3) brigades each. Ten (10) port garrisons will be constructed to defend Italy proper, making it easier to deploy reserve corps to the front where necessary. The ranks of colonial militia will also be expanded to perform guard duty in newly conquered areas of North Africa.

NAVY: A number of ships from prior year are still in the build queue, but should finish within 60 days. The cruiser squadrons sustained heavy losses, and at least one will continue to be out of commission for some time. Over the next year one new elite battleship group will be assembled, with the battleship itself coming from reserves.

AIR FORCE: The air force will remain relatively the same over the next year, except that interceptors will continue to be built.



(above) Italian practical factors after the completion of ships in the build queue. Italy has fallen behind (red leafs) in the construction of infantry, militia, transports, submarines, and tactical bombers. Investments in mobile units and destroyers are just breaking even (orange leafs). The production of tanks, cruisers, and interceptors are beginning to reach acceptable levels of production (green leafs), while artillery and battleship construction are at peak levels (blue leafs).

Construction practical has fallend, and Italy is trying to hold it steady with the building of airfields. RADAR station construction has just completed in Taranto, and more are on the way.

In doctrines, assistance in Spearhead doctrine is given by Germany, while Japan is now assisting with Fighter Focus. Hungary is helping somewhat with Grand Battleplan doctrine.



ITALY NAVAL INTELLEGENCE: Intelligence on Royal Navy research is as follows:

Light Aircraft Practical 26.15
Capitol Ship Practical: 20.25
Naval Engineering: 19.14

The British are currently researching:

Submarine Hull
Aero Engine
Small Warship ASW
Nav Pilot Training
Destroyer Escort Role (dd positioning, escort role)
Heavy Cruiser AA
Fighter Pilot Training

Italian research at this time is:

Fire Control System (target chance)
Nav Tactics 3 (port strike, naval strike)
Interception Tactics (air intercept efficiency)
Battlefleet Concentration (BB positioning)
Battleship Crew Training (BB org and moral)
Aero Engine 2
Small Aircraft Armament 2
Medium Bomb 2
Air Launched Torpedo 2


FRANCO-ITALIAN WAR—Endgame: France capitulated on July 27, 1940, with Germany accepting partition of the country with Vichy France. Italy kept its territorial gains around Nice.

BALKANS CRISIS--War with Yugoslavia and Greece: Without consulting with Italy, and even before the war in France was over, Germany DOW'd Yugoslavia and Greece. Italian troops still in France had to march back to the port of Nice in order to be transported to the front, an operation that took six or seven weeks. Meanwhile, Italian forces in Albania hold on for dear life.



(above) A: A newly formed motorized infantry corps is rushed to defend the port of Triane. By September 4, a defensive line is established (white double arrows) with the Alpina corps holding the mountains flanking Triane.

B: One week later, German forces advancing south (red arrows) still have a long way to go. The Italian army remains, for the time being, pinned down in Albania.



(above)

C. The defensive perimeter (white arrows) in Albania is expanded as a corps of light infantry, fresh from France, arrives in Tirane. The mobile infantry corps now take-up positions along the coast.

Phase one of Operation Swordfish calls for a landing on the west coast of Greece at Petra. By September 23 amphibious forces have captured the port, and a corps of mobile infantry swiftly make for Athens (red arrows). The Greek army, now outflanked, begin to abandon their trenches around Albania, and it will soon become a race to see which army's reach the capitol first.

D. Mobile infantry begin the assault on Athens in early October. A fresh corps of light infantry arrives on Petra, while the amphibious corps takes the port of Kalamata, cutting off supply to all Greek divisions on the peninsula.

In the north, the mobile infantry descend down the coast (red arrows), with recon armor driving point. Mountain corps, with light infantry on the flank, begin their trek across the mountains towards the port of Thesolonka.

E. By October 23 it's all over as Greece surrenders to Italy and Germany. The initial thrust to Athens from the west was defeated, but the city was still captured by mobile infantry advancing south (red arrow). Mountain troops seize the port of Thesolonka, completing the victory and wrapping up the majority of the country for annexation including Crete (not shown). Germany is given a few coastal provinces, the island of Lesbos, and the mountainous frontier with Bulgaria and Turkey.


NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN—Battle for Benghazi:



(above)

A: By the end of July British forces finally reached the Benghazi defensive perimeter (white arrows). Tactical bombers begin logistical bombing of the pass at Ra's at Tin, effectively cutting Allied forces off from further supply.

B. In early August, Italian forces counter-attack on the flanks (red arrows), and are successful. British attacks on the center of the line (orange arrows) are nearly successful, but aggressive counter-attacks on the flanks (blue arrows) stem the British advance.

NOTE: On the 6th of August the Italian Army gained Veteran Status. All of the hard campaigning in France and N. Africa has finally paid off. The Italian army had been afflicted with low moral, low organization, but now with this boost the army is finally ready to begin taking-on the British in North Africa.


OPERATION SWORDFISH NAVAL ACTION—Invasion of Petra: Italian troops finally arrive at the port of Nice in late August, and are quietly ferried to the staging area in Taranto.



(above)

A. Italian battleship groups take-up positions to form a perimeter around the invasion zone (gray arrows). A destroyer squadron moves off the coast of Petra to scan for enemy ships. Invasion force then sails from Taranto with amphibious troops to assault the port of Petra (green arrows).

B. Royal Navy carrier task group under Adm. Summerville engages Italian BB group at Cape Matapan, just south of the invasion area. After damaging a few Italian escorts, the task group moves off. But, they will be back.

C. British CAG's dive bomb the Italian BB group, but the invasion of Petra has been a success. The fleet only need hold the Royal Navy off for a few more hours until the mobile infantry has landed in Greece.



D. Three Italian BB groups combine forces in the Eastern Ionian Sea off the coast of Petra where they are under the protection of interceptors based in Triane. The Royal Navy sends a three (3) carrier task group in to attack.

E. Interceptors from Triane engage British CAGs above the Eastern Ionian Sea. The land-based aircraft eventually get the upper hand, but the fleet is forced to retreat to the safety of Petra after the loss of two destroyers. Another victory for Royal Navy, but they still cannot follow-up with port bombing due to Italian air-superiority. The Italian battleships eventually escape under cover of darkness.


NAVAL BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN:



(above) Most ships were in port readying for Operation Swordfish, so combat was at a minimum. The British did sink two older destroyers in the battle of the Eastern Ionian Sea.

Note: prior sinkings are struck-out: Red for British KIA and Green for Italian KIA

Next Time: Italy invades the Eastern Mediterranean.

Baltasar said:

Interesting progress. With so much damage to your ships, I assume that your naval actions will be rather limited for a few months?

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Ya, 4-6 weeks. A temporary setback, they'll be back in November for the Cyprus campaign. In the mean time, one cruiser squadren will be scrapped together for emergency use, and Italy will be testing effectiveness of CAS to attack enemy ships in coastal waters. Italy's naval bombers also continue to sink supply ships on a regular basis, so the war goes on.

This action highlights the need for better moral and organization, so naval doctrine research will now focus more on crew training for DD, LC, HC, and BB.

Elastic Fish said:

To add to Baltasar's point, what could this mean if you need to escape from Benghazi or Albania? Some serious casualties could be taken. I hope you can hold it together; it will certainly be exciting!

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Well, this also plays into Italy's hand. The British are not expecting further action from Italy, so they zero-in on Benghazi. Meanwhile, the Italian build-up in Rhodes and Crete go unnoticed.

Oct '40: Axis Strikes in Syria and Iraq




ITALY NAVAL INTELLEGENCE: Intelligence on Royal Navy research is as follows:

Light Aircraft Practical 29.35
Naval Combat Experience 21.62
Capitol Ship Practical: 18.64
Naval Engineering: 17.85

The British are currently researching:

Naval Underway Replenishment
Heavy Cruiser Engine
Destroyer Armor
Heavy Cruiser Main Armament
Light Cruiser Escort Role (positioning)
Heavy Cruiser Armor
Nav Tactics (Port Strike, Naval Strike)
Destroyer Main Armament


Italian research at this time is:

Destroyer AA 5
Light Cruiser AA 5
Heavy Cruiser AA 5
Battlefleet Concentration 2 (BB Positioning)
Battleship Crew Training 2 (BB org, moral)
Nav Port Strike 3 (efficiency)
Nav Air Targeting 3 (target chance)
Medium Bomb 2
Air Launched Torpedo 2
Fighter Pilot Training 3 (Int org)
Fighter Ground Crew Training (Int moral)
Aero Engine 2
Small Aircraft Armament 2

ITALIAN DIPLOMACY: The Axis scored a major diplomatic victory on October 27th when Turkey granted it transit rights. While the Italians are not viewed with great favor in Ankars, it seems the British generally hated. Turkey's decision also puts great pressure on the USSR as all along its European border from Finland south, every country is lining up with the Axis.

ITALIAN OFFICER RECRUITMENT: Given the impending invasion of Syria and Iraq, officer recruitment is being given priority. Ten (10) leadership points will be dedicated to the task until officer ratios reach 130%. Officers help with reorganization and supply organization, which Italy has not yet researched. Supply is not deemed to be much of a problem as most actions will take place along coastal areas.

OPERATION SWORDFISH—Cyprus Campaign: Following the capture of Greece, it took until the end of October to get all armed forces staged and ready for the next phase-- invasion of Cyprus. Cyprus has a large naval base and is an important British supply depot. The island is also an ideal launching pad for the next phase of the offensive.



(above--top) Submarine reconnaissance reveals Cyprus defended by just one division of mountain troops. (above—bottom) Landing on western end of the island secures the air field. Note battleship groups to south and west screen the invasion from the Royal Navy.



(above--top) Battle of Eastern Mediterranean. RN batttlegroup under Adm. Cunningham outmaneuver Commander Brivonesi's battleship group while British CAGs from nearby sea zone savage the Italian Fleet. Following the loss of one heavy cruiser Brivonesi wisely retreats to the safety of a neutral port (Alanya, Turkey), which is not susceptable to Allied bombing raids. (above—bottom) With Cyprus safely in Italian hands, troop ships (green arrows) begin the build-up for next stage of operation. Note, as British ships are nowhere to be seen, the diversion in Tobruk seems to be working.


OPERATION SWORDFISH—Battle for Tobruk: A diversionary attack on Tobruk is intended to mislead the British about Italian intentions. So far, British forces have been defeated in the battle for Benghazi, and now General Messe presses forward to prevent the Allies from regrouping.



(above) The Italian offensive sweeps past the strategic pass at Ra's at Tin, where the infrastructure is totally destroyed. The sudden offensive catches the Allied flat-footed, as their lines are rolled backwards.



OPERATION SWORDFISH—Invasion of Tel Aviv: As the British rush re-enforcements to defend Tobruk, the true Italian invasion force readies itself at Cyprus. . . .



(above) Submarine intellegence show Tel Aviv is virtually defenseless. The invasion on the beaches north of the city proceed without incident. By early December the port and airfield are safely in Axis hands.



(above) A British fleet arrives off-shore, but without any troop transports. The Royal Navy is unable to do anything but watch as the city falls to Italian amphibious troops. The enemy fleet is unable to stay on station long as they would be subject to air attack. Next, offloading of Italian infantry and mobile corps from Cyprus goes without incident. By the end of December the Italian army is marching on Siani, while a desert corps heads directly to Bagdad.

NAVAL ACTIONS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN



(above) Battle of Gulf of Bomba: In an feigned blockade of the port of Tobruk, Commander de Zara outmaneuvers a larger fleet under Commander Syfret. (Note, amphibious troops being readied for the Cyprus campaign at Greek port of Kalamata just to the north.)



(above) In preparing for the next stage of the operation, a battleship group under Commander Ghe move to rebase at Benghazi. Ghe encounters a carrier task group under Commander Bruce-Frazer in the Gulf of Sidra, but retires in good order to Benghazi after sinking one British heavy cruiser.


NAVAL BALANCE OF POWER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN:



(above) The British sunk two destroyers and a heavy cruiser during the invasion of Cyprus, but Italy sunk one British heavy cruiser as well.

Note: prior sinkings are struck-out: Red for British KIA and Green for Italian KIA

Next Time: Italy's North African Offensive.

misterbean said:

now it all depends on who is faster: your mobile desert force or reinforcements from India. How is "Let's go!" in Italian?

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try Babelfish.com

Baltasar said:

The operation is going reasonably well, but the naval losses are concerning. Your fleets are always smaller than the British counterparts, their CAGs making things really bad for the RM. Any plans to change that?

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Unfortunately, Italy hasn't won a major naval engagement since Actium in 31 BC (lol), and even that was in a civil war.

But, the answer to the question is; yes, there is a strategy, AND, a major naval engagment is coming in the next update.

The interesting thing about naval warfare versus land is that units can be lost during the course of a battle. No encirclement tactics or over-running--fleets simply go at one another and ships go down. This is a war of attrition. For example, once the Japanse lost the battle of Midway there was no coming back.

Also, in the war at sea there's no upgrading. Once a ship is built, that's it for guns and armor. So, this is why doctrines and organization are so important. Gaining naval combat experience to advance doctrines can be tricky. One must fight, so to speak, in order to learn to fight. Any missteps in the early going could be catastrophic.

Leaders are also surprisingly important in naval situations. Notice the positioning advantage Italy has enjoyed in recent battles. Seems it's easier to withdraw given a positioning advantage, and that's another strategy Italy has been using to keep them in the game.

"Live to fight another day, and one day victory will be yours" (motto courtesy Italian Ministry of Propaganda).

This AAR has been a learning process--chipping-away at different strategies, seeing what works and what doesn't. Now, everything comes down to the the 3d battle of Malta.

(teaser line here)
Will the Royal Navy prevail as they have in nearly every major battle since the Spanish Armada? :ninja:
Or, will the Italians finally taste their first major victory at sea in nearly 2,000 years??
Or, will the Italians run away yet again!? :wacko: