North American Series Game #1 AAR

[confinement]

Mother Russia has seen the seasons come and go. Throughout the last 15 months, STAVKA has spent great amounts of resources in trying to unravel what has passed for a command structure. In this nightmare of a discovery, it was learned that the ratio of divisions to higher level headquarters was nearly one to one. Some of the mess has been organized, but there is still a very long way to go.

In the political arena, bureau chiefs were replaced, and a fire was lit under the nations industry. There is a dark cloud forming to the west, and our Great Leader has seen the future. All government entities will now have only one objective, and that is to ensure the preservation of the Motherland. Additionally, we have received tentative offers of peace from our neighbors in the far east. However, that age old question still looms before us. Who can be trusted?

[nightraid3r]

Hi, nightraid3r here, the german player. I won't be filming the entire MP AAR, but I will be providing some video (after the fact of course) of some of the combat that takes place during the war. I think it might be interesting for many to see essentially first hand how MP battles work out!

[jdavis86]

Are you sure you don't want to release anything on a week to week basis . Maybe ship it to the UK's military intelligence office?

[confinement]

The Great Leader has noticed that Germany has taken an aggressive stance in Europe, and he has summoned his ministers for a midnight meeting in the Kremlin. The topic of discussion will center on how to create a buffer zone between the Motherland, and the growing storm in the west. Perhaps there will be a little meat left on the bone for Mother Russia.

[Paglia]

ITALIA
AAR
(Table of content updated on February 14th)
NORTH AMERICAN MP GAME
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ries-FTM/page1


Hello, we are going to play Italia, in a MP with 6 to 8 players, all Majors Power being played by humans. Since it’s our first AAR, and our 1st time in MP as Italian, we don’t have any kind of pretentions here. We’ll expose facts, post some talks about strategies we will experiment and well, give some life to a nice game currently underway. As we were finally able to add pictures, it looks like we find a way to translate F12 in STEAM into nice pictures here... At last !

NDLR: Keep in mind that English is not my 1st language. Sometime, you might find some strange sentences or worst…


Historian note:

Il Popolo d'Italia ("The People of Italy"), was an Italian newspaper founded by Benito Mussolini on November 15, 1914, as a result of his split with the Italian Socialist Party. Il Popolo d'Italia ran until July 24, 1943 and became the foundation for the Fascist movement in Italy after World War I. The paper, advocating militarism and irredentism, was subsidized by the French and Italian industrialists on the pretext of influencing Italy to join the Entente Powers. This is also where Mussolini spread his ideas about how he wanted Italy to increase its birth rate. From 1936 to 1943 it was edited by Giorgio Pini.

Sources: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Popolo_d'Italia


NDLR: Most citations in the current AAR are real citations coming from couple of books I have on Mussolini and WWII. One thing I'm trying to create here, is a link between fiction and real WWII. We'll see the quality of the result.

If you want to read a real good book on how Mussolini and the Fascist managed to rule Italia from 1922 to 1945, I strongly advise you to read "L'Italie de Mussolini, Vingt ans d'ère fasciste", MAX GALLO de l'Académie française, 1964,1980, 2011, Éditions Tallandier (www.tallandier.com), 448 p.


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TABLE OF CONTENT [Updated February 14th]

AAR#1: January 1st 1936 - April 2nd 1940
[This post – Scroll down]
[AAR#1 & AAR#2 overlap each other for the time sequence]


1. WE BELONG TO THE MAJOR POWERS SELECT CLUB
2. THE ROMAN EMPIRE EXTENDED
3. AGGRESSIVENESS PREVALING OVER CHARM
4. SCIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF A NATION
5. WAGING A MODERN WAR, WITH MODERN WEAPONS
6. FORTRESS ITALIA
7. ALBANIA, AN INTOLERABLE INSULT TO THE ITALIAN HEGEMONY
8. ALL THE POWER TO THE PARTITO NAZIONALE FASCISTA
9. CHALLENGING THE SOVIET BEAR


AAR#2: November 20th 1939 - May 30th 1940
Post #6: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13221598

1. THE BRITISH AGGRESSION: DID THE DREAM OF AN ITALIAN MED FADE AWAY?


AAR#3: May 31st 1940 - July 30th 1940
Post #31: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13292154

1. FIGHTING FOR THE MED SUPREMACY: THE ROMAN EAGLE AGAINST THE LION KING
2. OPERATION “CARTAGINE”
3. OPERATION “ZANZIBAR”


AAR#4: July 31st 1940 - December 31st 1940
Post #57: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13321422

1. THE TUNIS TRAP
2. OPERATION “ANNUNZIO”
3. OPERATION “ZANZIBAR”: THE AFRICAN HORN IS ROMAN AGAIN


AAR#5: January 1st 1941 - March 23rd 1941
Post #63: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13358518

1. OPERATION "LINGOTTO D'ORO"
2. OPERATION “D'ANNUNZIO”: SPARTA
3. OPERATION “ZANZIBAR”: MAR ROSSO CAMPAIGN


AAR#6: March 24th - June 24th 1941
Post #72: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13398338

1. OPERATION "GUERRE PUNICHE"
2. NAVAL BATTLE OF CYRENAIC COAST


AAR#7: June 24th - October 1st 1941
Post #87: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13428703

1. OPERATION “ARCHIMED CLAWS”
2. OPERATION "GUERRE PUNICHE II"


AAR#8: The Aftermath
Post #88: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...1#post13428977

1. TECHNOLOGICAL GOOD AND BAD PICKS
2. NAVY TACTICS
3. LENDLEASE
4. SOME KEY STRATEGIC CALLS



__________________________________________________ ______________



NEXT CHRONICLES

Since the Allies surrendered on October 2nd 1941 (game time), there will no other post in this thread. I invite you to follow our next game that will start on Wednesday February 15th http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...a-Series-2-FTM. A new AAR will be posted foolowing the new sessions of gameplay.


__________________________________________________ ______________






AAR #1(Updated January 6th)
NORTH AMERICAN MP GAME
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ries-FTM/page1



WE BELONG TO THE MAJOR POWERS SELECT CLUB
Il Popolo d’Italia
February 22nd 1936
War is raging in the African Horn, as Italia, member of the European Major Powers, could not agree with the Ethiopians, led by their ruler, the Imperialist Haile Selassi I, on where to put the line between the southern frontier of Italian Somalia and Erythria. Asked by the Parliament at Montecitorio why Italia should wage such a war, instead of working with the League of Nations to settle this matter peacefully, our beloved leader, Benito Mussolini, answered: “Even if they were to give us everything I asked for, I’d preferred to avenge Adoua”.
As such, 3 mountain divisions, supported by Camisa Nere volunteers divisions, were given the orders to cross the frontier and take Adis Abeba. Leaders like de Stephanie, Bono and Graziani were given full command of the glorious Armata IV.

NDLR: Those mountain troops gaining XP will be useful later on. We picked the leaders we thought would be the most useful in the upcoming European and African campaign, like de Stephanie (tank leader), Bono and Graziani.

The Ethiopian War: Fierce mountain divisions at work
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]



THE ROMAN EMPIRE EXTENDED
Il Popolo d’Italia
March 31st 1937
Our beloved leader, Benito Mussolini, granted Italia a well-deserved victory in Africa, expanding the Roman Empire beyond the Mediterranean Sea with the surrender of Ethiopia after a one year campaign. This accomplishment is the 1st step that will provide Italia the full recognition it deserves. Now, the Roman Empire reaches the far coast of Eastern Africa.

NDLR: A one year campaign is nothing to be proud of, as the Ethiopian army is a very weak one. But, because we didn’t give much attention to the fight over there, the war lagged a little. Our attention was all focused on training troops, ships and NAV, picking the right techs and overseeing our supply in rare materials, metal, petroleum and energy. We used that wartime to train leaders, giving them valuable XP.

Political situation 1937-1939 (winter): Ethiopia is an Italian Puppet [by 1939, Italia will have joined the Axis, thus the Gothic
letters in this picture]
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]



AGGRESSIVENESS PREVALING OVER CHARM
Il Popolo d’Italia
May 5th 1937
Unimpressed by how the army fared against the Ethiopians, our Leader proceeded today to a complete reorganisation of the military hierarchy. Benito Mussolini, being granted by the King himself, Vittorio Emanuele III, the status of Chief of the army, called the Members of the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF) and the Nation itself to stand up and fulfill their duty. As such, the National Army OOB was completely redesigned and our Leader revealed his vision of a modern army : “I would rather see Italians scaring away the whole world with their aggressiveness than charming it with their guitars”. Consequently, industrials were asked to provide mass shipments of artillery and modern weapons to the troops, while shipments of steel, petroleum and rare metals from abroad were on the rise in Italia in 1936 and 1937.

NDLR: Cutting the number of divisions was a priority, since Italia begins the game with such a poor OOB. We spent a lot of time re-structuring the whole army to get standard division at 3 INF + 1 ART and standard corpo at 4-5 divisions.

Building ARTILLERY: modernizing the army
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New military structure: standard 4 divisions corpo de Armata
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So, 2 regiments divisions were combined, and lots of HQ were put on the side, waiting for new designation (which would come early, as we would need to put troops with leaders in different locations across the Med… and since HQs help provide support to supply management, having one HQ for 1 division was tolerated for positioning in islands across the Med). At the same time, we put leaders with good logistic in higher positions in the military hierarchy, and made sure every division had proper leadership, defensive vs France and in key areas to defend (like Cagliari, Aegean Sea, Sicilia and South of Italia), offensive elsewhere (e.g. Yugo borders, North Africa). Special care was given to building the skeleton of powerful armor brigades (light armor are available at the start and should be improved, while the medium armor brigades will be lend lease by the German, later on, when PzIII become available, probably around late 1939 or early 1940).

An error we made was that we relieved of their command all leaders at the same time… the Stalinian Art Method some would say (see picture)… As nice as it looks in a solo game, in an MP game, it’s more stressfull to go that route as you never know if someone’s going to take you by surprise before you have all your work done (our home rule of no war before Danzig was some kind of an insurance here… Nevertheless, this work took us 2 years in half to be done correctly… as time goes by and you can’t pause the game to specifically do that).

1937: “À la” Stalinian Purge underway in Italia
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]



SCIENCE AT THE SERVICE OF A NATION
Il Popolo d’Italia
September 11th 1937
The most eminent scientists of the Nazionale Fascista Era met during the September 6th week at the Rome Conference on Sciences, during the Fascist Revolution 1932-1935 Expo, to discuss and set their research priorities for the next 5 years. Weaponry for regular grounds troops, Armor development, Art of detection, Fleet Domination technologies, Efficient use of resources and Modern war tactics such as combining air and land attacks were among the topics most discussed during what scholars might refer to, in the future, as a key step toward the expansion of the Roman Empire in the Med, the Balkans and throughout Africa.

NDLR: Resources management is essential to survive as Italian, so attention must be given to petroleum/rare/metal/energy conversion, and, of course, supply production (and Ports efficiency). Also, we try to increase our IC, by building couples of factories, and picking the tech IC Efficiency and IC production on a regular basis.
Since INF is the bulk of our army, increasing all 4 areas of tech is vital, putting offensive ones 1st, as we will be on the offense. Light Armor development is picked too, because we will need ARM later on and we don’t plan on building our Italian medium ARM.
Detection: Anyone who read a little on the failure of the Italian navy can see that they did not care to equip themselves with proper technologies, like radar and good communications devices. So, we go for radar, and related techno for ships. Knowing when the enemy will be coming will be a key component of our success, later on.
A tech strategy would be a failure if nothing was made to increase our ability to do research… So Education, and all related techno (computing machine, etc.) are constantly researched, until we hit the time limit penalty.

Building up the war industry through techno: Germany efficiency “à la” Italian way
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]

Getting efficient screening squadrons around our BBs: getting down those Swordfish before they could hurt us
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]

The heart of the Fleet: powerful BBs
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]

Italian shall bring terror to its opponents: getting the Bersaglieri out of regular troops
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]

Preparing ourselves to wage an air campaign throughout the Med
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]



WAGING A MODERN WAR, WITH MODERN WEAPONS
Il Popolo d’Italia
November 27th 1938
Today, our Beloved leader and Guide, Benito Mussolini, announced: “New ideas were developed, by fascists’ scientists all over the world, ideas we shall take advantages of. So, driven by our will to bring Italia the most fearful war machine ever, I, today, announced our adhesion to Pact of Steel. As such, this Pact will give us most preferred treatment in trade with Germany and the ability to start our lend-lease program.”

NDLR: Lend-lease is a must do for Italy which can’t use its leadership capability to develop such things as MEDIUM ARM. So Germany will our provider of MARM, like the PzIII armor. We prefer to lend-built them, instead of asking for expeditionary forces that can’t be merged with others troops later on (more flexibility is a key issue here). Also, buying cheap some useful airplanes likes Stukas is an opportunity that can’t be passed on. They are as useful for TAC bombing as for NAV bombing. And, by the way, who wouldn’t like to have those nice bombers falling from the sky straight on their targets with their sirens terrorizing anything in sight? The Drago and Centorau units are on their way to provide such air support.

Importing valuable war material from abroad, like the German Pz III or the Stukas
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]

Drago and centauro squadrons, ready to bring hell to the British Navy
[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]



FORTRESS ITALIA
Il Popolo d’Italia
December 19th 1938
Defending our sacred soil is a duty every Italian made his own, following a request made last Easter by our beloved leader, Benito Mussolini. From every towns and cities, valiant volunteers joined the Army to protect and serve the Partito Nazionale Fascista (PNF) and the Nation. Along the coast of Italia, any invaders that would dare to challenge our determination would be met by the muzzles of the defenders’ of the land firearms. Local population, working days and nights, will have achieved, by the year 1940, a vast network of fortifications and minefields.



ALBANIA, AN INTOLERABLE INSULT TO THE ITALIAN HEGEMONY
Il Popolo d’Italia
March 21st 1939

Today, our valiant troops occupied the capital of Albania, therefore bringing back to the Italian realm many Italian expatriates who were suffering all kind of privations and discriminations under the reign of terror of King Zug. With that brave gesture, Italia is giving ground to its claim to include the whole Balkans under its benevolent management. “For too long were Italians deprived of their legitimate right to reign over the Mediterranean Sea and the Balkans. Any Nation that would dare to prevent us from that birth right should be aware of the consequences”, said Benito Mussolini in front of the delegates of the League of Nations asking why Italia was occupying a free country.

NDLR: Albania is a a key area for any Italian who has ambitions over the Balkans. From there, you can cut in half Yugoslavia, and then, you can easily supply any troops sent into Greece, or Bulgaria. Also, you gain a couple of resources, which is not bad at all (petrolium is always nice to have). So, this political action is worth it. Of course, you'll need to hold that place (e.g. garrisons it) if you want to use it to launch invasions... The Greek Ultimatum is a free declaration of war against them... but if you choose this path, this means you're ready to go to the end of this... which is near Athena



ALL THE POWER TO THE PARTITO NAZIONALE FASCISTA
Il Popolo d’Italia
March 30th 1939
“The time when Italians had multiple views and none at all at the same time is over”, was the main thought of Benito Mussolini when he entered the hall of Montecitorio, today, to address the Parliament over the next course of action for Italia, as it is preparing its entry into war.

NDLR: We spent most of our efforts in the spying department to increase our NU (National Unity) well over 80%. From 1936 to 1939, every bit of efforts was given to that sole task. We raised, from the start (by putting the slider to maximise spy recruitment) to 10 the number of spy in Italia. This hard work is needed for many reasons: you must be able to implement the Heavy Industry Policy (IC bonus) + you must prepare yourself against the UK who will hit you hard in the Med by hitting your convoys and defeating your troops (thus reducing your NU).

Also, since the start of the game we decided to align ourselves to the Axis faction, thus guaranteeing us the benefits of the Pact of Steel (its +5% researches and + 10% supply would more than compensate for the loss of neutrality benefits +10% spying and counterspying… and penalty -5% researches).


CHALLENGING THE SOVIET BEAR
Il Popolo d’Italia
April 2nd 1940

On April 1st, Mussolini asked the League of Nations to act against the USSR and its actions to spread Bolshevism throughout Eastern Europe (e.g. invading Finland and annexing the Baltic States in 1939). Confronted to the lack of response of the so-called Democracy of the West, Our dear leader, Benito Mussolini, declared war on the USSR on April 2nd to protect all nations from the threat that Bolshevism represents.

To bolster morale of Italian troops and people massed in Roma to hear his speech, Mussolini had those words: “The Deity of Fortune [luck], in battle, will pass only once near the Condottieri. Those who fail to grab her, usually, are not given a second chance. (…) As such, I have called to arms all Axis nations in Europe to help us in our crusade against Atheism and Bolshevism. Ribbentrop, nor Molotov, could prevent this well needed action”. [NDLR: Only the part in Italics is veridict, the rest of the sentence is of my own].

Nonetheless, fear of total war is spreading in small villages, as old and wise people are whispering:

“Bandiera nera, Black flag,
This is the Alpini’s mourning as they leave for the war in the East,
Our youngest are sacrificed in vain”.


Axis driving Bolshevism back into Mother Russia

Attachment 45097


(1) Click on the picture to get a zoom out.
(2) Some minors editing to the 2 pictures, to "mask" some valuable information.

[Paglia]

AAR #2 (Totally rewritten January 6th)
ITALIA
NORTH AMERICAN MP GAME
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/...ries-FTM/page1



THE BRITISH AGGRESSION: DID THE DREAM OF AN ITALIAN MED FADE AWAY?
Il Popolo d’Italia
May 11th 1940
“When a Nation let itself vegetating, there is only one way to save it, it’s through the use of raw force. Did you ever see a lamb become a wolf? The Italian race is a race of lambs beyond redemption. As such, 18 years of Fascist guidance were not enough to change it, 180 years or 180 centuries would not have been enough either”, said Mussolini in reaction to the British invasions of all foreign possessions of Italia, except Ethiopia", reported Gian Galeazzo Ciano, our Foreign Affairs minister.


The chronology of events: the most important battles of Nov. 1939 to May 1940

[IMAGES REMOVED TO GAIN SOME SPACE FOR NEW AAR]


(1) Click on the picture to get a zoom out.
(2) Some minors editing to the 2 pictures, to "mask" some valuable information.



Tobruk Battle (November 20th – 26th)
The November 20th British invasion in our foreign colonies of Northern Med encountered a very weak resistance from the local defensive brigades. In less than 6 days, Tobruk and Tripoli fell to the enemy. Without complete treason from the natives, none of this could have happen and as such, this gesture will not be forgotten. “We should be as fierce as we were when we avenged Adoua in 1937. And as such, we will strike those who dared refuse our benevolent protection. This is a day of infamy”.

NDLR: One shall admit that Italia was ill prepared to face the British assault on its North Africa possessions. Expecting the war to start later (e.g. Spring 1940), Italia did not have enough garrisons in Africa to hold its ground against a full British invasion of more than 20 divisions (3-4 full corps according to Italian Intelligence). The Armata 4’s (2 brigades of garrisons’ troops, an AA brigade, 3 divisions of infantry and 1 artillery division) last stand allowed Italia to withdraw from Africa --- in time --- 1 full corpo of 3 modernised divisions and its transport fleet, before the complete collapse of the Italian front. A rear guard fight by some destroyers allowed the fleet to escape the British CAGs in the region.

The funny part of the quick collapse of Tobruk is that the British missed by 3 months the Radar 5 level currently under construction… (This did go all to the garbage with the quick surrender of the city).


Naval Battle of Malta (End of November)
“Within a few years, Italian fleet will allow us to reign over the Med from Gibraltar to Jerusalem. The Littorio, a new class of warship, will bring us toward naval supremacy throughout the Mediterranean. Littorio, pride of our fleet, may you be built and bring terror and fear to our enemies, wherever should they be”, said Benito Mussolini to foreign journalists, in September 1939. Two months later, the Littorio, leading the charge of the Flottilla V, inflicted a clear defeat to the British Fleet near Malta.

NDLR: This battle could have had more (favorable) consequences for the Italian but the British transport fleet escaped in Malta just in time. So the Brits were able to save their invasion capability for the future. The failed attempt of the Italian fleet to seize its chance will have heavy consequences as will show the next events of the Med conflict. The Italian took the victory for what it was, e.g. “good food for fascist propaganda”.


Battle of Cagliari (December 1939)

The battle of Cagliari lasted longer, even if the Italian were not able to increase the strength of their garrisons over there before the British invasion, which occurred in December 1939. For obvious reasons, priority was given to defending the Italian soil, before any other parts of the Roman Empire. This time, Italia was able to dispatch air support to help the garrisons in their fight, thus delaying the British advance on the island. British had to attempt 2 attacks on the port of Olbia (Northern part of the island) before securing the whole island.

NDLR: At this stage of the game, what Italia needed most was “time”. As we said earlier, Italia was expecting the war to start in spring 1940, so beyond some garrisons scattered across the Med and the initial OOB troops, there were no troops available to repel any British invasion. The war efforts from 1936 to 1939 had been put on the Navy and the Air forces, to the detriment of the Army. If, for example, the British had pick any port in Italia for a quick invasion in November 1939, Italia would have collapse in a very short lapse of time, as most of its divisions were either in training, in modernisation, or on the Yugoslavian border (for a Balkans invasion that never occurred).


Battle of Sicilia (Winter 1940)

The invasion was less spectacular than the Libya one, but nonetheless as efficient. Garrisons were quickly outmatched and only quick reinforcing of Reggio di Calabria prevented an entry on the Italian South. Fierce fighting around Catania airport was reported. Some heavy air fighting took place over Catania and Palermo, where UK and Italia could gauge each other strategy in managing aircrafts.

NDLR: All those fights, even if they were clearly lost for the Italian as soon as they started, were each a nice opportunity to involved the air power into fight and gain XP. Also, every time you engage your adversary, you learn a little more on how he is moving his pieces, using his troops, planning his air missions or naval missions, and so on. Always take time to read you adversary. There is a lot to learn… and to use later on.


Tyrrhenian Sea Naval Battle (Winter 1940)

During the winter of 1940, the Regia Marina encountered a British fleet in the Tyrrhenian Sea, while repositioning itself, and a naval battle occurred. The British forces were quickly beaten, as the Italian had superior firepower at sea. The Italian fleet was damaged but the British fleet lost 5 ships and had to retreat to Syracuse 1st, then Malta, where it was pounded during a whole week by the Flotilla Aeronautica I & II.

NDLR: From the start of this fight over the Med, it was obvious that the British would have and keep a clear advantage over the Italian Navy. The British have lot of CAGs, which the Italian fleet lacks. Our strategy of going for BBs and being heavy on the screening escort fleet was very traditional and thus, might have increase that natural advantage of the UK. This said, since the Med is like a small pound and Italia is in the middle of it, full or airports with great capacity, why not use it as a giant CAGs… All you need is to build Naval Air support, in mass. Remember: Rome was the center of the world and its geographical situation played a key role in that, so any Italian player should build on that.


Loyalist Albanian Uprising (March 1940)

By spring, the British were invading Albania, trying to reinstitute the King Zug reign. Once again, the Italian had foreseen the British move and removed all but the Pustina division from Albania one month before the invasion occurred. The Alpina Division Pustina was left behind to hold the place and, as we said earlier, gain time, again. The British came in in force, landing 3 divisions, which quickly outmatched the Pustina division, which retreated to the Northern part of Albania. In a “coup de theatre”, Mussolini allowed Albania to take over its own course of action (puppeting Albania!), thus stopping the British’ invasion (as the puppet was creating but not called to arm… thus creating a neutral zone were the Italians could retreat their forces in order). The delay inflicted to the British invasion was better than expected, as it took another 3 weeks for the British to seize control of all Albania. As we speak now, the Pustina division stands on the other side of the Yugo border, waiting for any sign of weakness in the British expeditionary forces.


Dalmatian Sea Naval Battle (Spring 1940)

For most of the Nov. 1939 – May 1940 war period, the British fleets were patrolling the Sea all around Italia, either to sink Italian convoys, to hunt subs or simply to hit any Italian vessels that would dare challenge it (or try to reinforce Italia’s possessions). Having spotted the British fleet, the Italians were able to use, for once, their full firepower against the powerful British CAGs fleet. It was a nice victory for young Air Major Piacentini of the Flotilla Aeronautica I.

NDLR: By December, Italia had already removed all of its convoy’s lines, finding alternative ways to supply itself (either by trading with the Soviet Bear, dear Adolf, or other European countries). This strategy is the only one that can work for Italia, since you control neither Gibraltar, nor Suez channel and thus, your resources/supply routes outside the Med are cut at those entry points. So any resources put on maintaining your convoys is a total waste of resources. This logi applies for buying either escort or convoys, as you have plenty to start with and, once you’ve removed your useless lines, you’ll have enough to support any supply routes you would need in the Med, later on. To achieve this, don’t forget to pick “manual management” of you convoys. Otherwise, as long as you have potential trade route, the AI will keep on putting convoys at sea, thus destroying your reserves. In the current game, the British strategy of taking away all Italia’s foreign possessions so early in the game removed any need for supply routes anyway, thus simplifying our convoys’ management.

[confinement]

With the imperialist dogs embroiled in their wars of aggression, the Great leader has seized the opportunity to bring freedom to the working people of Eastern Europe. Our armies liberated large tracts of land through Finland, and brought the socialist governments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to their knees. As a gesture of goodwill, the Great leader decided to allow German troops to occupy those lands of Western Poland that had been deemed unusable.







With winter settling in the Great Leader has taken residence in his dacha, enjoying a warm fire, and the company of a few female companions recently liberated from their servitude in Eastern Poland. In front of him is a large map of Europe, Africa, and Asia. A gleam brightens his eyes as he considers all of the possibilities.

[friget234]

like the idea of this aar.

quick tips though, if whoever is italy can make the pictures bigger that would be great.

also the socialist regimes of the baltics states?

[Paglia]

Just click on each picture, normally, a popup should appear to you.

[Cybvep]

Subscribed.

[nightraid3r]

Subscribed.

I think a few people in our game do not understand the concept of waiting until the games conclusion to post anything, thus this AAR could easily become a mess of information. This game is only in end of 1939 now so I, as Germany, do not want to post any information about my plans!

[confinement]

I think a few people in our game do not understand the concept of waiting until the games conclusion to post anything, thus this AAR could easily become a mess of information. This game is only in end of 1939 now so I, as Germany, do not want to post any information about my plans!

This thread is for our players that wish to post AAR's. It is not for those players that do NOT wish to post AAR's.

I have a full and complete understanding of the AAR concept, as I started playing HOI 1 in 2002. I will continue to post AAR's at my leisure. If the Axis wishes to believe that they are being given information that they would not ordinarily be aware of, I say great. And then I say - make sure that both of your boots are strapped on tight.

For those of us that wish to wait until information is a year old, and everyone has forgotten about a particular offensive, or a particular drubbing at the hands of an enemy, that's fine too. I would not dream of impeding your desire to remain silent.

[nightraid3r]

This thread is for our players that wish to post AAR's. It is not for those players that do NOT wish to post AAR's.

I have a full and complete understanding of the AAR concept, as I started playing HOI 1 in 2002. I will continue to post AAR's at my leisure. If the Axis wishes to believe that they are being given information that they would not ordinarily be aware of, I say great. And then I say - make sure that both of your boots are strapped on tight.

For those of us that wish to wait until information is a year old, and everyone has forgotten about a particular offensive, or a particular drubbing at the hands of an enemy, that's fine too. I would not dream of impeding your desire to remain silent.

seriously you need to read the other mp aars, like cpteasy's, they are not like yours, they are played out then done later.. but ok as you wish if you want to start a flame war about this go ahead and enjoy your AAR thread, i'll stay out.

[Paglia]

Since it looks like I'm the guilty guy here, with my thread and the content I put in it, I'll ask all of you to stop arguing over this AAR (before something goes wrong).

To make things in short :
(1) I play to win.
(2) I also play to have fun.
(3) Writing is part of my fun. I don't want to write down my AAR three months after the action. I'll do it the way I want to do it. If people find it useful, they will read it. If they don't like it, well, it will be a waste of (my) time. Every event reported here did happen in the game, approximately at the date of the Il Popolo d'Italia Edition.
(4) Were there some stuff that shouldn't have been there ? Maybe ? Probably ? To be honest, there were a couple of lines that were put there too promptly. They're not there anymore. All the other info were easy to guess. Anyway, I'll be more cautious, since my action do affect my faction.

[Hardradi]

The tension in this thread is rising, you guys even have your national flags as your avatars. It's like propoganda wars.

Thanks for posting on the your MP game. Its a lot easier against the AI, so I really appreciate it, win or lose.

[nightraid3r]

nice updates italy :P kind of confusing with their location in the thread, but their location is great, and the english is great too for it not being your first language :P

[Cybvep]

Nice update, indeed. Very confusing, though. It would be better if you posted it in another post.

[Paglia]

nice updates italy :P kind of confusing with their location in the thread, but their location is great, and the english is great too for it not being your first language :P

Thanks nightraid3r

Confusion: comments well taken. I'll try something different next time, to facilitate reading.

[nightraid3r]

Thanks nightraid3r

Confusion: comments well taken. I'll try something different next time, to facilitate reading.

just make each new update a new post, that will help

[Paglia]

just make each new update a new post, that will help

Wouldn't they be lost among all comments made by others ?