Update time again, thanks for replying all! The first part of the war is completed. There are ups and downs and…well I’ll just let you see.
An Empire Like No Other
Part Six:
The latest set of premonitions drafted by our great leader in his latest drunken stup...enlightenment carry a celebratory message, but also a slightly ominous one.
Could he be suggesting that one of our own would be killed while we rout the enemy? I’d better be careful.
However, we can worry about that later, as at the moment the most important thing is to sort out the strategy for the war.
The first phase of the war in Africa will involve forcing our way to El Alamein, thus cutting off several British divisions thanks to the impassable desert. After that we should have the numbers to easily overrun Eygpt.
The first battles have mixed fortunes. The arrival of an extra division in Gibraltar messes up our chances of taking it; so more divisions are being shipped from the homeland to assist. Meanwhile, our main army succeeds in its push forwards. In a nice twist, we somehow get official rights to claim some of the provinces of Vichy France. Meanwhile the UK guarantees the independence of Greece. A worthless gesture, seeing as we’ll soon have the Mediterranean closed off.
The following day the USSR gets Bessabaria with from Romania. How can the Germans stand being friendly with those dogs?! The day after that there is a shocking development as Field Marshall Balbo is killed. How, I’m not sure as he was in North Africa commanding our troops, and not flying in a plane like the official reports stated. It’s all a bit suspicious. We have to do an emergency reordering of the command structure as a result.
The day after that our fleet wins its first naval battle, sinking a lone Destroyer flotilla with the audacity to sail our waters. The day after that (this is getting tedious) we advance on and defeat the defenders of Sidi Barrani. On July 2nd we sign the Tripartite Act with Germany and Japan. Later that same day, we lose Forte Maddalena to the British. Go on…dig yourselves deeper.
On the 4th Latvia is annexed by the Soviets and we begin our attack on Mersa Matruh. With fire support from our battleships the attack is a complete success. On the 6th a new attack on Gibraltar fails despite the arrival of three new divisions. Another set is on its way for the third attempt.
The situation in Africa by July 9th is doing very well. Our offensive seems unstoppable and we are coming close to cutting off at least 12 British divisions. The offensive continues with an attack on Fuka
On the 11th we have our first major naval encounter as the Secondary Fleet bumps into the British Mediterranean Fleet off the coast of Spain. In the end our ships are unable to close to firing range and so we withdraw with minimal damage. On the 12th we reach Fuka and find El Alamein woefully underdefended. Six divisions are sent on ahead to secure the province while the others rest and recuperate ready to finish off the encircled forces.
Suddenly, British troops land on Sardinia. We believe that is where the Fleets was heading that we ran into earlier. Luckily, three new divisions are on standby to retake it once the Secondary Fleet gets back to Taranto. It bumps into the British once more and once more is unable to close and attack.
On the 19th we arrive in El Alamein and now 16 divisions are trapped. We begin the process of rounding them up. As the month ends, Sardinia remains in enemy hands for the time being and we transfer the Primary Fleet to lend fire support to the next attempt on Gibraltar
The situation in Africa as August begins. Annoyingly the British are still getting supplies despite the fact that the desert to the south is impassable. Even more annoyingly, New Zealand has just loaded up Gibraltar with about seven divisions, making its capture impossible. We give up on trying to take it and withdraw our Mountaineers, leaving six divisions to guard Malaga. Until Nationalist Spain joins our alliance or the war in Africa ends, Gibraltar will be impossible to take.
The foolish British are thrown off of Sardinia on the 5th. They were insane to attempt such an attack without adequate support and as a result 10000 men have been taken prisoner. Not much happens until the 14th when we take Siwa. Although our troops are thrown out of the province by a massive counterattack, the encirclement is complete and the fate of the nine divisions that failed to escape it is assured.
The fall of Nibeiwa. Shortly after that is done and thousands of British troops surrender, we eliminate a lone division in the region of Al Jaghbub that had got ahead of the main force. Now our next goal will be to focus our forces on taking Egypt before British reinforcements from Ethiopia arrive.
On the 18th the Allies have the audacity to land at Zuara, near Tripoli. How they managed to sneak past both our subs and fleets that were raiding convoys near Malta we’ll never know. Troops are scrambled from Sardinia and the enemy is eliminated quickly.
On August 22nd a massive assault on Alexandria with full support from the Primary Fleet begins. The battle lasts through the day and night, but our troops emerge victorious and the city will soon be ours. The following day British troops retake Siwa after they cannot advance to Nibeiwa. It doesn’t matter, as they’re still trapped and will soon be destroyed.
The army enters the reaches the Nile easily on the 24th. Now the push for Suez can begin. As our troops enter the city, the small British fleet docked in the harbour attempts to flee, only to be vaporized by our waiting Battleships. On the 28th our bombers spot the main British fleet heading our way. Eager for a rematch, Il Duce orders the Primary Fleet to intercept. If we can close the distance this time our superior Battleship numbers should win this battle.
(Edit- little bit removed since I realised I was confused about IC in Addis Abba)
We engage the British fleet but almost immediately the cowards withdraw. The Secondary Fleet is in the vicinity so they are ordered to assist in the pursuit. However, they retreat the moment we engage again. As they are now heading into Port Malta we give up the chase and withdraw to fix the minor damage received in the first battle.
The situation on September 3rd
Our next goal is to cross the Nile and take Suez. Enemy forces may be a hassle, but if the troops in Tobruk are an indication, we have a plan.
A roster of ships eliminated by our almighty navy. Although we have yet to sink anything larger than a Heavy Cruiser, this war has only just begun and we have yet to lose a single flotilla. The Allies on the other hand…its just lucky for them that they have so many ships to make up for such appalling losses.
Once we take Suez the path to the Indian Ocean and all the treasures that lie therein will be open. Then we can truly begin to fulfil our aspirations!
To be continued…
Techs completed in this part:
Improved Encryption Devices
Techs ongoing after this part:
Pre-Planned Defence Doctrine
Advanced Computing Machine
Ship Assembly Line
Improved Infantry Division
A couple of notes on the war so far: I expected to be faster than I was in reaching Alexandria, but the fact that the Brits could get supplied through the impassable provinces surprised me. The navy also annoyed me as I could never seem to close with their Carriers, and if I did then they instantly withdrew. Of course, that’s a smart move on the part of the AI, but it's still frustrating. I’m also noticing a build up of troops by my allies on the Germany/Yugoslavia border. This is bad for me, as I only have a token force in North Italy and Albania. Hopefully they won’t attack before I get Suez.
Finally, it’s been a very slow update for techs, which I guess can be put down to them being high-level and so slow to complete.
