The Year of Upheaval
Part 8: Technology I, January - June, 1942
As usual, Mussolini was not simply concerned with immediate combat operations, despite their obviously predominant importance in the first months of the year due to the stakes at risk. The advancement of technology is, of course, an important aspect of longer-term strategy and Mussolini always kept an eye and a hand on what his industrial and research teams were working on. The first half of 1942 manifested a research emphasis on the army, understandably, given its sudden and unwilling capture by the spotlight of strategy and history.
The first advancement of the year occurred on January 10, when Macchi finished their initial development of a medium fuel tank, which when equipped would extend the range of medium and naval bombers. Given the great gamble Mussolini was in the beginning stages of embarking upon, he ordered a study on infantry warfare to succeed this aviation development. The next two weeks were dry in terms of advancement, though Mussolini did order the construction of some forty convoy transports, as British submarines operating from Socotra at the mouth of the Red Sea were preying upon Italian convoys around the Horn of Africa. Soon after that, Cantieri completed their work on a more advanced large warship radar, and Mussolini immediately ordered another general staff study, this one on central planning. Cantieri turned in another completed project, a further developed small warship radar, early in February and this project was followed by another staff study, on large fronts. In the second week of February, the general staff completed a study on special forces, emphasizing primarily marine tactics, and a sequel was immediately ordered. Mid-February, however, saw the beginning of a long stretch of naval advancement that had been ordered last year, as on the 18th aircraft carrier anti-aircraft and light cruiser main armament was further developed by Cantieri. Mussolini temporarily decreased the number of projects by one, and simply replaced these two with a single project on advancing Italy’s radar development.
As usual, naval armament.
These developments were followed by Cantieri’s advancement of aircraft carrier engines, armor, and hangars by the 3rd of March. These projects were replaced by army projects on light artillery, infantry support weapons and small arms development. Naval advancement continued, however, with light cruiser improvements in engines and anti-aircraft armament. These two projects were replaced by an industrial audit to improve efficiency, and an industry initiative to improve supply production. March developments ended with an advancement in combat medicine, thus improving the trickle back rate of casualties into the national manpower pool. This was succeeded by a staff study on mass assaults, perhaps with some irony.
The advancement of Italian combat medicine.
April saw improvements in naval bomber and port strike tactics, at a useful time given that it was at about this point that Campioni had struck at Spanish ships at Ceuta and otherwise guarded the western Mediterranean from infiltrating British ships for some small amount of time. Both projects were ordered by Mussolini to be continued, as a plan had begun formulating in his mind. It was not, however, a plan aimed against the Soviets. In early May, the general staff completed another study on guerrilla warfare, and Mussolini ordered this continued. The crowning moment of May was, however, on the 6th. On that day, the naval staff completed its definitive study on the tactical doctrine necessary for a cohesive carrier task force. While there would still in the future be small, accumulating improvements in doctrine and training, the greatest single doctrinal task was over. Mussolini ordered that a study on naval strike tactics follow.
The development of the carrier task force.
The rest of May and June was largely dedicated to eclectic improvements. On the 11th of May, the study on infantry warfare begun in January was published and Mussolini ordered that Italian industry’s coal processing technologies be modernized. On the 25th of May, the central planning study was also completed, and a study on naval air targeting succeeded it. The 12th of June saw studies on large fronts and special forces published. Another study on special forces was immediately begun, as was a drive to modernize Italian rare material refining technology. June 21st saw an advance in Italian small arms and a project replacement by a study on improving Italian industry’s coal to oil conversion.
Two army doctrinal studies published.
As can be seen, Mussolini was still at this point pursuing a relatively balanced vision of the future, still tilted toward his carriers, but with a large amount of attention paid to the Regio Esercito. It was, after all, the only force standing in between the Red Army and Rome itself. He was not, however, overly worried about the east despite the events of the past six months there. He had faith in his commanders to hold, and he always had many parallel projects to pursue at once.