AAR #3
ITALIA
NEW POST JANUARY 14th
NORTH AMERICAN MP GAME
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?573357-North-America-Series-FTM/page1
FIGHTING FOR THE MED SUPREMACY: THE LION AGAINST THE ROMAN EAGLE
Il Popolo d’Italia
May-June 1940
“Wars reveal the inner nature of a Nation”, Benito Mussolini’s intimate confidence to Ciano, Vice-Governor of the Ethiopian Protectorate and of all African territories.
From May 31st 1940 to July 30th 1940, a fierce naval battle raged around Italia, the Italian fleet tried several times to hit the British fleet, as per the “Archimedes Claws Plan” designed by Admiral Domenico Cavagnari. This plan, whose details we won’t share yet (for obvious reasons), led to multiple battles and skirmishes in the Central Med. Intensive air fighting were reported throughout the period, and 4 naval battles were fought, 2 of them being lost by the Italian fleet.
June-July 1940 Major battles
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Naval Battle of Messine Straight, early June 1940
Aggressiveness by the British Admiral of the CAGs fleet didn’t pay off in early June, as the fleet was surprised, at sunset, by the Aeronautica Flottilla 4, in the Messine Strait. The Italian air squadron inflicted heavy damages to the British Fleet who was forced to retreat. Informed of Piacenttini’s success against the British Fleet, the Duce awarded the Air commander the Savoya Cross of Valor.
Venice Gulf Naval Battle, early June 1940
A fast flottilla detected the British CAGs fleet near Venice in early June 1940. The British fleet was apparently trying to catch an Italian transport fleet that did some military exercise in that zone in late May. Hoping to hit hard the British Fleet, Air Marshall Ciano ordered all NAV fleet to get in the air and intercept the British Fleet. It didn’t take time to the Aeronautica Flottilla 4 to find the Fleet and launched multiple waves of torpedoes against it. The British Fleet was caught off guard and had to retreat. During the fight, the whole Sommergibili Fleet 4 (2 subs) was sunk by Swordfish squadrons hunting for the Italian Fleet.
Dalmatian Sea Skirmish, mid-June 1940
Trying to keep the pressure on the British Fleet, Admiral Cavagnari ordered the Flottilla 5 to leave Taranto base and take an intercepting course against the British CAGs fleet. A very bad performance by the Italian fleet (disorganized fleet and hull penalties) transformed a near victory into a clear defeat. The Italian fleet retreated in the Ionian Sea, to join forces with the Regia Marina, waiting there for the British Fleet. During the battle, San Giorgio, the Pola and 3 DD were sunk, while the fleet failed to inflict any losses to the British CAGs fleet.
Ionian Sea Naval Battle, mid-June 1940
What was supposed to be a trap turned out to be a trap… but for the Italian hunter. Both Flottilla 5 and Regia Marina failed to locate the British Fleet before the Swordfish squadrons hit them, and hit them hard. Before any admirals could position its fleet, the Libia and the Corellia cruisers were sunk by British torpedoes, while a screening DD was also hit and sunk during the following night. Regia Marina retreated hastily into Taranto, while the Flottilla 5 was able to get around the British CAGs fleet and run away without any more harm.
Taranto British Port Attack, July 1940
Trying to build on its previous success against the Italian Fleet, the British sent multiple waves of NAV and CAGs on Taranto in July 1940, hoping to sink the remaining of Regia Marina. Stiff defense by the Aeronautica AOI, one of the proudest interceptors squadron of Italia, led by Lucchini, a young but brilliant Air commander, saved the fleet from further damages. The Regia Marina later escaped the trap, while the AOI, supported by the Aeronautica Flottilla 4, maintained the pressure on the British CAGs fleet nearby.
Cagliari Blitz Campaign, June-July 1940
In early June, the RAF started a strategic bombing campaign against Italia, Rome being its preferred target. Taking off from Cagliari airport, the RAF squadrons attacked Rome 5 days in a row, being repelled each time by Air Commander Pellegrini’s squadron, the famous Squadritti 7. Shocked by British actions, “A War Crime against a Nation”, were his words, our Beloved Leader, Il Duce, Benito Mussolini, asked Maresciallo dell'Aria (Marshal of the Air Force) Giuseppe Valle to design a proper counter attack. On July 2nd, Aeronautica Flottilla 3 & 4, led by Commanders Balbo and Piaccenttini, flew straight to Cagliari airfield, their bomb bay full of highly explosive torpedoes, designed to destroy runways. Cagliari nightmare was just beginning. “Total War requires Total War”, were Valle’s words. And as such, the Cagliari airfield was flattened by a 4-weeks air bombing campaign.
Tunis Gulf Air Blitz, late July 1940
Soon after the destruction of the Flottilla 4 [See Operation “Cartagine” report], the Aeronautica Flottilla 4 & 3 were ordered to hunt and sink the British CAGs fleet near Tunis. Multiple air fights took place; the British Fleet was damaged, while the El Italia Aria took very minor losses.
OPERATION “CARTAGINE”
Il Popolo d’Italia
July 16th 1940
“I know that many Italians are suffering, suffering from an unutterable ache, the African ache. To heal, Italians must go back to Africa. And we will go back”, was the main line of today’s address to the people by our Beloved leader, Benito Mussolini. “Ritorneremo! Ritorneremo!”, answered the Nation.
Mussolini, on the balcony of his hotel, on Piazza Venezia.
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The “Cartagine Operation”
On March 29th, Marshall Balbo, Commando Superiore of all Italians troops, tabled a plan for the reconquest of the Italian North African territories. The devised plan is simple: take advantage of the absence of the Brits in Free French territory to land an entire army near Tunis, seize control of the Free French colony as its forces are minimal (for use it as rear base), secure key resources of the colony and then, launch an offensive against British troops stationed in Libya and Tripolitania. Supply would be provided by the Italian Naval Fleet, under the command of Admiral Denzi Amareti, and the Flottilla Navale 7 would be fully engaged in this operation. From start, everyone agreed that a quick action would prove the decisive factor in the success, or failure of the operation. Impressed by the boldness of that plan, our Beloved Leader approved the plan right away, thus reiterating his full confidence in Marshall Balbo.
The Battle of Tunis
On July 16th, the 1a Armata landed in Tunisia, securing within 2 days the main surroundings of Tunis and breaking the French garrison who quickly fled in the desert, leaving their post in the middle of the battle. General Nasi and its staff, among which is commander Gonzaga del Vodice, quickly agreed on the next step, e.g. seizeing the ports of Sousse and Gabes, and securing the resources located in the South-West part of Tunisia (Kassarine Pass’ metals and Constantine’s metals and rare). Orders were giving to the troops to move quickly, to beat the Brits who would clearly react to this whole offensive.
The Operation unfolded
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The British counterattack
On July 20th, the Illustrious’ Fleet (4 CAGs and 4 DD) were able to intercept the Flottilla Navale 7 (1DD and 1 TRS) as it was entering the Gulf of Tunis. After a quick engagement, where the Flottilla Navale 7 almost succeeded in escaping toward the Sherks Strait, we finally lost contact with the whole Flottilla Navale 7 by the end of the day. Aggressive air support was provided by both the Flotilla Aeronautica 3 and 4, inflicting damages to the British CAGs fleet, but not enough to repel it and save the Flottilla Navale 7. On July 21st, the Tunis supply convoy was sunk by the British Fleet, thus cutting Italian supply lanes. From now on, Italia would have to rely on the 3a Squadron for its supply. Maresciallo dell'Aria (Marshal of the Air Force) Giuseppe Valle would assume, from now on, all responsibilities regarding the supply of the whole 1a Armata in Tunisia.
At the same time, British troops landed near Tripoli, beginning their march toward Tunis. About 6 divisions, among which a Free French light armor division, are on the way to repel the Italian invasion.
OPERATION “ZANZIBAR”
Il Popolo d’Italia
June 15th 1940
“Legionnaires, rise your emblems, your weapons and your heart to salute, after 15 centuries, the reappearance of the Roman Empire on the sacred soil of Roma”, said Benito Mussolini, in his address to the Italian people after the fall of Ethiopia. “From now on, the king of Italia, and his successors, will bear the title of Emperor of Ethiopia”.
After the conquest of Ethiopia, the Fascist Council devised a plan for the expansion of the Roman Empire in the East African coast. That plan, postponed due to the taking of Assab (Eritrea) by the French in December 1939, was reactivated during Spring 1940 at the express demand of our Beloved Leader, Benito Mussolini. Securing the African Horn and retaking Eritrea will, from now on, be a fascist priority.
NDLR: Taking into account the low infrastructure prevailing in the area, this 2 steps plan could be seen as being very ambitious. 1st, seizing of Mombasa and the whole old Zanzibar Empire (actual Kenya), combined with the taking of Djibouti, South Sudan and, of course, freeing Eritrea. The 2nd step, largely inspired by the (failed) Roman of the Arabic Peninsula, would encompass the sea invasion of Yemen and Oman.
Restoring the Italian Pride on the East African Coast
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In early June 1940, the Italians were able to seize Mombasa (as reported by the 7a Divisioni Cirene), and in July, the 151 Divisioni Peruga took Berbera, on the Red Sea. In parallel, the Ethiopian Army increased the pressure on the Free French occupying Eritrea. The table is set for a major assault by the Ethiopians on the French.
NDLR: It will be interesting to see whether the AI can mount something once you ask him to do so… We could see the French were on the offensive in Italia in 1939, obviously answering a British call to arm against the Roman Empire. The low infrastructure level in most provinces will probably delay any advance by the Ethiopian army, the same could happen to the French entrenched over there.