8.6. Operazione Amo develops.
Macchi begins working on Improved Interceptors. Germany offered us its schemes and some tons of coal in return for giving them Improved Artillery schemes.
Romania needs to give up quite some land..
Our planes spots a fresh british SAG sailing inside the Med. To avoid the confrontation with a seriously damaged Italian one, Operazione Amo is changed a bit, with Italian troops unloading in Barca rather than in Derna.
Yet, the Royal Navy manages to engage the Italian SAG. The Regia Marina can retreat just before that RM Muzio Attendolo and RM Venezia are sunk. They won’t leave shipyards for a long time, though.
It’s time to make a balance of the Naval war between Italy and the Allies though. From June, when Italy entered the conflict, Italy lost 4 destroyers, 4 submarines, 2 transport flotillas, 1 light carrier, 1 light cruiser, 1 old Zara-class heavy cruiser and the Caio Duilio.
Italy managed to sunk: 8 transport flotillas, 13 destroyers, 1 submarine, 7 light cruisers, heavy cruisers York and Tourville, the Valiant, the Barham and the Queen Elizabeth.
Cavagnari smiled in delight on his chair, even if he knew Italian ships weren’t going to sail anymore for at least 6 months.
In the meanwhile a second Para division was ready. No more are ordered, and a long militia serial run is started. In the same days, another Motorized infantry division is completed and it is ready to be used in Operazione Amo.
Another Garrison division is ready as well. It is sent to Cholet and the Celere is redeployed back to Taranto.
With almost all needed troops redeployed in Lybia, the Attack for Sollum begins. The following morning, British defenders are beaten.
On 15th September, Caracciolo di Feroleto motorized division secure Sollum and begins pushing south, hoping to overrun the retreating Allied divisions. Unluckily, the British troops arrive there just a few hours before him.
In the meanwhile, General Vercellino leads an attack on Mechili, another key province to encircle the British in Forte Capuzzo.
After a reshuffling of divisions among Tobruk, Mechili and Bardia, an attack on Rabia is launched. The province falls soon, and if Forte Maddalena will fall as well, the encirclement on Forte Capuzzo would be completed.
British troops take Msus province, surprisingly. Are they hoping for an encirclement as well? To Vercellino it looks just like one more pocket to be created.
On 26th morning, Caracciolo di Feroleto reach Rabia. It is promptly attacked, but he tries to delay until the Secondo Motorizzato makes it to Rabia.
It would need to hold until the 20:00, but 3 hours before he is defeated.
Nevertheless, he disorganized the attackers just enough to allow Mj Caruso Secondo Motorizzato to hold Rabia.
The British, in the meanwhile, manage to prevent an easy pocket on Msus by taking Al Jaghbub
Without hesitating, the day following the arrival of the bulk of the Italian army, the attack on Forte Maddalena is launched. In 9 hours, British troops holding it are routed.
A couple days later the encirclement is completed!
Italians manage to capture 4 well equipped divisions. However, the final part of Operazione Amo is still far from completed. Forte Maddalena occupants have been defeated, a pocket on Msus needs to be closed and the second “hook” of the fish-hook needs to be formed.
