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@ruckel: I surely am :D

@Maj von Mauser. Stalin took that seriously. I don't see ANY Soviet ship ANYWHERE since almost 6 months :)

@Capibara: thanks! I want the war to begin, that's the funny part after all :p

@Romanius: Gibraltar is to be conquered for sure, but it won't be easy.

First, I'll have enough troubles holding in Africa against probably superior troops.
Second, I need to conquer Malta first (needed for roleplaying/historical purpose)
Third, I need to find some way to attack it. With Republican Spain still around it's somewhat harder.. If I could get Military access from Franco and annex them it may be better, but at the moment is just impossible to take the Rock.

As for "fixing" the Royal Navy the idea is to fight them with a couple of 6 CA/3 CVL/9 CL-FC SAGs and support from Naval Bombers.. the main idea is that the Mediterranean is Italy carrier once I get get my hands on Malta, Cyprus, Crete.
 
Folgore80 said:
@ruckel: I surely am :D

@Maj von Mauser. Stalin took that seriously. I don't see ANY Soviet ship ANYWHERE since almost 6 months :)

@Capibara: thanks! I want the war to begin, that's the funny part after all :p

@Romanius: Gibraltar is to be conquered for sure, but it won't be easy.

First, I'll have enough troubles holding in Africa against probably superior troops.
Second, I need to conquer Malta first (needed for roleplaying/historical purpose)
Third, I need to find some way to attack it. With Republican Spain still around it's somewhat harder.. If I could get Military access from Franco and annex them it may be better, but at the moment is just impossible to take the Rock.

As for "fixing" the Royal Navy the idea is to fight them with a couple of 6 CA/3 CVL/9 CL-FC SAGs and support from Naval Bombers.. the main idea is that the Mediterranean is Italy carrier once I get get my hands on Malta, Cyprus, Crete.

Dominate the Mediterranean or Romanesque conquest?
 
Chapter 4. Army Modernization Begins

In January 1939 things kept going well for Italy. More fortifications were completed along the Ethiopian Wall and the production gained more efficiency. Needless to say, the entire Italian economy was nowadays military-driven.

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Breda finished researching Strafing Doctrine and Balbo can now start working on Logistical Strikes simulations.

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In the meanwhile, Italian cabinet meeting discussed Albania situation. That lone Balkan State was a perfect target for Italian Imperial policy. Also, it would have allowed to strike Yugoslavia from 2 fronts if we really wanted to take what is rightfully ours (Dalmatia). A few well equipped divisions were ordered to move to Taranto, ready to attack when needed. Mussolini ordered the Army Chief to speed up with Progetto Nettuno, as a few selected units could be of great use in an Albanian theater. Despite this, the units selected for attacking Albanian positions will be updated with modern weaponry. The modernization of the Italian army begins!

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More Airports being built in Ethiopia.

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In February reinforcements are finally completed. The Italian war machine can now focus solely on modernization of his divisions!

Lancia ends researching Production Control and Fiat begins researching Production Planning. It is rumored that new mechanized assembly lines can be achieved. This would greatly help our production! Cantieri Ansaldo finally develops Amphibious units equipment and the testing on Lampedusa ends. If we can speed it up, Marines could be used to assault Albanian coast!
Cavagnari finishes studying new fighting techniques for our BBs and CAs and now starts thinking about CVs.

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At the end of February a non-aggression pact with Greece expires. This will finally give us the opportunity to lay-out a plan for conquering the old province of the Empire. Albania is a key factor for this as well, giving us a perfect base to strike Greece.

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With Addis Ababa fortifications on par with Swiss bunkers, il Duce orders to stop improving those and orders the expansion of il Vallo d’Etiopia to the province of Adwa.

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@Romanius: a bit of both :)
I plan to secure Africa first, sunk as much Allied ships as possible and hopefully use new divisions to grab Yugoslavia and Greece, then Spain and Portugal if they won't be in the Axis.

With all Northern Africa in Italian hands much of the old Roman Empire would be reformed.

@ruckel: It is, it is :) Just hope our krauts-eating neighbours can finish off France before I join the war or we may see French troops in Florence with ease!
 
Glad to see all plans are going as planned. :D

Hopefully the future invasion of Greece will be more succesful than ones of the past.

Great update as always.
 
Good update! :cool:

How many divisions do you kept in Etiopia? I'm currently playing a game as italy and i kept all militias and 1 mountain division. Atleast more than i use to leave ( 0 ).

Any plans for a panzer division? Italy got a nice lvl 4 panzer leader.
 
Just caught up!
This is a pretty awesome AAR!
Congrats!
I'll follow this one!
 
Anyone furthering the cause of Fascist Italy gets my subscription.

I like your commitment to the defense of Ethiopia, and am curious to see how it pays off for you. Good Luck :cool:
 
Just caught up to this AAR. Great stuff, great stuff.
 
Chapter 5: World War begins.. earlier than expected!

Mussolini’s face was far from happy that day. All the others cabinet members never seen him so disgusted and angry.
“This is an offense! We guaranteed Czechoslovakia independence after last year Munich conference and what does Hitler? He ignores us! This is unbelievable! Unbeliavable!”

By the way, after a raging discussion Galeazzo Ciano managed to come out with a compromise which could barely save Italy’s face.

“We are really worried for our friends being at war with Germany. We encourage our two close partners to stop any war and come here in Rome to discuss a solution which can suit both. As for the Czechoslovakian request for help, we discussed last year we were ready to help against any communist invasion. This time we will stay neutral.

Nevertheless, we encourage the Hungarians, on the light of our long-lasting friendship to cease any further offensive operation and come back to the diplomacy table”

Vast part of the Italian population was for intervening directly and teach the krauts-eaters a lesson. (free slider move toward interventionism)

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Two days later the Poles declare war on the Hungarians (another move towards Interventionism). It seems there will be a raging war in spring this time. The majority of Italian population asked for intervention. The big deal was on what side to intervene! Should we back the pity Germans who started this all and are strongest? Should we back Hungary, our friends since years? Or perhaps join the Czechoslovakian struggle for liberty and to protect our metal trades? Or help Poland, which sends us tons of coal every day? In the end, the Italian cabinet decided to stay neutral once more, coordinating with the United Kingdom and France for a peaceful solution to the crisis.

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The first escort fighters are delivered and assigned to our Naval bombers.

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5 days after war declaration, the Czechoslovakian capital is encircled. Are the Czechs doomed?

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Taking advantage from the chaos generated by the outbreak of the war, Italian intelligence steals some RAF manuals with most useful information.

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Prague falls six days after being encircled. With Czechoslovakia reduced to two provinces and German panzers roaming through Poland, the Allies enters the war.

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Mussolini, surprised by the reaction, convokes and emergency cabinet. It is decided to maintain neutrality, at least until the Army is modernized. The same day reports on the expansion of the Ethiopian Wall arrive. Balbo also reports he finished tuning Logistical Strikes.

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The first Italian Improved light cruiser with Fire control attachment is deployed on April, 5th.

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Germany annexes Czechoslovakia 22 days after the start of the war. Hungary gets its nice share as well. Situation for Poland is grim.

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Chapter 6. Operazione Avamposto (Operation Outpost)


Mussolini decides to take the chance of this war to expand on Albania (had to trigger the event manually, for some reason). Unfortunately the equipping of a division of the Progetto Nettuno wasn’t completed on time, so a small traditional force will be used instead. Operazione Avamposto (Operation Outpost) is launched.

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A picture of il Corpo di Spedizione Albanese

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Surprisingly enough Albanians, despite refusing our ultimatum, forgot to create an Army. :D

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Albanian campaign concludes with a success. Mussolini announces the population that King Zog was keeping all the money for himself, not even bearing to defend his own country. Italy will care for a new economic expansion and protection of Albania, investing all the personal Zog wealth to help Albanian people.

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More stealing!

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@Maj von Mauser. It must be better, I don't want to see Greek troops on Taranto, after all ;)

@elbasto. Surely it would be. However I read in a few AARs that owning Turkey somewhat spoils GER Barbarossa AI. I'll take Turkey later, probably.

@ruckel. I plan to keep most of my army in Ethiopia, but the actual number will be given by Feb 1940, when I'll re-arrange my army for the various theaters, depending on the situation.
No panzers in this game. While I have the ICs to build them, I prefer to stick with MOT/MEC and SPart. More mobile units--> More options.

@Inkana, Admiral Yamamot, intruder alert: thanks for following this AAR.. it seems that once you want to go historical, HoI spoil you :)

@Robou: you called that!

@Capibara: are you satisfied with Albanian invasion? 2 days of war :D Blitzkrieg at its finest!

@wilegfass: sorry, I've been a bit busy recently, it's hard to find time to play :(
 
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Interesting start on ww2 :)