defending italy

[shri]

Italy in RL had the double dis-advantage, it's IC was somewhere near Japan (actually below Japan), its effective IC (efficiency?) was way below Japan, it did not have the advantages of high morale and above average population that Japan had but had the acute resource scarcity of Japan.
[Italy had approx. 45 million to Japan's 70+ million, further Japan starts with approx. 20% more IC, better resources due to Manchuria being a far better colony than North Africa, Enormous advantage in Morale due to Shintoism, Excellent Navy and slightly better Army though the Tank Arm is worse, in terms of Air-Force except Naval Aviation both are at par in mid 1930s]

Another problem was - Geography.
Geographically it was easier for the UK to defend- Gibraltar, Malta, Suez and North Africa than the Far east inc. Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya.
On the other hand, the ambitions of the Italian Rulers was to put it mildly - megalomaniac, they were living in LA LA land and thought IC grew on trees (this problem was present for nearly all combatants except the USA).

The player, on the other hand has 20-20 hindsight, so if you play SP, it shouldn't matter, you can always muddle through (try to be strong all-round and then combat your weakness by using MANUAL CONTROL) and wait for the AI to scr** up (it almost always does) but if you play Multi- then go for a strong Air-Force and Medium Navy so as to support Germany. Forget North Africa and help keep the English off Sicily and help the Germans on the Southern Russian Front.

 

[Secret Master]

Geographically it was easier for the UK to defend- Gibraltar, Malta, Suez and North Africa

I take issue with this in a small way.

Say what you want about Britain's advantages, but the failure to take Malta on Day 1 of the war was an inexcusable error on the part of Italy's military leadership. Whatever the cost, taking Malta on Day 1 should have been a priority. It was possible for them to have accomplished it at that time with their resources (assuming it was properly planned).

Of course, given a little bit of time, it became easier to defend. But Italy should never have given Britain that time.

 

[shri]

I take issue with this in a small way.

Say what you want about Britain's advantages, but the failure to take Malta on Day 1 of the war was an inexcusable error on the part of Italy's military leadership. Whatever the cost, taking Malta on Day 1 should have been a priority. It was possible for them to have accomplished it at that time with their resources (assuming it was properly planned).

Of course, given a little bit of time, it became easier to defend. But Italy should never have given Britain that time.

I agree with you.
If i become Generalissimo Mussolini in my games, on Day 1 of the War i take Malta and simultaneously i attack Gibraltar too and most of the times end up taking it. Really helps. Also, my army in North Africa has my best troops (mostly motorised and armoured with some Cavalry) and i have successfully evacuated everything from East Africa.

If- Gibraltar, Malta, Crete are locked down and German/Italian Bombers are based here, it does make things difficult for the RN.

But in RL, we are taking of Mr. Musso here, whose IQ levels were low and who believed his own propaganda even more than Stalin+Hitler combined. With 20-20 hindsight that disaster of Italy in the War was only too sure.