Why is Italy so strong in East Africa?

[Admiral Bloonbeard]

Why is Italian East Africa so hard to conquer as Britain? Ever since the La Resistance update, Italian East Africa is so hard to conquer. HOW? The colony is cut off from the mainland and somehow they have OP air support. Can anyone explain this and strategy for Britain to push the Italians out?

 

[Dlin369]

I mean part of it has to be Ethiopia being mountainous terrain right? Fighting in Africa in general is pain because low supply

 

[Mousetick]

Yep it's mostly the terrain which provides good defense for Italy and the inability as UK to bring too many troops to the fight because of poor infrastructure and the limit it puts on supply.

Possible strategy: don't try to fight them, just hold the front and let Italy attack you. Sink their troops and supply convoys in the Red Sea and along the coast of Somalia. Eventually they'll start to wither while you build up your planning bonus. Then you can run straight over them, or you can encircle them first and cut them off completely from oversea supply and reinforcements by capturing the provinces all along the coast.

 

[Timmysoboy]

I agree with Bloonbeard that Italy feels like it's able to maintain better supply than it should (even with submarine blockade in the horn).

 

[Admiral Bloonbeard]

I agree with Bloonbeard that Italy feels like it's able to maintain better supply than it should (even with submarine blockade in the horn).

In real life, the colony fell in a year despite the Italians outnumbering the British 10-1. Before the La Resistance update, East Africa was a piece of cake for Britain, just an easy drive. Now, it’s one of the most difficult theaters. It’s 1942 and the colony still hadn’t fell.

 

[Mousetick]

I agree with Bloonbeard that Italy feels like it's able to maintain better supply than it should (even with submarine blockade in the horn).

Even with a naval blockade, they still have access to Local Supply, like everyone else. There is nothing special about Italy or this theater.

 

[Mousetick]

In real life, the colony fell in a year despite the Italians outnumbering the British 10-1. Before the La Resistance update, East Africa was a piece of cake for Britain, just an easy drive. Now, it’s one of the most difficult theaters. It’s 1942 and the colony still hadn’t fell.

One of the reasons it's tougher than historically is that usually (from my experience which may vary from yours), Germany sends expeditionary forces to this theater. You may not notice it because they have the Italian colors, but they are German divisions, with better equipment and bonuses. You can verify this while fighting them.

 

[Rashie]

Start raiding convoys in the cap verde plain and the rest of the sea zones down to the cape, and hold onto Suez.

There is a lot of axis convoys passing through there, they stand no chance in Africa if you strangle their incoming supply at sea.

 

[Admiral Bloonbeard]

It only started becoming difficult after La Resistance. Before that, East Africa was an easy drive for Britain.

 

[enigma_]

It doesn’t help that the British AI in East Africa is very poor and basically allows Italy to conquer most of Africa in LaR

 

[kettyo]

There is an Italian AI strategy which sends more troops to Africa than the general AI would. It's called "ITA_hold_africa". It might be introduced with LaR, i don't know.

 

[Duke_Dave]

In earlier iterations they were basically cut off from supply, which meant that if they didn't rush Suez to the North via Libya they lost.

 

[kettyo]

In earlier iterations they were basically cut off from supply, which meant that if they didn't rush Suez to the North via Libya they lost.

Maybe now colony states provide more supply to avoid such insta-collapse cases?

 

[Duke_Dave]

Maybe now colony states provide more supply to avoid such insta-collapse cases?

No I think its just that navies don't intercept as much convoys and as somebody earlier said the Italians pour in more troops. Plus logistics is still a joke.
Historically the Italian army was not ready to go to war, so a mobilization mechanic is really needed.

 

[Admiral Bloonbeard]

There is an Italian AI strategy which sends more troops to Africa than the general AI would. It's called "ITA_hold_africa". It might be introduced with LaR, i don't know.

Probably, it wasn’t a problem until after the update