HOI III (Their Finest Hour) AAR - Going it alone

[undercovergeek]

Italy had made small strides in motorized and tank warfare, but the step up to medium tanks had not yet been achieved by industry or research development. Mussolini was loath to admit that Italy simply could not keep up with the major powers in these technologies and disciplines. These units were expensive and time consuming to generate, and Italy simply did not have the manpower and industrial might to be superior in all things, better then to field superior infantry and artillery, than mediocre infantry, artillery and tanks. Compromise was not in his nature, but there was no choice.

So it was little comfort when he received a study from one of his favoured, up and coming generals, General Messe. It looked into the new ground combat theories coming out of Hitler's Germany. This study investigated the use of mobile troops with a combination of fast moving armour, in a coordinated fashion referred to as Combined Arms. This cooperation enabled both forces to carry out their mission on the battlefield much better and had the much sought after result of a force multiplier - greater than the sum of the two. The report concluded that this type of combined arms warfare, would dominate the battlefield for years to come.



General Messe, 22a Divisione, 3rd Italian Army


This caused Mussolini some consternation, industry had made a serious commitment to developing infantry techniques and technologies for warfare. Ever the rising star Messe had a counter study prepared - with the careful application of research, officer training and battlefield doctrine he felt Mussolini would eventually be able equip each infantry division with an extra, fifth tank destroying support brigade -- similar to his artillery brigades but instead of heavy howitzers, these units would be armed with high velocity armor piercing cannons. If Italy couldn't join the armoured revolution, she could make sure that her precious forces could destroy those that had. Mussolini ordered research into the area of tactical command structure, which it was hoped would eventually lead to the attachment of yet another support brigade, this time anti-tank guns.

However, there was some light on the armoured situation. Within the army were three old cavalry divisions - Mussolini ordered these to be trained as either motorized infantry or light armor brigades, similar to the Militia brigades of East Africa, these poorly trained units would be brought up to speed with the best Italy's industry could offer. With them he would create three highly mobile assault divisions made up of one brigade of light tanks, two brigades of motorized infantry and would add one extra support brigade of tank destroyers. One extra division of this configuration was also raised so that a powerful 4 division mobile corps could be created.



Newly outfitted light tanks and their crews undergo intense training, and the Ansaldo tank factory in Milan begins production of Italy's mobile corps

[Martok]

Sounds good so far.  :) 


Hmm.  I'm noticing no mention has yet been made of Italy's naval forces.  Is that still coming, or did you decide to go with a different focus this time around? 

[undercovergeek]

From the beginning of 1936 Mussolini had directed as much government resources and funds as possible into research, even at the detriment of his Intelligence and Diplomatic services. His research teams were put to task on the following projects - new infantry weaponry (including small arms, light artillery, support weapons and handheld anti-tank weapons). Its WWI era equipment was in desperate need of modernization. Italy also started a modernization program for its new major military arm - artillery - contracts to improve barrels, ammunition, carriages and sights were ordered. Other research teams were assigned to basic aircraft designs, and small fuel tanks for them and the naval engineers were directed to come up with an aircraft carrier design to rival those of the United Kingdom.



Engineers at Ansaldo begin their projects, and Military strategists combine to iron out new infantry doctrines

The majority of these projects were completed by the end of May and the hugely expensive cost of upgrading existing divisions with the newer equipment began. Staff officers also started the work to develop the infantry doctrines that would make the Italian foot soldier the most effective combat weapon on the modern battlefield. Special Forces and Infantry Warfare tactics were developed and perfected. Assault Concentration was studied to improve the coordination between infantry and artillery in the new division structure. Mass assault techniques were developed to improve the morale of our troops during a rain of steel, as well as operational level organization and command structures which the theorists claimed would enable our troops to regroup quicker between attacks and attack quicker to keep our enemies on the run.



Mussolini personally inspects his new Mountaineer brigades in Taranto

By mid-June of 1936, the militia had completed their mountaineer training that made them some of the best units in the Italian Army. Mussolini was faced now with another problem - Pariani highlighted that Staff officers could not decide whether to keep these mountaineer brigades in traditional 3 brigade divisions or to match two mountaineer brigades with two of the new, advanced artillery support brigades in the fashion of the standard infantry divisions. The mountaineers backed by artillery would have more firepower it was true, but the advantage of their mountain skills would be lost as the troops would be slowed down in the rough terrain waiting for the artillery to keep up. Mussolini again compromised, with the existing mountaineers from the Alps and the new trained mountaineers, he formed two Corps of 4 divisions each. One consisting of divisions made up of three mountaineer brigades and the other made up of divions with two mountaineer brigades and two artillery brigades. The battlefield would decide which division structure was the better.

[undercovergeek]

Sounds good so far.  :) 


Hmm.  I'm noticing no mention has yet been made of Italy's naval forces.  Is that still coming, or did you decide to go with a different focus this time around?

navy next - theres a slight change in the 'plan' as i think ive worked out a way to not need Gibraltar so much  ;)

[bob48]

Brilliant stuff geek - really well done. Almost makes me want to fire up my copy and have another bash at it.

...Martok's right though...he does look a bit like Benny Hill.....

[undercovergeek]

Brilliant stuff geek - really well done. Almost makes me want to fire up my copy and have another bash at it.

...Martok's right though...he does look a bit like Benny Hill.....

lol - stage is almost set and then some more 'action' can be posted

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Has the Spanish Civil War been decided yet?  I found that to be a huge "what if" in my game.  I likely would have tried to take Spain prior to going after Sardinia and Sicily in my game had the Nationalists won instead of the Republicans.

[undercovergeek]

Has the Spanish Civil War been decided yet?  I found that to be a huge "what if" in my game.  I likely would have tried to take Spain prior to going after Sardinia and Sicily in my game had the Nationalists won instead of the Republicans.

just entered '37 in game and almost on the turn of the new year it was concluded, needless to say Spain is now idealogically in line with me and another guy up North, little mustache, forget his name

[bob48]

Benny Hill?

[undercovergeek]

The Ethiopian High Command wait for the final attack in Addis Ababa whilst at home Mussolini addresses the nation


On the eve of June 1st 1936, General Marinetti received orders from Mussolini himself - 'do no enter the gates of Addis Ababa without his express permission'. Confused and taken aback the General ordered a full halt of all the forces in East Africa, Zingales and Lisi passed the command to their divisions. Addis Ababa held its breath.

At home Mussolini's closest and most revered advisers had concluded that drawing out the East African war would better enable Italy to prepare itself for the inevitable coming of war in Europe. With the nation at a state of war the people were more willing to make the sacrifices necessary for the country to succeed. The objective for now was that Mussoloni and his cabinet were to keep the country on a war footing as long as possible. State controlled news agencies and propagandist agents began spreading rumours and falsehood about the progress of the war against Abyssinia. In the meantime Mussolini would keep an eye open for opportunities to improve his strategic positioning in Europe. For that role his agencies began planting news stories and reports to make neighbouring nations appear more threatening than they really were, and to prepare Italy for the struggles to come.

[Martok]

The African campaign's going a little too well, eh?  ;) 

[undercovergeek]

very well, and Mussolini is enjoying the increased industry output and low demand for consumer goods whilst it continues!

[undercovergeek]

During August and September both the aircraft designers at Macchi and the naval engineers at Cantieri finish their projects. The basic single engine airframe design was completed ahead of schedule and the developers presented Mussolini with the Macchi MC.200 with pride. Cantieri's engineers also presented Mussolini with plans for an escort carrier - much to their consternation both teams were sent straight back to the drawing boards. Macchi were awarded the contract to develop a multi-role fighter. With her limited resources, Italy would be restricted to developing and building single engine aircraft. The new multi-role fighters would be serviceable as interceptors, tactical bombers and in close air support operations. Cantieri were to commence work on Italy's first full aircraft carrier.

[undercovergeek]

With the onset of the Spanish Civil War Mussolini provides resources, supplies and aid to his Nationalist brother Franco

After 7 years of Spanish dictatorship under General Miguel Primo de Rivera, the Spanish people, as directed by King Alfonso XIII, went to the polls to determine their political future.  A majority of their votes went to the various Republican (anti-monarchist) parties. The King accepted the verdict and went into exile. A Republic was created, secular-socialist in character, much to the great displeasure of those of Spanish society who remained fervently monarchist and Catholic. This latter group was known collectively as the Fascists.  The most radical of this group, the Falangists ,headed by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, the son of the former dictator was similar to Mussolini's party - a uniformed paramilitary organization.

The elections of 1936 brought in a "Popular Front" government made up of parties of the Left, including the Communists. Immediately political conditions in Spain deteriorated with on-going street battles running between the Falangists and the equally tough Republican police, the Asaltos. When, in July of 1936, the Asaltos murdered a prominent Fascist politician, all hell broke loose. Soldiers in Morocco loyal to the monarchy, "Nationalists" as they called themselves, revolted against the Republican government in Madrid.  This was the signal in Spain itself for the Catholic monarchists in the military to rise up in revolt against the Republican government in accordance with a plan carefully worked out beforehand by a young general, Francisco Franco Bahamonde.



Republican militia closing in on Nationalists barricaded in the ruins of the Alcazar in Toledo

In the opening few days of the war desperate fighting took place in the city of Toledo to gain control of a munitions factory there. The Nationalists were eventually forced to withdraw to the hugely symbolic Alcazar. The Alcázar had been the residence of the Spanish monarchs after the reconquest of Toledo from the Moors, but was abandoned by Philip II and in the 18th century was converted into a military academy. The Nationalists saw the Alcázar as a representation of the strength and dominance of Spain and losing it to the Republicans would have been a serious blow to the Nationalists' vision and morale. In late July Franco's Nationalist forces reached Toledo and drove the Republicans off thus ending the siege and making Franco the hero of the Nationalist cause. Two days later Franco  proclaimed himself Generalissimo and shortly thereafter unified the anti-Republicanist forces was declared the head of state.

[Martok]

Uh-oh.  I do believe the fecal matter has hit the rotary impeller...