An Italian AAR

The Game Plan:
1. Annex Ethiopia, limit losses.

• Leave Militia in Ethiopia
• Recall Ethiopian Forces to Italy/Libya

2. Interfere in Spanish Civil War

• Destroy both Nationalist and Republican Spain
• Redeploy Half of Militia to Spanish Colonies

3. Upgrade Armed Forces

• Tanks and Artillery
• Air Force
• Aircraft Carriers

4. The Balkans

• Eat up Albania and Greece

5. World War II

• Join Axis
• Take Egypt + Mid East
• Fortify
• Aid Germans vs. Russians

MORE COMING SOON

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Can't wait for the finished thing.

For me, Italy is only a country that is easily swallowed up by Germany (Me).
Tasty!

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"One might as well try to charge at a wall."-Napoleon, regarding the British Infantry.

Hi Duce,
Do you have any plans for nuetralizing the advantage the RN will have in the Med?
Personally I invest a good deal in naval bombers and torpedo planes.

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Anyone who clings to the historically untrue--and thoroughly immoral--doctrine that 'violence never solves anything'... Violence, naked force, has settled more disputes in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms." Robert Heinlein

Well, I was planning on taking Gibraltar and the Suez pretty quickly. You know, the sneaky thing, land troops via ships next to the Suez from the Red Sea i believe...I won't join the axis until France is physically attacked (so i can grab some territory from her) as taking over Spain will drawn French troops to Spanish border.

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Ok, since i am OCD and love order i'm going to use this thread for DISCUSSION of my AAR and i will post game updates/screenshots in a new thread called: World War II: Mussolinis War

So, all comments need to be posted here or will be deleted.

I also haven't decided how I am going to write my AAR yet but should update/start it today.

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Not entirely sure how i did it (perhaps Tech Team takeover helped) but i've pretty much maxed out research (aka not researching anything more then 2 years in advance). I've researched a lot of doctrines too - which is nice - and have a pretty modern army. I stole two blueprints from the British (forget what they are right now) and my Improved Air Carrier is 7 months or so away from completion.

I've played through the end of 1939 and am in a pretty good situation. The Low Lands are still at peace with Germany, and Germany has yet to attack Yugoslavia or France for that matter, which puts me in an interesting situation.

France guarantees the independence of Yugoslavia, so if i DOW them (i am not part of any alliance) chances are France and the Allies will DOW me, at which point I would join the Axis. If i do this now, then chances are my Air Carrier won't be ready until well into the war. I am basically holding off right now, waiting for the Carrier (or for Germany to sweep through France).

I've also produced 8 Tank Divisions so far - 6 of them are in Spain right now, getting ready to attack France (sweep through southern France) while the other 2 (with a 3rd on the way) are being prepped to join the Afrika Korps - joining the 6 Infantry already there. I have a HQ unit in Spain too, which once France falls, will move over to Africa.

I've been debating what to do about the Suez. My 6 bombers (3 Tac, 3 Nav) all have escort fighters (and my fleets now have added Fire Control and AA Attachments) but you can't give any to the 1 Transport plane I have. I could risk my Navy and try an amphibious assault near the Suez which could prove costly in both men and ships. I have developed Airborne troops - one is slated to be completed in March of 1940 - and a sacrificial DD can scout out its projected landing site (along the coast). The goal would be to secure a port (of any size) to allow 6 Divisions speedy transition from Boat to Land and thus be able to attack Suez and hold it.

Once War does start out, I will do my best to document each battle and every movement. Depending on how many theatres this occurs in, this could be a rather large undertaking.

I would appreciate some comments/suggestions/thoughts (respond here, not the other thread) and of course, PRESTIGE Rewards are always welcome if you don't feel like commenting.

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Disaster! Half my fleet, including all transports, has been wiped out. Gibraltar still stands in British Hands, and my massive European Army is stranded in Rome and can't reach North Africa. Ethiopia is lost, but Alexandria is mine.

My Airborne strike failed, apparently where i wanted to attack was too far away (despite appearing to be within same range as other targets) but i did take Cyprus and Port Said using my Airborne, which allowed me to take Alexandria after several battles.

The Blasted British have sent reinforcements to Gibraltar (and sallied forth while i wasnt looking) but i have since pushed them back, and am waiting for 3 Tank Divisions to make a tour of Europe (they have to go thru northern Italy, through Germany, across Northern France, then down in Western France (which i luckily nabbed) then into Spain and all the way to Gibraltar.

EDIT: I am contemplating restarting at 1940 (my last save) to deal with Gibraltar in a more...final way (thus preventing a lot of death) and my not wasting so much time trying to see if Cyprus was any closer to landing near the Suez. I did succeed in Eliminating (in their entirety) at least 8 British Divisions in Africa.
My Airforce is largely intact too.

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*whips out a cattle prod* Anyone care to share some thoughts or comments? I'll be playing over what happened the other night tonight, since i finished my CMBO movie (posted in the CMBO AAR thread) and have lots of free time tonight once i get home.

My plan is the following:

1. Double or Triple the Forces to attack Gibraltar.
2. Rush for Paris (in attempt to keep Southern France, and not have to give it to Vichy.
3. Rush to Alexandria along coast. Once Alexandria falls, any British troops to the West will be 100% destroyed (no retreat).
4. Grab as much of Yugoslavia as I can.

Now...my thoughts on my plans.
1. Gibraltar must fall!
2. Should I even bother? Vichy gets all that territory, and I can grab some (for keeps) by going up the West Coast. I think I will do that and 'Liberate' the Basques in Spain. They get like 3 territories, and they do share whatever Tech they research with me.
3. As long as i have enough troops to prevent a breakout, this should work. Alexandria is the key to moving further east...the territory below it is inaccessible (some Sand Desert) so for the British to retreat East, they literally have to go through Alexandria. This can eliminate close to 8 British Divisions if i do it right.
4. Once France falls, Romania and Hungary join Axis and i noticed them massing to attack Yugoslavia. I can redeploy my troops there and go for a land grab (expanding IC etc) and to allow for better positioning to attack Greece. This then gives me plenty of opportunity to attack Turkey (who would join Allies) and open up a whole new front in which to attack Russia....

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I wouldn't worry about Paris. I would get Alexandria as fast as you can! And keep on going East after that

Good luck

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Facta non verba. "Deeds, not words"

On further thought, I think i'll move my troops from Spain (for most part, just enough to hold the border) and completely ignore france. I will keep enough in Seville to attack Gibraltar. Move the rest to Libya of course.

What do i do about Ethiopia? Mainly have Militia there, and the British go after it pretty quick. Do i send some divisions down there to hold the British at bay, or push up North from Ethiopia towards egypt? Or launch an attack south?

I'm thinking hold to a stalemate until i take Suez Canal. Once I take Suez, i can supply troops in Ethiopia.

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I'll try and get an official update tonight. Basically, 6 months into WWII (started may 3rd, 1940. i joined in June 6, 1940) Gibraltar and Suez are in Italian hands. Iraq broke their alliance with the Allies and grants military access to the Axis.

Italian empire stretches across North Africa and the entire Med. Sea (Vichy France, Syria, Turkey are the only other countries that touch the Med. Sea. Greece and Yugoslavia are next on the to-be-conquered list. All of Egypt and Sudan is Italian, as is Ethiopia. Currently fighting British/Canadian/Australian/New Zealand forces in Kenya/Somalia area.

I still havent used about 20 of my Infantry Divisions, who are holding Albania and border with Yugoslavia. Once they are freed up, I can probably push for the rest of Africa (south Africa etc).

My Carrier has been deployed too, and i've only lost 2 ships - a Destroyer and a Submarine - while i've destroyed about 10 British/NZ Ships including a Light Cruiser or two. The Andrea Doria has a handful of kills herself.

I goofed and lost my Tactical Bombers and Transport - in unoccupied province which the sneaky British stole, destroying them all on ground. I retaliated and have pushed down to the border of the last Belgium Territories in Africa.

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Time to Crush Turkey!!!!!!

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Facta non verba. "Deeds, not words"

More will be revealed when i make the update, but my new allies are definately getting ready to attack Yugoslavia. I hope to expand my border next to Greece and will have to redeploy my Cavalry from Africa to the Balkans to rush the Greek Capitol. War with Turkey (its Jan 1941) might not be possible with my resource issues.

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Any idea how to move a Supply Depot?

I conquered Malta and its got 700 Oil in a stockpile there, but i cant put it in my supplies...

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yep, go to your supply button, (convey etc) and I think you hit supply depot....going off memory so...I can't remember. I'll check tonight when I jump on and play my own Grand Campaign with Germany.

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Facta non verba. "Deeds, not words"

Not sure I follow you...

I did try (if i recall) to create a supply convoy from Malta, but it didn't come up as one of the 'Starting Ports'. The 700 or so Oil there is desperately needed!

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Try doing a resource convoy to Italy or something. I think because oil is a resource.

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"One might as well try to charge at a wall."-Napoleon, regarding the British Infantry.

Expect a massive update this week. As i speak, its approaching the end of 1941, the Germans are at the door of Moscow and the Italians have Annexed Belgium as they continue to march southwards. In the next month, it is expected that the Italians will Annex South Africa and purge the British from their shores.

From there, it will be a March North West, towards the last French Holdings and those that remain in British hands. Rumor abounds already that if that operation is successful, an invasion of england itself is planned!

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