Ghastly Victories: The United States in the World Wars
- Thread starter RamscoopRaider
- Start date
Well since this timeline seems kinda dedicated to representing the past of a world where potentially everything but America is in some sort of FAT-zone of uncertainty it would be ione with the narrative for someone to piss off Switzerland and then for that conflict to be terrible for everyone involved. I would rather the Swiss make it through the war somehow not destroyed but simultaneously I'd love to see RamscoopRaider write up such a scenario lol
The result of invading Switzerland in WWII is said to be 'All my men would fire five shots, and go home,' but that's a prediction, not what's certain to happen. For this sort of timeline, that invasion might happen, and it would certainly make the war bloodier.
RamscoopRaider
Donor
There was my original draft for my other TL, if I ever got that far
Also one of the TL outlines I mugged for notes for this one had a German invasion of Switzerland
That was WW1 Switzerland, WW2 was essentially "Evacuate the population and Army into the Alps and make them dislodge us".
Joking aside I have noticed that any time Switzerland is not neutral is when things are really "bad."
I'm trying to remember now if Switzerland made it out of For All Time intact or not 0:
Which really only works in Switzerland's favor if someone else is willing to come in and defeat the Germans (in this case). If they retreat to the mountains and the enemy just decides ok starve up there than and doesn't have a large distraction in the form of another great power there really isn't much Switzerland can do about it.
I fear that you have uncovered in speculation what is probably the most logical approach for this timeline to take for it to make sure it stays true to the vibe (maybe just to me idk)
If Switzerland is involved in the war at all they can't really do much. Lets not forget that the Swiss haven't fought a war in many decades and don't have any experience in modern war. Nobody else really does either but all of the major powers (Germany, France, Italy) that surround Switzerland all have experience fighting in WW1. And much of modern war can't be learned except by experience.
If the Germans are deployed in the lowlands they're not able to use that unit elsewhere, which fucks with the Germans. The Swiss can't hold out up there forever though, without significant casualties from choosing who does and doesn't starve, so they will be worse than OTL.
Part 6-23 Fall of Europe, Eve of War: Italy
RamscoopRaider
Donor
…Forces started moving for the invasion of Norway even before those of the Denmark. On April 8th the first forces left Germany bound for Norway. These were the naval elements of the plan and were divided into five groups. Originally there had been no fewer than eight groups, however the British preemption of the operation made three of the seven invasion targets completely suicidal instead of merely very risky and they were diverted.
The first group was two destroyers with 400 Mountain infantry to Egersund, this being the most exposed of the forces. The Second Group was the Light cruiser Konigsberg and four destroyers with Kristiansand as the target with 1000 Mountain troops and 600 regular infantry. Group 3 was actually a single destroyer with 200 Bicycle troops and targeted Arendal. The largest numerically was group 4 with the Panzerschiffe Admiral Scheer, heavy cruisers Seydlitz and Roon, light cruisers Emden, Koln and Osnabruck, 5 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats, the tender Jaunde and the training ship Bremse with 4000 troops to take Oslo. Group 5 is somewhat smaller numerically but largest in tonnage and is the covering force, consisting of the battleships Bismarck, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the Panzerschiff Admiral Hipper, the heavy cruiser Blucher and Prinz Eugen, light cruisers Leipzig, Magdeburg and Nurnberg, aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, and 11 destroyers.
Before these forces arrived however it was the paratroopers that would actually reach Norway first…
…The airborne attack on Norway featured a full regiment of Fallschrimjagers. One battalion would capture the airport at Sola near Stavanger, another the Oslo airport at Forneblu, and the remaining battalion would be broken up into companies to control railway junctions in southern Norway east of Oslo in order to prevent a response by the 1st, 4th or 6th Infantry Regiments to the invasion of Oslo. All groups would be preceded by a flight of fast bombers which would drop leaflets announcing that the German forces were there at the invitation of the Norwegian government to help expel the British.
Following the leaflet drop the transport planes would observe the situation, if they were being attacked by ground defenses they would drop their paratroopers, if not the Sola and Forneblu detachments would land on the runways and unload their paratroopers in a much more relaxed manner. The smaller forces would dig in and await relief from Oslo while the larger forces would await regular infantry being flown in by later waves of aircraft, and at Oslo naval reinforcements…
…By the time the first German aircraft reached Norwegian airspace just after noon on the 10th the Norwegian military should have received new orders to resist German forces. The cabinet ordered that changes to that effect be made as its first order of business on reconvening that morning. However upon reaching the Defense Ministry the orders disappeared. Blame for this is placed on one Colonel Conrad Sundio, a known sympathizer of the far right Nasjonal Samling. As a result only the Royal Guard had received word that they had to be prepared to resist a German invasion, with all other forces still under orders to only fire in direct self-defense unless against the British…
…The aircraft bound for Stavanger reached the city without challenge and were briefly met with anti-aircraft fire before the gunners realized that they were not British. The bombers then dropped their leaflets and left. The transports, having not been fired on themselves, dropped in to land. Without an intact control tower to guide them in the landing proved difficult and one aircraft crashed, resulting a large number of injuries but no deaths. The remainder landed safely and deployed their paratroopers who began the awkward task of working with the Norwegian defenders…
…At Oslo a Norwegian CR.31 on standing patrol spotted the incoming bombers and moved to intercept. Upon seeing Balkenkreuzs as opposed to three colored roundels on the aircraft the Norwegian pilot aborted an attack run and moved to communicate with the Germans. Hand signals sufficed to communicate that they were here to help and the pilot helpfully radioed the ground crews that the arriving aircraft were friendly, allowing the leaflet drops, paratrooper drops and landings at Forneblu to occur unmolested.
The leaflet drops however served to warn the Norwegian government that something was wrong and orders were immediately sent to treat the Germans as hostile. By that point however there were two battalions present, the initial one and a follow up unit of regular infantry, and the guards of the airfield would need reinforcements from the 2nd Infantry regiment to dislodge them. This would take over an hour during which more Germans arrived by air and warships were sighted outside the Oslofjord, though initial sighting reports were unclear as to whether they were German or British…
…The key question of the German invasion of Norway was not whether the airborne forces could capture Norway, they could not. They would be hard pressed to hold Oslo for more than a week as the Norwegian Navy was more than capable of shutting down the runways at Forneblu with artillery fire once ordered to do so, unless they were stopped. Without reinforcements flown in from Germany the Germans, still less than a regiment, would be overwhelmed by the four Norwegian infantry and two cavalry regiments still within response distance of Oslo. Stavanger was a different matter as there was only a single Norwegian regiment that could respond there, but at the same time it too could be isolated and destroyed, especially given that the airport was within easy naval artillery range of open water.
If the Germans were to have a chance of victory they needed the seaborne reinforcements currently inbound. These of course would still not be enough to take Norway, or even southern Norway, only amounting to half a division. But they would, when combined with the guns of the warships that brought them, stabilize the German position long enough for the actual transports bearing five and a half divisions of reinforcements to start to arrive. That was equal in number to the entire Norwegian Army, and better trained and equipped besides. If they landed then the Norwegians would be totally dependent on the British and French to hold and hopefully retake their country. But for them to land they needed the ports to be in German hands, and for that to happen the first wave of naval forces needed to get through.
That however was not something the Norwegians could effect, rather it depended on the British. If the blocking force of King Edward VIII, Rodney and Howe could smash their way through the German blocking force, or at least eliminate it so that other units could get through, then the German invasion of Norway would come to a premature and bloody end…
-Excerpt From The Fall of Europe, Scholastic American Press, Philadelphia, 2005
A/N okay I managed, had more motivation and free time than I thought
The first group was two destroyers with 400 Mountain infantry to Egersund, this being the most exposed of the forces. The Second Group was the Light cruiser Konigsberg and four destroyers with Kristiansand as the target with 1000 Mountain troops and 600 regular infantry. Group 3 was actually a single destroyer with 200 Bicycle troops and targeted Arendal. The largest numerically was group 4 with the Panzerschiffe Admiral Scheer, heavy cruisers Seydlitz and Roon, light cruisers Emden, Koln and Osnabruck, 5 destroyers, 10 torpedo boats, the tender Jaunde and the training ship Bremse with 4000 troops to take Oslo. Group 5 is somewhat smaller numerically but largest in tonnage and is the covering force, consisting of the battleships Bismarck, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the Panzerschiff Admiral Hipper, the heavy cruiser Blucher and Prinz Eugen, light cruisers Leipzig, Magdeburg and Nurnberg, aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, and 11 destroyers.
Before these forces arrived however it was the paratroopers that would actually reach Norway first…
…The airborne attack on Norway featured a full regiment of Fallschrimjagers. One battalion would capture the airport at Sola near Stavanger, another the Oslo airport at Forneblu, and the remaining battalion would be broken up into companies to control railway junctions in southern Norway east of Oslo in order to prevent a response by the 1st, 4th or 6th Infantry Regiments to the invasion of Oslo. All groups would be preceded by a flight of fast bombers which would drop leaflets announcing that the German forces were there at the invitation of the Norwegian government to help expel the British.
Following the leaflet drop the transport planes would observe the situation, if they were being attacked by ground defenses they would drop their paratroopers, if not the Sola and Forneblu detachments would land on the runways and unload their paratroopers in a much more relaxed manner. The smaller forces would dig in and await relief from Oslo while the larger forces would await regular infantry being flown in by later waves of aircraft, and at Oslo naval reinforcements…
…By the time the first German aircraft reached Norwegian airspace just after noon on the 10th the Norwegian military should have received new orders to resist German forces. The cabinet ordered that changes to that effect be made as its first order of business on reconvening that morning. However upon reaching the Defense Ministry the orders disappeared. Blame for this is placed on one Colonel Conrad Sundio, a known sympathizer of the far right Nasjonal Samling. As a result only the Royal Guard had received word that they had to be prepared to resist a German invasion, with all other forces still under orders to only fire in direct self-defense unless against the British…
…The aircraft bound for Stavanger reached the city without challenge and were briefly met with anti-aircraft fire before the gunners realized that they were not British. The bombers then dropped their leaflets and left. The transports, having not been fired on themselves, dropped in to land. Without an intact control tower to guide them in the landing proved difficult and one aircraft crashed, resulting a large number of injuries but no deaths. The remainder landed safely and deployed their paratroopers who began the awkward task of working with the Norwegian defenders…
…At Oslo a Norwegian CR.31 on standing patrol spotted the incoming bombers and moved to intercept. Upon seeing Balkenkreuzs as opposed to three colored roundels on the aircraft the Norwegian pilot aborted an attack run and moved to communicate with the Germans. Hand signals sufficed to communicate that they were here to help and the pilot helpfully radioed the ground crews that the arriving aircraft were friendly, allowing the leaflet drops, paratrooper drops and landings at Forneblu to occur unmolested.
The leaflet drops however served to warn the Norwegian government that something was wrong and orders were immediately sent to treat the Germans as hostile. By that point however there were two battalions present, the initial one and a follow up unit of regular infantry, and the guards of the airfield would need reinforcements from the 2nd Infantry regiment to dislodge them. This would take over an hour during which more Germans arrived by air and warships were sighted outside the Oslofjord, though initial sighting reports were unclear as to whether they were German or British…
…The key question of the German invasion of Norway was not whether the airborne forces could capture Norway, they could not. They would be hard pressed to hold Oslo for more than a week as the Norwegian Navy was more than capable of shutting down the runways at Forneblu with artillery fire once ordered to do so, unless they were stopped. Without reinforcements flown in from Germany the Germans, still less than a regiment, would be overwhelmed by the four Norwegian infantry and two cavalry regiments still within response distance of Oslo. Stavanger was a different matter as there was only a single Norwegian regiment that could respond there, but at the same time it too could be isolated and destroyed, especially given that the airport was within easy naval artillery range of open water.
If the Germans were to have a chance of victory they needed the seaborne reinforcements currently inbound. These of course would still not be enough to take Norway, or even southern Norway, only amounting to half a division. But they would, when combined with the guns of the warships that brought them, stabilize the German position long enough for the actual transports bearing five and a half divisions of reinforcements to start to arrive. That was equal in number to the entire Norwegian Army, and better trained and equipped besides. If they landed then the Norwegians would be totally dependent on the British and French to hold and hopefully retake their country. But for them to land they needed the ports to be in German hands, and for that to happen the first wave of naval forces needed to get through.
That however was not something the Norwegians could effect, rather it depended on the British. If the blocking force of King Edward VIII, Rodney and Howe could smash their way through the German blocking force, or at least eliminate it so that other units could get through, then the German invasion of Norway would come to a premature and bloody end…
-Excerpt From The Fall of Europe, Scholastic American Press, Philadelphia, 2005
The Kingdom of Italy
Basics:
Italy is a Fascist Constitutional Monarchy under the House of Savoy, with its current leader being Erasmo Sanna. Italy was a late joining member of the Entente in WWI, having switched from the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. After considerable unrest in the interwar era Italy became the first Fascist State
Economy:
Italy is a somewhat industrialized economy, being the least industrialized of the great powers in total and the second or third least per capita, but is still a major industrial nation. It is however still dependent on agriculture for much of its population and lacks an abundance of natural resources.
Land Forces:
Italy has a large and powerful Army of 1,200,000 at mobilization strength. It consists of 20 Infantry, 4 Alpini Mountain Divisions, 3 Bersaglieri bicycle infantry divisions, 3 Arditi motorized stormtrooper divisions, a cavalry division, a paratrooper division, two cavalry divisions and three armored divisions. In addition Italy has a militarized border guard 20,000 strong, a 100,000 strong paramilitary of Blackshirts and a 250,000 strong corps of colonial troops with 6 infantry divisions and supporting elements. Italian divisions follow on orthodox triangular structure.
The standard Italian rifle is the M1935, a semi-automatic design by Breda with an 20 round fixed magazine. It is chambered in 7.35x51mm Italain and is currently the frontline weapon, having equipped the armored, paratroopers, Arditi, Bersaglieri, Alpini and some infantry. Others use the Carcano M1891 in 6.5x52mm Mannlicher Carcano, an obsolete cartridge with poor ballistics, though an increasing number M1891 have been converted to 7.35x51mm, equipping most frontline troops in the caliber. Colonial troops in East Africa use Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 in 8x50mm Mannlicher, with more in reserve for emergency use. Some Vetterli Vitali single shot rifles in 6.5x52mm are kept in reserve as well.
The standard Italian pistols are semi-automatic Beretta M1933 or 1934, either a 7 round in .380ACP or a 8 round in .32ACP, both being issued to different units. The M1910 Glisenti is in reserve a semi-automatic in 9mm Glisenti, dimensionally equal to 9mm parabellum but weaker. Older Beretta M1915 in 9mm Glisenti or .32 ACP are also in reserve as are 9mm Steyr M1911 and 8mm Roth-Steyr M1907 pistols from Austria-Hungary and Bodeo revolvers in 10.35mm Italian. The Italians use the Beretta M36, a blowback SMG in 9mm Parabellum, issued in moderate numbers to every regiment for assault duties with 1-3 per squad being standard, though that is not reached. A competition for a 9mm Parabellum pistol to go with the submachine gun is underway.
The standard light machine gun is the Model 1937, a ZB-26 clone in 7.35x51mm, issued one per squad, however some units still have only one per platoon. This is supported by the Breda M1938 in 8x63mm Swedish, a standard belt fed machine gun issued 4 per battalion but somewhat slow firing and heavy. Some units still have the FIAT M1935 in the same caliber, but heavier, slower firing and with a 20 round feed tray system prone to causing jams. Many units still have the WWI FIAT-Revelli M1914 in 6.5mm Carcano, an unreliable box feed machine gun. Also in reserve are large numbers of Schwarzlose machine guns in 8mm Mannlicher captured in WWI.
For infantry support Italy makes use of mortars. The Model 35 is a 45mm weapon issued 18 per battalion and is an accurate weapon if firing light shells. The model 34 is a heavier Brandt mortar clone in 81mm issued 6 per regiment and has special extended range shells for better than normal range. Flamethrowers are used to support assault units and issued in independent platoons of six teams. Some units have Swiss built Solothurn 20mm AT rifles as anti-armor support attached.
For Air Defense at the lowest levels Italy uses 13.2mm HMG on command vehicles. 20mm Breda cannon are issued 8 per artillery regiment and division headquarters as air defense. For semi-mobile defense Italy uses single barrel Breda 37mm54 Autocannon and 75mm/46 guns, either obsolete pieces dating to WWI or modern mobile pieces Model 1934. The newest AA gun is the 90mm/53 M38, based off a failed naval weapon it is a powerful and still mobile heavy AA gun with performance as good or better than any contemporary. All Italain AA guns are designed to do a dual role as AT guns if needed.
Italy makes use of infantry guns to provide direct fire support typically 8 per regiment with 8 more per division. The standard piece is a 47mm/32 dual purpose infantry and anti-tank gun, slightly better at the latter than the former. Some units use the 65mm/17 M13 instead, or the new 75mm/18 M34 in that role. East African units use the obsolete 70mm/15M1902. Captured Austrian 37mm/10 are in reserve for the role.
Standard field artillery is the 75mm/34 M1935, a modern piece sharing components with the 75mm/18 M34 mountain gun and doubling as an AT piece, 24 pieces are allocated per division. Older German designed 75mm/27 M1906 and 1912 and French 75mm/27 M1911 are in service with some modernized to a degree, most not, with more in reserve. These are supplemented by the captured Obice 100/17 M14 or domestic 105/14 M1917, with another 12 per division. Mountain units replace these with 75mm/18 M34 and more 100/17 of a modernized design.
Heavier artillery is in the form of the Schneider 105mm/28 m1913 as a long range piece, only slightly modernized. A domestic 120mm piece is in development to replace it. It is supplemented by the 149mm/12 M14, a copy of the Krupp SfH 13 or captured Skoda 149mm/12 howitzers, with Corps artillery regiments having a 1:1 mixture. The howitzers are being replaced by the 149mm/19 M37, a modern design with good range for its weight.
Army level artillery is provided by the Canon de 149/35A, a piece dating to 1900 that was obsolescent before WWI and is completely obsolete. It is being replaced by the 149mm/40 M35, which is a modern higher performing piece unspectacular save in its ability to be broken down into four pieces for transport as opposed to the normal two.
Italy has mortars of 210mm, 260mm and 280mm for siege work dating to WWI, as well as captured and domestic 305mm Howitzers. Italy also has railway guns from 102mm up to 381mm/40 in reserve.
Italy has a fairly strong tank force, with the newer designs and command tanks having radios. The oldest are about 100 FIAT 3000 kept in reserve, 5 ton vehicles with a 37mm/40, a 6.5mm machine gun, small arms protection and 13mph speed.
500 are L5/34 a two man small arms protected vehicle with a 6.5mm machine gun, and a 13.2mmm or a flamethrower in fixed mounts, small arms protection and 26 mph speed. 300 more of the design are in reserve. 50 more are unarmed command tanks.
500 are L6/38, a slightly larger version with a 20mm cannon replacing the 13.2mm machine gun and an 8mm replacing the 6.5mm but otherwise similar. 50 more are unarmed command tanks.
200 are M16/39, a 4 man conventional design resistant to 20mm fire in the front with a turreted 47mm/32 and 3 8mm machine guns, it weighs 16 tons and makes 20mph.
50 are L6/40 scout tanks, a compact 2 man 6 ton 20mph vehicle with limited 20mm protection, a turreted 20mm cannon or flamethrower and 8mm machine gun for scouting.
Italy also has 20 M11/39 and 20 M12/39, 3 man export tanks for Hungary that are seized, They have 3 8mm machine guns, make 20mph, are protected from 20mm fire in the front and have a 37mm.40, fixed in the former, turreted in the latter.
In prototype is the M22/41, a powerful 22 ton vehicle with a turreted 65mm/40 cannon.
Italy also operates armored cars. The Lanzia is a 3.75 ton WWI vintage design, 4 wheeled, protected against small arms with 2 machine guns in a turret and a road speed of 37mph. 50 are in service.
50 are more modern FIAT 615, a 7 ton 6 wheeled armored car with a rear facing machine gun and either two more in a turret or a 37mm/40 cannon, it is protected from small arms fire and makes 20mph.
50 are the new Autoblindo 40, a 4 wheel 7.5 ton design with a turreted 13.2mm HMG and 8mm machine gun, a rear 8mm machine gun, limited protection from AT rifles, and 50mph road speed. An improved 8 ton version with a 20mm main gun is in development.
The Italain Army is not well motorized but is still above average. It has relatively standardized its complement of motor vehicles.
Naval Forces:
Italy has one of the top 7 if not top 5 navies in the World.
The most powerful units in the Italian Navy are her battleships of which 8 are in service with two more building. The Littorio and Vittorio are the newest and most powerful. 45,000 tons they are short ranged but fast at 30 knots, with 3 float planes and with an extremely impressive immune zone against 15” fire thanks to an innovative use of a de-capping plate, that does leave them surprisingly vulnerable to 16” and larger shells in comparison. Their main armament is 9 381mm/50 guns in three triples in an A-B-Y arrangement, overpowered weapons with a short barrel life. Supporting this are 9 152mm/55 in 3 triples in a C-V-X arrangement superfiring over the main battery, 16 100mm/50 DP guns, 40 37mm and 20 20mm guns. Under construction are the Roma and Impero, to be finished in December 1941 and June 1942 respectively.
Slightly less powerful are the Actium and Lepanto, 35,000 ton light battleships capable of 30 knots with two float planes and a short combat radius. Their armament is 9 343mm/45 in 3 triples laid out A-B-Y, with a secondary battery of 12 152mm/55 in 4 triples, 12 100mm/50 DP guns, 24 37mm and 12 20mm AA. They are decently protected against 13.5” shellfire with a modern, orthodox scheme.
Older are the Andrea Doria and Duilio, 23,000 ton WWI veterans. They currently make 20 knots after bulging, and have an outdated armor scheme insufficient against 12” shellfire in WWI. They have 13 305mm/46 guns in an A-B-Q-X-Y arrangement with two twins superfiring over the end triples. As secondaries they have after rebuilding 4 twin 152mm/55, 8 single 100mm/50 DP guns, 24 37mm and 12 20mm AA.
Even older are the Leonardo da Vinci and Giulio Cesare, similar in size and speed with an identical primary armament save for a lack of an elevation upgrade. Their secondary battery has received a lesser upgrade with 8 casemated 120mm/50, 8 single 100mm/47 DP, 12 37mm and 8 13.2mm Machine guns, along with a less thorough set of other upgrades.
Italy has plans for larger battleships but does not expect to lay any down before 1943.
Italy does not have any aircraft carriers nor serious plans for any. It has a single seaplane tender, the converted 6000 ton train ferry Giuseppe Miraglia. She makes 21 knots, carries up to 16 seaplanes and has 4 102mm/35 and 12 13.2mm machine guns for defense.
Italy has a force of eight heavy cruisers. The Trieste and the Trento are the oldest vessels, nominally 12,500 tons they are actually 13,500 tons. They have 4 twin 203mm/50 in a superfiring layout, 8 twin 100mm/47, 4 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 twin 37mm and 8 20mm AA. Nominally 36 knot ships in practice they are 32 knot vessels, with two floatplanes and average protection from 8” shells at combat ranges, their main flaw is short range.
The Zara, Fiume, Goriza and Pola are slightly larger at 14,000 tons. They feature improved 53 caliber main guns, twice the 20mm battery and most prominently are slower at 33 knots, 32 in service, but have excellent protection against 8” shellfire at combat ranges.
The Monfalcone and Bolzano are large 14,500 ton ships. They have an improved torpedo armament of 4 quad tubes and 50 caliber 100mm guns, along with an extra 4 20mm guns. Their armor remains the same as their predecessors but they can reach 35 knots on trials, 33 in service.
The San Marco is an old armored cruiser used as a training vessel, an 11,000 ton vessel she makes 18 knots after her conversion to oil firing. She has 2 twin 254mm/45, 4 twin 190mm/45 in wing turrets, 4 twin 100mm/47 DP guns, 4 twin and 3 single 37mm guns, 6 twin and 4 single 20mm guns, and 2 twin and 2 single 13.2mm machine guns. She has an obsolete armor scheme that is only effective against 8” shells at medium ranges.
Italy has 14 Light Cruisers in service with 12 more under construction.
The oldest cruisers are the Ancona and Taranto, 5600 ton former German war prizes of the Koln class. They have 8 single 15cm/45 in pedestal mounts, 2 76mm/40 AA guns, 4 533mm torpedo tubes, room for 200 mines, 12 20mm and 6 13.2mm AA guns. They are only lightly protected against 6” fire at combat ranges and after conversion to oil firing only make 24 knots.
The oldest modern cruisers are the Alberto da Guissano and Alberico da Barbiano, 7000 ton 37 knot vessels. Armed with 4 twin 152mm/53, 4 twin 100mm/47, 4 twin 37mm, 6 twin 20mm and two triple 533mm torpedo tubes they are fast destroyer killers. They carry two float planes but have a very short range and only protection against lighter destroyer caliber weapons.
The Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere are 7500 tons and have better hull strength and can more easily reach 37 knots.
The Armando Diaz and Antonio Cantore are improved versions of 8500 tons, retaining the same armament, but having more armor, with limited resistance to 6” fire at longer ranges. They retain the same 37 knot speed and short range as their predecessors.
The Raimundo Montecuccoli and Muzio Attendolo are even larger at 9500 tons, and slower at 36.5 knots. They do have room for a third float plane and have average protection against 6” fire for a light cruiser.
The Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Aosta and Eugenio di Savoia are 12,000 ton ships. They are slower at 34.5 knots, but better maintain that speed and have good protection against 6” shellfire., along with a fourth floatplane, though they remain short legged. They replace their A and Y guns with triples, and use new 100mm/50 AA with 12 37mm, and 20 20mm as light AA.
The Giuseppe Garabaldi and Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi are 12,500 ton ships. They bring the speed of their predecessor up to 35 knots and mount 4 triple torpedo tubes instead of 2 and 4 extra 37mm AA guns. They retain the potent armor but lose the ability to carry four floatplanes, carrying only two.
Two modified units are under construction. Now 13,000 tons they reduce the speed to 33 knots. This extra tonnage is used for two extra 100mm turrets and to make the B &X turrets triples, for 12 guns. They are expected in 1943.
Under construction are the Scipione Africano, Giulio Germanico, Attilo Regolo, Pompeo Magno, Caio Mario, Claudio Druso, Fabio Massimo, Cornelio Silla, Curio Dentato, Paulo Emilio, Giulio Agricola, and Vipsanio Agrippa. The Roman Captains are 4000 ton vessels to be capable of 41 knots, with 8 135mm DP guns in 4 twins, 8 twin 37mm AA guns, 8 twin 20mm guns, 2 quadruple 533mm torpedo tubes, and room for 75 mines. They have slightly greater range than the other interwar cruisers of Italy but only have splinter protection for armor. They are expected to complete between January 1942 and December 1943.
Italy has a fairly large fleet of destroyers and torpedo boats. They have a practice or rerating older destroyers as torpedo boats, and older scout cruisers as destroyers.
The oldest destroyers are the rerated 1800 ton scout cruisers Carlo Mirabello and Carlo Alberto Racchia. They make 35 knots, are short ranged and unarmed and are unsuited for operations outside the Mediterranean. Currently they have 8 single 102mm/45, 2 40mm/39 autocannon, 4 13.2mm machine guns, 2 twin 450mm torpedo tubes and up to 120 mines.
The next oldest are three rerated 2200 ton scout cruisers the Leone, Tigre and Pantera. They make 33 knots, are unarmored and while short ranged are modified for colonial service. They have 4 twin 120mm/45, 2 40mm autocannon, two triple 450mm torpedo tubes and 6 13.2mm Machine guns, along with up to 60 mines.
The 4 1000 ton Francesco Crispi class were actually built as destroyers, the oldest vessels still serving as such in the Italian Navy. They make 33 knots, have decent range and have 1 twin 120mm/45 aft, 1 single fore,2 40mm autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and up to 32 mines.
The four Cesare Battisti class are 1075 ton improved Crispis. Still 33 knots they upgrade the fore gun to a twin mount, the torpedo tubes to triples and have up to 52 mines.
The Eight Zeffiro class are 1125 ton slightly improved Battisti, primary change being adding of 2 more twin 13.2mm and 2 single mounts and increased range and seakeeping.
The 12 Navigatori are much larger 1900 ton vessels. They have 3 twin 120mm/50 of a not quite DP mount, 1 fore, 1 aft and 1 amidships, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin and 4 single 13.2mm machine guns, 2 triple 533mm tubes. They make 32 knots and have better seakeeping than previous Italain designs and unit machinery for damage resistance.
The 18 Dardo class are 1250 ton economy models. They have two twin 120mm/50 fore and aft, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm, 2 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge throwers and up to 54 mines. They are only capable of 30 knots but have good range and seakeeping by Italain standards.
The 4 Libeccio class are compromises between the Navigatori and Dardo’s at 1650 tons. They have two twin and one single 120mm/50, with the single being just ahead of the aft twin, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm, 2 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 depth charge throwers and up to 56 mines. They make 33 knots and are much more stable than previous classes.
The 4 Poeti class are improved Libeccios of 1750 tons. They replace the AA fit with two twin 37mm guns and four twin 20mm.
The 2000 ton Soldati class are larger vessels making 35 knots. They have two twin 120mm/50 DP guns, one turret fore and aft, two twin 37mm and 4 twin 20mm autocannon, two triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge throwers and up to 48 mines. 12 are in service and 4 more are laid down with 4 more on order, all to complete by the end of 1942.
Italy has a variety of Torpedo boats. The Audace is a modified 925 ton Urakaze class destroyer, laid down as Kawakaze in Britain and bought from Japan under construction. She has 6 102mm/35, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG and 2 twin 450mm torpedo tubes. She makes 30 knots and is currently in reduced commission as a control ship for remote target vessels.
The 6 surviving Rosalino Pilo class are 775 ton rerated DD’s from WWI. They have 4 102mm/35, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG and 4 single 450mm torpedo tubes. They make 30 knots and are short ranged.
The 4 Giuseppe Sirtori are improved Pilo class, with an extra 102mm/35, two twin torpedo tubes instead of 4 singles and space for 10 mines.
The 6 surviving La Masa class are larger 850 ton rerated DDs that make 30 knots. They have 4 102mm/45, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 4 6.5mm MG, two twin 450mm torpedo tubes and up to ten mines.
The 4 Palestro class torpedo boats are 875 ton smaller versions of Audace. They make 32 knots and have the same armament as the La Masa class, but with room for 38 mines.
The 6 Generali class are 825 ton economy designs, still rerated DD. They have 3 102mm/45, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 6.5mm MG, and two twin 450mm torpedo tubes. They have been upgraded to carry minesweeping gear.
The 4 Calatafimi are lengthened Palestro class of 900 tons. They make 32 knots and have 2 twin 102mm/45, fore and aft, 2 40mm autocannon, 2 twin and 2 single 13.2mm HMG, two triple 450mm torpedo tubes and carry up to 18 mines.
The 20 Spica class are 800 ton 34 knot vessels meant to take advantage of the 600 ton loophole by publicly being that small. They have 3 100mm/47, 1 twin 37mm Autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm HMG, 4 single 450mm torpedo tubes and up to 20 mines.
The 8 Orsa class are enlarged 900 ton 30 knot vessels based on the Spicas. They have 2 100mm/50 DP, 3 twin 37mm Autocannon, 4 twin 20mm Autocannon, two twin 450mm torpedo tubes and 6 depth charge throwers.
On order are 20 Impavido class torpedo boats, 1000 ton 32 knot vessels. They have 3 100mm/50 DP, 2 twin 37mm, 4 twin 20mm Autocannon, two twin 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 depth charge throwers and two rails. They are to enter service between 1942 and 1943
Also on order are 20 Urania class corvettes, 750 ton designs sharing elements of the Impavido class. They have a compact diesel electric powerplant that makes 18 knots, 6 on batteries while silent running for ASW. They have 1 100mm/50 DP, 1 twin 37mm, 2 twin and 2 single 20mm, 6 depth charge throwers and 2 rails.
Italy has a large force of MAS boats, in excess of 100. They are 20-30 ton motor boats capable of 45 knots, with 2 450mm torpedo tubes and an armament of up to 1 37mm autocannon and four 8mm machine guns, though the usual fit is 1-2 20mm or 13.2mm weapons.
Italy has a small number of lesser warships. The Eritrea is a 2500 ton colonial sloop, lightly protected from autocannon and field artillery, 20 knots but with a diesel electric power plant for extreme range and repair shops to support submarines. She has 2 twin 120mm/50 DP guns, 4 twin 37mm autocannon and 4 twin 20mm Autocannon. A 2800 ton half-sister Etiopia is under construction to commission in March of 1941 with greater range and facilities.
The Diana is a 2000 ton Dispatch Sloop that serves as the state yacht. She makes 32 knots and has 2 100mm/50, and 4 twin 20mm AA guns.
The Albatross is a 350 ton experimental submarine chaser. She makes 35 knots and has 2 100mm/47, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 8mm MG, 4 depth charge throwers, and two rails.
The Amerigo Vespucci is an unarmed sailing ship used for training of cadets. She is 3500 tons, makes 11 knots on diesels, potentially more under full sail.
Italy has about 20 160 ton coal powered minesweepers. They make 10 knots and have a 76mm/40 and two machine guns. A single 70 ton diesel powered minesweeper with the same armament has been recently built as a prototype for mass production.
Italy has a fairly strong submarine force, divided into ocean going, sea going and coastal types. The oldest ocean going vessels are the four Balilla class, 1500 tons with a 12,000 knot range, 16 knot surface speed and 7 submerged. They have 6 533mm tubes, 4 bow and two stern, with 16 torpedoes, a 120mm/45 and two 13.2mm HMG.
The 4 Archimede class are 1000 ton vessels, with a 10,300 knot range, 17 knot surface speed and 7.5 knot submerged speed. They have 8 533mm tubes, 4 each bow and stern with 16 torpedoes, 1 100mm/47 and 2 13.2mm HMG.
The Ettiore Fiermosca is a single large submarine of 1500 tons, she makes 15 knots surfaced and 8.5 submerged with a range of 12,000 knots. She has 6 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 bow and 2 stern with 16 torpedoes, 2 120mm/45, 4 13.2mm HMG, and 50 mines or 200 tons of cargo.
The Enrico Tizzoli class is 3 strong. They are 1600 tons, capable of 17 knots surfaced and 7.5 knots submerged, with greater crush depth than previous designs. They have 8 533mm torpedo tubes, 16 torpedoes, 2 120mm/45 and 4 13.2mm HMG.
The 12 Enrico Dandolo class are 1100 tons, capable of 17.5 knots surfaced and 8submerged with a range of 7500 knots. They have 8 533mm torpedo tubes, 16 torpedoes, 2 100mm/47 and 4 13.2mm HMG.
The 3 Atropo class are improved versions of Ettiore Fiermosca. They have only a single 100mm/47 deck gun, but are a half knot faster on the surface, dive deeper, maneuver better, at the cost of two mines, a knot and a half of submerged speed and a range of merely 8000 knots.
The 5 Galvani class are improved Archimedes. They are a half knot faster on the surface, have 1000 knots less range, carry two extra stern tubes but two fewer total torpedoes and an extra pair of 13.2mm HMGs.
The 4 Capitano Tarantini class are slightly larger at 1050 tons. They have a second deck gun, and an extra half knot of speed both submerged and surfaced compared to the Galvanis.
Under Construction are 6 Liugi Torelli class vessels, 1200 tons they have a 10,500 knot range but the same speed as their predecessors. They drop a deck gun and two torpedoes for better accommodations, and will commission between October 1940 and January 1941.
Also under construction are 4 Francesco Carraciolo class submarines of 1700 tons. They will make 17 knots surfaced, 8.5 submerged with a range of 13500 knots. They have 10 533mm torpedo tubes, 6 bow and 4 stern, with a total of 26 fish, 2 100mm/47 deck guns and 4 20mm AA guns.
The oldest sea going designs are 4 Tito Speri class. They are 825 tons, make 15 knots surfaced and 8 submerged with a 4350 knot range. They have a 102mm/35 gun, 2 13.2mm HMG, 4 bow and 2 stern 533mm torpedo tubes and 10 fish.
The 4 Deys Geneys class are enlarged by 75 tons to increase range to 5000 knots but are otherwise the same as their predecessors.
The 4 Ciro Menatti class are further enlarged to 950 tons to add two stern tubes and two torpedoes.
The 4 Narvalo class are only slightly modified to improve stability over their predecessors.
The 2 Fillippo Corridoni class are 850 ton minelayers, they make 11.5 knots surfaced, 7 submerged and have a 4200 knot range. They have 4 533mm tubes in the bow with 6 torpedoes, 1 102mm/35, 2 13.2mm HMG and 2 tubes for 24 mines in the stern.
Italy has 48 600 class submarines of 650-725 tons in various arrangements. They make 14 knots surfaced, 7-8 submerged with a range of 2400 knots. Armament is 4 bow and 2 stern 533mm tubes with 10-12 torpedoes, a 100mm/47 and 2-4 13.2mm HMG. 12 more are under construction to complete in 1942.
The 2 Ruggiero Settimo are improved Narvalo’s increasing speed to 17.5 knots surfaced and range to 6000 knots.
Italy has 4 remaining US built H class submarines of 400 tons for training as coastal vessels. They make 14 knots surfaced and 10 submerged, have a 1600 knot range, 4 bow 450mm tubes with 8 torpedoes, a 47mm deck gun and a machine gun.
4 CA class 15 ton midget subs are in service, they carry 2 450mm torpedoes but little is known of them. A successor class of 40 ton vessels is in planning.
The Italain has a Regiment sized Marine Force, the San Marco, but it is under the control of the Italain Army. The Italain navy also has an extensive special forces section with frogmen, manned torpedoes and piloted explosive motorboats
Italy does not have an independent naval air arm and the Regia Aeronautica controls their float planes.
Air Forces:
Italy has a strong independent Air Force of about 3000 aircraft. It has a strong reputation and holds the largest number of aeronautical world records of any air force
About 600 of these are fighters. 200 are Fiat CR. 34 biplane fighters, fast for a biplane but slower than modern monoplanes, maneuverable but limited by the open cockpit and fixed landing gear. 200 more are RE 2100 a relatively fast and modern monoplane, highly maneuverable with a pair of 12.7mm machine guns, and potentially 330 pounds of bombs, it is lightly armed and lacks growth potential. The last 200 are Caproni 180’s, another light fighter like the RE 2100 with similar performance, but a third 12.7mm and better growth potential. A heavy fighter is expected to be introduced in 1941 after the failure of an attempt to introduce one in 1939.
Italy has a large bomber force divided into light and medium, with heavies only in a prototype stage.
The older light bomber is the Breda 72 of which 200 are in service. It is a very fast single engine monoplane dive bomber with mostly retractable landing gear and performance capability equal to some modern fighters, with a 1100 pound bombload and decent range, with two forward 12.7mm and two rear 8mm machine guns, its only flaws are a mediocre ceiling and being tough to fly. The newer model is the Caproni 204, a slower twin engine monoplane with only a 1000 pound bombload and a three 8mm, 2 fixed fore, 1 rear flexible MG, but much greater range and a slightly better ceiling, 150 of the 204 and 100 of the older, slower 202 are in service. An improved Caproni design is under development to increase the speed and range.
Italy has a fairly potent medium bomber force. 100 aircraft are FIAT BR.22 a monoplane twin engine fast bomber, it has 3 machine guns for self-defense and can carry a 3600 pound bombload, with a long range of up to 1500 nautical miles. 50 old Caproni 110 are in use in east Africa, a slow high wing cantilever monoplane with 3 engines, 840 mile range, 4 machine guns and a 2600 pound bombload. 250 are variants of the SM 180 series, a three motor converted monoplane airliner ranging from fast, to very fast with 2600-4600 pounds of bombs, or a torpedo on some aircraft, long range and a defensive armament of up to 5 12.7mm and 8mm machine guns. 25 are new CANT Z 900 trimotor bombers, built of wood to save aluminum, they are fast, long ranged monoplanes of modern design, with 2 12.7mm and 2 8mm MG, 2600 pounds of bombs internally and 2200 more externally or two torpedoes.
Italy has no heavy bombers at present.
Italy operates a large number of recon aircraft. The Caproni 87 is a fabric skinned high wing fixed gear design, slow but with up to 4 machine guns and 1300 pounds of bombs, with decent range, 50 are left. 100 Caproni 200 are left, they are twin engine predecessor to the 202 bomber, they are slow with average range and a low ceiling, 3 machine guns and up to 660 pounds of bombs. 150 are IMAN Ro. 40, a composite construction fixed gear biplane, it is slow but has decent range for a single engine, two forward and one flexible machine gun and 400 pounds of bombs. The plan is to replace older aircraft with a new variant of the Caproni 200 series.
Italy typically uses lower specification versions of its bombers and surplus airliners as transports and has a decent sized force.
Italy is able to supply its trainer needs domestically using obsolete fighters and a few standardized dedicated designs.
The Italain Air Force operates aircraft for the Italain Navy and handles maritime patrol.
The standard float plane is the Ro. 42, a variant of the land based RO. 40 with floats, about 125 are in service both at sea and on land bases.
Italy has 25 new FIAT RS 32 Strategic reconnaissance floatplanes. They are twin engined fast designs with a long range of 1350 knots, 3 defensive machine guns and up to 880 pounds of bombs. A land based derivative is in the works with improved engines.
For maritime patrol Italy operates 200 CANT 600, a single engine high wing flying boat. It is slow with a relatively short range, 3 machine guns and 1400 pounds of bombs. The CANT 700 is supplementing this, a tri motor seaplane of more conventional design, it is much faster but still below average with 1 12.7mm and 3 8mm machine guns and 2600 pounds of bombs or a torpedo.
Italy has a division sized force of paratroopers.
Italy has limited research into jet propulsion.
Weapons of Mass Destruction:
Italy has a large stockpile of chemical weapons, primarily mustard variant, phosgene and chlorine. Italy deploys them by shell, bomb and aircraft mounted sprayer. Italy does not have a very active research program.
Italy lacks a biological weapons program.
Italy has a small centralized nuclear program that is achieving slow but steady progress, hampered by a lack of talent and funding.
Problems:
Italy is highly dependent on imports of coal
Italy’s industrial development is uneven and it has difficulties in quality control and mass production at the same time
The Italain military is weaker than its reputation suggests
Italy has a growing problem with members of the military and government who are “more fascist than Sanna”
-The Eve of War, the World on October 1st 1940, Eagle Press, Philadelphia, 2001
Basics:
Italy is a Fascist Constitutional Monarchy under the House of Savoy, with its current leader being Erasmo Sanna. Italy was a late joining member of the Entente in WWI, having switched from the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary. After considerable unrest in the interwar era Italy became the first Fascist State
Economy:
Italy is a somewhat industrialized economy, being the least industrialized of the great powers in total and the second or third least per capita, but is still a major industrial nation. It is however still dependent on agriculture for much of its population and lacks an abundance of natural resources.
Land Forces:
Italy has a large and powerful Army of 1,200,000 at mobilization strength. It consists of 20 Infantry, 4 Alpini Mountain Divisions, 3 Bersaglieri bicycle infantry divisions, 3 Arditi motorized stormtrooper divisions, a cavalry division, a paratrooper division, two cavalry divisions and three armored divisions. In addition Italy has a militarized border guard 20,000 strong, a 100,000 strong paramilitary of Blackshirts and a 250,000 strong corps of colonial troops with 6 infantry divisions and supporting elements. Italian divisions follow on orthodox triangular structure.
The standard Italian rifle is the M1935, a semi-automatic design by Breda with an 20 round fixed magazine. It is chambered in 7.35x51mm Italain and is currently the frontline weapon, having equipped the armored, paratroopers, Arditi, Bersaglieri, Alpini and some infantry. Others use the Carcano M1891 in 6.5x52mm Mannlicher Carcano, an obsolete cartridge with poor ballistics, though an increasing number M1891 have been converted to 7.35x51mm, equipping most frontline troops in the caliber. Colonial troops in East Africa use Steyr-Mannlicher M1895 in 8x50mm Mannlicher, with more in reserve for emergency use. Some Vetterli Vitali single shot rifles in 6.5x52mm are kept in reserve as well.
The standard Italian pistols are semi-automatic Beretta M1933 or 1934, either a 7 round in .380ACP or a 8 round in .32ACP, both being issued to different units. The M1910 Glisenti is in reserve a semi-automatic in 9mm Glisenti, dimensionally equal to 9mm parabellum but weaker. Older Beretta M1915 in 9mm Glisenti or .32 ACP are also in reserve as are 9mm Steyr M1911 and 8mm Roth-Steyr M1907 pistols from Austria-Hungary and Bodeo revolvers in 10.35mm Italian. The Italians use the Beretta M36, a blowback SMG in 9mm Parabellum, issued in moderate numbers to every regiment for assault duties with 1-3 per squad being standard, though that is not reached. A competition for a 9mm Parabellum pistol to go with the submachine gun is underway.
The standard light machine gun is the Model 1937, a ZB-26 clone in 7.35x51mm, issued one per squad, however some units still have only one per platoon. This is supported by the Breda M1938 in 8x63mm Swedish, a standard belt fed machine gun issued 4 per battalion but somewhat slow firing and heavy. Some units still have the FIAT M1935 in the same caliber, but heavier, slower firing and with a 20 round feed tray system prone to causing jams. Many units still have the WWI FIAT-Revelli M1914 in 6.5mm Carcano, an unreliable box feed machine gun. Also in reserve are large numbers of Schwarzlose machine guns in 8mm Mannlicher captured in WWI.
For infantry support Italy makes use of mortars. The Model 35 is a 45mm weapon issued 18 per battalion and is an accurate weapon if firing light shells. The model 34 is a heavier Brandt mortar clone in 81mm issued 6 per regiment and has special extended range shells for better than normal range. Flamethrowers are used to support assault units and issued in independent platoons of six teams. Some units have Swiss built Solothurn 20mm AT rifles as anti-armor support attached.
For Air Defense at the lowest levels Italy uses 13.2mm HMG on command vehicles. 20mm Breda cannon are issued 8 per artillery regiment and division headquarters as air defense. For semi-mobile defense Italy uses single barrel Breda 37mm54 Autocannon and 75mm/46 guns, either obsolete pieces dating to WWI or modern mobile pieces Model 1934. The newest AA gun is the 90mm/53 M38, based off a failed naval weapon it is a powerful and still mobile heavy AA gun with performance as good or better than any contemporary. All Italain AA guns are designed to do a dual role as AT guns if needed.
Italy makes use of infantry guns to provide direct fire support typically 8 per regiment with 8 more per division. The standard piece is a 47mm/32 dual purpose infantry and anti-tank gun, slightly better at the latter than the former. Some units use the 65mm/17 M13 instead, or the new 75mm/18 M34 in that role. East African units use the obsolete 70mm/15M1902. Captured Austrian 37mm/10 are in reserve for the role.
Standard field artillery is the 75mm/34 M1935, a modern piece sharing components with the 75mm/18 M34 mountain gun and doubling as an AT piece, 24 pieces are allocated per division. Older German designed 75mm/27 M1906 and 1912 and French 75mm/27 M1911 are in service with some modernized to a degree, most not, with more in reserve. These are supplemented by the captured Obice 100/17 M14 or domestic 105/14 M1917, with another 12 per division. Mountain units replace these with 75mm/18 M34 and more 100/17 of a modernized design.
Heavier artillery is in the form of the Schneider 105mm/28 m1913 as a long range piece, only slightly modernized. A domestic 120mm piece is in development to replace it. It is supplemented by the 149mm/12 M14, a copy of the Krupp SfH 13 or captured Skoda 149mm/12 howitzers, with Corps artillery regiments having a 1:1 mixture. The howitzers are being replaced by the 149mm/19 M37, a modern design with good range for its weight.
Army level artillery is provided by the Canon de 149/35A, a piece dating to 1900 that was obsolescent before WWI and is completely obsolete. It is being replaced by the 149mm/40 M35, which is a modern higher performing piece unspectacular save in its ability to be broken down into four pieces for transport as opposed to the normal two.
Italy has mortars of 210mm, 260mm and 280mm for siege work dating to WWI, as well as captured and domestic 305mm Howitzers. Italy also has railway guns from 102mm up to 381mm/40 in reserve.
Italy has a fairly strong tank force, with the newer designs and command tanks having radios. The oldest are about 100 FIAT 3000 kept in reserve, 5 ton vehicles with a 37mm/40, a 6.5mm machine gun, small arms protection and 13mph speed.
500 are L5/34 a two man small arms protected vehicle with a 6.5mm machine gun, and a 13.2mmm or a flamethrower in fixed mounts, small arms protection and 26 mph speed. 300 more of the design are in reserve. 50 more are unarmed command tanks.
500 are L6/38, a slightly larger version with a 20mm cannon replacing the 13.2mm machine gun and an 8mm replacing the 6.5mm but otherwise similar. 50 more are unarmed command tanks.
200 are M16/39, a 4 man conventional design resistant to 20mm fire in the front with a turreted 47mm/32 and 3 8mm machine guns, it weighs 16 tons and makes 20mph.
50 are L6/40 scout tanks, a compact 2 man 6 ton 20mph vehicle with limited 20mm protection, a turreted 20mm cannon or flamethrower and 8mm machine gun for scouting.
Italy also has 20 M11/39 and 20 M12/39, 3 man export tanks for Hungary that are seized, They have 3 8mm machine guns, make 20mph, are protected from 20mm fire in the front and have a 37mm.40, fixed in the former, turreted in the latter.
In prototype is the M22/41, a powerful 22 ton vehicle with a turreted 65mm/40 cannon.
Italy also operates armored cars. The Lanzia is a 3.75 ton WWI vintage design, 4 wheeled, protected against small arms with 2 machine guns in a turret and a road speed of 37mph. 50 are in service.
50 are more modern FIAT 615, a 7 ton 6 wheeled armored car with a rear facing machine gun and either two more in a turret or a 37mm/40 cannon, it is protected from small arms fire and makes 20mph.
50 are the new Autoblindo 40, a 4 wheel 7.5 ton design with a turreted 13.2mm HMG and 8mm machine gun, a rear 8mm machine gun, limited protection from AT rifles, and 50mph road speed. An improved 8 ton version with a 20mm main gun is in development.
The Italain Army is not well motorized but is still above average. It has relatively standardized its complement of motor vehicles.
Naval Forces:
Italy has one of the top 7 if not top 5 navies in the World.
The most powerful units in the Italian Navy are her battleships of which 8 are in service with two more building. The Littorio and Vittorio are the newest and most powerful. 45,000 tons they are short ranged but fast at 30 knots, with 3 float planes and with an extremely impressive immune zone against 15” fire thanks to an innovative use of a de-capping plate, that does leave them surprisingly vulnerable to 16” and larger shells in comparison. Their main armament is 9 381mm/50 guns in three triples in an A-B-Y arrangement, overpowered weapons with a short barrel life. Supporting this are 9 152mm/55 in 3 triples in a C-V-X arrangement superfiring over the main battery, 16 100mm/50 DP guns, 40 37mm and 20 20mm guns. Under construction are the Roma and Impero, to be finished in December 1941 and June 1942 respectively.
Slightly less powerful are the Actium and Lepanto, 35,000 ton light battleships capable of 30 knots with two float planes and a short combat radius. Their armament is 9 343mm/45 in 3 triples laid out A-B-Y, with a secondary battery of 12 152mm/55 in 4 triples, 12 100mm/50 DP guns, 24 37mm and 12 20mm AA. They are decently protected against 13.5” shellfire with a modern, orthodox scheme.
Older are the Andrea Doria and Duilio, 23,000 ton WWI veterans. They currently make 20 knots after bulging, and have an outdated armor scheme insufficient against 12” shellfire in WWI. They have 13 305mm/46 guns in an A-B-Q-X-Y arrangement with two twins superfiring over the end triples. As secondaries they have after rebuilding 4 twin 152mm/55, 8 single 100mm/50 DP guns, 24 37mm and 12 20mm AA.
Even older are the Leonardo da Vinci and Giulio Cesare, similar in size and speed with an identical primary armament save for a lack of an elevation upgrade. Their secondary battery has received a lesser upgrade with 8 casemated 120mm/50, 8 single 100mm/47 DP, 12 37mm and 8 13.2mm Machine guns, along with a less thorough set of other upgrades.
Italy has plans for larger battleships but does not expect to lay any down before 1943.
Italy does not have any aircraft carriers nor serious plans for any. It has a single seaplane tender, the converted 6000 ton train ferry Giuseppe Miraglia. She makes 21 knots, carries up to 16 seaplanes and has 4 102mm/35 and 12 13.2mm machine guns for defense.
Italy has a force of eight heavy cruisers. The Trieste and the Trento are the oldest vessels, nominally 12,500 tons they are actually 13,500 tons. They have 4 twin 203mm/50 in a superfiring layout, 8 twin 100mm/47, 4 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 twin 37mm and 8 20mm AA. Nominally 36 knot ships in practice they are 32 knot vessels, with two floatplanes and average protection from 8” shells at combat ranges, their main flaw is short range.
The Zara, Fiume, Goriza and Pola are slightly larger at 14,000 tons. They feature improved 53 caliber main guns, twice the 20mm battery and most prominently are slower at 33 knots, 32 in service, but have excellent protection against 8” shellfire at combat ranges.
The Monfalcone and Bolzano are large 14,500 ton ships. They have an improved torpedo armament of 4 quad tubes and 50 caliber 100mm guns, along with an extra 4 20mm guns. Their armor remains the same as their predecessors but they can reach 35 knots on trials, 33 in service.
The San Marco is an old armored cruiser used as a training vessel, an 11,000 ton vessel she makes 18 knots after her conversion to oil firing. She has 2 twin 254mm/45, 4 twin 190mm/45 in wing turrets, 4 twin 100mm/47 DP guns, 4 twin and 3 single 37mm guns, 6 twin and 4 single 20mm guns, and 2 twin and 2 single 13.2mm machine guns. She has an obsolete armor scheme that is only effective against 8” shells at medium ranges.
Italy has 14 Light Cruisers in service with 12 more under construction.
The oldest cruisers are the Ancona and Taranto, 5600 ton former German war prizes of the Koln class. They have 8 single 15cm/45 in pedestal mounts, 2 76mm/40 AA guns, 4 533mm torpedo tubes, room for 200 mines, 12 20mm and 6 13.2mm AA guns. They are only lightly protected against 6” fire at combat ranges and after conversion to oil firing only make 24 knots.
The oldest modern cruisers are the Alberto da Guissano and Alberico da Barbiano, 7000 ton 37 knot vessels. Armed with 4 twin 152mm/53, 4 twin 100mm/47, 4 twin 37mm, 6 twin 20mm and two triple 533mm torpedo tubes they are fast destroyer killers. They carry two float planes but have a very short range and only protection against lighter destroyer caliber weapons.
The Bartolomeo Colleoni and Giovanni delle Bande Nere are 7500 tons and have better hull strength and can more easily reach 37 knots.
The Armando Diaz and Antonio Cantore are improved versions of 8500 tons, retaining the same armament, but having more armor, with limited resistance to 6” fire at longer ranges. They retain the same 37 knot speed and short range as their predecessors.
The Raimundo Montecuccoli and Muzio Attendolo are even larger at 9500 tons, and slower at 36.5 knots. They do have room for a third float plane and have average protection against 6” fire for a light cruiser.
The Emanuele Filiberto Duca d’Aosta and Eugenio di Savoia are 12,000 ton ships. They are slower at 34.5 knots, but better maintain that speed and have good protection against 6” shellfire., along with a fourth floatplane, though they remain short legged. They replace their A and Y guns with triples, and use new 100mm/50 AA with 12 37mm, and 20 20mm as light AA.
The Giuseppe Garabaldi and Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi are 12,500 ton ships. They bring the speed of their predecessor up to 35 knots and mount 4 triple torpedo tubes instead of 2 and 4 extra 37mm AA guns. They retain the potent armor but lose the ability to carry four floatplanes, carrying only two.
Two modified units are under construction. Now 13,000 tons they reduce the speed to 33 knots. This extra tonnage is used for two extra 100mm turrets and to make the B &X turrets triples, for 12 guns. They are expected in 1943.
Under construction are the Scipione Africano, Giulio Germanico, Attilo Regolo, Pompeo Magno, Caio Mario, Claudio Druso, Fabio Massimo, Cornelio Silla, Curio Dentato, Paulo Emilio, Giulio Agricola, and Vipsanio Agrippa. The Roman Captains are 4000 ton vessels to be capable of 41 knots, with 8 135mm DP guns in 4 twins, 8 twin 37mm AA guns, 8 twin 20mm guns, 2 quadruple 533mm torpedo tubes, and room for 75 mines. They have slightly greater range than the other interwar cruisers of Italy but only have splinter protection for armor. They are expected to complete between January 1942 and December 1943.
Italy has a fairly large fleet of destroyers and torpedo boats. They have a practice or rerating older destroyers as torpedo boats, and older scout cruisers as destroyers.
The oldest destroyers are the rerated 1800 ton scout cruisers Carlo Mirabello and Carlo Alberto Racchia. They make 35 knots, are short ranged and unarmed and are unsuited for operations outside the Mediterranean. Currently they have 8 single 102mm/45, 2 40mm/39 autocannon, 4 13.2mm machine guns, 2 twin 450mm torpedo tubes and up to 120 mines.
The next oldest are three rerated 2200 ton scout cruisers the Leone, Tigre and Pantera. They make 33 knots, are unarmored and while short ranged are modified for colonial service. They have 4 twin 120mm/45, 2 40mm autocannon, two triple 450mm torpedo tubes and 6 13.2mm Machine guns, along with up to 60 mines.
The 4 1000 ton Francesco Crispi class were actually built as destroyers, the oldest vessels still serving as such in the Italian Navy. They make 33 knots, have decent range and have 1 twin 120mm/45 aft, 1 single fore,2 40mm autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 twin 533mm torpedo tubes and up to 32 mines.
The four Cesare Battisti class are 1075 ton improved Crispis. Still 33 knots they upgrade the fore gun to a twin mount, the torpedo tubes to triples and have up to 52 mines.
The Eight Zeffiro class are 1125 ton slightly improved Battisti, primary change being adding of 2 more twin 13.2mm and 2 single mounts and increased range and seakeeping.
The 12 Navigatori are much larger 1900 ton vessels. They have 3 twin 120mm/50 of a not quite DP mount, 1 fore, 1 aft and 1 amidships, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin and 4 single 13.2mm machine guns, 2 triple 533mm tubes. They make 32 knots and have better seakeeping than previous Italain designs and unit machinery for damage resistance.
The 18 Dardo class are 1250 ton economy models. They have two twin 120mm/50 fore and aft, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm, 2 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge throwers and up to 54 mines. They are only capable of 30 knots but have good range and seakeeping by Italain standards.
The 4 Libeccio class are compromises between the Navigatori and Dardo’s at 1650 tons. They have two twin and one single 120mm/50, with the single being just ahead of the aft twin, 2 40mm autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm, 2 triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 depth charge throwers and up to 56 mines. They make 33 knots and are much more stable than previous classes.
The 4 Poeti class are improved Libeccios of 1750 tons. They replace the AA fit with two twin 37mm guns and four twin 20mm.
The 2000 ton Soldati class are larger vessels making 35 knots. They have two twin 120mm/50 DP guns, one turret fore and aft, two twin 37mm and 4 twin 20mm autocannon, two triple 533mm torpedo tubes, 2 depth charge throwers and up to 48 mines. 12 are in service and 4 more are laid down with 4 more on order, all to complete by the end of 1942.
Italy has a variety of Torpedo boats. The Audace is a modified 925 ton Urakaze class destroyer, laid down as Kawakaze in Britain and bought from Japan under construction. She has 6 102mm/35, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG and 2 twin 450mm torpedo tubes. She makes 30 knots and is currently in reduced commission as a control ship for remote target vessels.
The 6 surviving Rosalino Pilo class are 775 ton rerated DD’s from WWI. They have 4 102mm/35, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG and 4 single 450mm torpedo tubes. They make 30 knots and are short ranged.
The 4 Giuseppe Sirtori are improved Pilo class, with an extra 102mm/35, two twin torpedo tubes instead of 4 singles and space for 10 mines.
The 6 surviving La Masa class are larger 850 ton rerated DDs that make 30 knots. They have 4 102mm/45, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 4 6.5mm MG, two twin 450mm torpedo tubes and up to ten mines.
The 4 Palestro class torpedo boats are 875 ton smaller versions of Audace. They make 32 knots and have the same armament as the La Masa class, but with room for 38 mines.
The 6 Generali class are 825 ton economy designs, still rerated DD. They have 3 102mm/45, 2 40mm Autocannon, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 6.5mm MG, and two twin 450mm torpedo tubes. They have been upgraded to carry minesweeping gear.
The 4 Calatafimi are lengthened Palestro class of 900 tons. They make 32 knots and have 2 twin 102mm/45, fore and aft, 2 40mm autocannon, 2 twin and 2 single 13.2mm HMG, two triple 450mm torpedo tubes and carry up to 18 mines.
The 20 Spica class are 800 ton 34 knot vessels meant to take advantage of the 600 ton loophole by publicly being that small. They have 3 100mm/47, 1 twin 37mm Autocannon, 4 twin 13.2mm HMG, 4 single 450mm torpedo tubes and up to 20 mines.
The 8 Orsa class are enlarged 900 ton 30 knot vessels based on the Spicas. They have 2 100mm/50 DP, 3 twin 37mm Autocannon, 4 twin 20mm Autocannon, two twin 450mm torpedo tubes and 6 depth charge throwers.
On order are 20 Impavido class torpedo boats, 1000 ton 32 knot vessels. They have 3 100mm/50 DP, 2 twin 37mm, 4 twin 20mm Autocannon, two twin 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 depth charge throwers and two rails. They are to enter service between 1942 and 1943
Also on order are 20 Urania class corvettes, 750 ton designs sharing elements of the Impavido class. They have a compact diesel electric powerplant that makes 18 knots, 6 on batteries while silent running for ASW. They have 1 100mm/50 DP, 1 twin 37mm, 2 twin and 2 single 20mm, 6 depth charge throwers and 2 rails.
Italy has a large force of MAS boats, in excess of 100. They are 20-30 ton motor boats capable of 45 knots, with 2 450mm torpedo tubes and an armament of up to 1 37mm autocannon and four 8mm machine guns, though the usual fit is 1-2 20mm or 13.2mm weapons.
Italy has a small number of lesser warships. The Eritrea is a 2500 ton colonial sloop, lightly protected from autocannon and field artillery, 20 knots but with a diesel electric power plant for extreme range and repair shops to support submarines. She has 2 twin 120mm/50 DP guns, 4 twin 37mm autocannon and 4 twin 20mm Autocannon. A 2800 ton half-sister Etiopia is under construction to commission in March of 1941 with greater range and facilities.
The Diana is a 2000 ton Dispatch Sloop that serves as the state yacht. She makes 32 knots and has 2 100mm/50, and 4 twin 20mm AA guns.
The Albatross is a 350 ton experimental submarine chaser. She makes 35 knots and has 2 100mm/47, 2 twin 13.2mm HMG, 2 8mm MG, 4 depth charge throwers, and two rails.
The Amerigo Vespucci is an unarmed sailing ship used for training of cadets. She is 3500 tons, makes 11 knots on diesels, potentially more under full sail.
Italy has about 20 160 ton coal powered minesweepers. They make 10 knots and have a 76mm/40 and two machine guns. A single 70 ton diesel powered minesweeper with the same armament has been recently built as a prototype for mass production.
Italy has a fairly strong submarine force, divided into ocean going, sea going and coastal types. The oldest ocean going vessels are the four Balilla class, 1500 tons with a 12,000 knot range, 16 knot surface speed and 7 submerged. They have 6 533mm tubes, 4 bow and two stern, with 16 torpedoes, a 120mm/45 and two 13.2mm HMG.
The 4 Archimede class are 1000 ton vessels, with a 10,300 knot range, 17 knot surface speed and 7.5 knot submerged speed. They have 8 533mm tubes, 4 each bow and stern with 16 torpedoes, 1 100mm/47 and 2 13.2mm HMG.
The Ettiore Fiermosca is a single large submarine of 1500 tons, she makes 15 knots surfaced and 8.5 submerged with a range of 12,000 knots. She has 6 533mm torpedo tubes, 4 bow and 2 stern with 16 torpedoes, 2 120mm/45, 4 13.2mm HMG, and 50 mines or 200 tons of cargo.
The Enrico Tizzoli class is 3 strong. They are 1600 tons, capable of 17 knots surfaced and 7.5 knots submerged, with greater crush depth than previous designs. They have 8 533mm torpedo tubes, 16 torpedoes, 2 120mm/45 and 4 13.2mm HMG.
The 12 Enrico Dandolo class are 1100 tons, capable of 17.5 knots surfaced and 8submerged with a range of 7500 knots. They have 8 533mm torpedo tubes, 16 torpedoes, 2 100mm/47 and 4 13.2mm HMG.
The 3 Atropo class are improved versions of Ettiore Fiermosca. They have only a single 100mm/47 deck gun, but are a half knot faster on the surface, dive deeper, maneuver better, at the cost of two mines, a knot and a half of submerged speed and a range of merely 8000 knots.
The 5 Galvani class are improved Archimedes. They are a half knot faster on the surface, have 1000 knots less range, carry two extra stern tubes but two fewer total torpedoes and an extra pair of 13.2mm HMGs.
The 4 Capitano Tarantini class are slightly larger at 1050 tons. They have a second deck gun, and an extra half knot of speed both submerged and surfaced compared to the Galvanis.
Under Construction are 6 Liugi Torelli class vessels, 1200 tons they have a 10,500 knot range but the same speed as their predecessors. They drop a deck gun and two torpedoes for better accommodations, and will commission between October 1940 and January 1941.
Also under construction are 4 Francesco Carraciolo class submarines of 1700 tons. They will make 17 knots surfaced, 8.5 submerged with a range of 13500 knots. They have 10 533mm torpedo tubes, 6 bow and 4 stern, with a total of 26 fish, 2 100mm/47 deck guns and 4 20mm AA guns.
The oldest sea going designs are 4 Tito Speri class. They are 825 tons, make 15 knots surfaced and 8 submerged with a 4350 knot range. They have a 102mm/35 gun, 2 13.2mm HMG, 4 bow and 2 stern 533mm torpedo tubes and 10 fish.
The 4 Deys Geneys class are enlarged by 75 tons to increase range to 5000 knots but are otherwise the same as their predecessors.
The 4 Ciro Menatti class are further enlarged to 950 tons to add two stern tubes and two torpedoes.
The 4 Narvalo class are only slightly modified to improve stability over their predecessors.
The 2 Fillippo Corridoni class are 850 ton minelayers, they make 11.5 knots surfaced, 7 submerged and have a 4200 knot range. They have 4 533mm tubes in the bow with 6 torpedoes, 1 102mm/35, 2 13.2mm HMG and 2 tubes for 24 mines in the stern.
Italy has 48 600 class submarines of 650-725 tons in various arrangements. They make 14 knots surfaced, 7-8 submerged with a range of 2400 knots. Armament is 4 bow and 2 stern 533mm tubes with 10-12 torpedoes, a 100mm/47 and 2-4 13.2mm HMG. 12 more are under construction to complete in 1942.
The 2 Ruggiero Settimo are improved Narvalo’s increasing speed to 17.5 knots surfaced and range to 6000 knots.
Italy has 4 remaining US built H class submarines of 400 tons for training as coastal vessels. They make 14 knots surfaced and 10 submerged, have a 1600 knot range, 4 bow 450mm tubes with 8 torpedoes, a 47mm deck gun and a machine gun.
4 CA class 15 ton midget subs are in service, they carry 2 450mm torpedoes but little is known of them. A successor class of 40 ton vessels is in planning.
The Italain has a Regiment sized Marine Force, the San Marco, but it is under the control of the Italain Army. The Italain navy also has an extensive special forces section with frogmen, manned torpedoes and piloted explosive motorboats
Italy does not have an independent naval air arm and the Regia Aeronautica controls their float planes.
Air Forces:
Italy has a strong independent Air Force of about 3000 aircraft. It has a strong reputation and holds the largest number of aeronautical world records of any air force
About 600 of these are fighters. 200 are Fiat CR. 34 biplane fighters, fast for a biplane but slower than modern monoplanes, maneuverable but limited by the open cockpit and fixed landing gear. 200 more are RE 2100 a relatively fast and modern monoplane, highly maneuverable with a pair of 12.7mm machine guns, and potentially 330 pounds of bombs, it is lightly armed and lacks growth potential. The last 200 are Caproni 180’s, another light fighter like the RE 2100 with similar performance, but a third 12.7mm and better growth potential. A heavy fighter is expected to be introduced in 1941 after the failure of an attempt to introduce one in 1939.
Italy has a large bomber force divided into light and medium, with heavies only in a prototype stage.
The older light bomber is the Breda 72 of which 200 are in service. It is a very fast single engine monoplane dive bomber with mostly retractable landing gear and performance capability equal to some modern fighters, with a 1100 pound bombload and decent range, with two forward 12.7mm and two rear 8mm machine guns, its only flaws are a mediocre ceiling and being tough to fly. The newer model is the Caproni 204, a slower twin engine monoplane with only a 1000 pound bombload and a three 8mm, 2 fixed fore, 1 rear flexible MG, but much greater range and a slightly better ceiling, 150 of the 204 and 100 of the older, slower 202 are in service. An improved Caproni design is under development to increase the speed and range.
Italy has a fairly potent medium bomber force. 100 aircraft are FIAT BR.22 a monoplane twin engine fast bomber, it has 3 machine guns for self-defense and can carry a 3600 pound bombload, with a long range of up to 1500 nautical miles. 50 old Caproni 110 are in use in east Africa, a slow high wing cantilever monoplane with 3 engines, 840 mile range, 4 machine guns and a 2600 pound bombload. 250 are variants of the SM 180 series, a three motor converted monoplane airliner ranging from fast, to very fast with 2600-4600 pounds of bombs, or a torpedo on some aircraft, long range and a defensive armament of up to 5 12.7mm and 8mm machine guns. 25 are new CANT Z 900 trimotor bombers, built of wood to save aluminum, they are fast, long ranged monoplanes of modern design, with 2 12.7mm and 2 8mm MG, 2600 pounds of bombs internally and 2200 more externally or two torpedoes.
Italy has no heavy bombers at present.
Italy operates a large number of recon aircraft. The Caproni 87 is a fabric skinned high wing fixed gear design, slow but with up to 4 machine guns and 1300 pounds of bombs, with decent range, 50 are left. 100 Caproni 200 are left, they are twin engine predecessor to the 202 bomber, they are slow with average range and a low ceiling, 3 machine guns and up to 660 pounds of bombs. 150 are IMAN Ro. 40, a composite construction fixed gear biplane, it is slow but has decent range for a single engine, two forward and one flexible machine gun and 400 pounds of bombs. The plan is to replace older aircraft with a new variant of the Caproni 200 series.
Italy typically uses lower specification versions of its bombers and surplus airliners as transports and has a decent sized force.
Italy is able to supply its trainer needs domestically using obsolete fighters and a few standardized dedicated designs.
The Italain Air Force operates aircraft for the Italain Navy and handles maritime patrol.
The standard float plane is the Ro. 42, a variant of the land based RO. 40 with floats, about 125 are in service both at sea and on land bases.
Italy has 25 new FIAT RS 32 Strategic reconnaissance floatplanes. They are twin engined fast designs with a long range of 1350 knots, 3 defensive machine guns and up to 880 pounds of bombs. A land based derivative is in the works with improved engines.
For maritime patrol Italy operates 200 CANT 600, a single engine high wing flying boat. It is slow with a relatively short range, 3 machine guns and 1400 pounds of bombs. The CANT 700 is supplementing this, a tri motor seaplane of more conventional design, it is much faster but still below average with 1 12.7mm and 3 8mm machine guns and 2600 pounds of bombs or a torpedo.
Italy has a division sized force of paratroopers.
Italy has limited research into jet propulsion.
Weapons of Mass Destruction:
Italy has a large stockpile of chemical weapons, primarily mustard variant, phosgene and chlorine. Italy deploys them by shell, bomb and aircraft mounted sprayer. Italy does not have a very active research program.
Italy lacks a biological weapons program.
Italy has a small centralized nuclear program that is achieving slow but steady progress, hampered by a lack of talent and funding.
Problems:
Italy is highly dependent on imports of coal
Italy’s industrial development is uneven and it has difficulties in quality control and mass production at the same time
The Italain military is weaker than its reputation suggests
Italy has a growing problem with members of the military and government who are “more fascist than Sanna”
-The Eve of War, the World on October 1st 1940, Eagle Press, Philadelphia, 2001
A/N okay I managed, had more motivation and free time than I thought
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What's the difference from otl?
To me the only difference it seems that Britain invaded earlier, rather than Countering Germany and Germany is in a simmilar position to otl Britain. Norwegian Army doesnot resist the Germans unlike otl, Germany is using Airborne rather than forcing barges into the ports, and a major naval battle is devoping rather than otl.
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No Italian aircraft carriers I see, so they're putting their trust in land-based air support for the Mediterranean. Otherwise at first glance the Italian military's on paper capabilities are not that much better than OTL- but Sanna will surely be wiser in their use than Benny the Moose.
RamscoopRaider
Donor
Basically the Italian military is somewhat smaller, but more potent/rational. Fewer tanks but better ones, 20 infantry divisions instead of 59, but with more elites and triangular instead of binary, 3000 planes instead of 3300 but fewer failures and more standardization. Navy is a bit bigger, but paid for by more export sales of warships
Incidentally my laptop broke right after I got home from vacation, so possibly no updates this week or next, will try on a borrowed computer. Find it too hard to write on my phone
Part 6-23 Great Naval Battles
RamscoopRaider
Donor
#84 The Battle off Eigeroya, April 10th, 1941
Germany had entered WWII dependent on Swedish iron ore imports in far greater quantity than in WWI. With the Swedish rail system no longer able to handle their needs during winter when Lulea froze up the ore had to be shipped from Narvik in Norway. This made it vulnerable to blockage, either from seizing the port or simply mining the fjord. Such an action would vastly weaken the German War effort and therefore Germany planned to occupy Norway to stop this. In the wake of the incident with the blockade runner Schone Lau, where the British violated Norwegian neutrality and got into a shooting incident, this was moved up. The British however preempted the German invasion on April 5th with their own invasion, seizing Narvik, Bergen and Trondheim, along with a raid on Stavanger.
The German invasion was thus scaled back slightly with Narvik, Bergen and Trondheim removed from the target list. At the same time however the need for the invasion grew more important, as they needed to drive Britian out of Norway before the British managed to entrench themselves. Thus the invasion was set for April 10th. It would start with an airborne invasion, followed by a half division of reinforcements aboard warships, with five and a half more divisions to follow, focusing on the ports Oslo, Egersund, Kristiansund and Arendal. The British however had their own thoughts on the subject.
Theoretically a German invasion of Norway with an aware Britain should have been impossible. Britain had no fewer than 23 capital ships in service, while Germany had 4, 6 with predreadnoughts carrying reduced armament and 9 counting Panzerschiffe as Capital ships. Realistically, not counting the predreadnoughts, counting the Panzerschiffe as a half and ignoring the working up Tirpitz, the Germans had 4.5 available, of which only Bismarck was equal to the median British capital ship.
However the odds were not quite as bad as 5 to 1. 5 British capital ships were on trials, working up, or in transit from doing so and thus not present, bringing it down to 4 to 1. A further 6 were considered too old and slow for anything but convoy escort or shore bombardment, bringing the total down to twelve. Another, Repulse, was considered too weak for anything but chasing raiders, being merely the equal of the Scharnhorst or Gniesenau, making it 11. Another was in repair, reducing to total to 10 in theater. That was still better than 2 to 1 odds against the Germans, worse in combat power, however the British forces were divided. The 3 most powerful capital ships of the Venerable class were escorting invasion convoys, while the refitted battlecruiser Anson, a match for Bismarck, was protecting the carriers, leaving six. Together these six were three Admiral class battlecruisers, heavily refitted to be roughly equal of Bismarck, two Beatty class battlecruisers, which were significantly more powerful, and the fast battleship King Edward VIII, between the two in power.
As a coherent force these six would have made any engagement with the Germans a forgone conclusion. However deploying them as such would leave them vulnerable to being outmaneuvered. The British admiralty felt concern that the German invasion force might be a decoy, and that the Germans would attempt to break out into the Atlantic and attack the convoy lanes, or would attempt to repeat the WWI battlecruiser raids on the English coast. To forestall this the force was divided into two, with the battlecruisers Beatty, Sturdee and Hood positioned in the north to intercept a German breakout and the battleship King Edward VIII, the aircraft carrier Hermes and the battlecruisers Rodney and Howe in the south to block a coastal raid or penetrate into the Skagerrak.
On the evening of April 9th, when the German invasion convoy was spotted the order was given for the southern group to move to intercept the German convoy. On the morning of the 10th they were spotted by German scout planes from Graf Zeppelin and the blocking force quickly moved to intercept. British scout planes found them soon after and Hermes attempted to launch a strike. However the Germans, knowing that Graf Zeppelin was in no way ready for offensive action instead used her aircraft purely for defense and between her CAP and Hermes mediocre air wing nothing got through the German AA despite a number of failures on the part of German fighter direction.
At 1:00 in the afternoon the two forces spotted each other off southern Norway, with the closest land being the island of Eigeroya. The Germans had 3 battleships, two of them light, a Panzerschiffe, 2 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 9 destroyers, with two more destroyers escorting the Graf Zeppelin. The British had a battleship, two battlecruisers, two heavy and five light cruisers and 12 destroyers, plus two more destroyers and a light cruiser escorting the Hermes.
At 1:30 the two sides turned broadside opened fire at 28,000 yards, with Bismarck engaging King Edward VIII, Scharnhorst Rodney and Gneisenau Howe. Very quickly the British ships proved more accurate, while the Germans fired faster, having not been quite so paranoid with safety interlocks as the British. At 1:45 Admiral Hipper joined in at 26,000 yards, engaging the cruiser Gloucester. At 2:00 the heavy cruisers began engaging at 24,000 yards and the light cruisers at 2:10 when the lines reached 22,000 yards.
At about 2:25 the ranges stopped closing at 19,000 yards as the two sides moved south in parallel. Here the British made their first mistake in staying with the Germans, prioritizing a minimal risk engagement over a more aggressive attempt to either come to grips or bypass the Germans. The British were able to continuously get the better of this engagement, taking out Scharnhorst’s central fire control at 2:37, Gniesenau’s A turret at 2:43 and Bismarck’s central fire control at 2:51. At the same time however they were drawn further and further away from the invasion groups.
At 2:54 Admiral Hipper shifted fire from Gloucester to the anti-aircraft light cruiser Naiad, having disabled the former in perhaps the only bright spot in the battle for the Germans. Shortly thereafter at 3:04 Scharnhorst lost her B turret and two minutes later Bismarck took a nonpenetrating hit to the bridge, rattling the German command staff. Realizing the situation was now critical, and with the fast ships of the initial invasion force nearing their targets the decision was made to turn 45 degrees and run to the southeast. The British immediately turned to pursue.
The Germans had an initial advantage in the stern chase in that their slowest ship, the Admiral Hipper, was a knot faster than the British King Edward VIII. Unfortunately at 3:26 the cruiser Leipzig took a hit that slowed her to 23 knots. A destroyer attack was ordered to buy time for her to make up speed.
Unfortunately the attack turned out poorly, the British destroyermen proved more skilled than their German opposites and with their numerical advantage and faster firing guns they ensured no German vessel got into effective torpedo range of the British heavies. A single British destroyer was torpedoes, in exchange for two German vessels, and a third crippled by gunfire and finished by the cruisers.
The British attempted to press home a torpedo attack on the Germans, however fire from 15cm secondary batteries prevented them from getting too close. They did however torpedo the lagging Leipzig, reducing her speed to 10 knots and forcing her abandonment, to be torpedoed later by a British cruiser.
At this point damage on the German ships continued to mount, with Scharnhorst having lost her rear main battery turret and Gneisenau two secondary turrets. The British were not unscathed, but still retained all of their main battery turrets and their central fire direction, in part due to various shell design issues from Krupp who retained pre WWI style booster charges and shell hardening methods, leading to reduced penetration and high dud rates. Still almost fully combat capable the British continued to pursue the Germans until 3:55.
At this point a squadron of Do 25’s arrived. Having just flown into a recently captured Danish airport to refuel the bombers were assigned to aid the blocking force. Hermes was too far away to put up a CAP, the only dedicated AA vessel, the Naiad was heavily damaged and soon to sink, and the British capital ships and cruisers had lost an average of several AA guns each in the fight, leaving them in a poor position to fight back. Despite this the Dorniers did almost no damage, with the only hit being from a damaged bomber on a run against Howe dropping early and getting a near miss on an already damaged destroyer that contributed to her later loss.
Still the air attack convinced the British to break off. After this attack they worried there would be more coming that could inflict real damage, which combined with the moderate damage they had received could lead to real losses. This was their second major mistake in that even a brief continuation of the pursuit would have caused severe damage and the German losses would be much more keenly felt. As it was a parting shot managed to take out a fourth German destroyer and another jammed both of Bismarck’s rear turrets.
Following this the British made their third and final major mistake of the battle in withdrawing, rather than moving north to attempt to overwhelm the German forces in the Norwegian ports.
Thus the Battle of Eigeroya was a German strategic and operational victory if a tactical defeat. They lost four destroyers and a light cruiser, as opposed to 2 destroyers and a light cruiser for the British, and on average their ships were far more damaged, with Bismarck being out of action for ten months, and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau would have been out for 18 to 20 months had the decision to rearm them not been made, while all three British capital ships were battle ready within eight months. At the same point however their heavy units all did survive to make further contributions to the war and they did enough damage that the British force declined to continue on to engage the invasion force. By the time other forces were available to do so the warships had reached Norway and the slower freighters could take a safer path via the Danish straits, well protected by land based air and light units…
…Eigeroya could have very easily resulted in the complete annihilation of the German force, had the capital ship complements of the northern and southern forces been swapped, with the more powerful battlecruisers Beatty and Sturdee and the better shooting Hood doing the engagement then it was quite probable none of the German capital ships or heavy cruisers would have come sailing home and that the British force would have been intact enough to disrupt the landings. Had there been even a single replacement it was likely that at a minimum the Germans would have been down a battleship. Similarly had the King Edward VIII been completed to a larger 16” design she would have likely still been present and ensured Bismarck met her end there as opposed to lasting the longest of all of the ships engaged…
-Excerpt from 101 Great Naval Battles, American Youth Press, New York 2010
Okay my laptop got fixed but I still lost two and a half days of writing, plus yardwork today means no Eve of War this week
Germany had entered WWII dependent on Swedish iron ore imports in far greater quantity than in WWI. With the Swedish rail system no longer able to handle their needs during winter when Lulea froze up the ore had to be shipped from Narvik in Norway. This made it vulnerable to blockage, either from seizing the port or simply mining the fjord. Such an action would vastly weaken the German War effort and therefore Germany planned to occupy Norway to stop this. In the wake of the incident with the blockade runner Schone Lau, where the British violated Norwegian neutrality and got into a shooting incident, this was moved up. The British however preempted the German invasion on April 5th with their own invasion, seizing Narvik, Bergen and Trondheim, along with a raid on Stavanger.
The German invasion was thus scaled back slightly with Narvik, Bergen and Trondheim removed from the target list. At the same time however the need for the invasion grew more important, as they needed to drive Britian out of Norway before the British managed to entrench themselves. Thus the invasion was set for April 10th. It would start with an airborne invasion, followed by a half division of reinforcements aboard warships, with five and a half more divisions to follow, focusing on the ports Oslo, Egersund, Kristiansund and Arendal. The British however had their own thoughts on the subject.
Theoretically a German invasion of Norway with an aware Britain should have been impossible. Britain had no fewer than 23 capital ships in service, while Germany had 4, 6 with predreadnoughts carrying reduced armament and 9 counting Panzerschiffe as Capital ships. Realistically, not counting the predreadnoughts, counting the Panzerschiffe as a half and ignoring the working up Tirpitz, the Germans had 4.5 available, of which only Bismarck was equal to the median British capital ship.
However the odds were not quite as bad as 5 to 1. 5 British capital ships were on trials, working up, or in transit from doing so and thus not present, bringing it down to 4 to 1. A further 6 were considered too old and slow for anything but convoy escort or shore bombardment, bringing the total down to twelve. Another, Repulse, was considered too weak for anything but chasing raiders, being merely the equal of the Scharnhorst or Gniesenau, making it 11. Another was in repair, reducing to total to 10 in theater. That was still better than 2 to 1 odds against the Germans, worse in combat power, however the British forces were divided. The 3 most powerful capital ships of the Venerable class were escorting invasion convoys, while the refitted battlecruiser Anson, a match for Bismarck, was protecting the carriers, leaving six. Together these six were three Admiral class battlecruisers, heavily refitted to be roughly equal of Bismarck, two Beatty class battlecruisers, which were significantly more powerful, and the fast battleship King Edward VIII, between the two in power.
As a coherent force these six would have made any engagement with the Germans a forgone conclusion. However deploying them as such would leave them vulnerable to being outmaneuvered. The British admiralty felt concern that the German invasion force might be a decoy, and that the Germans would attempt to break out into the Atlantic and attack the convoy lanes, or would attempt to repeat the WWI battlecruiser raids on the English coast. To forestall this the force was divided into two, with the battlecruisers Beatty, Sturdee and Hood positioned in the north to intercept a German breakout and the battleship King Edward VIII, the aircraft carrier Hermes and the battlecruisers Rodney and Howe in the south to block a coastal raid or penetrate into the Skagerrak.
On the evening of April 9th, when the German invasion convoy was spotted the order was given for the southern group to move to intercept the German convoy. On the morning of the 10th they were spotted by German scout planes from Graf Zeppelin and the blocking force quickly moved to intercept. British scout planes found them soon after and Hermes attempted to launch a strike. However the Germans, knowing that Graf Zeppelin was in no way ready for offensive action instead used her aircraft purely for defense and between her CAP and Hermes mediocre air wing nothing got through the German AA despite a number of failures on the part of German fighter direction.
At 1:00 in the afternoon the two forces spotted each other off southern Norway, with the closest land being the island of Eigeroya. The Germans had 3 battleships, two of them light, a Panzerschiffe, 2 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 9 destroyers, with two more destroyers escorting the Graf Zeppelin. The British had a battleship, two battlecruisers, two heavy and five light cruisers and 12 destroyers, plus two more destroyers and a light cruiser escorting the Hermes.
At 1:30 the two sides turned broadside opened fire at 28,000 yards, with Bismarck engaging King Edward VIII, Scharnhorst Rodney and Gneisenau Howe. Very quickly the British ships proved more accurate, while the Germans fired faster, having not been quite so paranoid with safety interlocks as the British. At 1:45 Admiral Hipper joined in at 26,000 yards, engaging the cruiser Gloucester. At 2:00 the heavy cruisers began engaging at 24,000 yards and the light cruisers at 2:10 when the lines reached 22,000 yards.
At about 2:25 the ranges stopped closing at 19,000 yards as the two sides moved south in parallel. Here the British made their first mistake in staying with the Germans, prioritizing a minimal risk engagement over a more aggressive attempt to either come to grips or bypass the Germans. The British were able to continuously get the better of this engagement, taking out Scharnhorst’s central fire control at 2:37, Gniesenau’s A turret at 2:43 and Bismarck’s central fire control at 2:51. At the same time however they were drawn further and further away from the invasion groups.
At 2:54 Admiral Hipper shifted fire from Gloucester to the anti-aircraft light cruiser Naiad, having disabled the former in perhaps the only bright spot in the battle for the Germans. Shortly thereafter at 3:04 Scharnhorst lost her B turret and two minutes later Bismarck took a nonpenetrating hit to the bridge, rattling the German command staff. Realizing the situation was now critical, and with the fast ships of the initial invasion force nearing their targets the decision was made to turn 45 degrees and run to the southeast. The British immediately turned to pursue.
The Germans had an initial advantage in the stern chase in that their slowest ship, the Admiral Hipper, was a knot faster than the British King Edward VIII. Unfortunately at 3:26 the cruiser Leipzig took a hit that slowed her to 23 knots. A destroyer attack was ordered to buy time for her to make up speed.
Unfortunately the attack turned out poorly, the British destroyermen proved more skilled than their German opposites and with their numerical advantage and faster firing guns they ensured no German vessel got into effective torpedo range of the British heavies. A single British destroyer was torpedoes, in exchange for two German vessels, and a third crippled by gunfire and finished by the cruisers.
The British attempted to press home a torpedo attack on the Germans, however fire from 15cm secondary batteries prevented them from getting too close. They did however torpedo the lagging Leipzig, reducing her speed to 10 knots and forcing her abandonment, to be torpedoed later by a British cruiser.
At this point damage on the German ships continued to mount, with Scharnhorst having lost her rear main battery turret and Gneisenau two secondary turrets. The British were not unscathed, but still retained all of their main battery turrets and their central fire direction, in part due to various shell design issues from Krupp who retained pre WWI style booster charges and shell hardening methods, leading to reduced penetration and high dud rates. Still almost fully combat capable the British continued to pursue the Germans until 3:55.
At this point a squadron of Do 25’s arrived. Having just flown into a recently captured Danish airport to refuel the bombers were assigned to aid the blocking force. Hermes was too far away to put up a CAP, the only dedicated AA vessel, the Naiad was heavily damaged and soon to sink, and the British capital ships and cruisers had lost an average of several AA guns each in the fight, leaving them in a poor position to fight back. Despite this the Dorniers did almost no damage, with the only hit being from a damaged bomber on a run against Howe dropping early and getting a near miss on an already damaged destroyer that contributed to her later loss.
Still the air attack convinced the British to break off. After this attack they worried there would be more coming that could inflict real damage, which combined with the moderate damage they had received could lead to real losses. This was their second major mistake in that even a brief continuation of the pursuit would have caused severe damage and the German losses would be much more keenly felt. As it was a parting shot managed to take out a fourth German destroyer and another jammed both of Bismarck’s rear turrets.
Following this the British made their third and final major mistake of the battle in withdrawing, rather than moving north to attempt to overwhelm the German forces in the Norwegian ports.
Thus the Battle of Eigeroya was a German strategic and operational victory if a tactical defeat. They lost four destroyers and a light cruiser, as opposed to 2 destroyers and a light cruiser for the British, and on average their ships were far more damaged, with Bismarck being out of action for ten months, and Scharnhorst and Gneisenau would have been out for 18 to 20 months had the decision to rearm them not been made, while all three British capital ships were battle ready within eight months. At the same point however their heavy units all did survive to make further contributions to the war and they did enough damage that the British force declined to continue on to engage the invasion force. By the time other forces were available to do so the warships had reached Norway and the slower freighters could take a safer path via the Danish straits, well protected by land based air and light units…
…Eigeroya could have very easily resulted in the complete annihilation of the German force, had the capital ship complements of the northern and southern forces been swapped, with the more powerful battlecruisers Beatty and Sturdee and the better shooting Hood doing the engagement then it was quite probable none of the German capital ships or heavy cruisers would have come sailing home and that the British force would have been intact enough to disrupt the landings. Had there been even a single replacement it was likely that at a minimum the Germans would have been down a battleship. Similarly had the King Edward VIII been completed to a larger 16” design she would have likely still been present and ensured Bismarck met her end there as opposed to lasting the longest of all of the ships engaged…
-Excerpt from 101 Great Naval Battles, American Youth Press, New York 2010
Okay my laptop got fixed but I still lost two and a half days of writing, plus yardwork today means no Eve of War this week
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A bloody battle of impressive scale but ultimately the same as OTL: Germany suffers tactical defeats, but managed to bamboozle the Royal Navy into letting their landing ships be. Glad your laptop is fixed.
Y'know, I never understood why the UK abandoned Narvik so quickly after the main Norwegian campaign in OTL, was it too vulnurable to German raids? You'd think they'd keep it if it was so important to Germany's iron ore road.
Y'know, I never understood why the UK abandoned Narvik so quickly after the main Norwegian campaign in OTL, was it too vulnurable to German raids? You'd think they'd keep it if it was so important to Germany's iron ore road.