I have a plan for that
Again, no spoilers but it could be a problem....
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I have a plan for that
Again, no spoilers but it could be a problem....
Part 16: The Iberian Gambit Begins (March 1 - April 1, 1939)
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
We declared war on Nationalist Spain on March 1. I knew that weather would become a factor, particularly for our troop movement in the north by the Pyrenees Mountains but if Mussolini's impression of Germany's intentions were correct, we would need to be in position by the fall and I didn't want the possibility of getting bogged down in Spain to get in the way of being ready for a larger war.
By March 3, elements of 1st Army had landed on the beaches of Spain and were beginning to assault Barcelona. While two divisions were engaged in a dominant assault of the port, another five (making the initial wave of landing infantry seven divisions strong), fanned out around the port to provide security as well as begin to create a cohesive and defensible line. The battle in Barcelona concluded with a resounding success, and only 10 fatalities compared to 198 on the Spanish side.
Our next major battle, at Lerida, saw similar casualty numbers with 34 fatalities on our side and another 170 on theirs. The troops moved slowly and resistance was shoring up as, by the 17th of March, we were engaged in two battles with Spanish forces that had our troops at an initial disadvantage.
We had made our second landing, around the port of Valencia by the 17th and had taken the port, losing 109 men but killing 673 Spanish troops thanks to the overwhelming force of 24,000 troops against just under 7,000.
Our navy was encountering the Spanish navy off the East Algerian Coast but they held their own. In the Gulf of Valencia, our troops sunk a Spanish transport flotilla while our fleet, still embroiled in battle off the coast of Algeria, began to get the better of the Nationalist navy.
On the 21st of March, despite being outnumbered by the Spanish forces at Fraga by 150%, our troops still won the battle, and inflicted twice as many casualties as we took. At Caspe, the Spanish forces threw over 30,000 men at us but our force of just 8,000 inflicted 481 fatalities with just 214 of our own.
The naval campaign wasn't over yet as the Spaniards decided to storm our beaches on Sardinia. Our fleet proved to be too much, sinking a heavy cruiser (ARE Baleares), a light cruiser (ARE Miguel de Cervantes), a destroyer group as well as two transport groups.
By the 24th of March, our two landings at Barcelona and Valencia had linked up to create a solid line of defense for our invasion.
The landings at Cartagena were under way as the month wound down. I would get some rest since the invasion seemed to be going well. April promises to be a month in which we can look towards the future and watch as our troops continue to push inland from the Mediterranean.
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
We declared war on Nationalist Spain on March 1. I knew that weather would become a factor, particularly for our troop movement in the north by the Pyrenees Mountains but if Mussolini's impression of Germany's intentions were correct, we would need to be in position by the fall and I didn't want the possibility of getting bogged down in Spain to get in the way of being ready for a larger war.
By March 3, elements of 1st Army had landed on the beaches of Spain and were beginning to assault Barcelona. While two divisions were engaged in a dominant assault of the port, another five (making the initial wave of landing infantry seven divisions strong), fanned out around the port to provide security as well as begin to create a cohesive and defensible line. The battle in Barcelona concluded with a resounding success, and only 10 fatalities compared to 198 on the Spanish side.
Our next major battle, at Lerida, saw similar casualty numbers with 34 fatalities on our side and another 170 on theirs. The troops moved slowly and resistance was shoring up as, by the 17th of March, we were engaged in two battles with Spanish forces that had our troops at an initial disadvantage.
We had made our second landing, around the port of Valencia by the 17th and had taken the port, losing 109 men but killing 673 Spanish troops thanks to the overwhelming force of 24,000 troops against just under 7,000.
Our navy was encountering the Spanish navy off the East Algerian Coast but they held their own. In the Gulf of Valencia, our troops sunk a Spanish transport flotilla while our fleet, still embroiled in battle off the coast of Algeria, began to get the better of the Nationalist navy.
On the 21st of March, despite being outnumbered by the Spanish forces at Fraga by 150%, our troops still won the battle, and inflicted twice as many casualties as we took. At Caspe, the Spanish forces threw over 30,000 men at us but our force of just 8,000 inflicted 481 fatalities with just 214 of our own.
The naval campaign wasn't over yet as the Spaniards decided to storm our beaches on Sardinia. Our fleet proved to be too much, sinking a heavy cruiser (ARE Baleares), a light cruiser (ARE Miguel de Cervantes), a destroyer group as well as two transport groups.
By the 24th of March, our two landings at Barcelona and Valencia had linked up to create a solid line of defense for our invasion.
The landings at Cartagena were under way as the month wound down. I would get some rest since the invasion seemed to be going well. April promises to be a month in which we can look towards the future and watch as our troops continue to push inland from the Mediterranean.
Spain isn't putting up much of a fight. With a foothold now, progress should get easier. Are you even bothering with their possession outside Europe (assuming they have any)?
Nope. You can get a victory without any provinces outside of Iberia and, with the dominance of the sea that I have, there's no need to fear them getting troops from anywhere else the mainland to be able to fight me.
Nice invasion mankle, and I am even surprised the Spanish rather land on Sardinia than to use their troops against your invading army. Sometimes I just do not get the AI and their choices, perhaps something PI should change in HoI4.
Looks like a good beachhead there, and not a lot of resistance so far. The Spanish don't stand a chance.
The Spanish invasions (overall, the whole use of AI naval invasions) is much higher in TFH over earlier versions. It definitely took me by surprise when I first played TFH. If these are units that are already off of the mainland (on some of the islands or in North Africa) then it definitely would make more sense to bring them back to the mainland to defend. The only thing that makes sense would be that the ships don't have the range for an invasion of the Italian mainland without a base closer by. Still, with the Italian navy being so much stronger than the Spanish navy, it's not a good idea to do a landing anywhere!
Mwahaha.
Spain does give you some serious headache later on if you end up in a war with anybody else. Britain can land there, Germany might have a land border and even Russia could try and steamroll through Germany until they reach the Spanish border.
All good points. Messe is good at looking at the larger picture, though. He wasn't considered Italy's best general in WWII for nothing.
Whatever you gain from Spain, you'll have to leave a garrison, don't you? Spain has little IC IIRC, so what does Italy actually win by conquering them, other than gaining a viable attack route to Gibraltar and into France?
What, he was literate?
Hahaha yes and he read "How to win a war for Dummies".
Two fronts when fighting against France would be enough reasons for me, though for historical gains (and sentiments): the new Roman Empire is in the making.
Part 17: Taming Iberia (April 1 - June 26, 1939)
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
"Marshall Messe! What good news do you bring?"
I was growing tired of Mussolini's now-traditional greeting. Must I always have good news? Of course, when I went to report to Il Duce on a weekly basis, the news from Iberia was always good as our invasion of Spain continued unabated.
I had been receiving reports of victories on the peninsula all month, beginning with the report from Caravaca de la Cruz in which we defeated a numerically inferior opposing division, with over a 5-to-1 ratio of casualties (we lost only 95 troops while the Spanish lost 507). On the 6th, we advanced another level in our quest to improve our Operational Level Organization. We also made another advance in the standard rifles for our infantry while the fighting was going on. On June 10, we finally made a huge breakthrough in RADAR, finally researching this revolutionary new technology.
Through the first week of April, our actual advancement was slow but we were still in good supply, getting much needed food, medicine, ammunition and equipment to the front through the three ports that we controlled.
By the 9th of April, we were in the process of securing our fourth port in Almeria and the Regia Marina was doing us proud, sinking not only a destroyer group off the Western Algerian Coast but sinking the pride of the Spanish navy, the ARE Jaime!
Progress was slow over the following week and, in order to expedite Franco's surrender, I ordered XXI Corps (which had been held in reserve) to board our transports and head to the west side of Gibraltar to assault Cadiz. Thanks landing unopposed, the port was taken quickly and the troops began to move inland.
Towards the end of the month, our troops were having some hard fighting with minimal supply. Several divisions were out of supplies and General Gandin's 5th Division was engaged in a tough battle to take the province of Guadalajara. I made a note to bring Gandin back to Rome to speak to him about his tendency to put glory for his own division over waiting until the other divisions could support him.
Even I have to admit that I was growing bored of the reports coming in from Spain. We were making very good progress despite being slowed thanks to the supply situation. By May 19, the Spanish forces were only putting up a token resistance and we were closing in on the capital. The supply situation was making it difficult for divisions in certain regions to get to the front, creating large pockets of unoccupied land and regions where our troops had progressed much farther than others.
By June 2, our troops were in Madrid, sipping Spanish wine and generally taking it easy while their generals were trying to urge them onward.
On June 26, it was all over.
The troops had taken Spain and Franco was put on a ship for Rome to meet with Mussolini. I joined Il Duce for the surrender ceremony although, as the self-appointed head of Italy's armed forces, Mussolini insisted on taking the surrender himself. We met briefly and he asked me if I was ready for the next step.
"Of course, Duce," I replied. "Soon, we will be able to add Gaul and the Mediterranean to our new Roman empire."
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
"Marshall Messe! What good news do you bring?"
I was growing tired of Mussolini's now-traditional greeting. Must I always have good news? Of course, when I went to report to Il Duce on a weekly basis, the news from Iberia was always good as our invasion of Spain continued unabated.
I had been receiving reports of victories on the peninsula all month, beginning with the report from Caravaca de la Cruz in which we defeated a numerically inferior opposing division, with over a 5-to-1 ratio of casualties (we lost only 95 troops while the Spanish lost 507). On the 6th, we advanced another level in our quest to improve our Operational Level Organization. We also made another advance in the standard rifles for our infantry while the fighting was going on. On June 10, we finally made a huge breakthrough in RADAR, finally researching this revolutionary new technology.
Through the first week of April, our actual advancement was slow but we were still in good supply, getting much needed food, medicine, ammunition and equipment to the front through the three ports that we controlled.
By the 9th of April, we were in the process of securing our fourth port in Almeria and the Regia Marina was doing us proud, sinking not only a destroyer group off the Western Algerian Coast but sinking the pride of the Spanish navy, the ARE Jaime!
Progress was slow over the following week and, in order to expedite Franco's surrender, I ordered XXI Corps (which had been held in reserve) to board our transports and head to the west side of Gibraltar to assault Cadiz. Thanks landing unopposed, the port was taken quickly and the troops began to move inland.
Towards the end of the month, our troops were having some hard fighting with minimal supply. Several divisions were out of supplies and General Gandin's 5th Division was engaged in a tough battle to take the province of Guadalajara. I made a note to bring Gandin back to Rome to speak to him about his tendency to put glory for his own division over waiting until the other divisions could support him.
Even I have to admit that I was growing bored of the reports coming in from Spain. We were making very good progress despite being slowed thanks to the supply situation. By May 19, the Spanish forces were only putting up a token resistance and we were closing in on the capital. The supply situation was making it difficult for divisions in certain regions to get to the front, creating large pockets of unoccupied land and regions where our troops had progressed much farther than others.
By June 2, our troops were in Madrid, sipping Spanish wine and generally taking it easy while their generals were trying to urge them onward.
On June 26, it was all over.
The troops had taken Spain and Franco was put on a ship for Rome to meet with Mussolini. I joined Il Duce for the surrender ceremony although, as the self-appointed head of Italy's armed forces, Mussolini insisted on taking the surrender himself. We met briefly and he asked me if I was ready for the next step.
"Of course, Duce," I replied. "Soon, we will be able to add Gaul and the Mediterranean to our new Roman empire."
Part 18: Watching and Waiting (June 26 - December 31, 1939)
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
Watching and waiting. What will the world do? When will we respond? How ready will we be? Our military was already gaining the attention of smaller countries in our sphere of influence. We had been granted transit rights from Portugal and Turkey but would our strength be enough?
So many questions. I have to admit that I was nervous and excited in that time between the end of June and the fall. Our researchers were doing their work, making a breakthrough in the main cannons were were attaching to our light tanks in July. We also finished the research into designing and producing our own medium tanks although the plan, for a while, was to cultivate our relationship with Germany to take advantage of the research that they've already done into their armoured forces. In early November, we licensed the production of two brigades of PanzerKampfWagen III tanks from Germany and began production on them.
In August, our first paratroop division, "Spezia," was formed and based in Sicily along with our transport planes.
On September 1, Germany did the expected and declared war on Poland. Obviously, this caused some consternation around Europe and Denmark mobilized its armed forces.
The going was slow for Germany and, while they had made some solid gains by September 12, the only major center they had taken was Krakow.
By September 22, Canada was now a member of the Allies. Poland had yet to fall on September 27 when we made an advancement in our fuel tanks for our small aircraft.
September 29: Warsaw holds on. Victory is pretty much assured for the Germans, it's just a matter of when.
October 2: Warsaw falls and Germany conquers Poland. We have good news on our own front - we made an advance in Mobile Warfare.
On October 3, Mussolini called me into his office. I provided a detailed report on our research projects as well as our procurement and training schedules.
"Messe! When do we attack?"
"Duce, we must wait," I replied.
"What do you mean? We should go now while Germany is still distracted!"
"Duce, I feel that we're still a little bit understrength for what we are planning. It is a huge undertaking and the five divisions that are being trained as we speak will be ready in November. We will also be able to field another fleet of carriers and escorts if we wait. I don't want to start our attack until the new year. We will definitely be ready by then."
I remember Mussolini raging about seizing the initiative. I understood his impatience but felt that the timing must be right before we make our move. We could consolidate our gains and have extra troops and another carrier fleet at our disposal to fight the British and the French.
So we waited and watched. Germany launched attacks on the Netherlands and Denmark. By October 10, Germany is knocking on the door of Amsterdam while by the 12th, both the Netherlands’ largest city and the Danish capital of Copenhagen are in danger. Amsterdam falls on the 16th while Copenhagen still holds out.
From our borders in Czechoslovakia, our spotters could see German units heading west on the rails. We were still three weeks away from getting a fresh corps of infantry ready and would like to have those units in reserve for when the fighting begins.
While the Danes hold out at the end of October, the Dutch have already relocated their capital overseas with just The Hague left in Europe.
Two more carriers have left their dry docks and will be awaiting their assignments in the upcoming battles. Our cruiser task force will steam towards Taranto to hook up with the new carriers and will be renamed Carrier Task Force Europa.
As October comes to a close, the last vestiges of the Dutch European presence are wiped off the map but plucky Denmark still hangs on by a thread. We have heard of the courageous survivors of relentless German shelling being evacuated across the straights to Malmo in Sweden while the Danes fight on.
We made more gains in fighter pilot and ground crew training, light cruiser main armaments, medium tank guns, artillery barrel and ammunition and doctrines for our carrier groups.
On November 8, our five infantry divisions joined 2nd Army at the French border. They would help roll up the defensive line in the Alps and let our forces break through into the plains below.
We ended the year with a wonderful Christmas but it was still of tension as we waited for the next shoe to drop. Would Italy be ready when the time came? How would our troops perform against better opposition? Sleep became difficult.
From the personal journal of Giovanni Messe:
Watching and waiting. What will the world do? When will we respond? How ready will we be? Our military was already gaining the attention of smaller countries in our sphere of influence. We had been granted transit rights from Portugal and Turkey but would our strength be enough?
So many questions. I have to admit that I was nervous and excited in that time between the end of June and the fall. Our researchers were doing their work, making a breakthrough in the main cannons were were attaching to our light tanks in July. We also finished the research into designing and producing our own medium tanks although the plan, for a while, was to cultivate our relationship with Germany to take advantage of the research that they've already done into their armoured forces. In early November, we licensed the production of two brigades of PanzerKampfWagen III tanks from Germany and began production on them.
In August, our first paratroop division, "Spezia," was formed and based in Sicily along with our transport planes.
On September 1, Germany did the expected and declared war on Poland. Obviously, this caused some consternation around Europe and Denmark mobilized its armed forces.
The going was slow for Germany and, while they had made some solid gains by September 12, the only major center they had taken was Krakow.
By September 22, Canada was now a member of the Allies. Poland had yet to fall on September 27 when we made an advancement in our fuel tanks for our small aircraft.
September 29: Warsaw holds on. Victory is pretty much assured for the Germans, it's just a matter of when.
October 2: Warsaw falls and Germany conquers Poland. We have good news on our own front - we made an advance in Mobile Warfare.
On October 3, Mussolini called me into his office. I provided a detailed report on our research projects as well as our procurement and training schedules.
"Messe! When do we attack?"
"Duce, we must wait," I replied.
"What do you mean? We should go now while Germany is still distracted!"
"Duce, I feel that we're still a little bit understrength for what we are planning. It is a huge undertaking and the five divisions that are being trained as we speak will be ready in November. We will also be able to field another fleet of carriers and escorts if we wait. I don't want to start our attack until the new year. We will definitely be ready by then."
I remember Mussolini raging about seizing the initiative. I understood his impatience but felt that the timing must be right before we make our move. We could consolidate our gains and have extra troops and another carrier fleet at our disposal to fight the British and the French.
So we waited and watched. Germany launched attacks on the Netherlands and Denmark. By October 10, Germany is knocking on the door of Amsterdam while by the 12th, both the Netherlands’ largest city and the Danish capital of Copenhagen are in danger. Amsterdam falls on the 16th while Copenhagen still holds out.
From our borders in Czechoslovakia, our spotters could see German units heading west on the rails. We were still three weeks away from getting a fresh corps of infantry ready and would like to have those units in reserve for when the fighting begins.
While the Danes hold out at the end of October, the Dutch have already relocated their capital overseas with just The Hague left in Europe.
Two more carriers have left their dry docks and will be awaiting their assignments in the upcoming battles. Our cruiser task force will steam towards Taranto to hook up with the new carriers and will be renamed Carrier Task Force Europa.
As October comes to a close, the last vestiges of the Dutch European presence are wiped off the map but plucky Denmark still hangs on by a thread. We have heard of the courageous survivors of relentless German shelling being evacuated across the straights to Malmo in Sweden while the Danes fight on.
We made more gains in fighter pilot and ground crew training, light cruiser main armaments, medium tank guns, artillery barrel and ammunition and doctrines for our carrier groups.
On November 8, our five infantry divisions joined 2nd Army at the French border. They would help roll up the defensive line in the Alps and let our forces break through into the plains below.
We ended the year with a wonderful Christmas but it was still of tension as we waited for the next shoe to drop. Would Italy be ready when the time came? How would our troops perform against better opposition? Sleep became difficult.
Great job taking Spain. The waiting can be boring but necessary since I assume you are waiting for the French to get distracted by Germany before you strike. Production and research all seem to be going swell. It should be interesting to see how Germany will perform with a few of their chain events no longer firing.
I have to say that it IS interesting what happens with Germany (as you'll see soon)!
General Update for the readers (with a little tease): I've gotten to a point in the game that I've decided to wait and let the AAR catch up a bit. Additionally, there are going to be some very big choices/decisions coming up. While this isn't an interactive AAR, your comments will probably help inform some decisions, so keep them coming!