ITALY - Tactics and Strategy

[Krupp Steel]

Did Italy even get bomber pieces?

Of course.

What kind is it? If I may ask, as I am not aware of Italian aircraft used during WW2.

Thanks.

[Krieghund]

Unfortunately, it didn't get a unique sculpt.  They reused the Japanese bomber, molded in brown.  Apparently they thought that the Japanese Betty more closely resembled an actual Italian bomber than any of the other existing sculpts.

[a44bigdog]

Might not have been that bad a decision as some of the Italian bombers were frankly pretty ugly looking.

[Krupp Steel]

Unfortunately, it didn't get a unique sculpt.  They reused the Japanese bomber, molded in brown.  Apparently they thought that the Japanese Betty more closely resembled an actual Italian bomber than any of the other existing sculpts.

Thanks for a quick answer , but either way I would have liked a unique sculpt even if it was ugly looking

[Imperious Leader]

but, if the German transport in sz13 can be used to transport Italian inf(x2) from the Balkans to Libya, on G1, then Italy is in a good position to load up her trans on I1 & make an amphibious into Egypt with support from Libya & don't forget the BB & two CAs bombardment. There goes UK's african connection.

yes Italian troops can embark on German transports, but you know first the german transport needs top be in the central medd space, then next turn they load up, followed by one additional turn where they are floating on the transport, followed by landing...which takes 3 turns to compete. (Additional loads could take 2 turns if the transport was just static in central medd) I would rather get Germany to shift 2 units and shuck junk to Africa rather than mix it with Italy.

[Bierwagen]

Ok, thanks.

So this makes Gibraltar an actual objective for ITALY.  Unlike Rev Edition where Gibraltar was left alone, ITALY now has a stake in taking it from UK.  Not only will it add to the possible objective bonus, it will be a guard against / and be an additional distraction to the western allies in the Med campaign should ITALY take it.

Even when/if the Western Allies succeed in the "torch" operation, Gibraltar will give ITALY an AIRBASE in the western Med, and the allied capture of Algeria and even Libya do not effect this bonus.

In AAR I always take Gibraltar on G1. It denies the British a landing strip and an opportunity to counterstrike at my German fleet floating around in sz13. It is essential for trying to combine the German fleets. Of course in AA50, I'm not sure how that tactic will pan out.

Can't wait to see!

[Romulus]

Unfortunately, it didn't get a unique sculpt.  They reused the Japanese bomber, molded in brown.  Apparently they thought that the Japanese Betty more closely resembled an actual Italian bomber than any of the other existing sculpts.

Thanks for a quick answer , but either way I would have liked a unique sculpt even if it was ugly looking

I do not want to enter in a discussion about italian miniatures, it seems that the majority of the players are not interested in this aspect and, furthermore, A&A Anniversary is not a miniature game. So it is ok to use an already available mini.

However also I would like to have a unique sculpt for the Italian bombers. Moreover, it is really unclear to me where they discovered the similarity with the Betty.

The Japanese Betty was a medium bomber with two engine.
The more representative Italian Bomber the Savoia Marchetti SM-79 "Sparviero" (sparrowhawk) was a three engine medium bomber, used for level bombing and also as torpedo bomber. Moreover the SM-79 was really a bad looking airplane, it was knew in Italy as the "Gobbo" (humpbacked) for the layout of the body. For this reason it is similar to the Betty in the same manner that the Ju-88 is similar to the B-17. It was a stubborn airplane, used in several roles and missions.

The Regia Aeronautica (Italian Royal Airforce) entered the war with a respectable force of bombers so it is obvious that Italy get a Bomber.