WesWorld

Many concerns have been expressed recently about the new Yugoslavian government. The immediate threat appears to have passed, with previous movements along the border having died away. Of greater concern is the very rapid modernisation of the Yugoslav armed forces, especially the army. Over the next few years it will become a much more potent force. The changes to the army, especially the increased mobility are most worrying. At the same time, the political situation in the country needs to be monitored. The current rate of defence expenditure is far from sustainable and will quickly lead to economic problems. Italy needs to be sure that any political problems that arise do not lead to any rash actions by the government. The sudden emergence of the Warsaw Pact has necessarily caused a large reassessment of the situation. The lack of any unifying threat to such a diverse group of nations puts the supposed defensive nature of the treaty under considerable scrutiny. The diverse nations and the historical problems in the region are likely to hinder putting the treaty into practice. These same issues can be used to Italy’s advantage. A full investigation of the new situation will have to be undertaken to see how it impacts the findings of the recent Strategic Defence Review.

The Air Defence Force has being making rapid strides in establishing itself as a separate entity and using its new found purchasing power. A network of air defence stations is being established throughout the north of the country around the industrial heartland. The force is attempting to head towards a layered system with warning posts, interceptors and artillery. The force has recently increased an existing order for mobile anti-aircraft artillery. This takes the form of the new 76/70 weapon and associated fire control directors. The system is a lot more complicated than the previous 75/46, especially with the remotely powered mountings, but offers much greater effectiveness. Questions were raised over the small calibre, but with the lack of a high altitude threat, the performance is sufficient and means the system is still relatively mobile. The requirement for a fast climbing interceptor has been met by Macchi, providing a much more powerful version of their C.202 with a bigger wing. The first flight should be later this year.

Elsewhere the world there are also concerns, India’s movements in the Middle East the most notable. After having consolidated her position in the region with the successful invasion of Persia, helped by the British no less, sources indicate that she is again turning her attention westwards. Saudi Arabia appears to be the most likely target, with her aims likely to expand her Hedjaz holding to most of the peninsula. India’s strategic position along the Red Sea and North West India Ocean would be untenable. The WASP defensive agreement is assessed as being ineffectual. It appears unlikely that the so called sponsors will step in. If they do, Italy should use the situation to her advantage. Currently, the best option is felt to be a show of force in the Indian Ocean. A large naval group will deploy to the region for a short period. The results will be of considerable interest, as Italy faces having to undertake such an action when India’s attentions turn further South in the future. Of most interest will be the ability to keep the fleet supplied through Suez and the Ethiopian ports.

OTO has got into full production of the new M26/39 tank with 20 units being produced each month. This will allow for the two armoured divisions to be re-equipped over the next four years. This finally gives Italy a modern tank but already doubts have been raised over it’s performance. The increase in numbers in heavy tanks in France, Germany and the Balkans has caused some issues with the M26 being unable to meet the threat. A number of options are currently being pursued, the simplest of which will be a new anti-tank gun to replace the 47/32. A series of new larger tanks is being drawn up but it will likely be some time before these are produced with the M26 in full scale production. One possible option being looked at is the addition of a new turret and gun to the M26.

Possible M26/39 modification with increased turret armour and a 76/60 gun (a cut down 76/70).

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
The current rate of defence expenditure is far from sustainable and will quickly lead to economic problems.

It's nice that you've so flippantly disregarded all of Bruce's research on the Yugoslavian economy.

Quoted

Originally posted by Brockpaine
It's nice that you've so flippantly disregarded all of Bruce's research on the Yugoslavian economy.

Hardly. It just seems rather unlikely that Yugoslavia, smaller than historical, can support massively larger and moderner armed services. Pretty much every country in WW is spending unsustainable amounts on defence. Currently everyone is rushing towards ever increasing and modern armed forces. It just isn't reasonable in real life but we have no mechanism to reel things in. We can spend as much as we want on as many advanced weapons as we want and there's nothing to stop us.

I'm not trying to make a wider point here, just injecting a bit of realism into Italian defence thinking.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
Pretty much every country in WW is spending unsustainable amounts on defence.

We do don't we.
Like everybody has XIX Great Britain level of militarisation.
I think that mine is slowly aproching North Korea level of militarisation. Still It was the historical trend of Poland then the Commonwealth then Poland again.

It looks like Italy has much to think about these days and has sleepless nights.

Defensive forces seem the order of the day, interceptors and guns (and radars) to keep out bombers, bigger tanks to keep out enemy heavy tanks. The Navy is getting worried about its southern power projection too. Italy seems much more defenive-minded these days.

Not that GB is complaining as it keeps the Med quiet.

Is the Yugoslav WW army the same size as OTL (~35 Divisions)? And perhaps they didnt spend quite as lot on Officer clubs and housing...

Quoted

Italy seems much more defenive-minded these days.

Strategically defensive minded anyway. Tactical planning for campaigns is much the other way. Likely enemies can't fight prolonged wars so attacking combat assets rather than production facilities is the matter of course. Against smaller countries it'll probably work well. Against larger countries, things start devolving more into risk theory like with the HSF.

Quoted

Originally posted by Red Admiral
The increase in numbers in heavy tanks in France, Germany and the Balkans has caused some issues with the M26 being unable to meet the threat.

Not sure about including Germany in this list: after all, in 1939 Germany's number of operational heavy tanks will increase from 0 to ..... 0 (the few Pzkw VIAs that will be delivered aren't combat-ready, they're made of mild steel as trainers rather than armor plate). In 1940 and later, of course, it's a slightly different case.


The design visually looks OK, but that long barrel mounted forward is asking for trouble when moving cross-country.

Quoted

Not sure about including Germany in this list: after all, in 1939 Germany's number of operational heavy tanks will increase from 0 to ..... 0 (the few Pzkw VIAs that will be delivered aren't combat-ready, they're made of mild steel as trainers rather than armor plate). In 1940 and later, of course, it's a slightly different case.

I'm thinking more long term over the next few years. The trend is definitely towards better armed and armoured tanks, with prototypes being built around the world and some adopted. Italy should be looking into the idea.

Quoted

The design visually looks OK, but that long barrel mounted forward is asking for trouble when moving cross-country.

It does look a bit odd. Luckily in the same time period Effetto Pronto HESH rounds become available. They'll work with either the 75/46 or 105/25 guns and provide enough penetration. Range isn't great from the medium velocity shells but its a compromise.

Artist's model of Macchi Veltro interceptor. It's difficult to tell apart from the current C.202 Folgore as they share the same fuselage and wing shape. Distinguishing features are the proportionally larger wing (21m^2) and the 4x20mm armament.

Looks good, OTL G.59?

Quoted

Originally posted by Vukovlad
Looks good, OTL G.59?

OTL Macchi C.207 actually. Bigger wings, 4x20mm and DB603 engine. Provides a nice carryover to the A.38 engine here. Will be pretty fast and climb like a lift.

New Mod.39 fire control system "Gamma", able to track targets in three dimensions moving up to 540km/h and altitudes up to 8700m.

New 76/70 anti-aircraft gun on mobile mounting with remote power control.

Those are not true Italian soldiers. They don't have dead chickens on their helmets!!!

Quoted

Originally posted by Rooijen10
Those are not true Italian soldiers. They don't have dead chickens on their helmets!!!

These guys again?

Yes. Those are true Italian soldiers.

Flight tests have been progressing well with the BLA (Long Range Bomber) project, the initial test vehicles mounting Alfa-Romeo 135 engines. The aircraft responds well in the air and has already exhibited considerable performance potential, flying over 5,000km in a circuit. The whole program had been under some threat since the establishment of the separate Army and Navy Air Forces, with many commentators predicting that it would be cancelled. However, the Navy had an existing need for a long-range reconnaissance aircraft that was to be filled with a variant of the BLA. Now the requirement has been altered to make the reconnaissance aircraft the baseline aircraft. The biggest external changes evident on the next prototype that is currently nearing completion are the large fuel tanks on the wingtips. The engineer in charge told me that these were the simplest way of increasing fuel capacity. Preliminary wing tunnel tests have found only a limited difference to the drag. The other external changes are the new and more streamlined nacelles holding the Isotta-Frashini inline engines and large windows in the nose to improve the view during missions. This prototype is expected to fly later in the year.

The Army announced the winner of it’s requirement for a new anti-tank gun capable of penetrating 100mm of armour. This has been met by the 75/46, as is arming the M26 tank. The gun is an adaptation of the old anti-aircraft gun of the same designation, fitted with a new APCBC(HE) shell. The anti-aircraft gun itself is being replaced with a new design which has freed up examples for conversion into anti-tank guns. It is expected to be able to deal with the current threat level whilst remaining relatively portable. A similar requirement has been released for a weapon capable of penetrating over 150mm of armour in order to cope with modern heavy tanks. It is expected that this weapon will be fitted to the new designs of larger tanks currently being studied.

Italian minister for foreign affairs, Franchi, has been conducting a number of meetings with the Bharat ambassador and the Holy See, most likely to garner a clearer picture of the Middle East and allay any current misunderstandings. This marks a recent high in relations, with the Bharat ambassador usually being overlooked in Rome diplomatic circles.

75/46 anti-tank gun



One of the concepts currently being looked at for a heavy tank

What's that tank gun there? It looks suspiciously long...