An xf-k8 twin-engine passenger plane that took off from Port Said arrived in Rome under the combat escort of a squadron. In the Italian capital, a high-level military delegation headed by Zhang Tingfu, the commander-in-chief of the North African theater of the Republican Army, was subjected to an unexpected
Warmly welcomed, it is not difficult for anyone with discerning eyes to see that such high-standard courtesy is naturally related to the great victory achieved by the Republican Army in the battlefield.
On the day of the delegation's arrival, the Italian King Emanuele III personally attended the welcome dinner specially prepared by the Italian government. Mussolini delivered a series of strong praises to the "traditional friendship" between China and Italy, which looked passionate.
The Italian leader was not hesitant to praise the Republican Army in his speech, and claimed that the unbreakable steel alliance between China and Italy would be passed down forever.
The Chinese handed over control of British Egypt and Sudan from the British to the Italians. In addition to British Somaliland and French Somaliland along the Red Sea coast, the Sinai Peninsula was incorporated into the South Jordan state, but allowed
China maintained its garrison in the Sinai Peninsula. The Suez Canal area was handed over to the joint management of China and Italy, which made the Germans re-look on their Italian allies with envy and jealousy.
After joining the war, the Italians gained unexpected huge benefits, but after the United States announced its participation in the war, senior Italian military generals were full of doubts about the future of the war.
The confirmed news is that the 2nd Army of the US Army, composed of three mechanized infantry divisions and armored divisions, has set out from the Port of Norfolk, and they will cross the Atlantic Ocean and land in West Africa or Morocco. Italy will face it directly.
American attack.
Zhang Tingfu and his party went to Rome to coordinate the coalition's military operations on the Mediterranean.
Although the two armies had already begun military cooperation before the war, the Italians were still very insufficient in preparation for war: Although the Italians claimed to have two million troops, most of them were guard forces similar to local security forces.
Their equipment and military quality are even worse than that of domestic reserve militias, and they lack sufficient training and are simply unable to perform combat tasks in modern warfare.
This can be seen from the reorganization of the East African Italian Army. Among the nearly 300,000 Italian Army in East Africa, there are only two regular troops, and there are less than 25,000 troops that can actually fight. That is, it is called "the only one is that the army is "regular" of two divisions.
The actual combat capability of the two million Italian Army can only be calculated based on more than 200,000 people before re-equipment and training.
The Italian Army has severely lacked tanks, armored vehicles and transport trucks that are competent for combat missions. The entire Italian army is equipped with less than 400 p3875 medium-sized tanks made by Ansaldo, and Mussolini has formed a 3,000 tanks.
The armored army, but most of them were "iron coffins" that could be penetrated by machine guns, and they were unable to deal with the British's backward crusaders.
Most of the artillery equipped by the Italian Army has excellent performance, but lacks transportation vehicles. The so-called mechanized infantry division of the Italian Army only equipped more than 120 cars, which even makes it difficult for the car to transport supplies.
Their navy is quite good. Four old battleships from World War I have completed modern modifications and have two aviation ships that are modified by merchant ships but have good combat performance. Two new main battleships, the "Veneto", have been launched.
The final outfit is underway with the Litorio and is expected to be put into service by the end of the year.
But the two latest aviation warships they designed and started construction based on the "Jiangsu-class" aviation ships have just been launched. With the Italian construction speed, it will definitely not be completed without a year.
Fortunately, the Mediterranean is not big, and combat aircraft taking off from airports in North Africa and southern Italy can fully control the sea control.
Relying solely on the Italians is powerless to stop the Americans' attack. After consultation with Italy, the chief of staff of the Italian army, Marshal Petro Bardoglio and General Zhang Tingfu signed an agreement to jointly form the North African coalition between the two countries.
Three Army Corps and a Marine Division will be sent to Libya, and the Italian North African Army will be re-equipped and trained.
After the two sides signed a cooperation agreement, Zhang Tingfu and his party visited the shipyards of Laspechia and Genoa. The Italians salvaged the French ship that was sunk by the British in the Port of Oran. They dragged it back to this
The two shipyards were repaired and modified.
The unreasonable Mussolini unceremoniously plundered these French ships to Italy.
The Italian Navy, which had four battleships and two Fuxi-class heavy cruisers, suddenly became much stronger from paper.
The reality is the same, the Italian Navy is better than expected.
The Marines were praised by Mussolini for their heroic performance in capturing the Port of Oran. The Navy was allowed to expand to a division by the Prime Minister. In addition, the Naval Air Force shines during the Battle of Oran Bay.
The leader also promised to provide more aircraft to the Navy, although this made Italian Air Force commander Marshal Itano Balbo very upset.
Although the surface fleet only attacked the British fleet in Oran Bay, the Italian submarine forces have been active in the Mediterranean region. During the Egyptian battle, Italian submarines sank the cruiser, the "Calisop" and three destroyers, including the "Calisop" cruiser, were sank.
There are 11 British transport ships. There are two more troops in it, but most of the British soldiers were rescued by other ships.
But General Zhang Tingfu still saw a side of the Italian naval officers and soldiers who dared to challenge Britain and were proactive. The Italian submarines and minecraft were conducting mine operations in the Strait of Gibraltar very efficiently at night, and the Italians set up their own channels on the enemy.
The mine formation caused great trouble to the British Navy.
"In order to ensure control of the Mediterranean region, the Republican Navy will send three wings of naval volunteer air force to join the Italian Navy to strengthen your strength." General Zhang Tingfu gave General Kafliani who accompanied them to visit.
It brings good news, which is undoubtedly a timely help to the Italian Navy, which is suffering from insufficient combat aircraft.
"That would be great, we are preparing to seize the island of Maltese, which will play a crucial role in the battle we are planning. If that happens, we can not only expel the British from the Mediterranean, but also threaten them.
To the defense of Gibraltar.” Admiral Kafliani seemed very excited. If 500 more combat aircraft could be added, the Italian Navy would no longer be afraid of fighting the British.
In addition to capturing Maltese Island, with the current situation, the Sino-Italian coalition in North Africa will not be able to launch a large-scale attack operation before the Italian army is re-equipped and trained. In general, it will always be on a defensive.