Italy National Advantages (Revised list)
1. Piggyback Tech
Italy shared the accomplishments of German scientists during WWII.
On the turn after Germany obtains a given technology, Italy gets it as well.
2. Gustav Line
Hitler ordered a final defensive line south of Rome to protect the “soft underbelly†of Europe after Africa fell to the Allies. The Gustav Line, or the Winter Wall, held off many Allied amphibious landings. During any amphibious assault against Southern Europe, all your infantry there defend on a 3 during the first cycle of combat.
3. Desert Tracks
Italian tanks were inferior to German and Allied ones. However, they were lighter and could travel the desert with ease. Italian tanks may blitz through Sahara. They must both enter and leave Sahara in the same turn. They may never capture the Sahara, and they may not retreat into this territory.
4. Blackshirts
Black divisions were paramilitary organizations that were used to spread terror across Southern Europe. Once per game, if your capital gets attacked by at least one ground unit, you may place 2 infantry there for free before the Conduct Combat Phase.
5. Elevated Ground
Southern and South-Eastern Europe was scattered with mountains and high elevations. This gave many advantages to artillery especially Italian mountain guns. Gebirgsjägers–mountain troops–were the only ones besides aircraft who can operate on these conditions. Your artillery in Southern Europe and the Balkans defend on a 3.
6. Regia Marina Italiana
Once per turn, one surface warship (BB, DD, CV, and CA-- if using optional units) can be purchased for 2 IPC less than cost.
7. Home Defence
Every Italian or German INF unit in the first round defending in Original Italian territories get a +1 defence modifier
8. Mediterranean Express
This allows Italy to move 1 infantry to Libya during non-combat movement. You need to be in controll of Libya.
9. Afrika Korps
Place 1 INF, ART, ARM in Libya for free during your mobilize new units phase, if you controll it.
10. Untrained Forces
The first time Italian forces meet a given Allied nation in battle, the Italians choose the order of loss for the Allied forces (this is designed to foster a “Kasserine” style result in Italy’s first encounters with enemy forces).
11. Frogmen
The Decima Flottiglia MAS was an Italian commando frogman unit created during the Fascist government. This rule allows 1 infantry to attack 1 Allied surface naval unit that is adjacent to an Italian held territory-containing infantry (Italy specifies targets). Infantry rolls normal attack (1 in 6) and if successful sinks 1 allied ship. Such attack precedes normal attack round. Failure is loss of Italy infantry.
12. Fascists friendship
If you controll Malta and Gibraltar, Franco of Spain will join your side. All Spanish territory, troops and IPC go directly to Italy.
13. Balkan support
During WWII Hungary, Romania and in lesser amounts Bulgaria supported the Axis forces with man and material.
Once during the game, if in controll of the Balkans, you may place 1INF, 1ART and 1ARM for free.
