Matrix Games Forums

Public Beta 1.03 M3

9. Italian mot div is 100% original strength.
But no vehicle, no mot-Nato-symbol and move type by foot?


Sidenote:
Do the game distinguish between motorized and mechanized? [&:]

Hi,

This is more of an Italian Dream problem I think. They would have liked to have those divisions motorized for sure. But I think it proved hard for the Italians to assemble the equipment and arrange transport to the eastern front.

Basically the Italians already suffer in early war from what the Germans start suffering from only later... it looks better on paper than in practice.

Best wishes,
Vic

I've some knowledge of Italian WWII army, and unfortunately our "motorized" divisions were, well, not motorized. Same thing applies to our "armored" division, who was an infantry division equipped with 100 light tanks and 40 "medium" ones with 45mm gun.

So in my opinion the game is correct in modeling them as basically infantry divisions.

In"Iron Hulls,Iron Hearts"Mussolini's Elite Armored Divisions in North Africa by Ian W Walker he discusses the "motorized"aspect of the motorized divisions.

My understanding is that they were officially semi-motorised ... they were hastily equipped with civilian motor vehicles, most still in commercial livery, and had enough to lift about 1/3 of their infantry at one time.

Hitler saw the 'motorised' bit and assumed 100% motorisation and went lemony when they didn't meet his speed expectations ... and, aiui, they gutted what transport they had trying to make it work three times as hard.

All in all, they were soon nothing but leg infantry with a handful of trucks (probably no more than a German Infantry Division had).

But it soured Hitler's already low opinion of Mussolini and the Italians in general.

Phil