Per special request of the Nationalist Party to avoid wars against Spanish Europe, General Donati was assigned to the Morocco Front. Konrad Dietrich was assigned to the Catalan Campaign. Admiral de Vetis has been given control of the western fleet, while Benito Costa received the Eastern. (I suppose I should have been more clear that “Captains” actually are meant to command air units, which don’t show up for short bit, so I shifted all Captains to Admirals for free)
Benito Costa’s fleet sinks two enemy Cruisers with no losses. (+2 Prestige; +1 XP) His forces are not numerous enough to sink Transports, so that will fall to the land troops. De Vetis’ seamen send a fleet of three Cruisers and one Transport to the bottom with no losses. (+2 Prestige; +1 XP)
In Italy, a neutral General destroys two Spanish Infantry at the cost of 1 Cavalry. It is apparent the homeland’s artillery defense is lacking.
It becomes common thinking that the Spanish are throwing everything they’ve got at us in terms of fleets. Ships change command as Admirals de Vetis and Costa both take up a presence in the Western Med. De Vetis’ fleet sinks two Cruisers and 1 Transport with no losses (+2 Prestige; +1 XP) while Costa’s fleet sinks 2 Cruisers with no losses. (+2 Prestige, +1 XP)
Week 13 brings great news – no Spanish forces are landed or cross into Italy, indicating they’re likely running low on manpower, while we have barely broken a sweat. To ensure the Spanish presence remains minimal, we send a small force to guard the narrow corridor near Cartagena that Spanish shipping has been slipping through; Ottoman and Balkan fleets have blocked the Straits of Gibraltar for us.
With Spanish forces no longer attacking us, it is our turn. General Dietrich has been dispatched to the region outside Barcelona. While our Horse Artillery batteries are fairly inaccurate, they likely do their part to strike fear into the hearts of the Spaniards. We also have our Cavalry forces raid a local worksite of Spanish Civil Engineers; many of them die as a result. (Civil Engineers are workers that only spawn once every 13 turns, making them extremely valuable)
Week 21, the Spanish attack us outside Barcelona, killing 1 Cavalry. General Dietrich does kill two Cavalry in compensation, however. (+1 Prestige, 1 XP)
General Donati decimates the Spanish garrison of Morocco with his artillery, claiming a great victory with no losses. (+3 Prestige, 1 XP) With Italy’s African objectives accomplished, all the freed up artillery are sent to Algeria, where they will board transports headed for Italy so that they may help the fight against heavily-guarded Barcelona.
Week 25, the Spanish launch an attack with two Cavalry against Milan, but the local City Guard kill both of them; our own Cavalry then dispatch of two Spanish units. The Spanish assaults are getting more desperate by the day, as we can outproduce the Spanish and suffer far fewer casualties when we fight.
Week 37, we exchange blows with the Spanish in Italian East Africa, losing one Cavalry to their one Infantry.
More worryingly, the Spaniards land an invasion force of 4 Cavalry outside Villa Cisneros. General Donati keeps his cool, however, and realizing that Italy enjoys an advantage on the offensive, kills all four divisions of Cavalry with no losses. (+1 XP, +2 Prestige) Further north, a royally-aligned General destroys two more Spanish Cavalry. Even if Italy makes no further gains, it’s apparent who won this conflict, as Spain’s navy and cavalry forces have both suffered huge losses.
General Dietrich assaults the city of Barcelona in Week 45, killing 2 of its Infantry defenders with no losses. The city remains strong, but culling the defenses will make our artillery that much more effective. (+1 Prestige, +1 XP)
Week 49, the Spanish unveil their new Maxim Gun in Barcelona. It has become much more perilous to strike the city as a result. That doesn’t stop General Dietrich from killing off the local City Guard (high-defense, irreplaceable units) division, however. The Bersaglieri under Dietrich’s command also kill a Col. Infantry unit.
Week 1, the Barcelona garrison is redlined for the first time, our subpar artillery so numerous it’s still lethal. General Dietrich kills 10 Spanish units at no losses and delivers the city into Italy’s hands! (+3 Prestige, +1 XP) It also grants us a direct shot at Cartagena.
