The SNE gathers all of its troops and launches an attack on the Iberian Peninsula. This is with 500,000 troops, all of their vehicles and 12 battleships. This attack will be through the Iberian Peninsula to back up Italy and keep their natural resources. The journey will be long, but the fighting will be intense. The SNE sets up smaller sniper battalions with silencers for hit and run attacks.
The Caliphate instantly goes on defence, activating a defensive front in Northern Spain, deploying the M4 Saladin and MB-5 and sending multiple carriers, 6 Battleships, 40 Destroyers, 14 Cruisers, and 10 Submarines. The entire Peninsula is on lockdown, and they will not let anyone get through. The 800 M4 Crocodile kits have been finished and over 200 are expected to back up in Iberia. Only 400,000 soldiers join the fight, but the well-built defences constructed by the Caliphate are enough to prevent an easy invasion. [HEAVILY CLASSIFIED, ZETA CODE USED] The first model of the X-1 has been completed, it's one of the first "ballistic missiles" created in the world, with a mass of 4,000 lb, an Amatol-39 Warhead (non nuclear of course), Electrical Impact Fuze with backup and time fuze to prevent any sort of research of accidental duds, a pulsejet, 250 km of range, 400 mph speed at up to 3000 ft and a Gyrocompass based autopilot guidance system. Of course, the range isn't that great, which means any actual target would have to be attacked from very close range, but its brute attack is detrimental. It will take about 1 year before it enters service, but it is expected to only be used in the case of dire need and revenge, such as if any nation attacks Caliphate cities, or if the Caliphate is in a dire situation of losing.
SEU takes advantage of the Caliphate's concentration of Naval assets. SEU Battleships effortlessly destroys convoys. SEU commerce raiders have a field day with convoys, and Aircraft Carriers back them. SEU also deploys submarines and defeats many convoys, for the first time actually endangering the Caliphate as they choke out their supply of Bauxite and Steel, causing actual shortages, and SEU sinks large numbers of Caliphate supply convoys. More days like this will follow, and it would be smart for the Caliphate to start rationing lest they be destroyed. The Panther proves to be formidable. Caliphate tanks are outclassed, and SEU tanks even further. SEU is experimenting with placing a 85mm on the T-34.
Can you make it slightly more... comprehensive? I mean, you could hold scrap Iron drives. SEU is encouraging usage of "Victory Gardens". These gardens will help SEU feed their armies, and will resolve the food issues in the SEU. SEU is already rationing food (industrial goods are as plentiful as ever, somehow. Everyone has a fancy car and nice houses, yet they don't have food. The single weirdest nation ever.), and the people are unhappy. So, SEU is trying to make up for it. They're catching on, and Rural Farmers are being trained and subsidized. Note: SEU has a massive industrial capacity; that's not going to change. Their GDP is bigger than SNE, Italy and the Caliphate put together; they have unlimited natural resources. But they are only halfway to being a war economy, everyone else is finished. SEU has bulk on their side, but it's unwieldy as hell; the fact that they've warred with smaller enemies has made them overconfident in their own capacity to win a war and they have incompetent fools in Middleman positions (they have no idea how to fight a war far away from their gigantic industrial base), just look at Rear Admiral Liu or Grigory Kulik (spoiler, he single-handedly sinks Myeongyang by "virtue" of incompetence (though he later makes a noble last stand and goes down with his ship, as well as saving 91% of his ship's crew), and Kulik single-handedly lost the entire nation of Sweden and 21,000 men to SNE and was fired in 2 days for his sheer incompetence.). It's going to take SEU at least 3 pages to turn into a war economy and figure out how to transport all their stuff and fight a war super far away (the very same continent that protects SEU from the enemy also protects the enemy from SEU), which they have in great amounts. It's going to take another page for them to actually hire decent commanders and Generals, all the good people are at the top or way bottom, the Middle is plagued with incompetent fools. So, you have a year and half where SEU is fighting with one hand tied behind its back and drunk. And then you have another 6 months where SEU is fighting just drunk. Either way, it's unlikely to have good prospects for those 2 years, for obvious reasons. So you've got a full 2 years to "convince" SEU that staying in the War is a bad idea.
The Caliphate begins rationalizing on food and investing in freedom gardens. Food quality drops, but it becomes much more efficient in smaller servings which are still filling. No more Cuisine eating. Also, toys and everyday objects made from iron, copper, tin and such are being replaced with plastic ones or nothing at all. The Caliph calls out the SEU for having such foolish reasons for joining the war. The war sparked because Italy invaded the Caliphate. Does this affect the SEU? Not at all. The SEU is fighting a war which they believe will turn out in their favour, but it is actually ruining them. If the SEU doesn't stop fighting wars that they should have never had a part in, they aren't going to stick around for much longer. The SEU has no real reason to be involved in anything, they should deal with their own problems instead of others. Trade convoy lines have never stopped being defended, in the last month, 2 SEU commerce raiders have been sunk in really embarrassing engagements. The SEU doesn't realize that if they destroy the Caliphate's supply lines they may stop the war, but what's the use? Millions, even Billions in dollars worth of military equipment and ships destroyed, thousands dead, all for the Caliphate to most likely rise up again very quickly. If the SEU gives up now, they have nothing to worry about, since the Caliphate isn't going to bother invading them anyway, they have no use for a war in Asia, the SEU is literally an entire ideology on wasting as much human lives and money as possible.
The Federation decides it's had enough of watching a nation get bullied and sends out it's ships with 1 mission find SEU commerce raiders and take them out The Federation expects this to help as they have put wayyy better steel and guns and torpedoes on their ships Also the Federation sends a comminique to the Caliphate saying that we will help if you ask
SEU decides the Caliphate is right. From now on, they're going to earn boatloads of money off the War. SEU does not order a cessation of hostilities, but they move back into strictly defensive positions. Everyone in SEU is going to be rich! SEU offers a secret deal to the Fascists: if SNE gives back Sweden to UBR, SEU will build them all the Panthers, Artillery, Planes, Ships and other Heavy Military Equipment SNE and their buddies could ever need, as well as ammo for everything. Food and Iron are naturally included. No Oil though. No Oil. Small arms are not SEU's Forte, and the Fascists will have to deal with that on their own. SEU will also sell this at a low price, making it suitable for wartime economics. SEU will finally give SNE the quantity it needs to defeat the Caliphate on equal terms, at least in theory. Reality is more complex. There are many problems which I'll elaborate on. For one, SEU's industry is 60 Quantity 40 Quality. SEN's industry is 40 Quantity 60 Quality. This obviously results in SEU-made Heavy Weapons being of lower quality. The thing is, SEU will help out SNE a lot, but SEU's Panthers won't be significantly better than Caliphate M4s, perhaps a little but not by a lot. SEU's Panthers are cheaper, for some of the same reasons. In addition, the Panther is too mechanically complex for SEU factories and will not be as effective as SNE-made Panthers. As a matter of fact, a lot of SNE's weapons are too mechanically complex for SEU, it's just that the Panther is a particular offender at being so mechanically complex that SEU Factories have no idea how to build it. The Panzer IV is simpler and easier to build, but it would be so bad that SEU building just Panthers would be more economical. The Fundamental problem is that SEU's industry is different from SNE. SEU is unable to replicate the quality over quantity approach of the SNE, instead preferring to pump out massive numbers of T-34s and everything. This is why the partnership will work, but it will be inefficient. SEU loathes the Fascists and SEU plans on steamrolling whomever comes out on top between the Fascists and Muslims, since whomever comes out on top will have expended their resources while SEU will have fought a itty bitty nation and will have plenty of strength left to finish off whomever wins. That's the plan, also why SEU refuses to export to them Oil (so they attack the Caliphate)
The SNE accepts, Sweden is yours all plans to do anything with that place are eliminated. They are grateful for all the help the SEU are going to provide with Panthers,Ammo,Food and resources.
SEU has proposed 2 tank designs to SNE. These are... weird, but the Fascist Leader might accept them because he has some very weird ideas about weapons. Maus: Weighing in at 190 tons, this this is just a normal tank but bigger. With 110mm cannon and reasonably heavy armor (not as heavy as IRL Maus for speed reasons, mostly 6 inches with some 8-inch areas), this tank is built for one purpose; fighting alongside infantry to punch holes in enemy lines. It has a maximum speed of 21km. In theory, it could be used to punch through heavily fortified areas. In practice, Caliphate Terrain is unsuitable for Heavy Fortification and it would have no reasonable use; its mechanical unreliability would also be a major problem. Ironically, the next and bigger tank would probably be more useful. Ratte: 1000 tons. 1000 tons. Yes. 1000. Not 100. 1000. The Ratte has 1 280mm SEU Naval Rifle. Yes; Naval Rifle. The Ratte has 1 purpose; destroy. Equipped with 8 40mm Bofors Cannons and 2 127mm Antiaircraft Guns, obviously not equipped with proximity fuze. It can make a nice 30km/h, although with constant breakdowns. It's huge. It even has 2 motorcycles and a small infirmary, and a dedicated repair crew to repair the constant breakdowns (to be expected for a vehicle of its size) and to maintain it on the go (no easy task). It isn't even a reasonable use of resources, it can't maneuver and anything other than Sand, Rocks, or plain hard dirt acts like quicksand; it would probably be more efficiently used on the goddamn useless Maus, if you were any other nation. So then why is this better? For one reason. 90% of the Sunayaad Caliphate is desert. This monstrosity is an open country tank. The Ratte is right at home country in the Caliphate, no annoying rivers to cross, no mountains, just Rocks and some Sand! There is no need to maneuver, you're in a giant flat plane! It's got relatively little armor, at most 8 inches. That's because its primary threat is Aerial bombers, not other tanks (it's got a 280mm gun. It has nothing to fear from other tanks.). So it has 8 40mmm Bofors guns and 127mm Antiaircraft guns. Crazy as it might be, this monstrosity might be, just might be, useful! I mean, SEU won't build SNE any more than 6 of them, because it's too big and SEU worries that SNE might order insane numbers of this thing and bankrupt themselves.
In all respects, the Panther is in every way better than the M4 Saladin. The only problem the Panther faces is that the M4 Saladin can be produced in much larger amounts, but that means it may take 3-5 M4's to completely destroy a Panther head on without much stradegy. Next, the Panther is quite complex, relatively expensive and not very reliable and prone to breaking down. The M4 is incredibly reliable, it breaks down rarely, and if so it is easy to repair. It can also outmaneuver a Panther and reach greater speeds. To combat the Panther, another variant of the M4, the M4A3E8 Saladin. It's a distinctive upgrade, a greater 75 mm gun with a muzzle break, large hatches, wet ammo bins to combat the persistence of the Saladin catching fire, greater side armour, new HVSS suspension and a revised turret. It has a top speed of 47 km and is seemingly a bit better than the regular M4 at maneuvering in rough terrain. It's not better than the Panther, but it sure as hell is close to being close to equal to it, having a gun that can fire as much and as long as the Panther, with better speed and better reliability. It will be produced in about 1 year or so. Tank destroyers are here! Big guns hiding in the back lines, lightly armoured but sneaky and able to destroy Panthers with ease, the M10 Lion. It is fitted with a 75 mm M7 Turkish gun, a literal artillery and AA weapon, VVSS suspension, 51 km of speed, and light armour. It's armour is so light that it can be destroyed by a light tank, but only on a 1 on 1 battle straight on. Its main purpose is to be in the back lines, camouflaged with a massive gun and killing SNE tanks. Due to the openness of the desert, it is quite difficult to conceal yourself, even though the tank has very concealing desert camo, but in European woodlands and such, it is one sneaky tank It will be produced in 1 year.
BEACHING OF IBERIA IN BISCAY 500,000 troops pledging allegiance to the SNE, from the sea and land march into Iberia. Multiple engagements insue, but the beach landings of the Biscay coast in northern Iberia are nothing short of the Normandy experience. An attempt to land 50,000 troops by sea on Santander and surrounding locations is in itself a monstrosity plan. The Caliphate is ill-prepared, a few bunkers dot the coastline, various supply routes and trenches signify a backup plan for whatever goes wrong, with the beach dotted with barbed wire and Czech Hedgehog barriers. It seems as if their defences are weak, and that's true, their artificial defence is little to be proud of, but the key gold bringer is the natural defences. Huge, soaring cliffs, and almost non-existent beaches which are dotted with jagged rocks. Clearly, the SNE didn't plan ahead, and so once they found out that an invasion would be nearly impossible they left, but not before getting sliced up by Caliphate troops, losing nearly 5,000 men. Although they bombed Caliphate positions, by air, their planes were weakened by AA fire and the AI-2. Operational Victory: Caliphate, Strategic Victory: Caliphate MARCH THROUGH NORTHERN IBERIA After news of the failure of the beach invasion, SNE troops sped through Northern Spain in the Navarre area. They use Blitzkrieg tactics, something which the Caliphate was somewhat prepared for, as they have trained on similar exercises, but the sheer amount of 400,000 troops moving in was nearly jaw-dropping to the eyes of 300,000 Caliphate troops. The Caliphate established massive and strategic defensive lines, bunkers, pillboxes, trenches, barricades, strongholds and checkpoints, all established for defending a massive army. It works well... for the most part. The SNE's mobile force moves quickly through the region, but the mountainous and hilly region leaves them exposed in bottleneck positions, making it difficult to move tanks through as they are obliterated from above the hilltops. What makes it a bit easier is the fact that although the terrain has many hills, they are smooth, making it easier to move along, but the obvious height advantage the Caliphate has is obviously detrimental to the SNE. In the air, the AI-2 and A-40 attack ground troops by dive bombing, but also dog fight with SNE planes. Overall, the SNE has the aerial advantage, but that doesn't mean the Caliphate's airforce didn't do anything, they did actually, and in fact an entire division was forced defeat after the A-40 and B-17 utterly destroyed SNE supply lines, forcing 40,000 men to basically die or give up due to the fact that they had no more ammo, fuel or supplies. It's a literal bloodbath, trench warfare was forced to happen in some places due to the sheer bombardment from the Caliphate, who with their advanced artillery, shelled SNE attack lines for weeks, non-stop. SNE's infantry effectiveness on bunkers was ineffective. Since their flamethrowing technology is non-existent, their only way to overcome Caliphate defensive lines was by air, artillery, and by outnumbering some forces 100 to 1, while being cooked alive by stationary flamethrowers. The M4 and Panther fights were brutal. The Panther in all aspects except for reliability, ease of production and repair and maneuverability stomp the M4. The only hope for the M4 was allied anti-tank weapons and numbers. In one instance, a Panther took down nearly 5 M4's before it was shelled by an anti-tank gun a few metres away. The M4 outnumbers the Panther by a lot, but that means it takes more M4's to destroy a Panther than one could generally. In the end, after dubious fighting, 130,000 dead on both sides with a combined 300,000 injured or MIA on both sides, it ends in an SNE victory, but a sickly victory, the best way to explain it is being way too tired to celebrate it, that's the SNE. Their Blitzkrieg tactics were on par, they stormed the Caliphate positions with ultimate power and strategy, but the Caliphate's immense height and terrain advantage and their strategically constructed defences meant the SNE was victorious, but with an extremely noticeable large hole in their forces, they won but with the case of nearly breaking in half. They rest and reorganize and supply their lines, but the Caliphate isn't done yet, they keep a persistent bombing streak, giving the Caliphate more time, but within a few weeks the SNE will bring themselves back up and attempt again. Zaragoza is the goal, and they are very close, but the Caliphate with almost slave labour literally births immense defensive lines left and right and plans out ambushes and destruction of roads. Operational Victory: SNE. Strategic Victory: 60% SNE/40% Caliphate. [RESERVED FOR BATTLE OF ZARAGOZA]
Development has begun on the M2 Sakhra. It's a fast firing version of the M1 Sakhra, with a magazine, shorter barrel and an option of automatic or semi-automatic fire. They are much lighter than the M1, easier to maintain, load and handle, and have a faster firing rate. The only disadvantage is that the M1 has a much more powerful shot and longer range, but in terms of range, the M2 is considerably close. It will be introduced in 10 posts and will be mass produced all throughout the military. It's very reliable, can withstand sandy conditions and other undesirable feats, and is in some cases better than the M1. An additional 100,000 soldiers are being sent to Iberia to defend against the SNE. The Caliphate is a logistical dream, any nation would be envious of their mass amount of oil and supply routes. Iron isn't as plentiful, but considering the supply line between Canada and the Caliphate has never been touched, the Caliphate is still very strong and will last a bit longer. Iceland has been invaded and will be fitted for a Caliphate military base and stronghold within 1 year. FYI, Italy has been effectively kicked out of Libya, their invasion was a mere fail, they could barely withstand the desert conditions and are ultimately an embarrassment. The SNE is 10x better than Italy who has begun their operation to invade Greece. (Alt, watch out) The AI-4 is nearly finished, more information on it later, but it will be a massive game changer for the Caliphate.
With the SNE loss/victory at the Iberian Peninsula, the SNE finally decides to develop anti-tank weaponry. The outdated Tank-Gewehr which was used in WW1 is to be used, even though it may be in-effective. So, the SNE creates a prototype explosive gun (rocket launcher/bazooka) to be used against tanks. The development will take a year and will require 2 people to operate in battle. The loss of troops at the Iberian Peninsula requires the SNE to either boost the troops at the Iberian Peninsula or fight smarter. Knowing that it is made up of mountains, more snipers are being trained. Scopes are being issued to more and more. Since they have lost around, 150,000 troops naval ships have been sent supplying more supplies (food, ammo, and weaponry). Boots and clothing for this terrain are sent too.
In Iberia, during Blitzkrieg and heavy scale attacks, snipers aren't the most effective, but during skirmishes and small scale fights the sniper elite of the SNE prove deadly. The Caliphate knows that if the SNE keeps pushing their might they could take Iberia with them. The Caliphate doesn't want this, and so with the B-17 strategic bomber they bomb French military factories and SNE supply lines, effectively delaying them, but that means the SNE is still massing an incredibly massive force that cannot be contained.
This does not destroy the SEU Factories. SEU is counting on this to make sure that no matter what happens the Caliphate and SNE can fight on equal terms, and that when they inevitably destroy each other SEU can defeat whatever's left. In any case, SEU has its own problems. Namely, defeating Japan. The will to defeat Japan is high; Ulsan has not been forgotten, no. SEU has finally launched an amphibious invasion of Japan. Japan is doomed; there are simply too many Socialist Troops and too little Japanese ones. They fight, to the Child. SEU's used to that. They butcher small children that rush at them with Bamboo spears.
I don't think you understand the Fascist's endgame. Their endgame is complete obliteration of the Caliphate as an entity. What did you expect? YOU MURDERED THE POPE!
