ITALY'S STRENGTH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 180, 1 July 1940, Page 6

ITALY'S STRENGTH

ARMY, NAVY AND AIR POWER i On August 30, 1936, Signor Mus-v solini announced that in time o) war a total of 8 million men could be called to the colours. This total includes the Army, Navj r , Air Force and National Militia. This latter force forms part of the land forces of Italy and is in process of re-org-anisation and considerable expansion. Its role'includes the re-organ-sation Of the territorial defences if Italy, the supply of Black Shirts units to the i-egular Army Corps, and the pre and post military training of, theoretically, every ablebodied male Italian. The Army is organised into 13 \rmy Corps, and consists of 30 InF antry Divisions, 3 Mobile Divisions. 3 Motorised Divisions, and a Mechanised Brigade. In addition there I are 5 Alpini Divisions, several reginents of Bersaleri and 4 Tank "Regiricnts as Army and Corps Troops, n the autumn of 1930 owing to the rxtra classes being called up for Oie East African Campaign and noi; >ret having been demobilised, the peace stVength Avas approximately 750,000. The navy includes two battleships of 35,000 tons with nine 15-incli guns and carrying four aircraft; 2 modernised 23,000 tons battleships with ten 12.6-inch guns; seven 10,000 ton cruisers with 8-inch guns: twelve 5000 to 7500 tons cruisers vith 6-inch guns and also a few old jruisers. There are twelve modern tnd six old flotilla leaders; forty'our modern destroyers; thirty-two modern torpedo boats; and fortyone old torjjedo craft. The submarine force consists of eight oceangoing; thirty-six medium; fortnight small; six mine-laying au« ;even old submarines. There is also 1 large number of highspeed motor orpedo boats, gunboats and auxiliaries. In addition Italy has under .•onstruction two battleships of 35,•00 tons (laid down in 1938), twelve* couts of 35.C01) tons and an unpecified number of submarines; vhile two old battleships are undergoing extensive re-construction. The peace time personnel of tlie Italian Navy is about MS,OOO al' ranks. Spezia, Taranto and Pola :he chief naval and military posts -■f the kingdom, are strongly fortified. The Air Force consists of four Aiv ivlsions in Metropolitan Italy, and Colonial Air Forces in ibya and East Africa with a tot a 1 first line strength of approximately 850 aircraft. The personnel of the 'egia Aeronautiea for 1938 was 'i.210 all ranks, and no doubt this mil other figures have been considerably increased during record vjiiiks.