@colonel-ace said in The Italian playbook:
Would it be viable to buy fighters to protect your Mediterranean fleet while you start using your transports to pump troops into Syria in order to take Iraq and put a complex there so you could still be able to do stuff
I see nothing wrong with buying a fighter on I2 to help protect your fleet and provide more counter attacking power. I would not do it on I1 as that $10 should be used for fast movers to assist Germany in taking Moscow as can-openers.
Regarding Syria and then Iraq. There is no way you can take and hold Iraq against any competent player. At best, you can take it.
Taking Syria you would need to block the UK SZ92 fleet with a single DD; otherwise they will just retake Syria. Since Trans-Jordon was not taken UK will move their SZ92 and SZ76 fleets to SZ98 plus adding their Egypt build to it. If UK did not take Persia on UK1, many people do, then they certainly will on UK2.
Thus, on I2 there will be, at most, 7 ground units in Iraq. UK can counter with, at least, 7 ground units plus 4-6 planes and that is all she wrote.
Benefits:
Italy collects Syria for probably 2 Turns, maybe only 1, and Iraq for 1 Turn. +4
Iraq goes British and thus Russia does not get to take this territory. (Most important benefit)
Detriments:
Italy is out 4 ground troops that could have been used in defense of Europe.
Syria will be collected by UK for the rest of the game. (Most important detriment)