1 BB 2 CA 1 DD 1 SUB 2 TT isn’t a huge navy. Even if Italy gets as much money as possible, and invests it in more navy, it still won’t be much more than a roadblock in the US’ way, if he’s headed to the Med.
Still, that $$ is better than nothing. Ideally, all of the extra non-NO money would go to Germany, but in most games, Germany is really busy in the early game and Italy can snatch alot of the extra money from territory income.
If its not building a can-opener force of tanks, and its not building a navy, what good is it (see below)???
During a KJF, you can just go wild on the $. Take all the oil. Take the 3/4 bonus by grabbing Egypt. If America isn’t coming, then taking Gibraltar or knocking that fleet down may give you more turns of clear med, but one of the most effective things to do (besides the can opener) is to prevent the Iraq/Persia complexes from being built early and making Cairo an easy VC. Or, build a sweet can opener (2 tanks to start, 1 rescued from Africa, 10 more mechs and tanks built on the first 3 turns). Or heck, try to do both but you dont have the $$ to fuel extra transports, the can opener, and a garrison force.
In a KGF game, North africa is lost and the fleet is usually trapped. Navy is not a good move, USA will demolish it. In these games, I buy a mix of infantry and fighters, to protect germany, the atlantik wall, and counterattack. Italy takes over a garrison role.
Don’t bother with the French North Africa bonus. Its a trap.
In the KGF, may want to evacuate Africa more or less completely, because, well…its a trap. Income you take from the french ends up become USA income so that’s not a good use of your efforts.
Break the UK bonus early, and if you do it by taking (Cyprus best, Malta next, then Alex, Cairo, Gib, Trans) a territory they can’t retake, thats even better.
All things being equal, UK can easily hold Africa (if you dont threaten London and you only kept 1 TT) Keeping a navy makes this less certain, though you will face 3xTanks each round coming up from Africa in the absence of a SL threat
GL HF