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====== Operation Hannibal ======

<WRAP right 20em border centeralign>
<WRAP baretable>
|< 19.2em >|
^  Operation Hannibal  ^
|  {{:tankinrome.png?250}}  |
|  Confederate Tanks establishing control over Rome's roads  |

----

|< 19.2em 5em - 50% >|
| **Date**  | 11 March 2023  ||
| **Location**  | Rome  ||
| **Result**  | Italian victory \\ • Confederates fail to breach Italian spawn\\ • Italians temporarily removed from Turkish front\\ • Confederate soldiers pushed out of Rome  ||
^  Belligerents  ^^^
| {{flag_csa.webp?24}} Confederate States of America\\   || {{flag_itkingdom.png?24}} Kingdom of Italy\\ {{flag_hr.png?24}} Independent State of Croatia  |
^  Commanders and leaders  ^^^
| {{flag_csa.webp?24}} [[Voth | Publiustullius]]  || {{flag_itkingdom.png?24}} [[Dam_Son]]  |
^  Strength  ^^^
| ~8\\ 2 Tanks\\ ** (At peak)**  || ~7\\ \\ **(At peak)**  |
</WRAP></WRAP>

Operation Hannibal, also known as the Battle of Rome, was a major battle on the final war day of [[i38]], which pitted the formerly allied Confederate States of America and the Kingdom of Italy against each other in a gruesome urban struggle within the heart of Rome.  The war was undeclared, and as such, flag claiming was not a factor in the conflict. The Confederate deployment of tanks, with the relatively vulnerable Italian spawn and chest room, combined with easy entrance into the city, allowed for the Confederacy to pose a serious threat to the Roman ability to wage war.

===== Prelude =====

After a shockingly swift Confederate victory over English remnants in Nova Scotia, and, after a flaccid attempt to decisively alter the tide of battle in and around Greece, Confederate intman generals decided to alter the course of the Greco-Turkish War by depriving the Greeks of their wealthiest and most technologically advanced ally, Italy. Because the Confederate States of America had alliances with both Turkey and Italy, flag war was off the table. The only realistic way to assault Rome was to insert an armored strike force into the Italian capital, in an attempt to either take out the Roman chest room or spawncamp the Italians.

===== Phase I: Crossing The Alps ===== 

Operation Hannibal began with Confederate forces using the port system to sail into Southern France. The name of the nation was changed to Carthage, and messages of "Roma delenda est" were spammed in chat. Halfway through the crossing, the Confederate army realized that only two people had brought tanks. Being impatient, it was decided to push on towards Rome. Upon reaching the northern plateau adjacent to Rome, tanks were deployed, and the entire force marched into the front gate. The Confederate army was below full strength. The day's rally had been lower than previous days, and several Confederates had either logged off, or were fighting other conflicts in Brazil, Germany, or, Finland. Italy, meanwhile, had recently been bolstered by the influx of several refugees from France and additional Croatian support led by Rurik.

The attack caught the Italians by surprise. Nano was the first casualty. Any Italians in the city were quickly killed. However, because the Confederates were unfamiliar with the layout of the city, or, indeed, the exact whereabouts of the Italian spawn, they were unable to capitalize on this momentary coup, allowing the Italians to organize their counteroffensive.


===== Phase II: Roof Italians =====

An intense urban battle developed. The Confederates primarily occupied the streets, while the Italians used Rome's extensive network of roofs and ledges in order to drop Molotov cocktails (which were hastily mass produced by the Italians during the fighting) and take shots at the invaders. Extensive use of grenades and flamethrowers was seen. Confederate tanks continued to pummel the Italian base, at one point allowing for the Confederates to briefly fire shotguns into the Italian spawn room. However, Confederate numbers were eventually reduced throughout the fighting. After the loss of their tanks to Molotovs, the streets began to be openly contested. This resulted in a reassertion of Italian control over the center of Rome, with fighting developing around the docks and near the northern entrance. 

Some insertions within different parts of the city were attempted to push the Italians off the streets. However, with numbers and interest dwindling, and Italian resistance ever growing, the operation fizzled out. 

===== Aftermath =====

The Battle of Rome soured Italo-Confederate relations. Despite being an operational failure, it ruined Italian plans for campaigning against Turkey.