Mission #8 - A Coy/RCR Campaign, Sicily to Ortona, Italy, 1943

[ChappyNS]

Your mean, that poor Brumbar...I am still rooting fort he Panther, it should get a point blank CH right about now in hex L1!

Except that there will be no one there shortly

 

[FMFCB]

You will note that we are now in Italy in October

Thanks

 

[ChappyNS]

TURN 9 (CDN)



The two Honey tanks fired at medium range at the German infantry that suddenly appeared at the top of the hill 517, but the small shells impacted on the ridge slightly below them without effect. 2 Pl, upon seeing this, also noticed the Germans. They fired their small arms and succeeded in sending their NCO fleeing and pinning the others. Capt Dillon was frightened of the Panther, uphill and just 40 meters away, so he and the PIAT team moved safely through the trees and joined the rest of 2 Pl.

Nearby was another group of Germans where the mortar team had abandoned their light mortar. The MMG opened up on them, also pinning them, and that is when the co-located mortar teams at the bottom of the hill decided to join the fray. They launched several bombs, killing five Germans, and sent the remainder scrambling back over the hill to better cover. Much to their chagrin, the Panther pivoted on its axis, and fired hastily with it's MGs, followed by the main gun. One of the mortar teams was blown to pieces (critical hit!) while the other dropped its mortar and ran back to cap Bowman. At this point in time, all three A Coy mortars were out of action.

Meanwhile, Capt Chapman took command of 6 Pl and ran them at full speed back towards the bridgehead. 6 Pl had successfully defended the Canadian right flank, and it was time to get them back to Maj Galloway and B Coy.

Maj Galloway noted with some trepidation that there was a lot of enemy activity heading straight towards 1 Pl on his left. He decided to shore up the defence by ordering CSM Sterlin to take 5 Pl (minus the PIAT section) and head to Maj Liddell's position. Sterlin immediately gathered both sections and they sprinted south to the small wood near the depression. Liddell noted that Galloway's reinforcements were on the way, and he too shifted his sections in a position to cover the open ground between hill 505 and the foxholes.

This battle wasn't over yet, but Liddell knew that time was running out for the Germans and that they would probably become reckless if they had any hope of achieving their mission...

TURN 9 (GER)



Leutnant Kruger was finally able to calm himself down. He noted that several squads had also withdrawn from the hill and he decided it was time to gather them up for a final assault. But first he would have to have them overcome their fear, and so he picked up his MP40 and jogged to the nearest group in an orchard.

Capt Dillon heard the Panther start up and begin moving downhill. It didn't get far when through the bushes he could see it advance menacingly, it's turret traversing back and forth, looking for something to eat. Dillon had placed three PIAT teams around him when they figured out where the tank was going a few minutes ago. Two of those teams were in a position now to hit the Panther in the flank. The team in the woods and nearest the bridgehead fired first, but the PIAT had a habit of malfunctioning in battle, and this particular launcher decided that now was it's time. The men cursed as the Panther drove by them - they could almost touch the beast but couldn't do anything about it.

Meanwhile, the PIAT team in Dillon's location also trained their weapon at the Panther and pulled the trigger. The spring mechanism released, throwing the anti-tank bomb at the large target that was so near to them. The bomb hit the Panther in the side of the hull towards the rear of the tank and exploded. The Panther ground to a sudden halt, belching smoke. The hatches were hastily opened and the crew scrambled to get out of their destroyed tank. Mercilessly, they were cut down by the Canadians who so recently saw what had happened to one of their own mortar teams. Both AFVs were now destroyed and Dillon could breathe a sigh of relief.

In the centre, the newest German platoon moved forward, abandoning one of its squads for some reason. Galloway had no way of knowing why that happened, but he was more concerned with the twenty Germans still headed his way. When they began to get close, 4 Pl came out of hiding and ripped into the surprised enemy, who, taken unawares, decided to flee for cover, leaving the German officer no other recourse than to follow them, cursing all the way back to the church.

On the far Canadian left, at hill 505, 3 section saw another platoon of Germans pop out of nowhere, advancing over the hill. The men with their bren gun fired quickly, breaking the a German officer and ten of his men who retreated from the hill. From the gully, 3 section also noticed yet another squad of Germans approaching their position. They fired again but this time the bren gun malfunctioned and the Germans were able to make it to the trees at the edge of the depression. They were just meters from Maj Liddell's position....

 

[dlazov]

So sad I am crying of the poor poor lost panther....

I would have gave the Panther a fire order and have it blast at J0. If I was playing as the Germans I'd move that Panther to blast that Dillon stack

 

[ChappyNS]

So sad I am crying of the poor poor lost panther....

I would have gave the Panther a fire order and have it blast at J0. If I was playing as the Germans I'd move that Panther to blast that Dillon stack

Yeah, at that point J0 was not a known enemy, so instead of firing at a "?", in advance attitude the big guy moves until it discovers a known enemy. The Panther's main problem here was that his infantry support was fragile. A lone tank moving against two platoons of infantry in wood lines is not a recipe for success - but neither is doing nothing, for the bridgehead is the mission, and the Germans most likely have but one turn left!

 

[von Garvin]

Those names: Galloway, Sterlin, Dillon. This is like reading the Regimental history! Love it!

 

[ChappyNS]

Those names: Galloway, Sterlin, Dillon. This is like reading the Regimental history! Love it!

Yup! Will we see a Sterlin's Castle?

 

[ChappyNS]

TURN 10 (CDN)



With the dead Panther still smoking beside him, Capt Dillon had 2 Pl engage the remaining Germans up the hill. Their resolve had gone upon seeing their armour perish, and they fled back over the hill.

In the centre, the lone 1 section from 1 Pl engaged the Germans who had just fled to the church, and five Germans fell dead in the house of worship.

6 Pl, still under command of Capt Chapman, moved south into the bridgehead, now on the main road from the river. Two mortar teams reclaimed their mortars, and 5 Pl continued to slide to the south in order to help out Maj Liddell. The Germans were starting to thin out, but there was still a healthy presence of the enemy moving against Maj Liddell and 1 Pl.

TURN 10 (GER)

​

Yet another German squad moved over the hill, and Dillon's 2 Pl (quickly emerging as MVP of this battle) engaged and broke the Germans, once again sending them back down the opposite side of the hill.

Maj Liddell watched as the German squad advanced within meters of him and 2 section. When they were so very close, the bren gun opened up followed by the small arms fire of the section, and the Germans were shot dead to a man. Another squad moved quickly to the Canadian left, attempting to encircle the foxholes. Sgt Canning saw them come - he engaged with the Honey's MGs driving them back towards some woods to the south. Liddell was happy with the situation, but for the third time in the last ten minutes, a German AFV stormed down the hill towards the Canadians. It was a Marder III, a tank destroyer, but it still carried high explosive shells. Liddell watched as his men physically shrunk back into the trees...

And now for the dr to end the mission....."4"....the battle continues...

 

[ChappyNS]

TURN 11 (CDN)





"19 this is 9. You have been granted access to 150mm guns. Use wisely, out."

Maj Liddell was hopeful. Germans were appearing in greater numbers all around him and his men were barely holding them off, running low on ammunition. A large dose of 150mm shells would be crucial. He gained access to the battery, giving them a grid reference to fire a spotting round. The gunners informed him that a spotting round was on the way, and with great pleasure Liddell noted the accuracy of the round as it landed beside the Marder. Meanwhile, Liddell ordered his section to fire at the Germans who were very close - the fire was so intense that the enemy fled into the depression.

Capt Chapman waved 6 Pl on, relinquishing his command back to Cpl Ellis. Chapman joined the firebase, taking a position with the MMG as he watched 6 Pl race down the road towards Maj Liddell's position. The 5 Pl PIAT section joined them.


TURN 11 (GER)

​

Maj Liddell was about to call in some artillery fire that could decide the outcome of the battle when suddenly the radio stopped working. He noticed that the radio had sustained some damage, and now the artillery request was lost until the radio could be repaired!

The German scouts on hill 517 moved over the crest and into the brush. Chapman and the MMG team fired immediately, causing them to begin to flee. While preparing to run away, Capt Dillon and 2 Pl gunned them down.

While half of the Germans in the church fired upon the Canadians in the woods, Cpl Pasternack grabbed five soldiers with an MG34 and charged forward, determined to get to the bridgehead. He and his men didn't get far - the 1 Pl PIAT section fired their small arms and broke the charging Germans, causing them to retreat back into the church from whence they came.

On the far right of the battle, another German squad entered the woods near Liddell, and once again his men fired accurately, killing half of them and sending the survivors fleeing into the depression. More squads were appearing on hill 505, followed by a PzIVH that crested on the hill. Both Honey tanks fired at the newest AFV, but at that range and at a moving target caused both shells to explode harmlessly below the crest. Liddell couldn't believe it - this was the fourth German AFV accompanying the infantry company in the counterattack for the bridgehead. He was momentarily distracted, and therefore didn't see the Marder come to a halt on the hill. The Marder took aim and fired at Liddell's men. The 75mm high explosive round detonated in the trees above them. Metal shards and wooden splinters entered the body of the company commander, causing him much pain and rendering him unable to command. His men watched him limp back to the foxholes and into the woods, grunting and swearing all the way.

1 Pl was now temporarily without it's leader and the enemy was launching a full assault on their position. Where were the reinforcements that would end this battle?

And the dr - 1 is a ...."3" so the battle continues!

 

[ChappyNS]

You have probably noticed that my turns have become more infrequent lately. Reason: with fantastic summer weather and zero COVID19 cases here in eastern Canada, it is becoming harder to sit here and do this now that we can get out and play

TURN 12 (CDN)



While Sgt Musgrave was having problems with his intercom, Sgt Canning's gunner lined up the still moving MkIV in his sights and fired the main gun. He saw the shell strike true on the hull, but then the small shell ricocheted off the front protective armour of the German tank.

Capt Chapman and Capt Dillon noted the presence of the new squad in the brush above them. With a concerted crossfire, they managed to shoot up all of the enemy, leaving no survivors.

Maj Galloway noted that Maj Liddell was injured and out of the battle for now. Therefore, he directed all PIAT teams from both companies to move south towards the newly revealed enemy AFVs. 6 Pl continued moving in that direction and occupied the large wood about 250 meters from 1 Pl's position. CSM Sterlin did the same with 5 Pl - they crossed the road quickly and entered the woods near the depression. Sterlin saw some Germans trying to hide in the depression. Both sections fired down upon them at close range. They killed five of the panzer grenadiers, but the remainder started yelling out loud and looked like they were preparing to charge (a "2" MC result - fanatic!).

Meanwhile the Marder continued to fire at the location that Liddell had just vacated - the HE round was well placed and the Canadian section broke and fled back to join the company commander to the rear of the woods. But Sterlin's platoon slowly moved in behind the fleeing Canadians - they had to protect the foxholes at all costs.


TURN 12 (GER)



The Marder commander watched the Canadians flee, then spotted another section occupying the foxholes. He ordered the gunner to fire at the new location, but as the gunner depressed the firing mechanism the crew heard a loud snap and the main gun failed to fire. It was broken for now. The commander watched through the hatch and the loader and gunner scrambled with their tools to try and fix the gun. Without machine guns, the Marder was now a sitting duck.

One of the German squads with NCO in the church decided to run forward between hill 517 and the woods in the centre, using the orchards for cover, but Maj Galloway saw them in time, and 4 Pl fired upon them effectively, driving them back to the church. The Germans were making absolutely no headway in the centre, but on the Canadian left things were much different. Everywhere on that flank the Germans charged forward - they outnumbered the Canadians and they had two AFVs to aid in their attack. Some Germans squads advanced close to the Canadians, others broke and fled, and on the far flank, another German NCO was killed. The MkIV, having just been hit by a Canadian tank round, continued moving down the forward slope of hill 505 and parked itself next to the Marder. It fired an HE round at the Canadian foxholes, but the shell missed its mark.

The fanatical Germans in the depression threw grenades and then advanced into the same location as a Canadian section. Hand to hand combat broke out but the Canadians got lucky when a lucky burst of sten gun fire took out five of the Germans. The close combat continued, but now the Canadians had the advantage.

And the end of turn dr is: "4" so the battle continues!

 

[ChappyNS]

TURN 13 (CDN)



Maj Liddell shook off his fear and managed to get 2 section back into gear as well. The radio was still broken however, and he cursed that he couldn't provide his men with the much needed resource. In front of his position, he heard CSM Sterlin giving fire orders to his men who were firing at point blank range against some elite panzer grenadiers, who took some casualties and fled. Sterlin charged into the hand to hand combat with his section, joining the other Canadians there who were fighting for their lives, tooth and nail. The vastly outnumbered German fanatics were quickly destroyed to a man.

The Honey tanks repeated their efforts to destroy the defeated Germans in the woods, but not much was achieved other than continuing to frighten the German soldiers.

The 5 Pl PIAT section ran hurriedly into the wooden house, but the German officer near the depression directed excellent firepower against them, causing the section to break and run back towards Cpl Ellis. The MkIV also directed it's firepower against the wooden house, blowing a small hole in the southern wall.

Back on hill 517, Capt Chapman moved the firebase on top of the hill, giving them a fantastic view of the valley before them.


TURN 13 (GER)



The crew commander of the MkIV noted the increased danger to his front, 80 meters away in the woods. He ordered the gunner to fire at the woods there, but the shell exploded harmlessly to the left of the Canadians.

Lt Kruger knew that the counterattack had fizzled, but he was determined to try one last time. He grabbed the members of the last squad and charged from the church towards the hill. The newly positioned Canadian MMG on top of the hill engaged them fiercely, driving the Germans back into the church yet again.

Meanwhile, on the other flank, the German officer led his squad into the depression, but Sterlin and his men engaged them, shooting them down mercilessly.

Maj Liddell watched as some Germans jumped into close combat with his men, but suddenly the German soldiers began to withdraw. The German AFVs backed off the hill and withdrew. Their costly counterattack had failed to push the Canadians back across the river and now the panzer grenadiers were themselves threatened on their right flank by other Canadian units. Liddell breathed a huge sigh of relief. A and B Coys had worked together to succeed where singularly they may have failed. It was a close call, but this mission was complete.

Wow, that was a large battle. In the previous seven missions, no German AFVs had appeared. In this mission there were four! And although the Honey tanks were limited in their use across the river, the arrival of B Coy was invaluable and probably saved A Coy from being rolled up by superior numbers over a large battlefield. And so the Canadians get closer to Ortona...

After action results for A Coy will be detailed tomorrow....

 

[ChappyNS]

MISSION #8 RESULTS

A Coy lost one mortar team and a half squad during this battle, and Maj Liddell was wounded.

Maj Liddell's wound wasn't major, and he has recovered for the next mission (dr = "2")

Capt Dillon's performance during this mission was superb, and he has been "promoted" to 9-2. CSM Sterlin was also up for promotion but not at this time.

Using the other personal leader rules, Capt Chapman is also promoted to 9-2

The squad seasoning dr was a "1", so two sections get to improve: 2 section, 1 Pl is now elite and 3 section, 2 Pl is now elite as well

A Coy replacements - they have a HS back in the lineup for 2 Pl, but it is 2nd line quality (237); the mortar team is also replaced

A Coy is off to Mission #9 at the infamous Moro River!

 

[Ahriman667]

Nice Battle. More tanks showed up for you than when I tested the mission. Good job.

 

[ChappyNS]

Nice Battle. More tanks showed up for you than when I tested the mission. Good job.

Thanks! I had to roll "2" or "3" four times for that to happen. Statistically highly unlikely! But that's the way it goes