Turn 8 Oct 3-6, 1943
Fifth Army:
Archer-East:
HG PzRgt-HG PzD put in a light counter-attack against US 26 ID, which has been conducting diversionary attacks east of Cassino for the exact reason of trying to keep German troops occupied, away from the main offensive.
Poor weather hampered tanks in the American sector, leaving the infantry to slog on ahead without armoured support.
Oct 3:
US 45 ID continued to rest south of the R. Garigliano.
The whole of US 34 ID was in action today.
Up Route 7 135 Rgt attacked II/129 PzRgt and 115 PzBatt, with the support of the armoured cars of 91 Cav Recon Batt. Nearly 30% infantry casualties were caused, but only one tank was knocked out, while the attacking infantry took 10% casualties.
Between Route 7 and 6 133 and 168 Rgts made a joint attack against HG 2 Rgt, causing and taking light casualties.
In heavy rain, up Route 6 Truscott's new 442 Rgt joined 7 Rgt in an attack against 15 PzGrD's I/115 PzRgt and 525 TDRgt, causing and taking light casualties.
15 Rgt continued diversionary attacks towards Monte Cassino, taking heavy losses while inflicting negligible losses on the enemy. With such a small return for so much blood, diversionary attacks against the Mountain will be ceased.
US 36 ID's 143 Rgt joined the division's 636 TDBatt in diversionary attacks northwest of Monte Cassino, taking and inflicting only light casualties.
Oct 4:
Up Route 7 135 Rgt attacked II/129 PzRgt and 115 PzBatt, again with the support of the armoured cars of 91 Cav Recon Batt. They took and inflicted only light casualties.
Between Route 7 and 6 133 and 168 Rgts continued their attack against HG 2 Rgt, taking and inflicting only light casualties.
In heavy rain, up Route 6 442 Rgt and 7 Rgt continued to attack 15 PzGrD's I/115 PzRgt and 525 TDRgt. The attack stuttered as heavy casualties (10%) were taken while they dished out only light casualties.
What were diversionary attacks northwest of Monte Cassino by US 36 ID's 143 Rgt with the division's 636 TDBatt became a full scale attack with the addition of 141 and 142 Rgts, from the southeast. Though the division took excessive casualties (380 of 2560 riflemen committed), they ejected all German defenders, but were unable to properly occupy their positions.
Oct 4:
Up Route 7 135 Rgt attacked II/129 PzRgt and 115 PzBatt, again with the support of the armoured cars of 91 Cav Recon Batt.
Between Route 7 and 6 133 and 168 Rgts continued their attack against HG 2 Rgt, inflicting and taking medium casualties.
In heavy rain, up Route 6 442 Rgt and 7 Rgt continued to attack 15 PzGrD's I/115 PzRgt and 525 TDRgt, taking and inflicting medium casualties.
What were diversionary attacks northwest of Monte Cassino by US 36 ID's 143 Rgt with the division's 636 TDBatt became a full scale attack with the addition of 141 and 142 Rgts, from the southeast. Though the division took excessive casualties (380 of 2560 riflemen committed), they ejected all German defenders, but were unable to properly occupy their positions. 141 Rgt was left all but depleted.
Oct 5:
Up Route 7 135 Rgt attacked II/129 PzRgt and 115 PzBatt, this time with the support of the armoured cars of 34 ID's Recon Cmpy, and the support of anti-armour armed US spitfires. They managed to knock out a few tanks and eject II/129 PzRgt.
Between Route 7 and 6 133 and 168 Rgts continued their attack against HG 2 Rgt, ejecting the Rgt, and seeing 168 Rgt advance.
In heavy rain, up Route 6 442 Rgt and 7 Rgt continued to attack 15 PzGrD's I/115 PzRgt and 525 TDRgt; anti-armour armed US spitfires were called in for support.
Having fought into the Gustav Line northeast of Cassino, only engineers were able to really enter the position. 36 ID's commander, Gen. Walker, decided to attempt to enlarge his breach and ordered his 141 and 142 Rgts to attack to the northeast of their already won lodgement. His two worn out Rgts managed to take almost 25% casualties while inflicting negligible casualties on I/3 FJRgt.
Oct 6:
Up Route 7 135 Rgt and 34 ID's recon Cmpy attacked the remaining 115 PzRgt. Only 1 enemy tank was destroyed, but only light casualties were taken, also.
In between Route 7 and 6, 168 Rgt dug in awaiting the expected German counterattack.
Up Route 6 442 Rgt continued to attack, joined by 133 Rgt (switching gears from their attacks between Route 7 and 6) and 15 Rgt, since 7 Rgt was too disorganized to continue attacks. Casualties were heavy (390 of 2420 [16%] Riflemen committed) for the attackers, light for the defenders, and no ground was gained.
Both hexes gained in the Fifth Army's sector are likely to be counter-attacked by German forces and I wouldn't be surprised if they were both retaken.
Eighth Army:
Archer-Centre:
Oct 3:
UK 5 ID continued to rest south of Isernia as it prepared to follow up any successes of Archer-Centre.
CND 1 ID rested at Isernia, preparing to join the offensive in the coming days.
UK 46 ID arrived west of Archer-Centre and UK 56 ID arrived east of Archer-Centre, both preparing to hold their part of the line, or follow up success.
UK 4 ArmBgd broke into the Gustav line as they pushed back 1 FJD's engineers.
IND 8 ID has arrived at Archer-Centre's start line so they can begin supporting UK 4 ArmBgd.
In heavy rain, 6 Bengal Lancers-IND 8 ID attacked II/3 FJRgt-1 FJD, causing and incurring only light losses, and attracting the attention of HG PzRgt.
Oct 4:
In heavy rain, 6 Bengal Lancers-IND 8 ID attacked II/3 FJRgt-1 FJD, joined by UK 4 ArmBgd. They managed to eject II/3 FJRgt, but their place was quickly taken by HG PzRgt, which then inflicted heavy casualties on the attackers, with almost half of the 130 Allied tanks involved being knocked out, leaving 4 ArmBgd in a tough situation with only half of their tanks in action. Only 7 HG kills were confirmed.
Oct 5:
More of IND 8 ID's units were available to join the battle today.
IND 17 Bgd joined the Bengal Lancers and the very depleted UK 4 ArmBrg in renewed attacks against HG PzRgt, with the support of anti-armour armed spitfires. Only 6 of the enemy's 100 tanks were knocked out, compared to 105 of the attacking infantry and 14 of 72 tanks. It was enough, however, to convince HG PzRgt to give up their position, and UK 4 ArmBgd occupied the section of the Gustav Line.
IND 19 Bgd, supported by armoured cars of UK 56 ID's 44 ReconBatt and anti-armour armed spitfires attacked the engineers of 3 PzGrD. Fighting was bitter and the Indians dished out and received heavy casualties (470 of 1080 riflemen).
Oct 6:
IND 17 Bgd attacked up the northwest Appenine road. It was stopped by 1 FJD's Stugg Batt after taking nearly 25% casualties.
The wrecked IND 19 Bgd was joined by IND 21 Bgd for renewed attacks against the 3 PzGrD's engineers. Medium casualties were taken and light casualties dished out, but it was enough to oust the defenders and IND 19 Bgd occupied the vacated stretch of the Gustav Line.
IND 8 ID basically wrecked itself gaining their two captured hexes and with powerful German units in the second line of defence, I expect counterattacks against both hexes.
German reserves here seem pretty strong, but I have three divisions yet to be committed here (CND 1 ID, UK 46 and 56 IDs, though they are all pretty haggard.
Archer-West
Oct 3:
NZ 6 Bgd-NZ 2 ArmD arrived in Termoli, ready to be used in exploitation of any success from Archer-West.
36 Bgd-UK 78 ID continued diversionary attacks against I/29 Rgt-3 PzGrD, supported by the armoured cars of 78 ID's recon Batt, taking and causing light casualties.
The major attack of the day was conducted by 78 ID (38 Irish Bgd) and 7 ArmD (23 ArmBgd, I/22 ArmBgd, 11 Hussars ReconBatt, and re-introduced I/131 Queen's Bgd) against 8 Rgt-3 PzGrD and 203 Rgt-76 ID. The defenders suffered 15% casualties, while the attackers suffered light infantry casualties, but lost 22 of 200 tanks employed.
From the salient up the coast, in heavy rain, II/11 Bgd-78 ID and II/22 ArmBgd-7 ArmD continued to attack north, along Route 16, they were stopped cold, with 1/6 of the attacking tanks knocked out.
From the salient up the coast, I/11 Bgd-78 ID attacked northeast against I/67 PzGrRgt-26 PzD. Heavy defensive artillery supported halted the attack amid heavy losses.
Oct 4:
36 Bgd-UK 78 ID continued diversionary attacks against I/29 Rgt-3 PzGrD. Heavy defensive artillery fire stopped them in their tracks, with 15% casualties, severely disorganizing 36 Bgd so that they could not continue attacks.
The major attack of the day continued to be conducted by 78 ID (38 Irish Bgd) and 7 ArmD (23 ArmBgd, I/22 ArmBgd, 11 Hussars ReconBatt, and re-introduced I/131 Queen's Bgd) against 8 Rgt-3 PzGrD and 203 Rgt-76 ID. The results for the day were good and bad, with the Irish Bgd evaporating, and all German defenders save AA guns being ejected amid heavy German casualties. Allied casualties were also heavy, and 36 tanks were knocked out.
From the salient up the coast, in heavy rain, II/11 Bgd-78 ID and II/22 ArmBgd-7 ArmD continued to attack north, along Route 16, taking and inflicting light casualties.
From the salient up the coast, I/11 Bgd-78 ID attacked northeast against I/67 PzGrRgt-26 PzD, taking and inflicting light casualties.
Oct 5:
56 ReconBatt-78 ID continued diversionary attacks against I/29 Rgt-3 PzGrD, taking and receiving light casualties.
The major attack of the day continued to be conducted by 7 ArmD (23 ArmBgd, I/22 ArmBgd, 11 Hussars ReconBatt, and re-introduced I/131 Queen's Bgd) against the remaining AA guns. The attack was successful, with the AA guns quickly being brushed aside.
From the salient up the coast, in heavy rain, II/11 Bgd-78 ID and II/22 ArmBgd-7 ArmD continued to attack north, along Route 16, taking and receiving light casualties.
From the salient up the coast, I/11 Bgd-78 ID attacked northeast against I/67 PzGrRgt-26 PzD. The defenders lost a third of their 180 remaining riflemen, while I/111 Bgd took about equal losses.
Oct 6:
56 ReconBatt was joined in their previously diversionary attacks against I/29 PzRgt-3 PzGrD by 23 ArmBgd-7 ArmD. Though the area was cleared of enemy troops 56 ReconBatt evaporated and 23 ArmBgd, after losing 25 of 100 committed tanks, was unable to secure the area.
Northwest of Lanciano 7 ArmD's 131 Bgd and 11 Hussars ReconBatt attacked northwest, against 8 Rgt-3PzGrD, 178 and 203 Rgts-76 ID, and various support elements. Though they managed to eject 8 rgt and 203 Rgt, and inflict significant casualties, they could not clear the whole area.
North-northwest of Lanciano 7 ArmD's 22 ArmBgd and 78 ID's 11 Bgd attacked I/67 PzGrRgt-26 PzD. Casualties were light on both sides and no ground was gained.
The freshly committed NZ 6 Bgd-NZ 2 ArmD attacked up Route 16, fighting against 1 FJD's AT guns and 29 PzGrD's engineers. The New Zealanders, fresh from a long furlough in Egypt, made a sloppy attack, exacerbated by the heavy rain, which cost them almost 50% infantry casualties and not only failed to dislodge the enemy, but also failed to inflict significant casualties. GOC UK 7 ArmD, Gen Erskine, requested that Brigadier Parkinson be relieved. Gen. Montgomery, the only officer with the power to do so relieved Parkinson and I/6 Bgd's commander, Lt-Col Burrows, was quickly promoted and placed in command.
The only hex captured in this area is not likely to be retaken.
German reserves in this sector seem particularly weak, giving hope to a major breakthrough here, though, on the other hand, 7 ArmD, 78 ID, and now NZ 6 Bgd are all pretty well running out of steam. UK 5 ID will likely be brought over to this sector and would arrive at about the same time as the rest of NZ 2 ID (turn 10) and could arrive just in time to keep the momentum going.
Vulnerable hexes marked in red with likely directions of attack.
