Regalbuto Ridge


Regalbuto, Italy, July 31st, 1943: Since the 12th the British 30th Corps had been battling through the
hills and valleys of central Sicily, protecting the flank of the 13th Corps' advance on Catania.
Instrumental in that scheme was the clearing of Agira and Regalbuto. Finally, after days of bitter
combat in the barren countryside, the Canadians had seized Agira on the morning of the 29th of July. Now
it was up to the Devonshire and Dorsetshire battalions of the 50th Infantry Division to take Regalbuto;
but dominating the town was the massive ridge that ran southwest of it, and that was held by the grenadiers
of the Hermann Goering Division. In a brilliant night march and attack, elements of the Devons swept up
and took the heights. But early next morning, as the British had come to expect from their tenacious
German counterparts, the weary Tommies had to face a sharp counterattack, spearheaded by combat engineers.

Game Length: 9 turns

For the Germans to win they must eliminate more British units than German
For the British to win they must eliminate the Germans in their counter-attack

Germans: Squads, LMG's, MMG, Radio, MTR
British: Squads, LMG's, MMG, MTR's

Boards: #2, #3
 
Aftermath: The Germans had managed to reach the foot of the slopes untroubled, and now boiled up from 
ravines and gullies covered by smoke placed by the engineers. The action quickly became one of close quarters,
and a firce struggle ensued among the rocks and scrub. For a time, the position looked critical for the
British. But, with great courage and dash, Lieutenant E. Helps - a Dorsetshire officer in the brigade
support group attached to the Devons - organized and led a platoon size counterattack at a crucial moment,
turning the tables on the Germans. The German survivors retreated; thanks to the actions of Lt. Helps, the
Devons had firmly re-established their hold on Regalbuto Ridge. Unfortunately, Helps was killed leading the
attack, another unsung hero of the invasion of "the soft underbelly of Europe".

Source: ASL Annual '89, SL Scenario A3, Regalbuto Ridge
