Gabriel's Horn


Altavilla, Italy, September 12, 1943: The green troops of the 36th Infantry Division, 
known as the "T-Patchers", were mainly made up of Texas National Guardsmen, with a few 
draftees from all over. Immediately after the Salerno landings, the 1st Battalion, 142nd 
Infantry Regiment was tasks with taking the hilltop village of Altavilla and the hill to 
the northeast beyond the village, labeled Hill 424 on their maps. The Texans - advancing 
on the village - met little resistance. The battalion commander, Lt. Colonel Baron, de-
ployed his men on the slopes of Hiil 424 with the battalion HQ company occupying the town. 
Hill 424's slopes were covered in brush and and rife with ravines and gullies, with which 
the Germans opposing the T-Patchers were well familiar, as they had spent days on its slopes
in defensive positions. Using this knowledge, men of the 2nd Battalion, 15th Panzergrenadiers, 
began infiltrating the American positions on the hill throughout Saturday night and into the 
early morning of the 12th.

Game Length: 8.5 turns

For the Germans to win they must capture the Altavilla and the hilltops norteast of village
For the Americans to win they must defend Altavilla and the high ground

Germans: Squads, Half-Squads, HMG, MMG's, LMG's, DC's, AFV's
Americans: Squads, Half-Squads, HMG, MMG's, BAZ43's, mtr's

Boards: #5a, #60

Aftermath: At the sun's rising the Germans opened fire on the National Guardsmen deployed on 
the hill. Artillery pounded the summit and small arms fire seemed to come from all directions. 
Unable to call in artillery support - as the attackers were so close the rounds would fall onto 
friendly positions as well - the hill's defenders were disoriented and defeated in detail. The 
panzergrenadiers were able to split the American battalion and a counterattack led by Lt. Colonel 
Baron was stopped cold when Baron was hit by enemy rifle fire. By 1400 the Germans were in 
Altavilla, with the Texans falling back in disordered small groups. For many of these Americans, 
Gabriel's Horn had sounded.

Source: ASL Scenario AP75, Gabriel's Horn, designed by Gary Fortenberry

