Scenario Brief: Tough Old Gut -- Salerno, Italy -- September 1943
Force Level: Medium
Complexity: Medium
Advantage: Axis
Groundscale: Each hex = 2500 meters
Historical Background: The battle of Salerno was fought as part of the Italian campaign between 9-16 September 1943. On 9 September, the 5th (US) Army landed on the west coast of Italy in the vicinity of the port city of Salerno. This operation was known as AVALANCHE and consisted of the US 6th Corps and the X (UK) Corps. The purpose of this operation was threefold. First, eliminate Italy from the war. Second, tie down German forces. Third, capture the major port city and naval base at Naples.
Mission: British X Corps was the main effort with the primary objectives of seizing Salerno, capturing the Montecorvino Airfield, and gaining control of the mountain passes that provided access to the north and Naples. The mission of 6th (US) Corps was to protect the right flank of X (UK) Corps.
"A cross-channel operation [in 1943] was utterly impossible. We could not even get across without the British showing us the way and taking us by the hand. We did not have the means. And so it was decided that we would take this matter up with Mr. Churchill, which we did. And that is where his persuasive eloquence first impressed me. He got up before a map with his pointer and he kept pointing to Gibraltar, North Africa, the Mediterranean, Sicily and Italy. Finally he said, 'We should slit the soft belly of the Mediterranean.' Well, my friends, I assure you, when I landed at Salerno, I found it was a tough old gut!" -- General Mark W. Clark, Commander US 5th Army
Read about the development of the Salerno scenario here.
