5th Battalion, Essex Regiment
Col Ainsworth
Minturno, Italy
400 Hours
December 15, 1943
For some inexpilcable reason, ol' Monty des not utilized the boys for the rest of the Sicily campaign, and instead we find ourselves in the rear at Syracuse for months on end. Its not good to keep the boys idle like this for very long, but I am glad when we finally get our marching orders later that winter. Unfortunately, it is not until the Invasion of Continental Italy does high command opt to use us again.
During the Allied advance to Rome, our regiment is brought up from the rear to stall a German counter attack in the region of Minturno. Rightly so, we arrive by truck and unload from the vehicles in a blistering late-night wind storm that restricts visiblilty to around 250 meters. Our orders from above are quite simple - the Germans have lanuched a counter-attack in this sector and we are supposed to engage and destroy this enemy force.
Again, Command does not see fit to allocate much support for the engagement, other than two troops of Valentine tanks and some alloted artillery. Nonetheless, the boys should quite fine, circumstances that they be.
essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
Moderator: MOD_SPWaW
essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
0400 hours
The battalion unloads from the Divisional trucks and assemble just south of a wooded ridgeline. From here we are to expect the German counter attack coming from the north. A quick look at the situation deems it prudent that the battalion take positions in the northern treeline and hopefully catch the Germans unawares and unprepared.
Intel does not seem to be up to snuff this day, as the Germans seemed to be in the middle of their countet attack even as my men unloaded from the trucks along the Minturno road and take up positions in the woods. Within minutes of setting out from the assembly area, reports of enemy sightings start coming in over the Company radios. A and B Companies quickly report sightings of German assault guns, half-tracks and tanks, supported by infantry in front of them. To the south, D Company also reports sightings of tanks and support infantry along their front.
In hopes that my men have ample cover in the blowing snow to obscure their positions, I order an immediate halt to our advance as the men scramble for whatever cover they can find. As so not to give away our position, I keep the supporting tanks to the rear, hoping to use them in exploiting any attacks the men can open up.
The battalion unloads from the Divisional trucks and assemble just south of a wooded ridgeline. From here we are to expect the German counter attack coming from the north. A quick look at the situation deems it prudent that the battalion take positions in the northern treeline and hopefully catch the Germans unawares and unprepared.
Intel does not seem to be up to snuff this day, as the Germans seemed to be in the middle of their countet attack even as my men unloaded from the trucks along the Minturno road and take up positions in the woods. Within minutes of setting out from the assembly area, reports of enemy sightings start coming in over the Company radios. A and B Companies quickly report sightings of German assault guns, half-tracks and tanks, supported by infantry in front of them. To the south, D Company also reports sightings of tanks and support infantry along their front.
In hopes that my men have ample cover in the blowing snow to obscure their positions, I order an immediate halt to our advance as the men scramble for whatever cover they can find. As so not to give away our position, I keep the supporting tanks to the rear, hoping to use them in exploiting any attacks the men can open up.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
0415 Hours
Running in a ragged line, south-west to north-east, the battalion’s left flank reached the top of the ridge, but soon the enemy fire from below the ridge grew intense. The lead platoon of B Company, under the command of 2 Lt. Thompson, is immediately pinned down at the forest edge by the advancing German tanks and S.S. infantry. The German tanks quickly drive across the open ground and thunder up the slopes of the ridge, with the supporting infantry laying down accurate suppressing fire. Within minutes, Thompson’s platoon was overrun by German tanks and despite their valiant efforts, most of the men begin falling back in disorder. 1Lt Crandall, the Battalion FO, bravely attempted to disable one the advancing Marders single-handedly but was brought down in a hail of machine gun fire.
Captain Billings of B Company orders 1st and 3rd Platoons forward to support 2nd Platoon and stem the retreat, but any men that tried to advance forward were halted by rifle and machine gun fire and any man that showed himself was quickly picked off. Despite the turmoil and shock of being nearly surrounded by enemy tanks, B Company bravely began counter-attacking, though even these efforts did little to stem the relentless German advance. By now, B Company had been forced back some 100 meters into the woods, where a desperate fire fight erupted. 1st and 3rd Platoons did their best to push forward to link up with the surrounded 2nd Platoon and A Company to the west turned round to advance east to attempt to break up the German assault. However, A Company soon found itself under heavy fire and the thunderous advance of German tanks quickly forced it back.
The appearance of three Valentines on the forest road drew shouts from the men, and soon shelling began falling around the advancing German armour with effect. Caught off guard as such, the German tanks now found themselves surrounded and flanked - accurate fire from the Valentines quickly left smoking wrecks of two of the tanks and the others were suffering rifle and grenade fire from all sides. The SS infantry were forced back from the ridge by the arriving Valentines, bringing more cheers from the men.
On my east flank, C and D Companies come under attack by what certainly seems a German probing attack. Though caught in the open and forced back some distance by the initial attack, C and D Companies are met with a substantially smaller enemy force and they seem to be holding ground well for the moment.
Out of Game Note: At this point, I was sure that B Company was done for, but they amazingly held on and even pushed the SS infantry back despite being practically overrun by enemy tanks. Strangely, I don't think that I am facing the bulk of the German units right now, as I have not seen any more armour and not alot of infantry yet.
Running in a ragged line, south-west to north-east, the battalion’s left flank reached the top of the ridge, but soon the enemy fire from below the ridge grew intense. The lead platoon of B Company, under the command of 2 Lt. Thompson, is immediately pinned down at the forest edge by the advancing German tanks and S.S. infantry. The German tanks quickly drive across the open ground and thunder up the slopes of the ridge, with the supporting infantry laying down accurate suppressing fire. Within minutes, Thompson’s platoon was overrun by German tanks and despite their valiant efforts, most of the men begin falling back in disorder. 1Lt Crandall, the Battalion FO, bravely attempted to disable one the advancing Marders single-handedly but was brought down in a hail of machine gun fire.
Captain Billings of B Company orders 1st and 3rd Platoons forward to support 2nd Platoon and stem the retreat, but any men that tried to advance forward were halted by rifle and machine gun fire and any man that showed himself was quickly picked off. Despite the turmoil and shock of being nearly surrounded by enemy tanks, B Company bravely began counter-attacking, though even these efforts did little to stem the relentless German advance. By now, B Company had been forced back some 100 meters into the woods, where a desperate fire fight erupted. 1st and 3rd Platoons did their best to push forward to link up with the surrounded 2nd Platoon and A Company to the west turned round to advance east to attempt to break up the German assault. However, A Company soon found itself under heavy fire and the thunderous advance of German tanks quickly forced it back.
The appearance of three Valentines on the forest road drew shouts from the men, and soon shelling began falling around the advancing German armour with effect. Caught off guard as such, the German tanks now found themselves surrounded and flanked - accurate fire from the Valentines quickly left smoking wrecks of two of the tanks and the others were suffering rifle and grenade fire from all sides. The SS infantry were forced back from the ridge by the arriving Valentines, bringing more cheers from the men.
On my east flank, C and D Companies come under attack by what certainly seems a German probing attack. Though caught in the open and forced back some distance by the initial attack, C and D Companies are met with a substantially smaller enemy force and they seem to be holding ground well for the moment.
Out of Game Note: At this point, I was sure that B Company was done for, but they amazingly held on and even pushed the SS infantry back despite being practically overrun by enemy tanks. Strangely, I don't think that I am facing the bulk of the German units right now, as I have not seen any more armour and not alot of infantry yet.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
0430 Hours
B Company, supported by 1LT Trent’s Valentine tanks, moves forward to counter attack the enemy tanks deep within their ranks in the woods. Though overrun by German armour, a fierce close quarters battle erupts as 1st and 3rd Platoons push forward to relieve the encircled 2nd Platoon. Supported by the tanks along the road, the men launch multiple counter attacks against the German tanks, who now find themselves surrounded by swarms of infantry. Within minutes, 6 German armored vehicles are smoking ruins; though costly, B Company’s stand in the woods has blunted the German armour attack.
To the east, the probing attack on C and D Companies is causing a lot of havoc, and the pair of German tanks have driven a wedge deep between the two companies. Even surrounded, the German tanks refuse to retreat, even after suffering direct hits from the Valentines and close assault by my infantry. Two more German tanks have advanced from the north to support the probing attack, along with more SS infantry, and even now are trying to link up with the surrounded tanks.
With the armour attack in the woods broken up, B and C Companies prepare to continue their advance north. B Company begins making its way back up to the tree-line, while A Company move east to a flanking position overlooking the open ground north of the ridge. Suddenly, both Companies are hit by rifle and anti-tank rounds; the lead sections stagger and fall back from the tree-line from the sheer weight and ferocity of the SS infantry counter attack. Try as they might, neither Company can advance - any man foolish enough to return fire, or even make their location known, is met by murderous fire from the SS infantry. Despite being caught in the open, and surrounded on three sides, the SS refuse to pull back and manage to begin advancing towards the ridge, to within 50 meters in some places. To further complicate matters, 75mm FH fire begins shelling the ridge.
To the east, C and D Companies are faring only slightly better. The surrounded German tanks are finally destroyed, as well as the advancing tank support from the north. But here too, the SS infantry counter attacks, stopping both Companies cold in their tracks. Any attempt to advance is met by heavy defensive fire. I have not ground here, but neither can I advance.
With no ability to advance against either German position, I call a halt to the advance, and begin shelling both enemy positions with mortars and artillery, hoping to do what my men seem unable to do. Amazingly, in response, the SS infantry simply move forward to attack B Company on the ridge, destroying a Valentine and pushing the men deeper into the woods. For ten minutes, both enemy positions are heavily shelled, only to have the SS infantry step up their attacks even more so.
Unless I can manage to break the German SS infantry, I might have to order A and B Companies back from the ridge. There is no way to dislodge the SS from their positions at the moment, even with tank and artillery support. They seem prepared to die to the last man before giving up one inch of ground. Any man brave - or stupid enough - to move into the open is cut down where they stand.
B Company, supported by 1LT Trent’s Valentine tanks, moves forward to counter attack the enemy tanks deep within their ranks in the woods. Though overrun by German armour, a fierce close quarters battle erupts as 1st and 3rd Platoons push forward to relieve the encircled 2nd Platoon. Supported by the tanks along the road, the men launch multiple counter attacks against the German tanks, who now find themselves surrounded by swarms of infantry. Within minutes, 6 German armored vehicles are smoking ruins; though costly, B Company’s stand in the woods has blunted the German armour attack.
To the east, the probing attack on C and D Companies is causing a lot of havoc, and the pair of German tanks have driven a wedge deep between the two companies. Even surrounded, the German tanks refuse to retreat, even after suffering direct hits from the Valentines and close assault by my infantry. Two more German tanks have advanced from the north to support the probing attack, along with more SS infantry, and even now are trying to link up with the surrounded tanks.
With the armour attack in the woods broken up, B and C Companies prepare to continue their advance north. B Company begins making its way back up to the tree-line, while A Company move east to a flanking position overlooking the open ground north of the ridge. Suddenly, both Companies are hit by rifle and anti-tank rounds; the lead sections stagger and fall back from the tree-line from the sheer weight and ferocity of the SS infantry counter attack. Try as they might, neither Company can advance - any man foolish enough to return fire, or even make their location known, is met by murderous fire from the SS infantry. Despite being caught in the open, and surrounded on three sides, the SS refuse to pull back and manage to begin advancing towards the ridge, to within 50 meters in some places. To further complicate matters, 75mm FH fire begins shelling the ridge.
To the east, C and D Companies are faring only slightly better. The surrounded German tanks are finally destroyed, as well as the advancing tank support from the north. But here too, the SS infantry counter attacks, stopping both Companies cold in their tracks. Any attempt to advance is met by heavy defensive fire. I have not ground here, but neither can I advance.
With no ability to advance against either German position, I call a halt to the advance, and begin shelling both enemy positions with mortars and artillery, hoping to do what my men seem unable to do. Amazingly, in response, the SS infantry simply move forward to attack B Company on the ridge, destroying a Valentine and pushing the men deeper into the woods. For ten minutes, both enemy positions are heavily shelled, only to have the SS infantry step up their attacks even more so.
Unless I can manage to break the German SS infantry, I might have to order A and B Companies back from the ridge. There is no way to dislodge the SS from their positions at the moment, even with tank and artillery support. They seem prepared to die to the last man before giving up one inch of ground. Any man brave - or stupid enough - to move into the open is cut down where they stand.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
-
Nihon Rikugun
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:12 am
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
Wow, this bettle is intense! Great write up and screenshots, keep it up!
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
0455 Hours
Though nearly surrounded and hemmed in on the plain north of the ridge, the Germans have ground my advance to a standstill. The SS infantry are defending that little piece of snow-covered earth as if it was Berlin itself. In one instance, an SS infantry section charged the tree-line and exchanged rifle fire at some 50 meters - not until every last man laid dead in the snow did they give up - any only because we had killed the entire section off.
B Company has no option at this point but to withdraw from the tree-line. Though in action for less than an hour, B Company has suffered more than 50% casualties. The forest atop the ridge is littered with smoking wrecks of tanks and had become a hellish place to be for the men - the SS have assaulted the tree-line in waves, their ferocious attacks pinning down the men inside the trees or driving them back from the forest edge.
The order is given and B Company slowly and painfully begins to withdraw from the tree-line, with A Company sliding east from their position to support C Company’s retreat. In a sudden and surprising counter attack, the SS charges forward into the woods and across the road. A vicious fight erupts and in a few minutes two Valentines are set ablaze. Despite being caught off-guard, and woefully under strength, B Company manages to blunt the counter attack and continues to withdraw deeper into the woods. A Company has left their position flanking the plain to the west and is moving slowly to the east.
To the east on my right flank, C and D Company are continuing their advance on the open ridge. A undetermined number of SS have likewise doggedly decided to hold the ridge, no matter the cost. Again, the only option is to annihilate them completely as it seems that none of the SS can be forced to retreat, whatever the casualties suffered.
After several minutes of desperate close-action fighting, the men reach the open ridge where several half-track are observed dug in along with SS infantry. Not wishing to suffer the same fate as B Company, the advance onto the ridge is halted and every radio sparks up relaying coordinates to the rear artillery and mortar teams. Within minutes, the top of the ridge ignites into a living hell as round after round explodes among the German positions. With a shout, the men clamber up the ridge in force, firing as they run, not giving the Germans a chance to regroup. Several SS infantry pockets are overrun and destroyed in violent hand-to-hand fighting. Gratefully, the German’s resolve is broken and they begin to retire north from the ridge, leaving a pair of smoking half-tracks in their wake.
Though B Company is shattered, the other Companies are still fit for combat. With the ridge to the east secured, its time to try another go at pushing the SS back from the plain on the west flank. D Company will dig in on the ridge on the opposite flank - and prepare for the SS counter-attack I am expecting any moment - and C Company will turn west and advance along the ridge to support B Company’s attack north from the tree-line once again.
Though nearly surrounded and hemmed in on the plain north of the ridge, the Germans have ground my advance to a standstill. The SS infantry are defending that little piece of snow-covered earth as if it was Berlin itself. In one instance, an SS infantry section charged the tree-line and exchanged rifle fire at some 50 meters - not until every last man laid dead in the snow did they give up - any only because we had killed the entire section off.
B Company has no option at this point but to withdraw from the tree-line. Though in action for less than an hour, B Company has suffered more than 50% casualties. The forest atop the ridge is littered with smoking wrecks of tanks and had become a hellish place to be for the men - the SS have assaulted the tree-line in waves, their ferocious attacks pinning down the men inside the trees or driving them back from the forest edge.
The order is given and B Company slowly and painfully begins to withdraw from the tree-line, with A Company sliding east from their position to support C Company’s retreat. In a sudden and surprising counter attack, the SS charges forward into the woods and across the road. A vicious fight erupts and in a few minutes two Valentines are set ablaze. Despite being caught off-guard, and woefully under strength, B Company manages to blunt the counter attack and continues to withdraw deeper into the woods. A Company has left their position flanking the plain to the west and is moving slowly to the east.
To the east on my right flank, C and D Company are continuing their advance on the open ridge. A undetermined number of SS have likewise doggedly decided to hold the ridge, no matter the cost. Again, the only option is to annihilate them completely as it seems that none of the SS can be forced to retreat, whatever the casualties suffered.
After several minutes of desperate close-action fighting, the men reach the open ridge where several half-track are observed dug in along with SS infantry. Not wishing to suffer the same fate as B Company, the advance onto the ridge is halted and every radio sparks up relaying coordinates to the rear artillery and mortar teams. Within minutes, the top of the ridge ignites into a living hell as round after round explodes among the German positions. With a shout, the men clamber up the ridge in force, firing as they run, not giving the Germans a chance to regroup. Several SS infantry pockets are overrun and destroyed in violent hand-to-hand fighting. Gratefully, the German’s resolve is broken and they begin to retire north from the ridge, leaving a pair of smoking half-tracks in their wake.
Though B Company is shattered, the other Companies are still fit for combat. With the ridge to the east secured, its time to try another go at pushing the SS back from the plain on the west flank. D Company will dig in on the ridge on the opposite flank - and prepare for the SS counter-attack I am expecting any moment - and C Company will turn west and advance along the ridge to support B Company’s attack north from the tree-line once again.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
0500 Hours
The shelling of the plain in front of the ridge continues as A Company prepares to advance back to the tree-line for another go at pushing the SS back. As C Company turns west to advance across the road in support of the attack, D Company is struck by a German attack - amazingly the men are pushed back some distance before the attack can be driven off. Concerned about leaving D Company exposed on the flank and without support, I cancel the advance and C Company returns to its position atop the ridge along with D Company. The men have had enough to trying to take that plain, and more attempts in doing so will only result in further needless losses.
The shelling of the suspected German positions north of the ridge continues until several mortar teams begin running out of rounds. Still anticipating another German counter-attack, I give the order to halt the shelling. As the sounds of the mortar fire dies off, the ridge grows eerily silent. For twenty minutes, all is deathly still - no reports of enemy activity on any front.
B Company sends a couple of patrols forward to the tree-line only to come under heavy fire from the SS and are driven back with losses. It appears that the Germans are content with holding the meager couple of hundred meters of ground they captured, a sentiment I am also adhering to.
Except for some sporadic German artillery fire, the dawn comes quietly over the field. At around 0530 hours, a general order of withdraw comes down from Regimental HQ. Solemnly, the men file off the ridge and onto waiting trucks headed for the rear.
[Out of Game Notes]:
I have to say that this has to have been one of the toughest battles I ever fought. When the German armour first attacked, I lost initiative in the battle and never really got it back. I also did not coordinate my attacks very well - lesson learned. After all the times I have bemoaned about the weaknesses of the AI, a battle like this comes up that makes you eat crow.
At the end, I discovered that I was facing perhaps an over-sized company of SS infantry total. Though I had destroyed their support armour, they managed not only to stall my entire attack, but cost me a lot of casualties. In the end, I lost 157 men and 3 tanks, while the Germans lost 164 men, 2 APC’s and 8 tanks. Basically a draw.
The shelling of the plain in front of the ridge continues as A Company prepares to advance back to the tree-line for another go at pushing the SS back. As C Company turns west to advance across the road in support of the attack, D Company is struck by a German attack - amazingly the men are pushed back some distance before the attack can be driven off. Concerned about leaving D Company exposed on the flank and without support, I cancel the advance and C Company returns to its position atop the ridge along with D Company. The men have had enough to trying to take that plain, and more attempts in doing so will only result in further needless losses.
The shelling of the suspected German positions north of the ridge continues until several mortar teams begin running out of rounds. Still anticipating another German counter-attack, I give the order to halt the shelling. As the sounds of the mortar fire dies off, the ridge grows eerily silent. For twenty minutes, all is deathly still - no reports of enemy activity on any front.
B Company sends a couple of patrols forward to the tree-line only to come under heavy fire from the SS and are driven back with losses. It appears that the Germans are content with holding the meager couple of hundred meters of ground they captured, a sentiment I am also adhering to.
Except for some sporadic German artillery fire, the dawn comes quietly over the field. At around 0530 hours, a general order of withdraw comes down from Regimental HQ. Solemnly, the men file off the ridge and onto waiting trucks headed for the rear.
[Out of Game Notes]:
I have to say that this has to have been one of the toughest battles I ever fought. When the German armour first attacked, I lost initiative in the battle and never really got it back. I also did not coordinate my attacks very well - lesson learned. After all the times I have bemoaned about the weaknesses of the AI, a battle like this comes up that makes you eat crow.
At the end, I discovered that I was facing perhaps an over-sized company of SS infantry total. Though I had destroyed their support armour, they managed not only to stall my entire attack, but cost me a lot of casualties. In the end, I lost 157 men and 3 tanks, while the Germans lost 164 men, 2 APC’s and 8 tanks. Basically a draw.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
- Ferdinand Foch, at the Battle of the Marne
-
Nihon Rikugun
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:12 am
RE: essex Regiment Campaign - Minturno Dec 15, 1943
I love it when the AI surprises you like that. Usually it is crap, but sometimes you get some sort of confluence of terrain and mix of troops or whatever magic is necessary to make the game just INTENSE. Keeps me playing.