Therefore, I began the campaign in August of 1943, after the Ponte Grande Bridge battle, assuming that the battalion had withdrawn and regrouped.
To help recreate the ToE of the battalion, I did some research on-line on British infantry battalions. For the most part, roughly half of a battalion’s men served in the rifle platoons, a very high bayonet ratio, and their fire support was often restricted to defensive anti-tank guns attached to the HQ’s and medium mortars. Machine guns were sometimes allocated from the divisional machine gun battalion but, for the most part, the rifle companies were reliant on attached elements, such as armour or artillery for anti-tank capabilities. The advance was carried out for the most part by a walking rifleman with fixed bayonet.
Thus, my version of the Staffords is a full infantry battalion of four infantry companies - each section armed with lee rifles, grenades and rifle-grenades. Each platoon, company and battalion HQ supplied the battalion’s only AT support, with Boys AT rifles. Each HQ also has a Bren carrier attached, along with a pair of snipers for each company. In all the troop cost comes to almost 1600 points, though to make it interesting, I allotted the AI to have AI Advantage, giving it a few more units for each battle. I am also using all the realistic Preference settings.
Catania, Sicily
August 14, 1943
0600 hours
Following the bitter fighting at Ponte Grande Bridge, the 2nd Staffords have regrouped and given the task of capturing the highway in preparation for the advance on Messina. Divisional command has informed me that unknown German troops are positioned in the area guarding the highway. As the enemy are not expecting an offensive, the 2nd Staffords are to spearhead the attack and capture the highway. Monty has seen fit to support the attack with the help of a squadron of Shermans from the 44th Royal tank Regiment, 4th Armoured Brigade. However, no artillery is available for the assault, so we will have to rely on our own 2 inch platoon mortar teams for artillery support.
0600 hours
1st Company is given the task of securing the woods north of the road while 2nd Company advances along the road. 4th Company is capture the hills just south of the road in support of 2nd Company. Lastly, 3rd Company is to advance to capture the ridge line south of the road and protect the battalion’s western flank. The accompanying Shermans will follow the infantry advance from the rear.
Almost immediately, 1st and 2nd Company come under sporadic fire from concealed German FJ airborne and rifle squad fire from east of the woods. Strangely, the Germans open fire at very long range (some 600 meters or so), though I am unable to spot them just yet. Though sporadic, the fire manages to pin a good deal of 2nd Company as the chaps dive for cover as they are caught in the open while trying to move forward.
15 minutes go by as 1st and 2nd Company inches forward under a growing hail of fire from the concealed Germans. 1st Company has good cover from advancing through the graveyard, but they are themselves slowed by 2nd Company on their flank - having to advance in the open with no cover while being harassed by small arms fire has almost completely halted their advance.
To make matters worse, the German 75mm artillery begins shelling 4th Company quite heavily. The company HQ is hit particularly heavy, losing half its men in a single barrage. For several minutes, all communication with Captain Lambert is lost. 1st and 2nd Company are themselves shelled by 81mm mortars from somewhere in the woods to the north. The heavy bombardment completely halts the infantry advance as the men hit the ground, refusing to get up and continue the advance.
With most of the battalion pinned down, Colonel Stevenson orders the Shermans to form a screen in front of 1st, 2nd and 4th Companies in hopes of drawing off the small arms fire. Immediately, the plan works, as the still-hidden German infantry and Airborne switch to firing on the tanks. With the platoon officers shouting, the companies get to their feet and begin to advance once again, albeit very slowly.
0640 hours
1st, 2nd and 4th Companies are having a difficult time advancing despite the screen of the Shermans. However, the Shermans have made contact with some of the hidden Germans, who seem to have formed a defensive line just east of the woods. After ten minutes of silence, the German artillery and mortars begins bombarding the advance again. This in itself has slowed my advance to a crawl and I don’t dare advance my tanks forward without infantry support against hidden enemy infantry.
It has taken over 40 minutes to cross half the distance to the woods. The Shermans have managed to push back a great deal of enemy infantry, but several concealed German MG’s have done well at slowing the accompanying infantry. Only 3rd Company has managed to reach its objective thus far, having met no enemy resistance of yet.
The advance is stilling moving forward, but very slowly. The German FJ’s are giving ground very reluctantly and the hidden German MG’s have continued to rain fire down on the advancing infantry. We should be able to advance and occupy the woods, but the losses are mounting.