Scenario 3 1600 Tanks counterattack on the Montalfano Ridge
“San Salvo was in our hands and by 1400, the town was well defended, and the Buffs had been contacted on our right. At 1430hrs, A Coy moved up into the town and at 1515hrs, the remainder of D Coy arrived.
Ammunition was restricted – D Coy, who had entered the town earlier on, had run out of ammunition breaking a counterattack of infantry supported by one tank.
Up to 24 tanks had been reported to be northwest of the town as the Bttn was brought into a close defence of the centre of the town.
At about 1600hrs, the noise of the battle could be heard on our right, from either tanks or SP guns exploded in the rooftops of the houses, and it was evident that a counterattack was taking place.
From an OP, it was discovered that from 12 to 20 enemy Mark 4 Specials were making a thrust towards St Salvo station. The 5th Buffs on Buff Ridge were in immediate danger of being overrun and had to withdraw. Many, including their HQ, withdrew into St Salvo and strengthened up our defences for the night.
During the withdrawal from Buff Ridge, the 46 RTR came forward to meet the enemy thrust, a furious battle of tanks and guns was fought and at least 7 enemy tanks appeared to be knocked out, and at dusk the enemy withdrew, leaving the Skins in undisputed possession of St Salvo.
The counterattack, however, in no way disarranged our MO, Captain RGK Brown, nor our anti-tank officer Captain WS Pollard, for at approximately 1730hrs, the RAP marched into the town and with them stragglers from the advance on St Salvo. They had been shelled in the assembly area and on pt 40 and had had a very uncomfortable trip. Parties, which had been sent back earlier to collect wounded, soon began to appear and the MO was soon busy again. Many wounded had already been succoured on the battlefield. Among those who were brought in was Captain Halpin – he was seriously wounded but we were all very glad to see him back. Captain WS Pollard, with the supporting weapons, quickly followed the RAP. He had found diversions round two craters in the road outside the town and brought up 4 A/Tk, 4 MGs and 4 Mortars – they were quickly put into position to hold any further counter attacks on the part of the enemy.
Reorganisation took place during which certain officers of S Coy went to rifle coys.
DF tasks had been arranged with Major Gouldsworth RA (George of the 17 field) to cover the northwest and southern approaches to the town, and by the time darkness fell, we felt confident that we could hold the town against any counterattack the enemy was capable of mounting.”
3rd Nov 1943
1600 An enemy counter attack developed round the north flank of San Salvo, tanks being used. Although none of them actually entered the town, they were on the outskirts and fired shells and MGs into the buildings.
War diary 6 Iniskillins
While this counter attack was still proceeding, the Bttn A/Tk Gun, mortars, MGs and the RAP moved into the town from the southeast and were in position by 1730hrs.
The Battle
Attack/Defence scenario with the British as defenders and the Germans as attackers. The German attacker place 3 objectives at least 2 must be in the British set up zone on the map. After all preregistered targets and timed strikes are placed secretly the British player deploys all dug in troops. The German player then deploys all Reconnaissance troops anywhere outside the British deployment zone. The German attacker then deploys in the German deployment zone from Turn 2. British reserves must find a diversion around a demolition in the road southeast to San Salvo (oof the map) . They can first arrive on turn 5 but must roll a 5+. Each turn afterward this increases (so 4+ on turn 6, 3+ on turn 7 etc). If they succeed, then roll for the number of reserves as usual. The Skins are also short of ammo. The German player can play any breakdown counter or air attack counter as a low ammo counter instead. The German player is also racing the sunset to recapture San Salvo. if the British player draws any special counter after turn 7 he plays it and then immediately declares that the day is over, and the game then continues as night fighting using the rules from the rulebook.
All buildings are stone and hard cover. Olive groves and vines are soft cover. Vines are dangerous terrain for vehicles but do not impede infantry. The stream is an obstacle to any vehicle crossing it.
The Forces
British Forces
922 points BR 60 Officer 4 Scouts 2
Mainly D Coy. the 6 Royal Irish Fusiliers (with support from A Company and S company)
Main Force
FHQ from D Co. 6 battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 3 men (Cpt Tom Fearn in temporary command)
RA Forward Observer team in Jeep (Major Gouldsworth)
1st Platoon
1x Platoon HQ in Foxhole
1x 2-inch mortar team in foxholes
1x PIAT team in foxhole
3x Rifle section in foxholes
1x Vicker HMG in machine gun pit
2nd Platoon
1x Platoon HQ in Foxholes
1x 2-inch mortar team in foxholes
1x Piat team in foxholes
3x Rifle section in foxholes
1x Vicker HMG in machine gun pit
3rd Platoon
1x Platoon HQ
1x 2-inch mortar team
1x Piat team
3x Rifle section
1x Vicker HMG
Reconnaissance
2x Snipers
Support
1 first priority artillery request (from 17 RA)
1 second priority artillery requests (from 17 RA)
1 First aid Post
1 Ambulance
1 40mm Bofor AAA gun with medium truck tow
Defences
1 fortified building
2 6 pounder antitank guns with loader teams dug in to pits
Reserve 1 from turn 3
1 Carrier Section 1 section 3 mortar spotters with SMG and radio
1 section 3 men with rifles and PIAT
1 section 3 men with 3riflemen
Reserve 2 from Turn 5 (on 5+)
2 Anti tank 6 pounder guns and M5 tows
1 battery off table 2 3” mortar batteries
1 forward observer in Jeep
German
1025 pts BR 66 Officers 6 Scouts 4
From II Panzer regiment 2
1 FHQ in Panzer IV G
1 Forward Signal Unit in Sdkfz 250/3
1 Sdkfz 251/7 Pioneer Assault bridge 6 men with sPzB41
3 tank platoons each with each with 1 Pz IV G Headquarters and 2 Pz IV G
From Panzer Grenadier Regiment 64
1 platoon Panzer Grenadiers
Platoon HQ in medium trucks
1x Platoon HQ
3x MG42 team
3x Rifle Teams with additional MG42 in medium trucks
Reconnaissance support
2 Fusilier foot patrols
1 Recon platoon command in Sdkfz 250/10
1 Mounted Fusilier patrol in Sdkfz 250/1
Reserves from turn 5
III Panzer regiment 2
1 Assault gun platoon with 1 STuG III G HQ and 2 StuG III G
Support
Pre registered target Point
1 first priority fire request
Off table 2 80mm mortars
2 Resupply trucks
After Action Report
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