Scenario and AAR Second Battle of San Salvo. San Salvo station 2-3 November 1943

Scenario 2 0430  Attacking the San Salvo Station

2^nd battalion Lancashire Fusilier made a crossing of the Trigno on the 24th October and established a bridgehead so that the Sappers could work unmolested mine clearance on the banks and on a bridge. On the 25th October they had attacked San Salvo railway station. Trying to advance against stiff mortar and machine gun fire several attacks had failed.

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The attack across the Sangro was resumed after a few weeks by 36^th brigade. On the 2^nd of November the 11^th brigade began its attack. The 5th battalion The Buffs had the job of securing the right flank by seizing San Salvo Station and the 5^th battalion the East end of the Li Colli ridge overlooking the Sangro valley. This is the account from the War diary.

“The attack started before dawn with B Coy (MAJOR W H FEWSON) as right forward Coy, D Coy (MAJOR D MILTON) left forward Coy followed by advance RHQ C & Y Coy’s. The remainder of RHQ with the weapons of S Coy on mules assembled on the forward edge of the BOSCO DI MOLTICE with instructions to move forward, if possible, on the capture of the 1st objective. Almost immediately the leading Coy’s came under intense MMG & mortar fire as did its mule party in the BOSCO DI MOLTICE. This fire however was not accurate as it was still dark. The advance continued but owing to the heavy going across the ploughed country, dawn was just breaking when the leading Coy were within 300ft of the first objective. The enemy fire became much more intense and accurate, and the troops were unable to move forward until two troops of tanks of 46 RTR moved up in support and engaged the enemy MMG’s. During this time the Commanding Officer (LT. COL. A D MCKECHNIE, DSO) was badly wounded and B Coy Commander (MAJOR W H FEWSON) was killed. The leading Coy moved forward, captured the first objective, destroyed two MG’s and their crews and capturing a number of prisoners. After consolidating the first objective, the attack continued and the 2 i/c (MAJOR G M De B MONK, M.C.) took over.”

 

Transcription of 5th Battalion, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Rgt.) War Diary

 

 

The battle

German player places both of their two objectives.  The British player then places two objectives (One  must be San Salvo Station if not already marked as an objective by the German player). The British player marks the position of the PRTP’s from the preliminary bombardment by divisional guns and for the rolling barrage. As such the second PRTP must be closer to the German player table edge than the PRTP of the Preliminary Barrage. The German player deploys all defences and troops in foxholes within the German deployment zone (half the table). The British player then deploys their reconnaissance troops anywhere on the table. The British player then deploys units from the initial assault force in the Bosco di Moltice within 12” of the British table edge. The first 2 turns are conducted in darkness Night fighting specialist rules apply. From turn 3 it is daylight, and the British player may deploy 1d6 units from the Secondary Assault Force.  Reserves may deploy from the players southern or western short board edge. Note the top board edge is the Adriatic Sea Coast. No unit may leave or enter from this board edge.

The Buffs have provided the platoon support with pack mules for transport. They may move at full infantry rate when in transport using Full Move order and may be given the Deploy Order after which the weapon and its crew are considered a separate unit and the mules may be removed from the table with a Withdrawal order.  

Figure 2 Google Maps area today It has been heavily developed since 1943

 

The Terrain

The station stands at the end of a low ridge. Building are stone and provide hard cover. The Olive groves and vineyards provide soft cover. The ploughed fields are difficult terrain as they are quite waterlogged. The vineyards are dangerous terrain for tanks and vehicles. Neither block line of sight. The drainage ditch is impassible for tanks and vehicles. The railway counts as a road for movement. Bosco di Moltice is a difficult ground and softcover.

 

 

German Forces  5 Officers   952pts Officer 5 Scouts 0  BR 46

Probably from Kampfgroup Stemmel  16 Panzer Division

1 Luftwaffe Air Control Officer in Sdkfz 250/3

Comms Relay Team in Sdkfz 250/3

1 Wire Team 2 men

 

From III Panzer Rgt 2

2 platoons each with 1  STuG F Headquarters and 2 StuG  F

 

From Panzer Grenadier Regt 64

1 platoon Panzer Grenadiers

Platoon HQ in foxholes

3x MG42 team in foxholes

3x Rifle Teams with additional MG42 in foxholes

1x medium mortar in mortar pit

 

 

Defences

1 Fortified Building - San Salvo Station

1  sMG42 in dugout

1 minefield

1 Artillery Observation bunker on Higher ground (off table)

 

Support

1 2^nd Priority Artillery support request

Timed FW 190 Air Strike

Off table Mortar fire 2 80mm medium mortars

Off table Mortar fire 2 120mm Mortars

1 armoured resupply vehicle

 

 

Reserve from turn 5

II Panzer Rgt 2

1 platoons each with 1  Pz IV G Headquarters and 2 Pz IV G

 

2 Armoured Panzer Grenadier Squad  in Sdkfz251/1  each with

1 rifle section with MG34 with Antitank grenades Veterans

1 MG42 section with Antitank grenades, Veterans

 

 

British Forces  6 Officer   975pts  BR 66  officer 5 scout 2

 

Mostly from D Coy. 5 battalion Royal East Kents (The Buffs)

Initial assault force

FHQ  Major WH Fewson and 2 men in a Jeep                             

1st Platoon

1x Platoon HQ

1x 2-inch mortar team

1x PIAT team

3x Rifle section

1x Vicker HMG with pack mule transport

 

2nd Platoon

1x Platoon HQ

1x 2-inch mortar team

1x Piat team

3x Rifle section

1x Vicker HMG with pack mule transport

Support

1 Section Royal Engineer consists of 10 men Bren Gun and minesweepers

Second assault wave force

3rd Platoon

1x Platoon HQ

1x 2-inch mortar team

1x Piat team

3x Rifle section

 

2 troops from 46 RTR each with 1HQ Sherman tank Mark III and 2 Sherman tank Mark III

 

Reconnaissance

1 Infantry Foot Patrol one rifle section with Bren gun and mortar spotter

 

Support

2 Royal Artillery Forward Observer Teams in Bren carriers

2  Off Table Mortar fire each with 2 3” mortars

2 Pack Mule train supply columns

1 Timed 5.5” preliminary bombardment in Turn 1 or 2

1 1st priority fire support request

1 2^nd priority fire support request

Pre registered target point

1 Timed attack by B26 Marauder bombers - the target must be before turn 5 and between the road and the Adriatic coast (northern) board edge)

 

Outcome of Battle

German victory

Add one timed 150mm howitzer barrage  

 

British Victory

Add off table artillery observer on high ground

AAR

After some delay we began our second part of the battle of San Salvo This was a Company size game with the attack led by fifth battalion of The Buffs on San Salvo station. The first two turns would be held in darkness using the night fighting rules from battle group rulebook. I will be playing the British and attempting to capture the station with an infantry attack supported by tanks and a lot of our artillery. My plan was to use my first two infantry platoons to attack on either side of the railway line and to reinforce whichever looked more successful with a third platoon that would arrive later in the morning about turn 5. Each infantry platoon would get a squadron of Sheman III tanks to support them.

One platoon of infantry  would make for the farm on the main coastal road.  The other  attempting to cross the vineyards and get to the station itself  our second and main objective. The British would start in the woods along the banks of the Trigno River. The German defenders placed in the fields and orchards between ourselves and the Ridge at the foot of which are the station buildings. The infantry set off undercover of a preparatory bombardment accompanied by heavy weapons using mule teams (these treated as if they were towed guns allowing them to make a disembark order although they would only move at infantry pace). The initial bombardment caused massive damage to the German defenders of the farm to the east of the Railway line  part way along the coastal highway which was our primary objective leaving the German Stug III assault guns unsupported and as the tanks of 46 RTR arrived they would find it difficult to hold back the British from this objective.

The initial advance was harassed by fire from the German guns across the front and well-hidden assault guns. On the left (West) around the ruined farm buildings by the railway line dug in Machine guns and the German Artillery observer on the ridge made good use of their own support from some 280mm Nebelwerfer to really disrupt any attack west of the line and this stalled completely as the infantry sort shelter. This really slowed my advance as did a long duel between British two man PIAT team and a StuG almost hidden in the orchards on the slopes of the Ridge which would lead to glancing hits and lots of infantry pinning before StuG eventually ran at ammunition. It’s ammunition carrier KO’ed by a rather lucky 25 pounder stonk.  

The farm on the right of the railway quickly fell into British hands and Royal Engineers were brought up to clear the minefield which blocked the road intending to allow the tanks to advance towards the station buildings. A bombing raid from B25 medium bombers along the coast road found the Germans well dispersed and still heavily dug in. However as German defences strengthened with their own reserves and an FW190 fighter-bomber of the Luftwaffe arrived to attack the farm the advance stalled on the East too.  The Sherman tanks supporting the infantry found themselves pinned down and engaged heavily with the assault guns and it was only really the artillery support from 8^th Army’s big 6.5-inch guns …. when it eventually arrived that prevented them being thrown back.  The German reinforcements from 16th Panzer division made-up of Panzer IV tanks and an armoured infantry counter attacked the farm strongly but a combination of poor reinforcement by the German commander roles meant that they only drifted in over the course of three or four turns and with heavy artillery support men's that the farm remained in British hands. The British infantry attempted to push on into the orchards beyond but the Allied armoured attack on the train station never was able to develop as it got bogged down trading blows with the German assault guns and tanks. Although there were many hits none of these penetrated and somewhat surprisingly all the Sherman tanks were intact at the end of the game.

Things look very dicey the BR chits piled up for the British and the German armoured infantry counter attacking and surrounding the British in the orchard on two sides and began pouring machine gun and rifle fire onto them. The support from the tanks quickly rushed up and reinforcements for the infantry platoon previously pinned down on the far side of the railway enable the British survive this onslaught. The reinforcing infantry did arrive from the woods by the river. Although I left it somewhat late and rushed them forward to support the farmhouse (our only objective I held). I brought this reinforcement on too late to support the attack properly. However to my surprise with only 4BR remaining from my total, a failed German morale checks for their blocking infantry cause these men to surrender. Finally breaking the German force which withdrew leaving the station and the Li Colli Ridge (Buff Ridge for the British) beyond it in British hands this will factor into our final game the defensive San Salvo with the 16th Panzer Division will counterattack all out to recapture the town.