Nearly caught up now. Our next couple of battles are a return to Sicily, with the newly painted Italians up for a fight. The battles of the 10th and 11th July saw multiple combatants contesting a range of features, villages and objectives inland from the American landings at Gela. Many of these smaller engagements provide idea ‘inspiration’ for scenarios or battles.
At Priolo we have the Italians attack with Tanks against the Paratroopers who have been scattered from their planned drop zones. The American 16th Infantry division is driving inland supported by Naval guns. Then the Herman Goering Division throws its weight into the fight as well.
For the scenario, the Americans have the bulk of their 16th Infantry in and around the village. One of the benefits for this battle was Steve as the Americans had no knowledge of the attacking forces, only that Italians and Germans were involved. The Italians advance on the nearest road Turn 1. Germans from the far side/road turn 3. American reserves. Moving up from the beach (to the left of the table) include Sherman’s and artillery support. The Americans also have paratroopers if they can find their way to the battlefield, they will arrive randomly from the NE (this end corner of the table). The Italian/German objective is to break through the village, to get to the Americans landing on the beaches, tough !
Priolo in Sicilian sunshine July 1943
The Italians arrive with all their armour to push through the village, their infantry disembark to avoid being caught out in their transport
The Italians start down the road
The Americans have infantry in the fields and holding the outskirts of the village
More outlying Americans are called back into the village to bolster the defense
The Italian infantry starts to exchange fire with the defenders whilst the lead R35 push forward towards the village
The American defenders bring up some heavy support, but pull back when they start to take fire
As the Italians push to the edge of the village and in the distance, the HG panzers arrive
Leading the way one of the HG Tigers, but even though their deployment was random the Americans are lucky that their Sherman’s arrive on the left of the village
More German armour pushes towards the bridge, whilst Panzergrenadiers cross the river bed on foot
Nooooooooooo as the Tiger crosses the bridge the Americans get off a lucky shot, hitting the Tiger on the flank and it is immobilised ! Blocking the bridge to further panzers, we had already agreed the river bed couldn’t be crossed by vehicles, and worse than that the specific location of the Tiger means it can’t turn its turret to fight with the Sherman’s 😂
The Italians continue their advance towards the village
The lead R35 is knocked out, but the American Greyhound is also knocked out
With the bridge blocked the german armour fires into the village long range and the German infantry disembark form their trucks and run forward
After several failed activations the first of the 505th Paratroopers arrive behind the Italians ! They come under heavy fire and are pinned down, but now the Italians are fighting on two fronts !
More paratroopers arrive from the East
The fight to reach the village continues
The third and final paratrooper unit arrives running down the road
The fighting is now in the village, the crated indicates where the previous defenders were wiped out by artillery fire from the Germans. But now the Italians who have broken into the village face very fierce resistance
Pinned down the only option left is to attack…..sadly it doesn’t pay off
The axis forces are starting to struggle now
But German infantry has moved over the river and is now in the outskirts of the village
Carnage all the Italian tanks have been stopped and are burning but so is the lone American Stuart taken out by the Tiger still stuck on the bridge
That was pretty much it for the Axis. The Italians who led the advance were pretty much wiped out, the Germans have infantry in the village, but with the bridge blocked there is nothing they can do to break through. They must pull back and attack again tomorrow ?
A most enjoyable battle, nice to get the Italians out on the table, the Tiger on the bridge had us laughing for some time such is the way of things.
I have spent much of the week prepping more Italians, including all their support weapons etc, I now just need to paint them, I e also been working on some more French Napoleonic infantry. But the only thing finished…….….are some small winter trees which needed basing.
Anyway thanks as always for your support, next post another Sicily battle and then I’m upto date.
Matt♥️
Tiger tanks, Italians and US Paratroopers. All the ingredients for a great scenario. An amazingly lucky shot on the Tiger especially given the position it was in, but very funny.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lawrence Sicily has a lot to offer the wargamer. The tiger was all bark and no bite 🙁
DeleteI am glad you could laugh about the incident with the Tiger, Matt - quite frustrating for the Axis cause though!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith it was disappointing but such is the ebb and flow of battle, obviously I much prefer my battles to be narrative based so when bad things happen it adds to the fun 👍
DeleteAnother lovely report!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michal as always 👍
DeleteGreat looking table and set up, Matt! Love the scenario.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean 👍
DeleteThat looked great, bloodt Tiger, I can see your faces
ReplyDeleteGreat fun Tiger over rated knocked out too easily
DeleteCracking table and figures once again Matt, really enjoy seeing your games, Good read too.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Donnie, a pleasure to play and share 👍
DeleteExcellent looking game & report Matt. That sucked for the Tiger, but then its blocking the bridge for both sides, making it a kind of catch-22 Love how you did your orchards, were they representing olive trees? I've got a bagfull of plastic plants that I still need to make some things with. I may do some like yours now!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry, if only the tiger could have been able to target the Sherman but it could traverse it turret far enough. Not sure which trees you mean ? There are a couple of olive trees but they are not in the organised fields.
DeleteVery splendid battle there Matt! Tiger Tank stuck on the bridge, the 'dice gods' in action there I think!
ReplyDeleteThanks David…the gods were against me 🙁
DeleteA fine looking table, toys and game again there Matt. It’s good to see some Med action. I am currently amassing figures, vehicles and buildings in 20mm for the Italian front to start later in the year.
ReplyDeletePS. That Tiger stuck on the bridge and unable to traverse its gun reminded me of Kelly’s Heroes.
DeleteThanks Phil, really looking forward to your Italian games are you doing any Italians or just Germans ?
DeleteI have fallschrimjager at the moment. I hope to do some Italians, Mr. Barton will hopefully add infantry to the tank and gun crews he makes at some point.
DeleteSpectacular table and spectacular game! Stopping the tiger on the bridge was really an unfortunate breakage for the Germans. I marvel at your terrain and buildings. I wonder where you store all of this stuff.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Jon, the is Tiger scary but a fragile monster ! Terrain is all flexible as you know much of it gets turned out in multiple different periods and settings. The Sicilian buildings manage to fit in one large box and I’m trying not to get anymore !
DeleteThat is one unlucky Tiger Matt, Great looking game.
ReplyDeleteThanks George 👍
DeleteWWII really isn't my period but I enjoyed the report and it was good to see some Italians on the table. Last year I was given a book on the Italian campaign so your action also reminded me of the kindness of friends. Thanks
ReplyDeleteStephen
Thanks Stephen glad the battle and report provided some interest. The Italian campaign an interesting but often forgotten part of the war ?
DeleteUnwittingly I prepped for this AAR by watching "A Walk in the Sun" with my wife a few days ago. Great looking figures, vehicles and terrain. Yes, please more of the Sicily sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThanks Joe glad I was able to dovetail with your viewing. One more bit of sunshine coming up soon 👍
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ReplyDeleteCracking stuff Matt…
ReplyDeleteStopping the Tiger on the bridge was almost to good to be true for the Americans… They certainly had the dice gods on side 😁
I do wonder if we should test the strength of bridges when dealing with heavy tanks like the Tiger crossing them… It would certainly add another (risk) dimension to the game.
All the best. Aly
Thanks Aly, it required the roll of a 5 or 6 ! Which the Americans achieved first time. You are right the bridges in Sicily probably wouldn’t have carried a tiger….i know they struggled with many of the roads and villages which were too narrow. But given the Tigers current less than impressive form it would seem harsh to stop it in its tracks before at least getting into the fight. One day of course it will sweep everything before it and then everybody will say it is overpowered 🤔
DeleteWhat a lovely looking game Matt and it does make me hanker in getting my Italians onto the table at some point:). The Tiger blocking the bridge was so cinematic and reminded my of one of our all time memorable games, where something simlar happened but with a Pz IV.
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