Italy Campaign by WWPD Mission #3

Attacker:  The Devil's Brigade  2400 points

Defender:  362 Grenadierkompanie with 26th Gepanzerte Panzer grens in reserve (2400)

Mission:  From Italy Battles.  Operation Buffalo Cisterna

The german grenadier are dug in with full barbwire and minefield covering the entire front.

HG Pz III Ms hide in the village.  The Devil's brigade can be seen preparing to assault from their entrenchments in the distance.

An aerial view of the forward german defenses and the lead Allied platoons.

 

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The Allies begin with a massive artillery bombardment consisting of 105s, Naval gunfire support and P-47s flying air support.

The men of the Devil's brigade advance to the barbwire.

Allied shooting claims the first casualties.  A 2cm AA gun and the Pak 40 Platoon leader.

The Devil's brigade advances and survives a horrendous machine gun storm.  The elite special forces utilizing skill and luck to survive.  No Casualties are taken despite withering fire.

The Allies utilize smoke bombardments and soften up the German line with Naval gunfire.

Over on the right flank the germans are able to make their shooting count.  

The left flank is fairing better for the Allies and they surge forward looking to punch a hole in the trenchline.

The fighting is fierce and the Allies are hampered by a slow arrival of reserves.  3 turns have passed and finally the Shermans show up.

The German left flank collapses.  Only a hand full of squads remain.

Whereas on the right flank the Germans are fending off every attempt at a break through.

As the front lines begin to waver, the first of the German 26th begins to motor onto the scene.

Time is running out for the Allies as they line up their Sherman howitzers and start to punish the defenders with more indirect fire.

The German Right flank takes heavy losses.

But manages to hang on vs a determined Devil's brigade CO. Who almost single handedly breaks the German will.

The German Left Crumbles and retreats to the 2nd line of defence backed up by the HG Pz III Ms.

Artillery, Air strikes and Naval fire takes it toll on the Germans.  Alwin Steinhauser of the 1st FJ Division hunkers down in a the center of the village waiting to make a last stand.

But time runs out for the Allies and they cant maintain the momentum before the 26th arrives to reinforce the defences.

At the end of the day the German defenders hold the objectives and the Devil's brigade is forced to fall back and regroup.

AXIS 4

ALLIES 3

Italy Campaign by WWPD Mission 2

Attacker:  1st Fallschirmjager division (1250)

Defender:  78th British Rifle Coy

Mission:  The Bridge Over the Savio River (Italy Battles)

The fall of Monte Cassino has forced the remaining 1st FJ Div to breakout.  Alwin Steinhauser leads a company of Jagers supported by artillery and 2 panzer IVs in an attempt to capture a bridge crossing over the Rapido and escape.

The British 78th division stands guard.  Rupert Giles is in reserves with a Churchill squadron and mortars.  

The Germans push forward using the early dawn darkness to advance unseen to the river and the bridge.

Everything moves forward.  Even the heavy guns.  If they can get close enough with their breakthrough ability the Brits in the house will have a rude awakening.

Alwin personally leads the chargeover the bridge still protected by darkness.

Panzer IVs get up close against the bank and are able to see the dug in Brits on the opposite side.  Firing is ineffective.

Alwin charges over the bridge!  In the distance the other FJ platoon attempts to cross the dangerous river.

3 teams are swept away by the merciless current.

The Brits are ready and waiting for the FJ as they stream across the bridge and manage to pin them down after taking light losses.

Alwins first assault fails and he is forced to regroup.

Daylight has broken and British mortars arrive from reserves.

The 78th Infantry stillholding the bridge are doing their best to stall the FJs.  Smoke, machine gun fire and determined resistance is working.

The Germans pour on the fire.  This time the breakthrough guns are able to take out some of the dug in infantry in the house.

Fire from the Panzer IVs and FJs still struggling on the bridge eliminates a British platoon and the Company Commander.

Time is running out for the Germans though.  A platoon of Churchills arrives and starts rumbling to the front.

Its go for broke time.  Alwin charges again backed up by tanks.

Casualties are heavy on both sides!  

Machine gunners watch as remnants of the FJ platoon that crossed down stream are shot to hell trying to assault the other side in support of Alwin's platoon.

Panzer IVs attempt to push into the building but bog down! There is only one stubborn british team holding the house now!  Alwin is the only survivor from either FJ platoon.

Rupert Giles arrives in his Staghound.  

They come face to face with the Panzer IVs.  They have no choice if they want to contest the objective long enough for the slow moving Churchills to get in.

The Panzer IVs make every shot count however.  The objective is secured by the Germans.  Rupert Giles jumps from his burning staghound...

And climbs aboard a nearby Churchill taking command of it and making good his tactical withdrawal.

OUTCOME:  4-3 For the Germans.

Italy Campaign by WWPD Mission 1

LOCATION:  Monte Cassino

ATTACKERS:  600 Points of Canadian Staghounds and 600 points of 78th Recce British Recce

DEFENDERS:  1200 points of Fallschrimjaeger from the 1st.

MISSION:  Surrounded

 The Canadians are lead by Colonel Rupert Giles.  His exploits in Operation Sealion having become Legend.  

 The German defenders are lead by the stalwart Major Alwin Steinhauser. Who took over from Dietrich Zoeler after the later was killed by Rupert Giles in a 1vs1 sword fight during OP Sealion.

The Canadians and British move up and are greeted by minefields and barbwire leading up to the Monte Cassino.  Pioneers dismount and scramble to clear.  

 On the other side more Staghounds and Daimlers close in to form firing lines facing the dug in FJs on one of the objectives.

The 78th Recce moves up on another flank and does the same.  If the Allies can take the approaches to Monte Cassino the Monastery will come under direct attack soon after!

Alwin Steinhauser in the first line of defense can only tighten his grip on the Panzerfaust he carries and wait.

Similarly on the other side the FJ keep their heads down. 

 Giles's Pioneers clear the first minefield with ease.

The FJ mortars have been firing but only serve to reveal their positions.  Return fire claims the first casualty of the day.

However a little pay back.  The Germans have set up a HMG nest on the hill overlooking the road.  It opens up on the Canadian Pioneers sending them diving for cover and taking out a team.

The Brits are lined up and combine Eyes and ears with ALOT of main gun and MG fire to slowly wittle the defenders down.

Another Mortar is neutralized.

And then its time.  The FJ open fire on the British pioneer assault teams trying to clear the mines on the road.  The platoon is destroyed.  But now the Germans are revealed.  

Giles and his Staghounds just keep picking off the defenders.  There is nothing that can be done to stop them.  Its only a matter of time..

The hail of fire is intense.  Finally the battered defenders cant take anymore.  They break and run to the relative safety of the Monastery above.  Leaving only the 2IC who stubbornly refuses to yield. 

But even his luck runs out.  Giles lets loose with a devastating barrage of fire.  (Needing 6s to hit.  Yes that Die landed like that ontop of the other......)

And yes there was another 6 under it.....  

OUTCOMEL  5-2 Major Victory for the Allies.
The Fallschrimjaeger had no means of fighting back vs this determined armoured attack.  The approaches and the surrounding countryside are now in the hands of the Allies.  The FJ will hold the Monastery or die trying!