36th Texan Division vs the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division
I've been working on some scenarios for O Group centred on battles in the Italian Campaign. The first one is base don the crossing the the Rapdio by the 36th Texan Divison in January 1944.
Background
By January 1944 the US 5th Army under General Mark Clark had
reached the German ‘Gustav-Line’ defences along the line of the Garigliano
river.
In the stalemate which followed the Allies sought to
establish a bridgehead on the north side of the river and force a way through
the German defences. The Germans were in well prepared defensive positions on
high ground overlooking the Americans and believed that they had an excellent
opportunity of inflicting a telling blow upon the Allies.
21 January 1944
On the night of the 20-21st of January the 141st
and 143rd regiments of the 36th (Texas) division
attempted to cross the Rapido river and establish a bridgehead on the northern
bank near the town of San Angelo.
The attacks started with the 36th Infantry Division firing an
artillery barrage of 31,000 rounds on German positions which resulted in only
negligible damage. Feint attacks were conducted by the 34th Infantry Division were
conducted further to the north near Monte Cassino to divert attention from the
main advance.
·
If the Americans capture both sections of San Angelo
they automatically win the game.
·
Capture of each farm counts as 2 casualties
towards breaking the German force.
The defender wins if they inflict 3 FUBARs or prevent the
Americans from achieving their mission objectives.
The game ends after a maximum of 16 turns
Deployment
Infantry are assumed to cross in assault boats (can use
actual models if available in your model collection).
Initial US combat patrols and company HQs must start on the
southern side of the river.
Once a company HQ is established on the northern bank of the Rapido combat patrols can be deployed within 18” of the company HQ as per normal rules.
My table
Orders of Battle
American OOB
The Americans start with 23 point force based on a rifle battalion. They can include vehicles and AFVs but these may not cross the Rapido River (tanks can offer fire support from the southern bank of the river). The American’s can have a maximum of two Sherman and/or M10 platoons. US equipment chosen must be appropriate for January 1944.
German OOB
The Germans start with a 10 pt infantry or panzer grenadier battalion. The Germans may field a worn battalion and if they do so then they get 2 free hasty minefields.
The only armour available to the Germans is a platoon of
panzer IVs which are in reserve and can only arrive on table when dawn arrives
on the battlefield (these are not included in the initial German force of 10
pts).
Special Rules
Battalion O Group dice: The Americans start the game
with 9 O Group dice, the Germans start with 8.
Opening barrage: If running a worn battalion the Germans
ignore any opening barrage casualties.
German Panzer Reserve: A panzer IV platoon is
available from first light and must deploy/start the game in San Angelo.
Night Attack: The river initial American assault takes
place at night.
At night all targets count as obscured no matter if they are
in cover/terrain or not. Units that did not fire can only be seen a maximum of
20” unless they fired in their previous turn.
|
Spotting
dice |
Units are
spotted on a following: 0-10” 4+ 10-20 “ 5+ 20”+ 6+ |
|
Obscured |
At night all
targets count as obscured no matter if they are in cover/terrain or not. |
|
Max range |
Units that
did not fire can only be seen a maximum of 20” unless they fired in their
previous turn. |
|
Direct
fire to hit penalties |
-1 to hit
target at night with direct fire |
|
Artillery HE
penalties |
-1d6 firing
at night (represents not being able to see target accurately) |
Dawn: From turn 6 onwards roll to see if dawn
arrives. On a 4+ it has and normal visibility rules apply.
The Rapido River: The river is impassable to all
vehicles and gun teams such as antitank guns. Ther is no penalty for infantry
teams crossing the river (they are assumed to be sing assault boats).
Defences
The Germans can start with 1 platoon and 1 weapons team
section dug in. These dug in positions cannot be placed within a BUA. If a dug
in/entrenched platoon is placed in ambush the trench is also concealed.
The Germans also start with 2 hasty minefields the locations
of which are noted by the German player.
Artillery Missions
·
The Americans have 3 artillery missions
·
The Germans have 1 artillery mission.
Terrain
San Angelo is considered a two section BUA and is
elevated.
Farms: The two farms are not considered elevated and
count as single storey buildings only.
High ground: Units on the hill/ high ground count as
in elevated terrain and is considered higher than woods or buildings below.
Orchards: LOS passes through but not out of the far
side. They are classed as cover.
Rapido River: Is impassable to vehicles and gun teams
such as AT gun. Infantry crossing the river roll 2d6 for movement and take the
highest dice roll.
Fields: The area consists of a number of fields which
are classed as cover but do not block line of sight.
Walls and hedges: Offer cover to units behind them or
against them. Vehicle against a wall or hedge can see through to shoot.
Fortifications
|
Trenches
(p47) |
-2d6 damage
to troops in foxholes and trenches. |
|
Hasty
mines (p49) |
4” x 1” Not placed on
table but location noted by defender. When an enemy
unit enters a hastily mined area roll 5d6 for shock. 1 shocker per 4+. Hasty mines
only attack once and are removed. |
Historic Outcome
143rd Regiment
On the night of the 20th of January the 143rd
regiment attacked north of San Angelo on a one battalion frontage and managed
to get most of a battalion across the river by morning. However, the 1st Battalion of the 143rd regiment
found itself in a pocket which was subject to interlocking German machine gun
fire with the river to their backs. Enemy tanks began firing on the American positions
from San Angelo so to escape being wiped out completely the battalion commander
ordered his men back across the river.
A renewed attack on the night of 21st/22nd
succeeded in getting two and a half companies of 2nd battalion
across the river and a couple of footbridges were established. The Texans were
to endure ferocious fire during the 22nd and tried to hold onto
their shallow bridgehead across the river.
Sources
Ellis, J (1984), Cassino The Hollow Victory, Aurum Press
Plowman, J & Rowe, P; (2012); The Battles for Monte Cassino,
then and now; Pen and Sword Books ltd
https://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/rapido/rapido2.htm
WW2 TV: Sacrifice on the Rapido https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxVaxRPT4d8
