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Skimish In Sicily
A fictious encounter in which you are most welcome to participate
Historical background - Operation Husky
After the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, the Allied commanders put their plans fo the invasion of Sicily into action. Concieved in January 19 at the Casablanca conference, well before the Axis surrender on 9th May 1943 in North Africa, the plan was to send two task forces across to Sicily in order to wrest the island from German and Italian hands, and act as a stepping stone to opening another front in Italy. US commander Lt-General George S Patton would lead the western task force, and British Genrel Bernard Montgomery would lead the Eastern Task Force.
With incomplete intelligence on the island, Montgomery had submitted plans that his task force should land in the South Eastern corner, with US forces on his western flank, the aim being to capture as quickly as possible the ports of Syracuse, Augusta and Catania. Opposing the forces were 6 divisions formed into two corps, the Western corp consisted of two Italian and one German division, the Eastern corp consisted of one Italian and two German divisions. Reserve forces consisted of the Italian 4th Infantry Division "Livorno", two German units detached from the 15th Division and various mobile "anti-parachute" groups. The 16th Corps, defending the East of the island, consisted of the 54th Infantry Division "Napoli", the "Herman Goering" Panzer Division and "Kampfgruppe Scmaltz". In all, once landed on Sicily's shores, the campaign lasted thirty-eight days, and gave Allied forces a taste of what was awaiting them on mainland Italy...
Operation Husky incorporated a number of units from across the Services, including regular infantry, Royal Marine and Army Commandos, SAS and Airborne units. It was a prime objecdtive that a speedy advance be made up the Eastern coast of Sicily in order to capture the port of Catania. Once the British and Americanforces had landed and established a beachhead, glider-borne infantry and paratroops were to be landed further up the expected route of advance in order to capture vital bridges over various waterways. One of these was Primasole Bridge located on the River Simeto, south of Catania, the capture of which was entrusted to 1st Parachute Brigade. Landing during the night of July 13th, the British airborne forces had already suffered significant casualties from friendly fire originating from warships lying off the coast, who has mistaken their transport aircraft as enemy bombers. Such was the devestation and confusion that only 250 out of 1,900 paratroopers landed at Primasole Bridge. At the same time, units from German 1st Parachute Division were also landing in the same area, and a fiecre battle raged for the bridge until finally falling into Allied hands on the 16th July.
The Game
The game is entirely fictional, set against the background of the events described above. With the battle for Primasole Bridge already well under way, a Recce unit from 2nd Special Air Service (2 SAS) in armed Jeeps have discovered another bridge across the River Simento, nestled in a small valley with a deserted Sicillian village. The Italian defenders of the bridge, being coastal defence troops of dubiouls quality, have abandoned their positions and fortuitously their equipment also. 2SAS, supported by a platoon of troops from 3 Commando, have occupied the village and to the best of their ability, have made preparations to repel any enemy counter-attacks which are undoubtedly expected. This also includes a crash course on how to operate an Italian Brede 20mm anti aircraft gun in the ground-support role. Relief is expected in the form of armour from the 3rd County of London Yeomantry (Sharpshooters) and supporting troops from the 2nd The Kings Royal Rifle Corps - all part of the 4th Armoured Brigade.
Facing them are Fallschirmhjaeger from 1st Parachute Division, and Panzer-Grenadiers from the Herman Goring Panzer Division. It si also anticipated that the enemy armour will make an appearance, though the nature of which is not known.
Your task, should you choose to accept ti, is to defend the bridge until relieved. Alternatively, you could always take the side of the Germans and attempt to recapture the bridge - the choice is yours.
