A Close Run Thing

[Jim von Krieg]

After watching the replay, indications are that the Germans are bugging out. Trucks loaded up and moved out. I was expecting a whirlwind of artillery fire, but no impacts on the beachhead this turn. His machine guns reach out and caused a few casualties on the northern sector of the landing beaches.

141st Inf Rgt Sector: Enemy machine guns rake my advancing troops from the 1/141st. I suffer additional casualties. However, I receive no cries of “INCOMING” from the beaches. I call in more naval gunfire on the enemy positions overlooking the northern landing beaches. 1/141st moves forward and crosses the small river. Other elements of the 1/141st move to the high ground and push forward towards Rte 18. Behind them, the 2/141st hits the beaches and moves up. I’m careful to maintain a dispersed deployment to minimize enemy artillery impact on my units.

142nd Inf Rgt Sector: On the southern landing beaches, there is little enemy activity. I almost missed a ripe target, but there is an enemy unit loaded on a truck tantalizingly close behind the coastal battery position. What I wouldn’t give for a Duplex Drive tank! My under-strength company is moving towards OBJ Sweep to assault the enemy coastal battery operating on the right flank of my landing beaches. I run my MG unit to get in a shot on the loaded truck. As the .30 caliber rounds reach out, a German truck explodes and the remaining vehicles move quickly away from the incoming machinegun fire. My infantry platoon observes enemy gunners moving around IVO their battery. At 500m’s, the M1 Garands engage the gunners, causing casualties. I’m hoping I can assault the guns the next turn. While this is going on, the remaining elements of the 1/142nd Inf Rgt move towards Rte 18. Behind them, the 2/242nd hits the beaches and moves up. As with its sister battalion in the 141st, the 2/142nd maintains their dispersion to minimize the effects of enemy artillery fire.

Overall, the landing is going well. So far, only limited engagement with the enemy. I need to determine where those trucks are headed. They did not appear to be moving towards the Sele River crossings. At least one moved behind Paestum from the enemy positions overlooking the western end of the landing beaches. It could be they are forming a defense in and/or behind Paestum. If that is the case, I expect they might bring in one of the Kampfgruppen through the Sele River crossings to support a battle for Paestum. I need to watch for that. For now, I need to know what the Engineer battalion in front of me is really doing. I want them to make a stand so I can overwhelm them; however, I suspect he won’t make it that easy for me.