A Close Run Thing

[Jim von Krieg]

Ouch, the enemy artillery bombardment I expected the previous turn has arrived. Coastal artillery and heavy mortars are shelling the 141st. Also, its abundantly clear that the German engineer battalion is bugging out to the high ground to the East. As they are taking themselves out the fight, this bodes well for our link up operations IVO the Sele River crossings. In their attempt to pull back, several enemy convoys drive into small arms range. These trucks are packed with what I believe to be engineers running the gauntlet to get out of the area. However, in the mad dash through Paestum they have wandered into the path of my attack. One of the fleeing convoys is struck by machinegun OPFIRE. It stalls the convoy with a line of trucks in the kill zone. Another convoy ends its turn under the noses of my onrushing infantry.

141st Inf Rgt Sector: Enemy artillery and machine guns rake my advancing troops from the 1/141st and the 2/141st. Casualties and retreats occur throughout the impact area. Even though the artillery is causing chaos, it is not disrupting my attack. I’m still moving forward in strength. As the attack continues forward, small arms reaches out to destroy the fleeing trucks along Rte 18. Sitting behind a minefield in improved positions, the enemy machinegun unit is driven back.

142nd Inf Rgt Sector: Oh life is good, the loaded transport is sitting within assault range. Closing in, the Soldiers of the 142nd Inf Rgt advance and launch a devastating attack on the unsuspecting engineers. It is over quickly as the 1/142nd sweeps on to Rte 18. On the right flank, the under-strength company comes under direct fire from the coastal battery which drives them back. There will be no close assault this turn. However, they recover and advance with reinforcements under a hail of bullets striking the embrasures. Casualties are inflicted on the gun crews. This battery probably won’t survive the next turn.

No plan survives first contact. As the Germans are retreating quickly, I am going to push straight on to Rte 18 as quickly as I can. This turn, follow on forces include cavalry, anti-tank, infantry and engineers. As they come off the beach, my engineers lay down a smoke screen. One company of cavalry scouts make a mad dash towards the 142nd troops moving on to Rte 18. I move them up in hopes of catching the fleeing enemy transports. I want to give my opponent a little scare as they dash after his fleeing trucks. Moving North, another company of cavalry scouts head towards the coastal battery harassing the west end of my landing beaches. They are in a position to assault the enemy guns or move up to sever Rte 18 to the North of Paestum.