A Close Run Thing

[Jim von Krieg]

Turn 4: Clearing the Beaches.



German engineer battalion continues to move to Hill 386 which has long lines of sight into my position.

141st Inf Rgt Sector: Enemy machine-gun unit continues to bottle up the draw off the beach into Paestum. My machine guns and infantry provide covering fire as assault troops move to assault the position and other troops move into blocking positions to prevent this unit’s escape. At the end of the turn, the disrupted enemy unit is overwhelmed in the assault. Only at the end of the assault do I realize my troops will pay a steep price for taking the position. Royal Navy guns target the hex and will blast the position regardless of the fact that the position is now held by friendly forces.

142nd Inf Rgt Sector: On the southern side of the beachhead, the 142nd Infantry Regiment is pushing forward with minimal opposition. Scattered mortar fire harasses their advance. Enemy elements are attempting to drive out of danger. My cavalry and light tanks give chase and catch them. My harassing fire causes casualties and results in a retreat.

I’m just a little upset with myself this turn. My troops will suffer a needless friendly fire incident because I wasn’t paying attention. However, my consolation prize seems to be two platoons of engineers fleeing the coast in their trucks cross country. My cavalry and light tanks will easily run them to ground should they stubbornly persist in this folly of staying with their trucks.

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Turn 4: The Chase



Two platoons of what I believe to be engineers are attempting to drive out of the battle zone. I’ll chase them down with my M8 Scout Cars and M5 Tanks. My scout cars close and the 37mm guns open fire to do a little damage: 1 disrupt/kill and retreat. “Cry Havoc, Let Slip the Dogs of War!”

I can't believe how this is developing, but I'm going to attempt to take advantage of my good fortune. Driving trucks out of the area, across open terrain, packed with troops in the back is an invitation to an easy kill. I'll go after the trucks until they unload and those engineers become very dangerous. Once they dismount, I'll rain some naval gunfire down on their heads to really slow them down for my infantry to catch up.

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Turn 4: On the Move



With only token resistance in Paestum, I’ll drive hard for the Crossing at Ponte Alla Scafa with the 141st and follow on forces. Our foe has opened the road for my forces to move rapidly towards the Sele River crossing sites and the eventual link up with X Corps. I have a little trick to force my way across.

I'll have the 142nd Infantry follow the enemy engineers and clear the German defensive position forming on Hill 368.