75th Anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino and Northern Italy (Gaming The Battles)

Just a reminder that this project is best read in reverse order!

I’d also like to point out that there has been a ‘mix up’ in the supplies and the US 36th (Texas) Infantry Division has received uniforms, weapons etc meant for British X Corps. This explains why all of the models that are US troops look suspiciously like British but, if you listen carefully, you can definitely hear the Texan drawl coming from the soldiers.

Turn 1

As the Attacker, the 36th Infantry go first. Faced with a large amount of German fire power, the 36th knows they need to advance quickly as being left out in the open without cover is certain death.

RP C starts to advance toward the tank traps covering the road, seeing an opportunity to pass quickly through this gap but immediately loses a team to the minefield. The rest of the platoon do make it and gain some bullet proof cover.

AP A looks to get forward quickly to make use of their flame throwers and looks to advance on the barn. Unfortunately, two teams are lost to mines so the platoon is already reduced to 4 teams plus the command team.

RP D are able to advance straight up the board, looking to provide support to either the RP C or AP A, depending on how each platoon fares against the defenders. Meanwhile, the mortars decide to stay put while the 4 MG teams advance up to the barbed wire, intending to dig in there and provide covering fire.

The engineers, who fortuitously landed on the far right of the US flank and out of reach of a lot of the German guns go to work on starting the pontoon bridge. With six functioning teams, they were able to roll a dice per team and got two sixes, so off to a good start toward completing the bridge and being able to bring in some much needed armour.

During the shooting phase, the US failed to cause any wounds against the dug in and gone to ground defenders however the supporting tanks were able to fire smoke at HMG nest 2.

The German defenders start the game pinned due to the artillery and mortar barrage sent in before the assault, so before any return fire can be attempted, the defenders need to test to unpin. The 15th PG are rated as Confident Veteran and so need a 4+ to do this. All platoons are successful except for the mortar platoon, HMG 2 and black platoon.

There’s no need for any movement from the Germans who begin to open up on the 36th. Red platoon splits its fire between AP A and RP C. RP C survives intact but perhaps fearful of the flame throwers coming their way, Red platoon is more successful against AP A and kills 2 teams and pins the remainder of the platoon under a withering hail of fire. To add to AP A’s woes, one of the destroyed teams were carrying a flame thrower, significantly reducing their effectiveness.

The pinned black platoon’s shooting against RP C is ineffective however Green platoon fares better against the engineers, killing one team and pinning the rest of the platoon.

The HMG nests open up with HMG nest 1 cutting down 2 teams from RP C and pinning the rest of the platoon. The pinned and smoked HMG nest 2 however is less effective against the engineers and fails to hit anything.

At the end of the first turn, the 36th are already taking heavy losses. AP A is already down to just 2 teams and their cmd and is pinned down in the open. RP C is at half strength and pinned down although at least has the benefit of being in bullet proof cover. The engineers have lost a team and are also pinned.

Turn 2

The bad luck continues for the 36th as all of the pinned units fail to unpin and get moving. This leaves AP A horribly exposed in the open, albeit concealed as the unit can’t move this turn. RP D, who survived the first turn unscathed, advance as far as the barbed wire but are unable to cross this turn and so must halt.

The Engineers attempt to continue with the pontoon bridge but with 5 teams who are pinned, can only roll 2 dice but still manage to roll one more 6 taking their bridge score to three! Heroic stuff while under fire.

The 36th then return fire. RP D manage a few hits but the bullet proof cover stops any casualties. The tanks manage to land smoke on both HMG nests which might prove critical in the following German shooting phase given the exposed nature that some of the 36th platoons find themselves in.

RP C’s shooting is wholly ineffective however the MG teams pour a deluge of fire into the Green platoon killing one team and causing enough hits to pin the platoon down.

The US mortar teams, having remained stationery, are able to launch a bombardment. Recognising the situation, they land a smoke screen in front of black platoon, providing some cover for the advancing Rifle Platoons.

The 15th PG start their 2nd turn by unpinning all their platoons except the mortar team, who remain pinned and unable to fire this turn. The German 2iC moves up to join Red Platoon and 1iC moves up to join Black platoon to reinforce the defences and provide additional morale if needed.

Green platoon continues to pour fire into the engineers and manages to kill another team reducing the engineers to 4 teams and their command. Green platoon also takes some shots at the MG teams but fails to cause any damage.

In the centre of the line, Black platoon splits their fire against the MG teams, RP C and RP D. The MG teams escape harm however RP C loses another team from the withering hail of bullets, as does RP D.

From the barn, Red platoon splits its fire between AP A and RP D, hoping to finish AP A. The hail of fire cuts down 2 teams from AP A, leaving just the cmd team while RP D also suffers the loss of two teams and gets pinned by the incoming fire. Things are now looking dire on the US left flank.

Thanks to the smoke, the two HMG nests are ineffective this turn failing to cause any casualties.