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

Best read in reverse order.

Turn 3

FGP fails to unpin and remains face down under the threat of the hidden sniper. The bailed Panzer IV is able to remount but the bailed 1iC Panther fails to remount. All units continue to advance up the board but the 7.5cm gun platoon starts to take a more central position.

A good roll for the Luftwaffe sees another wave of Stukas arriving this turn. The AA fire from the M10’s fails to hit and the Stukas drop their bombs on the Artillery Battery, destroying one gun and pinning the remaining unit in place.

The Tiger and the Panzer IVs fire upon MG Nest 1 but despite 3 hits, fail to destroy the nest.

At the start of the Allied turn, the artillery battery unpin and are able to launch a new bombardment, this time on a Panther and 4 teams from FBP. The artillery ranges in first time and successfully destroys one team and pins FBP in place.

The Sniper continues to cause FGP probleme#s, hitting again but failing to cause any damage. It does keep FGP pinned in place and held up on the German Right flank.

The lead tanks are now in range of the 6pdr guns just off of the road. With each gun able to fire 3 times, they score 4 hits, 2 on the Tiger and one on each Panzer IV. The shots aren’t enough to worry the Tiger however one of the Panzer IVs bail out.

Turn 4

FBP unpins and is able to advance out of the ranged in artillery. FGP fails to unpin and remains trapped in front of the Sniper on the hill. The lone sniper is really pinning down the German right flank.

The bailed Panzer IV remounts however the 1iC Panther fails to remount and remains out of action for another turn.

There’s no Stuka this turn however the tanks begin their advance. The Platoon of 2 Panzer IVs draws up to the barbed wire looking to cross it next turn. The 7.5cm guns remain stationary on the hill and prepare to bombard the Allied lines. The remaining infantry advance up.

The Tiger and the Panzer IVs fire on the 6pdr gun teams. The Tiger misses while the Panzer IVs hit but fail to wound thanks to the guns being dug in.

The two 7.5 cm guns bombard the MGs and 6pdr by the road. Despite being just two guns firing, they manage to hit an MG team and pin the MG unit in place.

The British begin their turning by targeting the threat of the two Panzers and the barbed wire. The two 6pdr guns on the right fire upon the Panzer IVs at the barbed wire. They score 3 hits which quickly convert into two destroyed tanks.

The 6pdrs next to the road fire upon the Panzer IVs advancing toward them down the road. They successfully bail one Panzer IV. The M10s can’t see the Tiger as it is behind one of the Panzer IVs but they can shoot at the IVs. They apply their 4 shots effectively, hitting twice and destroying both Panzer IVs.

One of the 5.5” artillery guns can draw a bead on the Tiger and lowers its gun to fire direct. It has just one shot but makes it count, punching straight through the front armour and destroying the Tiger with a single shot! So in just one turn of shooting, the German tank capability has been significantly reduced – great gunning by the British anti tank crews!

The naval gun fire falls well behind the German advance and causes no damage this turn.