Operation Avalanche The Salerno invasion
USAAF Bishop Vox 123
P-39D 350th Skin is in the game
P-38G 1st Fighter Group
P40E 325th Checker Tails Skin Also in the Game
B-17 5th Bomber Wing Based out of Foggia Italy
B-24 98th BG
Bombers moved to All Active fields listed
Foggia Section of Italy to include them in the a
ction closer then flying from Sardina.
Active Air Fields
A99
A116
A112
A113
Gv Only V151
Gv's
M4/75,76 191st Tank Battalion
M3
M16
Jeep
Luftwaffe Knights Vox 123
Active Air Fields
A114
A117
A123
A148
Gv only
A122
A150
109G2 JG-27,JG-53,JG-77
190 A5 II/JG-2
110g2 ZG-1
Stukas
GV's
Panzer both variants
Osti
Wirb
SKDFZ
Operation Avalanche - the main invasion at Salerno by the
U.S. 5th Army - began on 9 September, and in order
to secure surprise, the decision had been taken to
assault without preliminary
naval or aerial bombardment. However, tactical
surprise
was not achieved, as the naval commanders had
predicted.
As the first wave of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division
approached the
shore at Paestum a loudspeaker from the landing area
proclaimed in English: "Come on in and give up.
We have you covered." The Allied troops attacked
nonetheless.
Major General Rudolf Sieckenius commander of 16th Panzer
Division had organised his forces into four mixed arms
battle groups which he had placed roughly 6 mi (9.7 km)
apart and
between 3 and 6 mi (4.8 and 9.7 km) back from the beaches.
The Dornemann group was just east of Salerno
(and therefore were opposite 46th Division when it landed),
the Stempel battle group was between Pontecagnano and
Battipaglia (and so faced the 56th Division), the Holtey
battle group was in a reserve role at Persano on the Sele
river
which formed the corps boundary between X and VI Corps,
while the von Doering battle group responsible for the
Albanella to Rutino sector was 4 mi (6.4 km) south-east of
Ogliastro,
somewhat south of the 36th Division's beaches.
X Corps, composed of the British 46th and 56th Divisions
and a light infantry force of U.S. Rangers and British
Commandos of Brigadier 'Lucky' Laycock's 2nd Special
Service Brigade,
experienced mixed reactions to its landings. The Rangers
met no opposition and with support from the guns of HMS
Ledbury seized their mountain pass objectives while the
Commandos,
from No. 2 Commando and No. 41 (Royal Marine) Commando,
were also unopposed and secured the high ground on each side of the road through the La Molina Pass on the main route from
Salerno to Naples. At first light units of No. 2 Commando
moved towards Salerno and pushed back a small force of
tanks and armoured cars from 16th Panzer Reconnaissance
battalion.
ARENA SETTINGS
Map= Italy
Killshooter is on.
Visibility is 12.0 miles
Fuel burn rate: 1.0
Ack lethality .5
Base capture: 10 troops
Radar: (1943)
Sector: 316,800
Tower: 132,000
Icons: Enemy Off, Friendly 2.5K
