Co-Belligerent Italians make a stand
German counter-attack at Rocchetta a Volturno
Italy, 1st March,1944
This is a tabletop wargame based on a scenario I found by Angus Konstam in Battles for the Mediterranean 1940-1944. I have modified the forces to make use of what I had available.
Following the costly attacks against Monte Cassino, the Allies tried a different approach with small scale attacks to capture mountains east of the monastery in an effort to cut German supply lines. Several of these actions took place in the Maindarde region which comprised of several mountain positions which overlooked the upper reaches of the Volturno River. During February these attacks were spearheaded by the French Expeditionary Force, but even though gains were made, swift German counter-attacks followed and the advance soon ground to a halt once again.
The French were eventually pulled back to reorganise and their place taken in the line by elements of 185th “Nembo” Force of the Italian Co-Belligerant Forces. The Italians were fresh and keen to prove themselves to their new allies, but woefully under equipped and trained. The Germans (as always) seem to have had good intelligence and launched a powerful counter-attack against what they considered a weak point in the Allied lines.
185th “Nembo” Force
The 185th Infantry Regiment "Nembo" (Cloud) was formed in August 1942 as the Royal Italian Army`s fourth paratrooper regiment. The regiment was assigned to the 184th Infantry Division “Nembo” and deployed with it to Sardinia. After the announcement of the Armistice on 8 September 1943 the regiment split in two halves – half joining the Germans in supporting Mussolini`s Fascist state, whilst the rest joined the Italian Co-Belligerent Army and eventually fought against the Germans in Italy.
In September 1944 the remnants of the regiment and of its sister regiment, the 183rd Regiment, were merged to form the Paratroopers Regiment “Nembo”, which was assigned to the Combat Group Folgore and equipped with British material. The Combat Group then fought against the German forces in Italy until the end of the war
Even though Nembo are said to be parachute unit, I personally highly doubt that many troopers other than a core cadre would be fully qualified. For this game I have classed Nembo as trained infantry.
The game
1st Battalion 184th “Nembo” Regiment have moved into the line along the Volturno River and Route 652. The Germans overlook your positions from the vantage points on Monte Maronne. You have outpost garrisons at the village of Castelnuovo and Convent of San Vincenzo; battalion HQ is in Rocchetta a Volturno itself. Your orders are to hold this sector until relieved.
Kampgruppe Hympendahl (115th Panzergrenadier Regiment)
You command a battle-group tasked with driving the newly arrived Italians into the Volturno
Italian forces
1st Battalion Nembo Regiment with:
HQ
2 rifle companies each with:
HQ + 3 platoons
Support weapons Company
2 x Breda MMG, 2 x 80mm mortar, 20mm Breda AA
Attached mixed anti-tank group
1 x 6pdr AT gun (lent by the British), 2 x 47mm AT gun
German forces
Battle-group HQ
3 rifle companies (one company can be motorised in trucks)
Support weapons Coy.
2 x 81mm mortars + truck, 75 IG + tow
Recce
Sdkfz 222, 2 x sdkfz 250 (6 grenadiers each), truck (10 grenadiers)
Armour
Stug III, Panzer IV
French reinforcements (turn 15) from the north
M8 armoured car
2 Sherman
2 trucks of infantry
My table
The game
Dispositions – the Germans decided on a bold frontal attack through Castelnuovo into Rocchetta using all their armour and two companies of leg infantry, this attack would be supported by mortars and the infantry gun. The third company will wait in their trucks ready for a quick breakthrough. The recce company was to cut across country to the convent/church.
The Italians garrisoned Castelnuovo with a couple of platoons supported by a MMG and a 47mm, The convent/church was garrisoned by a single platoon, but another was dug-in among the fields close by. The rest of the command garrisoned the Rocchetta, the mortars right back near the river, the 6pdr in the town square covering the road from Castelnuovo.
Turn 4 saw further mortar fire from both sides, the 47mm again fails to penetrate the Panzer and is wiped out by return fire
Turns 5 & 6 saw the Germans move into Castelnuovo,the panzer and Stug blasting some cottages, infantry close assaulting others. The Italian defenders are either killed, captured or just run away. The 6pdr misses the Panzer! Italian mortars continue to cause casualties among the German infantry
Italian mortars continue to inflict casualties on the Germans
Turns 9 & 10 the Germans continue to pound Rocchetta, the 6pdr crew are wiped out by shrapnel
The Germans decide to commit their truck born company
On Turn 10 the Germans capture the Church of San Vincenzo
Turns 11 & 12 Lots of mortaring from both sides, the German tanks adding their shells to the mix
Turn 13 German mortars target the Italian mortars
The Germans close assault and overrun the convent
The Stug blows up the Italian command bus
The Italian morale fails all along the line……….
Turn 14 – 15 sees German infantry enter Rocchetta, they have successfully captured Castelnuovo and the convent. As a final nail German mortars wipe out the Italian ones – game over…
For those of you wondering what happened to the French, well I rolled 6 on 1D6 which meant they wouldn`t arrive until turn 21 – it was all long over by then. Mortars inflicted the most casualties (on both sides), but the German armour made the main difference, of course if the 6pdr crew had been luckier with its dice, the game may well have been quite different.
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