25 August 2009
Happy Birthday Bernie!
Bernie Behling, DaBoss and founder of the SP:WaW Depot celebrates his 53rd Birthday today! Go over there and help him celebrate on the SPWAW Depot Forum! WOOT!!!
20 August 2009
NEW ENH Canadians In Italy - Casa Berardi
Get the latest in the Canadians In Italy Series right here!
The story goes something like this:
___________Casa Berardi**
_________Canada - Germany*
_______Italy, Near Ortona*
____0400 hrs 14 December 1943*
_____________Turns 15*
_______Scenario Size: Small*
___________C&C Friendly*
______Low Carnage Settings**
_____Henk "Dutchiexx" Neumann*
_______Dutchiexx@spwaw.com*
_______MADE FOR ENH 2009**
**
________SCENARIO NOTES:**
Take and hold Casa Berardi!. This scenario depicts the battle for Casa Berardi by a company of the Royal 22e Régiment with the support of a squadron of a Canadian Armoured Regiment commanded by Captain Paul Triquet V.C.**
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**
Paul Triquet was born in Cabano, Quebec, April 1910. While at school at Cabano Academy he joined the Cabano Cadet Corps which his father organized and trained, so he was keenly interested in military training from an early age. He enlisted as a private in the Royal 22nd Regiment, November 1927, and received rapid promotion. The action which won him the Victoria Cross has been described as a magnificent flash of greatness. He was also awarded the Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (France) - for the same action. The VC citation reads:**
For determined leadership and example.*
The capture of the key road junction on the main Ortona-Orsogna lateral was entirely dependent on securing the hamlet of Casa Berardi. Both this and a gully in front of it had been turned by the Germans into formidable strong points defended by infantry and tanks. On 14th December 1943, Captain Triquet's company of the Royal 22e Régiment with the support of a squadron of a Canadian Armoured Regiment was given the task of crossing the gully and securing Casa Berardi. Difficulties were encountered from the outset. The gully was held in strength and on approaching it the force came under heavy fire from machine-guns and mortars. All the company officers and 50 per cent of the men were killed or wounded. Showing superb contempt for the enemy, Captain Triquet went round reorganizing the remainder and encouraging them with the words, "Never mind them, they can't shoot". Finally when enemy infiltration was observed on all sides shouting, There are enemy in front of us, behind us and on our flanks, there is only one safe place - that is on the objective, he dashed forward and with his men following him broke through the enemy resistance. In this action four tanks were destroyed and several enemy machine-gun posts silenced.**
Against bitter and determined defence and under heavy fire, Captain Triquet and his company, in close co-operation with the tanks, forced their way on until a position was reached on the outskirts of Casa Berardi. By this time the strength of the company was reduced to 2 sergeants and 15 men. In expectation of a counter-attack Captain Triquet at once set about organizing his handful of men into a defensive perimeter around the remaining tanks and passed the mot d'ordre, ils ne passeront pas. A German counter-attack supported by tanks developed almost immediately. Captain Triquet, ignoring the heavy fire, was everywhere encouraging his men and directing the defence and by using whatever weapons were to hand personally accounted for several of the enemy. This and subsequent attacks were beaten off with heavy losses, and Captain Triquet and his small force held out against overwhelming odds until the remainder of the battalion took Casa Berardi and relieved them the next day. Throughout the whole of this engagement Captain Triquet showed the most magnificent courage and cheerfulness under heavy fire. Wherever the action was the hottest he was often seen shouting encouragement to his men and organizing the defence. His utter disregard of danger, his cheerfulness and tireless devotion to duty were a constant source of inspiration to them. His tactical skill and leadership enabled them, although reduced by casualties to a mere handful, to continue their advance against bitter resistance and to hold their gains against determined counter-attacks. It was due to him that Casa Berardi was captured and the way opened for the attack on the vital road junction.**
______DESIGNER NOTES**
This scenario is the third of a series depicting the battles in and around Ortona, a little town in Italy that ater the battle was commonly known as Little Stalingrad.**
This scenario was designed C&C Friendly, using the Low Carnage Settings 90S, 80H, 100RR, XXXTQ, 110TT, 150IT, 180AvS, 120AvA, 150SOF / Command & Ctrl ON / AutoRally OFF to reduce unrealistic SPWAW slaughter.**
______SPECIAL THANKS**
Crazy Canuck for providing me with historical links about the Battle For Ortona*
Major Destruction for providing designing and historical tips*
Thanks guys!**
Have FUN!
12 August 2009
NEW Scenario- Campaign- and Maplist
Here's your latest list with all new additions by some of the most creative designers! Have Fun!
09 August 2009
ENH Canadians In Italy - The Gully
Here's the second scenario in the Canadians In Italy - series: The Gully. Here's the story:
_______Battle Of The Gully**
__Canada Assault - Germany Defend*
_______Italy, Near Ortona*
____0400 hrs 10 December 1943*
_____________Turns 45*
_______Scenario Size: Medium*
___________C&C Friendly*
______Low Carnage Settings**
_______MADE FOR ENH 2009**
________SCENARIO NOTES:**
Cross the Gully and when on the northern side, prepare to take the crossroads.**
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:**
The Gully was barely noticeable on the scale maps of the area and had failed to draw the attention of intelligence officers or air photo interpreters, but the 200-metre-deep ravine provided the enemy with ample opportunity to fight effectively from terrain that gave the defender every advantage.**
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment, with a squadron of Calgary Tanks and a platoon of medium machine-guns from the Saskatoon Light Infantry, began the push north on the morning of Dec. 10. The battle group included two FOOs from 3rd Field Regt. and one from the corps medium regiment. Their goal was Cider Crossroads, the point where the San Leonardo-Tollo road met the Ortona-Orsogna highway. If all went well the 2nd Brigade would turn east towards Ortona to outflank the defenders south of the city while 3rd Canadian Infantry Bde. would join an Indian brigade in the advance north to Tollo. The occupation of the village, with its network of minor roads to the north and east, would force the enemy to abandon Ortona, leaving it intact for the Allies to utilize as a base.**
The road the Loyal Eddies followed skirts a creek defile before turning east. Today the A13 Autostrada, elevated above The Gully, dominates the battlefield, but in 1943 the narrow road ran through an apparently empty countryside. Accounts of the day’s events vary widely, but everyone agrees that all attempts to advance to The Gully–never mind the crossroads–were met with concentrated machine-gun and mortar fire which neither the artillery nor the mortars could suppress. A vague message sent to brigade at 1:30 p.m. reported 3 coys (companies) on objective are consolidating. This signal must have been intended to refer to the first-stage objective, not Cider Crossroads. But Brigadier Bert Hoffmeister misunderstood and ordered the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry to join the advance, securing the high ground the Patricias would call Vino Ridge. They came under heavy, observed fire and were forced to stop and dig in just east of San Leonardo.**
Fortunately, the enemy was not content with stopping the Canadians. The 90th Div. was told to regain the ground above the Moro. The first wave of German attacks began on the afternoon of Dec. 10. The next day three separate attempts to overwhelm the Canadians produced heavy casualties on both sides. General Traugott Herr, the German corps commander, complained that these attacks had been committed too late in the day and had been half-hearted. He removed the divisional and regimental commanders, placing the division under the command of Col. Ernst-Günther Baade of 3rd Para Regt. Baade was an experienced commander who was prepared to do whatever it took to slow the Canadian advance at least until the balance of 1st Para Div. arrived.**
The 8th Indian Div. had enjoyed slightly greater success on its axis, reaching Villa Caldari just south of the Ortona-Orsogna road. The Gully did not extend this far inland and there were good prospects for a further advance, but the Indian battalions were understrength and near exhaustion so they were allowed to pause and regroup. When the advance was renewed, the enemy was well dug in and able to hold positions in front of the lateral road for more than three days.**
Montgomery proposed to begin Operation Semblance on Dec. 15, but Allfrey and Major-General Chris Vokes–the Canadian divisional commander–wanted the Canadians to secure Cider Crossroads and the highway before joining in the promised corps advance. Vokes decided to commit his reserve, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Bde., to accomplish this. The West Nova Scotia Regt. made the first attempt at dusk on Dec. 11, but could make no progress. The next morning, the West Nova Scotia Regt. was ordered to try again, despite a driving rain. When this attack failed, Vokes employed all available three-inch and 4.2-inch mortars with their high-trajectory fire on the reverse slope, while the artillery suppressed other enemy positions. The Carleton and York Regt. led the new advance supported by flank attacks. After some early success, “murderous machine-gun and mortar fire” from within and beyond The Gully overwhelmed the battalion, which suffered 52 casualties as well as the loss of 28 men who were taken prisoner when a platoon was cut off.**
As another frontal attack collapsed under the German fire, a battle group formed by a company of the West Nova Scotia Regt., a tank squadron from the Ontario Regt., combat engineers and a troop of self-propelled guns, found and destroyed a German battle group deployed to defend the shallow western end of The Gully.
A platoon of West Novas, with a troop of tanks from the Ontario Regt., charged the enemy position, destroying two German tanks and capturing the others. A second troop of four Ontario Regt. tanks, working closely with a Seaforth Highlander company, swung further to the left, circling around the enemy defences before probing east towards Casa Berardi. This brilliant stroke, which might have ended German resistance at The Gully, could not be supported as Vokes had no reserves immediately available. With the tanks low on fuel and ammunition, the best the battle group could do was to defend their position near the Ortona-Orsogna road.**
These probing attacks on the left flank of the Canadian sector were assisted by a renewed effort from 8th Indian Div., which committed an armoured-infantry battle group to a night attack towards Villa Grande. The Germans were forced to send local reserves to seal off this penetration, helping the Canadians to exploit a temporary seam in the enemy defences.**
The decision by Vokes to commit 3rd Bde. to a frontal attack on The Gully had left the division with just one uncommitted infantry battalion, the Royal 22nd Regt. The Van Doos, as their comrades called them, were told to assemble with a squadron of Ontario Regt. tanks during the night of Dec. 13-14 and to use a divisional artillery program to advance northeast towards Cider Crossroads. The attack, which was to begin at first light on Dec. 14, would have to overcome a powerful enemy. While no great “fighting value” could any longer be ascribed to 90th Div., two battalions of 1st Para Div., whose strength “had been increased by the arrival of young reinforcements,” were now in position to block the Canadian advance.**
Brigadier Bruce Matthews–the divisional artillery commander–was determined to improve the effectiveness of his guns. The base maps used to plan the unobserved or predicted fire in previous attacks had proven to be quite inaccurate so the artillery FOOs had worked hard to register the guns on a series of target areas that were given code names. And so rather than relying on a moving barrage, the hope was that FOOs with the forward troops could call for concentrations of fire on specific positions.**
On the morning of Dec. 14, the Van Doos discovered just how valuable this flexibility was. Their first task was to recover control of the lateral road, not advance along it, so the 60-minute-long opening barrage was of little help. The infantry stalked a German tank hidden in a house before destroying it with a PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) gun. Soon afterwards two companies, each supported by a troop of tanks, began an advance across “a wasteland of trees with split limbs, burnt-out vehicles, dead animals and cracked shells of houses.” The parachute battalions, assisted by tanks or self-propelled guns, were dug in among the ruins and craters ready to call upon artillery and mortars as well as their own fire to wreak havoc among the Canadians.
The right flank Van Doo company, turning to avoid such fire, ended up lost in The Gully before withdrawing to the start line. Major Paul Triquet’s C Company worked its way forward with the help of the Ontario Regt. Shermans. Matthews’s registered artillery concentrations and tank fire deserved much of the credit for the advance, but the raw courage of Triquet’s men was quite extraordinary.
With less than 20 men and five tanks left in his battle group, Triquet and Major H.A. Smith of the Ontario Regt. decided to seize and then defend the villa and farm buildings of Casa Berardi. Their determination to hold the Casa, expressed in Triquet’s phrase “mot d’ordre, ils ne passeront pas”, has become famous in the annals of Canadian history. The VC Triquet earned was well deserved, but the role of the Ontario Regt. tanks and the night march of D Co. of the Van Doos, which reached the Casa shortly before midnight, should also be remembered.**
The successful defence of Casa Berardi did not mean the end of the battle for The Gully. The enemy continued to use this natural obstacle to block the advance of 1st and 2nd brigades. Unfortunately, Vokes was an exceptionally stubborn man and he ordered the Carleton and York Regt. to make yet another frontal assault on Cider Crossroads. According to his own account–written well after the battle–the attack was not pressed home and again failed in the face of determined opposition.**
Allfrey was later to claim that he had a long talk with Vokes… and told him he was tiring out his division and producing nothing because of the lack of co-ordination. Since Allfrey’s diary was written after the event, it is difficult to rely upon but if the long talk occurred on Dec. 14 it did not persuade Vokes to cancel the Carleton and York attack.**
Finally, on the afternoon of Dec.15, Vokes decided on a 48-hour pause to organize a proper set-piece attack from the Casa Berardi position. The 48th Highlanders of Canada and the Royal Canadian Regt. were to move in behind the Van Doos and prepare to follow an extensive artillery program designed to shoot them onto objectives around Cider Crossroads.**
The guns of nine field and three medium regiments would fire two artillery programs, Morning Glory–in support of the 48th Highlanders–and Orange Blossom for the Royal Canadian Regt. The 48th Highlanders were able to follow the terrifying and effective artillery fire in a deliberate advance carried out at a rate of only 100 yards every five minutes. They reached their objective north of Cider Crossroads just as the RCRs began their advance. Orange Blossom turned out as disastrous as Morning Glory was successful. For reasons that have not been explained, a large number of short rounds fell among Canadian troops, and Matthews cancelled or changed much of the fire plan. The RCRs ran into a number of untouched enemy positions and suffered heavy losses in what they described as a “death trap.”
Despite these losses the battalion was ready to resume the battle the next day. This time the artillery fire was both accurate and effective. The crossroads was secured and the battle for The Gully finally over.**
______DESIGNER NOTES**
This scenario is the second of a series depicting the battles in and around Ortona, a little town in Italy that ater the battle was commonly known as Little Stalingrad.**
This scenario was designed C&C Friendly, using the Low Carnage Settings 90S, 80H, 100RR, XXXTQ, 110TT, 150IT, 180AvS, 120AvA, 150SOF / Command & Ctrl ON / AutoRally OFF to reduce unrealistic SPWAW slaughter.**
______SPECIAL THANKS**
Crazy Canuck for providing me with historical links about the Battle For Ortona*
Major Destruction for providing designing and historical tips*
Thanks guys!**
Have FUN!
ENH Canadians In Italy - Crossing The Moro (vs. 2.0)
Well... I've kept you waiting again. But here it is: version two of the Moro Crossing scenario. Thanks to Major Destruction's valuable tips this should be a more realistic version. Have FUN!
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