Bridgehead over the Rapido

The New Zealand 28th (Maori) Battalion Attack 

on the Cassino Railway Station

Cassino, Italy, February 17/18, 1944

This was a playtesting of a small scenario I wrote for the Battlefont WWII rule set, a tense little night time battle between the Maoris of 28 Battlaion, 2^nd New Zealand Division and the German defenders, 361 Panzer Grenadiers of 90^th PG Division. In effect there are two fights going on, one to secure the bridgehead and the other, by the Kiwi engineers, to repair a series of German demolitions along a railway bed before dawn. It was played using 20mm miniatures on a 3' X 4.5' table. Only the first part of the scenario was played as it ended in a German victory, which precluded the second part.

Background

By mid-February, 1944 the U.S. 34^th Division's attempts to force a breakthrough at Cassino had exhausted the division with only marginal gains in the hills west of the town. The front was now handed over to General Freyburg and his New Zealand Corps (8^th Army, 2^nd New Zealand Division and the 4^th Indian Infantry Division) newly arrived from the Adriatic front. Freyburg was under pressure to launch a relieving action that would divert German resources from the mounting difficulties being experienced at the Anzio bridgehead to the north.

A few days before the attack the great abbey at Monte Cassino was reduced to rubble in the still highly controversial bombing of Monastery Hill. Over the previous months of fighting the monastery and its commanding position over the entire Liri Valley had become fixed in the Allied mind as being primarily responsible for their inability to break the German's Gustav Line.

The abbey bombing on February 11 was followed by a series of attacks, culminating on the night of the 17^th when the 4^th Indian Division launched its attacks into the mountains east of the monastery. These attacks were coordinated by an attempt by the 28^th (Maori) Battalion to force a bridgehead over the Rapido River and seize the Cassino railway station and surrounding objectives west of the town.

The scenario map shows the two company attack by the Maoris of 28 Battalion. German 5 Kp., II Battalion, 361st PG Regiment, occupied the houses north of the station and the railway station itself. 6 Kp. defended the railyard and hummock while 7 Kp., not in the fight, were dug in west of the Gari.

Scenario

This scenario covers the intitial night attack on the station. The challenge was to seize four objectives in order to secure a safe bridgehead in which the engineers could do their work repairing the German demolitions along the rail bed. The railbed offered the only way across the water-logged ground for supporting armour and vehicles to bolster the bridgehead. It was imperative that the work be done before dawn, when German artillery would be able to once again zero in on the approach from their eagle-like vantage points on Monte Cassino.

1. The Battlefield

The railway runs up through the water-logged ground bordering the rapido and its tributaries. At the upper right are the outskirts of Cassino, and just below that the railway station and roundhouse. The German forces and defences west of the Gari (upper left) are placed on board but the rest are using hidden markers. Barbed wire was known but minefields, surface laid, were only discovered when the attackers were within 1”.

The Maoris began their attack along a sunken road, forward of where the engineers were bridging the “Little Rapido”, the first in a half dozen demolitions that had to be repaired by game's end.

2. View up the railway towards the station

The first of the demolitions, the ruined bridge over the “Little Rapido”, can be seen in the foreground.

3. German defences west of the Gari River

Behind minefields and barbed wire 7 Kp. of the 361^st Pz. Grenadiers, II Battalion hold their portion of the Gustav Line. Unsure of where the attacks were going to fall, these troops have orders to stay put and not cross the Gari. As a result they willl only be involved peripherally in the night's fighting.

4. A Company advances behind barrage on left side of railway

A barrage consisiting of four regiments of 25 pdrs., two regiments of mediums and a battery of American heavies opens up on the attack's objectives, pulverizing them for ten minutes before moving on to counter battery and harrassing fire. A and B Companies of the 28 (Maori) Battalion leave their start line, advancing across the sodden fields towards the railway station under cover of darkness.

5. First Contact

B Company, advancing on the houses to the right of the railway, come under fire from a German machinegun firing from a bunker. With most of the company mired in minefields and barbed wire, one section charges into the hail of bullets and knocks out the gun.

6. Grazing fire on NZ right flank

An overhead shot gives a sense of the hail of bullets, tangles of barbed wire and minefields that the Maoris have to negotiate to close with the enemy. German grazing fire kept most of B Company's heads down, but one lone section managed to dash through. Gerrman artillery, targetting behind the minefields, has already caused a few casulaties even before the Maoris have made contact.Railway station is at bottom right.

7. Grazing fire on NZ left flank

A Company, attempting to outflank the machinegun fire they are taking from the hummock south of the roundhouse, encouter minefields and are pinned by more machinegun fire coming from the German positions west of the Gari River. Although the minefields are dummy fields, the machinegun fire ie enough to cause them to abandon this approach.

8. Engineers bridge Little Rapido

Meanwhile the engineers are working feverishly to repair the German demolitions along the railbed. This work is imperative as the railway is the only approach possible for A Squadron of the 19^th Armoured Regiment to advance its Shermans. The Little Rapido is quickly bridged and the engineers move forward to begin manual work on the subsequent demolitions. The bulldozer of the Mechanical Equipment Platoon crosses the newly constructed bridge while a truck full of bridging supplies for the main work over the Rapido waits to move forward.

9. Another machinegun opens up from the railyard

As some of the lead engineers, working ahead, approach the fifth and sixth demolitions, yet another German machinegun opens up from a bunker in the railyard, sending a torrent of bullets straight down the railway and driving the engineers from their work.

10. B Co. begins to clear the houses north of the railway

Having reached the outer most houses, some of B Company begin to work their way north, engaging in close combat the second of the two machineguns that are holding up the attack on this flank. 

11. Overview

At the bottom right B Company can be seen starting to make some headway against the Germans in this sector. South of the railway (top right) German efenders still hold out stubbornly in the roundhouse, but no longer hold the hummock. However, A Company is stalled out in the water-logged area to the left of the station and unable to make headway.
Meanwhile the engineers begin work on the Rapido crossing but are hampered by the lack of bridging equipment, still held up further down the line as the bulldozer fills in the second demolition, a blown gap in the railbed.

12. German defence begins to break on the right flank

The second German heavy machinegun is taken out of action and the Maoris of B Company begin to close in on the final German positions on this flank.

13. Engineers wait for bridging supplies at the Rapido

The bridging supplies necessary to complete the first span of work over the Rapido are held up until the bulldozer can fill a gap in the railbed.

14. A Company stalled out and stonked on left flank

On the NZ left flank A Company comes under heavy mortar and machinegun fire as they go to ground in front of the roundhouse and hummock.

15. B Company moves in on intersction objective from the north

Having finally forcd their way into the cassino outskirts, B Company begins to attack back towards their first objective, the intersection northwest of the railyard.

16. Work begins on bridging the Rapido

With bridging supplies and the bulldozer having finally arrived work begins in earnest on bridging the Rapido. This is the largest of the demolitions that will have to be repaired, requiring the work of an entire platoon of engineers and two truckloads of supplies. Although others are wrorking ahead of the Rapido as much as possible on demolitions 4 to 6, the engineers are beginning to run seriously behind schedule as time starts to run out.

17. A Company storms the roundhouse

With off board artillery once more becoming available, the mediums stonk the railyard with a thickened concentration that wreaks havoc among the German defenders. Under cover of smoke A Company tries to revive its stalled attack as the battalion mortars drop shell after shell on the stubborn machinegun post that has been holding them at bay south of the roundhouse.

18. A Company driven off

The first attempt to take the roundhouse fails as Grman defenders drive off elements of A Company that have attacked from the left flank.

19. B Company in full retreat

Meanwhile, on the right flank, B Company, having suffered losses of 50% suddenly break off their attack on the intersection and retreat towards their start line. It is an unfortunate turn of events for the Maoris as the German defence had all but collapsed in this sector as they retreated to the railyard, but the uncertainties and loss of command and control as a result of darkness (and bad die rolls) lead to this most untimely of withdrawals!

20. Engineers under fire

With the railway station and roundhouse still in German control, the engineers are forced to work on the final demolitions while under mortar and machinegun fire. Casualties among 8 Field Company begin to mount.

21. A Company takes roundhouse

A second attempt at the roundhouse finally clears it in a series of close assaults.

22. Working on the final demolitions

Although the work on the Rapido moves ahead slowly, all other demolitions are repaired other than those at the entrance to the railyard. The engineers work under cover of smoke, but the moon has now come out and the Germans know thy are there, and mortar fire continuously disrupts the work.

23. Rapido finally bridged – but too late!

The Rapido is finally bridges and the bulldozer and engineers engaged in this task begin to move forward, but it is too late. Dawn is almost here and the last demolition is yet to have been repaired.

24. 6 Kp. In full retreat

With the Maoris of A Company closing in on the railyard, German 6 Kp. breaks and runs, fleeing past an antitank gun waiting west of the yard as assurance against the arrival of enemy armour.

25. B Company finally regroups at their start line

B Company's flight from Cassino finally comes to an end as they reach their start line. They manage to regroup but it is too late for them to re-enter the battle.

26. End of battle

As A Company finally drives the last of the defenders out of the roundhouse the sun breaks on the horizon. Elements of 5 Kp. still hold out tenaciously in the railway station, denying the New Zealanders of any hopse of holding their bridgehead. The engineers, working on the final demolition, are forced to withdraw before completing the work and the tanks of A Squadron wait well east of the Rapido with no way forward.

With only two of the four objectives taken by the Maoris, and the railway station still in enemy hands, there will be no opportunity to win this battle and the night goes to the Germans as a marginal victory.

Leros Landing 2: Mt.. Appetici

Last weekend we got around to playing the second of the Leros Landing scenarios, written by Nigel Perry for the Battlefront WWII ruleset. This game, played in 20 mm on a 4'X3' board was about as close as you get to a skirmish game in Battlefront, with a company per side and a second company for the British in reserve. Since posting it has been pointed out to me that the German Coastal Raiding company were actually Kriegsmarine, not paras! My apologies to the scenario designers for not reading their orbats carefully enough.

It is based on the fighting for the isle of Leros Island (see Leros Landing above) on November 12^th, 1943. While elements of the German fallschirmjaeger force battled it out for Germano, and Rachi Ridge north of Leros , a company of Kriegsmarines, men of Kustenjaeger Abteilung Brandenburg, fought for control of the high ground south of Leros. This scenario picks up the action later in the day, after the parachute landings and initial skirmishes between the Germans and the defending British.

1. Battlefield Overview

The two objectives: Mt. Appetici with its coastal battery on the high ground towards the bottom of the picture with Leros Castle just visible above Leros at the top. C Company of the Royal Irish Fusiliers defends the castle with a platoon of infantry while the remainder of the company, bolstered by a Vickers and Bofors AA section, is dug in around Mt. Appetici. B Company of the Royal West Kents is in reserve, positioned in the town of Leros and, to reflect the confused nature of the British defence, unable to leave that position until “released”.

2. View down the east side of the high ground from Leros Castle

3. The second objective, the coastal battery on Mt. Appetici.

4. Brandenburg Coastal Raiding Company forms up

The Germans form up at the base of Mt. Appetici in preparation for their attack while Stukas attack the Royal Irish positions. Only company strength, the Germans concentrate their attack on the coastal battery.

5. Strafing run

A successful strafing run knocks out the Vickers section and disorders many of the defenders, forcing their heads down as the Germans make their way up the slope.

6. Germans work around flank

Preserving their precious resources the Germans cautiously work their way around the flank of Mt. Appetici, taking advantage of the cover on the slopes (this was modelled in the scenario by making the terrain open but allowing improved positions to be gained by expending an action).

7. Objective seized

With relatively light losses the Germans force the defenders out of their prepared positions and seize the objective while the Stukas return to the skies after an initial absence and resume their attacks on the defenders. The Royal Irish platoon positioned in Leros Castle leave the castle and move up along with the company commander to bolster the sagging defences in an attempt to retake the objective.

8. Fallschirmjaeger consolidate on objective

With the help of air power the Germans, now reduced to a bit over half strength, hold off the counter attack from the Royal Irish, eliminating this threat in time to consolidate on the objective before the West Kents arrive on the scene.

9. B Co. Royal West Kents advance on battery from Leros

Finally “released” from their positions in Leros, the British reserve force, B Co. of the West Kents, move cautiously along either side of the road running along the ridge, keeping to the cover but having their advance slowed by continual strafing attacks by the Stukas. They arrive at the battle only to find that the Royal Irish have been decimated.

10. Raiding Company holds tight

With their numbers reduced and a fresh British company now renewing the attack, the Germans reject any hope of taking both objectives and dig in around the battery.

11. Last push by West Kents

With time running out and casualties running high the West Kents make a last desperate push to dislodge the enemy …

12. Objective held

But to no avail. The elite Germans, dug in and with commanding fields of fire from the high ground, are impossible to dislodge.

Victory conditions were determined by the sum total of the two scenarios, and with the British at the end holding only three of the six objectives (Leros Castle, the town of Quaranta and Mt. Meraviglia) the Germans could claim a minor victory. The historical result, interestingly enough, concluded with the Germans also achieving a minor victory, holding Mt. Appetici, Germano Hill and Rachi Ridge by the end of the day's fighting.

Leros Landing

We played Nigel Perry's excellent scenario, Second Time Lucky, written for the Battlefront WWII rule set and based on the German paratroop attack on the isle of Leros on November 12^th, 1943. An earlier attempt at taking the island had ended in fiasco, but later in the day German Fallschirmjaegers were dropped on the island and managed to achieve enough success that the invasion of the island went ahead and was eventually successful.

The scenario is one of two based on the parachute landings. We hope to play the second scenario in the future. The dynamics of the game were interesting as the Germans had specific objectives to seize with full capacity to operate as they saw fit, but tended to be outnumbered by the defenders. However they were able to move relatively unimpeded from their drop zone while the British had serious restrictions placed on their ability to respond. We opted for shortening the game to 12 turns, as suggested, and this seemed to work well as it reduced the advantages the British had if the game had gone on longer. It was played in 20mm on a 4.5' X 7.5' board.

Map of the battlefield showing deployment of British forces and German drop zone. Cos. A, B and D as well as the HQ company and attachments (mortars, carrier platoon and FOO) were committed to this scenario. The antitank platoon and one stand of Bofors AA, as well as the two commando units (SBS and LRDG) and the late-arriving reinforcing company of infantry were also committed as optional reserves to be split between the two scenarios as seen fit by the British commander.

The Battlefield

The British set up first and then the Germans chose their drop zone. All units were placed on table as aerial recon had previously pinpointed the placement of the British positions. The four objecives in the battle were: Germano Hill (just out of the picture at top), Quaranta (just off picture to right top), the coastal battery on Raahi Ridge (center of picture) and the peak of Mt. Meraviglia (rocky outcropping center bottom).

FOO on Mt. Meraviglia

The British FOO on the peak of Mt. Meraviglia had an ideal view of virtually all the battlefield. He could spot down both sides of Raahi Ridge with a clear view of Germano Hill, and the villages of Constantino and Quaranta. The British mortars were placed nearby with a similar line of sight.

Carrier platoon on the mountain

The carrier platooon and B Company were positioned on the spur running west from the peak, but not dug in, giving them free reign to advance once their units were released.

The coastal battery on Raahi Ridge

On the high ground on Raahi Ridge was positioned the coastal battery which became the focus of the most furious fighting during the battle.

View from Germano Hill looking south towards Mt. Meraviglia

D Company, reinforced by one of the two 2 pdrs. began dug in around Germano Hill and in the forest next to the sea. The British commander opted for a “prepared defence” which meant the unit could start dug in but could not leave its deployment zone. At least two of the platoons (six units) had to begin the battle within 3 inches and facing the sea as their primary role was to repel a seaborne invasion.

A Company dug in along the east shore

Bolstered by AA assets, A Company also chose a “prepared defence” which allowed them to dig in. Like D Comapny, their primary role was to repel any seaborne invasion as well as defend Quadrata. The British commander chose the “prepared defence” as there was little cover here and he was afraid they would be devestated by any Stuka and mortar attacks. As it turned out the German commander chose to ignore this objective, which meant A Company stayed out of the fray, resorting to the occasional pot shot at any Germans that ventured over the ridge line but unable to move from their deployment zone and help in repelling the German attackers – a crucial and frutrating situation!

2 pdr. emplaced in Quadrata

With a view over to Constantino this gun never fired a shot in the battle, waiting for an attack that never came.

British commandos east of Mt. Meraviglia summit

The only units that began the battle released and able to operate freely were two platoons of British commandos, one SBS and the other LRDG, which began along the road running east of Mt. Meraviglia's summit.

The Drop

The Germans chose a drop zone just south of Constantino. The drop was remarkably tight and casualties not too severe – about two sections for each of the three companies. Sorting themselves out 1 Kp. immediately pushed to secure the undefended Raahi Ridge coastal battery (top right) while 2 and 3 Kps. moved south towards Germano Hill (beyond Constatino to the left).

Strafing run

The two commando units, eagerly pushing down the road to beat the Germans to the Raahi Ridge objective are caught in the open by a Stuka and strafed. The attack had the effect of driving the commandos off the road into steep rocky terrain and slowing their advance to the battery. The Luftwaffe was very active throughout the battle.

B Company comes down from the mountain

Remarkably the British commander was able to release D and A Companies on the second turn and B Company on the third (a 1 or 2 in 10 chance). A and D are confined to their deployment areas but B can move freely and quickly advances towards the woods below and west of Raahi Ridge to ouftlank the German 1 Kp. already on the objective.

German Fallschirmjaeger move through Constantino

The German 2 and 3 Kps. quickly move through the undefended village of Constantino, setting up their fire base in the houses as other units move around the flank in prepation for the assault on the Germano Hill defences.

B Company attacks through woods

B Company quickly presses home its attack through the woods below Raahi Ridge, driving out the German paras by attacking across the stream and into their flank.

Commandos move into the woods on east side of Raahi Ridge

On the other side of the ridge the commandos enter into the woods below the battery, but not without casualties as they cross the open ground and take enfilading fire from the Fallschirmjaeger now well emplaced on Raahi Ridge. A Company welcomes their arrival but explains apologetically that they have standing orders and cannot help in the assault, as much as they would like to. But they will see what they can do in keeping the Germans' heads down with supporting fire.

Mid-battle Overview

At the top of the picture can be seen 2 and 3 Kps. pressing home the attack on Germano Hill and the nearby woods. After taking some intial casualties they quickly clear out the British positions and seize this objective.

In the middle is Raahi ridge with its coastal battery. The Germans are in firm possesion of this but are taking a beating in the woods as B Company (left) attacks from the flank.

Off picture to the bottom are the HQ units, mortars, carrier platoon and FOO on Mt. Meraviglia, all still confused as to what is exactly happening and unable to enter the fray. Both the brigade and battalion commander are present in this group, which may explain the lack of coherent leadership.

German paras clear Germano Hill

The last defenders on Germano Hill are wiped out and as a couple of sections clear out the remainder of the British in the forest the rest of 2 and 3 Kps. move to support embattled 1 Kp. on Raahi Ridge.

Germans pushed back

Under attack both from C Company to the west and the Commandos to the east, the remnanats of 1 Kp. are slowly pushed back off the ridge in bitter hand to hand fighting.

 C Company cut off

However, just as 1 Kp. was breaking and fleeing from Raahi Ridge, the German 2 and 3 Kps. fight their way into the woods from the north, cutting off the rest of C Company from joining the Commandos above and quickly wiping out the remainder of the company.

Commandos dig in on objective

With the enemy evicted the Commandos, reduced to platoon strength, dig in on the objective in anticipation of the next German attack.

Germans stonked as they try to retake the ridge

Just as the German Fallschirmjaeger emerge from the woods under cover of smoke to attack the Commando positions, the British brass on the hill finally wake up, shake the ground hogs out of their mortar tubes and make contact with the 25 pdr. battery. A devestating barrage catches the Germans in the open and thins out their numbers, but some units still manage to make it up the hill and seize a toe hold in the rocky area at the summit of the ridge.

Mortars and 25 pdrs. finally go into action

Taking advantage of their excellent observation position on the top of the mountain the British 3” mortars and FOO lay down a wall of fire on the attacking Germans.

Carrier platoon moves to reinforce Commandos

As the battalion commander looks on the carrier platoon, now also released, quickly moves down the mountain to suppport the embattled Commando platoon, reduced to two sections and slugging it out on Raahi Ridge.

Stuka attack on mortars

With the mortars in action the Stukas now have a new target and dive bomb their positions.

Battle at close quarters

The fight for the battery devolves into a blood bath. The Commandos defend badly and the Germans drive them off, getting a significant foothold on the ridge before the carrier troops arrive, leaving the British hanging on at one end and the Germans the other. A seesaw battle breaks out with both sides pummelling each other with mortar and artillery stonks in a nasty game of King of the Hill, with even the British battalion commander thrown into the action.

A Company strafed

Throughout the battle Stuka attacks continue but with little result outside of a nuisance factor. The British AA does a stellar job of diminishing the Stukas' effectiveness, other than on this occasion where the Stuka brasses up A Company at the foot of Raahi Ridge in a strafing run, knocking out two sections of infantry in the process. Throughout the battle A Company has had to sit on its hands and watch the battle raging just to the west of them, but their “prepared defence” orders keep them from exiting their deployment zone.

Fallschirmjaeger 3 Kp. in full retreat

The strongest German company, 3 Kp., breaks and runs and never comes back, leaving about two platoons (the remnants of the other two companies) of Germans to slug it out with the British carrier platoon.

Final attempt by British to retake the objective

By the gritty end only two stands from either side are left on the ridge. It all came down to a close assault by the British (including the last Commando, now returned after running away - er - strategic withdrawal) to drive off the Germans, but the German defenders win the close assault. At the end three stands were left around the bunker, two Germans and the British carrier commander, but with none in possession of the objective.

Battle over - or just begun?

The battle ended with the Germans holding one objective with a second in dispute. This was close to the historical outcome with Germano Hill and Raahi Ridge falling to the Germans after bitter fighting. Although the final chapter won't be written until the second scenario is played, at the moment the Germans hold the advantage in victory conditions. Ironically a reinforcing company committed to this scenario (the British commander had to decide what reserves would be allocated to either scenario) finally was released and entered the south end of the battlefield with two turns to go. Racing down the mountain road, lead elements of this company were within a move of reaching the battery objective, but the game came to its conclusion before they coud get there! C'est la guerre.