DAR: Sicily

[RERomine]

Turn 13

The American air force is back. Only passes by a P-38 and P-39 this turn. They got another half-track, with the P-38 being shot down and the P-39 damaged. Near as I can figure, they have one P-51 left, but with so many planes coming in, it's hard to be sure.

Tigers destroyed the three M10s and one Sherman near hill 3. There is one Sherman left, but I couldn't line up a shot at it. My engineers will try to get it next turn. Another M10 popped up in the same area, but ran through without getting engaged. It's headig East along the bottom edge of the map. Three 75mm ATGs are guarding my flank, so there shouldn't be any worries about it. Most of the engineers are off hill 4 now, pushing toward their objective of hill 2. I finally was able to confirm I had shelled a mortar on the rear of hill 4. It has was abandoned and destroyed and engineers destroyed the crew. One enemy infantry squad was found in the woods West of the hill. It was engaged by the grenadiers with supporting fire coming from their tracks. Engineers encounterd and destroyed a 57mm ATG between hills 2 and 4.

The tanks in my core engaged a couple of the bunkers, destroying one. My core SS infantry in tracks are waiting for the tanks to take the lead in the advance since there could be enemy Shermans to the front. There are enough dismounted engineers and scouts around to provide eyes out to help avoid ambushes.

Three scout units jumped a bazooka team and the 60mm mortar near the South end of the enemy line. The bazooka team was destroyed and the mortar team is retreating.

Enemy artillery is still coming in. Some mortar rounds thunked on a couple of my core tracks without damaging them, but a nearby SPAA unit was immobilized.

Casualties

Friendly: One SdKfz 251/9 track destroyed and estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: One M4 (Early) tank, three M10 GMC (Early) tank destroyers, one P-38 and one 57mm ATG destroyed and estimated 15 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 14

All things considered, action was light this turn. One enemy mortar hit one of my recon tracks with no damage and one battery of enemy 155mm guns hit hill 4. Some engineers still on the hill took casualties.

The grenadiers pushed the enemy squad out of the woods West of hill 4. It was last seen running West. One more 57mm ATG was encountered by a Tiger at about 250m. The Tiger started to engage it, but after a near penetrating hit, I brought up an MG-42 team to suppress it first. The Tiger finished it off. Engineers and one company of grenadiers are pushing towards hill 2. Scouts still report no activity on the hill. The second company of grenadiers is finally moving over hill 4. Engineers ran into a second Sherman just South of the woods and assualted, damaging it. They are still maneuvering against the first.

Core tanks continued moving forward engaging the two remaining enemy bunkers. They are still remaining. Core infantry started moving forward again.

Scouts finally destroyed the enemy 60mm mortar down South. Enemy infantry was seen nearby, so they started to withdraw. The M10 in the area has disappeared. If it continues forward, it will have to pass through mines and wire before it breaks into the open.

Counter battery has been plotted on the suspected location of two M4 mortar tracks.

Scouts are approaching objective group G1. At this time, no defenses have been seen.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: One 57mm ATG destroyed and estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 15

The one enemy 155mm battery continued to hit hill 4 without affect.

Engineers assaulted and destroyed the two enemy Shermans near the West woods. During the process, they received small arms fire from the area South of objective group G3. More engineers are starting to move up hill 2 and scouts are near the top. No resistance encounted at this time.

Core units are moving on objective group G3. They should be in position to overrun it in 3-4 turns.

Scouts are within 400m of objective group G1. Their role is to investigate and not capture it. I'm sure there are stiff defenses around it anyhow. They just haven't been spotted yet.

Counter battery started to drop on suspected enemy M4 mortar track positions.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: Two M4 (Early) tanks destroyed.

[RERomine]

Turn 16

More enemy artillery on hill 4. No effect.

Scouts have reached the top of hill 2 and so far see nothing. The enemy are likely to be on the reverse side near objective group G2. Scouts also don't see anything around objective group G1.

Another enemy Sherman spotted near the West woods. It's too far out for the engineers to deal with, so my core elements will take care of it when they get into position. The scout unit that spotted the Sherman also spotted the remnants of the squad that had been run out of the West woods. They destroyed the squad.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: Estimated 5 casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 17

Enemy artillery hit some grenadier tracks heading to the rear after dropping their troops immobilizing one and damaging another.

Scouts still report no activity around objective group G1 or on hill 2.

Core infantry dismounting in West woods.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: Zero

[RERomine]

Turn 18

Random enemy artillery hitting without causing damage.

Enemy infantry spotted South of objective group G1 between hills 1 and 2. One scout found them the hard way. Estimated platoon strength. Artillery plotted.

Enemy infantry spotted Southeast of objective group G3 next to two enemy Shermans. Estimated platoon strength. Artillery plotted.

My units continue to move into position. Top of hill 2 is clear.

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 3 casualties.

Enemy: Zero

[RERomine]

Turn 19

Enemy dropping mortar fire on hill 4 now. No effect.

Artillery started coming in on enemy positions. Enemy units are suppress. Will wait one more turn and then start advancing on those positions.

Enemy Sherman engaged one PzKw IVh from hill 3 with no effect. Scouts with panzerfausts are positioned in woods near this hill in case enemy tanks start moving from this sector.

One mark IVh stumbled across a M4A3(105) behind some trees. After a near penetrating hit, they withdrew and artillery was plotted.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero

Enemy: Zero