Orange Blossom MTO (id:#66676)

(Bloody December-The Gully ASL Team Tournament 2023 ID: B3)   [next]   [previous]

Cider Crossroads, Italy 1943-12-19 (7 others)

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Overview:

Whereas “Morning Glory” could be marked as completely successful both in achieving the objective and in economy of manpower, within the next few minutes “Orange Blossom” would meet misfortune and heavy casualties. “Orange Blossom” began at 1145 hours and immediately ran into problems. Once the supporting 250 guns opened fire, rounds began to fall amongst the Carlton & York Regiment, who were 300 yards back from the edge of ‘The Gully’ and amongst the companies of the 48th Highlanders. Obviously, the plots drawn up from the Italian maps were wrong. As the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) and tanks of the 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) began their advance, the understandable complaints from the Carlton & Yorks led to the barrage being prematurely lifted 400 yards, and the right-hand wall of protective fire being cancelled all together. The effect of this was immediate. The right flank of the RCR was exposed to fire from the paratroopers and one unit of Fallschirmjäger completely escaped the barrage, which lifted completely beyond them. The two leading companies of the RCR, “C” and “D” were smashed by intense machine gun, mortar, and shell fire and all the officers became casualties. Whole platoons were killed and neither company had more than 15 effectives left after the next hour of the confusing battle. At this point the Battalion Commander ordered a retreat to a line of buildings 100 yards beyond their initial start line where the Canadians could shelter. As this was being affected, he too was shot (in the arm) by a sniper. The battalion was reduced to 19 Officers and 159 Other Ranks.

Defender: German (III.Batalion, Fallschirmjägerregiment 3)  

Errata (source)