Operation Husky then?

Chomley-Warner · 2008-03-18T12:31:37Z

Operation Husky began July 9, 1943 and ended August 17 The Allied land forces were mainly from the Seventh United States Army, British 8th Army, and Canadian 2nd Army. The island was defended by the Italian 6th Army under Gen. Alfredo Guzzoni. 6th Army included the XII and XVI Corps, made up of coastal defence units, four front line divisions and miscellaneous units under army command, and the German XIV Panzer Corps. The total Axis force was about 300,000 Italian and 40,000 German troops, with at least 147 tanks and about 220 artillery pieces. The Italians reinforced the garrison with 12,000 reinforcements and 91 tanks. Both sea and para landings.Just prior to and in support of Operation Husky: Operation Narcissus - a raid by forty members of the Special Air Service on a lighthouse on the southeast coast of Sicily. The team landed on 10 July 1943 with the mission of capturing the lighthouse and the surrounding high ground. Operation Chestnut was a failed British raid by 2 Special Air Service, conducted in support of the Allied invasion of Sicily. Two teams of ten men each, codenamed 'Pink' and 'Brig', parachuted into northern Sicily on the night of 12 July 1943, to disrupt communications, transport and the enemy in general. All radios were broken and much ammunition, explosives and food lost in the jump. One team landed near an inhabited area, alerting the defenders. Operation Fustian was the British airborne assault to seize and hold the Primasole Bridge over the River Simeto, south of Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, until relieved by ground forces. The British forces were three battalions of the 1 Parachute Brigade and an independent company of pathfinders. It was executed on the night of 13 July-14 July 1943. Despite being scattered on landing the British seized their objective and held it. However under attack from three sides they were forced to withdraw to a smaller perimeter, which they held until the arrival of the 4th Armoured Brigade. The bridge was then captured intact. Operation Ladbroke was the British glider landing near Syracuse, Sicily on the night of 9 July 1943 as part of the invasion of Sicily. On the night of 9/10 July 1943 a force of 135 Waco gliders, towed by British and US Dakota, Handley Page Halifax and Albemarle tug aircraft, took off from North Africa to take part in Operation Ladbroke â€“ the first Allied attempt at a mass glider landing in World War II. The plan was to place a large invasion force on the ground near the town of Syracuse, secure the Ponte Grande Bridge and then take control of the city itself, including its strategically vital docks, as a prelude to the full-scale invasion of Sicily. Maj-Gen G.F. Hopkinson, GOC 1st Airborne Division and chief architect of the plan, was totally convinced that it would succeed, but his optimism proved unfounded. In practice, the operation went disastrously wrong. Half the gliders ditched into the sea, many lives were lost and only one of the missionâ€™s objectives was accomplished. Side note: American soldiers killed 74 Italian and two German prisoners of war during two separate massacres at Biscari airfield. Two soldiers were charged for this war crime; one was convicted and sentenced to life in prison (later commuted) and another was acquitted.

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Operation Husky - Aug 2008 - Organising

Last Post by Old Un 17 years ago

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Old Un

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Are we ready for a booking thread yet...or do we need a story first ...in which case do we need another site visit ?
What are we charging ?

Posted : 13/05/2008 8:58 pm

Chomley-Warner

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I don't think we need a booking thread yet, they are chomping at the bit anyway for this one. Need to sort a scenario first so we can sort sides and therefore need another site visit - if you have missed it Stephen has already posted dates he is available: viewtopic.php?f=81&t=3337&start=45