Sicily 1943 by Steven Zaloga

Author:Steven Zaloga
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sicily 1943: The Debut of Allied Joint Operations
ISBN: 9781780961286
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Published: 2012-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Although the Italian and German attacks were worrisome, the Seventh US Army units made good progress off the beaches on July 10. Patton decided to land parts of the Kool Force reserve from 2nd Armored Division, but most of the troops were from 41st Armored Infantry rather than the tank units because of problems landing tanks in the soft sand. Major-General Allen of 1st Infantry Division was anxious to get tanks ashore after the encounters with enemy tanks that afternoon, but the first ten medium tanks were not ashore until the pre-dawn hours of July 11.

On the night of July 10–11, Guzzoni ordered the Divisione Livorno and Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring” to coordinate their attacks the next day. Conrath and Chirielson met at the Italian corps headquarters in the pre-dawn hours and planned a joint attack starting at 0600hrs. The Panzer-Division “Hermann Göring” attack followed the same general direction as the previous day’s attack. Divisione Livorno sent four infantry battalions down the roads leading into Gela from the west and alongside Highway 117.

The II./Pz.Rgt. HG tank attack crunched through the 26th Infantry toward Gela and was brought under fire by Darby’s Rangers with their captured Italian artillery, as well as two battalions of 105mm howitzers of the divisional artillery. The Italian 3/34o Rgt. fant., advancing in parallel to the Panzers, was also hit by the artillery and stopped before reaching the town. In the center, I./Pz.Rgt. HG, under Conrath’s direct command, pushed down to the west of the 16th Infantry positions heading for Gela across open ground. The 16th Infantry pulled back towards Piano Lupo. In the east, Pz.Gren.Rgt. HG forced 2/180th Infantry to retreat back towards the beaches, but an artillery battalion and naval gunfire support halted the German pursuit. By mid-morning, the two Panzer battalions of Pz.Rgt. HG had joined up on the outskirts of Gela, and Divisione Livorno sent another infantry battalion to reinforce the attack towards Gela. Guzzoni’s headquarters reported that the 1st Division was re-embarking and fleeing Gela, based on a mistaken radio intercept. The German tank attack, lacking sufficient infantry, had pushed through the US infantry positions without gaining firm control and American units on the beaches were rallying to repulse the German onslaught.

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