Artillery and Air Support of Ground Attack
Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 2:16 pm
Hello to all, I know that a post about Mte Cassino already exists, nevertheless this article focus it from another point of view.
Artillery and Air Support of Ground Attack
Cassino - 1944
Major James W. Walters, Jr., Field Artillery
Former Instructor. Command and Staff College
0 N 15 March 1944, elements of the Fifth Army in Italy made an attack on the German stronghold of Cassino. This assault, being preceded by a four-hour aerial bombardment and accompanied by heavy artillery support, was a rather unique operation in World War II. It demonstrated that a heavy preparation prior to an attack does not always insure a complete success.
Fifth Army, after its landing at Salerno in September 1943, had fought its way across the Volturno River seventy-five miles northwest through Italy until it was stopped in December before the German Gustav Line and Cassino. The town of Cassino, with the high ground to its immediate northwest, was a key strongpoint of the Gustav Line. It was situated astride the best road to Rome, Route 6, and commanded the entrance to the best approach to Rome, the broad Liri Valley. During the months of December, January, and February, numerous attacks were launched in the Cassino area either directly or indirectly at the town itself. By early March, these attacks had succeeded in forcing a small bridgehead across the Rapido River at Cassino and about one tenth of the town was held by our troops. In addition, Allied troops had managed to take and hold some high ground to the north of Cassino. The general situation in Italy just prior to 15 March is shown in Figure 1.
Terrain.
Cassino was a very easily defended locality. Just in front of the town there was a natural obstacle, the Rapido River. The town itself was of very sturdy concrete and stone construction, honey-combed with caves, tunnels, and deep cellars. Directly behind the town was a sharply rising hill called Castle Hill, or Hill 103, the top of which was 100 meters above the town. Approximately 1,200 meters southwest of the town and over 500 meters above Cassino was Monastery Hill on which was located the famed Monastery of Montecassino. This monastery, together with Monastery Hill, afforded the Germans superior and practically unlimited observation of the terrain in all directions.
Monastery Hill was definitely the key to Cassino. Cassino would be untenable by the enemy if this hill could be taken and held.
Defenses.
The Cassino area was defended by elements of the 1st Paratroop Division, one of the best divisions in the German Army. The 3d Regiment of this division was well emplaced in Cassino proper and on the hills between Cassino and the monastery. This regiment was generally disposed with its 1st Battalion on the slopes of Monastery Hill, its 2d Battalion in the town itself, and part of the 3d Battalion defending the area just south of the town generally along the Rapido River. Units in Cassino had organized their defense carefully. They had taken full advantage of the sturdy buildings and had utilized the reinforced cellars of demolished structures as strongpoints. The caves and entrances to tunnels in and about the town afforded the troops excellent bomb shelters, ammunition caches, and gun positions. The 4th Paratroop Regiment of the 1st Paratroop Division defended the high ground north and west of the monastery jvhile elements of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division held the mouth of the Liri Valley to the south of Cassino.
General Plan.
The attack against this position was to take place 15 March 1944. The mission was to blast out the Germans with an intense aerial and artillery bombardment followed by an attack by New Zealand infantry supported by tanks. Following the capture of Cassino and Monastery Hill, Combat Command B of the 1st Armored Division was to exploit in the Liri Valley to the Adolf Hitler Line, eight miles to the west.
Regards. Tigre.
Artillery and Air Support of Ground Attack
Cassino - 1944
Major James W. Walters, Jr., Field Artillery
Former Instructor. Command and Staff College
0 N 15 March 1944, elements of the Fifth Army in Italy made an attack on the German stronghold of Cassino. This assault, being preceded by a four-hour aerial bombardment and accompanied by heavy artillery support, was a rather unique operation in World War II. It demonstrated that a heavy preparation prior to an attack does not always insure a complete success.
Fifth Army, after its landing at Salerno in September 1943, had fought its way across the Volturno River seventy-five miles northwest through Italy until it was stopped in December before the German Gustav Line and Cassino. The town of Cassino, with the high ground to its immediate northwest, was a key strongpoint of the Gustav Line. It was situated astride the best road to Rome, Route 6, and commanded the entrance to the best approach to Rome, the broad Liri Valley. During the months of December, January, and February, numerous attacks were launched in the Cassino area either directly or indirectly at the town itself. By early March, these attacks had succeeded in forcing a small bridgehead across the Rapido River at Cassino and about one tenth of the town was held by our troops. In addition, Allied troops had managed to take and hold some high ground to the north of Cassino. The general situation in Italy just prior to 15 March is shown in Figure 1.
Terrain.
Cassino was a very easily defended locality. Just in front of the town there was a natural obstacle, the Rapido River. The town itself was of very sturdy concrete and stone construction, honey-combed with caves, tunnels, and deep cellars. Directly behind the town was a sharply rising hill called Castle Hill, or Hill 103, the top of which was 100 meters above the town. Approximately 1,200 meters southwest of the town and over 500 meters above Cassino was Monastery Hill on which was located the famed Monastery of Montecassino. This monastery, together with Monastery Hill, afforded the Germans superior and practically unlimited observation of the terrain in all directions.
Monastery Hill was definitely the key to Cassino. Cassino would be untenable by the enemy if this hill could be taken and held.
Defenses.
The Cassino area was defended by elements of the 1st Paratroop Division, one of the best divisions in the German Army. The 3d Regiment of this division was well emplaced in Cassino proper and on the hills between Cassino and the monastery. This regiment was generally disposed with its 1st Battalion on the slopes of Monastery Hill, its 2d Battalion in the town itself, and part of the 3d Battalion defending the area just south of the town generally along the Rapido River. Units in Cassino had organized their defense carefully. They had taken full advantage of the sturdy buildings and had utilized the reinforced cellars of demolished structures as strongpoints. The caves and entrances to tunnels in and about the town afforded the troops excellent bomb shelters, ammunition caches, and gun positions. The 4th Paratroop Regiment of the 1st Paratroop Division defended the high ground north and west of the monastery jvhile elements of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Division held the mouth of the Liri Valley to the south of Cassino.
General Plan.
The attack against this position was to take place 15 March 1944. The mission was to blast out the Germans with an intense aerial and artillery bombardment followed by an attack by New Zealand infantry supported by tanks. Following the capture of Cassino and Monastery Hill, Combat Command B of the 1st Armored Division was to exploit in the Liri Valley to the Adolf Hitler Line, eight miles to the west.
Regards. Tigre.