Page Twenty-four
Enemy Situation
10. The slowing down of the Eighth Armys advance had enabled the enemy to
larger part of the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division, while two of his best formations, the 26th Panzer Division and the 1st Parachute Division with a small battle group from the 90th Panzer Grenadier Division guarded the line from the coast to Route 9.
11. Along the six mile stretch opposite 5 Corps the enemy had deployed between two and three divisions, which were, however, considerably depleted. The 111th Jaeger Division, holding a sector of about two thousand yards along the west bank of the Savio immediately southwest of Cesena, had lost nearly nine hundred prisoners since its arrival in the line at the beginning of October, and having no reinforcement battalion its deficiences had been made up by a comb out of its service troops. On the right of this Division, the 278th Infantry Division hold a front of about four miles extending south to but not including Monte Cavallo (5199). Heavy losses which were suffered a week or two previously had been made good with three fresh drafts of reinforcements. To the south of the 278th Division, the gradual sidestepping of the German forces had brought the 356th Infantry Division opposite 5 Corps, with the 869th Grenadier Regiment responsible for Monte Cavallo, and the rest of the Division stretched over a wide front in the road-less mountains to the south where the 5 Corps sector lined with that of 2 Polish Corps.
Operations of 25 Tank Brigade in Support of 5 Corps
12. At the commencement of this phase of operations the North Irish Horse was still supporting the 10th Indian Division under very trying conditions, while the 51st Royal Tanks and the 142nd Regiment Royal Armoured Corps had moved forward ready to support the 4th British Division. The 142nd Army Field Regiment Royal Artillery in still in support of the Brigade, with the 383rd Battery detached with the North Irish Horse, and on 23 October the Regiment came under command for all purposes.
Crossing of the River Savio
13. During night 19/20 October the 2nd Royal Fusiliers of the 12th Infantry Brigade had forded the Savio in the area of Cesena and established a small bridgehead. During the night 20/21 October the remainder of the Brigade crossed over, and at first light it was the intention to pass A and C Squadrons over the river to support the 1st Royal West Kents and the 6th Black Watch respectively. To enable the tanks to cross the river a three Ark causeway was placed in the river, and when visibility allowed the tanks commenced to cross, six tanks of A Squadron and one tank of C Squadron passing over before damage to the causeway by shellfire prevented the passage of further tanks. In view of this the 1st Royal West Kents were virtually without tank support, and one troop of Squadron was switched across to their sector until A Squadron had passed over later in the day when the troop returned to Squadron which was also brought up to strength.
14. Heavy fighting was the order of the day and the enemy spared no ammunition in harassing the crossing and the area of the bridgehead with artillery and nebelwerfer fire. On the right the advance of the 6th Black Watch and C Squadron went forward towards the road junction 582074, but when the infantry were within two hundred yards of the junction enemy tanks were reported in the area and heavy fighting occurred. At last light there was little change in the positions in this sector.
15. On the left A Squadron supported the 1st Royal West Kents where enemy tanks were reported on the objective at 578065 which was however taken. It had not been possible to get anti-tank guns across to the infantry and so the tanks remained in close support throughout
carry out a programme of regrouping, in which he created a strong mobile reserve with the 29th Panzer Grenadier Division and the
the night, being constantly alerted against threatened German counter-attacks. Rain once more commenced to fall, threatening to cause a rise in the river and a problem in the supply situation as the intensity of the enemy shelling had prevented the erection of a Bailey bridge over the river. On the front of the 10th Indian Division, although the infantry were making some progress, the going for the tanks was very difficult and it was an almost nightmare journey which C Squadron undertook on 21 October to got all its tanks across the Savio to the area of Cello before the river rose and became impassable. During the day the Main Brigade Headquarters moved to a new location at 618008 at Carpineta.
16. On 22 October the enemy brought all possible pressure to bear upon the 12th Indian Brigade bridgehead and the fighting was fierce among the houses. However, the orders were for the bridgehead to be expanded so that the 10th Infantry Brigade would be passed through, and the infantry supported by A and C Squadrons gradually inched the way forward. On the right the 6th Black Watch continued towards the road junction 582071 and made progress until enemy tanks, including Panthers, once more delayed our troops, but after heavy fighting the enemy withdrew from the road junction to a strong point which they had established to the southwest. During this withdrawal the tanks of C Squadron caused considerable casualties to the enemy. On the left the situation was similar but progress was made, with A Squadron covering the infantry.
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