Canadian Infantry vs US Tanks in Hasty Attack

Sherry Atkinson roars "Open Fire!" As Canadian AT guns shred US tanks crested on a nearby hill

Game 1 of the Lords of War de-escalation tournament was 90 points and I was against Denis and his beautifully painted and modelled American tanks. I had decided to bring my first Flames of War Army MW Canadians (using the rules in Armoured Fist) modelled after the 1st Company of The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) who landed in Sicily, 75 years ago this July. If you haven't read the story about Op HUSKY and Sherry Atkinson, the AT platoon commander, check it out here. The tournament was using the battle plans system where both players select defender, manoeuvre or attack and depending on what each player selected you roll on a different chart to determine the mission you are going to play. I elected to defend with my infantry while Denis wanted to attack with his tanks. We rolled Hasty Attack and started setting up.

Big Willie's Royal Canadians
OC and 2IC
Full infantry platoon
Full infantry platoon
4 x 6 pdrs
4 x Vickers
3 x Universal Carriers with AT rifles
4 x 25 pdrs
3 x Churchills

Denis' American tanks
3 x Lee's with OC
2 x Lees
3 x Lees
5 x Stuarts
3 x T90s
3 x Armoured mortars
1 x Stuart FOO

Set Up

Objectives are central left and top left behind the wood and central right and top centre

Op HUSKY 2013 Jul 25

 Sherry Atkinson 70 years after the landings in Sicily

Here is another entry following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

Op HUSKY 2013 Jul 23 - 24 Regalbuto

Mt Etna simmering in the distance

Here are another two days of entries following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

Op HUSKY 2013 Jul 21 - 22

 

 The road to Messina

"Sicily is an island of extremes and in July, when the sun shines for 11 hours a day, temperatures often reach 40°C. The men who fought for the hill towns of central Sicily in 1943 remember the heat, the dust and the stony landscape with its conical hills and steep ravines. To overcome an enemy holding the high ground required the kind of physical strength and mental agility shown by the men of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment during their climb to the heights of Assoro, northwest of the city of Catania."

Here are another two days of entries following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

 A Canadian marker, marking the spot a soldier lost their life 70 years ago

Op HUSKY 2013 July 18 - 20

The Battle Map

 Here are another three days of entries following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

Op HUSKY 2013 Jul 14 - 16

The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) climbing hills in Sicily

 Here are another two days of entries following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

Op HUSKY 2013 Jul 13 Agira

Agira

The town of Agira and Nissoria was where Sherry was wounded by a German 88 and where the Commanding Officer Lt Col Ralph Crowe was killed on 24 July 1943.  As you can see from the picture of the Agira Canadian War Cemetery there are many Canadians buried there.

Operation HUSKY 2013 July 11 - 12

Here are another two days of entries following Sherry Atkinson's through Sicily for the 70th Anniversary of Operation HUSKY the Allied invasion.  Sherry was the Anti-Tank platoon commander for The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) which was part of the 1st Canadian Brigade and in turn the 1st Canadian Division.  The journal entries are written by Sherry's wife Susan Atkinson.

 Modica today (70 years after Sherry took it's surrender)

By Susan Atkinson

July 11, 2013
Today was a day off.  We all slept in, and enjoyed a very late and wonderful breakfast. Took a few photos around the Villa.  Showers, laundry and transcribing photos kept us busy until about 2 in the afternoon.  We then drove into Piazza Armerina, and all enjoyed large gelatos for our lunch.  We took some photos from the old fort atop a hill, across from the cathedral.  Following this indulgence, we toured the Villa Romana del Casale, a restored wonder of ancient ceramics from the late third century.  The mosaics were buried under a mudslide, and protected for centuries.  In 1997 the site was named a UNESCO world heritage site, and is well worth the visit.  Unfortunately, we could not use our cameras there, so you'll have to visit here to see for your selfes.

Tonight we will find an interesting place for dinner, and try for a reasonable bed time.  Tomorrow morning we will have breakfast at 7:30 am and leave here about 8:15 to attend the Ceremonies in Modica, which is the town Sherry was responsible for liberating on July 12, 1943.

Before Market Garden and Overlord there was Op HUSKY!

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Sicily, the invasion took place on 10 Jul 1943 .  This was D-day before D-day happened in Normandy and marked the first time allied troops were back in Europe.  As part of the celebrations The Royal Canadian Regiment sent one of the few remaining veterans Sherry Atkinson, the Anti-Tank Platoon Commander, to take part in the celebrations.  He and his wife have been sending pictures and journal entries chronicling their journey to the serving members of The Regiment.  I know that a lot of you guys are interested in the history that surrounds the game and figured I would share this with you too.  So I can't take any credit for this just passing it along in the name of history.

The Plan

Surprise, It's the Canucks!

Joyous Oblivion from The Druken gamers of Ottawa came by this weekend and we got to play another game of FoW. This game was 1500 pts of Midwar American Armoured Company against Canadian Armoured Company in a fighting withdrawal. JO won the dice roll to be the attacker since we were both playing Armoured Companies. It's also the first time I've used my iPod touch camera for a battle report so the pictures aren't as good as I would like.

Shermans in Ambush halt the left flank!

Upstart Colonials!

This Friday night Matt Varnish and I played a really epic battle between his Brits and my Canadians. It was a 1500 pts and the mission was Encounter with him running a Motor Rifles Company, while I was trying out my Canadian Armoured Company. 

Never underestimate the RCA!