Post by FaithandFire on Jun 15, 2008 21:18:56 GMT -5
Just after dawn on Saturday, July 14th, wave after wave of Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica planes began their all out bombing and strafing of the island of Malta, a key British base astride the major Axis supply line to North Afrika.
At 10:30 AM the first parachutes of the German Fallschirmjagers and Italian Paracadutisti began to open. The key initial targets were three of Malta's airfields.
Adverse wind conditions caused significant scattering of the Axis paratroops. Both German forces also took significant causalities during the drop. Despite this, the Axis forces had an opportunity to immediately seize two of the airfields.
A platoon of Italian pioneer commandos landed their gliders with pinpoint accuracy on the airfield and disembarked to assault the British platoon defending that position. Despite the effect of the heavy bombing and the surprise of the assault, the British poured devastating defensive fire into the pioneers causing almost 60% casualties. The survivors either surrendered or disappeared into the brush.
A German platoon dropped next to the airport building of it's target and launched an immediate assault into the courtyard. After a brutal hand to hand battle they were forced out by the defenders.
The tide seemed like it might be turning against the Axis assault forces. But the effects of the carpet bombing began to show. British reserves were disorganized and their command structure disabled. Reserves were slow to arrive and were scattered.
Oberst Garbelotti leading his veterans of the Crete landings poured heavy fire onto the British defenders, pinning them in place until his scattered platoons could reorganize. Then, in a concentrated push, they gradually moved the pinned defenders off the field. Units of the 5th Mountain Division immediately began landing on the field to secure it against a counter attack.
Oberst Burton rallied his forces and again lead an assault into the courtyard of the airfield command building. This time he was successful in taking the building and repelling a desperate British counter attack. Again, units of the 5th Mountain Division began arriving even under fire from the remaining British defenders.
Capitano Root's scattered paracadutisti managed to split the British defenders into two separate forces. One platoon was able to assault through the resulting gap to seize a runway and advance units of the 1st Alpini division started to land, again under fire from the remaining defenders.
By 3:30 PM all three airfields were sufficiently in Axis control and reinforcements were pouring in.
The fate of Malta was sealed.
At 10:30 AM the first parachutes of the German Fallschirmjagers and Italian Paracadutisti began to open. The key initial targets were three of Malta's airfields.
Adverse wind conditions caused significant scattering of the Axis paratroops. Both German forces also took significant causalities during the drop. Despite this, the Axis forces had an opportunity to immediately seize two of the airfields.
A platoon of Italian pioneer commandos landed their gliders with pinpoint accuracy on the airfield and disembarked to assault the British platoon defending that position. Despite the effect of the heavy bombing and the surprise of the assault, the British poured devastating defensive fire into the pioneers causing almost 60% casualties. The survivors either surrendered or disappeared into the brush.
A German platoon dropped next to the airport building of it's target and launched an immediate assault into the courtyard. After a brutal hand to hand battle they were forced out by the defenders.
The tide seemed like it might be turning against the Axis assault forces. But the effects of the carpet bombing began to show. British reserves were disorganized and their command structure disabled. Reserves were slow to arrive and were scattered.
Oberst Garbelotti leading his veterans of the Crete landings poured heavy fire onto the British defenders, pinning them in place until his scattered platoons could reorganize. Then, in a concentrated push, they gradually moved the pinned defenders off the field. Units of the 5th Mountain Division immediately began landing on the field to secure it against a counter attack.
Oberst Burton rallied his forces and again lead an assault into the courtyard of the airfield command building. This time he was successful in taking the building and repelling a desperate British counter attack. Again, units of the 5th Mountain Division began arriving even under fire from the remaining British defenders.
Capitano Root's scattered paracadutisti managed to split the British defenders into two separate forces. One platoon was able to assault through the resulting gap to seize a runway and advance units of the 1st Alpini division started to land, again under fire from the remaining defenders.
By 3:30 PM all three airfields were sufficiently in Axis control and reinforcements were pouring in.
The fate of Malta was sealed.
