Biazza Ridge

[stoat]

Biazza Ridge. Sicily. Operation Husky. July 11th, D+1.

505th PIR (minus and plus) versus elements of the HG FJR Panzer Division seeking to attack the exposed flank of the 45th Infantry Division.

Does anyone have any topographic information regarding the ridge and its outlying areas? Also helpful would be the specific strengths of the German units.

Thanks in advance.

[John Kettler]

stoat,

Book on your topic here (second entry)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2FA18B50XGXJX/102-7162942-3104917?_encoding=UTF8&display=public&page=11

First person account here

http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/505/505_memories.html

307th AEB here

http://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/307/307.html

More combat accounts here

http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page96.html

This is pretty specific

http://www.505rct.org/sicily.asp

Directly pertinent book review

http://www.historynet.com/wwii/reviews/wwiireview0305-3/

Thesis on airborne with some Biazza Ridge material

and source list.

http://www.historynet.com/wwii/reviews/wwiireview0305-3/

The HTML version is garbled, but here's the PDF link of the CGSC account, according to which the German attack force was a battalion. Many juicy details!

http://cgsc.cdm.oclc.org/coll8/image/92.PDF.

Regards,

John Kettler

[stoat]

Thanks a lot for the links. I have the book you directed me to, but it doesn't mention the exact strength of the Germans. I'll probably make it a little smaller than a battalion to keep the scenario small-ish.

[John Kettler]

stoat,

You're welcome! Don't know whether or not the last link PDF is intact (HTML version rather garbled), but it appears that at least some of the German OOB you're looking for is there, together with American strength on the ridge (250 men, apparently from a hodgepodge of mainly support units).

Regards,

John Kettler