KG Griffon War Diary 18 July 1943
KG was assigned to delay 8th Army Forces trying to push north up the coast to the town of Lentini. We were to delay them at X roads in the hills south of the edge of town.
My Pz Gren Bn was deployed across our sector, mostly in good ambush positions or good observation spots along a 7.5cm ATG Btty. My Panzer IV Kp was held back as a mobile reserve along with the KG Recce Gp. My Tigers and 2 Nashorns took up positions overlooking the likely routes of advance.
At first chance I sent out my 3 Spotter HUBZ�s they quickly spotted enemy armour in what appeared to two columns one aimed at each flank. The western column turned out to be the main drive and a massive drive it was. From where my troops sat, it appeared that Brits had mustered every tank they could get their hands on.
They hit 3 Pz Gren Kps lines without some much as a lone scout. My Tigers took what they could but they came on hard and fast advancing though a blistering barrage and well supported by Spitfires and Beaufighters. My Grenadiers took their toll as well as I tried in vain to shift my Panzer IV Kp to meet the threat. As soon as my Panzers moved in came the R freakin� AF. I also found out the hard way that there was a new tank amongst them armed with a 6pdr not the pitiful 2pdr, called the Cavalier we believe.
3 PzGren Kp was almost wiped out as were most of my Panzer IV�s and half of my Tiger attachment, before we stopped these Mad Englishmen not 100 meters from the main crossroads.
While the KG met its objective full repair was not even close to possible, we are being withdrawn across to the Italian Mainland where I hope to revive my KG.
[img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img] [img]/threads/images/Graemlins/Lightning.gif[/img]Obersturmbannf�hrer PanzerBob
