- Operation Date
- 4th September 1943
Operation "BAYTOWN" - BAGNARA
Ref Map:- ITALY, 1:50,000 BAGNARA CALABRA Sheet 254-1.
Objective:- To capture, occupy, and hold BAGNARA CALABRA in ITALY.
Method:- Landing from 6 LCAs and 1 LCI.
Strength:- S.R.Squadron, 243 all ranks.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS.
September 1st,
September 2nd L.C.I. 274 sailed for ALESSIO, 179 remained at RIPOSTO with one propeller jammed by retaining cable.
September 3rd
EXECUTION OF OPERATION.
September 4th.
General Position.
Subsequent Movements.
General Position at 1200 hrs.
1400 hrs. Advance elements Y+L (15 Bde) contacted us.
Position at 2100 hrs.
Night September 4/5th.
September 5th.
0900 hrs. B Section No. 1 Troop spotted Italian patrol coming down road and killed two at 600 yds range. The orders came to leave positions and re-embark at FAVAZZINA.
0800 hrs. C Section No. 2 Troop left for a patrol of the Western Ridge. They passed through village 595660 and contacted first elements of Green Howards, 15th Bde at 596654. They then returned following the main road capturing four Italians at PELLEGRINA and joined HQ No. 2 Troop at 1630 hrs.
HQ + C Section no. 2 Troop, and HQ + B Section No. 1 Troop, spent the night in BAGNARA.
Enemy positions, strength and identification.
Beside the enemy positions as above, the main enemy positions were on the North-west ridge of the steep wadi 585674, and were held by MGs, 4" Mortars and snipers.
The 4" mortars and one 88 mm. gun were sited at 595669 as confirmed by C Section, No. 2 Troop.
The strength of the enemy was difficult to estimate, but one of the enemy wounded asked if we knew what had happened to the rest of his Battalion.
Most of our opponents were Germans, and only a few Italians were seen. Some belonged to a grenadier regiment, some to Jaeger battalions, and many were sappers left behind to blow up roads and bridges.
In general, the German troops were of good physique and experienced. Some had fought in Africa or Russia. One of the prisoners of the Jaeger Battalion stated that his unit was equipped with British vehicles.
Prisoners questioned stated that they were taken completely by surprise and were unaware that a landing had been made, until we engaged them. It can therefore be presumed that had our landing taken place at 0200 hrs., as intended, the whole position would have been cleared with much less casualties.
Fighting Conditions.
Fighting consisted mainly of long range MG fire, and long range sniping. 50% of our casualties were from Mortar fire; 30% from MG fire and 20% from sniping.
On the whole, shooting was very good and many spectacular results were obtained. The country was broken and hilly with very good cover.
Miscellaneous.
The naval officer in charge appeared to have little knowledge of night raiding or navigation.
W/T inter-communication worked very badly. Reasons given are
On September 5th, Cpl. Corps carried out a demolition scheme on the Post Office but failed to open the safe.
Resume.
Own Casualties.
Sgmn. C. Richards } Killed in action, 4th September.
Sgmn. W. Howell
Both buried at 584670, below the road in garden at alleyway between two houses.
Sgmn. E. Parris Killed in action, September 4th.
Buried at 584670 above bend of road, behind corner house in garden.
Pte. C. Tobin Killed in action 4th September.
Buried at 587670 below only house on first terrace.
Pte. J. Bell Died 5th September at 189 Field Ambulance, from wounds sustained in action 4th September.
Wounded.
4th September.
Enemy Casualties.
Ref Map:- ITALY, 1:50,000 BAGNARA CALABRA Sheet 254-1.
Objective:- To capture, occupy, and hold BAGNARA CALABRA in ITALY.
Method:- Landing from 6 LCAs and 1 LCI.
Strength:- S.R.Squadron, 243 all ranks.
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS.
September 1st,
1400 hrs. Embark at CATANIA in LCIs. 179 and 274.
1800 hrs. Disembark at RIPOSTO for the night.
September 2nd L.C.I. 274 sailed for ALESSIO, 179 remained at RIPOSTO with one propeller jammed by retaining cable.
September 3rd
1100 hrs. LCI 179 left RIPOSTO for ALESSIO.
1800 hrs. Part of Squadron on 274 changed to 179. LCI 179 being unable to get off beach, party re-embarked in 274. She also being unable to move, party changed again to 179, which was now afloat.
2000 hrs. LCI 179 and five LCAs (one having broken down) sailed for operation 2 hrs. 30mins late.
EXECUTION OF OPERATION.
September 4th.
0445 hrs. No. 3 Troop and B + C Sections, No. 1 Troop landed in 4 LCAs (another having broken down) on north beach of BAGNARA CALABRA 582674 and occupied beach and road without opposition.
0515 hrs. LCI 179 beached with remainder of Squadron.
General Position.
No. 3 Troop in position in street at North limit of town 582674.
B + C Sections, No. 1 Troop in position up wadi 585674.
No. 2 Troop, Mortars and HQ in position on beach.
Subsequent Movements.
A Section, No. 1 Troop moved upwards towards town. Spotted enemy on main road in lower town at 580668. Put Bren into position at 582674 while remainder of section proceeded forward. Result: 35 German prisoners (5 wounded) and 3 MG's. 34.
B + C Sections No. 1 Troop moved up to 584670 where they met heavy MG and mortar fire. 2 killed, several wounded. C Section remained in that position while B Section moved forward and settled at about 585670.
No. 2 Troop moved from beach southwards, then through the town to the main road, and met enemy fire from the hills on reaching blown bridge 582671. Spotted enemy patrol in lower town, opened up and killed two Germans by a clock tower.
Finally, A Section took up position at 585669.
B Section pushed forward to 588670 met heavy MG and sniper fire, and were unable to move till dark.
C Section moved uphill, taking up position at road junction 588668.
No. 3 Troop moved through town to take up a covering position on southern outskirts of town. Spotted enemy on road 566658 and opened fire after being slightly mortared. Enemy took cover in tunnel 567661 and lost mortar.
Result:- 10 Germans killed, 3 wounded.
Mortars opened fire at 1100 hrs., testing enemy positions around 588670, and again at 1400 hrs. against enemy and snipers around bridge 588670.
Enemy silenced and hits scored on road and bridge.
General Position at 1200 hrs.
No. 1 Troop. A Section in town guarding prisoners.
B Section in position at 589667.
C Section in position at 585670.
No. 2 Troop. A Section in position at 585669.
B Section in position at 588670.
C Section in position at 588668.
No. 3 Troop. A Section in position at 575663.
B Section in position at 573665.
HQ in the town at 583673.
Mortars in the town at 581671.
1400 hrs. Advance elements Y+L (15 Bde) contacted us.
Position at 2100 hrs.
No. 1 Troop no change.
No. 2 Troop A Section no change
B Section withdraws to A Section's position.
C Section no change.
No. 3 Troop A Section no change
B Section at 573663
HQ at 582670 in large house.
Mortars no change.
Night September 4/5th.
No change in our positions and no enemy activity.
September 5th.
At dawn, no change in our positions.
0700 hrs. Our mortars opened up on the same targets as on the previous day, silencing MG and scoring successive hits on road and bridge.0900 hrs. B Section No. 1 Troop spotted Italian patrol coming down road and killed two at 600 yds range. The orders came to leave positions and re-embark at FAVAZZINA.
0800 hrs. C Section No. 2 Troop left for a patrol of the Western Ridge. They passed through village 595660 and contacted first elements of Green Howards, 15th Bde at 596654. They then returned following the main road capturing four Italians at PELLEGRINA and joined HQ No. 2 Troop at 1630 hrs.
HQ + C Section no. 2 Troop, and HQ + B Section No. 1 Troop, spent the night in BAGNARA.
Enemy positions, strength and identification.
Beside the enemy positions as above, the main enemy positions were on the North-west ridge of the steep wadi 585674, and were held by MGs, 4" Mortars and snipers.
The 4" mortars and one 88 mm. gun were sited at 595669 as confirmed by C Section, No. 2 Troop.
The strength of the enemy was difficult to estimate, but one of the enemy wounded asked if we knew what had happened to the rest of his Battalion.
Most of our opponents were Germans, and only a few Italians were seen. Some belonged to a grenadier regiment, some to Jaeger battalions, and many were sappers left behind to blow up roads and bridges.
In general, the German troops were of good physique and experienced. Some had fought in Africa or Russia. One of the prisoners of the Jaeger Battalion stated that his unit was equipped with British vehicles.
Prisoners questioned stated that they were taken completely by surprise and were unaware that a landing had been made, until we engaged them. It can therefore be presumed that had our landing taken place at 0200 hrs., as intended, the whole position would have been cleared with much less casualties.
Fighting Conditions.
Fighting consisted mainly of long range MG fire, and long range sniping. 50% of our casualties were from Mortar fire; 30% from MG fire and 20% from sniping.
On the whole, shooting was very good and many spectacular results were obtained. The country was broken and hilly with very good cover.
Miscellaneous.
The naval officer in charge appeared to have little knowledge of night raiding or navigation.
W/T inter-communication worked very badly. Reasons given are
- Bad batteries.
- Weakness of 38 sets in hilly country.
- HQ had no 48 set, one being left on the LCI.
On September 5th, Cpl. Corps carried out a demolition scheme on the Post Office but failed to open the safe.
Resume.
Own Casualties.
Sgmn. C. Richards } Killed in action, 4th September.
Sgmn. W. Howell
Both buried at 584670, below the road in garden at alleyway between two houses.
Sgmn. E. Parris Killed in action, September 4th.
Buried at 584670 above bend of road, behind corner house in garden.
Pte. C. Tobin Killed in action 4th September.
Buried at 587670 below only house on first terrace.
Pte. J. Bell Died 5th September at 189 Field Ambulance, from wounds sustained in action 4th September.
Wounded.
4th September.
Sgt. Badger, MM
L/Sgt. Shaw
Cpls. McDiarmid, Mitchell.
L/Cs. Little, Thurston, Wortley.
Ptes. Kirk, Hill, Bryson, Clarke, Squires, Tunstall, Griester, Glacken, Wilson, C.
Enemy Casualties.
Italians, 7. Germans, 73.
No. 1 Troop,
A Section 35 Prisoners, 5 wounded (German)
B Section 8 wounded, 3 Killed (German, Italian)
C Section 5 Killed (German) 2 wounded (Italian)
No. 2 Troop, C Section 4 Prisoners (Italian) 12 Killed (German)
No. 3 Troop, A + B Sections. 10 Killed (German) 3, Wounded (German)
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