Post by Chris AllenI'm curious about one particular point regarding the
use of "Mountain Troops. As I recall, mountain
troops were used at the start & made good progress
they were withdrawn for some odd reason, before
"finishing the job". there followed many months of
"stale mate". mountain troops were used again at the
finish, sucessfully.
I have not heard of any mountain troops being present
for the initial assaults in the Cassino sector. Neither
the U.S. nor Britain had such troops in the area in
November 1943, AFAIK, and the initial assault made
very little progress in the mountains.
In late January 1944, US II Corps attacked Cassino,
capturing several positions but not the mountain
crowned by the abbey. At the same time, the French
Expeditionary Corps attacked further north, also
taking several positions; the FEC included Moroccan
and Algerian troops, some of whom were expert mountaineers.
The attack gained some ground in the north, but failed
to take Mount Cassino, was repelled with heavy losses
in the Liri Valley, and made limited progress across
the lower Garigliano river to the south and west, down
to the coast.
Post by Chris AllenThe program ipmlied allied mountain troops could
have captured the abbey in just a few weeks, if they
had not been withdrawn so early.
If the program meant the FEC - they didn't go into
action until January, 2 1/2 months into the battle.
The FEC was withdrawn for various reasons - rest,
re-equipping, replacing losses. The Cassino attack
had been its first major action, and recovery time
was needed. Plus they were adding lots of new troops
and equipment.
And also, the Allies needed to reorganize their
front. British 10 Corps was at the far left, on
the coast, then US II Corps, then the FEC.
US II Corps was replaced by Indian and New Zealand
troops. They attacked in March; the Indians got
halfway up Mount Cassino before they were driven
back; the Kiwis took the town and railroad station.
After this, the Allies reorganized again. US II Corps
was deployed on the far left, then the FEC (with two
new divisions), then Canadian I Corps, British 13
Corps, the new Polish II Corps, and British 10 Corps.
There was also some shuffling of divisions.
Post by Chris AllenMy question is What special qualities do Mountain
Troops have, that "low landers" do not?
They are trained and equipped for ascending and
descending in mountainous terrain. Their equipment
includes gear for rock-climbing, such as ropes,
pitons, clamps, cleats or crampons, and harnesses;
lightweight arms that a soldier can still carry when
conducting such movements; and cold-weather clothing
for operations at high altitude, where there is snow
on the ground, even in summer.
If the opposition are not also mountain troops, the
mountain troops may be able to advance unopposed
through areas the opposition assumes are impassable.
There is an anecdote from the final Allied offensive
in the Cassino sector - not at Cassino, but in the
Monti Aurunci, on the SW side of the Liri valley,
across from Cassino. The attack in that area was made
by the French Expeditionary Corp, spearheaded by the
Moroccan 4th Mountain Division. The attackers
surprised one German commander in his HQ, and he
ejaculated "You can't be here! It is impossible to
ascend those cliffs!"
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