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(a) There followed a period from 6 Dec - 12 Dec when the only targets which could be engaged directly were the towers and steeples used by enemy OPs. The remainder of the fire was perforce indirect, though none the less successful.
On 7 Dec a troop of A Squadron moved forward to the railway embankment in the area 3933 and carried out a direct shoot on an enemy OP in a church tower (394343). The tower was gradually cut away by armour piercing fire and fell with a crash with its contents, to the delight of both infantry and artillery OPs.
On 8 Dec C Squadron close support tanks carried out a shoot on buildings and strong points on the WEST bank of the LAMONE with a FOO in the PLAZZO SAN GIOCOMO (419353). Several hits were scored on enemy occupied houses and one self-propelled gun was destroyed. A Squadron were again active on this day and engaged buildings adjoining the ill-fated tower OP.
Similar indirect shoots were carried out by A and C Squadrons between 9 and 11 Dec and an Air OP was used on several occasions.
The period between 6 - 10 Dec was spent in much the same way by C Squadron 48 R TKS in support GURKHA BRIGADE. Fire was opened by 3 Troop of C Squadron at 1500 hours on 7 Dec when, in a 90-minute orgy, they destroyed everything that projected above the floodbanks of the LAMONE for a stretch of 500 yards. On the following day another troop of SHERMANS was surveyed in (area 4030) by a Survey Party RA with the task of harassing indirectly two roads (one SOUTH-WEST through PIEVE DI CESATO 3729 and the other running through 378288) where a self-propelled gun was known to operate. Firing began at 1100 hours, though difficulty was experienced owing to the lack of an OP in country were normal observation from ground level was impossible. Firing continued until 1600 hours, NOT without opposition since enemy mortars replied against both tanks at 1330 hours without, however, causing casualties. On 9 Dec similar harassing fire tasks were carried out by two troops of C Squadron, and further specific tasks requested by infantry, mainly houses on the river banks, were demolished successfully by 95 and 75 mm fire. On the next day further offensive action was undertaken, particularly against the PALAZZO BORGHESE, the roof of which provided several enemy machine gun emplacements. 35 rounds of 95 mm demolished all visible sections of the roof, tanks firing from 383288.
(b) Firing undertaken on the evening of 10 Dec by C Squadron 48 R TKS supported a CHINESE attack by 43 GURKHA BRIGADE timed to commence at 1900 hours to provide a diversion before the genuine CANADIAN attack by 3 CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE went in some two hours later. This latter attack succeeded by 0645 hours in establishing a bridgehead across the RIVER LAMONE SOUTH-EAST of BAGNACAVALLO. The artillery fire plan for this operation had proved extremely successful. Heavy concentrations lasting 30 minutes were brought down at H Hour minus 50: a gap, 20 minutes, then elapsed and the infantry attack went in with similar concentrations. The enemy in consequence suffered heavily; having expected the infantry assault to accompany the first series of concentrations, he had manned his defences and was caught in the open by the second series.
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