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Ranger Battalion Battlefield tour: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
For the next few months, all three Ranger battalions were employed as conventional infantry in the bitter winter mountain fighting near San Pietro, Venafro, and Cassino as the Allies sought to pierce the German Winter Line. Not used as assault troops in a manner befitting their training, they were used to hold terrain on the defensive line. The small size of the Ranger companies, 63 men versus the 193 of the regular infantry, meant that the Ranger lines were stretched very thinly. Combat along the Winter Line was heavy.
Sergeant Sam Sabine was wounded at this time. âI got wounded on the eighth of December, on Hill 960 near San Pietro. I got hit with a hand grenade, set off a mine, and that knocked me out. Then my platoon sergeant and I got hit with another hand grenade.â Sabine was evacuated and returned to the unit at the end of the Italian campaign. The Rangers suffered significant casualties in the vicious fighting, most notably the 1st and 4th battalions, who were in heavy combat from 11â13 November near Venafro.
Clark used the Rangers to fill gaps in Fifth Army’s line from early November to mid-December. Attached to divisions, the battalions engaged in bitter mountain fighting at close quarters. Although reinforced by a cannon company of four 75-mm. guns on half-tracks, they still lacked the firepower and manpower for protracted combat. By mid-December the continuous fighting and the cold, wet weather had taken a heavy toll. In one month of action, for example, the 1st Ranger Battalion lost 350 men, including nearly 200 casualties from exposure. Moreover, the quality of the battalions declined as veterans were replaced by enthusiastic, but inadequately trained, replacements
Ranger Battalion Battlefield tour: WHAT TO EXPECT
The âRanger Battalion Battlefield tourâ (about 3 hours) includes:
1) pickup from your arrival at the railway station in Cassino every day at 10.00am or 02.00pm (Main Square, near the Green Kiosk)
2) about 3h30 guided tour of the Ranger Battalion most meaningful sites in this area:
3) return to the railway station in Cassino at 01.30pm or 05.30pm
Ranger Battalion Battlefield tour: WHAT YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT THE TOUR
TOUR DURATION: about 3 hours
DEPARTUR TIME: Daily at 10.00 am and 02.00pm
MEETING POINT: Cassino Railway Station (Main Square, near the Green Kiosk)
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Professional WW2 Guidance
- Transportation
- Donation to the monastery
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED: Lunch and dinner are not included
PRICE PER PERSON: 90 euros
PAYMENT:
- No advance payment
- You can do the payment during the tour cash to your Guide
Ranger Battalion Battlefield tour: MORE TOURS IN THIS AREA
The Anzio landing Battlefield Tour âââââ