Special thanks to Kevin Pietersen for providing this infornmation
A SASL CAMPAIGN IN ITALY JUNE 1944 TO MAY 1945
�One Year with the Springboks and the Guards in Italy� [YSGI from hereon] is a SASL campaign where you command a company from one of the seven infantry battalions in the 6th South African Armored Division and, for a period, the British 24th Guards Brigade. Historically each company faced a combat situation at least once every week, and this is simulated in YSGI in Table 1. The battalion you pick as your own faces a certain mission which is similar to the operation the historic battalion faced every week.
Your company may come from one of the following infantry battalions:
Witwatersrand Rifles/de le Rey (WR/DLR) First City/Cape Town Higlanders (FC/CTH) Royal Natal Carbineers (RNC) Imperial Light Horse/Kimberley Rifles (ILH/KimR) 1st Scots Guards (1SG) 3rd Coldstream Guards (3CG) 5th Grenadier Guards (5GG) [NOTE: The Guards battalions are active in the campaign for a shorter period than the South African units.]
Leader x 3: The first two leaders rolled for on S2 has a -1 DRM. 4-5-8 x3, 4-5-7 x6, 2-4-7 x2, 2-2-8 x2, 1-2-7 x4, LMG x3, PIAT x3, 51mm LtMtr x3, MMG x1, HMG x1 British Guards:
Leader x 3:The first leader rolled for on S2 has a -2 DRM, and the second leader rolled for has a -1 DRM. 4-5-8 x5, 4-5-7 x4, 2-4-7 x2, 2-2-8 x2, 1-2-7 x4, LMG x3, PIAT x3, 51mm LtMtr x3, MMG x1, HMG x1
Both the Guards and South Africans may utilise the TOT2 �Bayonet Charge� rules [EXC. In any scenario with the ENEMY in Advance attitude]
If your company comes from the ILH/KimR the following optional extras are added to the company:
These vehicles are considered temporarily attached for Casualty VP purposes. The vehicles may not advance towards known S? or ENEMY units if the vehicles do not have passengers or riders.
South African units suffered from replacement shortages and a -1 DRM is applied to the Squad Replacement Table DR (S17.82). The quality of replacements was however of a high class and a -2 drm is applied to the Line Company MMC-Type Replacement Table (S17.821). The Guards suffered from similar problems and are therefore governed by the same replacement rules. By 11/44 up to three 4-5-8 squads may be replaced by three 6-3-8 squads after the introduction of more automatic weapons to increase the platoons firepower..
South African OBA Availability
DR 1944 1945
2 114 s 203 s 3 114 s 88 s 4 105 s 88 s 5 76 M s 76 M s 6 76 M s 76 M s 7 88 s 88 s 8 88 s 88 s 9 107 M s 107 M S 10 105 s 107 M S 11 155 s 155 S 12 155 s 155 S
In any Campaign Mission Designation followed by a �*� [EX. 12*] make a dr prior to Setup on the following table to determine optional FRIENDLY reinforcements over and above any optional reinforcements specified in the Mission itself; after all such reinforcements are determined the player may opt to keep them as a group (allowing the ENEMY a pregame VP gain; see VP schedule) or play the Mission without them.
dr Armoured Support reinforcements
1 A number of {A6b} of armoured vehicle(s) {S6}; all are the same type1
2 A number of {A6a} of transport vehicle(s) {S7}; all are the same type
3 A number of {A6e} of MMG and 228 crews
4 A 8-0 with a radio, with access to a random battery, roll for ammo.
5 As per dr of 1 and 2 of this table
6 As per dr of 2 and 3 of this table
1 The company may start a riders on the tanks
The following optional alternative missions are presented here to increase the historical situations met by the 6th SA Armoured Division and its attached units.
The generation of German squads on G2 have the following modifiers based on the unit type that the FRIENDLY forces encounter as specified on the Historical Mission Table.
1Para (Fallschirmjaegers Division 1) -2 DRM 4Para (Fallschirmjaegers Division 4) -1 DRM 8Mnt -2 DRM 94 (Infanterie Division 94) 0 DRM (or -1 on Even hexes and +1 on Odd hexes) 356 +1 DRM 362 (Infanterie Division 362) 0 DRM 3PzG (Panzer Grenadier Division 3) -1 DRM 15PzG 0 DRM 90PzG 0 DRM HGPz (Panzer Division Hermann Goering) -2 DRM 26Pz (Panzer Division 26) 0 DRM 16SS () SS Units only
JUNE week 1 Cassino to Rome to Civita Castellana
After spending a month in a holding roll 9km north-east of Cassino the division was ready for action. Advancing up Route 6 the division encountered the retreating Panzer Division 26. After several brisk fights the advance turned to a mad rush northwards. With light opposition the division advanced through the liberated Rome and by the end of the week the division had captured Civita Castellana, 47km north of Rome. Giving scant regard to their flanks the division pursued the rapidly routing Germans. Stiff opposition from the Fallschirmsjager Division 4 was met at several localities. The main problems the division had faced was the US and French units on the congested roads south of Rome. In one case a Lt-Colonel of the Guards Brigade racing to capture a bridge over the Tiber was held up at gun-point by US military police. The division�s final objective was named: Florence.
JUNE week 2 Civita Castellana to Orvieto
The newly arrived raw Infanterie Division 356, bolstered by FallSchirmjager Division 4 and the Panzer Grenadier Division 3, lay in a strong defensive position across the path of the South Africans and the Guards. The ILH/KimR supported by a complete squadron of Shermans attacked the defence line consisting of two regiments of Germans with their divisional and regimental anti-tank guns. For a heavy price of 53 casualties the South Africans totally mauled the raw Germans. Other battalions met stiff resistance, but the advance steadily ground on, breaking strong-points and pursuing the retreating defenders to the their next strong-point.
Special Scenarios: ILH/KimR: The Battle of Celleno Your company must either take the railway embankment (if you have the railway overlay from TOT2) or the town of Celleno. Boards: Special Rules:
JUNE week 3 Orvieto to Chuisi
The advance continued now with the weather starting to have its effect, hinting of things to come. The WR/DLR lead theadvance for most of the week, while the Guards brigade went into reserve. Many pockets had to be cleared, the routine of advancing, hitting a new defence line, bypassing or smashing it and then pursuing the remnants of the defenders to the next line of defence. The terrain however protected the retreating Germans from the worst the air force and artillery could throw at them, though in several cases the Infanterie Division 356 was hit hard on the open roads.
JUNE week 4 Chiusi to Sinalunga (The Trasimene Line)
The Trasimene line was where Kesselring decided to make his first stand following Rome, here he planned to delay the Allieds advance to gain time for the construction of the formidable Gothic Line to the north. In the South African sector the line was held by the Hermann Goering Panzer Division. The ILH/KimR lead the advance to Chiusi, whereupon the FC/CTH passed through and attempted to take the town, believing the town to be lightly held. The town was held by two battalions supported by several Tigers. All the companies of FC/CTH attacked, but to no avail. One company penetrated into the heart of the town and was trapped behind enemy lines. The HGPz Division attacked the company positions throughout the day and night, and eventually overcame the South Africans in the towns theatre. Later in the week the Guards attacked the La Foce farm and town complex and routed the enemies, by the end of the week the advance continued.
Special Scenarios: FC/CTH: Teatro Comunale 1SG: The Battle of La Foce
AUGUST week 1
The race was on for the liberation of Florence. The South African and the New Zealander lines of advance converged on the town of Galluzo. The South African armor supported by the division Priests won the race and the prize of priority of the Florence road. At first light on the 4th of August the ILH/KimR pushed ahead, entering Florence and reaching the Ponte Vecchio at 4:30AM. The WR/DLR advanced into Florence, and were involved in running street battles betweem the Partigiani againsts both Italian fascists and Germans. At the end of the week the South Africans and attached units moved back for rest and refit. Since the advance had began in June the division has advanced 601 road miles, built 64 bridges, fired 201500 artillery shells and had suffered 1964 battle casualties. Medical records show that the 57.4% of the casualties were caused by HE, and the majority of these originating from mortar fire.
AUGUST week 4
The division moved back into line, relieving US units to the west of Florence on the banks of the River Arno. Activity was limited to active patrolling across the Arno, reconnaisance for fords, hunting and containing German patrols. The Scots Guards were amazed to find the Germans bathing nude in the Arno, deciding this was not how things were done broke the bathing party up with their 3"-mortars. Partigiani were far more common than they had been in southern Italy and often patrolled deep into German held territory. By the end of August it became obvious that the Germans were falling back. On the 31st of August patrols moved across the Arno, the vanguard of the division was across the Arno.
SEPTEMBER week 1
The first week of September was a frustrating time for the South Africans. The US IV Corps disallowed any pursuit by the division, the SA veterans felt very strongly about the lack of flexibilty and initiative. The commander of the 26th Panzer Division commented on this inflexibility, "The unquestioning adherence to a plan with a short-range objective prevented the catastrophic development of situations such as often happended on the Eastern Front, and allowed us time to restore the front before the next attack." The Germans remained out of contact for the most part of the week.
SEPTEMBER week 2
By the 11th of September the Germans no longer withdrew when fired on, the outposts of the Gothic Line had been reached.
TO BE COMPLETED..........
Origin of the Division
The idea of a South African armoured division was born out of the chaos of the western desert campaign, the officers in the 1st and 2nd South African Infantry divisions felt the need for their own armour instead of depending on other Commonwealth armoured units. The formation of two strong armoured divisions was first advocated in April 1941as a solution to the shortage of personnel that dogged both the South African infantry divisions throughout the East African and western desert campaigns . A re-organisation committee met for the first time in May 1942 to discuss the armour option, it was decided to send three infantry battalions for armour training in August 1942. The plan was rudely interrupted when Rommel launched his attack on the Gazala line in late May 1942.
The proposed armoured division�s Orders Of Battle were as follows:
1st SA Armoured Division 1st Armoured Brigade Group Royal Natal Carbineers Transvaal Scottish Duke of Edinburgh�s Own Rifles 7th Motorised Brigade Group First City Pretoria Regiment Pretoria Highlanders 3rd SA Armoured Car Regiment 2nd SA Armoured Division 3rd Armoured Brigade Group Imperial Light Horse Royal Durban Light Infantry Rand Light Infantry 2nd Regiment Botha (Motor Battalion) 2nd Motorised Brigade Group Natal Mounted Rifles Cape Town Highlanders Field Force Battalion 4th SA Armoured Car Regiment
Nine days after the final El Alamein offensive the South African divisions were pulling back to regroup. The plan was for half the South Africans to return home and form the 1st SA Armoured Division combining with the South African units in Madagascar, and the remaining units would form the 6th SA Armoured Division in Egypt. By late December 1942 the South African chief of staff was having doubts about the ability of South Africa fielding two armoured divisions. In late January a motion was put forward in the South African parliament to enable South Africans to fight anywhere in the world. Surprisingly very few soldiers were keen to carry on fighting outside of Africa, in one of the keenest Battalions only 52% opted for World-wide service. It was soon realised that the South Africans could only field one division outside of Africa. Eight battalions were required for the division, and it was decided to use battalions that had not seen active service. To make up the required eight battalions the veteran Royal Natal Carbineers and Natal Mounted Rifles were included in the divisions.
Deciding on only one division the 6th South African Division, under Major-General Poole, was officially formed in South Africa on the 1st of February 1943:
TO&E February 1943 6th SA Armoured Division Divisional Armoured Reconnaissance: Natal Mounted Rifles (Armour Recon Battalion, NMR) 11th SA Armoured Brigade Prince Alfred�s Guard (Armoured Battalion, PAG) Special Service Battalion (Armoured Battalion, SSB) Pretoria Regiment (Armoured Battalion, PR) Kimberley Regiment (Motor Battalion, KR) 12th SA Motorised Brigade First City (Motorised Infantry Battalion, FC) Witwatersrand Rifles (Motorised Infantry Battalion, WR) Regiment de la Rey (Motorised Infantry Battalion, DLR) Artillery: 6th Field Regiment, SA Artillery 22nd Field Regiment, SA Artillery 23rd Field Regiment, SA Artillery 12th Light AA Regiment, SA Artillery Engineers: 8th Field Squadron, SAEC 12th Field Squadron, SAEC 17th Field Park Squadron, SAEC
Divisions Insignia: Gold Triangle within Green Triangle.
The force was still in desperate need of more volunteers, all South African soldiers were volunteers. The numerical strength of the Motorised Brigade cast serious doubts on the fact of even producing one division, the 12th SA Motorised Battalion could only muster 1558 men. Many men refrained from re-volunteering due to the total lack of home leave they had received in East and Northern Africa, and many of their wives now wanted them to remain at home.
Men from the disbanded veteran � Field Force Battalion were divided amongst the SSB and Regiment de la Rey. One hundred Rhodesians were added to the WR and FC Battalions. The fledgeling SA Tank Corps and the veteran 3rd SA Armoured Car Regiment were disbanded and added to the NMR. The 4/6 SA Armoured Car Regiment was disbanded and added to the RNC and ILH. Qualified officers and staff-officers of the old South African divisions were also added to the new Battalions. When the ILH arrived in Egypt it was ordered to amalgamate with the KR to form the Divisions Motor Battalion. The RNC was bought up to strength from men transferred from the old 1st SA Armoured Brigade.
On the 19th of April the division set sail for Egypt for further training, though some units only disembarked in September and October 1943. In Egypt the units were to go through a 32-week training course in fitness and to familiarise themselves with their weapons. Training was made difficult by the acute shortage of vehicles. Finally to solve the manpower shortage an amalgamation policy was begun and the division was reorganised on the 5th of October 1943. The Imperial Light horse (ILH), the Cape Town Highlanders (CTH) and the Royal Natal Carbineers (RNC) were added to the division, and the WR was amalgamated with the DLR battalion. The 4th Rhodesian Anti-tank Battery was posted to the new South African Anti-tank regiment the 1/22 Anti-tank Regiment, and the Rhodesian 17th Field Battery was posted to the 1/6 Field Regiment. Two Rhodesian Armoured Squadrons were also added, one going to the PAG and one going to the SSB. Three and a half thousand of the divisions troops had seen action in North Africa.
In late October the division received 53 Crusader tanks to start their training with, and the 4/22 Field Artillery Regiment received self-propelled 105mm howitzers (M7 Priests). A four wheeled RAF trailer was obtained for the Divisional HQ. A Grant tank was altered to be used as a mobile HQ, and late in operations was replaced by an altered Sherman in Italy. The anti-tank regiment received 17-pounder ATGs and a few 6-pounders. In January a South African Air Force regiment was amalgamated with the NMR. The armour units each received a seven week armour training course, followed by a short course to convert to the Sherman MkV tanks. At the end of training, after more veterans were implored to re-volunteer, the division entered Italy with over 4000 veterans, giving the division a wealth of experience.
The RDLI which had been trained as an Armoured Car Regiment in Namibia was however re-organised as a Heavy Support Group battalion when it arrived in Egypt on the 17th of December 1943. The group was to use 4.2" Mortars, Vickers MMGs and 20mm Hotchkiss AA guns. RDLI �C�-company, the 20mm AA unit, was reformed to form a further MMG company in April 1944.
6th SA Armoured Division Divisional Armoured Reconnaissance: Natal Mounted Rifles 11th SA Armoured Brigade Prince Alfred�s Guard (Armoured Battalion, PAG) Special Service Battalion (Armoured Battalion, SSB) Pretoria Regiment (Armoured Battalion, PR) ILH/KimR (Motor Battalion, ILH/KR) 12th SA Motorised Brigade FC/CTH (Motorised Infantry Battalion, FC/CTH) WR/DLR (Motorised Infantry Battalion, WR/DLR) RNC (Motorised Infantry Battalion, RNC) Artillery: 1/6 Field Regiment, SA Artillery 4/22 Field Regiment, SA Artillery 7/23 Medium Regiment, SA Artillery 1/12 Light AA Regiment, SA Air Force 1/11 Anti-tank Regiment, SA Artillery Engineers: 8th Field Squadron, SAEC 12th Field Squadron, SAEC 17th Field Park Squadron, SAEC Transport: 136 Tank Transport Company
By March 1944 the Division was rearing for action, and was rather disappointed when it was ordered to take over the policing of Palestine. At the last moment the order was countermanded and on the 12th of April the division sailed for Taranto, Italy. In April 1944 the infantry battalions were re-organised to increase their flexibility, the three-company infantry battalions were converted into four companies apiece. The RDLI Heavy Support Group was further altered in April 1944, converting their �B�-company to 4.2" Mortars, though it would function as infantry first. Finally at the end of May �B�-company became an MMG company, and a new company was added to the RDLI to become a 4.2" Mortar Company.
In May the Division was placed under the command of the I Canadian Corps, 8th Army. The Italian marines of the Bafile Battalion of the San Marco Regiment fell under command of the 12th SA Motorised Brigade (4 May to 23 May).
By May 1944 the Division had the following men and equipment:
Other equipment included Dingos, Jeeps, Daimler ACs, White Scout Cars, 15 cwt trucks, universal carriers, universal carrier with 0.5" Brownings, Stuart Recces, Tank- recovery vehicles, 3/4ton Beeps and Morris C9/8 AA trucks. In all the division had 107 different types of vehicle of 50 different makes. The 11th SA Armoured Brigade alone had a total of 1050 vehicles. The mechanised infantry battalions support platoons were transported forward in universal carriers and jeeps. The carrier recce platoon of the ILH/KimR battalion were armed with 0.5" Brownings to add to their firepower.
On the 14th of May the British 24th Guards Brigade was attached to the 6th SA Armoured Division to give the division more infantry. The 24th Guards Brigade OB was as follows:
24th Guards Brigade Table of Organisation 5th Grenadier Guards (5GG) 3rd Coldstream Guards (3CG) 1st Scots Guards (1SG) 23 (Army) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (24 25-pdr Howitzers) 42 Field Company, Royal Engineers Detailed TO&E May 1944 6th SA Armoured Division Natal Mounted Rifles/SAAF Regimental HQ (4 Sherman MkV, 11 Honeys, 9 ACs) �A�-Squadron, NMR (19 Shermans) �B�-Squadron, NMR (19 Shermans) �C�-Squadron, NMR (19 Shermans) Reserve Squadron, NMR Royal Durban Light Infantry �A�-Company, RDLI (12 Vickers Mk VIIIZ MMG) �B�-Company, RDLI (12 Vickers Mk VIIIZ MMG) �C�-Company, RDLI (8 4.2" Mortars) �D�-Company, RDLI (8 4.2" Mortars, End of May) 11th SA Armoured Brigade Prince Alfred�s Guard Regimental HQ, PAG (4 Sherman MkV, 11 Honeys, 9 ACs) �A�-Squadron, PAG (19 MkV Shermans) �B�-Squadron, PAG (19 MkV Shermans) �C�-Squadron, PAG (19 MkV Shermans) Reserve Squadron, PAG Special Service Battalion Regimental HQ, SSB (4 Sherman MkV, 11 Honeys, 9 ACs) �A�-Squadron, SSB (19 MkV Shermans) �B�-Squadron, SSB (19 MkV Shermans) �C�-Squadron, SSB (19 MkV Shermans) Reserve Squadron, SSB Pretoria Regiment Regimental HQ, PR (4 Sherman MkV, 11 Honeys, 9 ACs) �A�-Squadron, PR (19 MkV Shermans) �B�-Squadron, PR (19 MkV Shermans) �C�-Squadron, PR (19 MkV Shermans) Reserve Squadron, PR Imperial Light Horse/Kimberley Rifles Regimental HQ �A�-company (in M5 half-tracks) �B�-company (in M5 half-tracks) �C�-company (in M5 half-tracks) �Support�-Company 1 AT platoon (6 6-pdr ATGs) 1 MMG platoon (6 Vickers MMGs) 1 Mortar platoon (6 3"-Mortars) 1 Recce platoon (13 0.5" Carriers) 12th SA Motorised Brigade First City/Cape Town Highlanders Battalion HQ (1 White SC) �A�-company, FC/CTH �B�-company, FC/CTH �C�-company, FC/CTH �D�-company, FC/CTH �Support�-Company (6 3"-Mortars, 13 Carriers) Witwatersrand Rifles/De Le Rey Battalion HQ (1 White SC) �A�-company, WR/DLR �B�-company, WR/DLR �C�-company, WR/DLR �D�-company, WR/DLR �Support�-Company (6 3"-Mortars, 13 Carriers) Royal Natal Carbineers Battalion HQ (1 White SC) �A�-company, RNC �B�-company, RNC �C�-company, RNC �D�-company, RNC �Support�-Company (6 3"-Mortars, 13 Carriers) 1/6 Field Regiment, SA Artillery (24 25-pdr howitzers) 4/22 Field Regiment, SA Artillery 7/64 Field Battery (8 M7 Priests) 10/65 Field Battery (8 M7 Priests) 11/66 Field Battery (8 M7 Priests) 7/23 Medium Regiment, SA Artillery 15/67 Medium Battery (8 5.5" Howitzers) 19/68 Medium Battery (8 5.5" Howitzers) 1/12 Light AA Regiment, SA Air Force 2/8 Light AA Battery (24 40mm Morris SPG and Bofors) 1/11 Anti-tank Regiment 1/22 Anti-tank Battery (20 17-pdr & # 6-pdr ATGs) 2/23 Anti-tank Battery (8 M10 TDs) 3/24 Anti-tank Battery (8 M10 TDs) 4/25 Anti-tank Battery (8 M10 TDs) 8th Field Squadron, SAEC (17/6: +2 Shermans MkV) 12th Field Squadron, SAEC 17th Field Park Squadron, SAEC 136 Tank Transport Company
The South African companies were designated �A� through to �D� company, the British Coldstream Guards and Grenadier Guards were designated Company �1' through to �4', and the Scots Guards were designated Right Flank Company, �B�-Company, �C�-Company and Left Flank Company. The South African platoons were numbered from 1 in �A� Company to 12 in �D� Company.
To give extra support to the 24th Guards Brigade the RDLI was divided into two support Groups, called A and B. �B�-group RDLI was attached to the 24th Guards Brigade.
�A� Group RDLI Regimental HQ �A�-company (MMGs) No. 2 Platoon �C�-company (4 4.2" Mortars) �B�-Group RDLI �B�-company (MMGs) No. 1 Platoon �C�-company (4 4.2" Mortars)
The MMG units were transported in 3-tonner trucks, and the Mortar units were transported in 2 wheel-drive 15-cwt trucks with jeep-trailers. �D�-company returned from training on the 7th of July and the RDLI was re-organised as follows:
�A� Group RDLI Regimental HQ �A�-company (12 MMGs) �D�-company (8 4.2" Mortars) �B�-Group RDLI �B�-company (12 MMGs) �C�-company (8 4.2" Mortars)
On the 6th of June the 6th SAA Division passed to the XIII Corps, 8th Army. To add to the divisions firepower the sixteen 4.5" howitzers of the British 76th Medium Regiment (SI) RA was added to the division in mid-June. In late June 108 men of the 1/12 Lt AA Regiment were transferred to the NMR/SAAF reconnaissance battalion to act as an attached infantry component to help counter the threat of German tank-hunting parties and anti-tank ambushes. In June the Sappers also recieved two Shermans to form a sapper recce group. From mid-June the Pretoria Regiment was permanently placed under command of the 24th Guards Brigade. Brigadier Clive attached one squadron to each of the Guards Battalions.
By August 12th Motorised Brigade had suffered 698 casualties (127 killed, 510 wounded, 61 missing). The 24th Guards Brigade has suffered 800 casualties, and the attached Pretoria Regiment has lost 150 casualties.
In late August 1944 the NMR/SAAF, the divisional armoured reconnaissance, was reorganised with �A�-Squadron being converted to infantry to help the recon tanks defend against ambushes in the close terrain and to ascertain when hidden ATGs were knocked-out. In August the NMR/SAAF acted as a counter-attack group for the 12th SA Motorised Brigade. The RDLI after a short rest was again divided into two support groups, with �B�-group supporting the 24th Guards Brigade:
�A� Group RDLI Regimental HQ �B�-company (12 MMGs) �C�-company (8 4.2" Mortars) �B�-Group RDLI �A�-company (12 MMGs) �D�-company (8 4.2" Mortars)
In mid-August the Punjabi 4/13 Frontier Force Rifles, a mountain warfare battalion, was attached to the 11th SA Armoured Brigade. A further infantry company was added to the ILH/KimR to give the battalion extra strength for advance into the Northern Apennines. The 166th (Newfoundland) Army Field Regiment joined the division to replace the 23 (A) Field Regiment, RA. To add to the infantry strength the 74th British Light AA Regiment which had been converted to infantry came under the command of the 12th SA mechanised Brigade. The mortar platoon of the ILH/KimR was attached to the 74th British Light AA Regiment.
On the 22nd of August division was transferred from the British XIII to the IV US Corps. In early October the division was transferred from IV US Corps to direct command of the 5th US Army. The division was reinforced by the 178th Medium Regiment, RA; the 76th Heavy AA Regiment (with 3.7" AA guns in ground support role) and one battery of two 240mm guns from the US 697 Field Artillery Battalion, and one 8-inch gun from the US 575 Field Artillery Battalion. The division also had the use of four artillery observation aircraft. To add to the strength of the divisions infantry and armor the US Combat Command B fell under the command of the South Africans. CCB consisted of the 11th US Armored Infantry Battalion, the 13th US Tank Battalion, a US Armored Field Artillery Battalion, a recon troop of the 81st Cavalry Reconnaisance and an engineer company. The 6th SA Division now had the strength of a small Corps.
In mid-Ocotber Combat Command C was formed in accordance to US army usage, it consisted of one infantry company from each of the armored battalions, PAG, SSB, NMR and from the 1/11 A/Tk Regiment. Thus profitably utilising the armored units in the mountainous terrain. To add more firepower to the guards units the Pretoria Regiment Shermans 0.5" Brownings were removed from the tanks and mounted in defensive positions on the ground.
In November it was decided to revert the whole of the NMR/SAAF to infantry, though each squadron would still retain one platoon of tanks. The Regimental HQ of NMR was reinforced by the attachment of a mortar platoon. The PAG formed a troop of six 105mm Shermans. By the end of 1944 the 4/22 Field Regiment had replaced its M7 Priests with Sextons, which it considered to be a far more stable gun platform. The armoured battalions Mk V Shermans were replaced by 76.2mm Sherman IIAs and some troops were issued with 105mm Sherman IBs each accompanied by two Honey ammunition carriers, each squadron was also supplied with one 17-pdr Sherman VCs for practice, eventually each squadron was supplied with one troop of Fireflys (in the historic text it does not call them Fireflys or VC, but �Shermans tanks with a 17-pdr mounted�). The Pretoria Regiment also formed an Assualt and a Reconnaisance Squadron. Both the 1/22 and 3/24 A/Tk battery�s were utilised as infantry companies. In early December the 3/370 US Infantry Regiment from the 92nd US Infantry Division came under command of the South Africans. The 4/13 FFR was placed under Guards command.
A new field artillery regiment was formed, the 15 Field Regiment (SAA) to replace the loss of the Newfoundland Royal Artillery regiment which had been with the Guards Brigade. The 15 Field Regiment (SAA) was formed from the holding artillery regiment in South Africa, from the 4/25 A/Tk Battery and the 6 SA Armoured Division Reserve Artillery Regiment. The regiment came under the command of the 13th SA Motorised Brigade. The 5th Field Company, SAEC, was also attached to the 13th Brigade. In January 1945 the NMR/SAAF ceased to be a Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, all its tanks were finally handed-over. The NMR/SAAF undertook intensive infantry conversion training from January to March. A further squadron, �D�-Squadron, was added in January. The NMRs old Reserve Squadron was converted to a Support company (10 officers, 178 men). A mortar platoon, consisting of men from the South African Air Force�s 43rd Light AA Regiment was also permanently attached to the Regimental HQ of the NMR. The regiment now had a combat strength of 1115 men. In early January the RDLI was re-organised as infantry, with further reinforcements from the disbanded �B�-company of the 43rd Light AA Regiment. The RNC, FC/CTH and the WR/DLR battalions also each absorbed a company of the 43rd Lt AA Regiment.
On the 15th of January 1945 the 6th SAA Division was transferred to the II US Corps. On the 17th of January the 13th SA Infantry Brigade was formed consisting of the NMR/SAAF, the RDLI and the ILH/KimR. The brigade was formed to replace the loss of the 24th Guards Brigade. In early February 1945 the 3/56 Heavy AA Battery was formed with 3.7" AA guns and was attached to the 23 Medium Regiment. This unit was formed to supply an airburst capacity to the divisions artillery.
During the Italian Campaign the 6th SA Armoured Division suffered 56 officers killed, 199 officers wounded and 8 missing; and 655 men killed, 2476 wounded and 149 missing.
The NMR/SAAF lost twelve Shermans and two Stuarts burnt out, twelve Shermans and 2 Stuarts shot up, and 4 Shermans and 1 Stuarts knocked out by mines. Working out to a loss of one Sherman per 10 miles advanced. NMR/SAAF casualties included 48 killed, 9 missing, 119 wounded and 45 wounded (ROD).