Post by Diarist on Jan 25, 2016 15:02:32 GMT 1
In the north the 27th Alpine Division had captured most of Aosta but the Italians were still resisting in a few pockets north of the city. During the morning the French forces were advancing with little resistance but at Pont-Saint-Martin reinforcements from the 2nd Infantry Division "Sforza" were beginning to arrive and the advance was halted. West of Torino the 28th Alpine Division had reached Avigliana, about 15km from the centre of Torino but it too was being held by the VI Infantry Brigade "Legnano" which had been hastily transferred from Cúneo. The divisional artillery is now at the frontline and the heavy regiment is targeting the industrial area of Torino causing considerable damage. The Italians have little artillery in this sector.
On the Cúneo front the French have three brigade-sized battlegroups advancing on the city. On the French left the 6th Demi-Brigade de Chasseurs Alpins BG from the 29th is advancing to the west of Cúneo while BG's around the 15th and 81st Régiments d'Infanterie Alpines are attacking towards the city itself and east of it. In the evening they started to enter the outskirts of Cúneo only to find that the Italians had retired towards Fossano, 25km to the NE.
Further east the 1st Motorized Infantry Division was also advancing in three columns. The 1er Régiment d'Infanterie Motorisée had reached Garessio and the 43e Régiment d'Infanterie Motorisée was in Ormea. The 110e Régiment d'Infanterie Motorisée has advanced from Finale Ligure on the coast through Calizzano to the outskirts of Bagnasco, 12km north of Garessio.
Finally in Savona, the 38e régiment d'infanterie motorisée of the 25th Division has easily held off probes from the Italians. The 92e and 121e régiments d'infanterie motorisées have reached Carcare and the 121e is now moving north to look for suitable defensive positions while elements of the 92e are probing to the west in order to link up with the 1st Division.
While the heavy cruisers Suffren and Colbert have been supporting the 38th regiment in Savona the rest of the 1st Battleship Squadron has been systematically destroying the industry and infrastructure in Savona, Genoa and La Spezia. The coastal road from Genoa to Savona is so damaged that it is impassable for vehicles.