Monday, July 27, 1943 Sicily, South-West of Messina 501 Tiger battalion and 35th Panzer division attack in the early morning after a short artillery bombardment. Tigers are used to spear point the attack followed by masses of T-34 tanks. Forward observers of the 7th Army watch horrified as anti-tank rounds bounce off the Tigers. Dug-in Sherman tanks try to stop the advance but they are outclassed. Here Shermans earn their nickname of cigarette lighter as they almost invariably burst into flames when hit. As the German attack rolls up the Allied front line the first US aircraft appear and strafe German tanks. The Luftwaffe also shows up in unexpected numbers and a new determination. Both sides tackle each other in vicious dogfights while bombers attack tanks. Ironically Reggia Aeronautica u