<P> On 15 September both the 16th Panzer and 29th Panzergrenadier Divisions went on the defensive, thus marking the end to the thrust towards Paestum . Further north the Schmalz group of the Hermann Göering Division achieved surprise, attacking the 128th (Hampshire) Brigade (comprising three battalions, the 2nd, 1 / 4th and 5th, of the Hampshire Regiment), of the British 46th Division, on the high ground east of Salerno . The armoured column following up was intercepted and driven back leaving the German infantry exposed . </P> <P> The Allied bomber effort continued on 15 September, although slightly less intense than the previous day, as did the naval bombardment . The arrival of the British battleships HMS Warspite and Valiant, with 38 cm (15 in) guns off the beaches provided the Allied troops with a morale boost, although Valiant was not required to shoot and Warspite's 29 rounds fired were awe - inspiring but a minor contribution to the 2,592 naval rounds fired in total that day . </P> <P> On 15 September, Kesselring reported to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht that the Allied air and naval superiority had forced LXXVI Panzer Corps onto the defensive and that a decisive success would depend on the current attack by XIV Panzer Corps . If this failed, the 10th Army must break off the battle to avoid being' mangled' . </P> <P> On 16 September, the Schmalz group renewed its efforts on the X Corps front but with no more success, although No. 2 Commando suffered casualties, including 31 - year - old Captain Henry Wellesley, the then - Duke of Wellington, who was killed . The air force and navy continued to batter enemy targets, although during an air raid by Dornier Do 217 K - 2 bombers armed with Fritz X radio - controlled glide bombs, Warspite was hit and disabled which required her to be towed to Malta for repair . </P>

When was italy invaded in world war 2