 However , the Germans launched a counterattack at 03 : 15 on 16 December , throwing in men from the 6th Parachute Regiment , sent by Herr to the 26th Panzer Division to relieve the exhausted 9th Panzergrenadier Regiment . These troops had arrived late that evening after a long journey . Supported by tanks , they attacked the right @-@ hand New Zealand positions held by the 21st NZ Battalion , but were held off and had retired by daylight . Meanwhile , even before the German counterattack had been repelled , the 20th Regiment had attacked toward Orsogna with two squadrons of Sherman tanks . Under intense artillery and anti @-@ tank fire , the tanks and infantry became separated and the tanks became a target rather than a threat . 
 However , the Germans launched a counterattack at 03 : 15 on 16 December , throwing in men from the 6th Parachute Regiment , sent by Herr to the 26th Panzer Division to relieve the exhausted 9th Panzergrenadier Regiment . These troops <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> arrived late that evening after a long journey . Supported by tanks , they attacked the right @-@ hand New Zealand positions held by the 21st NZ Battalion , but <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> held off and <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> retired by daylight . Meanwhile , even before the German counterattack <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> been repelled , the 20th Regiment <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> attacked toward Orsogna with two squadrons of Sherman tanks . Under intense artillery and anti @-@ tank fire , the tanks and infantry became separated and the tanks became a target rather than a threat . 
However , the Germans launched a counterattack at 03 : 15 on 16 December , throwing in men from the 6th Parachute Regiment , sent by Herr to the 26th Panzer Division to relieve the exhausted 9th Panzergrenadier Regiment . dem troops done arrived late that evening after a long journey . Supported by tanks , they attacked the right @-@ hand New Zealand positions held by the 21st NZ Battalion , but was held off and done retired by daylight . Meanwhile , even before the German counterattack done been repelled , da 20th Regiment done attacked toward Orsogna w/ two squadrons of Sherman tanks . Under intense artillery and anti @-@ tank fire , tdatanks and infantry became separated and thdaanks became a footlocker rather than a threat .