The Next TOAW DAR/AAR

[Montmorency]

OPERATION SHINGLE: FROM ANZIO TO ROME

BRIEFING

Date: January - February 1944
Location: Anzio, Italy
Map scale: 1km per hex
Time scale: 6 hour turns
Unit scale: Company
Length: 40 - 120 turns

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

"I had hoped that we are hurling a wild cat on the shore, but all we got was a stranded whale"
(W. Churchill)

At the end of January 1944 US VI Corps executed an amphibious assault behind German lines at the city of Anzio, just 50 km south of Rome, in an attempt to break the stalemate at the Gustav Line. To achieve this VI Corps was to advance onto the Alban Hills, a key feature dominating the southeastern approaches to the eternal city, thus cutting off German 10th Army's lines of communication and forcing a retreat from the Gustav line. Despite total tactical surprise a combination of over-cautiousness, hesitation and willingly ambiguous orders failed to exploit the situation. The Germans reacted swiftly and brought in substantial forces to not only contain the beachhead, but also to release a determined counterattack. After the climax of the battles by mid February the beachhead front line came to a stalemate with neither side having achieved its operational objectives.
The scenario covers the initial landings and the opening phase of "Shingle" (the codename for the operation) until mid-February with the possibility of an earlier end. It also incooperates some small what-ifs.

This scenario is as close to tactical as the TOAW engine can reasonably approach. As such, there will be plenty of tactical details included in writeups, though tempered by the new doctrine in a visible manner.

METT-T

Mission

The historical mission is to break the stalemate at the Gustav Line further south by cutting German lines of supply and Communication, thus forcing a general retreat from the FLET (Forward Line of Enemy Troops). This can be accomplished by taking sufficient strategic terrain in the enemy's rear, though the destruction of OPFOR combat elements is of course a vital part of the process and a goal in its own right.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This image describes the concentration of valued terrain within the AO (Area of Operations). As you can see, out of the 1000 "Victory Points" available, 50% or so are located within the historical Allied beachhead. Thus, I can achieve a historical draw by maintaining a historical stalemate roughly around the historical occupied area.

The highest concentrations of victory points:
*Beaches - 190 VP
*Alban Hills - 130 VP
*Aprilia/Carocetto - 85 VP
*Mussolini Canal - 83 VP
*Rome - 80 VP
*Anzio - 70 VP
*Cisterna di Latina - 35 VP
*Nettuno - 30 VP
*And myriad smaller ones...

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Given this, my operational COA (Course of Action) is to, create a beachhead, quickly secure the crossings over the Mussolini Canal, particularly with airborne units (red), and to launch an offensive across it once the enemy arrives in force (green).
The object is to convince the enemy that I intend to focus my forces on the eastern half of the map, while building up a strike force west of the canal (blue) with which to envelop the enemy all along the canal while dispatching a contingent to secure Rome.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Note that this plan is full of holes and is surely unworkable. Enemy intelligence and deductive logic would certainly reveal it before it could be sprung, resulting in a historical impasse at best and a drive to the beaches at worst.
Perhaps I'll be able to deploy a heavily modified variant. Generally, however, I'd like to keep some sort of enveloping swing around the Mussolini Canal with a simultaneous march on Rome, or at least the Alban Hills in the center of the map.

I need to be quick and decisive to secure as much favorable terrain as possible in the first few days, while not overextending myself to the point where his reinforcements can pick apart my columns piecemeal.

Enemy

The 14. Armee is a mixed bag, containing many elite units, many veterans, but also many green units newly raised or composed of low-quality troops. All told, it has a slight edge on the Allies in terms of experience, training, and skill.

Unit Icons

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OOB

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Other

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Terrain

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It is recommended to view this image in its original size.

The AO is something not much more than 2300 sq. km. of ground.

Within 20 km of the shore, the terrain is mostly marshy and cut by many rivers. The major waterway in the area is the Mussolini Canal. East of it are further marshes: the Pontine Marshes.
Note that defenders in marshy terrain get a 2x bonus to their AT capability.

A couple of miles north of Anzio is a wooded area, the Bosco di Padiglione.

In the center of the map is the thickly wooded Alban Hills region.

There are several mountains along the eastern edge of the AO.

On the west edge of the map, S or SW of Rome, is:

Players may note the number of minor escarpments and badland terrain on the western part of the
map, north of the Moletta creek. The low coastal plain in this area was cut by a series of rough stream
gullies. These gullies, though their small streams were easily fordable, were often fifty feet deep and
offered difficult obstacles to armor. Note that only foot movement units are able to move through
badland terrain and that units within a badland hex can’t resupply though they are nominally in a
supplied state.

Beyond the coastal region, the western "gullies", the urban Rome in the NW corner, the Alban Hills, and the eastern mountains, is a heartland of flat cultivated land, mottled by the occasional town. The road network here is better than on the coast.

The Via Appia is a highway that runs from Rome to Anzio and the southeast map-edge. It cuts across the SW Alban Hills. This is the road to follow in the event of a march on Rome.
In the northern part of the map, there is another highway (No. 6) but it will never be accessed by Allied troops except in the event of a total victory.

The German rail lines typically follow the two named highways.

Troops

The VI Corps is well-enough trained, and most of its men have seen combat before. There are, however, issues with cooperation between British and American elements.

Unit Icons

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OOB

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3.2.3 Allied Supply Dynamics

Supply Radius and Supply Stockpile
Allied supply radius and supply stockpile are initially low to reflect the circumstances of an
amphibious landing, but as this particular landing faced no initial opposition and plans could have
been carried out almost under maneuver conditions the supply radius and stockpiled supply will
increase rapidly:

Turn 1: Supply Stockpile: 8 Supply Radius: 4
Turn 2: Supply Stockpile: 18 Supply Radius: 6
Turn 3: Supply Stockpile: 28 Supply Radius: 8

The supply radius will increase to 10 if the Allies are in control of Aprilia, Osteriaccia, Cisterna and
four other small villages in the Alban Hills and/or the Lepini mountains. Or technically spoken: If the
EEV rises to 64, Allied supply radius will climb to 10. Historically resupply was difficult for the Allies,
especially in clear visibility and absence of smoke screens (of which was made excessive use) due to
German artillery observation positions in the higher terrain of the Alban Hills and the Lepini
Mountains. A drop of the EEV below 64 will set the radius back to 8 again. The events are repeatable;
this means the supply radius will switch back and forth depending on the EEV value.

Beach Supply
Beach supply is modeled with sea supply roads and ferry
bridging units. There is one supply point per beach
(Peter Beach, Anzio (X-Ray yellow) and X-Ray
red/green) which is placed in a deep water location. A
road on an arid terrain hex connects the supply point
with the actual beaches/harbor. The arid terrain graphics
have been altered to resemble the look of deep water
hexes. On this road the hex connecting the supply point
with the beach contains a destroyed bridge over a major
canal. VI Corps supply units are positioned in these
hexes. Their major ferry capability will allow them to
trace supply over to the beaches and with the supply unit
adjacent, friendly units get a 50% supply boost. Note that Peter Beach supply will be removed on turn
10 (see → 3.1.2 Weather Influence on Supplies and Air Activity). These supply units have assigned a
slightly different amount of equipment to model the different size of the respective pontoon
installations and the harbor. As the amount of supply actually traced over to land is relative to the
major ferry percentage value of the tracing unit, this set-up allows the Germans to try to hamper Allied
supply unloadings by artillery shelling and air raids as they did historically, although with little or
negligible effect. The equipment of the supply units has a high replacement rate to ensure that any
losses can be replaced fast and supply reductions are only a short time temporary nuisance. If such a
supply unit is destroyed, a replacement unit will appear one turn after the respective beach's supply
unit is destroyed.

Anzio is a 110% level supply source, X-Ray red/green is a 90% level supply source while Peter beach is
a 50% level supply source.

3.2.4 Allied Withdrawals
No.9 Commando and 42 RM Commando will be withdrawn on turn 11. There will be a warning in the
news string to remember the Allied player of their withdrawal.

Time

In this scenario, the turns are 6 hours each. This highly tactical timeframe means that, despite the small hex-scale, units can not move very much in a single turn.
This is practically speaking. In fact, on one of the highways (if controlled by friendly forces) it is possible for a motorized or armored unit to cover in excess of 30 km in 6 hours.
What this means is that the Germans have much operational depth to deploy their reserves quickly and wherever they deem necessary, while any Allied advance will have a lower circumscribed rate, and in the early days movement around the beachhead will be difficult - until sufficient friendly control is attained over the area of the beachhead.

The turn-length being as it is, half the time will be spent in night turns. Night combat is a chancy thing, so I'd better keep in mind the penalties and concentrate my offensive maneuvers in the days.

In total, there are 40-120 turns, or 10 days to a month. The variability is accounted for below.

3.1.3 Early End (or accepting the stalemate)
I didn’t want to force the players to play the entire 120 turns of the scenario, especially to prevent them
from resembling WW I style trench warfare. To give a more official touch to a possible player
agreement, players can agree upon an earlier end of the scenario after turn 40 by selecting the theater
option “End game with current victory levels”. If one of the players chooses this option the other
player will receive a theater option to accept his opponent’s offer on the following turn. If he accepts
this offer the game will end with the normal victory tally the next turn.

3.1.1 Victory Conditions

General Thoughts and Sudden Death
What constitutes an Allied or a German victory? Looking at history, an Allied victory regarding
operational plans would be ‘establishing and securing a beachhead and advancing onto the Alban
Hills’. The Allied player can get an overwhelming victory in achieving this and holding the gained
ground until the end of the scenario. An instant victory can be achieved if the Allies reach their main
goal – the withdrawal of German 10th Army from the Gustav Line. This is handled in detail by the
EEV (Event Editor Variable) and can lead to a “Sudden Death” victory for the Allies.
The German aim was, as Hitler clearly stated, to ‘erase the abscess’. A German victory can be achieved
by pushing beyond the front lines of February 19th, the last day of Fischfang. If the Germans capture
Anzio the game will end with a German instant victory
Any outcome along the historical front lines between February 3rd, the beginning for the battle of the
thumb, and February 19th, the day Fischfang was canceled, is regarded as a draw.

Rome
The Allied player can take Rome, but it will not produce an instant Allied victory and except for the
release of German reserves, which will be released before the Allies reach the outskirts of the city, it
won’t influence German actions at all - Rome was not the objective, pushing to Rome means exposing
Allied flanks in open terrain. Advancing to Valmontone and or the Alban Hills on the other hand sees
VI Corps' flanks in formidable defensive terrain (Moletta Creek, Alban Hills, Monti Lepini, Mussolini
Canal). As General Penney, commander of British 1st Infantry Division stated: “We could have had
one night in Rome and one and a half years in POW camps.”

The EEV
The occupation of certain locations will increase the EEV value. On reaching certain values‚ a
simulated dice-roll determines whether the German 10th Army retreats from the Gustav Line due to
the danger of their lines of communication getting cut-off. Failing such a check leads to 10th Army's
withdrawal and results in an Allied Sudden Death victory.

EEV Values and Victory Chances
German re-occupations of EEV locations will lower the variable value
accordingly. The trigger locations can change hands multiple (in fact:
infinite) times with the variable value going up and down with each
occupation/re-occupation event. Important: Once a probability check has
failed it won’t be repeated a second time should the according variable
value be reached again. It wouldn’t make sense if the Germans decided to
abandon the Gustav Line under the same circumstances under which they
had decided to stand fast just a couple of hours or days ago. This also
prevents gamey play: Abandoning such an objective after a failed check and leaving it to the German
player with the purpose of taking it back again to get a second chance for a successful sudden death roll
won’t work. Furthermore, the Allied player is advised to protect the base of his beachhead accordingly
as a permanent loss of one of the 20 EEV point locations makes it almost impossible to achieve a
variable value required for a sudden death roll. The following chart and map give an overview of the
locations contributing to the EEV value:

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Variable Value Victory Chance
75 ................... 40%
80 ................... 50%
85 ................... 65%
90 ................... 80%
95 ................... 90%
99 ................... 95%

All this is to be considered later on - remind me! - as if I can achieve an EEV of 60 or more, it likely means that the campaign as a whole is turning in my favor.


Theater Options:

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4.1.1 Airborne Operations

The 504th PRCT
Initial plans for Shingle called for the 504th PRCT (Parachute Regimental Combat Team) to be
dropped on the Via Anziate, approximately ten miles north of Anzio in the vicinity of Aprilia, to block
German reinforcements from counterattacking the landings early. This was canceled a few days before
the landings due to the fear that they could be brought under friendly fire, either by the British troops
operating from Peter Beach and/or by naval fire. Actually it was considered to be too risky as it also
could have revealed Allied intentions a few hours prior to H-Hour.
On turn 1 the Allied player may drop the Regiment into its designated drop zone (17/38) south of
Aprilia at a cost of 100 VPs. Units may also be dropped into hexes adjacent to the drop zone. On turn 2
a ‘foot movement’ supply unit and a supply point will appear at 17/38. The supply point will be
removed on turn 4 as it is estimated that a link-up with the forces advancing from the beaches will
have been established by then. Dropping the Regiment into another area, i.e. Cisterna will not trigger a
supply point - in order to be in supply the RCT must be dropped into the pre-designated landing zone.
The ‘foot-movement’ supply unit will be withdrawn one turn after the regiment’s supply trucks have
been landed at Anzio (turn 8).
If the Allied player doesn’t wish to paradrop the 504th he must chose the theater option (on turn 1) to
bring in the RCT via sea transport as was historically the case. If the TO is selected, the initial 504th
PRCT will be withdrawn and an identical formation will appear at Anzio on turns 6 and 7. The 100
victory points penalty will be removed. The truck-borne supply unit of the RCT will in each case land
at Anzio on turn 8.

The 509th Parachute Battalion
Historically this independent battalion was attached to the Ranger force landing at Anzio. But the
Allied player has the option to use it in an airdrop as a second wave to follow the 504 th PRCT. The
theater option is available on turn 1 only. If the Allied player selects the theater option he must move
the battalion from its initial position (0/59) to the airfield in the hex north of it. On turn 2 it can be
flown into the 504th’s drop zone; like the PRCT it is only allowed to land in the dropzone (17/38) or an
adjacent hex. The costs for this are 30 VPs.

4.1.2 Allied Air Support Options
Allied airfields are situated on the bottom of the map in
separate rows of airfields for each high level formation.
As US 64th Fighter Wing, which actually is part of US
XII ASC, is the only air formation that is permanently
available to the Allied player, a separate row of airfields
for this formation is located on the southwestern map
edge. Note that except for 64th Fighter Wing all other
formations are in garrison status. Beginning on turn 2,
the Allied player receives a series of theater options to
release these formations. The activated air formation
will be available for orders on the turn following the
selection of a theater option for a duration of three
turns. Four turns after a theater option is selected a new theater option for an additional release of the
according formation will be available. Activation limitations and costs are as follows:

US XII ASC: 5 activations, first two activations without cost, thereafter 10 VPs per activation
MATBF: 5 activations, first activation without cost, thereafter 10, 20, 30, 40 VPs
MASAF*: 3 activations, first activation 15, second activation 30, third activation 60 VPs
*For play-balance, but also historical/realism reasons only roughly half of MASAF’s assigned
squadrons will be available to the Allied player. This is still quite an impressive force.

ASC = Air Service Command ???
MATBF = Mediterranean Allied Tactical Bomber Force
MASAF = Mediterranean Allied Strategical Air Force

Despite the VP hit to not selecting the first PO, the 504 is integral to my plan, for the speedy capture of the crossings over the Mussolini Canal. I can not allow even one to become contested before the forward line is established. Hopefully, this will pay off by the end of the scenario. (Also note a further drawback - going forward with the drop gives the German player the option of activating the 4. FsJ. (Fallschirmjager) Div. early, for relatively low cost.

The second TO - we'll come to it later.

I will save the valuable but circumscribed Air Support TOs for when the major offensives are underway - when I need to put real muscle in my operations.

The Germans have many TOs of their own, but I won't go into those. Better for it to be a surprise.

Other Notes:

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3.1.10 Loss of Allied Ships
The German player will be awarded VPs for sinking Allied shipping. This will be 5 VPs for a destroyer
class and 10 VPs for a cruiser.

3.2.2 Handling of Naval Units
Naval fire support is only possible from within the swept channel; this is represented on the map by
the normal, non-distant deep water hexes. Along this swept channel there is a row of distant hexes
(+199) which represents the open sea. Naval units in those hexes can’t lend fire support to land units
but are safe from German air raids. Historically a large number of naval vessels were withdrawn to the
open sea each day in the afternoon after the first German air raids harassed the Allied fleet.
On turn 1, both Task Force 81 and Task Force X-Ray, are in reserve and not available for fire support;
they will be released on turn 2.

Incentive to end turns with ships in the deep-sea hexes.

3.1.2 Weather Influence on Supplies and Air Activity
From January 24th to 26th stormy weather prevented almost any air activity. On the morning of the 24th
Peter Beach had been closed as the two pontoons had broached in rough sea. X-Ray beach pontoons
broached on the 26th, but were again operational on the next day. Unloadings at Anzio harbour
however were not that seriously affected. In the scenario this will have the following effect:
Both sides will suffer a 25% air shock from turn 10 – 22. Peter Beach's supply unit will be withdrawn
permanently on turn 10. X-Ray beaches will be closed temporarily from turns 10 – 14 and 18 – 22.
Weather in the opening phase is historical. After that (after Jan. 26th) it is managed by a weather
engine, with probabilities for storm/bad weather based on historical weather conditions. Each day
there is a 40% chance for stormy weather which will last two turns. On storm turns theater recon is set
to zero and air shock for both sides is 25%, returning to normal on the third turn. Each day at predawn
the news string will contain a weather report that warns the player of an impending storm. This
is to prevent the Allied player from ‘wasting’ his Air Support Options on a storm turn
See also → 3.2.2 Handling of Naval Units for weather effects on naval units.

In that case, I definitely shouldn't call in any air support until 4 days in, at the least.

3.1.4 Theater Recon and Peak Hexes
Theater recon for both sides is set to zero during PM turns. On AM turns both sides’ theater recon is
set to 8, but the Germans (and certainly also the Allies if possible) can make use of the peak hexes in
the Colli Laziali which historically provided excellent observation points.

3.1.5 Force Pestilence
To reflect historical conditions on the battlefield and their consequences for men and material, like
trench foot and mechanical breakdown, force pestilence is set to 1% for each side, beginning on turn
18 (January 26th).

3.1.6 German Air Raids and Nettuno Airfield
During the first weeks of the Anzio campaign the Germans launched regular and partially devastating
air raids against the Allied navies and the shipping anchoring before Anzio harbor. The usual
procedure was to sneak in at dusk when Allied fighters were returning to their 100 mile distant bases
as they needed daylight to land. To counter these tactics Allied engineers began to renovate the old
Italian air strip at Nettuno which became operational on February 1st. It was US 307th Fighter Squadron
which had the doubtful honor to be based within enemy artillery range. Consequently the airfield had
to be abandoned later in the campaign due to constant shelling.
To represent this in the game the Germans have a 105% air shock while the Allies suffer an 95% air
shock on afternoon turns. There is no such bonus on storm/bad weather turns, including the long bad
weather period from turns 10 to 22. On turn 42 Nettuno airfield becomes operational, removing the
German air bonus permanently. In game terms an “airfield” unit will appear on turn 41 with some
construction engineers and 0/1 “airfields”. The “airfield” equipment is actually a modified aircraft
carrier (combat values zeroed) and can base one air unit. The equipment will be filled up on turn 42
after 7 “airfields” will have been dumped into the replacement pool the previous turn as otherwise it
would not have been possible to deploy the unit on a land hex. This setup also allows the Germans to
render the airfield unusable (when the unit is destroyed). Any Allied fighter unit can be placed on this
airfield; they have all been designated ‘naval aircraft’ with an equipment editor (BioEd) to be able to
actually be deployed there.

3.1.7 Valmontone – Littoria Bypass Road
To enable the Germans to shift troops between the southeastern wing of the front line (Littoria,
Pontine Marshes) and the other parts of the beachhead front an ‘off-map’ road has been added to the
eastern map edge with approximately 80 km length. Part of that road is in distant hexes and can’t be
interdicted or bombed directly by Allied aircraft. The Allied player is not allowed to enter or attack
into any hex of this bypass road.

3.1.8 Additional Replacements
Both sides receive additional replacements for specific ‘low rate’ equipment in the form of disband
units. The replacement units are categorized into infantry, AFVs, artillery and planes in the case of the
Germans. They arrive at a semi-random basis on hex 15/60 for the Allies and 30/0 for the Germans
and can be disbanded at the players’ will; there is no enforced rule about it. Only the German planes, of
which only few will be available, will be disbanded directly into the pool by the event engine.

3.1.9 Opening, Shock and Theater Options
With version 1.81 a new concept and new dynamics for the
opening turns have been introduced in regard to the initial
Allied advance in-game compared to the historical Allied
performance and defensive agenda in the early phase of
Shingle. One can basically speak of two different ‘openings’,
resulting in two different courses the scenario can, but must
not, take:
The ‘pattonesque’ opening sees the 504th Parachute RCT land
near Aprilia and will most probably be followed by an all out
Allied attack (see section → 4.1.1 Airborne Operations for
details about this theater option). This still costs 100 victory
points.
The second one, introduced in version 1.81, could be called
‘the historical opening’. It is designed for a possible limited
Allied advance, but however must not necessarily lead to
such a limitation. When the Allied player opts for bringing in the 504th Parachute RCT by sea on turn
6, a set of shock events and related theater options will come into effect which are designed to force the
Allied player to resemble the historical cautiousness of the Allied advance until the first major
offensive actions took place towards the end of January. Allied shock will fall to 90% on turn 3, rise to
95% on turn 13 and will be restored to 100% on turn 25 – if the Allied (or the German player) doesn’t
influence these events by selecting one of the related theater options: On turn 2 the Allied player has
the chance to remove the 80% shock at a cost of 45 victory points. This will also cancel the later 90%
shock and all related theater options. The option is only available on turn 2. If the Allied player
removes the shock, the German player will receive a theater option on turn 3 to restore the Allied
shock to 90% at a cost of 40 victory points which will further re-enable the later 95% shock event and
Unloadings at X-Ray Beach on D-Day
related theater options. Like the Allied theater option, the German theater option is only available for
one turn. The same game starts again on turn 12 when the Allied player will have the option to prevent
the following 95% shock at a cost of 25 victory points while the German player will have the option to
restore the 95% shock on the next turn with a 20 victory point penalty. Both options are again available
for only one turn (turn 12 for the Allied player and turn 13 for the German player).
Certainly the players can agree upon the course of the action regarding the shock events before they
start the game, but they also could leave it open. They should consider that the shock event setup will
help a weak German player against a more skilled opponent.
As mentionend further above, this has been designed to force the Allied player to be more cautious in
his early actions, similar to the historical course of events. Note that shock not only affects combat
effectiveness of units, but can also force formations to go into reorganization, making them immobile
and unavailable for player orders, which could leave some units in quite vulnerable positions to
German counterattacks. Also note that the German player, if all four TOs are selected, gets out of this
with 10 VPs ahead.
In each case the Allied player will have to pay in victory points if he wants to use the initial German
weakness in the opening turns to conduct offensive actions that go beyond the scope of those
historically performed by VI Corps during the early days of Shingle.

I'm not a skilled opponent! Well, I think this is more cause to take the aggressive though costly roue of dropping the 504th PRCT.

I don't think I will be taking the shock-negation events - far too costly. My attack will have to proceed under inadequate conditions, even if for a little while. Anyway, I envision not an all-out blitz but a race to acquire the good defensive terrain of the Mussolini Canal, while building up along its western extent for the two-pronged strike. Surely this would take at least a week.

The Order of Battle
As other scenario designers also might have encountered there is always an inconsistency in OOB data
from source to source. This was not different with the various sources I used, especially when it went
into the details and as I decided to go with the 1 km/hex and company scale there could never be
enough detailed information. Luckily the inconsistencies were only with the German part of the OOB.
The main sources for the German OOB were of course the War diaries of 14th army which can be
downloaded from the cgsc website in an English translation (see link in 7.0 Sources); together with
Greiner/Schramm’s War Diary of OKW, “Lo sbarco di Anzio” by Lagomarsini/Lombardi (which
provided some scanned original documents – grazie!) and some excellent postings at the Axis History
Forums I was able to compile a reasonable OOB and reinforcement/arrival schedule for the German
side. However I still had to do some guesswork, and there where I had no certain or exact information
about the actual arrival of a certain unit I based my decisions on gameplay and balance.
For some units and formations from both sides I had exact information about the replacements they
received during the campaign, but I decided not to apply them 1:1; the main reason being the TOAW
replacement calculations and gameplay (i.e. 3rd PzGren might take fewer losses than historically, so
why should they receive the replacements they received historically?). Maybe this will change in future
versions depending on players’ feedback and own observations with the replacement pool and units’
health.

TO&E Issues
There’s not much to say about the Allied tables of equipment which should be quite accurate, however
it was not as easy with the German side. A lot of compromises, especially with rather exotic and special
units, such as the LW Jäger Bn 7 zbV, the SS Polizei Bn Rom, the Nembo FJ Bn or the Brandenburgers
had to be done while at the same time units like the 3rd PzGren Div and other regular formations have
been set up with more accurate information.Heavy Weapons companies and the like have been
distributed among the other combat companies within the battalion and/or the HQ unit of the
battalion (mainly mortars) in some cases.

Artillery and Formation Support
With the huge amount of artillery in both sides’ OOB something had to be done in regard to formation
cooperation. The idea was to prevent divisional and regimental artillery from providing defensive fire
support to non-divisional and non-regimental units. The initial ‘free support’ setup did not only
misrepresent historical procedures and facts, but also distorted combat results when ground combat
was mostly decided by the amount of artillery support each side could add to a certain combat. Not
always, but often, this greatly distorted combat results and lead to extremely huge combat losses.
Therefore only both sides’ Corps artillery is set to free support. All other artillery formations are set to
army support.

Playing Anzio 1944
This is not a simulation of what historically happened, it is a game. Given the historical course of
events, Anzio 1944 is more a ‘what if?’ than other historical scenarios. No wargamer (at least those that
I know) ever will be as cautious and hesitating as Lucas was (he had his reasons, but the players have
their hindsight), or can you imagine to land a whole Corps without any opposition and with great
tactical surprise and doing nothing for three days? Most historians agree that Lucas’ cautiousness and
defensive posture eventually saved the beachhead, but also most historians agree upon the blunder of
not taking Osteriaccia and Cisterna early in order to gain more depth for a better defense against the
inevitable German counterattack.

Why was so much effort put into limiting the initial Allied advance rate?
Play balance and historical facts: it was the operational plan that limited their advance. The Allies were
surprised by themselves that they took the Germans by surprise with the landing – the plans were
worked out with serious German resistance to be expected. Securing the initial beachhead and
preparing for first counterattacks were the orders of the assault battalions.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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The scenario and documentation can be located at the scenario creator's - S. Goehring's - site. Due credit to him, &c.