"Beachhead ANZIO" Frame 3
Beachhead ANZIO
History Frame 3
Plans for the new offensive effort were completed by 12 January. They called for three amphibious landings around Anzio on the 22d by American and British troops which, with follow-ups, would total about 110,000 troops. The ground forces were to secure a beachhead and then advance on Colli Laziali, a hill mass some seven miles inland which commanded both the Anzio plain and Highways 6 and 7, the enemy's two principal lines of communication from Rome into the western battle area. Just prior to the landings, Fifth Army would launch a strong attack designed to break the Gustav Line and to pull in enemy reserves, with the ultimate expectation of driving through the Liri Valley and linking up with the landing forces. Eighth Army would demonstrate along its front in eastern Italy so as to prevent the transfer of German troops to the other two fronts.
The responsibilities for air support fell very largely upon Tactical Air Force and were in addition to TAF's responsibilities to main Fifth Army and Eighth Army. When the plan appeared Tactical already had put in almost two weeks of attacks on behalf of the two air tasks which were basic to the success of the venture: bombing of airfields to insure that the enemy's air arm would be unable to interfere with the landings, and bombing of lines of communication between Rome and the north (including the relatively unimportant sea. lanes) and between Anzio and the main battle area so that enemy reinforcements and supplies could neither be brought in nor shifted from one front to another and so that the enemy would be deceived as to the exact location of the landing. Strategic had given some assistance during these preliminary operations, although at the time it was not committed to any specific task for SHINGLE. Even at this early date General Wilson had indicated a desire to declare a “tactical emergency†and thus bind Strategic to the Anzio operation. However, representatives of Tactical, TBF, and the Fifteenth felt that TBF's six groups of U.S. B-25's and B-26's could handle the interdiction program between Rome and the Pisa-Florence line, and after Wilson was assured by his air commanders that all units of MAAF would be made available if the situation demanded, he dropped the matter.
The first phase of the pre-SHINGLE air operations officially began on 1 January -- after MATAF had issued operational directives on 30 December to its subordinate commands -- and ran through the 13th. Actually, it got under way on the 2d when forty-three of the 57th Bombardment Wing's B-25's bombed the Terni yards while seventy-three B-26's from the 42d Bombardment Wing attacked four places on the railway east of Nice; results were good, especially at Taggia where the railway bridge was destroyed and at Ventimiglia where two spans were knocked out. The following day, fifty B-17's from the Fifteenth Air Force's 97th and 301st Bombardment Groups severely damaged the Lingotto marshalling yards (M/Y's) at Turin, while fifty-three others from the 2d and 99th Groups struck a blow for POINTBLANK by plastering the Villa Perosa ball-bearing works, twenty-five miles to the southwest. B-26's bombed the Pistoia yards and the Bucine viaduct, cutting all lines leading out of the two yards. On the two days about fifty A-36's of XII Air Support Command hit the docks at Civitavecchia, long a favorite target because it was the nearest port to Rome and the battle front and now of added importance because the Allies were trying to make it appear that they might undertake a landing there.
For the next ten days, in spite of unsatisfactory flying weather, TBF's bombers steadily hammered the Italian railway system. Their efforts were concentrated in the western and central parts of the peninsula and around Ancona in the eastern. Principal targets were the M/Y's at Lucca, Pontedera, Siena, Grosseto, Arezzo, Foligno, and San Benedetto, the railway bridges at Orvieto and Guilianova, and the junction at Fabriano. In all, the mediums flew close to 340 sorties.
by Patrick Clancey and Terry Welshans for the HyperWar Foundation.
THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
The 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (with B-24s) becomes operational, giving the Fifteenth Air Force 13 heavy bomber groups on combat status. In Italy, nearly 300 B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 150+ P-38s and P-47s, support the US Fifth Army's Anzio beachhead, bombing the Cisterna di Roma-La Villa area, Velletri,
and troop concentrations, guns and other military targets in the battle area atseveral points, including the Stazione di Campoleone and Carroceto areas.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
 In Italy, B-26s attack an assembly area E of Carroceto and, with B-25s, bomb guns and an assembly area NW of Cisterna di Roma, A-20s hit troops in the beachhead battle area; P-40s and A-36s blast troops and guns throughout the Anzio battle area, also hitting Cisterna and Littoria; P-40s and A-36s fly uneventful cover over Anzio. A group of P-47s hit a motor vessel off Sibenik, Yugoslavia leaving it burning.
Frame 3 – Destroy the Gustav Line Support and Port Facilities (Bomber, Escort and Intercept)
Allies
B-24H
B-26B
P-51B
History Frame 3
Plans for the new offensive effort were completed by 12 January. They called for three amphibious landings around Anzio on the 22d by American and British troops which, with follow-ups, would total about 110,000 troops. The ground forces were to secure a beachhead and then advance on Colli Laziali, a hill mass some seven miles inland which commanded both the Anzio plain and Highways 6 and 7, the enemy's two principal lines of communication from Rome into the western battle area. Just prior to the landings, Fifth Army would launch a strong attack designed to break the Gustav Line and to pull in enemy reserves, with the ultimate expectation of driving through the Liri Valley and linking up with the landing forces. Eighth Army would demonstrate along its front in eastern Italy so as to prevent the transfer of German troops to the other two fronts.
The responsibilities for air support fell very largely upon Tactical Air Force and were in addition to TAF's responsibilities to main Fifth Army and Eighth Army. When the plan appeared Tactical already had put in almost two weeks of attacks on behalf of the two air tasks which were basic to the success of the venture: bombing of airfields to insure that the enemy's air arm would be unable to interfere with the landings, and bombing of lines of communication between Rome and the north (including the relatively unimportant sea. lanes) and between Anzio and the main battle area so that enemy reinforcements and supplies could neither be brought in nor shifted from one front to another and so that the enemy would be deceived as to the exact location of the landing. Strategic had given some assistance during these preliminary operations, although at the time it was not committed to any specific task for SHINGLE. Even at this early date General Wilson had indicated a desire to declare a “tactical emergency†and thus bind Strategic to the Anzio operation. However, representatives of Tactical, TBF, and the Fifteenth felt that TBF's six groups of U.S. B-25's and B-26's could handle the interdiction program between Rome and the Pisa-Florence line, and after Wilson was assured by his air commanders that all units of MAAF would be made available if the situation demanded, he dropped the matter.
The first phase of the pre-SHINGLE air operations officially began on 1 January -- after MATAF had issued operational directives on 30 December to its subordinate commands -- and ran through the 13th. Actually, it got under way on the 2d when forty-three of the 57th Bombardment Wing's B-25's bombed the Terni yards while seventy-three B-26's from the 42d Bombardment Wing attacked four places on the railway east of Nice; results were good, especially at Taggia where the railway bridge was destroyed and at Ventimiglia where two spans were knocked out. The following day, fifty B-17's from the Fifteenth Air Force's 97th and 301st Bombardment Groups severely damaged the Lingotto marshalling yards (M/Y's) at Turin, while fifty-three others from the 2d and 99th Groups struck a blow for POINTBLANK by plastering the Villa Perosa ball-bearing works, twenty-five miles to the southwest. B-26's bombed the Pistoia yards and the Bucine viaduct, cutting all lines leading out of the two yards. On the two days about fifty A-36's of XII Air Support Command hit the docks at Civitavecchia, long a favorite target because it was the nearest port to Rome and the battle front and now of added importance because the Allies were trying to make it appear that they might undertake a landing there.
For the next ten days, in spite of unsatisfactory flying weather, TBF's bombers steadily hammered the Italian railway system. Their efforts were concentrated in the western and central parts of the peninsula and around Ancona in the eastern. Principal targets were the M/Y's at Lucca, Pontedera, Siena, Grosseto, Arezzo, Foligno, and San Benedetto, the railway bridges at Orvieto and Guilianova, and the junction at Fabriano. In all, the mediums flew close to 340 sorties.
by Patrick Clancey and Terry Welshans for the HyperWar Foundation.
THURSDAY, 2 MARCH 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Fifteenth Air Force):
The 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (with B-24s) becomes operational, giving the Fifteenth Air Force 13 heavy bomber groups on combat status. In Italy, nearly 300 B-17s and B-24s, escorted by 150+ P-38s and P-47s, support the US Fifth Army's Anzio beachhead, bombing the Cisterna di Roma-La Villa area, Velletri,
and troop concentrations, guns and other military targets in the battle area atseveral points, including the Stazione di Campoleone and Carroceto areas.
TACTICAL OPERATIONS (Twelfth Air Force):
 In Italy, B-26s attack an assembly area E of Carroceto and, with B-25s, bomb guns and an assembly area NW of Cisterna di Roma, A-20s hit troops in the beachhead battle area; P-40s and A-36s blast troops and guns throughout the Anzio battle area, also hitting Cisterna and Littoria; P-40s and A-36s fly uneventful cover over Anzio. A group of P-47s hit a motor vessel off Sibenik, Yugoslavia leaving it burning.
Frame 3 – Destroy the Gustav Line Support and Port Facilities (Bomber, Escort and Intercept)
Allies
B-24H
B-26B
P-51B
P-47D-25
P-38J
Objectives:
The Allies must reduce the capacity of the support facilities for the Gustav Line; Ammo Factory, AAA factory located at 10,13,1 Troop Training facility located at 13,13,5, and the Port facility located at 9,13,5. The P-47s and P-51Bs will launch from A116 to fly close escort for the Light bomber formations. The P-38s will launch from A98 to provide escort for the heavy bomber formations. The B-24s will launch from A99. The B-26s will both launch from A124.
Restrictions: - All aircraft will carry 100% fuel loads. The Allied CO must have manned representation of every bomber type available.
Axis
BF109G-6
FW190A-5
C205
Objectives:
The Axis must defend the Gustav Line support facility located in sector 10, 13. The BF109G-6 and G-14 will launch from A90. The Fw190A-5 and C205 will launch from A88.
Restrictions – All Axis fighters must carry 100% fuel loads.
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Victory Conditions
The Allies must reduce the effectiveness of each facility to 10% productive capability.
The Axis can increase the displayed productivity of any facility by downing 35 or more Allied aircraft during the frame.
Frame 3 Arena Setting:
Arena Settings:
1. Terrain – Italy (Latest Map)
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 10 kts W
4. Time – Start time 0600
5. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 36,960 about 7 miles
6. Enemy Collisions - On
7. External view for bombers (F3) - On
8. Visibility - 9
9. Friendly Collisions - Off
10. Fuel – 1.5
11. Ack - .4
12. Kill Shooter - off
13. Tower Range – 36,960 for display to match the above setting.
14. Radar – Off
Designer Notes:
P-38J
Objectives:
The Allies must reduce the capacity of the support facilities for the Gustav Line; Ammo Factory, AAA factory located at 10,13,1 Troop Training facility located at 13,13,5, and the Port facility located at 9,13,5. The P-47s and P-51Bs will launch from A116 to fly close escort for the Light bomber formations. The P-38s will launch from A98 to provide escort for the heavy bomber formations. The B-24s will launch from A99. The B-26s will both launch from A124.
Restrictions: - All aircraft will carry 100% fuel loads. The Allied CO must have manned representation of every bomber type available.
Axis
BF109G-6
FW190A-5
C205
Objectives:
The Axis must defend the Gustav Line support facility located in sector 10, 13. The BF109G-6 and G-14 will launch from A90. The Fw190A-5 and C205 will launch from A88.
Restrictions – All Axis fighters must carry 100% fuel loads.
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Victory Conditions
The Allies must reduce the effectiveness of each facility to 10% productive capability.
The Axis can increase the displayed productivity of any facility by downing 35 or more Allied aircraft during the frame.
Frame 3 Arena Setting:
Arena Settings:
1. Terrain – Italy (Latest Map)
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 10 kts W
4. Time – Start time 0600
5. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 36,960 about 7 miles
6. Enemy Collisions - On
7. External view for bombers (F3) - On
8. Visibility - 9
9. Friendly Collisions - Off
10. Fuel – 1.5
11. Ack - .4
12. Kill Shooter - off
13. Tower Range – 36,960 for display to match the above setting.
14. Radar – Off
Designer Notes: