Briefing
ANZIO 1944 Operation Shingle Version 2.36 PBEM only "I had hoped that we are hurling a wild cat on the shore, but all we got was a stranded whale" (W. Churchill) 1. UNIT COLOURS 1.1. US VI Corps US - green & olive background UK - brown & tan background 1.2. German 14. Armee Heer - grey background Luftwaffe Ground Units - blue background SS - black background 2. SPECIAL SCENARIO VARIABLES MRPB: 3 Attrition Divider: 20 Combat Density Penalty: 200 Entrenchment Rate: 70 Engineering Build Rate: 150 Supply Cost for Movement: 40 Readiness Cost for Movement: 40 3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 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, and to cut off German 10th Army's supply lines thus forcing a retreat from the Gustav line. Despite the total tactical surprise a combination of over-cautiousness, hesitation and willingly ambiguous orders failed to exploit the situation and the Germans had enough time to bring substantial forces into the area to not only contain the beachhead but also to release a determined counterattack. After the climax of the battles by mid February the beachhead frontline came to a stalemate with neither side having achieved its operational aims. 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 and incooperates also some small what-ifs. More historical background and scenario information can be found in the extended briefing document. 4. IMPORTANT The following is only a quick reference guide. Players are strongly advised to read the extended briefing. Watch for the excel file in the scenario folder for a detailed reinforcement table. 5. SPECIAL EVENTS AND FEATURES 5.1. Sudden Death Victory The Allies can achieve a Sudden Death Victory by seizing certain locations in the Colli Laziali (Alban Hills) and thus triggering EEV driven probability checks. The Germans can achieve a Sudden Death victory by capturing Anzio. 5.2. Weather Stormy weather will lead to a temporary removal of beach supply points. The weather is historical for the first part of the scenario, and thereafter is regulated by a weather engine. Each day has a 40% chance for stormy weather which will affect theater recon (0), air activity (air shock 25) and naval fire support (house rule). 5.3. German Air Raids On afternoon turns the Germans enjoy a 105% air shock bonus while the Allies receive a 95% air shock penalty. This is to simulate the Allied fighters returning to their distant bases to land at daylight. There is no shock bonus on bad weather/storm turns. 5.4. Loss of Allied ships The German player will receive victory points for sinking Allied ships. The cruisers HMS Orion, HMS Spartan and USS Brooklyn are worth 10 VPs each. All other ships (destroyer class) are worth 5 VPs. 5.5. Nettuno Airfield Nettuno airfield will be operational on turn 42. This will remove the German air raid bonus. 5.6. Replacements Both sides regularily receive various replacement units on a semi-random basis. These units can be disbanded to fill up the replacement pools. 5.7. Early End Players can agree upon an earlier end of the scenario after turn 50 by selecting the theatre option "End game with current victory levels". 5.8. Theatre Recon Theater Recon on PM turns and during storm/bad weather is set to 0 for both sides. 5.9. Pestilence Force pestilence is 1% for both sides, beginning on turn 18. 5.10. Allied First Turn Allied units must land in the appropriate beach hexes. No naval or air support is possible for the first turn. The Allied player must not forget to select his 504th PRCT option. 5.11. Opening Moves, Shock and TOs If the Allied player doesn't use the 504th PRCT on turn 1 he will suffer a small negative shock in the opening turns. This is to simulate the historical caution of the Allies. The Allied player can remove the shock by theater options at a VP cost while the German player can restore the shock at a VP cost with his theater options. Players might agree upon playing with the shock or discarding it before they start a game. See the extended briefing document for further detail and rationale behind this setup. 5.12. Shock events: Turn 3: Allied shock 90% Turn 13: Allied shock 95% Turn 25: Allied Shock 100% 5.13. Theatre Options (only available for one turn) Turn 2: Allies: Remove 90% shock (45 VPs) -> Turn 3: Germans: Restore 90% shock (40 VPs) -> Turn 11: Allies: Remove 95% shock (25 VPs) -> Turn 12: Germans: Restore 95% shock (20 VPs) 5.14. Naval Units A row of distant sea hexes represents the open sea and can be used to save ships from German air raids. 5.15. Allied Supply Radius Allied supply radius will increase if the EEV value reaches 64 and fall if the EEV value drops below 64. 5.16. German additional reinforcements If the Allies approach Rome the garrison and additional German reserves will be released. Additional reinforcements may arrive when the Allies advance towards Littoria. 5.17. German Withdrawals From turns 76 to 92 Kampfgruppe Ens and 71. Infanterie Division will be withdrawn. 5.18. Reconstitutions Special forces (Rangers, FSSF etc.) and German 'Alarm' units (i.e. HG Alarm Bn) do not reconstitute. Units that are scheduled to withdraw anytime during the scenario don't reconstitute. 6. THEATRE OPTIONS 6.1. Allied Theatre Options Airdrop 504th Para RCT near Aprilia on turn 1: 100 VPs Use the 509th Para Bn as a follow-up for the 504th Para RCT on turn 2: 30 VPs Activate US XII ASC: first two activations without costs, thereafter 10 VPs per activation; 5 times Activate MATBF: first activation without cost, thereafter 10, 20, 30, 40 VPs; 5 times Activate MASAF: first activation 15, second activation 30, third activation 60 VPs; 3 times 6.2. German Theatre Options Release Kampfgruppe von Behr: 25 VPs. The option is available from turns 3 - 12. Release later arriving elements of 4.FJ Div (only when Allies use 504th PRCT on turn 1) : 1 VP per Regiment each two rounds, but units may need to build up strength first. Every unused TO will be rewarded with 10 VPs. Prepare for and launch major counteroffensive (2 times, no VP costs) Keep KG Ens until the arrival of 741.Jaeger Regt: 40 VPs Keep Grenadier Regt 194 and II/Art.Regt 171 until the arrival of 741.Jaeger Regt: 20 VPs Keep 71.Infantry Divisions divisional troops until the arrival of 29.PzGren.Div: 40 VPs Luftwaffe reinforcements. There are a variety of TOs to release additional air reinforcements, including options for withdrawal and recuperation. Part of these options only becomes available when the Allied player uses one or more of his air options. 7. HOUSE RULES 1.) No units of MATBF and MASAF, except the Fighters assigned to MASAF, may be placed on combat support or interdiction. They can be used in direct air strikes only, either in support of a ground attack or in a separate air strike. 2.) The third turn additional Allied air assets are active may only be used to set unit missions back to 'rest'. No other deployment is allowed on this turn. This is because air units that switch from active status to garrison don't go over to rest mode, but instead retain their last assignment and are thus still active. 3.) Ships may be used only in direct bombardment during own turns, either in support of a ground battle or in a bombardment mission. 4.) The Allied navy must be moved into the distant hexes on storm turns. 5.) German railroad gun units may be used only in direct bombardment during own turns, either in support of a normal attack or in a bombardment mission. Also it is not allowed to put the unit to a supporting deployment (D, E, F, T, L) to lean defensive artillery support during the Allied player's turn. 6.) Allied assault battalions on turn 1 and the follow-up wave on turn 2 are only allowed to land in the beach hexes named accordingly to their start location. 7.) The southeastern map edge must be guarded by both sides. Each side must maintain a garrison of at least five first-line units. For the Allies three of these units must be company sized, the other two can be platoon sized. The Germans are allowed to only use platoon sized units. This also applies when the front reaches the road exits or the Germans retreat to or into the road exits. Then each road exit must be garrisoned by the Germans with at least one unit. The Allies must maintain their garrison, too. Wether in front of the road hexes or in the area between the canal and the map edge. 8.) The Allies are not allowed to enter or attack into the bypass roads from Valmontone to the Pontine marshes. 8. Playtesters Erik Nygaard, Marc Custer, Dierk Walter (Heldenkaiser), Nick (Olorin4) Thanks to J.M.Serrano & Bob Cross for helping with some US TO&Es, thanks to Derek Weichs for his WWII equipment databse. Special thanks to Erik Nygaard and Marc Custer for major contributions to version 1.8 Telumar

Briefing

ANZIO 1944

Operation Shingle

Version 2.36
PBEM only

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

1. UNIT COLOURS

1.1. US VI Corps

US - green & olive background
UK - brown & tan background

1.2. German 14. Armee

Heer - grey background
Luftwaffe Ground Units - blue background
SS - black background

2. SPECIAL SCENARIO VARIABLES

MRPB: 3
Attrition Divider: 20
Combat Density Penalty: 200
Entrenchment Rate: 70
Engineering Build Rate: 150
Supply Cost for Movement: 40
Readiness Cost for Movement: 40

3. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

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, and to cut off German 10th Army's supply lines thus forcing a retreat from the Gustav line. Despite the total tactical surprise a combination of over-cautiousness, hesitation and willingly ambiguous orders failed to exploit the situation and the Germans had enough time to bring substantial forces into the area to not only contain the beachhead but also to release a determined counterattack. After the climax of the battles by mid February the beachhead frontline came to a stalemate with neither side having achieved its operational aims.

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 and incooperates also some small what-ifs. More historical background and scenario information can be found in the extended briefing document.

4. IMPORTANT

The following is only a quick reference guide. Players are strongly advised to read the extended briefing. Watch for the excel file in the scenario folder for a detailed reinforcement table.

5. SPECIAL EVENTS AND FEATURES

5.1. Sudden Death Victory

The Allies can achieve a Sudden Death Victory by seizing certain locations in the Colli Laziali (Alban Hills) and thus triggering EEV driven probability checks.
The Germans can achieve a Sudden Death victory by capturing Anzio.

5.2. Weather

Stormy weather will lead to a temporary removal of beach supply points. The weather is historical for the first part of the scenario, and thereafter is regulated by a weather engine. Each day has a 40% chance for stormy weather which will affect theater recon (0), air activity (air shock 25) and naval fire support (house rule).

5.3. German Air Raids

On afternoon turns the Germans enjoy a 105% air shock bonus while the Allies receive a 95% air shock penalty. This is to simulate the Allied fighters returning to their distant bases to land at daylight. There is no shock bonus on bad weather/storm turns.

5.4. Loss of Allied ships

The German player will receive victory points for sinking Allied ships. The cruisers HMS Orion, HMS Spartan and USS Brooklyn are worth 10 VPs each. All other ships (destroyer class) are worth 5 VPs.

5.5. Nettuno Airfield

Nettuno airfield will be operational on turn 42. This will remove the German air raid bonus.

5.6. Replacements

Both sides regularily receive various replacement units on a semi-random basis. These units can be disbanded to fill up the replacement pools.

5.7. Early End

Players can agree upon an earlier end of the scenario after turn 50 by selecting the theatre option "End game with current victory levels".

5.8. Theatre Recon

Theater Recon on PM turns and during storm/bad weather is set to 0 for both sides.

5.9. Pestilence

Force pestilence is 1% for both sides, beginning on turn 18.

5.10. Allied First Turn

Allied units must land in the appropriate beach hexes. No naval or air support is possible for the first turn. The Allied player must not forget to select his 504th PRCT option.

5.11. Opening Moves, Shock and TOs

If the Allied player doesn't use the 504th PRCT on turn 1 he will suffer a small negative shock in the opening turns. This is to simulate the historical caution of the Allies.
The Allied player can remove the shock by theater options at a VP cost while the German player can restore the shock at a VP cost with his theater options.
Players might agree upon playing with the shock or discarding it before they start a game. See the extended briefing document for further detail and rationale behind this setup.

5.12. Shock events:

Turn 3: Allied shock 90%
Turn 13: Allied shock 95%
Turn 25: Allied Shock 100%

5.13. Theatre Options

(only available for one turn)

Turn 2: Allies: Remove 90% shock (45 VPs) ->
Turn 3: Germans: Restore 90% shock (40 VPs) ->
Turn 11: Allies: Remove 95% shock (25 VPs) ->
Turn 12: Germans: Restore 95% shock (20 VPs)

5.14. Naval Units

A row of distant sea hexes represents the open sea and can be used to save ships from German air raids.

5.15. Allied Supply Radius

Allied supply radius will increase if the EEV value reaches 64 and fall if the EEV value drops below 64.

5.16. German additional reinforcements

If the Allies approach Rome the garrison and additional German reserves will be released.
Additional reinforcements may arrive when the Allies advance towards Littoria.

5.17. German Withdrawals

From turns 76 to 92 Kampfgruppe Ens and 71. Infanterie Division will be withdrawn.

5.18. Reconstitutions

Special forces (Rangers, FSSF etc.) and German 'Alarm' units (i.e. HG Alarm Bn) do not reconstitute. Units that are scheduled to withdraw anytime during the scenario don't reconstitute.

6. THEATRE OPTIONS

6.1. Allied Theatre Options

Airdrop 504th Para RCT near Aprilia on turn 1: 100 VPs
Use the 509th Para Bn as a follow-up for the 504th Para RCT on turn 2: 30 VPs
Activate US XII ASC: first two activations without costs, thereafter 10 VPs per activation; 5 times
Activate MATBF: first activation without cost, thereafter 10, 20, 30, 40 VPs; 5 times
Activate MASAF: first activation 15, second activation 30, third activation 60 VPs; 3 times

6.2. German Theatre Options

Release Kampfgruppe von Behr: 25 VPs. The option is available from turns 3 - 12.
Release later arriving elements of 4.FJ Div (only when Allies use 504th PRCT on turn 1) : 1 VP per Regiment each two rounds, but units may need to build up strength first. Every unused TO will be rewarded with 10 VPs.
Prepare for and launch major counteroffensive (2 times, no VP costs)
Keep KG Ens until the arrival of 741.Jaeger Regt: 40 VPs
Keep Grenadier Regt 194 and II/Art.Regt 171 until the arrival of 741.Jaeger Regt: 20 VPs
Keep 71.Infantry Divisions divisional troops until the arrival of 29.PzGren.Div: 40 VPs
Luftwaffe reinforcements. There are a variety of TOs to release additional air reinforcements, including options for withdrawal and recuperation. Part of these options only becomes available when the Allied player uses one or more of his air options.

7. HOUSE RULES

1.) No units of MATBF and MASAF, except the Fighters assigned to MASAF, may be placed on combat support or interdiction. They can be used in direct air strikes only, either in support of a ground attack or in a separate air strike.
2.) The third turn additional Allied air assets are active may only be used to set unit missions back to 'rest'. No other deployment is allowed on this turn. This is because air units that switch from active status to garrison don't go over to rest mode, but instead retain their last assignment and are thus still active.
3.) Ships may be used only in direct bombardment during own turns, either in support of a ground battle or in a bombardment mission.
4.) The Allied navy must be moved into the distant hexes on storm turns.
5.) German railroad gun units may be used only in direct bombardment during own turns, either in support of a normal attack or in a bombardment mission. Also it is not allowed to put the unit to a supporting deployment (D, E, F, T, L) to lean defensive artillery support during the Allied player's turn.
6.) Allied assault battalions on turn 1 and the follow-up wave on turn 2 are only allowed to land in the beach hexes named accordingly to their start location.
7.) The southeastern map edge must be guarded by both sides. Each side must maintain a garrison of at least five first-line units. For the Allies three of these units must be company sized, the other two can be platoon sized. The Germans are allowed to only use platoon sized units. This also applies when the front reaches the road exits or the Germans retreat to or into the road exits. Then each road exit must be garrisoned by the Germans with at least one unit. The Allies must maintain their garrison, too. Wether in front of the road hexes or in the area between the canal and the map edge.
8.) The Allies are not allowed to enter or attack into the bypass roads from Valmontone to the Pontine marshes.

8. Playtesters

Erik Nygaard, Marc Custer, Dierk Walter (Heldenkaiser), Nick (Olorin4)

Thanks to J.M.Serrano & Bob Cross for helping with some US TO&Es, thanks to Derek Weichs for his WWII equipment databse.

Special thanks to Erik Nygaard and Marc Custer for major contributions to version 1.8

Telumar