Anzio 1.1 - The Matrix Games version of West Front

Anzio, Italy - Best vs. human opponent. Revised version of original scene which uses the same .MAP and .ORG files as the original version. Historical scenario. Allied arty down to 3 SP's each and they lose the second company of M4 reinforcements. This will give some improvement to German player. In an effort to draw forces away from the Gustav Line near Monte Cassino, Operation SHINGLE was launched on January 22, 1944. Two divisions were landed at Anzio virtually unopposed and quickly established a bridgehead that stretched 16 miles across and 7 miles deep. When initial probes towards Campoleone and Cisterna were met with stiff resistance, VI Corps commander Major General Lucas ordered his troops to dig in and build up the bridgehead. This loss of critical time allowed Field Marshall Kesselring to assemble a formidable defensive line that soon grew into a force large enough to potentially crush the Allied bridgehead. On February 3rd, Generaloberst von Mackensen launched a counter attack to cut off "the thumb", a 2 mile long salient stretching up the Via Anziate towards Campoleone Station that was manned by the British 1st Infantry Division. On February 7th, having forced a withdrawal of the British troops, the offensive was aimed at taking the small town of Aprilia, better known as "The Factory" because of its sturdy brick buildings. Von Mackensen needed this town as the starting point for his final push to split the Allied forces, drive to the beach, and crush the bridgehead. Torrential rainfall had turned the ground into a vast quagmire and grounded Allied air power. By the 8th, The 1st Division was being hit from three sides and desperately needed relief from the American 1st Armored Division, but Lucas was very reluctant to commit his reserves. This battle was a vicious fight with heavy casualties on both sides. Fierce artillery fire devastated both armies, including the famed 280mm railway guns nicknamed "Anzio Annie" by Allied soldiers hunched down in water-soaked trenches. To win this scenario, the German commander must strike hard for Aprilia, but avoid major infantry losses to artillery fire. If von Mackensen can push his armor through the Factory, the road to Anzio might be opened. If Lucas commits his armored reserves, the cost in men and equipment for the Germans may be too great and the hopes of crushing the Allied bridgehead will be lost.