Via Anziate (BC-3)


Astride the Via Anziate, Italy, February 16, 1944: On the night of February 15th,
the 2nd Battalion had moved 3km north of the Flyover and had taken up positions 
astride the Via Anziate - a wide paved road that served as the main highway between 
Anzio and Rome. Dawn found Captain Felix Sparks' E Company well entrenched, with 
concealed AT guns and tank destryers zeroed-in on the roadway. Unexpectantly the 
167th Brigade of the British 56th Division, situated to the west of the 157th 
Regiment, pulled back. This exposed the left flank of E Company, a situation on 
which the Germans were quick to capitalize. Following an intense but largely 
ineffective bombardment, the air was filled with the sound of whistles and revving 
engines. The German attack to "lance the abscess of Anzio" was launched.

Game Length: 7.5 turns

For the Germans to win they must destroy the American presence as they move south
For the Americans to win they must destroy the oncoming attack

Germans: Squads, MMG's, LMG's, PSK, mtr, AFV's
Americans: Squads, MMG's, BAZ44's, mtr's, AT Guns, AFV's, OBA

Boards: #18, #44

Aftermath: First came three tanks, without infantry support, cross-country 
through the mud to the west of the highway. The tank destroyers blew two of 
them to pieces and drove off the third. "It was like they disintegrated", 
Sparks recalled. "Parts were flying off everywhere. Then came a wave of 
infantry that crashed into the American lines, yelling and screaming". The 
Germans were cut down. Then came a third wave of infantry supported by tanks. 
Said Sparks, "That's what killed us. The tanks went right up to our foxholes 
and blew my men right out of them." E Company's situation became critical, as 
the Germans sent battalion after battalion against Sparks' men. As disaster 
became imminent, Captain Sparks ordered the tank destroyers to flee and called 
in artillery on his own position. The German attack was blunted, but only 
momentarily. E Company was overrun, and the weight of the assault contnued on 
toward the Flyover.

Source: unknown
