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Honour - ANZIO 1944


Date - 22/31-January
Type - Fleet or Squadron Actions
Conflict -  World War 2; 1939-44

 
Description

Anzio was an amphibious landing on the east coast of Italy, south of Rome. The allies advance on the east coast of Italy was stalled at Monte Cassino. where they suffered very heavy casualties. It was hoped a landing at Anzio would outflank the German defence line, capture Rome and allow the advance north to continue.

While the initial landings were successful, the German forces reacted swiftly and were entrenched in strong positions. The weather also did not help and continuous rain bogged down the build up and breakout from the initial bridgehead.

Supplying the forces ashore became a major problem, solved by using trucks and DUKW's pre-loaded in Naples, loaded onto LST's which sailed overnight to Anzio. The vehicles were then driven ashore direct to supply dumps. Each week 15 LST's made the supply run and landed 750 vehicles carrying 3,750 tons of supplies.

The breakout took 4 months and once achieved, Rome was taken in 2 days.

The Royal Navy lost the cruisers Penelope and Spartan, destroyers Inglefield and Janus, plus about 12 smaller vessels,

 

 
 
HM Ships
Albacore  Barmond  Barndale  Beaufort  Boxer 
Bruiser  Bude  Bulolo  Cadmus  Cava 
Circe  Crete  Delhi  Dido  Espiegle 
Faulknor  Fly  Glengyle  Grenville  Hornpipe 
Inglefield  Janus  Jervis  Kempenfelt  Laforey 
Loyal  Mauritius  Orion  Palomares  Penelope 
Prinses Beatrix  Rinaldo  Rothesay  Royal Ulsterman  St. Kilda 
Sheppey  Spartan  Tetcott  Thruster  Twostep 
Ulster Queen  Ultor  Urchin  Waterwitch   
         
ML's
121  134  295  307  338 
443  462  554  558 565 
567  569  575  581   
         
 
This page last edited - 02 December, 2012.

Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated.