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9. Cisterna, Anzio Beachhead [Mission]

This is the ninth mission in a chronological series based on the real actions of the 7th Infantry Regiment throughout North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany, from 1942 to 1945. This map is dedicated to Private First Class James W. Eidson, Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action on May 23rd, 1944.

Notes:

-I made the map using a heightmap of the real sector of the Anzio beachhead held by the 7th Infantry Regiment in the first months of 1944. It is (somewhat) geographically accurate, but scaled way down, and I made adjustments to the layout to facilitate better movement.

-Weapons and environment are mostly historically accurate. I will update the mission later with more authentic squads and inventory.

-I wanted to cover the German attack of 2-29-44 as well as the breakout operation and final capture of Cisterna of 5-23-44. Both of these battles happened in the same general area, so I made one big map. This took a lot of extra time and processing power, so I will keep my maps a bit smaller than this moving forward.

-This battle actually took three full days, but is condensed here into one engagement.

-I am working on updates and new maps. Please let me know if you have any suggestions, friends.


Historical Info:

May 23rd, 1944- Cisterna, Anzio Beachhead, Italy

On May 1st, 1944, the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division was pulled back into a rear area of the Anzio beachhead for rest, refit, and training, to prepare for the operation to break through the German defenses and capture Rome. On the 23rd, the division's 7th Infantry Regiment spearheaded the final assault of Cisterna. The ensuing battle- essentially a three-day frontal assault on well-established German positions- would be the bloodiest yet suffered by the 3rd Infantry Division.

At 0545, 23 May, the old stand-by of the Seventh Infantry, the 10th Field Artillery Battalion, with Division and Corps Artillery opened up with a devastating forty-five minute concentration. A total of ten battalions of light, medium and heavy artillery poured high explosive ammunition into enemy fortifications and gun positions. Bombers of the XII Air Support rained their cargoes of bombs on the forward enemy positions. At 0630 the Third Battalion crossed the line of departure in the attack. Twenty minutes later the Second Battalion jumped off and the Seventh Infantry, in the rainshrouded mists, moved generally along the axis of the Isola Bella road and struck savagely toward Cisterna di Littoria, astride the Appian Way.

The Second Battalion had difficulty jumping off. Enemy artillery, which answered friendly artillery, dropped on the White Battalion causing some casualties. At 0650 the troops of Companies "E" and "F" commanded by First Lieutenants Eugene F. Bacon and Joseph E. Martin, respectively, crossed the line of departure. Two hundred yards beyond the LD stubborn enemy resistance was encountered with intense automatic weapon and tank fire from two enemy strong points. One was in a group of three buildings west of the Isola Bella-Cisterna di Littoria road and the other was organized around one house east of the road. The tank infantry assault teams, 60 and 81mm mortars, heavy and light machine guns of the battalion poured heavy fire at the strong-points which held out stubbornly. Heavy artillery and machine gun fire continued to fall on the White Battalion troops. Two 37mm anti-tank guns of Anti-Tank Company and two medium tanks of Company "A", 751st Tank Battalion, supporting the Second Battalion were disabled by the severe enemy artillery and tank fire.

Company "G", commanded by the veteran Captain Edgar H. Poinsett, made the main effort for the Second Battalion. passed through Company "F" and came "abreast of ''Easy" Company. Enemy resistance to the White Battalion was very heavy and determined and a severe fight continued throughout the afternoon and night. The White Battalion troops persisted and at 2222 Objective "K" was taken. Supply was effected during the night and the Battalion prepared to continue the attack early the 24th. Cannon Company materially aided the advance 23 May by silencing an enemy four-gun battery.

The Regiment suffered heavy casualties on the first day of the breakthrough. Fifty-four " Cotton Balers" were listed as killed on that day. The Regimental Aid Station reported early in the afternoon that 150 men had already been evacuated. It will never be known exactly how many casualties were suffered by the Regiment on 23 May 1944 as many of the wounded of that day were not evacuated until later days and some of the dead were probably not discovered till later. The Third Infantry Division records indicate that the "Rock of the Marne" Division sustained a total of 995 casualties, the most suffered in a single day up to that time. The medical personnel aided and evacuated the wounded. Litter bearers were insufficient in number.

On the second day, with Companies "E" and "G" in the assault, the Second Battalion began its attack on the railroad at 2125. At 2200 the Third Battalion jumped off towards Cisterna di Littoria. The advance of the White Battalion assault companies met slight resistance initially but when the troops were near the railroad line enemy resistance increased with heavy machine gun, artillery, mortar and self-propelled artillery fire being received. Anti-tank and anti-personnel mines were also encountered to further slow the advance. The work of the Second Battalion troops while advancing in the darkness against such strong opposition was outstanding. The troops crossed the railroad tracks on a wide front in six different places and attacked German troops from the rear, killing large numbers of the enemy. The Second Battalion was then ordered to push on to the edge of Cisterna di Littoria and hold. Company ''F" passed through Company "G" at 0520, 25 May and one hour later the two companies were in Cisterna di Littoria fighting from ruined house to ruined house.

For the Third Division the heaviest fighting was done by the Seventh lnfantry. Casualties to the Seventh Infantry during the three days fighting were severe. The Regiment lost 116 members killed in action during the three days and had 556 wounded personnel evacuated through the Regimental Aid Station for a total of 682 battle casualties- nearly one half the Third Division casualty figure.


ALLIES: As a member of Company G, 7th Infantry Regiment, you are to break through the German defenses and secure the road to Rome.

AXIS: As a member of Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1060, you are to hold in place and prevent the Americans from breaking through to Highway 6.

-Mo


Map: Anzio - 5/23/1944
Gamemode: Operation (7 phases)
Invaders: United States (allies)
Defenders: Germany (axis)

Last update: 1/16/2024

Used map: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2793877646

Used DLCs:
https://steamhost.cn/app/2317930/Easy_Red_2_Normandy/

Used DLCs:
https://steamhost.cn/app/2617770/Easy_Red_2_Ardennes_1940__1944/