Anzio (Operation Shingle): An Operational Perspective
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Most historical accounts blame the failures at Anzio on the lack of aggressiveness by the Operation Shingle commander Major General John P. Lucas. However, when viewed in the larger context of the strategy to defeat Germany and the Allied Campaign in Italy, Operation Shingle is a showcase of failure at the operational level of war. Political rather than military considerations drove Shingle-dooming the operation from the start.
Anzio demonstrates the importance of linking tactical actions to operational and strategic objectives. At the strategic level of war, the Allies had a sound strategy to defeat Germany. However, at the operational level of war, the decision to launch Shingle did not adequately assess risk. In operational design, commanders failed to define an objective, lacked sufficient mass, and did not include alternative plans based on potential enemy actions. During planning and preparation, the Allies misjudged the enemy's center of gravity and failed to exploit valuable intelligence. During execution, operational leadership lacked initiative. Finally, the complexity and tensions created by the combined operation made unity of effort difficult. These lessons should benefit future operations.
Captain Stephen P. Gray
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Anzio (Operation Shingle) - Captain Stephen P. Gray
This edition is published by PICKLE PARTNERS PUBLISHING—www.picklepartnerspublishing.com
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Text originally published in 1994 under the same title.
© Pickle Partners Publishing 2014, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Publisher’s Note
Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.
We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.
ANZIO (OPERATION SHINGLE): AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
By
Stephen P. Gray Captain, United States Air Force
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
ABSTRACT 5
PREFACE 6
CHAPTER I — INTRODUCTION 7
Strategic Framework 7
CHAPTER II — DECISION 13
CHAPTER III — PLANNING AND PREPARATION 15
Command Relationships 15
Concept of Operations 16
Planning 18
Preparation 19
CHAPTER IV — OPERATIONS AT ANZIO 22
Battle Ashore 23
German Counterattack 26
Breakout from Anzio 27
Advance to Rome 28
CHAPTER V — OPERATIONAL LESSONS LEARNED 30
APPENDIX I — ALLIED ORDER OF BATTLE 31
APPENDIX II — GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE 33
REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 35
BIBLIOGRAPHY 36
ABSTRACT
This case study analyzes the role of operational art in Allied operations at Anzio, Italy and the battle for Rome (January 22-June 4, 1944). As part of the Allied Campaign in Italy, the amphibious assault on Anzio—code-named Operation Shingle, and the subsequent drive to Rome remains one of the most controversial military operations in history. Although the Allies eventually captured Rome from the Germans, the failure to use 'operational thinking' led to a poorly planned and executed operation.
Most historical accounts blame the failures at Anzio on the lack of aggressiveness by the Operation Shingle commander Major General John P. Lucas. However, when viewed in the larger context of the strategy to defeat Germany and the Allied Campaign in Italy, Operation Shingle is a showcase of failure at the operational level of war. Political rather than military considerations drove Shingle—dooming the operation from the start.
Anzio demonstrates the importance of linking tactical actions to operational and strategic objectives. At the strategic level of war, the Allies had a sound strategy to defeat Germany. However, at the operational level of war, the decision to launch Shingle did not