The specialised nature of these landing barges, with only one real purpose ... additional casualties and delays. The battle of Anzio during the 1944 invasion of Italy, for example, registered ...

Their first combat mission was in the invasion of North Africa in 1942, followed by the invasion of Sicily and then Italy itself, including the amphibious landing at Anzio.

Allied forces land at Anzio unopposed, but instead of moving inland and north to Rome, their commanding officer decides to dig in. A battle-hardened war correspondent borrows a jeep and driver and ...