Anzio Beachhead is considered a mini-game because of its small board, low number of units, and short rules. It is the "secondary" game in S & T #20, which also contains a full scale game, BASTOGNE. That is where the smallness ends as this game contains the interest and play found in most full-scale games. The time record card shows just seven turns, but they are broken down into three impulses each, for an actual twenty-one moves in a full length game.

The playing surface is compact but detailed. A very good job of black and white printing shows major and secondary roads, towns, fortified zones, landing areas, railroads, woods, rivers, marshes, and canals. All neatly arranged on an 11 x 17 inch unmounted board that fits just about anywhere and requires only one fold.

Unit counters came unmounted in the magazine version, but are available mounted in the boxed edition of the game. Both armies are organized at the regimental/battalion level and contain a wide variety of different types of units. The thirty-six Allied pieces enter over beaches and through ports, while fifty-nine Axis units come on from anywhere along the three land sides of the board. Naval and Air support supplement a small but powerful combination of U. S. and British units against a larger, almost equal German force.

The game starts with a large Allied invasion force attempting to seize as much area and as many key points as possible against a board initially defended by just four German units.

But, as in the actual campaign, the advance quickly bogs down and reinforcements stop coming. By turn four, the Germans have brought on a considerable force to mount a counter attack and can even be rolling for allied morale to crack. Victory conditions force a strong German midgame offensive as the Allies try to hold their beachhead. The battle boils down to an action packed, hard hitting armor/infantry scrap.

Designed by Dave Williams, the designer of ANZIO, this game is well balanced, with enough optional rules to favor either side. The Allies seem to have an overall edge, as the Axis side has just enough to handle the situation only if all goes very well. On a recent S & T survey, ANZIO BEACHHEAD was ranked twenty-sixth, while ANZIO itself placed just .02 points better at twenty-three. Everything considered, a playable, action filled, and realistic invasion simulation.

Anzio's Heirs Three New WarGames

Introduction
Anzio Beachhead
The Invasion of Sicily
Salerno
Unique Features
Conclusions
Unit Organizations and CRTs