大象传媒

OPERATION 鈥淪HINGLE鈥� LANDINGS AT ANZIO JANUARY 22ND 1944

THE INVOLVEMENT OF H.M.L.C.G. (L) 14

We had sailed from Naples on Monday January 17th 1944 at about 10.00 hours to rendezvous with a number of Ships and Landing craft at a point off Salerno, and arrived there at about 15.00 hours.

At 17.00 hours we entered into a familiar pattern of manoeuvres, prior to Landings. The crew were closed up and ready for action. The manoeuvres continued throughout the night and into part of the next day, when we, in convoy, returned to Salerno, arriving there in the early hours of Wednesday January 19th.

We were on 鈥榃atch and Watch About鈥� until we sailed from Salerno at about 17.00 hours on Thursday January 20th, the sea was calm and a moderate wind.

When we were well out to sea our 鈥楽kipper鈥� cleared Lower Decks and told us that we were to cover the Landings at Anzio and this was scheduled for Saturday January 22nd, and H-Hour was at 02.00 hours.

We continued with our 鈥榃atch and Watch About鈥� until the early evening of Friday January 21st when we went to full Action Stations. We had now been joined by the 鈥楤ig Ships鈥� and settled into the approach formation.

The night was cold and very dark with a calm sea running. During the 鈥楻un In鈥� a number of loose mines were reported drifting between the lines of ships and landing craft. We arrived at our designated position at 23.40 hours and remained underway in the vicinity.

Our area was Green Beach in 鈥楶eter鈥� Section, and was north of Anzio in the area of Torre-S-Anastasio and Torre-S-Lorenza. The Troops going ashore here were the British 1st Division.

At 01.25 hours on Saturday January 22nd the first flight of Assault Craft formed up and we proceeded towards the beaches. We were stationed on the Starboard flank and slightly ahead. LCF 14 was positioned on our Port side and LCT(R) 167 were on our Starboard Bow.

There was only slight enemy firing as we approached the beaches and LCT(R) 167 opened the proceedings for us with their devastating firepower. It has always impressed me and I for one was thankful that they were on our side. As the Sight-Setter on Number 1 Gun I had quite a good view of the proceedings.

Soon after this and as the first Assault Troops were put ashore we had our first targets, and opened fire for about 15 minutes at enemy gun positions. The Troops continued to pour ashore and LCT鈥檚 and LST鈥檚 were landing equipment and more Troops.

The initial landings had gone well and the Troops had advanced quite rapidly, it appeared as though the Germans had been taken completely by surprise.

We cruised around the Landing Area waiting for more targets to engage and was only called upon a few times to fire at inland targets, so had no idea what our success rate was.

With the coming of daylight, the Germans had got themselves organised and had brought up his 88鈥檚 which began shelling the Beaches, Landing Craft and Ships. The enemy had also organised a number of Air Raids, and we had a few near misses from both forms of attack.

The Troops had got well in land and had occupied a ridge of hills that overlooked the landing area and were continuing their push towards Rome. At this point for reasons only known to General Mark Clark, who was the G.O.C. her ordered the advance troops to withdraw to the Beachhead area. The Germans very soon brought more and heavier artillery onto the ridge and we were all subjected to a continuous shelling, the LCT鈥檚 and LST鈥檚 approaching the Beachhead in particular.

We continued to cruise around the area awaiting orders until at about 13.30 hours we anchored close off shore. The Air Raids continued, but now only a few and at times only one plane.

At 16.30 hours we weighed anchor and headed out to sea and a 鈥楾our鈥� of the shipping area, which was rather fortunate for us because soon after, a flight of enemy planes came into the area and dropped their bombs within the Beachhead area. In the vicinity was the Hospital Ship St. David, clearly marked, but unbelievably the Germans bombed this and set it on fire. The Destroyer H.M.S. Janus was also hit and sank.

Our Pom-Poms along with every other ship and craft was putting up a dense barrage, but without success on this occasion.

Just after midnight we carried out a patrol of the shipping area, it had been reported that 鈥楨鈥� Boats maybe in the vicinity. We continued on patrol until 07.00 hours not having seen any enemy activity. We returned to Green Beach and anchored off shore. Although we endured frequent German Air Raids during the day and our Pom-Poms were brought into action, our 4.7 guns remained waiting for targets. We watched the almost continuous run in of the LCT鈥檚 and LST鈥檚, who having disembarked troops and equipment returned to Naples for more.

During the hours of darkness we again went on our rounds of 鈥楨鈥� Boat patrol, and once more the Germans kept away. Although the action at sea was minimal we were still enduring the shelling from the enemy batteries. The Germans had brought up a much bigger gun that was known as 鈥楢nzio Annie鈥� and this gave cause for a lot of evasive action on the part of the 鈥楽kippers鈥�.

After our night鈥檚 patrol we returned to our position off Green Beach and dropped anchor again, and for a spell all was quiet. The Beach-Head was firmly established, supplies were being brought in on a regular basis and we began to think perhaps our job was now over.

During the night the weather had worsened and the sea was causing a few problems with the Landing Craft approaching the beaches. Although we had anchored we were 鈥楤ouncing About鈥� and eventually our kedge wire broke, from then on we cruised around the area until ordered to proceed to X-Ray Section in company with H.M.S. Bulolo. We entered X-Ray Section at about 09.00 hours and remained underway awaiting further instructions. The enemy continued with Air Raids, but now on an infrequent basis. As usual all the ships and craft put up a barrage and with some success. On one such Air Raid, at about 15.30 hours, the Germans came in low over the sea, dropping their bombs and quickly climbing and away. One of the planes, identified as a Heinkel 111, was approaching astern of us and flying at bridge height, our Pom-Poms were right on target and hit him continuously, as the plane passed alongside it was on fire and crashed about 300 yards ahead of us.

When we arrived at the scene of the crash, only the nose cone and part of the fuselage was projecting from the sea. A rubber dingy was sighted but no survivors. The whole area had a strong smell of aviation fuel, so we did not hang about in case of fire. The crew had cause to feel elated at this success and later on we learned of the successes of LCF鈥檚 14 and 16.

For this action Seaman Alex Scaife was awarded the DSM, and Seaman Cecil Oliver was Mentioned in Dispatches.

Heavy Air Raids were observed in the Rendezvous Area, but in our area all was quiet again. We continued to cruise around the area awaiting further instructions for targets and on 鈥楲ook-Out鈥� for any 鈥楨鈥� Boat activities, in company with LCG 19. At about 07.15 hours on Tuesday January 25th 1944 we were ordered to return to the Convoy Rendezvous Point and wait for inclusion in a return convoy.

In company with LCG19, LST 4, LST 384 and LCI 32 we left Anzio at about 09.30 hours to return to Naples.

On the way our starboard engine had stopped and our port engine was also beginning to give problems. We struggled into the harbour at Bacoli for repairs at about 18.00 hours. We finally entered Naples on Wednesday January 26th 1944.

Another mission accomplished Harry Turley (M28)

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