Flames Of War - Campaigns: August 2015

The British 1^st Airborne were the great successes of the day/turn/whatever with their attack on Arnhem Bridge in the early morning. Advancing under cover of darkness they even had the temerity to wipe out several firestorm units on the way, and despite being very low on supplies due to the weather they captured the bridge intact, and have set about fortifying it. The American 82^nd, also low on supplies and prophylactic kits further down the road kept their heads down, while their buddies in the 101^st fought a strong German counterattack along the Heesh Road to a standstill, and moved up as darkness fell to capture the Grave Bridge. Exploitation moves saw the 101^st recapture the Heesh Road.

Airborne Battles:

Dennis once more switched sides in a style more reminisce of an Italian or Romanian general, and led his out of supply and confident veteran British paratroopers to capture Arnhem Bridge from Dafydd’s infantry.
The 101^st were brought to the table by James Underwood who staved off vastly superior German numbers (Phil) to claim a draw and hold the Uden Road before an exploitation move regained the Heesh Road.

The British armour tried its best to continue its push towards Nijmegen, finally capturing the Weert Road, and securing Helmond Bridge and the Gemert Road to protect XXX Corps main drive for the Rhine. This was despite strengthening German resistance and localised counter attacks, particularly strongly around the Grave Bridge where the lead elements of XXX Corp were thrown back in disarray, and have fallen back to a new line at the Son Bridge. A particularly strong German attack severed the Gemert Road, leaving the lead armoured units cut off. However this success was bitter sweet for the Jerrys with more British armour capturing the Venray Road, and cutting off the entire central German position.

Armour Battles:

Campaign turn 2 dawned bright and early for Aidan and his 11^th Armoured Cromwells, who set about rectifying their previous two failures to force a passage up the Weert road, defeating James Taylors Panzer IV’s on the way.
Ian Shaw’s Shermans switched to the XXX Corp axis, and having linked up with the 101^st they attacked up the Uden Road towards the Grave Bridge, only to be thrown back by Pete’s German defenders, who occupied the Uden Road and Veghel Bridge.
More Shermans were in action on the VIII Corp road with Andy sending them against James Taylors overworked and once again burning Panzers. Victory for the British saw them capture the Gemert Road.
As Andy fought, Phil launched a very stationary counterattack on Helmond Bridge, hoping to cut the head off the snake. Ricks outnumbered British armour met and fought him to a standstill to prevent the spearhead being cut off.
The three rolled for battles in turn 2 saw the Germans capture Gemert Road, but then be cut off as the British captured Venray Road, and also moved elements of the 101^st onto the Grave Bridge.