Operation Market Garden - Campaign Turn 3 - Report

Round 3, and the Germans had well and truly worked out the Allied game plan and began to throw in highly successful counterattacks all along the British column and against the American paratroopers.  The spearhead of the British armour was cut off and anhilated on the Vokel Road, and Turnhout Bridge, recently gained by Canadian troops from XII Corp, was recaptured.  Even Eindhoven was briefly seized to cut off all of the Allied forces, only for a late British surge to retake it, and an attempt by XXX Corp to push up the road to the Veghel Bridge was once again thwarted.

Armour Battles:

• XII Corps (David Astburys Canadians) capture Turnhout Bridge from Marks German infantry.
• Hard fighting between the attacking British armour (Ian) supported by 101^st US Paras (James Underwood) sees the out of supply and outnumbered German defenders (Phil and Ben) hold out for a draw, with Son Bridge remaining in Allied hands, and the Veghel Bridge staying with the Germans.  Falshirmjager and air support for the Germans, paras and typhoons for the Allies.
• James Taylor’s Panzer Kompanie launch a crushing counter attack against David Astbury’s Canadian Spearhead, wiping them out on the Vokel Road.
• German heavy armour; Panthers, fielded by ‘Tiger’ Phil come out on top against Rick’s VIII Corp Shermans, recapturing Turnout Bridge.
• The German infantry of Dafydd pushed Brandon’s British infantry out of Einhoven, but his blushes are spared when Sextons and heavy guns lead the strategic counter attack to reclaim it.

The 101^st Paras lost Heesh Road, along with a unit of Glider Troops who were cut-off and captured during the fighting.  They managed to regain the Uden Road later in the day.  The 82^nd achieved a coup of sweeping down from the Grosbeek Heights to capture Nijmegan, but lost one of their landing zones as they did so.  Finally the British 1^st Airbourne came under sustained pressure, claiming the insignificant Hoge Velume, but losing the Ede Road and the route between their supply drops and Arnhem to a panzer battle group.

Airborne Battles:

• Peters Jerrys are on top form to defeat James Underwoods 101^st Paras and gain the Heesh Road, leading to the Glider Troops being wiped out at LZ-W.
• The British Paras under Dennis provide a rare bright moment for the Allies by winning a battle, but can only claim Hoge Velume while the Ede Road behind them is invested by the German tanks.

Ian & James troops massing to try and capture (unsuccessfully) the Veghel Bridge.

The Veghel Bridge Defenders.

David A's Canadians on their way to a stunning victory over Marks entrenched Germans.  Turnhout Bridge is gained by the Allies, although only until Ricks Shermans loose it.....

And finally the BAD news for the Allies.  I have done the maths, and whichever way you look at it the Germans are winning hands down.  Failure to break through to the belegured Paras at Nijmagen and Arnhem will certainly see schnapps all round in Berlin!

Next Campaign Day (evening) is on the 17th September.