A total of 10 battles were to be fought for campaign turn
one as the Allies made a concerted attempt to move their drinks cabinet one
step closer to Berlin with the opening of Operation Market Garden in
Holland.
Airborne Action
British and American Paratroops leapt from perfectly good
aircraft across the lowlands in a unique daylight drop. The British 1st Airborne Division landed
furthest into enemy territory, on the far side of the Rhine and a good 7 miles
to the West of their objective; the Arnhem bridge. Having secured their drop zones against a
German counter attack from Renkum they moved to cut the Ede Road, and the lead
battalion (Colonel Frost presumably) pushed on to capture Arnhem West on the
road to the bridge. German resistance on
the bridge is stiffening however, with a panzer unit and security troops both
moved to defend it. The Americans of the
82nd secured the Groesbeek Heights above Nijmegan, and briefly held the
town itself before a German counterattack forced them out. The 101st landed either side of
the main route that XXX Corp need to take through Holland, and moved to cut a
major German supply route by capturing the Uden and Yokel Roads, but their
assault upon the Veghel Bridge didn’t go to plan and they were thrown back. The airborne will find the second campaign
turn much more difficult, with the weather preventing the delivery of supplies
to much of the troops on the ground.
More elements of the British 1st Airborne and the 101st
Glider troops landed.
Airborne Battles:
- Peter’s Germans defeated James Underwood’s 101st on the approaches to Veghel Bridge.
- Phil turned coat to defend the British drop zones against Marks attack at Renkum, before turning defender in a bloody encounter with Andy’s paras as the British secured Arnhem West.
- Dennis commanded the 82nd in a successful attack on Dafydd’s armoured defenders in Nijmegan.
The British Push
The British charge up the narrow roads and dykes of Holland
was initially difficult, with VIII Corp running into stiff resistance from
Fallshirmjager units on the Weert Road, and failing twice to capture it. No such issues on the Valkswaard Road, where
XXX Corp drove straight through the defenders to reach Eindhoven, and then
exploited further to capture the Son Bridge bridge and link up with elements of
the 101st. They also spread
out to the East where they captured Helmond Bridge, cutting off the troublesome
falshirmjager, and some panzergrenadiers, on the Weert road. In response the Germans have withdrawn their
troops to the Weert Road in the hope of a breakout Northwards, and moved troops
to block the Veghel Bridge against the
expected armoured assault in turn 2. For
the British yet more Shermans have been released to assist in VIII Corp and XII
Corp respective pushes up the road. The
Germans gained an additional FlaK36 unit and some more security units.
Armour Battles:
- Aidan firstly tried to push his VIII Corp through Dennis on the Weert Road unsuccessfully, before leading his Cormwells in another effort, this time being foiled by Ben’s Germans.
- Dennis switched his attention to the Valkswaard Road, where Ricks Shermans pushed his Falshirmjager back into Eindhoven, and then followed up with an attack on James Taylors Panzer Kompanie , capturing the town.
- The two rolled for battles in turn 1 saw the British win both times, capturing the Son and Helmond Bridges.
James Underwood's 101st attempting to capture the Veghel Bridge. |
Dennis light armour in Nijmegan. |
Marks unsuccessful counterattack against Phils British Paras at Renkum. |
Aidans Cromwells burn. Again. |
Rick's Shermans overwhelming James Taylors Panzers. |
Campaign Map at the end of turn 1's strategic phase. |
Campaign Turn 2:
Turn 2 of the campaign is to be primarily played on the 23rd
of July, arrange your games now! I might
even bring a decent camera this time……
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