Operation Market garden

Part 1

Today Will visited,  providing the opportunity to play a game or two:

Operation Market Garden is a battle, or series of battles I have wanted to try for a long time.  I have had an eye on the Memoir '44 scenario, which is played using the 'Overlord' rules.  The map is enormous and quite complex.  To make things even more problematic, I wanted to use figures on a wargames table.  After pondering for a while, I decided upon 1/300th scale figures and vehicles.  I already had most of the stuff needed to represent XXX Corps as well as the 1st Airborne Division.  The Germans were also largely catered for and I just needed to make up some more infantry units. Most of the scenery was also available.

This is the Memoir '44 scenario (north is on the left):

As can be seen, although complicated, it is a rather simplified version of the campaign map.  The many waterways and canals are reduced down to the three main crossings; Arnhem, Nijmegen and the Meuse/Wilhelmina Canal bridge to the north of Eindhoven (I assume this to be the Grave bridge).

As I planned to use figures I decided upon a larger battlefield, which was set out on an 8 x 4 table.  Here is a picture taken during the setting up.  Arnhem is closest to the camera, then Nijmegen, with Eindhoven in the distance, with the three main water obstacles clearly visible:

The battle begins on September 17th 1944, the landings have taken place and minor rivers and mopping up of isolated German units is complete.  However; the germans are now alerted and are pushing reinforcements into the area from the east.  

Here are the opening stages. The British 1st Airborne Division has landed west of Arnhem and is starting to move towards the town in an attempt to seize the bridge (top right), while the US 82nd Airborne Division has landed south and west of Nijmegen, tasked with capturing the town and its bridge (top left):

XXX Corps cross the start line (the bridge is missing!):

In the area of Eindhoven, US paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division have landed between the town and the Grave bridge.  German reinforcements are on the move and in the distance, top left, the leading elements of XXX Corps can be seen.

The 101st attempt to rush into Einhoven to secure the route for XXX Corps and a brisk battle breaks out.

Meanwhile, the 82nd Airborne begin to move towards Nijmegen, which is strongly held by german infantry.

Up in the north, the British begin to advance from the landing ground:

Back in Eindhoven elements of the 101st become embroiled in a battle on the northern outskirts of the town and take heavy casualties:

The 101st hopes are raised as tanks of XXX Corps begin to engage the Germans in villages to the south of Eindhoven.  However, German tanks arrive and begin to drive the US paratroopers out of the northern outskirts:

The 101st are forced back away from the bridge.  One of their landing grounds are captured, but US anti-tank guns also reduce the german tanks.  despite managing to force back the 101st and halt the XXX Corps advance only a small element of the original German force clings on to the town.

Up in the north the British airborne reconnaissance dash forward in their jeeps and ambush some German armour, but take heavy casualties.

The German column is severely mauled, but the remaining tanks destroy the jeeps and their crews:

Despite the heroics of the recce jeeps, this does not stop more heavy armour rolling into Arnhem town, although a parachute battalion manages to get into the eastern woods, but with heavy casualties. The newly arrived tanks begin to cut up the lightly armed british paratroopers.

Some help comes in the shape of some RAF Typhoons, but they cause little damage and the tanks maintain their onslaught.

German infantry sweep away the remnants of the parachute battalion

The German infantry move into the town as more infantry rush forward along the far side of the river.

Another allied airstrike comes in, this time it is US P-51s.  This time the effect is much more damaging and several tanks are destroyed.  But, the British paratroops are unable to enter the town and capture the bridge.

Back down towards Eindhoven the 101st Airborne, now with support from the tanks and artillery of XXX Corps clear the last german resistance from the town.  The US paratroopers capture the bridge over the Meuse.

The leading tanks of XXX Corps cross the Meuse, via the Grave Bridge.

However, the 82nd are far from taking the Nijmegen Bridge and the German are massing reinforcements in the town.

Unfortunaetly Will had to depart rather urgently and so the battle was suspended at this point. I am hopin to continue in a few days time.

New Blood?

 My grandson, Ben, came to stay for the weekend and he wanted me to show him an example of a wargame.  I set up a small game based in WW2 using adapted Memoir '44 rules.  The game was based on a German attack to secure a river crossing and an iron works being held by Soviet forces.  

The objective. German tanks have already crossed the river further upstream in a picture taken towards the end of the game:

I played the Germans and began my attack in true blitzkrieg style, with a massive armoured assault, supported by Stuka dive bombers and artillery:

Massed German armour pushing up the left flank is visited by a pair of Soviet Sturmoviks, causing some damage:

At the same time I push some tanks across the river using a ford up on the right flank:

On the left, a well defended hill, with tanks and anti-tank artillery proves to be a hard nut to crack:

In a counter stroke, Soviet armour advances up the right flank, supported by a well sited anti-tank gun:

The Germans take out many of the Soviet tanks but casualties are mounting and the headlong charge is proving to be very costly, with damaged tanks being pushed back or destroyed:

German artillery helps take out the Soviet guns, but are soon out of range of the deeper targets:

As in real war, the rapid advance of the tanks soon outstrips the slower infantry; the tanks attack slows down as casualties mount.  With well over half of the German tanks out of action and only a few infantry units available the germans call off the attack.  The battered Soviets retain control of the road bridge and the Ironworks.

Importantly Ben really enjoyed the game and is considering getting some tanks and figures for himself.  A new recruit perhaps!

Hinchliffe WW2 20mm Figures

In the 1970s my brothers and I purchased a few of the then emerging range of Hinchliffe WW2 figures and they have been sitting in drawers for decades. Recently with my introduction to Memoir '44 I have started using these figures, as seen in the recently played out Pegasus Bridge scenario.

The discussion following Pegasus bridge led to some very kind gifts of Hinchliffe Russians and Germans from fellow bloggers. This has allowed me to expand my collection, and of course given me the opportunity to paint some different figures.

Here are some samples of German infantry, notably some support weapons and a few infantry:

An Mg 42 team and an 8cm mortar with crew:

Anti-tank teams:

German infantry:

German elite troops:

I have already painted a number of British infantry and I am near to completion of a large group of Russians. More pictures to follow.

" Hold until relieved" - Pegasus Bridge

This battle was fought several days ago, with Phil playing the British airborne and I the Germans. The battle was taken from the Memoir '44 starter scenario, that I am sure many have played themselves.  We played it straight 'out of the box' with none of our in house rules changes:

Unfortunately for the British the card gods were very unkind limiting movement largely to the right flank. Instead of a quick rush to secure the Caen Canal Bridge, the airborne troops concentrated on the Ranville bridge, over the Orne river on the right flank.  Even this attempt ran into difficulty as the Germans lodged themselves in the woods and on the bridge itself:

More airborne troops were sent in to this battle, which raged for most of the game. Meanwhile German reserves built up in the area of the canal bridge:

Eventually, through sheer weight of numbers the Ranville bridge was captured:

But, the assault on the canal bridge never really got underway properly:

Attacks in penny packets by the British were beaten off, causing ever mounting casualties for the British:

Held up by wire, with the alert Germans in strong defensive positions, all attacks failed. The outcome was a German win with a score of 4 -2.

The bridge was not held and the British airborne were not relieved! The figures used were a mix of old Hinchliffe 20mm, assorted plastics and some MLR metal figures. A frustrating day for the the British resulting from a very poor hand of cards.

Soviet Reinforcements

Compared to my German forces, the soviets that I will be using for my mini campaign are a bit thin. During the last week I have been addressing this by increasing the number of infantry and armour units.

A new infantry unit, in the standard format of four rifle sub units, a mortar and machine gun sub unit and a command element:

These are all Airfix figures. I have always liked the machine gun and mortar teams and it is a shame that Airfix did not produce these for the other nationalities:

I also acquired two additional Roco Minitanks T-34s; one a 76mm gun version and the other has the longer 85mm gun:

To provide a reconnaissance capability I bought a trio of BA-10 armoured cars from BPM (Butler's Printed Models) - I am not aware of any 1/87 scale soviet armoured cars from other sources:

Finally some soviet heavy tanks in the shape of these KV-1As, also from BPM:

The soviets are just about ready to take to the field.

Unboxing the British Armour

More boxes yeild a good collection of British tanks:

They were in pretty good condition with just a few loose wheels, one broken track and the odd missing machine gun. The haul consists of some 11 Shermans, seven Comets (which I recall were used as Cromwells).  I have a feeling that there may be some more Shermans, but so far I cannot find them:

Ready for Battle - more US armour

Having taken them out of the box, dusted them down, reattached the broken parts and finished off the paint scheme, the latest box of US tanks is ready to take to the field.  The group consists of five Stuarts/Honeys, I believe by Matchbox, and two Airfix Lee tanks:

US Armour

I have looked through US armour and fixed the odd loose wheel and machine gun and this is what I found:

A group of 76mm and 75mm armed Shermans:

Three Chafees:

Seven half-tracks:

Two M7 SP guns:

Three 155mm SP guns:

Altogether, as useful force:

I am sure there are some Stuart light tanks too somewhee?