The Bridge at Remagen Readme

I have always wanted to see WF scenarios for the attack on Eben Emael in 1940, and the taking of the bridge at Remagen in 1945. I have been surprised and disapointed that Talonsoft have not provided them. I supposed that although they were very famous actions, they were not really suitable for WF scenarios. Eben Emael is more suited to a squad scale game, while Remagen was perhaps too one sided. Despite this I have always wanted to reproduce these actions, but until recently I have not had any suitable sources. To my surprise, I recently picked up a rather plain little book in my local branch of W H Smiths and found it to be a mine of information on these actions (and many others). The book is "Seize and Hold" by Bryan Perrett, published by Cassell Military Classics. I would recomend it to anyone interested in modern warfare, it covers about a dozen actions from WWI to Vietnam. Some of it's chapters should provide a source of inspiration to Talonsoft if they are considering branching out the Campaign Series into WWI, The 1920 Russo/Polish War, Korea, or Vietnam (I hope they will). 

After reading the chapter on Remagen, I realised that it could make a good game using WF after all. 

Design Notes (you may prefer to read this after trying the scenario, alternatively if you need a little help read it now!); 

1) The map is basically accurate, although I do not have precise info on elevations and minor details such as walls, hedges etc. If would welcome any assistance from someone who could provide a more detailed map. 

2) The scenario is best played as human v human, as the German player should try to blow the bridge before the Americans get to it. Unfortunately the AI is not programmed to do this. So although you can play against the AI as the Americans, it is not ideal. The US player has an interesting (and historical) dilemma; go for the bridge or exit the map to the south (as per Combat Command B's original orders), be warned you may not be able to exit enough VPs to gain a major victory if you take the last option!

3) Lt Grimball's platoon had only 4 Pershing tanks, one was in the workshop undergoing repairs. The composition of the other tank companies is unknown to me, perhaps someone else can help?
 
4) The barge was really present! Although I do not know it's precise location in respect to the bridge. 

5) It seems strange, but CCB do not seem to have benefited from any artillery or air support during this action. A request for artillery fire on the bridge was denied, which partly prompted the decision to capture it.
 
6) This was hardly the German armies finest hour, so unit morale and commander ratings are low.

7) All commanders in the game represent the actual men present at the time, with their correct commands, none of the names have been made up! 

8) I have reduced Sergaent Faust's engineer platoon to 3 SPs, to make blowing the bridge hard, as in real life they did fail. Unfortunately, I do not know exactly what chance a 3 SP engineer unit has of blowing a heavy bridge. Perhaps Talonsoft might release this sort of info one day?


Good luck


Paul Adaway
padaway@ukonline.co.uk
19/11/99
