A Train for Arnhem


Nijmegen, Holland, September 19th, 1944: Two days after the launch of Operation Market-Garden, the
82nd Airborne Division was still trying to gain its objectives. The Germans occupied the heights south
of Nijmegen as well as the northern part of the city, in particular the two bridges which spanned the
River Waal. The Germans, in the form of Kampfgruppen hurriedly assembled from the remnants of resting
units, had proved too strong for the paratroops on their own. The arrival of the forward detachments of
the British Guards Armoured Division was timely, and a new assault on the Nijmegen bridges  was begun. While a strong force attempted to seize the main road bridge, a more modest force consisting of a U.S. Paratroop Company, a platoon of British infantry and a troop of tanks were to take the railway bridge. 
The bridge was defended by elements of Kampfgruppe Henke, a temporary battalion formed from regular infantry, Luftwaffe ground personnel, and even Nijmegen rail installation guards, supported by anti-aircraft gun.

Game Length: 6 Turns

For the Americans/British to win they must secure the railroad tracks and adjacent buildings in Nijmegen
For the Germans to win they must defend the railroad tracks and vicinity

Americans/British: Squads, HMG, MMG's, BAZ's, AFV's
Germans: Squads, HMG, MMG, LMG's, PSK's, PF

Boards: #8, #20

Aftermath: Although the railroad was seized without much difficulty to within 200 meters of the railway
bridge, the enemy has grown significantly in strenght by the time the combined force encountered a
strongpoint defended by machine guns and an 88mm gun. After a hurried consultation with his superiors, the British commander came up with a plan to breakthrough the defenses and capture the bridge. The attack
began just as the evening twilight started. The first three tanks were quickly put out of action by the
Germans. Now the paratroops were subjected to sustained machine gun fire. Faced with a rising casualty count, the advance was stopped and the attacking units withdrew 100 meters to take up positions for the
night. In a bitter blow, Lt. Waverly W. Wray of Company D, a veteran of the Normandy campaign, was killed
by a sniper just as he withdrew with his men.

Source: Tactiques magazine, Scenario ASL TAC 63, A Train for Arnhem



