Market Garden PBEM

[Roughtor]

It was the 6 FJ Rgt. artillery from Dommelen disrupting the supply flow along the highway. This choke point had to be cleared immediately and the newly deployed 8th Armored Bgd. was tasked to help the King's Royal Hussars deal with the problem. But as the first squadrons started firing towards Dommelen alarming reports started coming in from recon units to the east of Eindhoven. Panthers! The Germans were trying to cut the corridor at the very base. With Dommelen still in their hands the 107 Panzer Brigade supported by the 7th Falshirmjeager division struck towards Eindhoven and was stopped by a roadblock only a few miles east of the city. If they were to enter Eindhoven they would sever the supply flow and would be very hard to clear out. They had to be stopped now. New frantic orders were issued – disengage and redeploy. The 8th Armored Brigade was taking up positions to face off with the 107th Panzer Brigade.

Some background on the units:
http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=512
http://www.panzerworld.net/oob-pzb.html
http://www.warlinks.com/armour/8th_armoured/index.html

[Fred98]

I am following this wit interest
 
Keep up the good work!
 
 

[Roughtor]

21 September

Any hopes of holding Arnhem evaporated in the morning. In a well coordinated attack the Germans overwhelmed the 9 Field Company in the middle of the city and their mechanized units quickly surrounded the 1st Air Landing Brigade holding the north western suburbs. A breakout was immediately attempted with the help of the 1st Parachute Bgd but the enemy strength was overwhelming and conserving ammunition became a necessity. The Red Devils were in serious trouble.

In the west the GPR bolstered by the 4th Bgd was holding out but the southern drop zone was still threatened and could be overrun at any moment. Only quick arrival of the XXX corps and the Poles could avert a disaster.

[Roughtor]

The Guards Armoured Division raced through the Nijmegen bridge but was halted by a very determined resistance of the 9SS Pioneer Bn south of Ressen. Several precious hours were lost before the combined strength of the division managed to overpower the enemy. There would be no further advances today, the battle damage would take hours to clear. Significant forces were also tied up fighting a strong kampfgruppe of the 10SS division still defending north west of Nijmegen.

The only real advance was made by the B squadron of the 44 Royal Tank Regiment which reached Huissen just a few miles south east of Arnhem.

At Groesbeek Heights the enemy withdrew towards the Reichswald... for now.

[Roughtor]

North of Eindhoven the 101st continued its attacks against the 59 Infantry Division destroying two artillery batteries.

To the south, the battle between the 107 Panzer Bgd and the 8 Armoured Bgd raged throughout the day. The overwhelming numbers of the 8 Armoured aided by the tankers from the King’s Royal Hussars were taking a heavy toll on the enemy. Before nightfall most of the enemy Panthers were knocked out and the remnants together with two battalions of paratroopers were surrounded in the small woods south of Geldrop. Elated with this success Brigadier-General Julian Palmer ordered a hasty final assault against the surrounded enemy. The attack turned into a complete disaster. The German paratroopers aided by the few remaining but well positioned Panthers held out knocking out dozens of Shermans and Churchills before the 8th Armoured was forced to disengage. The Princess Irene Brigade ceased to exist as an offensive force. As the supply trucks continued working up the highway towards Nijmegen again the atmosphere was far from cheerful amongst the allies.

Even as the final fires of the battle were dying out a new one was about to begin just a few miles to the north.

[Roughtor]

September 22

The XXX corps has finally reached the southern end of the Arnhem bridge, and two battalions of the 1st Parachute brigade were just two miles west of the bridge on the northern side but it was clear that Market Garden has failed. The Arnhem bridge was firmly in enemy hands and 9 and 10 SS panzer divisions were rounding up the Red Devils methodically. The last thing to do was to save as much of the 1st Airborne as possible and that would be a feat in itself.

[Roughtor]

At Nijmegen the fighting continued without any significant change in the situation but in the south the 59th infantry division found a gap in the 101st frontline and made a dashing attack towards St. Odenrode. A regiment of enemy troops captured the village, blew the bridge and overrun the 101st headquarters and artillery units south of the bridge. Although the losses were significant and the supply line would be severed for a day, this attack will be the last gasp of the 59th.

[Roughtor]

The 101st regrouped and struck at St. Odenrode from the north, the 8th Armoured Bgd and King’s Royal Hussars raced from the south and after a few hours the remnants of the enemy battlegroup have been surrounded.

[Roughtor]

September 23

The Red Devils prepare for the evacuation and establish a tight perimeter around Osterbeek. The tanks of the Irish Guards and the 1st Polish Parachute brigade cover the southern bank. Allied artillery and tanks fire across the river throughout the day at targets of opportunity.

[Roughtor]

At Nijmegen the 82nd is slowly gaining initiative.

[Roughtor]

In the south the fate of the 59 infantry division is sealed. With the arrival of the 43 rd Wessex infantry the overwhelming power of the allied attacks take out the German strongholds one by one.

[Roughtor]

Still quite a few turns to go but the Allied mission has already failed. The scenario suggests not to dig in Frost's battalion to save on supplies but that proved to be Frost's undoing as the battalion was an easy target for German artillery. If the Germans, as my opponent has done, choose to concentrate the grand effort at Arnhem even a full out effort against the city by the Red Devils can help Frost very little. (well my special attacks were somewhat unlucky since they caused casualties but did not result in any ground gains, and thus Frost remained isolated)

Defending the highway is nerve wracking but the allies have more than enough forces at their disposal to deal with the situation.

Once again it was a case of a bridge too far.

I would be interested in hearing of a PBEM where the allies have actually succeeded in capturing the Arnhem bridge... anyone?

[Fredk]

An excellent AAR Akitsuki, one that really captures the dynamic excitement t be found in the DB engine. I have all the DB games and will be making BF a definte purchase after a few patches and some more scenarios come out.
 
Thanks for the AAR.

[Howard7x]

Great AAR, have been following it closely. The German AI is no match for a competant Allied player but in PBEM the allies will struggle terribly to kep open the highway. Its a great scenario!

[Roughtor]

Glad some enjoyed it.

The final rounds are progressing slowly...

Knaust's Tigers are rolling over the helpless remnants of the once proud Red Devils while the XXX corps is standing across the river.

Due to lack of any meaningful objectives I've launched an attack into the Reichswald.

[hank]

Has anyone noticed there are no Firefly units in the 30 Corps armored units?  I feel sure there were several Firefly's assigned but I don't see any units with anything other than Shermans.  There is enough of a difference between these two armored units to warrant having individual units for the 17 pounders.  (at least the direct fire feature should give a better hit chance)

I may have missed it but i looked fairly thoroughly last night.  Slap me if I'm wrong.

Good AAR  [&o]

Thanks
hank