Anyone interested in Deelen Option campaign?

[Mark Weston]

This scenario intrigues me, and I'd really like to play it against a human opponent. Obviously it would need to be played over a number of sessions.

I've only really toyed with the first couple of days in single-player (because I don't want to "learn" the scenario before I play an MP game, and because I quickly get bored playing against the AI). So does it make for a reasonably balanced game (my one worry is that the Germans just get overwhelmed).

If anyone's interested, please drop me a PM here or email me at marksweston@hotmail.com

[Yakstock]

I dropped you a message...

[Mark Weston]

The speed of Yakstock's reply obviously indicates a serious addiction. Our first session ended around 20:00 on the evening of the first day. Deelen airfield and the other drop zones were secured with some light skirmishing, and 3rd Battallion Parachute Regiment (dropped near the rail-yards to the east of Arnhem) tried to sneak up the river-bank and onto the road bridge. As the day ended, 3rd Bn was withdrawing after being given a serious smacking by the reinforced Arnhem garrison, while the Airlanding Brigade was involved in heavy fighting as it launched an attack into the city from the North.

I'm still curious to hear if anyone has ideas about the balance of this scenario. It's obviously easier on the British than the futility that is the Historical Arnhem Campaign, but does it go too far the other way?

Mark

[Arjuna]

Mark,

Short answer - no, you will have your job cut for you ( I presume your playing as the Brit ), especially against Gary. [:)]

[Mark Weston]

Cool! (and yes I am playing the Brits). Thanks for the reply Dave.

Having played around with the Historical campaign quite a lot (Arnhem is one of the historical events that inspired me into getting into military history and wargaming), this scenario by contrast leaves me feeling overwhelmed with the firepower and resources I have available. But perhaps it's just an illusion...

I'm looking forward to continuing our game.

[Sarge]

Careful with the intel Mark

[:D]........... JK guys

[Yakstock]

I promise not to tell my commanders on the field! [;)]

[Mark Weston]

Excellent poster Sarge!

We played a short second session last night, and ran on until approx 6am on Day 2. Most of the British perimeter was very quiet, but the fighting intensified in Arnhem as the Airlanding Brigade continued their attack, while other troops attempted to cut off the city approaches from German reinforcements. Heavy casualties on both sides (as far as I could tell), and by morning there wasn't really an identifiable front-line. However, the Germans were still in clear posession of the actual bridge.

Meanwhile, a well timed and co-ordinated German attack from the south and out of Arnhem hit the Poles just after they landed south of the Rijn. So the Poles aren't going to be contributing to the fight over Arnhem for a while.

And finally, officers at Deelen airfield say they can hear some kind of noise. Could that be the sound of several hundred transport planes approaching...?

[Yakstock]

Arnhem is very much a mess - no lines as you said and very out of control. I was most proud of that attack on the Poles (no offense to any polish members out there). Managed to hit em from both sides and the attack was timed perfectly - something I rarely do...

Arnhem is still a tough nut at this point with strong allied pressure all through-out the town. Very tough to establish any kind of perimeter. Times like this I wish all my troops had the good mobility...long marches are tough...do I push them and get them in place exhausted or do I rest them and have them blocked...

A great battle so far...

[Mark Weston]

Our next session went through until 4am on Day 3 (I'm pretty sure my computer is struggling with the size of this battle, as imedium speed nomally runs faster than this)

Day 2 was another day of heavy fighting in Arnhem. 4th Airlanding Brigade went onto the defensive to hold onto gains made last night. There was heavy pressure from German troops, especially those trying to open up the western approaches to the city, but the attrition seemed to be telling on the Germans as there were quite a few surrenders during the day. Meanwhile the Polish brigade was trying to find a bit of polder in which to hide in, and of course 52nd division was landing at Deelen airfield.

Late in the afternoon two fresh battallions of paratroopers attacked into Arnhem to clear a start-line for a brigade of the 52nd who followed on behind them. This combined attack went on into the early hours of Day 3, making slow progress. By 4am the remaining German resistance seemed to be in a core of (almost) surrounded, entrenched troops 1km north of the bridge, and along the river bank. A subsidiary attack attempted to close the western roads into the City, while German panzer forces broke into the city from the east.

Elsewhere a brigade-sized (maybe larger) German force plus the HQ of 2SS Panzer Corps tried to push down the highway from the north edge of the map, past Deelen, and straight into the rear of the British forces in Arnhem. Various British units slowed them down at different positions on the highway, and they were finally stopped at a blocking position in the woods north of Arnhem, where several units surrendered, and the Panzer Corps HQ was in such a sorry state that it routed into the 52nd Division's artillery park. The remaining units seem to be infiltrating through the woods to get round the road-block.

It's been a really interesting battle so far (so much more challenging than playing the AI). Day 3 will probably decide whether the British airbourne/airlanding forces can capture Arnhem by themselves. If not, well...

[Yakstock]

I have not played this scenario - but I love it. This has been a fierce battle for Arnhem. Mark is doing a great job and the next day will be critical. I am in for quite a fight as I try to hang on to the bridge against an unbelievable amount of pressure. Every last man gets thrown into the line as he enters town...

[Arjuna]

Gary,

I hope you have been taking some screen dumps of the progress. It would be great to see an AAR of this battle. [:)]

After you have finished of course.[;)]

[Mark Weston]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

Gary,

I hope you have been taking some screen dumps of the progress. It would be great to see an AAR of this battle. [:)]

After you have finished of course.[;)]

I didn't think about keeping our saved games for screenshots.[:-] How about you, Gary?

Yesterday's session took us through to 9am on day 4. Day 3 wasn't a great one for the good guys. Despite appeals from HQ for one last effort, none of the forces in Arnhem could make the last 500m needed. The best they could do was inflict casualties and keep the pressure on. Meanwhile the Poles were still just trying to stay alive in Polder Hell.

German pressure from the north intensified, and eventually they both infiltrated around and then pushed back our blocking force on the highway. The first company-sized probes into the 1st Abn and 52nd division rear-areas were dealt with, but as evening came a much heavier attack came down the road and did some damage to 1st Abn artillery park and HQ. A three battallion counter-attack in the early hours of day 4 stabilised the position and pushed the Germans back, but failed to re-block the highway.

[Further comments censored as the Germans are watching...]

[Yakstock]

So far I have not taken pictures- but we have saved games at each of our stopping points and we could re-open them and take a few snap shots... and going forward I could take a few.

As Mark said, the good guys (assuming he meant his guys) had a rough day. I am breathing a sigh of relief as I have continued to hold the bridge and am getting more and more troops into the area. The long marches are tough and many of the troops arrive exhausted. Although tempted to force march them at faster speeds, this only gives you a bunch of tired men when they arrive with a need for more rest. On the other hand, marching them at normal speed means they may be too late. I am glad I was able to take the Poles out early, since I could not have held off all these fronts at once had they been able to form a coordinated attack.

As for north of Arnhem, I too will keep tight lips on this activity, other than to say Mark described it well.

So to sum it up:
South of the city - looking good - Poles hunkering down
West of the city - cleanning up an isolated attack with reinforcements streaming in
North of the city - heavy fighting
East of the city - little happening
In the city - still a blood bath

I am not sure of the land contingent, but given objectives are popping up along Hell's Highway the timing must be soon....

[Mark Weston]

I haven't posted here for a while, because I wanted to be honest about how I saw the situation, but thought I'd be giving away too much to Gary if I did! We've now reached the evening of Day 6, and the advance of XXX Corps is in full flow (well, crawl).

Also, I've created a new thread for this in the AAR sub-forum. Anyone who's been following the story so far can go there to see the re-organised text illustrated by screenshots from each day. I'll carry on updating there (probably remaining a couple of days behind the progress of the game).