A Bridge Too Far

[mantrain]

Just looking for some advise for this scenario, from the allied side. how can we re-write history and cross this brisge and end the war by new year? Seems like the Allies have their work cut out ofr them since they only have small arms and are attacking well defended positions. Has anyone had success with this scenario?
thanks!

[Phoenix100]

Do you mean Red Devils over Arnhem, or From the Meuse to the Rhine?

[mantrain]

The scenario is called " All Americans Over Njmgen."

[Phoenix100]

Ok. Very quickly. You should be able to quickly get the Nijmegan highway bridge if you give the 508th Move orders to get there asap, nothing ticked, and as they approach use your one big arty asset available on day 1 (the 376), plus the mortars from the individual Bns to attack the two units near to the bridge approach (do it yourself, don't leave it to the AI). It's possible one of them will run just from the arty. The other may be fixed, I don't recall, but 3 Bns of the 508 will easily take the bridge by nightfall, I've found. Make your other priorities the Grave bridge (send 2 504 there, E Co is already across the other side) and the big Honighutje bridge (1 Bn of the 504 can take it) As you approach the prepped bridges be sure to manually use the Bn mortar assets to bombard the defenders prior to any assault (and I wouldn't use an assault order, but a simple secure crossing order). If you don't do this right up to the assault (bombard the defenders) then the Axis will blow both bridges. Keep an eye on the prepped indicator (pink when charges are laid, white when not) on the bridges as often the mortar barrage alone can serve to remove the explosive threat. One you have these 3 bridges then you are at liesure to decide amongst many priorities with few resources. If you don't block off (you don't need to take it, just block the exit) the Nijmegan Rail bridge then Axis units will flood over that to surround the 508. But, taking these bridges, I think, is the easy bit. Now you have to hold them for probably four days (It takes a long time for XXX Corps to get from map edge, on Day 3, up to useful fighting positions). As you will know already, the big issue with holding them is that your supply drop zone is a long way away (where the SEP marker is, near drop zone N) and your units up on the bridges in Nijmegan, at least, will be fighting the whole time. They will run out of ammo on day one and unless you have clear supply lines from the drop zone to them then you will not hold the bridges because they won't have anything to fight with. I have found it possible, using all of the 505 and the remaining Bn of the 504 to secure the supply routes, to just hang on long enough for XXX Corps to get through, though it can then be a long fight after that to get the tanks over the bridges (I usually play this scenario as part of From the Meuse to the Rhine). Others do much better than me, but for me the Brit paras are going to suffer their historical fate, normally, no matter how well I do at Nijmegan. But it's still fun to play through. It's no shame to be onluy able to do as well as they did historically, though you will probably be able to do a bit better. This is only how I approach Nijmegan, and I'm very far from good at this game. Hope it helps though.