OPERATION DICKENS to 1350 15th March 1944

OPERATION DICKENS 1300 15th March 1944

British hang on in Arnhem

It has been a close call but the British have made to 8pm and still hold on to 3 key buildings. The Germans cannot expect to make any progress during the night and could even lose some ground to counterattacks. A very interesting playing of an old scenario I had been disappointed by.

I think the British were unlucky in the initial stages and lost some key units - like the artillery FOO. They also did too much sniping in their INITIATIVE which cost them some units.

I am sticking with the historical deployments as far as I can, and the British would be better served by having some 2 Para units in the HQ building. This fell very easily. I think the British would also benefit from using normal FP attacks sometimes and falling back to regain concealment. Alternating units in the front line. They also didn't get any use out of their demo charges.

There is certainly more that could be done and the Germans gain a lot from omniscience - more than the British do. Interesting though.

Arnhem to 2000 hours 18th September 1944

Arnhem to 1900 18th September 1944

 

Arnhem to 1750 18th September 1944

Arnhem at 1700 18th September 1944

The German attack on B block has faltered due to many broken stacks - mainly due to some friendly fire from their mortars. But the British have also suffered some setbacks with the occupants of the larger school building all broken (except heroes) and a large building on the corner of A block collapsing with many killed. The Germans are in no condition to press their attacks and must rally their broken stacks and redistribute ammunition to the sMG42 groups in H block before renewing the offensive. Very tight time schedule since any fighting after dark will heavily favour the British.

Arnhem to 1650 18th September 1944

 

Frost's perimeter continues to shrink. The German tactic of infiltration combined with high firepower sMG42 stacks and mortar and 105mm fire gradually inflicts losses. The British are struggling to hit back since any fire draws heavier return fire. Time is ticking by and really the Germans have to finish this before dark - after dark there will be little scope for winning close range fire against stealthy British. Therefore - the Germans have about 4 hours left. Touch and go.

Arnhem at 1600 18th September 1944

Arnhem to 1550 18th September 1944

 

 

 

Arnhem to 1500 18th September 1944

Arnhem to 1410 18th September 1944

 

Arnhem to 1330 18th September 1944

 

Arnhem fighting ebbs and flows..

This is a more interesting playing than my previous attempts. The German strategy of gradual infiltration wherever their probing finds a weakness is paying off - though the Paras are deadly and have exacted a heavy price for the lost ground.

The attacks by 10th SS PG Bn and 21 SS PGR troops on the western approaches to the bridge have made good progress, but the troops are now down to about 50% strength and can't achieve much more now.

The factory area is proving a tough nut to crack and a whole platoon of KG Knaust has been wiped out after achieving very little. The other factory is stronger than ever.

The 2nd company of KG Knaust is due to be available soon and I'll send it in against the HQ building, which is weakly held and vulnerable from many angles. If this can be taken it will provide superb locations to support the attacks on the schools and the blocks either side of the bridge.

There is no easy solution - the British must be eliminated in bloody attritional fighting one unit at a time.

In order to have much impact the bridge has to fall before midnight on the 18th.

Arnhem up to 1300 18th September 1944

Arnhem 18th Sept 1944 1226 hours.

About an hour after Grabner's attack was decimated and Brinkmann plus Knaust plus the SSPG on the Western flank and making steady progress. The power plant has fallen and some severe losses have been inflicted on Frost's men. Quite a lot of SNAFUs from the British are to blame and some lucky breaks for the Germans too. A lot of ill-advised Whoa Mohammad! attacks (from HOB rolls) led to some British units being cut down too. More interesting than before this time, and playing very smoothly too.

Brecourt Manor June 6th 1944

Very close to the real battle, except for taking about 80 minutes. US losses were 7 men KIA. Since some of these might not actually be dead only seriously wounded or ineffective due to other factors it is not too far off. Malarky and Spiers both died! 3 new heroes including Lipton were created which mitigated what would have been higher losses. All the Germans died or were driven off.