From Dane:
Part 1 - A Bridge Too Far - Mega-Game
The Huntsville Historical Gamers (HHG) gathered on SEP 17-18 to recreate Operation Market Flames of War ruleset. The HHG Mega-Game stretched over 5 tables. The Mega-Game pitted 10 Axis players against 7 Allied players. Each side had approx. 11,500 points for a mega-Game total of 23,000 points. Lists were chosen from the forces in Market Garden for the Allies or Bridge by Bridge for the Germans.Garden using the
Operation Market-Garden, Field Marshal Montgomery’s plan to attack over the Lower Rhine into the industrial Ruhr Valley and capture the V-1 and V-2 rocket launch sites that have been terrorizing Britain.
Garden: To represent XXX Corps, the Allies had:
2,060 points Irish Guards
2,060 points XXX Corps
In Addition, the Allies also received:
- Either 3, or 5 (depending on fog) dedicated aircraft sorties (for Close Air Support or Air Resupply) each turn.
- 8x 25-pdr battery, plus, 8x 5.5” batteries of Off table Artillery (Guns across the Volga rule) able to range targets on boards 1 (Joe’s Bridge) and 2 (Son / Veghel).
Market: To represent First Allied Airborne Army, the Allies had:
1,525 points British 1st Airborne Division
1,540 points US 82nd Airborne Division
1,540 points US 101st Airborne Division
1,045 points Polish Airborne Brigade
1,500 points British 52nd Airlanding Division
Relocated into Holland after fierce fighting in France, Army Group B was placed under the command of Generalfeldmarschall von Rundstedt who had been recalled from retirement on 4 September. To represent the scattered forces of Army Group B, the Germans had:
1,565 points KG Walther (6th Fallschirmjager Division)
1,065 points KG Graebner (9th SS Panzer Division Recon)
1,500 points KG Spindler (9th SS Panzer Division)
1,500 points KG von Tettau
1,500 points 59th Grenadier Division
1,500 points 107th Panzer Brigade
1,500 points KG Becker (3rd Fallschirmjager Division)
1,000 points 406th Landesschützen Division
200 points Nijmegen Garrison
140 points Best Garrison
In Addition, Germans also received:
- 1 dedicated air mission sortie (either air interdiction or Close Air Support) each turn.
- 8x 150mm sFH18 howitzers Off table Artillery (Guns across the Volga rule) able to range targets on boards 5 (Arnhem) and 4 (Elst / Driel).
The Germans deployed in their rest and refit areas:
The Allies Parachute drop:
Turn 1
Irish Guards Advance!
German 6th Fallschirmjager react!
Turn 2
XXX Corps Arrives
LTC JOE Vandaleur calls in Air Support
101st Airborne takes Veghel Bridge
82nd Airborne takes the Groesbeek Heights
1st British Airborne races to the Arnhem Bridge
The German Engineer Team reacts
German 6th FJ Trap Teams punish allied armor that gets too close to the woods
107th Panzer Brigade arrives
59th Grenadiers arrives
3rd Fallschirmjager arrives
KG Spindler arrives
KG von Tettau arrives
Turn 3
XXX Corps continues the fight
101st Airborne takes the Bridge at Best
82nd Airborne attempts to flank the Germans through the Reichswald Forest
1st British Airborne races to the Heavadorp-Driel Railroad Bridge
Polish Airborne Brigade Lands: Polish Commander has a “Sound of Music” moment and sings: The Hills are alive with the sound of – Small arms fire….
52nd Air-Landing arrives in Arnhem Airfield
German 6th Fallschirmjager engages with the 88s
107th Panzer Brigade destroys all but 1 of the 101st AT Guns
59th Grenadiers in assault boats cross the Zuid-Willems Canal
3rd Fallschirmjager arrives
KG Graebner advances from Elst
KG Spindler advances cautiously into Arnhem
KG von Tettau advances into Heavadorp
Turn 4
XXX Corps calls for all guns repeat
82nd Airborne digs in its Artillery
Polish Airborne Brigade moves to cover and concealment
52nd Air-Landing advances toward the Heavadorp-Driel Railroad Bridge
KG Graebner advances from Elst toward the Nijmegen Railroad Bridge
52nd Air-Landing advances from the airfield
KG Spindler advances further into Arnhem
KG von Tettau advances into Heavadorp
Turn 5
XXX Corps continues the fight
82nd Airborne fires on approaching 3rd Fallschirmjager
Polish Airborne Brigade defends against Graebner’s charge
52nd Air-Landing advances toward the Heavadorp-Driel Railroad Bridge
107th Panzer Brigade takes out a 101st Pack Howitzer Battery
59th Grenadiers advances toward the Veghel bridge
KG Graebner advances from Elst toward the Nijmegen Railroad Bridge
KG von Tettau advances into Oosterbeeck
Turn 6
XXX Corps quote: “this is the wide part”
101st Airborne battling the 107th Panzer Brigade
82nd Airborne - wait! Where did those come from?
52nd Air-Landing engaging KG von Tettau
3rd Fallschirmjager places accurate fire on the 82nd Airborne
107th Panzer Brigade destroys the 101st Pack Howitzer Battery
59th Grenadiers advances on the 101st contesting the Veghel bridge
KG Graebner advances to assault the Polish Airborne
KG von Tettau engages the 52nd Air-Landing
Part 2 coming soon! Stay tuned to see how it turns out...will the valiant British Airborne and Lowland Division boys hold on? Can the Scrappy American Paras hold their ground till XXX Corps arrives! Keep posted and find out!
