"Looking for British Para vs Germans scenario " Topic

Looking to play a game next week…
British paras vs Germans.
These are the models we have available.

Can anyone please recommend a good sized scenario that doesn't need specialised terrain (e.g. pegasus bridge)?

Many thanks
AJ

Operation Fustain – Primosole bridge.

link

PDF link

From the Blurb for the Osprey British Paratrooper vs Fallschirmjager.
By late 1942 Britain had developed an airborne capability that would obtain its baptism of fire versus German airborne in North Africa and Sicily. On three notable occasions British airborne infantry fought intense battles with its German counterpart: twice in North Africa and again at Primosole Bridge in Sicily. Both forces were well trained and equipped, with a similar ethos and role, both thought of themselves as elite units, and both found themselves used by local commanders in a variety of roles that tended to be determined by the emergencies of the moment.

On 29 November 1942 Lt Col Frost's 2nd Para dropped at Depienne, Tunisia, with orders to march overnight to Oudna, destroy the aircraft there and then return to Allied lines. Finding no aircraft they retreated, repeatedly combating elements of Oberst Koch's FJR 5, deployed in a ground role. 2nd Para ambushed and drove back Fallschirmjäger riding on armoured cars. Nearly surrounded, Frost withdrew to a nearby hill; a battle ensued as both sides raced for the crest. After retreating overnight 2nd Para wiped out an attacking German platoon, and on 3 December Frost's men finally reached Allied lines; all told, they had made five night marches and fought three battles, in total covering 50 miles, and only 180 of Frost's 450 men remained effective.

Fighting as infantry, elements of 3rd Para encountered two companies of Fallschirmjäger-Pionier Bataillon, supported by elements of armour and artillery, in a strongly fortified position at Djebel Azag. On the night of 4/5 January 1943 a see-saw battle took place as the hill changed hands. The Germans were able to retain this key position. After weeks of further bitter fighting the British parachute brigade was again pulled out of the line in March 1943, but there would be no respite for any of the German parachute units; in May nearly all of those who had survived became POWs.

On the night of 13/14 July 1943, 1st Para Brigade dropped to seize the Primosole Bridge in Sicily and hold it until relieved the next day by 50th Division. Unknown to Allied planners, though, Fallschirmjager dropped nearby in the last large-scale German airdrop of WWII. The Allied airborne was badly dispersed by AA fire. However, the British successfully seized the bridge and held it until an improvised counter-attack retook it. Midway through the evening of 14 July elements of 50th Division succeeded in relieving the Paras, retaking the bridge after 2 more days of bitter fighting. The Germans withdrew after failing to destroy the bridge with a truck-borne improvised explosive device.

Fatman

Didn't the OP specify a scenario without a bridge? The British paras would also need to fight FJ at Primasole, not regular Germans.

A couple of easy options which spring to mind are 6th AB Div in Normandy, they stayed in the line for ages and fought plenty of normal battles against normal Germans.

Also for Arnhem, the fighting on the Oosterbeek perimeter which was as conventional as it got and no bridges required. KG von Tettau had an entertaining rag bag of units.

If you want something specific, how about KG von Tettaus attack on 21st September against the Westerbouing heights.

link

The Pegasus Bridge battles involved quite a bit more than just the bridge itself. Below is a link to the Advanced Tobruk Series. See the Pegasus Bridge listing for several battles around the bridge area that do not use the bridge itself.

link

Also, the Skirmish Campaigns series has a book called "Normandy '44: Red Devils of The Orne" that has a bunch of usable material. Their books include a page on adapting the scenarios to various rule sets.

he could do any of the drops mentioned above and fight a rally action… numerically superior numbers of brits, but randomly deployed all over the place, with concentrated germans trying th pick them off before they can gather….