"Arnhem at New year?" Topic

How sweet is that? have secured some British paras – about 50/60 I think. There's a six pounder and Pat can provide some jeeps and carriers, though I don't know if there will be time to give them airborne drivers.

What i have at this moment, using the RF set up Grand Game, of german units:

Green is i have, red not

Airborne to follow

Airborne

I think Pat and I can provide the rest. We will have to substitute some 'ordinary' British 6-pounders/jeeps for Airborne ones and maybe a few infantry, but overall we're pretty much sorted for the British I think.
I shall get Pat top of my head I know she does n't have any 88s or other Flak, but she does have 4 Hanomags, about 150 infantry, two 105 howitzers, two Stugs and maybe some other odds and ends.
How much of the 'grand manner' game do you think we can manage in a day?

it depends, at least the first and second day. Depends how long the days/ hours are that we can use to play.

Well, it depends on how quickly we can get started! I expect we''ll be able to get access to the room on the evening of 1st January so we can get everything set up – there's nothing booked for he room yet and I rather doubt that they will get a booking for New years's Day! I don't think there is any pressure for us to finish at any particular time on the 'game day', but equally I expect we will run out of energy eventually and obviously we will have to allow some time for packing up. I would have thought we would manage the first 3 days of the battle if we play reasonably quickly.

About how many days are we talking about of using the room? On the 2nd a day of playing and on the 3rd play till…and you are packing again?

The room is booked for the 2nd. I'm sure we can book it for the 3rd too, but it does cost 100 Euros a day – we can spring for one day, but two is bit of a stretch!

How many are attending?

I am still available & looking to attend. I am going through what figures I have & what is available at the club to see what I can put together.

I definitely have 9th SS Recce Bn (Graebner) & the Tiger II's for the rest of Hvy Tk Bn 506. From my collection I have at least 3 Bn's of Inf with Sp & 1 Bn of Inf from the club which should cover a lot of the larger units still outstanding for the Germans. I will try to go over this during the weekend and let you know exactly which other units I can provide for the game. This will hopefully minimise what may need to be brought all the way from Scotland for the game so that you can keep the space for other things.

In addition I enough Airborne figures to cover the the Airlanding Brigade which means that (I believe) that we will have the outstanding Allied forces. These are predominantly FAA with a smattering of AB Figures

With regards to the game I am definitely available on the 2nd but am unlikely to be able to do the 3rd as well. I have a relative staying over during the festive season. She is keen that we carry on as normal while she is visiting, but as she flies home on the 3rd it would be remiss of me to not be around to say goodbye.

Hopefully you've had emails now…we've been having traditional Shetland broadband problems!

Well this looks like it will be a complete game. looking forward to it.
I hope we will have enough houses etc to build the city around the bridge.

yes i did receive the email, thanks

So it looks like we will have at least six players and be playing a D+1 scenario…can't wait!

update 14 dec 2015

Original update off course….Arnhem: Utrechtseweg/ Utrechtsestraat

PGEM building/ SD HQ on the right, Museum centre,opposite of the street Airborne house en school

Fabulous!

mill1940.nl/Arnhem1944.htm is the link for the Dutch gamers who are interested….

Thanks for doing that Ludwig/Usuthu.

OK…so we have now confirmed the larger conference room at the hotel and we can get access on the evening of the 1st January for setting up. All-day coffee and tea can be had for 7.50 Euros per person. There will be at least two games – Ludwig's Rapid Fire Arnhem game and a FoW game as well…no more information on that at the moment.

On saturday the 2nd we will play some Market garden games at the Rijnhotel at Arnhem.
Also my table is present including the new terrain pieces.
More pictures to follow….

Overview

A tram driving in the (now) quiet streets near the museum….

As promised a (picture heavy) AAR.

The game was played in Arnhem in the Rijnhotel due to the invitation of Chris and Patty (Arnhem historians of love the city).

besides this game, there was also a FOW Kursk game (no pictures sorry).

Overview

Starting positions:

2 Para at the bridge (not played),

1 and 3 para eastern outskirts Oosterbeek/ Oosterbeek station Laag,

All 1 Air landing inf around LZ/ DZ regrouping after defending the LZ/ DZ, or busy with rearguard/ delaying actions,

10 and 156 para near Dreyenseweg

11 para near railway
Div troops positions in and near Oosterbeek

von Tettau 1st units edge of LZ/ DZ and Amsterdamseweg
Spindler/ others near Dreyenseweg
Other 9SS first response Around Arnhem station and Oude Haven

Starting positions

Main objects
British enable Polish gliders to land, break trough German positions around Amsterdamse weg to gain access to
Arnhem north of railway and via routes south of railway iot reach bridge and defensive positions.
Prevent German troops to cut of block British units/ routes.

Germans block routes into Arnhem, prevent re-enforcements to land or successfully RV, destroy Airborne units

Players:

British: Dough (east), Adie (Oosterbeek) and Chris (the push to Arnhem)
German: Patty (Spindler), Dennis (Arnhem troops) and me (von Tettau)

game support:
War photgraphers: Damian and Saïma
Dice thrower: Azzaar
Coffee: Coffee machine

West side

Area around Oosterbeel Laag station

Most western unit, Moellers Engineers, of the German "Arnhem" units

Germans around De oude Haven

German units at and near Dreyenseweg

Germans move forward behind the museum….

….and occupy some houses near the museum

Moeller at St. Elisabethsgasthuis, soon under attack of the front coy of the approaching Airborne units

The Arnhem station area still free of fighting….

….behind the houses at the Utrechtseweg/ straat….

…the St Elisabethsgasthuis….

….and in the distance Lombok and the bridge of the Oranjestraat.

The Airborne units approaching the crossroad at Lombok, ready to meet any resistance…..and they will…

Meanwhile at the DZ/ LZ….von tettau's front battalions arrive and are heavenly engaged at long and medium distance…

A few kilometres to the east 10 and 156 para try to break through the Spindler blocking line, supported by the artillery…

…fire….

RASC and the divisional troops/ HQ are moving into Oosterbeek

Filmed…

At onder en bovenlangs the fighting starts….many casualties on both sides, but slowly the Germans are pushed back

Moellers troops are hit hard, vehicle destroyed, even when supported by the 9th SS recce from the south bank of the Rijn

even the attack via the Oranjestraat is checked by the British

Time to show the personnel of the Rijnhotel their building as it was in 1944….

Germans occupy the houses across the museum and in the museum to hold the advance….

At the DZ all remnants of the British are assembled at Wolfheze railway crossing and send to Arnhem..the rest stop the Germans and prepare the LZ for the Polish…or are moving towards Oosterbeek to prepare new defensive positions to hold the advance of von tettau…

The road is still blocked by Spindler

Oosterbeek

9th SS send anybody and everything they have towards the British advance….

…to be hit by artillery. the 9th SS recce is destroyed….

but the british advance is not stopped

The prison is not under attack…

von tettau renews the attacks, supported bij Char tanks and push the british troops slowly backwards. The tanks are shortly successfull, even burning the crew of a 6pounder gun, but finally stopped by some well placed PIAT rounds. German infantry is ambushed and attacked from different sides

The streams of the Hemelseberg run quietly…

The war photographer

Great AAR & fabulous photo's. The game was thoroughly enjoyable – hope we can do it again sometime soon.

Thanks.
Yes it was and should indeed be played again….it will go to Gent Belgium, Eindhoven and of course Arnhem during the wargame weekends they organize

Excellent stuff Chris,
Really good-looking game, hope it was amazing to play, as well as look at!
All the best

John

We certainly plan on doing another game in January of next year and possibly something in August too.
A big 'thank you' to everyone who took part and especially Ludwig and Adie who provided virtually all of the terrain and figures, but also to the hotel who were exceptionally helpful in every way.
Sadly I doubt if we will ever be able to take the 54mm Arnhem kit that we have bought from John 54 …unless we move to the Netherlands of course.