Dagger5
06 Jul 03, 04:37
AAR
Written by: Dagger 5 and Foggy
Date: May to July 2003
Players:
Allied-first player, Foggy
German-second player, Dagger 5
Scenario: Market Garden 44 (CD version)
Turns: 20
TOAW version: COW 1.06
Result: As of Turn 10, German Marginal Victory
General Comment (German-Dagger 5):
1. Having played this particular scenario at least four times over the years, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do as the commander of both the German and Allied sides. Since this particular AAR is myself (Dagger 5) as the Germans and Foggy as the Allies, I will focus my comments accordingly.
2. Scenario: Market Garden 44
The scenario notes are quite good in providing an operational overview for the Allies, less so for the Germans. Read them before issuing any orders to your units. The Allies have the initiative since they are the first player not to mention their significant edge in combat power that they can employ in the time and place of their choosing (to include airdrops). It is difficult, but not impossible, for the German to gain and maintain any kind of initiative. Your best bet as the German in this regard is the aggressive employment of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions.
Commander’s Intent (German-Dagger 5): Identify the Allies drop zones and unit locations in and around Arnhem and Nijmegen. Quickly mass the combat power of the 9th and 10th SS Divisions and attack to defeat/destroy Allied units in zone north of the Maas and Waal rivers to seize/secure all major VP hexes and seize/secure and fortify all major crossing sites over both rivers. After securing the crossing sites over the Maas and Waal rivers, fortify key locations and prepare defensive positions in sector against follow Allied ground advances. Move KG Tettau to positions in and around Arnhem and fortify those positions, destroying any Allied paratroopers in sector. Conduct a delaying action in zone in all other areas, destroying bridges, defending key terrain and conducting spoiling attacks as appropriate.
Commander’s Intent (Allied-Foggy): Massive central assault looking for bridges at Valkenswart, Ardendenk & Tournhout. All possible river crossings sites to be identified for exploitation. 101st & 82 dropped historically close to DZ's. Airlift maxed out for bridge seizures. Not much room for error in this scenario, the central assault has to conducted quickly & little regard for losses.
Actions
Turn 1:
Allies: Foggy dropped the 82nd in and around Nijmegen (24,12) seizing the key bridges and important stretches of the improved road running from Grave (24,17) in the south to the key bridge site at 23,11 just north of Nijmegen. He dropped the 101st in and around Eindhoven (23,32) seizing key bridges as well as the key stretches of the improved road running south-north from Eindhoven to just south of Veghel (20,25). He did not drop anything in or around Arhhem (23,6).
In the south, the 5th and 32nd Guards Armored got off to a good start, destroying or routing elements of the KG Walter and KG Erdmann along a line running NW to SE from Valkenswart (25,35) through Neerpelt (30,37) to Bree (34,39). In the West, the 15th Scots and 53rd Welsh advanced north and northwest to Tournhout (15,41), Aredendenk (20,37) and Bergeyk (23,36).
Germans: I accepted some risk in and around Arnhem by leaving it only lightly garrisoned, while massing the most of the 9th and 10th SS’s combat and attacked Allied units vicinity grids 23, 11 and 24, 10. After a sustained preparatory artillery bombardment, both attacks were successful. I was particularly interested in regaining control of 23, 11 as it represents a major crossing point for armor and mech forces moving north to Arnhem (as well as south to Nijmegen). At the same time I positioned 3 battalions (1x Mech, 2x Tank) from the 10th SS east of Nijmegen for follow on attacks in a supporting effort. Wanted to defeat/destroy as much of the 82d as possible before the British Airborne got on the ground.
Other German elements in contact were largely outgunned and overmatched and spent the turn trying to find defensable terrain (if they could break contact), otherwise they dug in where they were. The remaining German forces (59th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division, 180th Depot Division, Independent Panzer Brigades) had not yet activated.
Turn 2:
Foggy moved 3x Battalions of the 82nd moved east, south and northwest of Grave (24,17) to expand their area of control. Meanwhile, I maneuvered the 9th and 10th SS against 23,12 and 24,11 where I bombarded and attacked, resulting in the destruction of upwards of 3x battalions from the 82nd while seizing the 25 VPs at 24, 11. North of the Maas river, the 82nd now only had 5x company size elements (3x of which were artillery) remaining, that if not reinforced, I felt I would be able to overrun in the next couple of turns.
Foggy moved the 101st out from their DZs to defeat/destroy remaining German elements holding canal and river crossings in and around Eindhoven. I was able to offer only token resistance as I continued to destroy as many bridges as possible. Foggy’s 5th and 32nd Guards Armored maintained a vigorous assault to the north against the remaining elements of the KG Walter and KG Erdmann.
My 1st Para Army activated and was able to move 3x of their battalions into entrenched positions at 3x key crossing sites (29,16 /32,17/36,19) on the Maas river. KG von Tettau was able to move into defensive positions in and around Arnhem in anticipation of a British and/or Polish Airborne drop. In the West and the East, I felt as though I was able to slow the Allies advance sufficiently enough that is was unlikely to be decisive in terms of winning or losing the game.
Turn 3:
No Allied airdrop. A company from the 82d battled it’s way back into Nijmegen. However, without reinforcements it was surrounded and destroyed by a combined 9th and 10th SS effort. The German 84th Infantry Division activated and I sent into battle against a battalion of the 82nd at Gennep (29,16) where it seized the crossing point there. The German 59th Infantry Division activated and after some heavy bombardment launched a successful attack against a battalion from the 101st vicinity Tilberg (12,31). The rest of KG Tettau closed on Arnhem and dug in. No easy victory for the British paras if they decide to drop there. In the South, the Allies continued to maintain a solid advance north but I do not anticipate that it will arrive in time to save what’s left of the 82d north of Maas River or seize without a fight the key crossing sites over the Maas in order to move their heavy divisions against Nijmegen or Arnhem.
Turn 4:
Allies received 2nd Lift. British (Elst 23,9 and Pannerden 25,8) and Polish (Oosterbeek 21,7) Airborne airdrop vicinity Arhnem. A regiment from the 82d dropped near Nijmegen and forced out two elements of the 9th and 10th SS. The American regiment was quickly surrounded by other elements of the 9th and 10th and an artillery bombardment began. The American regiment was subsequently destroyed after an all out attack by elements of the 9th and 10th SS. KG Knaust successfully attacked British paras vicinity Pannerden and secured the crossing site. The German 59th Division continued to prepare defensive positions in anticipation of an attack by a combined force of the 101st Airborne, the 5th Guard Armored, 15th Scots and 53rd Welsh.
Only three companies of the 82d remained between the Maas and Waal rivers. I was determined to work on their destruction over the following couple of turns as well as securing the river crossing site vicinity Grave in order to prepare fixed positions against approaching XXX Corps ground elements. I also ordered continued attacks by KG Knaust against the British Airborne in and around Pannerden.
Turn 5:
Elements of 9th and 10th SS Panzer pushed remaining 82nd Airborne elements south of the Maas River. The German 84th Infantry continued a series of successful attacks against elements of 82nd Airborne east of Grave. My intent was to have selected elements of the 9th and 10th SS and well as the 84th Infantry destroy the remaining 82nd Airborne units and seize the town of Grave. Issued WARNO to 10th SS for move against Polish Airborne in the vicinity of Arnhem. Remaining German units continued to conduct delaying actions against advancing Allied units.
Turn 6:
Foggy dropped a battalion of British paras (who broke into company size elements upon landing) in adjacent hexes to the north (23,5) and northeast (24,5) of Arnhem. KG Tettau had successfully fortified most of the battalion positions in and around Arnhem so this small element by itself could not take Arnhem. A battalion of the 10th SS along with KG Knaust continued their attack against the Polish brigade, successfully pushing all but one company to the area (21, 6) just south of the airfield at 21,5. Elements of the 9th and 10th SS and as well as the 84th Infantry destroyed all but one company of the 82nd Airborne units vicinity grid 25, 16, coming within one hex of seizing the town of Grave. Meanwhile, remaining Allied mech, armor and infantry unit front line trace had reached Uden (22,22), too late to save the 82nd and secure the crossing sites on the Mass river without a fight. Moved 3 battalions from the Independent Panzer Brigades into Gennep (29,16) to reinforce the German 84th Infantry as needed or launch flanking attacks against the approaching Allied mech, armor and infantry units.
Turn 7:
A picture is truly worth a thousand words and I apologize for not taking screen shots of earlier turns. The black circles designate the key crossing sites that I felt were critical in seizing and fortifying prior to arrival of significant number of Allied mech and armor units. By turn 7, I’d had success in clearing the Allies paratroopers between the Maas and Waal rivers, securing the key crossing sites and beginning fortification work at those sites. As you can see in the screen shot, those powerful Allied Divisions were starting to arrive for the show!
Written by: Dagger 5 and Foggy
Date: May to July 2003
Players:
Allied-first player, Foggy
German-second player, Dagger 5
Scenario: Market Garden 44 (CD version)
Turns: 20
TOAW version: COW 1.06
Result: As of Turn 10, German Marginal Victory
General Comment (German-Dagger 5):
1. Having played this particular scenario at least four times over the years, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do as the commander of both the German and Allied sides. Since this particular AAR is myself (Dagger 5) as the Germans and Foggy as the Allies, I will focus my comments accordingly.
2. Scenario: Market Garden 44
The scenario notes are quite good in providing an operational overview for the Allies, less so for the Germans. Read them before issuing any orders to your units. The Allies have the initiative since they are the first player not to mention their significant edge in combat power that they can employ in the time and place of their choosing (to include airdrops). It is difficult, but not impossible, for the German to gain and maintain any kind of initiative. Your best bet as the German in this regard is the aggressive employment of the 9th and 10th SS Panzer Divisions.
Commander’s Intent (German-Dagger 5): Identify the Allies drop zones and unit locations in and around Arnhem and Nijmegen. Quickly mass the combat power of the 9th and 10th SS Divisions and attack to defeat/destroy Allied units in zone north of the Maas and Waal rivers to seize/secure all major VP hexes and seize/secure and fortify all major crossing sites over both rivers. After securing the crossing sites over the Maas and Waal rivers, fortify key locations and prepare defensive positions in sector against follow Allied ground advances. Move KG Tettau to positions in and around Arnhem and fortify those positions, destroying any Allied paratroopers in sector. Conduct a delaying action in zone in all other areas, destroying bridges, defending key terrain and conducting spoiling attacks as appropriate.
Commander’s Intent (Allied-Foggy): Massive central assault looking for bridges at Valkenswart, Ardendenk & Tournhout. All possible river crossings sites to be identified for exploitation. 101st & 82 dropped historically close to DZ's. Airlift maxed out for bridge seizures. Not much room for error in this scenario, the central assault has to conducted quickly & little regard for losses.
Actions
Turn 1:
Allies: Foggy dropped the 82nd in and around Nijmegen (24,12) seizing the key bridges and important stretches of the improved road running from Grave (24,17) in the south to the key bridge site at 23,11 just north of Nijmegen. He dropped the 101st in and around Eindhoven (23,32) seizing key bridges as well as the key stretches of the improved road running south-north from Eindhoven to just south of Veghel (20,25). He did not drop anything in or around Arhhem (23,6).
In the south, the 5th and 32nd Guards Armored got off to a good start, destroying or routing elements of the KG Walter and KG Erdmann along a line running NW to SE from Valkenswart (25,35) through Neerpelt (30,37) to Bree (34,39). In the West, the 15th Scots and 53rd Welsh advanced north and northwest to Tournhout (15,41), Aredendenk (20,37) and Bergeyk (23,36).
Germans: I accepted some risk in and around Arnhem by leaving it only lightly garrisoned, while massing the most of the 9th and 10th SS’s combat and attacked Allied units vicinity grids 23, 11 and 24, 10. After a sustained preparatory artillery bombardment, both attacks were successful. I was particularly interested in regaining control of 23, 11 as it represents a major crossing point for armor and mech forces moving north to Arnhem (as well as south to Nijmegen). At the same time I positioned 3 battalions (1x Mech, 2x Tank) from the 10th SS east of Nijmegen for follow on attacks in a supporting effort. Wanted to defeat/destroy as much of the 82d as possible before the British Airborne got on the ground.
Other German elements in contact were largely outgunned and overmatched and spent the turn trying to find defensable terrain (if they could break contact), otherwise they dug in where they were. The remaining German forces (59th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division, 180th Depot Division, Independent Panzer Brigades) had not yet activated.
Turn 2:
Foggy moved 3x Battalions of the 82nd moved east, south and northwest of Grave (24,17) to expand their area of control. Meanwhile, I maneuvered the 9th and 10th SS against 23,12 and 24,11 where I bombarded and attacked, resulting in the destruction of upwards of 3x battalions from the 82nd while seizing the 25 VPs at 24, 11. North of the Maas river, the 82nd now only had 5x company size elements (3x of which were artillery) remaining, that if not reinforced, I felt I would be able to overrun in the next couple of turns.
Foggy moved the 101st out from their DZs to defeat/destroy remaining German elements holding canal and river crossings in and around Eindhoven. I was able to offer only token resistance as I continued to destroy as many bridges as possible. Foggy’s 5th and 32nd Guards Armored maintained a vigorous assault to the north against the remaining elements of the KG Walter and KG Erdmann.
My 1st Para Army activated and was able to move 3x of their battalions into entrenched positions at 3x key crossing sites (29,16 /32,17/36,19) on the Maas river. KG von Tettau was able to move into defensive positions in and around Arnhem in anticipation of a British and/or Polish Airborne drop. In the West and the East, I felt as though I was able to slow the Allies advance sufficiently enough that is was unlikely to be decisive in terms of winning or losing the game.
Turn 3:
No Allied airdrop. A company from the 82d battled it’s way back into Nijmegen. However, without reinforcements it was surrounded and destroyed by a combined 9th and 10th SS effort. The German 84th Infantry Division activated and I sent into battle against a battalion of the 82nd at Gennep (29,16) where it seized the crossing point there. The German 59th Infantry Division activated and after some heavy bombardment launched a successful attack against a battalion from the 101st vicinity Tilberg (12,31). The rest of KG Tettau closed on Arnhem and dug in. No easy victory for the British paras if they decide to drop there. In the South, the Allies continued to maintain a solid advance north but I do not anticipate that it will arrive in time to save what’s left of the 82d north of Maas River or seize without a fight the key crossing sites over the Maas in order to move their heavy divisions against Nijmegen or Arnhem.
Turn 4:
Allies received 2nd Lift. British (Elst 23,9 and Pannerden 25,8) and Polish (Oosterbeek 21,7) Airborne airdrop vicinity Arhnem. A regiment from the 82d dropped near Nijmegen and forced out two elements of the 9th and 10th SS. The American regiment was quickly surrounded by other elements of the 9th and 10th and an artillery bombardment began. The American regiment was subsequently destroyed after an all out attack by elements of the 9th and 10th SS. KG Knaust successfully attacked British paras vicinity Pannerden and secured the crossing site. The German 59th Division continued to prepare defensive positions in anticipation of an attack by a combined force of the 101st Airborne, the 5th Guard Armored, 15th Scots and 53rd Welsh.
Only three companies of the 82d remained between the Maas and Waal rivers. I was determined to work on their destruction over the following couple of turns as well as securing the river crossing site vicinity Grave in order to prepare fixed positions against approaching XXX Corps ground elements. I also ordered continued attacks by KG Knaust against the British Airborne in and around Pannerden.
Turn 5:
Elements of 9th and 10th SS Panzer pushed remaining 82nd Airborne elements south of the Maas River. The German 84th Infantry continued a series of successful attacks against elements of 82nd Airborne east of Grave. My intent was to have selected elements of the 9th and 10th SS and well as the 84th Infantry destroy the remaining 82nd Airborne units and seize the town of Grave. Issued WARNO to 10th SS for move against Polish Airborne in the vicinity of Arnhem. Remaining German units continued to conduct delaying actions against advancing Allied units.
Turn 6:
Foggy dropped a battalion of British paras (who broke into company size elements upon landing) in adjacent hexes to the north (23,5) and northeast (24,5) of Arnhem. KG Tettau had successfully fortified most of the battalion positions in and around Arnhem so this small element by itself could not take Arnhem. A battalion of the 10th SS along with KG Knaust continued their attack against the Polish brigade, successfully pushing all but one company to the area (21, 6) just south of the airfield at 21,5. Elements of the 9th and 10th SS and as well as the 84th Infantry destroyed all but one company of the 82nd Airborne units vicinity grid 25, 16, coming within one hex of seizing the town of Grave. Meanwhile, remaining Allied mech, armor and infantry unit front line trace had reached Uden (22,22), too late to save the 82nd and secure the crossing sites on the Mass river without a fight. Moved 3 battalions from the Independent Panzer Brigades into Gennep (29,16) to reinforce the German 84th Infantry as needed or launch flanking attacks against the approaching Allied mech, armor and infantry units.
Turn 7:
A picture is truly worth a thousand words and I apologize for not taking screen shots of earlier turns. The black circles designate the key crossing sites that I felt were critical in seizing and fortifying prior to arrival of significant number of Allied mech and armor units. By turn 7, I’d had success in clearing the Allies paratroopers between the Maas and Waal rivers, securing the key crossing sites and beginning fortification work at those sites. As you can see in the screen shot, those powerful Allied Divisions were starting to arrive for the show!