Interactive History: Arnhem, September 1944

[Kraxis]

1:
Tough one, I would like to send Frost, however what I know about the man doesn't fit the scenario. He tried to gain the bridge once, then he stopped all movement and put up a strong defensive position. Good choice if the bridge had been in his hands.
Also, sending him might cause some stir in the command. So I have to go with the more senior commander.
A

2:
Less obvious choice, but one thing is certain 3rd is not to be sent. They shuold be pretty tired, and they have been involved in fighting. They should simply stay put.
The pilots are too few and too weak to be of any use other than as a reserve.
The KOSB are holding a vital position as it is, to send them might be good initially, but could cost us a lot of ground later. It is little gain for a large risk.
That leaves us the until now unknown 11th. They seem to be in good shape, so they should be ready for a fight, which might just happen. The bad side is that they can be needed elsewhere, while guarding a place that isn't attacked. However, that is what we must risk. Without the LZ, we will lose.
C

[Stig]

sorry that the update is taking so long, but I'm quite busy atm. I'm trying to make a overview map for the new chapter, and need to calculate some losses (I use Close Combat 2 for that)

[Stig]

Finally have been able to do another update, sorry guys

You look at the your watch, 20:47 PM. It has been one hell of a day, literally, and it weren’t just the Germans who caused that hell. The fighting would be normal for a normal day in the war, but all the other things that seem to come with them are causing problems. Radio problems, the division being all over Arnhem, more Germans then estimated and those were just the little problems. The 2nd Battalion of South Staffordshire’s didn’t arrive at all, which meant that the 11th Battalion needed to be taken from Hacket’s Brigade. Hacket, being easily-flammable, replied immediately. His Brigade was like of band of brothers, build stone by stone, ready to work together at any time. It was his pride, he lived for it, and he wouldn’t want to see it go. Knowing Hacket you could prepare for this, of course giving him the KOSB didn’t fully satisfy him, but he at least kept quiet. He agreed to the fact that the KOSB should be held in reserve for the time being, they were exhausted. They had been in heavy fighting from early in the morning till now. They have had the toughest opposition of all the battalions and they also had the most losses. They were out of ammo and supplies till the 4th Brigade was dropped, this could re-supply them, but what was meant for only 3 Battalions now needed to be given to 5, as the 3rd Battalion was also stationed nearby. Speaking of the 3rd Battalion, they were exhausted too. Not due to fighting, as they only did light fighting, but they had been moved all over the operation theatre today. Their first task was to secure Den Brink, but they were called back to aid the Border Regiment and even after that they were send to aid the KOSB. Doing this they had to move under heavy mortar fire, due to this they were unable to connect to the KOSB in time to help in the fighting, but still they had many casualties.
How it was with the two Battalions in Arnhem was unknown again. It was hard to contact them by radio, and you haven’t been able to speak to either Dobie or Frost, a messenger has been send to inform Dobie that we is now in command of the Brigade, but this messenger did not return yet. The resistance was trying to do what it could, but it was hard to contact the fighting-zones, most telephones didn’t work, and those that did work could be intercepted by the Germans. Only the special telephone line was safe to use, but the phones connected to them weren’t located in the fighting-zone.

“Sir, we got the casualty-reports of the first day!”
“Yes, show them to me Brown.”
“Well sir, both the KOSB and the 3rd Battalion had most losses, KOSB lost 107 of its 765 men. The 3rd Battalion lost 89 out of 588. The Border Regiment has had less losses 65 of their 788 men are now either dead, wounded or missing.”
“Do you have any news about the battalions in Arnhem?”
“Well we know that the 1st Battalion has had heavy losses trying to make for the railway bridge, we don’t exactly know how many, but we estimate about 100-150 men.”
“And Frost?”
“We don’t know, the last time we heard about the units at the bridge was when a Dutch resistance fighter informed us of the fact that Frosts second attempt to take the bridge failed. The resistance fighter said that he thought about 20 men were lost in that one attempt alone.”
“Thank you, Brown.”

These reports made you think, you don’t know if any bridge is taken, and if no bridge is taken the battle with be lost anyway. Tomorrow Sosabowski will land directly south of the bridge, so that means that the bridge needs to be taken in order to let Sosabowski’s men pass and head to Oosterbeek. If the bridge isn’t taken Sosabowski will land in the middle of a German area, which will be full of German troops.
Also it’s important to get into contact with the 1st Battalion, is the railway bridge taken? And if it’s not would they need extra support, next to the Glider Pilots that are already there.
Where are the German troops exactly, it will be important to know where there main strength is located and what roads they use. Now you only know the plain overall view which isn’t clear, it’s hard to tell where the Germans are and the division is scattered over Arnhem, it will be important to get it linked up again, but you also still need to secure important high grounds.
As visible on the map the Germans mainly come from the East, using the bridges over the IJssel to send in troops to Arnhem, with Hacket’s Brigade dropped directly between them you might be able to encircle them and destroy a pretty large force now pushing for the bridge. However doing this you have to leave the high grounds Hacket landed on and you won’t be in a good defensive position anymore. This to will put the KOSB into action again, as they are exhausted and have fighted all day, it might not be good for morale.
Furthermore it’s important to redirect the 3rd Battalion into Arnhem, they have been on the move all day, and taken casualties even when they weren’t fighting. However they are currently in the front line and have digged themselves in on the higher ground North-East of Arnhem.

grey: german positions
purple: your positions
red lines: front lines
dots with flags: HQs

So what will you choose:

1. The 4th Brigade
A. Keep them going for their targets as they are now, this means that (when looking at the map) the KOSB will retreat into Arnhem, the 10th Battalion will take over their position and link up with the 3rd Battalion. The 156th Battalion will try to push through to the Rhine set up a line from North to South.
B. Try to cut of the Germans, this means that the KOSB will stay where they are, still in the front line. The 10th Battalion will try to break through to the IJssel and will try to either take or destroy the railway bridge there. The 156th Battalion will clear the area between the 2nd Battalion at the Bridge and the IJssel.

2. Goes with question 1.
A. Let the 4th Brigade operate this night, darkness will come within the next hour.
B. Let the 4th Brigade begin its operations at sunrise tomorrow morning, U-hour will be 6:34.

3. The 3rd Battalion
A. Keep them were they are, the front line needs to stay intact, even though they have been on the move all day, darkness will come soon and the Germans will most likely not attack and regroup as well.
B. Steadily pull them back to Arnhem, but let them do a defensive retreat, which means that they will pull back for the imaginative line between the Brigade HQs of Hicks (1st Airlanding) and Hacket (4th Brigade).

4. Goes with question 3.
A. Let the 3rd Battalion operate this night, darkness will come within the next hour.
B. Let the 3rd Battalion begin its operations at sunrise tomorrow morning, U-hour will be 6:47.

[AggonyDuck]

Thanks for the update Stig. I've been holding off on my reply and decisions in the hopes of someone else doing the deciding for me. But it looks like it ain't happening, so I better get into deciding then.



1. The 4th Brigade
A. Keep them going for their targets as they are now, this means that (when looking at the map) the KOSB will retreat into Arnhem, the 10th Battalion will take over their position and link up with the 3rd Battalion. The 156th Battalion will try to push through to the Rhine set up a line from North to South.

This seems like the safer and better option to me.

2. Goes with question 1.
A. Let the 4th Brigade operate this night, darkness will come within the next hour.

Lets operate at night. Overall the Germans won't expect us to operate at night, because well simply the Allies didn't attack during nights.

3. The 3rd Battalion

B. Steadily pull them back to Arnhem, but let them do a defensive retreat, which means that they will pull back for the imaginative line between the Brigade HQs of Hicks (1st Airlanding) and Hacket (4th Brigade).

4. Goes with question 3.

A. Let the 3rd Battalion operate this night, darkness will come within the next hour.


Oh well, I hope my decisions are good.

[Stig]

But it looks like it ain't happening

I think I will drag Kraxis back to these forums, he has the little excuse that he has no internet connection, but he has been one other forum ... *prepares rope*

[Myrddraal]

Can anyone contribute to these? If so, here's my 2 cents.

I agree with 1A and 3B

However, the 3rd batallion are exhausted, and parts of the 4th even more so. We have a bit of a dilema here. I think that doing the above would give us a stronger position, especially if the railway bridge is taken or destroyed, but theres a long fight ahead, and so far we've had very few units kept fresh. So I'd say the safest option for the long run is to rest for the night now, and begin operations in morning. I think if we keep going tonight, the men won't be able to stand up long.

So 2B, 4B

For your interest http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwa...i_arnhem.shtml

[Kraxis]

1B...
We have a fairly strong German presence in our flank. That is never good, especailly not when they harass the forces trying to take a bridge.
We have a fairly fresh brigade on their flank. That is always good, especially when it can 'easily' cut the Germans' supplyline. And thst can be crucial since the Germans are likely to have a lot of supplies and ammo with them. They haven't expected this, and aren't prepared to fight with no supplies like our troops are. It is worth the risk in my opinion.

2A...
Of course we use the night. As said the Allies didn't use the night much (surprise-effect for the Germans), but we have experienced and elite paras, some of the few Allied troops that have regualrly used the night in combat. Lets use that pool of experience.

3A...
Well, if we attack the Germans and try to link up with 3rd Bat, then those troops should stay where they are, or else we run the risk of 4th Brig being turned, or at least being isolated. And we can't have more troops being isolated right now. 3rd Bat is tired, but dug-in infantry is hard to dislodge, and Germans don't like to attack at night against undetermined enemies. If they do it is going to be a cakewalk for the paras. So I expect the 3rd will be able to rest throughout the night in their current positions, while moving them back will leave them tired for the next day.

4A...
Since we don't so anything really, I would say that we use the night... In any case it is important that we don't just let 4th Brig hang out there.