Arnhem 'Tiger' Route - The Bilderburg Hotel

Things went slightly better for the British last game, so before we kick off again, a quick update on how things stand:

Sitrep

The German 2nd Kompanie was happy to see SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Krafft and the rest of the Battalion, based in hasty positions around the Bilderburg Hotel. With access to their heavy weapons in the form of 81mm and 120mm Mortars, the Germans could feel confident that they might be able to hold up the British advance. Unbeknown to them, some reinforcements from the 9th SS-Pz Division were on their way to provide much needed support.

For Lt-Col Fitch and his 3rd Battalion, things were certianly not going to plan, but at least they were still pushing forward along the Utrechtsweg. However his Companies were depleted, by fortunately another Company that had lost its way came under his command at a most opportune moment.

So onto the game:

An overview of the table, with the British arriving from the North, with the Germans deployed around both road junctions and to the flanks.

2nd Kompanie on the left flank, in a place of relative safety.

SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Krafft deployed to move to where he might be needed most.

4th Kompanie deployed to cover the roads, with one Platoon held back in reserve.

9th Kompanie covering the right flank.

Possible German reinforcements.

'A' Company with the Battalion 6pdr ATG on the right flank. Lacking transport a local farmer is helping them out. Asked his name, he said: "I am Groot".

'B' Company to the right, 'C' Company to the left.

'D' Company, having got lost, have come under command.

The end of Turn 1. The British got off to a good start, with all Companies moving forward. 'C' Company came under fire from 4th Kompanie and their supporting Mortars, whilst 'D' Company crossed the road and reached the fence line.

4th Kompanie come under fire from 'C' Company, but weathering the storm of fire, return the favour with interest, due to their supporting Mortars.

The view from 'C' Company.

'D' Company push forward unobserved by the Germans.

The end of Turn 2. The British FAO manages to bring down smoke on 4th Kompanie, but it cannot cover all of their positions. 'A' Company fails to mve forward, but 'B' Company moves up alongside 'C' Company, who have pushed a Platoon across the road to threaten the 4th Kompanie flank. 'D' Company moves forward into the woods where 9th Kompanie are deployed and start to engage them.

Smoke obscures some of 4th Kompanie.

One Platoon of 'C' Company threatens 4th Kompanies flank.

Not an outbreak of measles, but the after effects of German shooting and Mortar fire. 'B' & 'C' Company both lose a platoon each, with others taking heavy casualties.

'D' Company enters the wood and engages 9th Kompanie, but they fail to shoot effectively, allowing 9th Kompanie to turn to meet the threat.

2nd Kompanie looking towards 'B' Company's position, where their accurate shooting caused plenty of casualties.

The end of Turn 3. With most of 'B' & 'C' Company suppressed, there was little they could do, whilst 'A' Company slowly moved forward. 'D' Company continued to engage 9th Kompanie, but again to little effect. 

'A' Company continue to advance, whilst the FAO tries to explain the blue-on-blue incident that caused the loss of the remaining Platoon of 'B' Company.

4th Kompanie continue to resist, despite 'C' Company's best efforts.

'C' Company lose another Platoon to Mortar fire.

Despite overwhelming firepower, 'D' Company cannot gain fire superiority over 9th Kompanie.

End of the Game

With 'B' Company gone and 'A' & 'C' Companies down to effectively one Platoon between them, in reality the 3rd Battalion had ceased to exist. Only 'D' Company had any offensive potential, but even if they had overcome 9th Kompanie, they would struggle to regain the Utrechtsweg, having to cross open ground and the BUA's occupied by 2nd & 4th Kompanies. 

So at this point I called the game as there was little reason to play another Turn, given the above and the fact that 9th SS-Panzer Division reinforcements were on their way.

Post Game Thoughts

Well it all started so well for the British and then suddenly it all went so wrong! Normally I would give a few musings on the game at this point, but there seems little need to, given it was pretty obvious what happened and what went wrong for the British and what went right for the Germans. I will however do a post-campaign wash up which will include a few points from this game. Hopefully I'll do this in a day or so whilst everything is fresh in my mind.

What Next?

Ideally some painting, a mix of WWII British for my planned Normandy campaign as well as some 19thC ImagiNations additions for our planned Cotwswold Wargames Day game, but more on that in another post when things are more firmed up. Games wise maybe some Black Powder II for something different, given it's been 18thC & 20thC so far this year. Time to get thinking on some scenarios etc...

TTFN.