R
Richtig
Guest
I seem to have been reading and researching a lot around Market Garden, and though I would try a refight of one of my favourite boardgames Hells Highway by Victory Games. I am sure we all know the setup, so I won't dwell on too much detail, just try and run through a few turns and chart what happens...
For those unfamiliar with the game, it has a brilliant feel, with two types of zones of control, and some zones not projecting into some types of terrain. Units can be either in combat mode or travel mode. A unit in combat mode will typically have 6 movement points (depending on terrain), but a unit in travel mode can move unlimited along connected roads - so the axis with limited unit density have their work cut out to ensure the key choke points are controlled.
This image shows the setup. although I hadn't placed the 30 Corps units when I took this, it shows the initial German dispositions with 6 Falschirmjager entrenched down the main highway, and the various units of the 101st in their initial drop zones.
Here we see the first axis casualties (the big red cross) as the RAF attempt to beat up the axis frontline. The 101st have just dropped (but not moved yet) and you can see the disrupted drops marked by the green DD markers. Including one battalion which is so disrupted/damaged it has ceased to be combat effective ( the other large red cross! The Germans brace themselves for the first move and combat...
Here we see the results of those first moves and combats. 30 Corps batter those units they can get hold of with good results eliminating the first road block and the motorised unit of the 9th SS to the south. Units swoop north to trap the German unit there, but it fights well only suffering disruption in this first turn.
The 101st screen into Best, but perhaps a first bad omen, as they race towards the canal bridge the german engineers detonate it spectacularly. Further west Osterode's armoured defenders hang on grimly to the town - whilst to the west again the 101st try to grab the two bridges at Veghel. Once again the germans seem to have been well prepared, so whilst the 101 gain possession of the main Canal bridge, the bridge into Vehgel is once more blown to the skies.
Early days but you can already feel the planners eyes turning to the map to find those other routes across the many and varied waterways to that final goal - Arnhem Bridge.
For those unfamiliar with the game, it has a brilliant feel, with two types of zones of control, and some zones not projecting into some types of terrain. Units can be either in combat mode or travel mode. A unit in combat mode will typically have 6 movement points (depending on terrain), but a unit in travel mode can move unlimited along connected roads - so the axis with limited unit density have their work cut out to ensure the key choke points are controlled.
This image shows the setup. although I hadn't placed the 30 Corps units when I took this, it shows the initial German dispositions with 6 Falschirmjager entrenched down the main highway, and the various units of the 101st in their initial drop zones.
Here we see the first axis casualties (the big red cross) as the RAF attempt to beat up the axis frontline. The 101st have just dropped (but not moved yet) and you can see the disrupted drops marked by the green DD markers. Including one battalion which is so disrupted/damaged it has ceased to be combat effective ( the other large red cross! The Germans brace themselves for the first move and combat...
Here we see the results of those first moves and combats. 30 Corps batter those units they can get hold of with good results eliminating the first road block and the motorised unit of the 9th SS to the south. Units swoop north to trap the German unit there, but it fights well only suffering disruption in this first turn.
The 101st screen into Best, but perhaps a first bad omen, as they race towards the canal bridge the german engineers detonate it spectacularly. Further west Osterode's armoured defenders hang on grimly to the town - whilst to the west again the 101st try to grab the two bridges at Veghel. Once again the germans seem to have been well prepared, so whilst the 101 gain possession of the main Canal bridge, the bridge into Vehgel is once more blown to the skies.
Early days but you can already feel the planners eyes turning to the map to find those other routes across the many and varied waterways to that final goal - Arnhem Bridge.
