Chek

Market Garden possibly displays the German military's greatest strength and that must surely be it's command staff. When the first Allied paratroopers began landing there was virtually no substantial defence in place. But with the ability to set up integrated command posts at what appears to be, "the drop of a hat", and scrounge together a defeated and fractured army and stop the Elite of the Allied forces is pretty impressive. Especially when you consider that the bulk of the German forces were inexperienced, handled themselves poorly in battle and suffered accordingly. There was also another huge contributor to the German success and that was their logistical situation, especially around Arnhem. They had discovered the relevant information to set up the supply drop zones on a British officer. Consequently they were amply supplied with British food,weapons and ammunition. Actually I'd probably put logistics first. Boring I know but hard to escape

So if you pop into the cobbler for a resole, does it effect your fatigue rating?

These mods are easily up to scratch. Essential for ones collection I might add.

Did a table top game of Crete a year or so ago and the TO&Es I was given for FJR were pretty much as described by Mr Emrys. IIRC the mortar platoon only had 4 8cm mortars though.

Not the kind of groupies you want to get intimate with though. Very much enjoying your tutorial.

Looking great an excellent effort.

Great pics looks nice and peaceful down there now.

Noticed that the Daimler Dingo front and rear wheels on the left side turn when cornering while the front right wheel does not. No big deal just noticed it is all.

I concur

Just had one in a quick battle take out 2 brit Shermans in about 20 seconds. The first hit went through the turret and made an impact crater about 15metres behind the Sherman, annihilating everyone in the turret. That is one scary MF weapon system. Wasn't using cover arcs just let it decide it's targets.

Just as an aside CMBN Scenario organiser doesn't seem to want to unpack GLs campaigns. It is unpacking FI no problems. Thought it might have been me but as it's still unpacking FI and BN I'm assuming somethings changed in GL.

It's a glitch in the matrix, I suspect, but have no hard proof, that combat mission may not actually be reality. Gasp! I know, crazy stuff.

Very much enjoying the Elite setting.

OMG I just collapsed on the ground in an orgasmic heap with that thought.

Okay this is probably a little sad, I've the download page on refresh. I can feel it it's nearly here. Time to refresh.

Yeah I bought that waiting for the CMBN Commonwealth module...hmmm I don't have Afghanistan yet.

I do believe that Micheal Emrys is mistaken in removing his previous signature line.

That can get expensive if your not careful and of course if your careful it ain't as much fun.

Amen to that

Unfortunately I cannot remember or find who said this and are somewhat loath to post it but it does seem appropriate. A good Commander knows strategy and Tactics. A great Commander knows logistics.

Very much like your work. Don't know the first thing about modding or textures but everything looks kinda bland next to your mods. Do please keep it up

As 3 Commando formed up for the run inshore they would’ve heard the drone of the 51st Troop Carrier Wings Dakotas, 296 Sdn RAFs Albermales and Stirling and Halifax glider tugs overhead as they carried Brigadier Gerald Lathbury’s 1st Parachute Brigade of the 1st Parachute Division to one of the four DZs and one LZ split over either side of the Simento. Having flown from North Africa via Malta, the Paratroopers had suffered the usual friendly fire incidences synonymous with airborne operations over Sicily. Close to a third of the force having been either shot down or forced to return to base and the remainder so badly scattered that of the original 1800 odd force barely 300 were ready to assault the Primosole bridge itself, nuetralise the AA battery nearby and capture hills Johnny I, II and III and dominate the high ground nearby. As Brigadier Lathbury and what remained of his staff made their way towards the Bridge, they bumped into Lt Col Frost and fifty of his 2nd battalion on their way to secure the high ground. Continuing on the Brigadier soon acquired a similar number of men as Frost and nearing the bridge he stopped, split them into groups and planned the assault on the bridge. As he moved onward a paratrooper emerged from the night and informed the Brigadier that he was from a small group with Lt Col Pearson and that the Bridge had been captured by an assault from the North. Moving onwards he noticed an 88mm gun and was somewhat surprised when it opened fire on him as he had assumed it had been captured in the assault, obviously the Bridge wasn’t completely in the Paratroopers hands. A grenade thrown from the 88 crew wounded Lathbury but after a healthy tot of whiskey and some first aid he continued on, although at a much reduced pace. At the north bank he found around 150 men including some sappers who had removed the demo charges from the bridge. As the day dawned 250 men from 1st and 3rd battalion the Parachute Regiment defended the bridge. On hand were three anti tank guns, two 3 inch mortars and a Vickers MG. South east of the bridge about a half a mile away a surgical team from the 16th Parachute Field Ambulance, kept supplied with injured by Staff Sergeant Stevens using a mule drawn cart, would perform 72 operation throughout the battle. Surrendering Italian troops grew to be quite a problem. Some were told to go away, others numbering around 130 were herded into a farmyard by 2 Battalion and left unguarded, they soon grew to over 500. The German response was somewhat different. Troops from the 1st Parachute Machine Gun Battalion of the 1st Parachute Division had been flown from France and had arrived the day before and launched an attack from the South, not from the North as expected. Preceding the attack Messerschmitts strafed the British positions while mortars supported the attack itself. Keeping up the pressure through the day, Lathbury’s men managed with difficulty to hold the bridge. To the North of the river a German despatch rider approached and came under fire. He then reported back to Captain Stagenberg who had arrived on reconnaissance. The Captain went forward for a look when he also came under fire. He then gathered up about twenty men and returning to the bridge was once again seen off by the British Paratroops. Undeterred Stagenberg assembled a collection of clerks, cooks, HQ personnel and with a company of signallers from the 1st Parachute Communications Battalion, commanded by Captian Erich Fassl, set off with his 350 strong force to retake Primosole. With an AA Battery comprising an 88 and an old 5cm gun in support, Stagenbergs motley collection of troops headed off down the road towards the bridge, as the Signallers crossed the river further east in an attempt to turn the British flank. Lathbury’s Paratroopers easily drove them back but an SP 88mm and some anti tank guns were added to the German attack and pounded the defenders positions. British spirits were still high aided by the discovery of some casks of wine. At around 0930 a wireless set briefly sparked into life and contact with the 8th Army was made, before it failed they learned the 4th Armoured Brigade was fighting towards them. Clinging to their trenches and captured pillboxes the Para’s hung on as they struggled to drive back the Fallschirmjager attacks. At 1700hrs with casualties mounting the troops on the northern end fell back to support the south. The Germans had managed to get a force across the river further down and were threatening the British flank. An 88 was brought up and the Pillboxes on the southern end of the bridge came under direct fire. With casualties mounting, ammunition supplies running low and the 4th Armoured failing to show, Lathbury decided to fall back to Johnny I, II and III and join Frost who was hopefully still there. In small groups they slipped back with only the Field Ambulance being left behind. Johnny 1 had been captured earlier by some elements of 2nd Battalion. Numbering an officer and 25 men they took the position and 130 Italian Prisoners. At around 0215 frost and his men, now increased with the arrival of A company, prepared to attack the very same position as a message sent by the now new occupiers had not got through. At 0530 the occupation of Johnny 1 became clear and a friendly fire situation was avoided. With the Battalion forming up on Johnny 1 they came under fire from Johnny II but with no heavy weapons they were unable to respond. Under attack from three directions a patrol was sent out to deal with some MGs but faired poorly when it came under attack from three armoured cars and the forward element was then pulled back. Under constant sniping, relief came from an RA observer Captain Vere Hodge, when he made contact with the six inch cruiser HMS Newfoundland thwarting the German advance. Still they battled on until at around 1930 when the first few Shermans of 4 Armoured Brigade appeared south of Johnny 1. 2 hours later a company from the 6 DLI arrived. There is a fair chance they could’ve pushed the retreating Germans off the bridge, however traveling on foot through temperatures of 95 F in the shade the exhausted Infantry were in no shape for an assault. Resting for the remainder of the night as more Shermans arrived deploying on the high ground and looking across at the Catania Plains beyond. Once again a partial success. Although the British Paratroopers had relinquished the Bridge, the demo charges had been removed and it was still intact. However the battle that followed to cross the bridge, degenerated into slaughter as more Fallschirmjager arrived and the DLI Brigade forced their way across.

that's embarrassing, must be new glasses time already.

With the upcoming CM Gustav Line and the imminent Market Garden due for CMBN, I thought I might give a little back ground into a couple of battles in Sicily that in a loose way tie in with Market Garden also. At the start of the Primosole Bridge section in Ian Blackwell’s, Battle for Sicily: Stepping Stone to Victory, he immediately compares Montgomery’s plan to take the bridges at Malati and Primosole, to that of Operation Market Garden. Of course Market Garden was on a larger scale. On both occasion the objective was to capture bridges by using fast moving, specially trained forces and secure a route forward for the slower moving armoured and infantry columns before the enemy could strengthen their defences. Aside from the overall plan there were other similarities as Brigadier Gerald Lathbury’s 1 Parachute Brigade was assigned with capturing the bridges at both Primosole and Arnhem. Initially Lt Col Durmford Slater’s 3 Commando would land from the sea at 2200 hrs, 10 miles behind enemy lines and 7 miles from their objective Maliti bridge, which crossed the Leonardo River about 2 miles North of Lentini. Once aboard the Prince Albert and heading to the landing site they were spotted by a German E boat which fired two torpedos. The Prince Albert managed to avoid the danger and continue to her disembarkation point. The Commandos were put ashore in two waves as there were insufficient landing craft. Intelligence suggested there may be some Italian troops manning the coastal defences after which there should be little problems. Durmford Slater was the first ashore and with a hold up in a following Landing Craft was exposed to fire from four pillboxes. With support arriving they pushed their way forward through barbed wire using whistles and hunting horns to rally the Commandos and continued inland. 3 Commandos CO was soon presented with a German Prisoner and a series of “violent little battles” occurred as they advanced through the village of Agnone, German MG posts hampering their advance. The 160 officers and men of the first wave made their way inland along a railway line. On their way to their objective they came across some paratroopers who had been dropped away from their DZ and who declined an invitation to team up with the Commandos and headed off to join their comrades at Primosole. Finally reaching the river the Commandos waded across so as to attack the bridge from the unexpected North side. There they found four pillboxes and proceeded to clear the Italian troops out with grenades. Once complete they set about a Northern defence perimeter around the bridge and awaited the arrival of the 50th Division. However, the next troops to arrive were German and a troop of Commandos was sent back across the river to the southwest of the Bridge when they were stopped by heavy German opposition. The Germans to the south then began to increase the pressure while working their way around the Commandos left flank. The commandos were then subjected to a mortar bombardment lasting some hours. Now numbering 350 with the arrival of the 2nd wave they were unable to squeeze everyone into the safety of the pillboxes or dig trenches in the stony ground. Their casualties began to mount. A Tiger tank arrived and contributed to their misery. Amidst the roar of battle some German trucks blissfully continued towards the bridges Northern approach and were ambushed by one of 3 Commandos troops situated forward of the bridge, the exploding ammunition in the trucks adding to the din of battle. A young lieutenant fired a PIAT a little too close to one of the German vehicles killing himself and the trucks occupants in the process. Captain Bill Lloyd , with both legs broken by an exploding mortar round continued to fight from a bicycle supported by two of his men until he was finally cut down leading an assault on a German MG post. With casualties mounting an attack on the Tiger tank was ordered but the Commandos were unable to close the range with their PIATs and the attack failed. With casualties continuing to climb and the demo charges removed from the bridge, Dumford Slater decided it was time to fall back to the high ground west of the bridge and attempt to dominate the Bridge from there. As the Commandos fell back the Tiger tank crossed the bridge and pursued them, forcing them to abandon the hills and split up into small groups which then made their back to the Agnone-Lentini road. A number of the Commandos were captured with most being released as the German positions were later overrun. Casualties numbered 28 killed, 66 wounded and 59 missing. Although 3 Commando had not held the bridge it had prevented its destruction and distracted a sizable number of forces from delaying 50th Division, so to some extent the operation could be considered a partial success. Montgomery later ordered Dumford Slater to have “3 Commando Bridge” cut into stone and built into the bridge. The plaque is still there. Primosole to follow

Peter Caddick-Adams 10 Armies in hell is on my list to read.Want to finish Ian Blackwells Battle for Sicily 1st though,then maybe something on Salerno.