Last Sunday, I joined friends over at Chez Bob's new wargames lair to enjoy a game of Panzer Grenadier Deluxe by Dave Brown, recreating events of Tuesday the 19th of September 1944 which would see a major turning point in the Battle for Arnhem fought around the Oosterbeek railway crossing.
The game scenario was based on the setup and orders of battle from the Fire & Fury Battlefront site and the scenario entitled Market Garden Dreijenseweg written by Richard de Ferrars, Andy Parkes, Paddy Green and Mark Davies, with a link to the excellent scenario page attached to the map of our battle below.
Bob had been organising the game in the weeks leading up to Xmas, sending out orders of battle to players, gathering in figure collections from those of us with suitable German and Airborne forces and then after receiving the set up plans from the various player commanders, laying out the table ready to play on our arrival, following of course the obligatory morning brew, because as the late Stephen Ambrose knew, us Brits do like to get the kettle on before and after battle, as there is absolutely no rush.
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| https://www.fireandfury.com/scenarios.shtml#NWEurope2 |
For our game I assumed the role of Brigadier John “Shan” Hackett, commanding 4th Parachute Brigade, which together with attached brigade troops, engineers, anti-tank, glider pilots and the elite 21st Parachute Company had under command three battalions, 10th Parachute Infantry, 156 Parachute Infantry and the 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers better known as the 'Kosbies'.
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| Brigadier John “Shan” Hackett the senior British commander, commanding 4th Parachute Brigade |
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| The table all set up ready to go. Looking from Wolfheze right of picture next to the railway line towards Oosterbeek, with LZ-L centre table. |
German opposition would be under the overall command of SS-Lt.-Col. Walter Harzer, Chas, who would be coordinating the attack of three SS Kampfgruppe, KG's Krafft, Allworden and Spidler and the Ersatz and Luftwaffe troops of KG Bruhns, initially defending against the push by my spearhead battalions towards Arnhem in support of Lt Col John Frost's men around the Arnhem bridge, but as their strength grows likely forcing a change in British plans.
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| SS-Lt.-Col. Walter Harzer, senior German commander, commanding three SS Kampfgruppe and a Luftwaffe Ersatz KG |
For a more detailed order of battle and indeed the briefings for both side you can download the scenario in the link above.
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| The approaches to Arnhem end of the table with Oosterbeek to the left and the crossroads and Pumping Station to the right |
Like many WWII wargamers I have a fairly good knowledge of the battle around Arnhem and the sequence of events that followed the British airborne landings, but having the opportunity to command Hackett's brigade, I wanted to try and get a feel for some of the confusing state of affairs that confronted him and his management of this battle.
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| 10th Parachute Battalion in the woods opposite the crossroads and Pumping Station, opposed by German SS troops of KG Allworden |
So I deliberately refrained from refreshing my memory with a more thorough understanding of the events and instead fought the battle on the table as events presented themselves, trying to foresee likely issues around a perimeter that would inevitably have to be created but to pursue my orders, as laid out in italics from the briefing, which meant my two forward battalions needed to press on towards Arnhem.
That would see Nathan as Lt.-Col. Sir Richard des Voeux commanding 156 Para Battalion, pushing into the outskirts of Oosterbeek whilst Steve M. assuming the role of Lt.-Col. Ken Smyth, commanding 10th Para, pushing towards the Pumping Station and nearby crossroads, taking the former in the early stages of the battle.
10 Para Orders: secure the area around the pump station and crossroads at the end of the Dreijenseweg and then to attack in support of 156 Para Two companies “up” with reserve company released when one company is “established” north of the Amsterdamseweg (established typically means 5 stands including a company commander).
156 Para Orders: secure the woodland east of the Dreijenseweg and then to attack towards the Amsterdamseweg Two companies “up” with reserve company released when one company is “established” east of the Dreijenseweg (established typically means 5 stands including a company commander).
Meanwhile I also had to be able to defend the Landing Zone and keep a reserve in hand to deal with any unforeseen challenges and so I distributed by brigade engineers, anti-tank guns and glider pilots in support of the 6th KOSB's under Ian, assuming the role of Lt.-Col. Robert Payton-Reid.
Brigade HQ
General Brigade elements – unrestricted use (anti-tank guns, RASC etc) Glider Pilot Squadron – may allocated to any Battalion or held in reserve Engineer Squadron– may allocated to any Battalion or held in reserve 21st Independent Company – 1 platoon on LZ-L, rest remain south of railway KOSB.
Orders: protect LZ-L but some elements can be used for attacking: - up to two Parachute companies - all support elements (including Reconnaissance Troop)
To keep my hand in in the battle I took command of the 21st Parachute Company under Major B. Wilson to support Nathan's men in their battle to clear Oosterbeek.
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| D Company 6th KOSB's under Major G. Sheriff, were held in reserve on the edge of LZ-L near Oosterbeek |
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| 6th KOSB's Recon Platoon at Johannahoeve Farm on the edge of LZ-L |
The scenario is nicely setup to recreate this battle with the inevitable shift from the offensive to the defensive as 4th Parachute Brigade were forced to attempt to pull off the most difficult military manoeuvre, namely to fall back in the face of the enemy.
As mentioned I knew that this was likely to occur, but because I deliberately did not revise this battle, I did not know exactly when, which for me gave that insight that I feel wargaming can deliver that pouring over the historical accounts cannot.
Change in Orders
About half-way through the game time (game turn 8-12 approx), the British player should be told the following:
“There has been a major reverse suffered by the forces in the town. Details are sketchy but there have been heavy losses and strong German forces, including armour, will be attacking imminently, in strength, from Arnhem. You are to halt offensive action with immediate effect. Preserving anti-tank guns and transport are high priority. Brigade units, 10 Para and 156 Para are to move as quickly as possible to the south of the railway KOSB are to remain in position to protect LZ-L; the third lift is expected within the next 30 minutes”
So there I was managing my battle, checking the progress of my forward battalions and noting the increasing pressure from KG Krafft battering the forward platoons of the KOSB's lining the woods and hedges along the Amsterdamseweg, 10 Para gaining control of the Pumping Station and 156 Para flamethrowing their way into the outskirts of Oosterbeek with a growing awareness that forward progress was slowing and a noticeable increase in German troops moving up to the Dreijenseweg
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| X’ Troop 2nd Air Landing Antitank Battery with their airborne 17-pounders covering LZ-L |
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| KOSB 6-pounders and a Pathfinder platoon from the 21st Independent Parachute Company on LZ-L |
The experience was reflecting the real life battle as I had read from numerous accounts and a sense of impending doom as overly positive reports of likely German resistance in the area was proving to be completely and utterly wrong.
Inevitably I received the briefing, reflecting orders from Division that Frost and his men were being overwhelmed on the bridge and that the Germans were now turning to focus their efforts to crush the division and that we were to fall back around HQ on the other side of the railway line.
I duly briefed my subordinates instructing Steve M (10 Para) to immediately start to fall back on to the LZ and find suitable crossings over the railway, with Nathan (156 Para) to similarly fall back but to cover the withdrawal of 10 Para, leaving 21st Independent Para holding firm in Oosterbeek to resist any attempt to follow by KG Bruhns.
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| Forward platoons and 6-pounders of 6 KOSB dug-in in the woods lining the Amsterdamseweg |
Meanwhile with the KOSB's already falling back I briefed Ian about the need for him to hold at all cost and to be prepared for a last man last bullet scenario to enable 10 and 156 Para to pull back and that I was releasing and sending my reserve units, namely the glider pilots and D Company KOSB to bolster his position.
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| A Jagd-Panther standing in for a Jagd-Panzer IV of KG Allworden on the crossroads near the Pumping Station is opposed by 10 Para. |
My brigades ranks were thinning with each turn, but the quality of my troops shone out as they took their toll on a German force that was now pressing much harder than previously, obviously responding to new orders themselves.
The fighting I was particularly involved in was the battle to hold the outskirts of Oosterbeek with 21st Independent as Nathan started to pull 156 Para back, and the elite 21st showed their metal as they resisted a hand-to-hand assault on their positions sending the Luftwaffe troops reeling back from their stronghold.
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| Fighting in the streets of Oosterbeek between 156 Para and KG Bruhns, with para flamethrowers going to work. |
However the tracks leading along the railway line were now full of reserve and forward elements making their way back along the edge of the LZ towards Wolfheze, which is when the Luftwaffe decided to bring in extra support in the form of a strafing FW-190, 'Oh dear, how sad, never mind'.
It was really interesting and fun managing the change of stance from attack to defence to withdrawal combined with a big table like this, where individual battles were taking place around the LZ that were forcing changes to the plan as circumstances demanded.
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| Smoke on the cross roads left of picture indicates the battle hotting-up as 10 Para take out a Jagd-Panzer IV. |
That said, the battle was playing out in such a way that the Germans pressing in from the Dreijenseweg, were finding the two Para battalions forcing a grinding battle of attrition on them as they attempted to follow up their gradual withdrawal, whereas the controlled fall back was looking somewhat imperilled as the positions of the 6th KOSB's looked more and more precarious as KG Krafft forced a more hasty pull back than was preferred, and I had severe doubts that the LZ would be held as we ended our game.
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| The pressure builds on the 6th KOSB's north of LZ-L as KG Krafft advance across the fields, extreme right and advance into the woods lining the Amsterdamseweg. |
Finally a comment about the rules Panzer Grenadier Deluxe which did the job for this big game, but I think we all felt that they are not quite what was required with some interesting quirks that perhaps show the thinking that has led Dave Brown to develop, in my opinion, a better set for these type of big games, in O-Group which we play a lot of in the club and have enjoyed the games they produce.
Either way this was a great game to start off the New Year and a worthy subject given that we have recently commemorated the eightieth anniversary of the battle.
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| The battle in and around Oosterbeek as 4th Parachute Brigade comply with new orders to fall back and form a perimeter around Divisional HQ. |
My thanks to Bob our host and gamemiester and to Steve L, Steve M, Si, Ian, Vince, Nathan and Chas for all the banter and creating the fun day we enjoyed.
I'm off to club this weekend so with Bob's game and that I reckon the new Wargaming Year of 2025 is well underway.
Next up, I'll be taking a close look at the 'fighting' Enterprise Class of 28-gun frigates, the smallest class of Post-Ship in the Royal Navy and a class of ships that were built for the Falkland's Crisis, well not that one but the one in 1770, long before Argentina came on the scene.
More anon
JJ
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