Operation Market Garden.Battle for Grave Bridge

DATE: 25/10/2025

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Grave Bridge

TYPE: COOP

TEAMSPEAK: ts1.biaarma.com

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Aris and Vuk

SLOTS: 69 / 142

RATING: (7)

Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Second World War military operation fought in the Netherlands from 17 to 25 September 1944. It was the brainchild of Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and strongly supported by Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. The airborne operation was undertaken by the First Allied Airborne Army with the land operation by XXX Corps of the British Second Army.The objective was to create a 103 km bulge formation of troops into German territory with a bridgehead over the River Rhine, creating an Allied invasion route into northern Germany.This was to be achieved by seizing a series of nine bridges with airborne forces, with land forces swiftly following over the bridges. The operation succeeded in liberating the Dutch cities of Eindhoven and Nijmegen along with many towns, creating a 97km salient into German-held territory, limiting V-2 rocket launching sites. It failed, however, to secure a bridgehead over the Rhine, with the advance being halted at the river.

The plan of action consisted of two operations:

Market: airborne forces to seize bridges and other terrain, under tactical command of Lieutenant-General Frederick Browning, and

Garden: ground forces of the Second Army to move north spearheaded by XXX Corps under Lieutenant-General Brian Horrocks.

Market would employ four of the six divisions of the First Allied Airborne Army. The U.S. 101st Airborne Division, under Major General Maxwell D. Taylor, would drop in two locations just north of XXX Corps to take the bridges north of Eindhoven at Son and Veghel. The 82nd Airborne Division, under Brigadier General James M. Gavin, would drop northeast of them to take the bridges at Grave and Nijmegen and the British 1st Airborne Division, under Major-General Roy Urquhart, with the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade, under Brigadier General Stanisław Sosabowski, attached would drop at the extreme north end of the route, capturing the road bridge at Arnhem and the rail bridge at Oosterbeek. The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division would be flown to the captured Deelen Airfield on D+5.

Market would be the largest airborne operation in history, delivering over 34,600 men of the 101st, 82nd and 1st Airborne Divisions and the Polish Brigade. 14,589 troops were landed by glider and 20,011 by parachute. Gliders also brought in 1,736 vehicles and 263 artillery pieces. 3,342 tons of ammunition and other supplies were brought by glider and parachute drop.

The combined force had 1,438 C-47 Dakota transports (1,274 USAAF and 164 RAF) and 321 converted RAF bombers. The Allied glider force had been rebuilt after Normandy until by 16 September it numbered 2,160 CG-4A Waco gliders, 916 Airspeed Horsas (812 RAF and 104 U.S. Army) and 64 General Aircraft Hamilcars. The U.S. had only 2,060 glider pilots available, so that none of its gliders would have a co-pilot but would instead carry an extra passenger.

Operation Market Garden opened with Allied success all round. In the first landing, almost all troops arrived on top of their drop zones without incident. In the 82nd Airborne Division, 89% of troops landed on or within 1,000 metres of their drop zones and 84% of gliders landed on or within 1,000 metres of their landing zones. This contrasted with previous operations where night drops had resulted in units being scattered by up to 19 kilometres. Losses to enemy aircraft and flak were light German flak was described in reports as heavy but inaccurate.By the end of the first day all water crossings were 100 percent in allied hands, or German troops prevented from using the crossings, except for the large Nijmegen bridge. 

To their north, the 82nd arrived with a small group dropped near Grave. In the plans, Grave Bridge over the Maas near Grave, was attacked from two sides. Where the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment mainly jumped north of the bridge, only Company E was charged with a jump south of the bridge. Everyone actually jumped too early from this company, except for one stick. It was Lieutenant John Thompson who saw that they were still above the nearby Velp. He jumped a little later and landed with 15 people close to the bridge. Waiting for the rest of the company would take too long, he immediately decided to start the attack.Same time Fox Company start attacking from North.

But new orders came and it was decided that Company E would first capture the small town of Grave so that there would be no enemy forces in their rear.After fierce fighting, the city and the bridge were finally captured on the same day. Now they had to fortify them and hold them until the forces of the UK 5^th Armoured Brigade arrived.

The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated on 1 May 1942 in Fort Benning, Georgia. First regimental commander was Colonel Theodore L. Dunn who was succeeded by Colonel Reuben H. Tucker on 1 December 1942. Reuben Tucker had served as a captain in the 504th Parachute Infantry Battalion and when the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated, Tucker was appointed as executive regimental commander.

In the Autumn of 1942 the regiment was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division. After a long and thorough training the regiment boarded the troopship George Washington in New York on 29 April 1943 and sailed to Casablanca. Shortly after its arrival there on the 10th of May, the regiment moved again. This time to Oujda in Algeria.

At Oujda the training was further intensified and several parades took place. It was clear that the first combat jump wasn’t far away. The 3rd Battalion saw first action and was dropped together with the 505th Parachute Regiment Combat Team on 9 July 1943 near Niscemi, northeast of the 505th at Gela. The troops were not all dropped on the actual D.Z.s and the majority of them were spread out over a wide area and had to fight against an overwhelming number of German and Italian troops. Despite this major setback, all the assigned objectives were captured within three days.

Medals and Awards

At the end of the mission, a Medal Award Ceremony will follow for 4 soldiers who distinguished themselves according to their Commanders during the operation.Each Award Soldier will win a Reforger Game with Soundtrack also.

Grave Dagger Medal

Awarded for precision and aggression in the heart of enemy territory,
Given to players who should skill and strong leadership capabilities under threat.

Pilot s Valor Medal
Awarded for bravery and control in hostile skies.
For Exceptional performance as an aircrew or pilot under fire.

Combined Arms Medal
Awarded for seamless integration across combat elements.
For Coordinated effectiveness between Guest infantry, armor, air, and/or support units.

Guardians Cross Medal
Awarded for bravery and skill in saving lives during combat operations.
For Providing critical medical aid to teammates under fire or in active combat zones.