Historical Campaign Operation Market Garden.Phase One .Coop 82nd Sector

DATE: 19/09/2021

TIME (GMT): 18:00

ERA: WW2

MAP(S): Montherme Ardennes 1940

TYPE: COOP

GAME: Arma 3

EVENT: Official

AUTHOR(S): Aris and Lord for Brothers in Arms and Polish Arma3coop

SLOTS: 82 / 126

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RATING: (15)

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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.

We will try to simulate the Operation following the steps of the US 82nd Airborne Division but also the British Guards Armored Division through 3 linear missions.