Was able to type up 1 today
Eindhoven Guderian Blind
25 Turns 25 days…long especially compared to the previous 2 scenarios.
Starting prestige 22140 after replacements 22114 and some Overstrengthening 21611.
Holding back 1 unit at 94% Softcap.
To get this done:
South in Uden: +1 Att Jagdpanther; StuG3B; +1 Att/+1 Def 2nd SE King Tiger; Mobil AA; Albert Kerscher in Flamm; and T-34/41.
Near Grave: +3 Def 1st SE Panther; Mobil AA; +1 Move/+1 Spot SE King Tiger; and Exp-Ta152H.
In Malden: +1 Att 5th Reg Inf.
In Nijmegen: Heinz Rondorf in Flamm; +1 Movement SE Tiger; Nebelwerfer; 2 Wurfrahmen’s; Oleh Dir; and SE Bf 109-G.
In Elst: 5th Reg Inf; 2 StuG3B’s; and 88.
South of Arnhem: Joseph Priller; 26th Grenadier; sIG 38(t)M.
North of Arnhem: +1 Att KV-1C; KV-1B; +1 Spot 6th Gebirsjaeger; 2 sIG38(t)M’s; and +4 Att FW-190A.
Let’s see how I did and how I chose to represent it for this playthrough.
This airborne operation is more extensive and deeper than we could have even fathomed. The Allied forces continue to bolster their forces even as we speak. Based on this we are attempting to continue to hold Arnhem even though the Bridge itself has been destroyed.
Once we establish control around all accosted areas on the map, including Uden, Graves, Malden, Nijmegen, as well as Arnhem. Then our troops will make the long trek towards Eindhoven itself.
This will be quite the challenge regardless of how much time they give us.
Let’s move out as I them moving in.
Battle Report:
Day’s 1 and 2: 09/23-24/1944 Cloudy and then Sunny Hours (94 Softcap)
Started the day by destroying Polish Paratrooper’s in Driel and seized it.
In the air shot down Mosquito and Typhoon.
We were also able to rout the defenders of Beuningen and Wijchenand seize them.
Artillery and Mosquito hit 26th Grenadier -3 me and Bomber nicked StuG3b.
In the afternoon shot down another Mosquito and Typhoon.
Near Osterbeek destroyed 6 pdr AT.
Was able to destroy 2 Polish Battalion’s in part of Driel and seize control of their airport.
Arty coming on strong as they nicked 6th Gebirsjaeger.
Arty nicked 6th Gebirsjaeger as well as another artillery nicking our +2 Att Wurfrahmen.
One of the US Regular infantrymen found and disabled 5 of our StuG3B’s.
Day’s 3 and 4: 09/25-26/1944 Sunny Morning Cloudy Afternoon Hours (100 from here on out)
This day started in the North with our men seizing part of Oosterbeek.
In the air shot down Hurrican Mk D, Spitfire, and Typhoon wings.
In Groesbeek destroyed 2 Battalions of US Paratrooper’s and seized control of it.
Near Veghel destroyed a British Battalion and a group of Archer’s AT’s and as such am now pressuring Veghel.
We saw the need to finish filling out our ranks by calling out Rudel to help in the assault.
The enemy responded with their artillery batteries nicking our 6th Gebirsjaeger.
A Polish Battalion attacked the 26th Grenadier which resulted into more than half of our battalion being lost while about half of theirs was lost. Our Grenadiers have only about 300 men left so we will need to call up replacements for them to be an effective force to utilize.
As the clouds settled in the afternoon we destroyed last US Battalion and 2 57mm Batteries in Groesbeek and Kronenburg.
We were also able to push out British Paratrooper’s guarding Oosterbeek and seized control of it.
In Driel we destroyed Polish AT Battery, as such our 5th Regular Infantry Battalion was recognized as having extra movement able to be utilized. We also destroyed the Polish Paratrooper’s in Driel and seized it.
We also destroyed a 57mm AT battery near Oss and now pressuring.
The last bit of destruction was the 6 Pdr near Veghel.
Our Engineer’s were able to bring up 5 of our StuG3B machine’s back up to fighting strength.
The only damage from the enmy was to 2 of our Mobil AA’s from their artillery guns.
Day’s 5-6: 09/27-28/1944 Cloudy first day Sunny 2nd day
Around Oosterbeek destroyed British Paratrooper’s.
Around Driel we were able to destroy a battery of artillery and then seized all of Groesbeek, Kranenburg, as well as nearby airfield.
Near Verghel destroyed a group of Sherman’s and Churchill’s.
This first day the enemy seized Grave and a Sexton nicked +3 Att Wurfrahmen.
The Second day found ourselves destroy the last Polish Paratrooper and begun the long trek South.
The destruction continues as our men destroyed a Sexton, Cromwell, M3 Stuart, and British Infantry Battalion.
Based on this overwhelming destruction the enemy had no response.
Day’s 7-8: 09/29-30/1944 Sunny
Started this day with destroying Sherman in Grave and then our 2 groups of Flamm’s vaporized 2 British Infantry Battalions trapped in their Lorry’s as well as eliminated another British Battalion around Veghel.
This helped us to retake Grave and its airfield, as such the enemy had no response.
On the 2nd Day set up a trap around Oosterbeek by destroying a Paratrooper battalion and backing out after destroying the 6 inch artillery battery defending the area.
We also destroyed the 105mm artillery battery defending the forces in Oss.
Final assault consisted of seizing Guijik after destroying a Humber.
The enemy found our vulnerable sIG38(t)M in the woods which found 7 of them getting disabled.
British Paratrooper’s seized Oosterbeek and hit our 6th Gebirsjaeger -20% me.
Day’s 9-10: 10/01-02/1944 Rainy Day 1 Sunny Day 2
This day started by punishing British Paratrooper’s in Oosterbeek and retook it.
Brought 80% Elite reinforcements to bolster t 36th Grenadier’s.
Paratrooper’s hit 6th Gebirsjaeger that diminished us by 10% but eliminated 40% of theirs.
The 2nd day started by destroying another British Paratrooper Battalion around Oosterbeek and set up another trap.
Also destroyed a British Regular Infantry Battalion and seized Boehel.
Our Engineer’s repaired 2 of our +3 Att Wurfrahmen.
We also moved forward to destroy M-7 Priest and British Regular Infantry Battalion around Veghel.
We even destroyed US Para’s near OSS.
The enemies air force came out strong nailing some vulnerable units in trucks as well as 2 of our traps around Oosterbeek for brilliant effect.
Day’s 11-12: 10/03-04/1944 Sunny both days
Was able to destroy last 6 Pdr around Oosterbeek and retook it.
Also destroyed 6 Pounder South of Boekel.
In the air shot down P-51 Mustang, P-47D, as well as P-38.
We wanted to maximize our forces and as such called up 6 elite representatives for 4th and 5th Regular Infantry Battalion.
Destroyed US Paratrooper’s in OSS.
Bomber nicked Flammpanzer riding with Albert Kerscher, and nicked 26th Grenadier.
Their Firefly’s came out and assaulted our T-34/41 destroying 6 of ours where we were only able to disable on of theirs.
The 2nd day we looked to shoot down more of their air force as we shot down P-38 and 2 B-17G’s.
Destroyed Daimler near Venray and seized Oss and even Wageningen.
It was time to call up necessary replacements for our diminished forces as we replaced 3 of our Jagdpanther’s as well as bolstered the ranks of the 26th Grenadier and 6th Gebirsjaeger’s bringing them up to full ranks.
Paratroop Battalion guarding Ede came out to hit our weakened sIG38(t)M guarded by another sIG38(t)M which damaged one of ours but depleted them by 20%.
Day’s 13-14: 10/05-06/1944 Sunny both days
Destroyed Paratrooper’s in Ede and seized it.
Our boys destroyed the Sexton South of Veghel and also shot down Marauder with our AA’s.
We also came across a group of Engineer’s in a Bren Carrier, which we quickly eliminated.
Engineer’s also repaired 7 of our damaged T-34/41’s.
On the enemies turn for rebuttal their Cromwell’s hit Heinz Rondorf rolling with his Flamm’s each belligerent lost 2 machines.
A Battalion of Engineer’s tried hitting our StuG3B’s guarded by Wurfrahmen. They were able to disable one of our machine’s but we eliminated almost 50% of their strength.
On our 2nd day of combat Rudel’s Bombers eliminated the enemies Cromwells’ and they were recognized at having additional +2 Defensive posture in their planes.
Used our boys riding in our SE Tiger’s to eliminate the group of Firefly’s accosting our troops.
Our Flamm’s lit up Engineer’s as well as 6 Pdr’s defending Venray and seized control of it.
Our boys who have been pressuring Veghel for quite a while were finally able to route out the Heavy Weapons Battalion defending it and crossed the Bridge across the Aa River and seized control of the entire area.
On the Dommel River we destroyed Daimler and 6 Pdr.
The enemies response was to have their British Paratrooper’s come out of Wolfheze to attack our 6th Gebirsjaeger’s to devastating result for them as they were reduced to less than 20% of their starting strength but they got 30% of our Strength.
Day’s 15-16: 10/07-08/1944 Sunny both days
On the start of this 15th day of combat we destroyed the last Paratrooper’s in the North and seized Wolfheze.
Near Venray destroyed the Bishop’s in the area.
Near Dommel River destroyed 17Pdr and Archer as we crossed the Dommel River to start pressuring Son itself.
This first day the enemy had no response.
On the 2nd day we removed the 40mm Bofors guarding Deame.
This is where the enemies air force came out strong as we were able to surprise one of their Bombers, but another group of Bombers disabled 3 of our Flamm’s riding with Albert Kerscher. Fighter Group strafed a group of regular Infantrymen riding in their trucks as well as another group strafing 88’s in their trucks.
Day’s 17-18: 10/09-10/1944 Cloudy 1st Day and Sunny on 2nd Day
(Our Reports keep getting shorter as we struggle pushing back on the enemy around the Eindhoven fortress.)
In the air shot down Tempest and Spitfire wings.
On the ground near Son we destroyed a 17Pdr AT battery, but again are held up in our advancement based on the vast amount of rivers to circumvent.
The enemy tried ineffectual attacks on our StuG3B’s, but their Archer’s found our +3 Attack Wurfrahmen’s knocking out 8 of them easily.
The next day we wiped out another 17pdr AT battery in Son as well as their 40mm Bofors guarding an airfield allowing us to seize both of them. We also destroyed the Archers that dared to accost our Wurfrahmen’s which gave us the freedom to repair the 8 that were damaged.
In Deume we Flammed out the defenders as well as the M5 Defending it and seized control of it and Asten while we were at it.
The enemy had no response.
Day’s 19-20: 10/11-12/1944 Cloudy 1st Day and Sunny on 2nd Day
Started this first day by finishing off last Typhoon Fighter wing.
On the ground we destroyed a group of Churchill’s and pressuring Best as well as destroyed a group of Shermans near Asten as we are attempting to cross the Zuid-Willensvaart Canal.
The enemy tried pulling off 2 attacks that were stymied by my defense.
Their Fireflies hit our T-34/41’s guarded by a group of StuG3B’s taking out 2 of mine but breaking 3 of their machines.
The next day found us able to destroy the 17Pounder battery defending Best and seized it as well as routed the Heavy Weapons Infantry Battalion in Son and seized that as well as we begin to cross the Wilhelmina Canal.
In the air we were also able to shoot down a wing of Mosquito’s.
As we had control of the air it surprised us when we saw yet another wave of their air force come out and harass us yet again. Their air force appears to be endless. They damaged units on the ground around Asten and Someren.
The attacks on the ground continued as well as they hit our StuG3B’s, knocking out 4 of them, our Wurfrahmen’s knocking out 3 of them, the Flamm’s with Heinz Rondorf knocking out 3 of them as well as 2 more T-34/41’s.
(In other words the enemy is far from neutered)
Day’s 21-22: 10/13-14/1944 Sunny 1st Day and Cloudy on 2nd Day
In the air tried what I could to seize back control by destroying their P-51 Mustang, Tempest, and Lancaster wings.
We crossed the Wilhelmina Canal and destroyed Sherman and Churchill’s on the other side.
In Boxtel destroyed the Infantry Battalion and seized control of it on the 2nd day.
We seized Someren and destroyed 17Pounder and Churchill.
We also were able to lit up British Infantry in Bren Carrier and left them with only 1 vehicle left to fight with.
We called up replacements for +1 Movement with 5th Regular Inf, Wurfrahmen, and T-34/41’s.
There only act of aggression was to launch artillery barrages.
The 2nd day was able to Force the surrender of the Heavy Weapons and Regular Infantry Battalions, as well as destroyed a group of Firefly’s and M7 Priest’s.
In 2nd day finished the conquest of the air by shooting down Lancaster, B-17 Flying Fortress, and Liberator.
Finished the day with continued crossing of Wilhelmina Canal and beginning to pressure Eindhoven.
Day’s 23-24: 10/15-16/1944 Sunny both days
This day started with us frying out the Regular Infantry Battalion east of Asten.
Bombed Bishop into oblivion.
Destroyed Challenger guarding Eindhoven.
The enemy retaliated by disabling 2 more StuG3B’s.
The next day was able to destroy the Sherman that was trying to cross Wilhelmina Canal.
The enemy remaining around Eindhoven wrought a lot of destruction on our forces pressing in as their forces still have tremendous strength around Eindhoven itself. (Anyone approaching this map should be cautious around Eindhoven whenever you begin to approach it.)
Day 25 Last Day: 10/17/1944 Sunny
This last day we were able to destroy Firefly, Sherman and some Infantry Battalions, but it was all in vain as we were pushed back from our position and forced to abandon the entire area as we could not secure all objectives within the time allotted.
Marginal Victory ending with 23759
This map looks a lot easier than it actually plays out…Defense is varied and well executed making simple playthrough very difficult. Gaining control of the various areas on the map is easy, but time consuming, and looking at Eindhoven you do not realize how difficult it will be to get around to it and overwhelm all that resides in and around the area.
Here are the final words of my fictional commander.
Men! Retreat! Retreat!
We do not have control of the situation. Our men are being overrun and we need to abandon all areas held at the moment and regroup somewhere else.
This whole operation has not been a success for either army, but whereas the allies seem to have unlimited resources, we on the other hand are becoming more and more limited in our ability to absorb these vital losses to our forces, and as such the idea that we can come to a positive conclusion just seems out of our reach.
Hopefully our head honchos back at headquarters can come up with some sort of plan that can seize back initiative, because I do not know about you all but this constant retreat is leaving me disheartened.
It is not all bad news however as the men flying the Ta-152H’s were awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class for their help in trying to gain control of the air.
Next time will be the start of 1945 with an awarded an SE Unit and have 25759 in prestige.
Let’s just say St. Vith did not go well for me, and I will detail layout for 1st and 2nd playthroughs.
Until next time…Stay Lutheran My Friends.