Bolt Action - Game Report 39

Operation Garden – September 1944

Introduction

The second game of our VE Day event was against James’s German force. Were given the Key Positions scenario with a meeting engagement conducted against the long table edge.

Situation

Operation Garden is the ground component of the wider Market Garden operation. VIII Corps are operating on the eastern flank of XXX Corps’s advance to protect it and to prevent German reinforcements from interfering with their progress. Wherever possible VIII Corps in the east and XII Corps in the west are to advance and engage any enemy moving towards the Arnhem road. 11th Armoured division would be spearheading the advance and using its mobility to move swiftly to intercept any German forces, and destroy them. The Division’s 29th Armd Bde has been reinforced by 1 DOG for the operation in order to provide more infantry support to pin down the enemy to allow the armour to use is mobility to move and destroy the enemy by shock and fire.

Enemy Forces

In spite of their severe losses in Normandy the Germans have reconstituted significant forces and supported by armour. VIII Corps can expect to be opposed by stubborn dug in infantry and when highly motivated mobile forces, likely to be made up of combined arms of tanks and mobile infantry.

Friendly Forces

Officer Commanding (OC) C Coy will command a task force for the operation with 9Pl and Battalion assets from the MG, Mortar and Sniper Platoons and his usual artillery observer. Armour support will be provided by 23rd Hussars through a Sherman and a Humber armoured car. Engineer support, in the form of a Wasp flamethrower, from 612th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers has been earmarked for the operation.

Mission

C Coy is to provide the Battalion’s advance guard and advance to contact to engage and fix the enemy to allow the rest of the Battalion supported by elements of 23rd Hussars to destroy the enemy.

Post Mission Report

C Coy detected the enemy in and around the outskirts of the village of Asten SW of Eindhoven. The initial indicators were that the enemy consisted of armour and mechanised infantry. C Coy dismounted and 9 Pl (less No 2 Section) advanced to contact. The Mortar section was set up to provide supporting fire. The Sherman from 23rd Huss moved forward to engage the enemy armour.

No 2 Section supported by the Wasp and Humber armoured car advanced parallel with the remainder of the company. With the threat of enemy armour it moved to find cover in the lee of the buildings on the outskirts.

Fortunately, Sgt Blacker from the Sniper Section managed o move ahead of the company and found an excellent overwatch position in Kasteel Asten.

While the Sherman duelled with the enemy Stug, No 1 and 2 Sections advanced supported by the Vickers and the Mortars.

The Germans were very aggressive and intent on closing the distance for a close quarter battle, even at the expense of their half-track two brave and fanatical German soldiers charged the Vickers MG. No 2 Section advanced to the farmhouse while No 1 Section supported the MG team.

Meanwhile No 3 Section advanced supported by the Humber and Wasp, another brave German with a handheld ant-tank weapons tried to intervene only to be killed in the attempt.

The Vickers MG regrouped after the close assault had been destroyed and No 1 Section rallied around them to provide intimate support to the firebase. However No 2 Section had been engaged by the enemy Stug, which had manoeuvred away from the Sherman, and had taken severe losses. Despite this set back the Sherman continued to stalk the Stug.

Outcome

C Coy secured the objectives and destroyed 8 enemy units for the loss of only 3.

Honours and Awards

Cpl Stevens commanding No 3 Section was mentioned in despatches for his leadership and aggressive tactics.