Little Omaha (15mm PBI) at Nijmegen

As a Club we were asked to put a game on at the Skirmish show (a local show which is on twice a year) the organiser does try to theme each show. And this time he wanted  Arnhem. The only problem is no one at the club has any British paras of this period. I have some 15mm US Paras and Graham has both British and German so we had a quick look at a few other options and Nijmegen was selected as while not at Arnhem it is still part of the race to  Arnhem by 30 Corps and in this instance the 82nd Airborne.  (Here is a link if you are unfamiliar with the battle LINK ) But I suspect you are.

Peter Player the Germans. I played the US Parkas and Tim Played 30 Corps.
Pete Set up first and selected 2 20mm FLAK wagons as his option.

I had 2 Platoons to cross the river and capture the far end of the bridge.
here my troops move forward with canvas boats and a Sherman in support.

Fearing Tim would not push for the bridge too much
AND
because I was a little scared of crossing the river in Canvas boats with 2
Flak Wagons defending the river.
I sent 1 of my platoons into the town.

Peter was stopping Tim from advancing
so I managed to close assault one of the Town Squares.
It was a success, but a costly one.

The British get gunned down as they approach the town.
I said at the start that Tim needed to put a tank in that square.
Yes it would have made it vulnerable to Paserfausts
BUT the square would at least be Partial cover.
As you can see he did not.

The Square of Death in the town
My Paras in the town are shot at by 3 surrounding square and while they do
take the pressure from Tims advance
As far as he was concerned not quite enough

Elsewhere I have crossed the river with 1 platoon and destroyed the two Flak Wagons,
But not fast enough and  with little cover advancing on the other side of the river towards the
bridge is perilous.

Tim Rushes this side of the bridge and captures one end.

The last move of the game (we were on a countdown clock)
Tim rushes a lone Sherman towards the far end of the bridge.

But it is too little to late.


 

Conclusion: Do not put me and tim in charge of attacks across a river. we both dithered to much instead of pressing on which we both should have done. Peter was a demon on the count down clock and the game ended on turn 5 when it should have lasted on average until turn 7. If It had lasted until turn 7 I think we may have done it, but the Germans managed to blow the bridge so we will never know and 30 corps were delayed somewhat longer than they were in real life.

Over all it was a good fun game and Peter did play well while I dithered and worried about troop losses. While it is easy to point the figure at other players, IF I had just gone for it and gotten both Platoons across the river a different game would have resulted.

But overall Fun.

The big thing I did muck up though was when I left my house in the morning I took my box of Normal US troops and left my Paras at home. (A slap head moment in the car when I realised) so we played with the US troops acting as Paras. Other than me pointing it out I do not think anyone would have noticed. So I think I would have gotten away with it. But I put my hands up and admit I actually forgot 5 different things on the way to that show. The troops being one of them.