Rapid Fire 20mm Nijmegan Bridge and Groesbeek Heights

We decided to do a large game at the club last Sunday with six of us playing. It was decided to base it on the new Rapid Fire Market Garden guide and use RFR as a rules set.

As anyone with any knowledge of Market Garden or the movie A Brdge Too Far will know, there is one iconic action that we wargamers want to replay when thinking of Nijmegan - the storm boat assault over the river Waal.  As I was the only one with a set of the old Brittania (now Grubby) boats and US Para crews, I was tasked with being the 82nd Airborne in Nijmegan while John was the Guards Armoured Battlegroup assaulting Nijmegan and supporting my US Paras and Grant was the 82nd Airborne holding the Groesbeek Heights from the Germans advancing out of Germany.  The Germans were played by Warwick, Terry and Bob.

By the time we had set up the table and forces, the game got underway about 10am.  With a good hour for lunch and a few beers at the local pub, we were finished by 3.30pm.  A few photos below - which do focus on my sector as I took them :)    

The river crossing in the forground.
Nijmegan, rail and road bridges through
to the villages at the foot of Groesbeek Heights

A few of my Dutch resin railway buildings 

2/505 advancing to cover the crossing site

75mm pack howitzers providing supporting fire

The arrival of the boats (pontoon trucks standing in) is on 
a randon roll - we rolled well. 

3/504 advancing to meet the boats - no waiting
in this movie

First wave is launched

and targeted by the German artillery and MG fire

One of 4 boats reach the far shore - but they disembark and
take out a dug in German MMG and pass morale

The rail bridge is rushed by elements of the 2nd Household
Cavalry and Stuarts of the Grenadier Guards

... which are targeted by an 88mm

A US Engineer Coy follow over the bridge while the second
wave (2/505) are launched

Gane is up for the Germans as the boats start disembarking
an untouched battalion and the Engineers cross the bridge with 
few casualties