[TriBeCa99]

Hey guys, I've been writing up an AAR as I play through this campaign, figured I'd share. I'll post one in-game day at a time (06:00 -> 0:00).

This will be first playthrough, although I got as far as 0:00 on the 19th in the unpatched version before deciding to start over because I wanted to patch (being totally unable to destroy halftracks and armored cars at close range with infantry was really frustrating).

This is played with unmodded v5.60.02b, Germans on Recruit and Allies on Elite. All of the realism options are off and the battle ends options are all on (time = 45 minutes).

FWIW I was able to achieve a minor victory as the allies and a major victory as the germans on these settings in A Bridge Too Far, so this should be a decent test of the relative difficulty of the two games.

[TriBeCa99]

September 17, 1944, 15:00 hours

XXX Corps
The Irish Guards group begins XXX Corp’s advance towards Eindhoven through Valkenswaard. Initial progress is excellent, with the German defenders suffering heavy casualties, although an armored car is lost to fire from a German PaK gun.

101st Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment fails to take the bridge at Best before it is destroyed, and suffering light casualties.
The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment is able to secure the Son bridge immediately. Crucial to their success was the deployment of mortar smoke to cover their advance over the bridge. German forces retreated in disarray to position in the East, but should be easily eliminated before the day is out.
The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment is unable to capture the Dommel River bridge at St. Oedenrode, but fortunately suffers no casualties. XXX Corps will have to halt its advance until the bridge can be repaired.
The 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment moves Southeast support other elements of the 501st on the Southern end of the bridge at Veghel. Under cover of mortar smoke the 501st successfully captures the bridge, but several infantry units get pinned by German machine guns while exposed on the bridge, and suffer heavy losses. They prevail, however, and are able to cement control of the bridge before accepting a temporary ceasefire.

82nd Airborne Division
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment advances West to take the North side of the Maas bridge at Grave. A rush to the bridge allows them to secure the Northern approach. A machine gun team sent by the 504th’s 1st Brigade to support their attack from the South side of the river inflicts heavy losses on the German defenders on the South end of the bridge. A scattering of German defenders maintain control of the bridge, but it is still intact.
The 1st  Battalions of the 505th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments lack the manpower necessary to advance on the Neuman and Nijmegen bridges respectively, and instead elect to their regiments at Grafwegen and Groesbeek. The 508th suffers heavy losses, but ultimately both Regiments make significant progress towards securing their assigned sectors.

1st Airborne Division
The 2nd Battalion of the 1st Para Brigade advances on the Arnhem Rail Bridge. After heavy casualties on both sides, the bridge remains intact but in German hands.
The remainder of the brigade encounters resistance from the KG Kraft at Wolfheze. The battle rages on with casualties on both sides, but so far the British troops have had the best of it.

September 17, 1944, 18:00 hours

XXX Corps
The remainder of the German forces at Valkenswaard are eliminated with no Allied casualties, allowing XXX Corps to continue its march to Eindhoven.

101st Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment remains at Best to rest and defend the Western flank of the corridor being opened up for XXX Corp’s advance.
The 506th Parachute Infantry’s mortars easily mop up the last of the German resistance at Son.
With the Dommel bridge destroyed, the rest of the 502nd advance to Geelders to establish defensive positions against an expected German counter-attack.
The 501st continues its advance to take the area North of the bridge at Veghel, but is unable to entirely route out the remaining German defenders.

82nd Airborne Division
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment surprises the few remaining German defenders with a massed attack on the South end of the Maas bridge, and eliminates them before they have a chance to blow the bridge.
The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment easily secures the landing zone and surrounding areas at Grafwegen, but the 508th is nearly eliminated attempting to capture Groesbeek. Fighting continues, but the 508th has suffered heavy losses and given up a lot of ground since their initial success in the afternoon.

1st Airborne Division
The 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion is miraculously able to secure the Arnhem Rail Bridge before it is destroyed, with only one further casualty. A few German defenders remain in the area, but the bridge itself and much of the Southern bank is safely in Allied hands.
Meanwhile the rest of the 1st Para Brigade inflict heavy casualties on the German defenders while taking minimal losses—victory at Wolfheze should come at nightfall.

September 18, 1944, 00:00 hours

XXX Corps
The Irish Guards Group leads the advance into Eindhoven, with the Grenadier Guards close behind. The town nearly falls to the Allied advance, with only a handful of German defenders surviving the night, but three Allied tanks are lost in the attack.

101st Airborne Division
Elements of the German KG Rink attack the 502nd’s 1st Battalion at Best. The 502nd suffers heavy losses, but is able to prevent the German attackers from advancing. The German attack is expected to resume in the morning.
The remainder of the 502nd sets up defensive positions at Geelders.
The 506th Parachute Infantry remains at Son to defend in the event that the KG Rink breaks through the 502nd’s defenses at Best.
The 501st Infantry routes the remaining German defenders at Veghel, suffering only light casualties.

82nd Airborne Division
The 504th Infantry’s 1st Division advances to Overasselt while the rest of the 504th moves to Teersdijk, in preparation for an assault on the Maas-Waal canal bridges.
The nearly obliterated 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment is relieved by its 1st Battalion at Groesbeek, and retreats North to Wyler. The 1st Battalion finally routes the German defenders, taking moderate losses.
The 502nd’s 1st Battalion moves South to defend Mook from a potential German counter-attack.

1st Airborne Division
The 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion successfully secures the area around the intact Arnhem Rail Bridge, but its force is too depleted to continue their advance on Arnhem without support from the remainder of the Brigade.
Meanwhile, the rest of the 1st Parachute Brigade routes the KG Kraft at Wolfheze, and can begin their march to Arnhem.
Part of a Dutch SS battalion attacks the South Staffs unit of 1st Airlanding Brigade at Ginkel Heath. Massively outnumbered but equipped with a 6 lb anti-tank gun and a Vickers machine gun, the South Staffs puts up a heroic effort on defense and routes the attacking SS troops.

[TriBeCa99]

September 18, 1944, 06:00 hours

XXX Corps
Although a handful of German defenders remain in Eindhoven, the road to Son is secure. The leading elements of XXX Corps advance to Son, leaving the Welsh Guards Group and the 130th Brigade of the 43rd Wessex Division to advance and finish capturing the city.

101st Airborne Division
The 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment move West to Best to help the 502nd’s 1st Battalion defend against the attacking KG Rink. However, the German troops advance north to Geelders in order to support the KG 59 I.D. in an attempt to regain control of the German supply depots in the area. The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment defends heroically, taking heavy losses but preventing the German troops from advancing.
Just to the North in Geelders, the 502nd Parachute Infantry is attacked by the KG 59 I.D., whose forces include a Marder III tank.
An FJ Regiment has occupied Dinther while the 501st was occupied at Veghel. The 501st’s 1st Battalion moves to take control of Schinjndel while rest of the regiment remains to defend the Veghel bridge. The fighting at Veghel is intense, with heavy losses on both sides. The allied machine guns and a key strafing run from an RAF Spitfire finally breaks the German’s morale and they retreat.

82nd Airborne Division
The 505th and 508th Parachute Infantry Regiments are attacked by KG elements from Mook in the South up to Wyler in the North. While the 505th has great success in turning back the German attackers at Mook and Grafwegen, the 508th, already depleted from the heavy fighting at Groesbeek the day before, is forced to negotiate temporary ceasefires with the German troops at Groesbeek and Wyler.
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment’s 2nd Battalion attacks the Hatert bridge, while the rest of 504th advances on the Blankenberg bridge. The Blankenberg bridge is destroyed before it can be captured, but the Hatert bridge is taken intact—albiet at a high cost, and with German troops still in the area.

1st Airborne Division
Scouts report heavy SS troop and armor advancing out of Arnhem. The 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion digs in in the hopes of holding the rail bridge. Despite their small numbers, the unit’s 60mm mortar and distant mortar support from the rest of the brigade allow them to route the German attackers.
Meanwhile the rest of the 1st Parachute Brigade decides that it has no hope of assaulting these forces and prepares to defend Wolfheze until reinforcements arrive in the second lift. They are attacked by a Shiffstamm battalion approaching from Heelsum, but with the defenses they have dug they are able to repel the German attackers without a single casualty.
Finally, the 1st Airlanding Brigade is attacked by SS forces at Renkum Heath. Although they fight off the German attackers easily, a 6 lb anti-tank gun is lost to an enemy mortar shell.


September 18, 1944, 09:00 hours

XXX Corps
The Irish Guards and the Grenadier Guards advance to St. Oedenrode to begin repairs on the demolished Dommel River bridge.
The 107th Panzer Brigade is spotted at Helmond. The 130th Brigade of the 43rd Wessex Division moves to Nederwetten to protect the Eastern flank of XXX Corps’ supply corridor, and with any luck maybe open up the alternate route from Nederwetten through Gemert to Uden. The 130th Brigade encountered the Panzers at Nederwetten, and immediately halted their advance and took defensive positions. Although the 130th lost its only 17 lb gun and their Sherman Firefly was immobilized and two crew members killed, they were able to destroy three enemy Panthers, a Jagdpanzer, and a half-track. The battle continues, but the 130th no longer appears to be enormously outnumbered.
The Coldstream Guards Group and the 214th Brigade of the 43rd advance through Valkenswaard to Eindhoven.

101st Airborne Division
With strong KG forces still attacking Geelders, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment advances north to relieve the embattled 502nd. Both sides take heavy losses, with no ground gained on either side.

82nd Airborne Division
The 504th Parachute Infantry at Blankenberg Bridge moves north to relieve the 2nd Battalion at the Hatert Bridge, hoping to finish securing the area. Their troops get caught out on open ground, however, and eventually their morale breaks and the Hatert Bridge falls back in to enemy hands.
With the German attackers at Mook and Grafwegen scattered, the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment moves north to relieve the 508th’s 1st Battalion at Groesbeek. Unfortunately the troops at Wyler cannot yet be reinforced. The German counter-attack at Groesbeek is finally turned back after a grueling battle—but the toll on the 505th is extremely high. At Wyler, however, the 508th suffers heavy losses and is forced to give up some ground to the German attackers.

1st Airborne Division
The 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion is again attacked by German SS troops. This time, however, they are unable to hold off the German attack and are forced to retreat to the southern side of the rail bridge, which is lost to the Germans.
Meanwhile, the 1st Airlanding Brigade at Renkum Heath is attacked by a Fliegerhorst Battalion, but again they prevail and are able to route the attackers with only a single casualty.

September 18, 1944, 12:00 hours

XXX Corps
Intelligence reports that the 107th Panzer Brigade has been reinforced, and the 43rd Wessex Division’s 130th Brigade is unlikely to be able to hold them back alone at Nederwetten.  Consequently the 214th Brigade move to relieve them.  The result is disaster—only a single enemy panther is destroyed, while an Allied Sherman Firefly and both of the brigade’s anti-tank guns are lost.
The Grenadier Guards Group moves west to relieve the 101st Airborne, which has been having trouble turning back the German counter-attack at Geelders. The German attackers are finally routed, although a Sherman command tank is heavily damaged and several infantrymen are killed in the battle.
The Irish Guards Group remains at St. Oedenrode to continue repairing the Dommel Bridge.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Guards Group reinforces the Irish Guards Brigade at St. Oedenrode, the Coldstream Guards Group advances North to Son, and the 129th Brigade advances to Eindhoven, accompanied by the Dutch Princess Irene Brigade.

101st Airborne Division
The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment disengages from battle with the KG 59 I.D. at Geelders, moving to reinforce its 1st Battalion at Best.
The 501st Parachute Infantry at Veghel is again attacked by the FJ Regiment moving in from Dinther. The fighting is intense, with the 501st being massively outnumbered. Casualties are extremely high on both sides, but although the 501st is nearly annihilated they are able to hold their ground and a temporary ceasefire is called. Two members of the 501st are awarded the Medal of Honor—a rifle squad leader who killed 4 enemy soldiers, and a mortar assistant who killed 7 of the enemy.  If XXX Corps does not arrive soon, the 501st will not be able to hold this crucial bridge.

82nd Airborne Division
The 504th Parachute Infantry’s 2nd Battalion merges with the rest of the regiment, hoping that their combined strength will be sufficient to eliminate the enemy defenders at the Hatert Bridge. The 504th is able to recapture the bridge, but again take heavy losses in the process, and are unable to take full control of the region.
The 505th Parachute Infantry advances to Wyler to relieve the nearly eliminated 508th, while the 505th and 508th’s 1st Battalions take the northern and southern area of Groesbeek heights. The 505th is able to finally route the German attackers at Wyler, regaining control of the drop zone just in time for the second lift.

1st Airborne Division
With the rail bridge lost and its force nearly annihilated, the 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion retreats to northern Driel while the rest of the brigade moves to Heveadorp. Hopefully the two can link up before encountering enemy resistance.

September 18, 1944, 15:00 hours

XXX Corps
The 130th Brigade of the 43rd Wessex Division returns to Eindhoven from Nederwetten, to be replaced by the fresh 129th Brigade, and the 50th Division’s 69th Brigade advances to Eindhoven from Valkenswaard.
The 214th Brigade remains at Nederwetten to hold the Allied positions until the 129th arrives. A short but brutal confrontation leads to destruction of two German tanks and a half track, although the 129th also loses two anti-tank guns and several infantrymen. The confrontation at Nederwetten remains a stalemate.
The Welsh and Grenadier Guards Groups elect to bypass the Dommel river bridge by moving to Shijndel on the way to Veghel. The Grenadier and Coldstream Guards groups move in behind them from Geelders and Son.

101st Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment rejoins the rest of the regiment to properly defend Best from a potential German counter-attack.
The 501st Parachute Infantry’s 1st Battalion advance to Veghel from Schijndel to relieve the rest of the regiment, which has nearly been destroyed. Somehow in the last three hours the German troops have managed to recapture the bridge. Attacking from the South side of the bridge, the 1st Battalion makes a heroic effort and is able to recapture the bridge and route the German FJ regiment, despite being heavily outnumbered.
The 327th GIR lands at Son Heath.

82nd Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment rejoins the rest of the regimentat Groesbeek, with plans to together defend the region from German counter-attack. Meanwhile the 505th’s 1st Battalion moves to defend Grafwegen while the regiment’s 1st Battalion prepares to defend Wyler. It appears that capture of the Nijmegen bridge will have to wait until XXX Corps arrives.
The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment finally captures the Hatert bridge, meeting minimal resistance.

1st Airborne Division
German troops are spotted at Wolfheze, South Oosterbeek, West Arnhem, the Arnhem rail bridge, and the Arnhem road bridge. Based on the strength and disposition of enemy forces, commanders on the ground decide that an attack on Arnhem would be disastrous—until XXX Corps arrives, the goal is simply survival. The 1st Parachute Brigade’s 2nd Battalion uses the Driel ferry to link up with the rest of the battalion at Heveadorp, while the 1st Airlanding Brigade moves South to take control of Heelsum, leaving the recently landed 11th Battalion of the 4th Parachute Brigade to defend Renkum Heath. The 1st Airlanding’s South Staffs Unit also leaves Ginkel Heath to be defended by the 4th Parachute Brigade, moving south the Renkum Heath.
The 1st Parachute Brigade is attacked at Heveadorp by German SS forces. Facing extermination if they fail, the dwindling Allied forces inflict heavy losses on the attacking German troops, preventing them from taking any substantial ground in the attack. The Germans have not routed, however, and the 1st Parachute Brigade takes substantial losses in the fight.

September 18, 1944, 18:00 hours

XXX Corps
The 129th Brigade of the 43rd Wessex Division continues its confrontation with the 17th Panzer Brigade. Although considerable losses are suffered, the 129th is finally able to destroy all of the enemies vehicles except for a single half track, and only a score or so of enemy infantry remain.
The Dommel river bridge at St. Oedenrode is finally repaired, however the Coldstream and Irish Guards groups remain there for the time being, allowing the Welsh and Grenadier Guards Groups to advance ahead of them from Schijndel.
With nowhere else to go for the time being, the Princess Irene Brigade moves to Son Heath to allow better equipped units to advance past them.
The 50th Division’s 69th Brigade and the 43rd Division’s 130th Brigade advance north to Son, while the 50th’s 151st Brigade moves into Eindhoven behind them.

101st Airborne Division
The 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (including the 1st Battalion) moves from Veghel to Gemert to make way for XXX Corps Welsh and Grenadier Guards coming in to Veghel form Schijndel.
The 506th Parachute Infantry moves north from  Veghel to Schijndel, and the recently landed 327th GIR moves from Son Heath to Geelders to replace them.

82nd Airborne Division
It is discovered that the Grave bridge has been retaken by German SS forces while the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was occupied with taking the Hatert bridge. Although XXX Corps will arrive at Grave soon, with no immediately apparent thread to the Hatert bridge the 504th moves south to defend the drop zone at Overasselt. Unfortunately, at Overasselt they encounter elements of the 9th SS Pz. Although they take substantial losses, the 504th is able to fight to a stalement, despite being heavily outgunned by the German halftracks.
The 508th’s 1st Battalion merges with the rest of the regiment in order to defend Groesbeek from a potential German counter-attack. Most of the eastern flank of the 82nd’s drop zones is defended, but Mook remains unoccupied in the event of a German attack.

1st Airborne Division
Facing continued attack from German SS forces, the 1st Parachute Brigade merges with it’s 2nd Battalion at Heveadorp, and is reinforced from Heelsum by the 1st Airlanding Brigade. After a long and bloody fight, the SS forces are eventually routed.
Meanwhile the 4th Parachute Brigade’s 11th Battalion moves to occupy Heelsum in place of the 1st Airlanding. En route, they are attacked by the 10th Shifftstamm Abt. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the 11th Battalion is able to push back the German attackers with minimal losses, although the Germans have not been routed.

September 19, 1944, 00:00 hours

XXX Corps
The 43rd Divisions 214th Brigade relieves the 129th Brigade at Nederwetten, hoping to finally route the 107th Panzer Brigade. With their only remaining Sherman tank immobilized in the battle, however, they are again forced to accept a ceasefire.
The Welsh and Grenadier Guards continue their onward drive, arriving unimpeded at Uden. Behind them, the Welsh and Irish Guards advance to Veghel, and the 69th Brigade of the 50th Division and the 130th Brigade of the 43rd Division advance to St. Oedenrode. Meanwhile the 50th Division’s 151st and 231st Brigades advance to Son and Eindhoven, respectively.
Surprisingly, the Coldstream Guards are attack at Veghel by the FJ Regiment that was harassing the 501st Parachute Infantry there earlier in the day. Their tanks make short work of the handful of FJ Infantry, and the enemy unit is routed without incident.

101st Airborne Division
The 1st Battalion of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment merges with the rest of the Regiment at Gemert.

82nd Airborne Division
With XXX Corps nearly just over 12 hours away, the 504th Parachute Infantry abandons the drop zone at Overasselt and returns to hold the Hatem bridge until XXX Corps arrives.

1st Airborne Division
With the 4th Parachute Brigade’s 11th Battalion severely outmatched at Heelsum by the 10 Shiffstamm Abt., the 1st Airlanding Brigade moves to reinforce them. Taking up excellent defensive positions, the 1st Airlanding holds their ground against the German attack until the enemy forces are severely depleted, and is then able to storm the enemy positions and route them with minimal losses.
Meanwhile, the 4th Parachute Brigade is attacked by the KG Knoche at Ginkel Heath, but after a protracted shootout, the enemy forces retreat in disarray.