XXX Corps and Dorset 4th Battalion Market Garden

[kojibear]

I wonder if someone can confirm what the majority of tanks were in the XXX Corps, Shermans, Cromwells?

Also, I believe the 4th Dorset Battalion crossed the Rhine with the Poles to assist with the retreat of the British 1st Airborne. I was searching for how they would have been equipped.

Thanks in advance for any info guys.

[Primarch]

I wonder if someone can confirm what the majority of tanks were in the XXX Corps, Shermans, Cromwells?

Also, I believe the 4th Dorset Battalion crossed the Rhine with the Poles to assist with the retreat of the British 1st Airborne. I was searching for how they would have been equipped.

Thanks in advance for any info guys.

The leading elements of XXX Corps was the Guards Armoured Division who were primarily equipped with Sherman V's and VC's (Fireflies) I believe. As for the rest of the Corps, probably Shermans or Cromwells would have been standard for the regiments, with Sextons, Stuarts and AECII's fulfilling mobile artillery and recce roles.
The Dorsets were a standard infantry regiment. You can find info on their standard loadout here:
http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com/Bri ... 201945.htm

[kojibear]

Thanks thats an excellent breakdown of the Battalions. Much appreciated.

[job]

XXX Corps had both Shermans and Cromwells for Market Garden. The Welsh Guards, Hussar regiment, and the 11th Armored Division had Cromwells and Challenger tanks. The Irish Guards and Guard Grenadiers had the Shermans and Fireflies.

It might be said the Grenadier regiment I believe made it as far as the river before Arnhem after they took the bridges at Nijmegen with the US 82nd division. Also there were Sherman tanks in support of the 6th Airbourne division on the days following D-Day. Finally, the 6th division was deployed with an airmobile recce squadron that was armed with Tetrach tanks. When these tanks were worn down, they were traded in for Cromwell tanks off the beach.

[me_in_japan]

Now I know how people feel when I start talking about aspect warriors and the tears of Isha

[Lovejoy]

A man after my own heart, Kojibear! A little while back (early last year?) There was a competition of sorts on the warlord site to support their armoured platoon rules on pdf: forum posters had to make an attractive, historical list for 1000 pts.

By the way here is that pdf:http://www.warlordgames.com/downloads/p ... atoons.pdf

One of the lists they made available briefly as an army deal was a Market Garden themed Welsh Guard list. It was basically this:-

1) Cromwell (Command Vehicle)
2) Cromwell
3) Firefly (See note below)
4) Infantry Section (NCO+9 men, SMG, Bren) riding in an...
5) Inexperienced M5 Halftrack
6) Light Mortar Team riding in a..
7) Jeep
8 ) Artillery FO riding in a...
9) Jeep

Notes: I've removed individual point values, all regular unless stated, but the total comes to 999pts.
Re the Firefly, yes, a Challenger would be far more preferable, as same chassis tanks would work in units together, and Challenger is based on a Cromwell...buuuuut, Warlord still don't make one, so a Sherman Firefly was part of the deal instead.
You could easily make it Irish Guards instead as Job said by going with 2 Shermans and a Firefly, as you then have 3 same chassis tanks, historically more kosher. I think points would be the same.

I liked this list so much myself that I bought the necessary tanks and models to run it..and want to, but haven't yet! I need someone with another armoured platoon to take on.
And for a few more points, you can stick this bloke in for good measure:
http://store.warlordgames.com/collectio ... -scout-car

This link may also be of interest
http://www.warlordgames.com/forum/viewt ... al#p131615

[Primarch]

I liked this list so much myself that I bought the necessary tanks and models to run it..and want to, but haven't yet! I need someone with another armoured platoon to take on.

Why didn't you say so? Here's me building American tanks when I could have been assembling Panzers.

[Lovejoy]

@Prim, I'll be unable to Joshin it this month (working the Sunday), but I reckon I can get that list ready for end of June.. Ample Tamiya glueing time?

[job]

You could easily make it Irish Guards instead as Job said by going with 2 Shermans and a Firefly, as you then have 3 same chassis tanks, historically more kosher. I think points would be the same.

Actually, in some formations, before the introduction of the Challengers, British Cromwells went into battle with a Firefly attached one per squadron. (7th armor -the Desert Rats- off the top of my head.)

And anyway, these games share more in common with movies than reality so if you are a Band of Brothers fan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LJPV-x1l3s
(Sherman, Cromwell, Jagpanther, Tiger I (actually a T-34 mocked up as a Tiger), Stug - none of it is historically accurate, although 11th armor did have both types of tanks in its division, the 11th armor insignia is accurately on the back of one tank, they did operate with the 101 airborne outside Veghel and there were German Jagpanthers in the area cutting the highway.)

Anyway, I might have to get an extra tank to take part in all these treadhead shenanigans.

[kojibear]

Thanks guys for the wonderful info.

I was thinking how best to use the British infantry I bought from Mike at Nagoya Hammer. In keeping with my Market Garden theme, I was thinking:

- the few surviving elements of the Dorset 4th Battalion that crossed the Rhine in Operation Berlin and managed to get withdrawal plans to the British 1st Airborne.

- or perhaps use the Brits to represent the infantry that may have followed behind the 2nd Grenadier Guards when they crossed the Rhine with the first few British tanks - apparently Sergeant Robinson's Firefly was the first.