[Netherlands] Lonsdale Force - September 20, 1944

Operation Market Garden - The Victoria Cross of Lance-Sergeant Baskeyfield.
Western Front By: jdrommel - Last update: 12/11/2013
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x6 x6 x5 x6
first You play first    


Historical Background:
After the disastrous attack of the 2nd South Staffordshire Battalion to rescue the Frost Battalion in Arnhem on the 19th of September, the British paratroopers entrenched in Oosterbeek. The Lonsdale Force defended the south-east side of the pocket in front of Arnhem. Several anti-tanks guns were set up iat the crossroad between Benedendorpsweg and Acacialaan. On the 20th of September,after a long mortar bombardment, the German infantry attacked the Lonsdale Force with the support of assault guns of the Sturmgeschütz Brigade 280. Lance Sergeant Baskeyfield was in charge of a six-pounder anti-tank gun. During the battle, he was the spirit of the British defense : in front of four German tanks, he destroyed two and immobilized the others. Wounded on the leg, his comrades killed or badly hurt, he continued to fire against German tanks. He was finally killed on his gun by the fire of the last tank. In the evening, the position was really untenable and the last paratroopers of the Lonsdale Force withdraw to the church of Oosterbeek.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [United Kingdom] : 5 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
6 medals.
For the Axis player, exit markers are in effect on the two road hexagons of the Allied side of the board.

Special Rules:
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nations 5).
- Use "Specialized Units" rules (Troop 2) for all Allied infantry units.
- Special Weapon Asset rules (SWAs 4 - Special Weapon Assets>1942) are in effect for units equipped with Anti-Tank Guns (SWAs 5) or Mortars (SWAs 6).
- Urban combat rules are optional if you have the battle map "Sword of Stalingrad".

Scenario Bibliography:
- 39/45 Magazine n°314 - Article Jack Baskeyfield.
- "Red Berets '44" - How a VC was won - The Illustrated London News.

Remember, see the "Jack Baskeyfield Tree" in Acacialaan, Oosterbeek.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
13
1
1
20
1
3
12
5
2