Bounce The Rhine - 10-30-17 PDF Update

Location & Date: Operation Varsity / Plunder - 21st Army Groups crossing of the Rhine River
in the area of Wesel, Germany during March 23-24, 1945. This scenario depicts the Operation
Torch Light & Varsity portions of the overall attack. The diversionary part (Operation Turn
Screw) and US part (Operation Flash Point) have been left out.
Suggested Command & Control: This scenario has been designed for 6 to 8 players divided
into two teams. It is suggested that team members divide up responsibility for the different
divisions within their respective armies. Players should be prepared to roll dice for their own
units while others roll for their units at the same time. This will speed up play.
Introductory paragraph: Custom AAM maps are used to depict this scenario. AAM figures up
to set number 10 are used. Several custom cards have been created to fill in for units not created
by Wizards of the Coast/AAM. Substitute figures are used to depict these custom units. This
scenario uses the Expanded Edition AAM rule for Aircraft. Deadly Defensive Fire is used only
for Anti Air Defensive Fire.
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Victory Conditions: The allied team wins if it has undisputed control of three out of the four
bridges over the Issel River and one complete pontoon bridge over the Rhine River. If not, the
axis team wins. Allied undisputed control of an Issel river bridge is defined as at least one allied
unit adjacent to the bridge hex side with no Axis units adjacent to it. A complete pontoon bridge
is defined as a single undisrupted / undamaged pontoon bridge that spans two river hex sides
with no Axis units adjacent to it.
Game Length: Seven turns.
Game Start: Participants can opt to play on either the attacking Allied (Commonwealth & US)
team or the defending Axis (German) team. If too many players opt for a particular side, a
random draw or die roll will be used to determine sides.
Allied Units and Deployment: The Allied teams starting force consists of elements of the 21st
Army Group. The Allied player can use the sample army listed below or construct their own
1000 point Commonwealth / United States army using the conditions listed in the special rules
section.
United Kingdom
SMLE No.4 Rifleman cost: 3

Bedford QL 3 ton truck cost: 4
Bren gun cost: 5
PIAT Gunner cost: 5
Concealed Forward Observer cost: 6
6 pounder AT Gun cost: 7
Vickers Machinegun Team cost: 8
Universal Carrier cost: 8
Royal Engineers cost: 8
Inspiring Hero cost: 9
Inspiring Lieutenant cost: 10
3 inch Mortar cost: 11
M22 Locust cost: 13
17 pounder AT Gun cost: 13
Hawker Typhoon cost: 21
Sherman DD cost: 24
Sten SMG (optional) cost: 4
2 pounder AT Gun (optional) cost: 6
Humber Scout Car (optional) cost: 8
Comet A-34 (optional) cost: 40
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Custom units:
Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Glider (custom figure) cost: 3

GAL 49 Hamilcar Glider (custom figure) cost: 4
Pontoon Bridge Section (custom counter) cost: 4
Red Devils Paratroopers (Defiant Paratrooper) cost: 5
Commando (CAN Intrepid Hero) cost: 8
Red Devils Captain (UK Sten Gun) cost: 11
LVT-4 Water Buffalo (US Amtrack) cost: 14
M10 Achilles (US M-10) cost: 26
Sexton II (US M7 105mm Priest) cost: 28
QF 25 Pounder UK (optional) cost: 18
Centaur Dozer (custom figure) cost: 12
(Use as a substitute)
United States:
Bazooka cost: 4
M8 75mm Pack Howitzer cost: 6
Resourceful Hero cost: 8
M1919 MG cost: 9
M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle cost: 10
Screaming Eagle Captain cost: 11
M1 81mm Mortar cost: 12
BAR Gunner (optional) cost: 4
Thompson Gunner (optional) cost: 4
Custom:
Airborne Jeep (US Jeep) cost: 3

Waco CG-4A Glider (custom figure) cost: 3
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (custom counter) cost: 4
Golden Talons Paratrooper (Screaming Eagle Para) cost: 5
M2A1 105mm Howitzer US (JP 88 75mm AA gun) cost: 17
Airborne 37mm Gun M3 (optional) cost: 6
Airborne 57mm Gun M1 (optional) cost: 8
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Allied Army Build: The following 1034 point army was constructed for tournament play and
represents the historic mix of equipment used by the Anglo-American 21st Army Group during
their assault of the Rhine River in March 1945.
River Assault Force - Elements of the British 2nd Army
The following units may be set up anywhere south of the Rhine River. LVTs may be preloaded
before the start of the play.
GHQ 4th Independent Armored Brigade
Staffordshire Yeomanry
o 2 x DD Shermans
44th Royal Tank Regiment

o 2 x DD Shermans
33rd Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division)
11th Royal Tank Regiment

o 2 x LVT-4 Water Buffalo
East Riding Yeomanry
31st Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division)

o 2 x M10 Achilles
7th Army Troop Engineers (from 79th Armored Division)
71 Field Company R.E.

o 2 x Royal Engineers
o 4 x Pontoon Bridge Sections
o 3 x Bedford QL 3 Ton
o
87 Assault Dozer Squadron, R.E.
o 1 x Centaur Dozer
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British XII Corps / 15th (Scottish) Division
44th Lowland Infantry Brigade
o 3 x SMLE No. 4 Rifleman
o 1 x Inspiring Lieutenant
o 1 x Vickers Machinegun Team
o 1 x Bren Gun
o 1 x PIAT Gunner
o 1 x Universal Carrier
o 1 x 3 Inch Mortar
227th Highland Brigade

o 3 x SMLE No. 4 Rifleman
o 1 x Inspiring Lieutenant
o 1 x Bren Gun
o 1 x PIAT Gunner
o 1 x Universal Carrier
o 1 x 3 Inch Mortar
1st Commando Brigade
o 2 x Commandos
o 1 x Inspiring Hero (remains off board until used)
o 1 x Concealed Forward Observer
Artillery Support for British XII Corps and Airborne Formations
Elements of British 8th Army RA and US 9th Army Artillery

o 4 x M2A1 105mm Howitzer
o 2 x Sexton II
Tactical Air Support for British XII Corps and Airborne Formations
29th US Tactical Air Force

o 3 x Hawker Typhoon
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Airborne Assault Force - Elements of the US XVIII Airborne Corps
The following units begin the scenario off board. They may be deployed to the battle board one
turn after allied units have crossed the Rhine River. Landing and Drop Zones can be anywhere
south of the Issel River. No artillery fire of any type is allowed during a turn in which airborne
forces are being deployed to either battle board. Units designated with (P) indicates it can be
airdropped from a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, with (HA) the unit is deployed with an Airspeed
AS.51 Horsa Glider, (W) deployed with a Waco CG-4A Glider and (HM) deployed with a GAL
49 Hamilcar Glider.
3rd Parachute Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division
o 1 x Red Devils Captain (P) or (HA)

o 3 x Red Devils Paratroopers (P) or (HA)
o 1 x 6 Pounder AT Gun (HA)
o 1 x Vickers Machinegun Team (HA)
o 1 x PIAT Gunner (HA)
o 1 x Royal Engineers (HA)
o 2 x Airborne Jeep (HA)
o 3 x Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Glider
o 3 x Douglas C-47 Skytrain
5th Parachute Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division

o 1 x Royal Engineers (HA)
o 2 x Airborne Jeep (HA) or (HM)
o 1 x M8 75mm Pack Howitzer (HM)
o 1 x 17 Pounder AT Gun (HM)
o 2 x GAL 49 Hamilcar Glider
6th Airlanding Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division

o 1 x Airborne Jeep (HA)
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Airborne Divisional Reserve / British 6th Airborne Division
o 2 x M22 Locust (HM)

o 1 x 17 Pounder AT Gun (HM)
o 3 x GAL 49 Hamilcar Glider
o 1 x Airborne Jeep (HM)
US 17th Airborne Division / Elements of 507th PIR, 513th PIR and 194th GIR
o 1 x Screaming Eagle Captain (P)

o 3 x Golden Talons Paratroopers (P)
o 1 x Resourceful Hero (remains off board until used)
o 1 x M1919 Machinegun Team (W)
o 1 x Bazooka (W)
o 1 x M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle (W)
o 1 x M8 75mm Pack Howitzer (W)
o 1 x M1 81mm Mortar (W)
o 2 x Airborne Jeep (W)
o 9 x Waco CG-4A Glider
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Axis Units and Deployment: The defending (Axis) force consists of elements of the German
Army Group H. The Axis team can use the sample army listed below or construct their own 600
point German army using the conditions listed in the special rules section.
Volkssturm cost: 2
Fortress Defender cost: 2
Kubelwagen V cost: 3
Luftwaffe Infantrymen cost: 3
Mauser Kar 98K cost: 3
Panzergrenadier cost: 4
Panzerfaust 30 cost: 4
Opel Blitz 3 Ton cost: 4
Light Mortar cost: 5
Disciplined Spotter cost: 6
Sd Kfz 251 cost: 7
20mm Flak 38 cost: 7
Panzerschreck cost: 7
MG 42 Machinegun team cost: 10
Wehrmacht Expert Sniper cost: 11
sGrW 34 81mm Mortar cost: 11
Wehrmacht Oberleutnant cost: 12
Panzer IV Ausf. E cost: 14
StuG III Ausf. D cost: 15
Sd Kfz 7/1 cost: 16
Sdkfz 234/2 Puma armored car cost: 17
88mm Flak w/gun shield cost: 20
Panther Ausf. D cost: 35
Custom Units:
Volksgrenadier (Finnish Infantry) cost: 4

Fallschirmjager (Crete version) cost: 5
Wehrmacht NCO (SS Stormtrooper) cost: 7
Volkssturm Commander (Finnish Officer) cost: 9
Sd Kfz 251/9 Halftrack (custom figure) cost: 11
10.5 cm LeFH 18 (PAK 40) cost: 17
Sd Kfz 251/22 Halftrack (optional) cost: 21
Veteran Fallschirmjager (optional) cost: 8
Fallschirmjager Hauptman (optional) cost: 7
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Axis Army Build: The following 607 point army was constructed for tournament play. It
represents the historic mix of equipment used by the German forces defending the Rhine River
during March, 1945. The Axis team also receives eight Strong Points which may be deployed in
any clear hex terrain anywhere north of the Rhine River or south of the Issel River. For
tournament play these strong points will be prepositioned.
Formations defending along the Rhine River
Elements of 7th Parachute Division / II Parachute Corps
May deploy anywhere from the Schneppenberg feature west, south of the swamp feature
near the Issel River and north of the Rhine River. Units placed in clear hexes may start
the scenario in Strong Point terrain.
o 1 x Wehrmacht NCO
o 3 x Fallschirmjager
o 2 x Panzerfaust 30
o 2 x Light Mortar
o 1 x Panzerschreck
o 1 x MG 42 Machinegun Team
o 1 x 20mm Flak 38
o 1 x Opel Blitz 3 Ton
o 1 x Sd Kfz 251/9 Stummel
84th Volksgrenadier Division
May deploy north of the Rhine River to anywhere within the Diersfordt forest excluding
the areas occupied by the 7th Parachute Div. to the west and Wesel Garrison to the east.
Units placed in clear hexes may start the scenario in Strong Point terrain.
o 6 x Fortress Defender
o 6 x Volkssturm
o 1 x Volkssturm Commander
o 1 x Disciplined Spotter
o 1 x Kubelwagen V
o 1 x 10.5cm LeFH 18
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Wesel Garrison
May deploy anywhere within the towns of Wesel or Fluren as well as anywhere within
two hexes of Wesel. Units placed in clear terrain hexes may start the scenario in Strong
Point terrain.
o 1 x Volkssturm Commander
o 3 x Volkssturm
o 3 x Volksgrenadier
16th Flak Division
May deploy anywhere south of the Issel River and north of the Diersfordt forest. Units
placed in clear hexes may start the scenario in Strong Point terrain.
o 9 x Luftwaffe Infantrymen
o 4 x 20mm Flak 38
o 1 x 88mm Flak w/gun shield
o 1 x Wehrmacht NCO
Reserve Formations that begin the scenario off board
Kampfgruppe Karst
Represents a battle group defending the area just off board southeast of Wesel along the
Rhine River. Army Group H HQ makes it available for deployment the turn after any
allied ground units cross the Rhine River. It enters from the east side of battle board
anywhere south of the Issel River or north of the Rhine River.
o 1 x Panzer IV Ausf. E
o 3 x Mauser Kar 98K
o 1 x Wehrmacht NCO
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The following units represent the historic strategic reserve of Army Group H held several miles
away near the town of Emmerich just northwest of the battle boards location.
15th Panzer Grenadier Division / XLVII Panzer Corps
May be deployed to the battle board one turn after allied airborne units have landed north
of the Rhine River. It can enter from the north, west or east edge of the battle board north
of the Issel River.
o 1 x Panzer IV Ausf. E
o 1 x StuG III Ausf. D
o 1 x Sd Kfz 251/10 (37mm PAK / Command Transport)
o 1 x Sd Kfz 251/9 Stummel
o 1 x Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma
o 1 x Wehrmacht Oberleutnant
o 3 x Panzergrenadier
116th Panzer Windhund Division / XLVII Panzer Corps
May be deployed to the battle board one turn after allied airborne units have landed north
of the Rhine River. It can enter from the north, west or east edge of the battle board north
of the Issel River.
o 1 x Wehrmacht NCO
o 1 x Panther Ausf. D
o 1 x StuG III Ausf. D
o 1 x Sd Kfz 251/10 (37mm PAK / Command Transport)
o 1 x Sd Kfz 251/2 (81mm Mortar Carrier)
o 1 x Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma
o 1 x Sd Kfz 7/1
o 2 x 20mm Flak 38
o 3 x Mauser Kar 98K
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Special Rules:
1. Lack of Resolve - As the end of the war neared in March 1945 many Axis soldiers
realized Germany was losing the war and gave up easily. During the casualty phase, if a
German unit is surrounded by any combination of Allied figures, that unit will surrender.
Remove that Axis unit from play. Exceptions: Axis Commanders, vehicles and
fallschirmjagers will not surrender. Any surrounded German unit that is adjacent to (on or
next to) an Axis commander or can trace a clear path of hexes (a line of command) to an
Axis commander on the battle board will not surrender. Any German unit that can trace a
path of clear hexes to the edge of the battle board is assumed to still be connected to an
Axis commander and will not surrender.
2. Hidden Axis Placement - All German units that begin the scenario on the battle board
are hidden. Using an off board holding box, place up to three units in any of 40 holding
box slots and then place its corresponding number counter on a battle board hex.
Stacking rules, placement restrictions and terrain rules still apply. The Axis team has a
maximum of 40 hidden ID numbers. Dummy / empty numbers may be placed out to fool
the Allied team. If a hex with hidden units is subjected to a Pepper Pot bombardment,
each unit is subjected to the same die roll result. (Blast SA) Note: In order to speed up
initial placement during tournament play the GM will preposition all on board German
units using hidden placement. The Axis team will be allowed to adjust these placements
at the GMs discretion.
3. Revealing Hidden Axis Units - If a hidden Axis unit moves or fires, place that unit onto
the corresponding hex indicated by its ID number. Units in the same hex that neither
move nor fire may remain hidden. An Axis spotter can spot and a Commander can use
his Command SA without revealing its location. If an Allied unit moves adjacent to a
hex containing hidden Axis units, place all of those units on the board. This also applies
if an Allied air unit is placed adjacent to a hidden axis unit. Once the last hidden unit in a
hex is revealed, remove the ID counter from the board.
4. Strong Point Terrain - The Axis team may place up to eight Strong Point terrain
markers on the battle board. They can be placed in any clear hex north of the Rhine River
and south of the Issel River. Note: During tournament play these eight strong points will
be prepositioned by the GM.
5. Storm Boats - No special figure or counter is used to represent these small boats. Any
Allied Soldier (except subtype artillery) adjacent to a Rhine River hex can move onto that
hex by rolling 3+ on a 6d. On a following turn it may move onto the opposite bank (no
roll needed) or along the river. (Another movement roll would be required) UK
Lieutenants cant use their Tally Ho Special Ability to move soldier units faster over river
hexes.
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6. Allied units using captured Axis AT weapons - Historically British Commando Units
retrieved and used captured AT weapons because they lacked any type of AT defense
other than the PIAT. For this scenario, UK Commandos, US Paratroopers and UK
Paratroopers may attempt to retrieve a captured panzerfaust from a surrendered unit. Roll
a 6d. On a 4 to 6, the weapon is retrieved. Place a Captured Panzerfaust counter beneath
an adjacent Allied figure. On a 1 to 3, the weapon is permanently lost.
7. Hold Fire! - During any turn the Allied team performs an air drop or air landing, all
types of allied artillery may not fire. Also no allied fighters may be placed on the battle
board during a turn in which an air drop or landing is performed.
8. Bridging the Rhine River - To win this scenario the Allied team must construct at least
one bridge across the Rhine River. This requires Allied engineers to cross two river hex
sides using pontoon bridge sections.
a. Constructing a Bridge Section - Two Soldier units, one of which must be an

Engineer, and a Pontoon Bridge Section unit are required to construct a bridge
section over a single river hex side. The two Soldiers must be positioned on
opposite sides of the river being bridged. During an assault phase, on a 6d roll of
3 or higher, one section is installed. Soldiers and Engineers attempting to
construct a bridge section may not perform any other action during that phase.
b. Attacking / Destroying a Pontoon Bridge Section - Each section is treated as a
Vehicle and can be disrupted, damaged or destroyed. No unit can cross over a
section while it is either disrupted or damaged. An adjacent friendly engineer unit
can repair a disrupted or damaged section on a roll of 4 or higher. Destroyed
sections cant be repaired. They must be reconstructed using a new pontoon
bridge section.
c. Repairing a disrupted or damaged Bridge Section - Any bridge section that has
either a face up disrupted or damaged counter on it may be repaired by a single
Engineer unit. Roll a die. If you roll 4 or higher, the section is successfully
repaired. Immediately remove the disruption or damage counter. This action can
be performed during either the movement or assault phase.
d. Accelerating bridge construction or repair - Players can increase the chance for
a successful bridge section construction / repair by placing additional engineering
units or soldiers adjacent to the hex side being crossed by the bridge section. For
each additional engineer unit add +1 to your roll. For every two additional soldier
units add +1 to your roll.
e. Historic code names given to bailey bridges constructed across the Rhine include
Digger, Lambeth (near Xanten) and Waterloo (near Rees).
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9. Aircraft Rules
a. Definition and basic rules - An Aircraft is a unit consisting of a single plane. When
ground units attack an aircraft they use their anti-soldier attack values, but get a -1
penalty on each attack die. Like soldier units, aircraft have no facing. Aircraft are
placed on the game board during the flight phase, conduct attacks during the air strike
phase and are recovered from the game board during the casualty phase of the turn.
b. Expanded Rules for Aircraft - When a player attacks with an Aircraft during the
airstrike phase, he or she must face the Aircraft so that its pointed toward the unit its
attacking. The aircraft must face the hex side that the line of sight between the two
units would pass through. Units without the Anti-air ability that attack an aircraft will
suffer a -1 range penalty if they arent in front of the Aircraft. To be considered in
front of an enemy Aircraft, the attacking unit has to be able to trace its line of sight
through the hex side the aircraft is facing. This range penalty is in addition to the
standard -1 penalty on attack dice that non Anti-air units have, as well as all other
modifiers.
10. Flight Phase - During this phase players can place some, none or all of their eligible
aircraft onto the game board. The stacking limit is one aircraft per hex. Any aircraft that
will be conducting an attack in the next phase must be facing towards a hex side in the
direction of their intended target. Defensive fire opportunities may occur if an aircraft
unit is placed within range of an enemy ground or air unit with the Anti-air special
ability.
11. Allied Airborne Drops and Landings - The Allied team will preselect target hexes for
each of their airborne groups and record it on a copy of the reference map. C-47s with
paratroops perform Air Drops onto Drop Zones (DZ). Gliders and their passengers
perform Air Landings onto Landing Zones (LZ). To simplify game play all air drops and
air landings will be performed in brigade sized groups.
a. All Air Drops and Landings are initiated during the Allied portion of the Flight
Phase. Performing all of them in one turn is advisable but not required. The Allied
team starts the process by announcing that an airborne group will be dropping /
landing onto a particular hex.
b. Flight Path - The Allied team will select one of the following directions to be the
flight path of the airborne armada; north, northeast, southeast, south, southwest or
northwest. This will help the referee determine which way the planes are pointing
when defensive fire is conducted.
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c. Scatter - Place one C-47 or glider from that group onto the target hex. Next roll
for Scatter. Roll one 6d, divide the result by 2 and round up. Starting with the
target hex, count that many hexes along the hex row in the direction of the wind
and then place the air unit in that hex.
d. Wind direction - Historically the wind was blowing from the direction of Wesel
towards Hamminkeln. Roughly south to north. Use this or roll a die to determine a
random direction for the wind.
e. If the final hex location takes an air unit off the map, place it in the last hex before
the edge. If the final hex location is a water hex, any paratroopers are lost and
immediately removed from play.
f. Place the next C-47 or glider onto the hex directly north of the hex where the
initial air unit was placed. Each following C-47 or glider of the group are now
place in hexes surrounding the final hex location in a clockwise fashion until all
aircraft are placed out.
g. Axis Defensive Fire - As each Hawker Typhoon, C-47 or glider is placed out the
Axis team has the option to conduct deadly defensive fire using any adjacent unit
that has the Anti Air SA. If enough hits are scored to destroy the aircraft any units
transported in that aircraft are also destroyed. Once another aircraft is placed on
the game board, Axis players cant direct defensive fire at a previously placed
enemy aircraft.
h. Glider Landings - All Waco, Horsa and Hamilcar gliders must land on a clear
hex. If the hex selected during the landing process is not a clear hex, move the
glider to the nearest clear hex instead.
i. Air Strike Phase - Once all air groups have been placed out on the battle board
the Flight Phase ends and the Air Strike Phase begins.
j. All passengers inside C-47s and gliders are now unloaded into the same hex
occupied by that aircraft.
k. All paratroopers air dropping immediately receive a face up disruption marker.

These disruption markers will be removed during the next casualty phase. Glider
forces do not receive disruption markers.
l. Any over stacked air dropping units are handled according to the Over-stack
rules.
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m. For targeting purposes, treat a landing Glider as being in the air during the Flight
phase and on the ground during the Air Strike & Assault phases.
n. Once a Glider has landed it cant take off. It must remain in that hex for the rest of
the game. Gliders on the ground are treated as vehicles for stacking purposes
only.
o. During the next assault phase, airborne units may move or attack as the rules
allow.
12. Elevated Spotters - Historically Axis spotters used hills, towers and church steeples to
spot for their artillery. On the game board there are a couple such locations. While a
german spotter is stacked in any of these hexes it is assumed they are spotting from one
level up and therefore can see over any blocking terrain. The following map locations are
considered to be elevated locations: the southern hex of the town of Hamminkeln, the
town of Diersfordt, the center hex of Wesel and both hexes of the Schneppenberg
Feature.
13. Rubble in town hexes - Allied bombing and artillery was so devastating that it caused
urban areas to be filled with debris and rubble. Any town hex subjected to bombardment
or Blast SA will generate rubble terrain. Vehicles will need to make a movement roll to
enter that hex. Place a shell hole terrain marker on that hex as a reminder that rubble has
been generated.
14. Dyke Breached - A special counter is used to denote Engineers having prepped a Dyke
hex so that vehicles can pass without a movement roll.
15. Allied Artillery - Any Allied artillery unit with the Enhanced Range SA can fire three
different types of rounds: Smoke, Pepper Pot or Indirect support.
a. Smoke - Must be performed during the Bombardment Phase. Can be targeted

against any hex that is within direct line of sight of the artillery unit or indirect
using a spotter. Place two cotton balls on the target hex. Remove one during the
next Casualty Phase and then the second one on the following turns Casualty
Phase.
b. Pepper Pot Artillery Barrage - Must be performed during the Bombardment
Phase. Allied 105mm howitzers and Sexton II artillery units may fire blind at
Axis numbered hexes that are within range. Roll attack dice once and apply the
same result to all hidden enemy units within that hex. The Bombardment Special
Ability isnt used when firing a Pepper Pot Barrage.
c. Indirect & Direct Fire - As per normal AAM rules.
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16. Allied Reserve Holding Box - In March 1945 Allies forces used several airfields in
England and France as staging areas for their airborne assault over the Rhine River. The
Holding Box represents these historic airfield locations. All Allied airborne & tactical air
units begin the game in this holding box and are then deployed from here to the game
board. Any commander units in this holding box can provide their initiative bonus
towards initiative rolls.
17. Terrain for Bounce the Rhine - This scenario uses several different types of terrain to
depict the historic battlefield.
a. Marsh, Clear, Road, Forest, Town, Water & Hill - Same as AAM rules.
b. Small River / Stream - The Issel River, Lippe River and Lippe Canal are hex
side river terrain.
c. Rhine River - Historically 300 meters wide in the area of Wesel / Rees region.
For simplified game play it is depicted as one hex wide for this scenario. Each hex
is treated as water terrain
d. Old River channels - Basically lakes. Treated as water terrain.
e. Half Hexes - Neither player can deploy in, move into or through half hexes.
f. Blown / wrecked bridge - Located on the Rhine River southwest of Wesel. This
is impassable terrain.
g. Schneppenberg Feature - This is the only hill terrain on the entire battle board.
Historically Canadian Paras were tasked with seizing this hill and holding it.
h. River Dykes - Running on both sides of the Rhine River. Historically about 5
meters (15 feet) tall. Blocks LOS. Can be breached by engineers or Dozer unit.
Treated as hex side terrain similar to hedges.
i. Farm house / Watermans house - Treated the same as town terrain.
18. Indirect Artillery and Spotting - Historically, both sides had indirect artillery and
spotters present during this battle. Allied and Axis spotters have a spotting range of eight
hexes. All Allied and Axis Commanders can spot out to four hexes.
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19. New Special Abilities for this Scenario - The following is a list of new or modified
special abilities used with this scenario. The text of a special ability is given in italics.
Any notes, comments or explanations are listed in plain text. Not all SAs used in this
scenario are listed, just those that are new or need explanation.
AdHoc AA - This unit may choose to conduct a defensive fire attack against any enemy aircraft
placed adjacent to it during the air flight phase. Air units flying at high altitude cant be
targeted.
1. For this scenario it is assumed that all German MG 42 Machinegun teams have this
special ability. It allows an MG 42 to perform deadly defensive fire attacks verses any
aircraft placed adjacent to this unit. Any defensive fire attacks still get the -1 on each
attack die and the -1 range penalty if it applies.
Agility 6 - This unit may dodge an attack on a roll of 6+. When successful, the damage suffered
by this unit is limited to disruption. This SA cant be used by this unit while carrying bombs.
Air Drop - This unit can para-drop any subtype Paratrooper during the air strike phase.
Air Land - During the air strike phase, this unit can land on runway terrain and unload its
passengers.
Air Lift 1 - This unit can transport one Soldier unit or Soldier-Artillery with the SA Light
Artillery.
Air Lift 2 - This unit can transport two Soldier units, one may be a Soldier-Artillery with the SA
Light Artillery or a Jeep.
AntiAir - This unit ignores the -1 penalty on each attack die when attacking Aircraft. If an
enemy Aircraft is placed in a hex adjacent to this unit, this unit may make a defensive-fire attack
against it.
Blast - When this unit attacks, make a separate attack roll against each unit in the target hex.
(This includes friendly units)
Bridging - One section is required for a hex side river and two sections for a full hex river. Two
Soldier units, one of which must be an engineer, are required. They must be positioned on
opposite sides of the river being bridged. During the assault phase, on a roll of 3 or higher, one
section is installed. Soldiers attempting to install a section may not perform any other action
during that phase.
Commander Transport - This unit can carry one non-vehicle Commander. The command
abilities of the mounted Commander applies to all friendly Soldiers within two hexes of this unit.
Disciplined - While this unit has cover it gets +1/+1 defense.
18
Dozer AVRE - This unit destroys Barbed Wire that it crosses. It destroys Tank Obstacles and
Minefields in hexes that it enters.
Dozer Blade - During the assault phase, this unit can breach either one hex side hedge or dyke
that it crosses or clear a path through one forest, jungle, shell hole or rubble hex that it enters.
Emplacement - When being transported, this unit counts as a Soldier for stacking purposes.
Once successfully deployed onto a river, it no longer counts towards stacking.
Glider - During the air strike phase, this unit must land on any clear or runway terrain and
unload its passenger. If this unit is hit with disruption before it unloads, place a face-up
disruption counter on the passenger. If the glider is destroyed, the transported unit is also lost.
Heavy Air Lift - This unit can transport one tank with the SA Gliderborne or two Soldier units
or one Soldier-Artillery unit with a jeep.
Improvising - If a Vehicle or Soldier unit is destroyed in the same hex as this unit, the Hero can
be removed and the destroyed unit returned to play. If used on an enemy unit, it now becomes
friendly.
Inaccurate 1 - This unit gets -1 on each attack die.
Infiltrator - This unit doesnt get placed on the map during deployment. At the end of any of
your movement phases, you can deploy this unit on the map in any hex that has cover. Placement
in an enemy soldier occupied hex can provoke defensive fire in that hex.
Inspired Tactics - Once per game, all non-SS soldiers adjacent to this unit at the start of a turn
can get either +1 speed to their movement or +1 attack die during the assault phase.
Scatter - For each air dropping unit roll 1 die, divide by 2 and round up. Use current wind
direction to determine hex side direction. Using die result, count that many hexes from the start
hex and place unit there. Place a face up disruption counter on the unit.
Shrapnel 2 - Each success this unit rolls against a soldier counts as two successes.
Slow - Enemy Aircraft get +1 per attack die when attacking this unit.
Spotter - All Allied & Axis commanders in this scenario receive the subtype Spotter. This gives
them the ability to spot for artillery units with the Indirect Fire special ability. Enemy units that
are in LOS and within four hexes of the commander unit can be targeted. A commander can spot
only if he doesnt move or shoot in that phase.
19
Historic Notes: (Taken from a Wikipedia listing and edited)
Operation Varsity was a successful airborne forces operation launched by Allied troops
that took place toward the end of World War II in March 1945. Involving more than 16,000
paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be
conducted on a single day and in one location. Varsity was part of Operation Plunder, the Anglo-
American-Canadian assault under Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery to cross the northern
Rhine River and from there enter Northern Germany. Varsity was meant to help the surface river
assault troops secure a foothold across the Rhine River in Western Germany by landing two
airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the village of Hamminkeln and the town
of Wesel.
The plans called for the dropping of two divisions from U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps,
under Major General Matthew B. Ridgway to capture key territory and to generally disrupt
German defenses to aid the advance of Allied ground forces. The British 6th Airborne Division
was ordered to capture the villages of Schnappenberg and Hamminkeln, clear part of the
Diersfordter Wald (Diersfordt Forest) of German forces, and secure three bridges over the River
Issel. The U.S. 17th Airborne Division was to capture the village of Diersfordt and clear the rest
of the Diersfordter Wald of any remaining German forces. The two divisions would hold the
territory they had captured until relieved by advancing units of 21st Army Group, and then join
in the general advance into northern Germany.
Background
By March 1945, Allied armies had advanced up to the Rhine river which marked the
western border of Germany. The Rhine was a formidable natural obstacle to the Allied advance,
but if breached would allow the Allies to access the North German Plain and ultimately advance
on Berlin and other major cities in Northern Germany. Following the "Broad Front Approach"
laid out by General Dwight David Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied
Expeditionary Force, it was decided to attempt to breach the Rhine in several areas. Field
Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery, commanding the Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group, devised
a plan, code-named Operation Plunder, that would allow the forces under his command to breach
the Rhine, which was subsequently authorized by Eisenhower. Plunder envisioned the British
Second Army, under Lieutenant-General Miles C. Dempsey, and the U.S. Ninth Army, under
Lieutenant General William Simpson, crossing the Rhine at Rees, Wesel, and an area south of
the Lippe Canal.
To ensure that the operation was a success, Montgomery insisted that an airborne
component be inserted into the plans for the operation, to support the amphibious assaults that
would take place; this was code-named Operation Varsity. Three airborne divisions were initially
chosen to participate in the operation, these being the British 6th Airborne Division, the U.S.
13th Airborne Division and the U.S. 17th Airborne Division, all of which were assigned to U.S.
XVIII Airborne Corps, commanded by Major General Matthew B. Ridgway.
20
One of these airborne formations, the British 6th Airborne Division, commanded by
Major-General Eric Bols, was a veteran division; it had taken part in Operation Overlord, the
assault on Normandy in June the previous year. However, the U.S. 17th Airborne Division,
under Major General William Miley, had been activated only in April 1943 and had arrived in
Britain in August 1944, too late to participate in Operation Overlord. The division did not
participate in Operation Market Garden. It did, however, participate in the Ardennes campaign
but had yet to take part in a combat drop. The U.S. 13th Airborne Division, under Major General
Eldridge Chapman, had been activated in August 1943 and was transferred to France in 1945; the
formation itself had never seen action, although one of its regiments, the 517th Parachute
Infantry, had fought briefly in Italy, and later in Southern France and the Ardennes campaign.
Allied preparation
Operation Varsity was therefore planned with these three airborne divisions in mind, with
all three to be dropped behind German lines in support of the 21st Army Group as it conducted
its amphibious assaults to breach the Rhine. However, during the earliest planning stages, it
became apparent that the 13th Airborne Division would be unable to participate in the operation,
as there were only enough combat transport aircraft in the area to transport two divisions
effectively. The plan for the operation was therefore altered to accommodate the two remaining
airborne divisions, the British 6th and U.S. 17th Airborne Divisions. The two airborne divisions
would be dropped behind German lines, with their objective to land around Wesel and disrupt
enemy defenses in order to aid the advance of the British Second Army towards Wesel.
To achieve this, both divisions would be dropped near the village of Hamminkeln, and
were tasked with a number of objectives: they were to seize the Diersfordter Wald, a forest that
overlooked the Rhine, including a road linking several towns together; several bridges over a
smaller waterway, the River Issel, were to be seized to facilitate the advance; and the village of
Hamminkeln was to be captured. The Diersfordter Wald was chosen by Lieutenant-General
Dempsey, the British Second Army commander, as the initial objective because its seizure would
deny the Germans artillery positions from which they could disrupt Second Army's bridging
operations. Once these objectives were taken, the airborne troops would consolidate their
positions and await the arrival of Allied ground forces, defending the territory captured against
the German forces known to be in the area.
Operation Varsity would be the largest single-lift airborne operation conducted during the
conflict; more significantly, it would contradict previous airborne strategy by having the airborne
troops drop after the initial amphibious landings, in order to minimize the risks to the airborne
troops learned from the experiences of Operation Market Garden. Unlike Market Garden, the
airborne forces would be dropped only a relatively short distance behind German lines, thereby
ensuring that reinforcements in the form of Allied ground forces would be able to link up with
them within a short period: this avoided risking the same type of disaster that had befallen the
British 1st Airborne Division when it had been isolated and practically annihilated by German
infantry and armor at Arnhem.
21
It was also decided by the commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, General Lewis
H. Brereton, who commanded all Allied airborne forces, including U.S. XVIII Airborne Corps,
that the two airborne divisions participating in Operation Varsity would be dropped
simultaneously in a single "lift," instead of being dropped several hours apart, addressing what
had also been a problem during Operation Market Garden. Supply drops for the airborne forces
would also be made as soon as possible to ensure adequate supplies were available to the
airborne troops as they fought.
German preparation
By this period of the conflict, the number of German divisions remaining on the Western
Front was rapidly declining, both in numbers and quality, a fact in the Allies' favor. By the night
of March 23rd, Montgomery had the equivalent of more than 30 divisions under his command,
while the Germans fielded around 10 divisions, all weakened from constant fighting. The best
German formation the Allied airborne troops would face was the 1st Parachute Army, although
even this formation had been weakened from the losses it had sustained in earlier fighting,
particularly when it had engaged Allied forces in the Reichswald Forest in February.
First Parachute Army had three corps stationed along the river; 2nd Parachute Corps to
the north, 86th Corps in the centre, and 63rd Corps in the south. Of these formations, 2nd
Parachute Corps and 86th Corps had a shared boundary that ran through the proposed landing
zones for the Allied airborne divisions, meaning that the leading formation of each corps, these
being 7th Parachute Division and 84th Infantry Division, would face the airborne assault. After
their retreat to the Rhine both divisions were under-strength and did not number more than 4,000
men each, with 84th Infantry Division supported by only 50 or so medium artillery pieces.
The seven divisions that formed the 1st Parachute Army were short of manpower and munitions,
and although farms and villages were well prepared for defensive purposes, there were few
mobile reserves, ensuring that the defenders had little way to concentrate their forces against the
Allied bridgehead when the assault began.
The mobile reserves that the Germans did possess consisted of some 150 armored
fighting vehicles under the command of 1st Parachute Army, the majority of which belonged to
XLVII Panzer Corps. Allied intelligence believed that of the two divisions that formed XLVII
Panzer Corps, 116th Panzer Division had up to 70 tanks, and 15th Panzergrenadier Division had
15 tanks and between 20 - 30 assault guns. Intelligence also pointed to the possibility of a heavy
anti-tank battalion being stationed in the area. Also, the Germans possessed a great number of
antiaircraft weapons; on March 17th Allied intelligence estimated that the Germans had 103
heavy and 153 light anti-aircraft guns, a number which was drastically revised a week later to
114 heavy and 712 light anti-aircraft guns.
22
The situation of the German defenders, and their ability to counter any assault effectively,
was worsened when the Allies launched a large-scale air attack one week prior to Operation
Plunder/Varsity. The air attack involved more than 10,000 Allied aircraft and concentrated
primarily on Luftwaffe airfields and the German transportation system. The German defenders
were also hampered by the fact that they had no reliable intelligence as to where the actual
assault would be launched; although German forces along the Rhine had been alerted as to the
general possibility of an Allied airborne attack, it was only when British engineers began to set
up smoke generators opposite Emmerich and began laying a 60-mile (97 km) long smokescreen
that the Germans knew where the assault would come.
The River Crossings
Beginning on the night of March 23, 1945 the 21st Army Group under Field Marshal
Bernard Montgomery launched Operation Plunder, as a part of a coordinated set of Rhine
crossings. The crossing of the river Rhine was at Rees, Wesel, and south of the river Lippe by
the British Second Army, under Lieutenant General Sir Miles C. Dempsey (Operations
Turnscrew, Widgeon, and Torchlight), and the United States Ninth Army (Operation Flashpoint),
under Lieutenant General William H. Simpson.
Four thousand Allied guns fired for four hours during the opening bombardment. British
bombers also contributed with attacks on Wesel during the day and night of March 23, 1945.
Three Allied formations made the initial assault: the British XXX and XII Corps and the U.S.
XVI Corps. The British 79th Armored Division, under Major General Percy Hobart, had been at
the front of the Normandy landings and provided invaluable help in subsequent operations with
specially adapted armored vehicles (known as Hobart's Funnies). One "funny" was the "Buffalo"
operated by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alan Jolly,
an armed and armored amphibious tracked personnel or cargo transporter able to cross soft and
flooded ground. These were the transports for the spearhead infantry.
The first part of Plunder was initiated by the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, led by the
7th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of 154th Brigade at 21:00 on 23 March,
near Rees, followed by the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (also of 154th
Brigade). At 02:00 on 24 March, the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division landed between Wesel and
Rees. At first, there was no opposition, but later they ran into determined resistance from
machine-gun nests. On the same day the 51st Division's commander, Major General Tom
Rennie, was killed by mortar fire. The British 1st Commando Brigade entered Wesel.
The U.S. 30th Infantry Division landed south of Wesel. The local resistance had been
broken by artillery and air bombardment. Subsequently, the U.S. 79th Infantry Division also
landed. American casualties were minimal. German resistance to the Scottish landings continued
with some effect, and there were armored counter-attacks. Landings continued, however,
including tanks and other heavy equipment.
23
US forces had a bridge across by the evening of March 24th. Starting on the night of
March 23rd, companies E and C of the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, part of the U.S. 2nd
Armored Division, constructed treadway rafts to prepare the crossing of the Rhine about five
kilometers south of Wesel. The next morning, bridge construction started at 9:45am and by
4:00pm the first truck crossed the floating pontoon bridge. Over 1,152 feet (351 m) of M2
treadway and 93 pneumatic floats were used in just six hours and fifteen minutes construction
project, record setting for the size of the bridge. It took twenty-five 2 ton GMC trucks to
transport the bridge parts to the construction site, part of the Red Ball Express.
The Airborne Operations
In the early hours of March 24th, Operation Varsity began to take off from airbases in
England and France and began to rendezvous over Brussels, before turning northeast for the
Rhine dropping zones. The airlift consisted of 541 transport aircraft containing airborne troops,
and a further 1,050 troop-carriers towing 1,350 gliders. The U.S. 17th Airborne Division
consisted of 9,387 personnel, who were transported in 836 C-47 Skytrain transports, 72 C-46
Commando transports, and more than 900 Waco CG-4A gliders. The British 6th Airborne
Division consisted of 7,220 personnel transported by 42 Douglas C-54 and 752 C-47 Dakota
transport aircraft, as well as 420 Airspeed Horsa and General Aircraft Hamilcar gliders. This
immense armada stretched more than 200 miles (322 km) in the sky and took 2 hours and
37 minutes to pass any given point, and was protected by some 2,153 Allied fighters from the
U.S. Ninth Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The combination of the two divisions in one lift
made this the largest single day airborne drop in history.
At 10 am British and American airborne troops belonging to the 6th Airborne Division
and 17th Airborne Division began landing on German soil, some 13 hours after the Allied
ground assault began.
6th Airborne Division
The first element of the British 6th Airborne Division to land was the 8th Parachute
Battalion, part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade under Brigadier James Hill. The brigade actually
dropped nine minutes earlier than scheduled, but successfully landed in drop zone A, while
facing significant small-arms and 20 mm anti-aircraft fire. The brigade suffered a number of
casualties as it engaged the German forces in the Diersfordter Wald, but by 11:00 hours the drop
zone was all but completely clear of enemy forces and all battalions of the brigade had formed
up. The key place of Schnappenberg was captured by the 9th Parachute Battalion in conjunction
with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, the latter unit having lost its Commanding Officer
(CO), Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Nicklin, to German small-arms fire only moments after he had
landed. Despite taking casualties, the brigade cleared the area of German forces, and by 13:45
Brigadier Hill could report that the brigade had secured all of its objectives. Canadian medical
orderly Corporal Frederick George Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts to
recover casualties and take them for treatment, despite his own wounds, and great personal
danger.
24
The next British airborne unit to land was the 5th Parachute Brigade, commanded by
Brigadier Nigel Poett. The brigade was designated to land on drop zone B and achieved this,
although not as accurately as 3rd Parachute Brigade due to poor visibility around the drop zone,
which also made it more difficult for paratroopers of the brigade to rally. The drop zone came
under heavy fire from German troops stationed nearby, and was subjected to shellfire and
mortaring which inflicted casualties in the battalion rendezvous areas. However, the 7th
Parachute Battalion soon cleared the DZ of German troops, many of whom were situated in
farms and houses, and the 12th Parachute Battalion and 13th Parachute Battalion rapidly secured
the rest of the brigade's objectives. The brigade was then ordered to move due east and clear an
area near Schnappenberg, as well as to engage German forces gathered to the west of the
farmhouse where the 6th Airborne Division Headquarters was established. By 15:30 Brigadier
Poett reported that the brigade had secured all of its objectives and linked up with other British
airborne units.
The third airborne unit that formed a part of the 6th Airborne Division was the 6th
Airlanding Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Hugh Bellamy. The brigade was tasked with
landing in company-sized groups and capturing several objectives, including the town of
Hamminkeln. The gliders containing the airborne troops of the brigade landed in landing zones
P, O, U and R under considerable antiaircraft fire, the landing being made even more difficult
due to the presence of a great deal of haze and smoke. This resulted in a number of glider pilots
being unable to identify their landing areas and losing their bearings; a number of gliders landed
in the wrong areas or crashed. However, the majority of the gliders survived, allowing the
battalions of the brigade to secure intact the three bridges over the River Issel that they had been
tasked with capturing, as well as the village of Hamminkeln with the aid of American
paratroopers of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which had been dropped by mistake
nearby. The brigade secured all of its objectives shortly after capturing Hamminkeln.
17th Airborne Division
The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Edson Raff, was
the lead assault formation for the 17th Airborne Division, and was consequently the first
American airborne unit to land as part of Operation Varsity. The entire regiment was meant to be
dropped in drop zone W, a clearing 2 miles (3 km) north of Wesel; however, excessive ground
haze confused the pilots of the transport aircraft carrying the regiment, and as such when the
507th dropped it split into two halves. Colonel Raff and approximately 690 of his paratroopers
landed northwest of the drop zone near the town of Diersfordt, with the rest of the regiment
successfully landing in drop zone W. The colonel rallied his separated paratroopers and led them
to drop zone W, engaging a battery of German artillery enroute, killing or capturing the artillery
crews before reuniting with the rest of the regiment. By 2 pm, the 507th PIR had secured all of
its objectives and cleared the area around Diersfordt, having engaged numerous German troops
and also destroying a German tank. The actions of the 507th Parachute Infantry during the initial
landing also gained the division its second Medal of Honor, when Private George Peters
posthumously received the award after charging a German machine gun nest and eliminating it
with rifle fire and grenades, allowing his fellow paratroopers to gather their equipment and
capture the regiment's first objective.
25
On 24 March 1945, a glider carrying Levert Lindell Smith Jr.s squad landed in a field
near Wesel, Germany, probably sometime during the late morning hours. Lindell had been sent
to the 17th Airborne as a replacement while they were refitting near Chalons sur Marnes, France,
after coming off of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. He became a BAR (Browning
Automatic Rifle) man in a squad of 12 men in Company C,194th Glider Infantry Regiment. The
men in his squad, along with other troops, took up defensive positions near a bridge over the
Issel Canal. They were attacked by German artillery and infantry in a brief, but fierce battle.
During that time, Lindell apparently attempted to throw a hand grenade at the attacking German
infantry, but the grenade went off in his foxhole. He was very badly injured in that explosion.
After the German attack was stopped and turned back, he was given first aid, but he died a few
minutes later. Lindell was posthumously awarded the following: (1) a Purple Heart Medal, (2) a
Bronze Star Medal, (3) Combat Infantryman Badge, (4) Good Conduct Medal, (5) European
Campaign Medal with one star, (6) World War II Victory Medal, and (7) Honorable Service Pin.
Lindell had his 19th birthday on March 21st 1945, and died on March 24th, just 3 days later. He
had been in the U.S. Army for only five months and had been a member of the 17th Airborne
Division for less than a month.
The 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment was the second American airborne unit to land
after the 507th, under the command of Colonel James Coutts. Enroute to the drop zone, the
transport aircraft carrying the 513th had the misfortune to pass through a belt of German
antiaircraft weapons, losing 22 of the C-46 transport aircraft and damaging a further 38. Just as
the 507th had, the 513th also suffered from pilot error due to the ground haze, and as such the
regiment actually missed its designated drop zone, DZ X, and was dropped on one of the landing
zones designated for the British 6th Airlanding Brigade. Despite this inaccuracy the paratroopers
swiftly rallied and aided the British glider-borne troops who were landing simultaneously,
eliminating several German artillery batteries that were covering the area. Once the German
troops in the area had been eliminated, a combined force of American and British airborne troops
stormed Hamminkeln and secured the town. By 2 pm, Colonel Coutts reported to Divisional
Headquarters that the 513th Parachute Infantry had secured all of its objectives, having knocked
out two tanks and two complete regiments of artillery during their assault.
During its attempts to secure its objectives, the regiment also gained a third Medal of
Honor for the 17th Airborne Division when Private First Class Stuart Stryker posthumously
received the award after leading a charge against a German machine-gun nest, creating a
distraction to allow the rest of his platoon to capture the fortified position in which the machine-
gun was situated.
The third component of the 17th Airborne Division to take part in the operation was the
194th Glider Infantry Regiment (GIR), under the command of Colonel James Pierce. Troopers of
the 194th GIR landed accurately in landing zone S, but their gliders and tow aircraft took heavy
casualties; 12 C-47 transports were lost due to anti-aircraft fire, and a further 140 were damaged
by the same fire. The regiment landed in the midst of a number of German artillery batteries that
were engaging Allied ground forces crossing the Rhine, and as such many of the gliders were
engaged by German artillery pieces that had their barrels lowered for direct-fire.
26
However, these artillery batteries and their crews were defeated by the glider-borne
troops, and the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment was soon able to report that its objectives had
been secured, having destroyed 42 artillery pieces, 10 tanks, 2 self-propelled anti-aircraft
vehicles and 5 self-propelled guns.
Aftermath
Operation Varsity was a successful large-scale airborne operation. All of the objectives
that the airborne troops had been tasked with had been captured and held, usually within only a
few hours of the operation beginning. The bridges over the Issel had been successfully captured,
although one later had to be destroyed to prevent its capture by counter-attacking German forces.
The Diersfordter Forest had been cleared of enemy troops, and the roads through which the
Germans might have routed reinforcements against the advance had been cut by airborne troops.
Finally, Hamminkeln, the village that dominated the area and through which any advance would
be made, had been secured by air-lifted units. By nightfall of 24 March, 15th (Scottish) Infantry
Division had joined up with elements of 6th Airborne, and by midnight the first light bridge was
across the Rhine. By 27 March, twelve bridges suitable for heavy armor had been installed over
the Rhine and the Allies had 14 divisions on the east bank of the river, penetrating up to 10 miles
(16 km). According to Generalmajor Fiebig, commanding officer of one of the defending
German formations, 84 Infantry Division, the German forces defending the area had been greatly
surprised by the speed with which the two airborne divisions had landed their troops, explaining
that their sudden appearance had had a "shattering effect" on the greatly outnumbered defenders.
He revealed during his interrogation that his division had been badly depleted and could muster
barely 4,000 soldiers.
The U.S. 17th Airborne Division gained its fourth Medal of Honor in the days following
the operation, when Technical Sergeant Clinton M. Hedrick of the 194th Glider Infantry
Regiment received the award posthumously after aiding in the capture of Lembeck Castle, which
had been turned into a fortified position by the Germans.
Casualties
The casualties taken by both airborne formations were quite heavy, although lighter than
had been expected. By nightfall of 24 March, the 6th Airborne Division had suffered around
1,400 personnel killed, wounded or missing in action out of the 7,220 personnel who were
landed in the operation. The division also claimed to have secured around 1,500 prisoners of war.
The 17th Airborne Division suffered a similar casualty rate, reporting around 1,300 casualties
out of 9,650 personnel who took part in the operation, while the division claimed to have taken
2,000 POWs, a number similar to those taken by 6th Airborne. This made a total of around 3,500
POWs taken by both airborne formations during the operation. Between 24 March and 29 March,
the 17th Airborne had taken a total of 1,346 casualties. The air forces involved in the operation
also suffered casualties; 56 aircraft in total were lost during the 24th, 21 out of 144 transport
aircraft transporting the 17th Airborne were shot down and 59 were damaged by antiaircraft fire,
and 16 bombers from the Eighth Air Force were also shot down during supply drops.
27
Post-war praise
Contemporary observers and historians generally agree that Operation Varsity was
successful. General Eisenhower called it "the most successful airborne operation carried out to
date", and an observer later wrote that the operation showed "the highest state of development
attained by troop-carrier and airborne units". In the official summary of the operation, Major
General Ridgway wrote that the operation had been flawless, and that the two airborne divisions
involved had destroyed enemy defences that might otherwise have taken days to reduce, ensuring
the operation was successful.
Several modern historians have also praised the operation and the improvements that
were made for Varsity. G. G. Norton argued that the operation benefited from the lessons learned
from previous operations, and Brian Jewell agrees, arguing that the lessons of Market Garden
had been learned as the airborne forces were concentrated and quickly dropped, giving the
defenders little time to recover. Norton also argues that improvements were made for supporting
the airborne troops; he notes that a large number of artillery pieces were available to cover the
landings and that observers were dropped with the airborne forces, thus augmenting the
firepower and flexibility of the airborne troops. He also highlights the development of a
technique that allowed entire brigades to be landed in tactical groups, giving them greater
flexibility. Dropping the airborne forces after the ground forces had breached the Rhine also
ensured that the airborne troops would not have to fight for long before being relieved, a major
improvement on the manner in which the previous large-scale airborne operation, Market
Garden, had been conducted. Historian Peter Allen states that while the airborne forces took
heavy casualties, Varsity diverted German attention from the Rhine crossing onto themselves.
Thus, the troops fighting to create a bridgehead, across the Rhine, suffered relatively few
casualties, and were able to "break out from the Rhine in hours rather than days".
Post-war criticism
Despite a great deal of official accolade and praise over the success of the operation, a
number of criticisms have been made of the operation and the errors that were made. Several
military historians have been critical of the need for the operation, with one historian, Barry
Gregory, arguing that "Operation Varsity was not entirely necessary..." Another historian, James
A. Huston, argues that "...had the same resources been employed on the ground, it is conceivable
that the advance to the east might have been even more rapid than it was".
28
Aircraft shortages
One specific failure in the massive operation was the critical lack of transport aircraft for
the operation, an unsolved flaw that had dogged every large-scale airborne operation the Allies
had conducted. In the original planning for Varsity, an extra airborne division, the 13th, had been
included; however, a lack of transport aircraft to drop this division led to it being excluded from
the final plan. Thus, the unsolved problem of a shortage of transport aircraft meant that a third of
the planned troops to be used were discarded, weakening the fighting power of the airborne
formation. In the event, the airborne troops actually employed were sufficient to overwhelm the
defenders. Some historians have commented on this failure; Gerard Devlin argues that because
of this lack of aircraft the remaining two divisions were forced to shoulder the operation by
themselves.
Aircraft and troop losses
Losses of airborne troops were high. The cause of this high casualty rate can likely be
traced to the fact that the operation was launched in full daylight, rather than a night-assault. The
airborne landings were conducted during the day primarily because the planners believed that a
daytime operation had a better chance of success than at night, the troops being less scattered.
However, landing paratroopers, and especially gliders, without the cover of darkness left them
exceedingly vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire. The official history of the British Airborne Divisions
highlights the cost of this trade-off, stating that of the 416 gliders that landed, only 88 remained
undamaged by enemy fire, and that between 20 - 30 percent of the glider pilots were casualties.
Another historian argues that the gliders landing in daylight was a calamity, with the 194th
Glider Infantry Regiment having two-thirds of their gliders hit by ground fire and suffering
heavy casualties as they landed. The casualty rates were worsened by the slow rates of release
and descent of the gliders themselves, and the fact that each aircraft towed two gliders, slowing
them even further; as the time to release a glider unit was 3 - 4 times longer than a parachute
unit, the gliders were vulnerable to flak.
A large number of paratroop drop aircraft were hit and lost as well. This was largely due
to the hostile conditions encountered by the drop aircraft. Operation Varsity's paratroop drop
phase was flown in daylight at slow speeds at very low altitudes, using unarmed cargo aircraft,
over heavy concentrations of German 20 mm, 37 mm, and larger caliber antiaircraft (AA)
cannon utilizing explosive, incendiary, and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition. By that stage
of the war, German AA crews had trained to a high state of readiness; many batteries had
considerable combat experience in firing on and destroying high speed, well-armed fighter and
fighter-bomber aircraft while under fire themselves. Finally, while many if not all of the C-47s
used in Operation Varsity had been retrofitted with self-sealing fuel tanks, the much larger C-46
Commando aircraft employed in the drop received no such modification. This was exacerbated
by the C-46's unvented wings, which tended to pool leaked gasoline at the wing root where it
could be ignited by flak or a stray spark. Although 19 of 72 C-46 aircraft were destroyed during
Operation Varsity, losses of other aircraft types from AA fire during the same operation were
also significant, including 13 gliders shot down, 14 crashed, and 126 damaged; 15 Consolidated
B-24 bombers shot down, and 104 damaged; and 30 C-47s shot down and 339 damaged.
29
Lieutenant-Colonel Otway, who wrote an official history of the British airborne forces
during World War II, stated that Operation Varsity highlighted the vulnerability of glider-borne
units. While they arrived in complete sub-units and were able to move off more quickly than
airborne troops dropped by parachute, the gliders were easy targets for anti-aircraft fire and
short-range small-arms fire once landed; Otway concluded that in any future operations, troops
dropped by parachute should secure landing zones prior to the arrival of glider-borne units. Thus,
by having the landings conducted during daylight to ensure greater accuracy, the Allied planners
incurred a far greater casualty rate, particularly amongst the glider-borne elements. The operation
also suffered from poor piloting. Although the piloting was of a better quality than in the Sicilian
and Normandy operations, there were still significant failures on the part of the pilots, especially
when it is considered that the drop was conducted in daylight. A significant error occurred when
the pilots of the transports carrying 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment dropped much of the
regiment several miles from their designated drop zones, with the mis-dropped units actually
landing in the British landing zones.
Suggested tactics for players:
Allied Team - Your first decisions should be where to bridge the Rhine River and what direction
will your ground forces go once they are across. To win you need to capture 3 out of the 4 Issel
River bridges. Two are located near Hamminkeln, so you will most likely need both. Your third
bridge can then be either of the two remaining bridges. You have only 7 turns to get to those
Issel bridges so its best to do a concentrated advance. The layout of the Diersfordt forest in the
middle of the board basically forces you to go in one of three directions: To the west of the
forest, straight through it or to the east of it. Axis forces are hidden at the beginning of play, but
you do know that their formations have been assigned set areas to defend. How they will be laid
out within their sectors will be discovered once you begin to attack. Your next decision will be
where to land your airborne forces. Obviously, they should be used to assist the ground forces
advance and to block any axis counter-attack / advance towards the Issel River bridges.
Remember that Axis units will surrender if surrounded. Use your airborne and ground forces to
flank and circle around enemy units. With good planning you can create a clear path for your
mobile ground forces to quickly advance to the Issel Bridges.
Axis Team - To win you need to deny the other side from capturing 3 out of 4 Issel River
bridges or damage / destroy their Rhine River pontoon bridge. Your forces are weak, but they are
hidden at the start. Your main objective is to delay, delay, delay the Allied advance. A defense in
depth will probably slow them down better than a single line of defense along the river or in the
forest. Try to cause as many casualties as you can when the Allied airborne forces do their initial
landing. That is when they are at their weakest. Once they recover and get organized they will be
much harder to defeat. Your reinforcements are good, but will be vulnerable to Allied air attacks.
Try to get your units into cover and under an anti-air umbrella of AA guns.
30
Custom AAM Cards - Several custom cards have been designed specifically for use with this
scenario. Players can select from any of these when designing their own armies. Cards are
grouped as either Allied or Axis in alphabetical order.
Airborne Jeep
Nationality: United States
Vehicle - Car
Year available: 1941

Cost: 3
Speed: 5
Defense: 1/1
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
High Gear 2 - If this unit makes its entire

move along a road, it gets +2 speed.
Light Towing - This unit can transport units

that have the light artillery ability.
Transport - This unit can carry one soldier.

(A friendly soldier can board or dismount
this unit instead of moving during your
movement phase.)
The Willys-Overland and Ford Companies

produced about 640,000 Jeeps towards the
war effort, which accounted for
approximately 18% of all the wheeled
military vehicles built in the U.S. during
WWII. Approximately 51,000 were
exported to the U.S.S.R. under the Lend-
Lease program.
31
Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Glider
Nationality: United Kingdom
Aircraft - Transport

Cost: 3
Speed: A
Defense: 3/3
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
Slow - Enemy Aircraft get +1 per attack die

when attacking this unit.
Air Lift 2 - This unit can transport two

Soldier units, one may be a Soldier-Artillery
unit with the SA Light Artillery or a jeep.
Glider - During the air strike phase, this unit

must land on any clear or runway terrain and
unload its passenger. If this unit is hit with
disruption before it unloads, place a face-up
disruption counter on the passenger. If the
glider is destroyed, the transported unit is
also lost.
With up to 30 troop seats, the Horsa was

much bigger than the 13-troop American
Waco CG-4A. It could carry a jeep or a 6
pounder anti-tank gun.
32
Centaur Dozer
Vehicle

Cost: 12
Speed: 4
Defense: 6/4
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
Dozer AVRE - This unit destroys Barbed

Wire that it crosses. It destroys Tank
Obstacles and Minefields in hexes that it
enters.
Dozer Blade - During the assault phase, this

unit can breach either one hex side hedge or
dyke that it crosses or clear a path through
one forest, jungle, shell hole or rubble hex
that it enters.
As UK armies advanced across Western

Europe, there was a need for a well-
armored, obstacle clearing vehicle that was
fast enough to keep up with tank formations.
This need was met by removing the turret
from a Centaur tank and fitting it with a
dozer blade. These dozer tanks were still in
use up to the Korean War.
33
Commando
Soldier - Infiltrator

Cost: 8
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 8/7/-
AV: 2/-/-
Close Assault 7 - This unit has an attack

value of 7 against Vehicles in its hex. This
attack ignores cover.
Hand to Hand 10 - This unit has an attack

value of 10 against Soldiers in its hex. This
Infiltrator - This unit doesnt get placed on

the map during deployment. At the end of
any of your movement phases, you can
deploy this unit on the map in any hex that
has cover. Placement in an enemy soldier
occupied hex can provoke defensive fire in
that hex.
Steely Resolve 2 - An attack must beat this

units defense by 2 or more in order to score
two hits against it.
To achieve maximum surprise, soldiers of

the 1st Commando Brigade crossed the
Rhine River and entered Wesel moments
after a bomber raid on the night of March
23, 1945 during Operation Plunder.
34
Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Cost: 4
Speed: A
Defense: 3/3
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
Air Lift 2 - This unit can transport up to two

Soldier units or Soldier-Artillery with the
SA Light Artillery.
Air Land - During the air strike phase, this

unit can land on runway terrain and unload
its passengers.

Air Drop - This unit can para-drop any

subtype Paratrooper during the air strike
phase.
Scatter - For each air dropping unit roll 1

die, divide by 2 and round up. Use current
wind direction to determine hex side
direction. Using die result, count that many
hexes from the start hex and place unit there.
Place a face up disruption counter on the
unit.
C-47s were used in vast numbers in the later

stages of WWII, particularly to tow gliders
and drop paratroops.
35
GAL 49 Hamilcar Glider

Cost: 4
Speed: A
Defense: 3/3
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
Heavy Air Lift - This unit can transport one

tank with the SA - Gliderborne or two
Soldier units or one Soldier-Artillery unit
with a jeep.

also lost.

Used in three different airborne operations

during WWII, the Hamilcar was able to
transport either an M22 Locust or Tetrarch
light tank. Their slow speed and large size
made them easy targets for anti-aircraft fire,
which resulted in a number of gliders being
damaged or destroyed.
36
Golden Talons Paratroopers
Soldier - Paratrooper

Cost: 5
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/7/-
AV: 2/-/-
Close Assault 8 -This unit has an attack

Disciplined - While this unit has cover it

gets +1/+1 defense.
Paratrooper - This unit doesnt get placed

on the map during deployment. At the end
of any movement phases, you may deploy
this unit on the map in any hex that isnt
adjacent to an enemy unit. It cant move
that phase.
Operation Varsity was the first and only

combat drop for the 17th Airborne Thunder
from Heaven Division during WWII. Three
Medals of Honor were posthumously
awarded to soldiers of the 17th for actions in
this operation during March 23-29, 1945.
37
LVT-4 Water Buffalo
Vehicle

Cost: 14
Speed: 3
Defense: 2/2
AI: 9/8/7
AV: 4/4/3
Overlapping Fire - This unit can make

defensive-fire attacks against soldiers.
Amphibious - This unit can cross streams

without making a movement roll. This unit
can enter water hexes as though they were
double-cost terrain hexes.
Transport - This unit can carry one soldier.

(A friendly soldier can board or dismount
this unit instead of moving during your
movement phase.)
Similar to the US Amtrack, but featuring a

retracable ramp and a Polsten 20mm gun in
place of the 50 caliber machinegun.
38
M10 Achilles
Vehicle - Tank Destroyer

Cost: 24
Speed: 4
Defense: 4/3
AI: 7/7/6
AV: 15/13/11
Flanking Attack - This unit rolls one extra

attack die when attacking a Vehicle's rear.
Armor Piercing Rounds - Once per game,

before you roll this unit's attack against a
Vehicle, you can declare you are using these
rounds. If you score two hits against that
Vehicle with this attack, score an additional
hit.
The British equipped the M10 with the very

powerful 17-pounder gun making it much
more effective verses German tanks such as
the Tiger and Panther.
39
M2A1 105mm Howitzer
Soldier - Artillery

Cost: 17
Speed: 0
Defense: 4/3
AI: 11/10/9
AV: 10/8/7
Indirect Fire - If a friendly Spotter is within

eight hexes of an enemy Soldier and has
line of sight to it, this units attack against
that Soldier ignores line of sight.
Bombardment - This unit's attacks ignore

cover. This unit cant attack Aircraft.
Enhanced Range 16 - This units long

range is 5-16 hexes.
Relocate 1 - This unit has speed 1 during

your assault phase.
Large - This unit is treated as a Vehicle for

stacking purposes.
The 105mm M2A1 howitzer was the

standard light field howitzer for the United
States, seeing action in both the European
and Pacific theaters.
40
Red Devils Captain
Soldier - Commander - Paratrooper

Cost: 11
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/7/-
AV: 2/-/-


that phase.
Commander Abilities: Initiative +2
Tally Ho! - In your movement phase,

friendly non-Artillery Soldiers that start
their move adjacent to this unit gets +1
speed.
No matter how severe the causalities,

Airborne Commanders were expected to
carry on and finish the job.
41
Red Devils Paratroopers

Cost: 5
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/7/-
AV: 2/-/-


gets +1/+1 defense.

that phase.
The division's first mission of WWII was

Operation Tonga, part of the D-Day
landings of June 6, 1944. They were
responsible for securing the left flank of the
Allied invasion.
42
Sexton II
Vehicle - Artillery

Cost: 28
Speed: 3
Defense: 3/3
AI: 10/10/9
AV: 8/7/6

eight hexes of an enemy Soldier and has
line of sight to it, this units attack against
that Soldier ignores line of sight.


Fixed Howitzer - This unit can attack only

units in front of it.
Open Back - Enemy units can use their anti-

Soldier attack values when attacking this
unit from behind.
Lay Smoke - Instead of rolling this unit's

attack against a Soldier or Vehicle, you can
declare you are laying smoke. You may
place a smoke screen in any hex that is
within range and line of sight of this unit or
indirect using a spotter.
43
Waco CG-4A Glider

Cost: 3
Speed: A
Defense: 3/3
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-

Air Lift 1 - This unit can transport one

Soldier unit or a Soldier-Artillery unit with
the SA Light Artillery or a Jeep.

also lost.
The most widely used American troop/cargo

military glider of World War II. It was
designated the CG-4A by the United States
Army Air Forces and named Hadrian (after
the Roman emperor) in British military
service.
44
Pontoon Bridge Section
Nationality: Any
Vehicle - Support

Cost: 4
Speed: 0
Defense: 2/2
AI: -/-/-
AV: -/-/-
Bridging - One section is required for a hex

side river and two sections for a full hex
river. Two Soldier units, one of which must
be an engineer, are required. They must be
positioned on opposite sides of the river
being bridged. During the assault phase, on
a roll of 3 or higher, one section is installed.
Soldiers attempting to install a section may
not perform any other action during that
phase.
Emplacement - When being transported,

this unit counts as a Soldier for stacking
purposes. Once successfully deployed onto a
river, it no longer counts towards stacking.
45
10.5 cm leFH 18
Nationality: German
Soldier - Artillery

Cost: 14
Speed: 0
Defense: 3/3
AI: 8/8/7
AV: 10/7/5
Relocate 1 - This unit has speed 1 during

your assault phase.

eight hexes of an enemy Soldier and has line
of sight to it, this units attack against that
Soldier ignores line of sight.


Large - This unit is treated as Vehicle for

stacking purposes.
The 10.5 cm leFH 18 was the standard

divisional field howitzer used by the
Wehrmacht during the Second World War.
46
Fallschirmjger
Nationality: Germany

Cost: 5
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/7/-
AV: 2/-/-


gets +1/+1 defense.
On May 20, 1941 Germany dropped its

entire 7th Air Division, along with other
units, to take the island of Crete. The
operation was successful, but the high
casualty rate convinced German
commanders that airborne operations were
too costly. For the rest of the war German
paratroopers were used mostly as elite
ground infantry.
47
SdKfz 251/2
Vehicle - Halftrack

Cost: 18
Speed: 4
Defense: 2/2
AI: 3/8/8
AV: -/6/5

eight hexes of an enemy Soldier and has line
of sight to it, this units attack against that
Soldier ignores line of sight.
Strike and Fade 1 - In your assault phase,

this unit can move at speed 1 after attacking.


Inaccurate 1 - This unit gets -1 on each

attack die.
Shrapnel 2 - Each success this unit rolls

against a soldier counts as two successes.
This version of the 251 Halftrack carried an

81mm mortar with 66 rounds. A base plate
was stored on board so that the mortar could
be used apart from the vehicle.
48
SdKfz 251/9 Stummel
Vehicle - Halftrack

Cost: 11
Speed: 4
Defense: 2/2
AI: 7/6/4
AV: 10/9/8

No Turret - This unit can attack Vehicles

only if they are in front of this unit.
Strike and Fade 1 - In your assault phase,

this unit can move at speed 1 after attacking.
Nicknamed Stummel (stump), this

Schtzenpanzerwagen was equipped with a
75 mm L/24 low velocity gun using a
pedestal gun mount. In 1944, it was revised
with a modular gun mount incorporating a
coaxial MG42.
49
SdKfz 251/10
Vehicle - Halftrack

Cost: 13
Speed: 4
Defense: 2/2
AI: 7/6/4
AV: 9/7/5

No Turret - This unit can attack Vehicles

only if they are in front of this unit.
Commander Transport - This unit can

carry one non-vehicle Commander. The
Commander abilities of the mounted
Commander applies to all friendly Soldiers
within two hexes of this unit.
Equipped with a 37 mm Pak 36 anti-tank

gun, this halftrack was issued to platoon
leaders as a fire support vehicle. Early
versions used the whole top half of a Pak 36
with full gun shield, but later versions used a
much smaller half-size gun shield so that the
vehicle didn't advertise its firepower.
50
Volksgrenadier
Soldier

Cost: 4
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 10/6/-
AV: 2/-/-

Limited Range 2 - This unit can attack only

at ranges of 2 or less.
Volksgrenadier divisions were organized by

small cadres of hardened veteran soldiers,
NCOs & officers, and then bulked out with
anything the Replacement Army could
supply. They had a higher proportion of
submachineguns & light automatic weapons
and thus relied more on short-range
firepower than a standard German Army
infantry unit.
51
Volkssturm Commander
Soldier - Commander

Cost: 9
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/7/-
AV: 2/-/-


Improved Accuracy - Friendly Soldiers

adjacent to this unit have a medium range of
2-6 hexes.
Though normally under party control,

Volkssturm units were placed under
Wehrmacht command when engaged in
action. Most Volkssturm Commanders were
Officers and NCOs reassigned from other
army units.
52
Wehrmacht NCO
Soldier - Commander

Cost: 7
Speed: 1
Defense: 4/4
AI: 9/6/-
AV: 2/-/-


Inspired Tactics - Once per game, all non-

SS soldiers adjacent to this unit at the start
of a turn can get either +1 speed to their
movement or +1 attack die during the
assault phase.
NCOs were the backbone of the German

Army and could be counted on to quickly
lead a counterattack to restore a wavering
battle line.
53
Bibliography
Bull, Dr. Stephen Elite105 World War II Infantry Tactics Osprey Publishing 2004
Delaforce, Patrick Onslaught on Hitlers Rhine Operations Plunder & Varsity March 1945
Fonthill Media Limited 2015
Ford, Ken Campaign 178 The Rhine Crossings 1945 Osprey Publishing 2006
Rawson, Andrew Battleground Europe The Rhine Crossing / 9th US Army & 17th US Airborne.
Pen & Sword Military 2006
Rottman, Gordon L. Elite 200 World War II Glider Assault Tactics Osprey Publishing 2014
Rottman, Gordon L. Elite 195 World War II River Assault Tactics Osprey Publishing 2013
Saunders, Tim Battleground Europe Operation Plunder The Rhine Crossing / The British &
Canadian Rhine Crossing. Pen & Sword Military 2006
Saunders, Tim Battleground Europe Operation Varsity The Rhine Crossing / The British &
Canadian Airborne Assault. Pen & Sword Military 2008
Wright, Stephen L. The Last Drop Operation Varsity March 24-25, 1945. Stackpole Books
2008
Zaloga, Steven J. Battle Orders 25 US Airborne Divisions in the ETO 1944-45 Osprey
Publishing 2007
Websites used:
http://gigapan.com/gigapans/155132 - Excellent source for European 1:100,000 scale maps from

the WWII era. I used these maps as a basis for my battle board design.
http://www.591-antrim-parachute.info/591-Rhine-Crossing-Transport.html - 591 Parachute

Squardron website - Report on Airborne Element 591 Parachute Squadron RE. H Hour to 2359
hrs D + 1
http://www.histomil.com/viewtopic.php?f=338&t=3918&start=4010 Excellent source for

photos pertaining to Operations Varsity & Plunder.
http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/varsity.html - US Airborne Troop Carrier website
Other sites such as Google, Wikipedia and Pinterest were also extensively used for photos and
information.
54
Operational Names used during March 23 / 24 1945:
PLUNDER: Overall operational name for the crossing of the Rhine River by British, Canadian
and US forces on March 23-24, 1945.
WIDGEON: 1st British Commando Brigades assault crossing of the Rhine River and seizure of
Wesel.
TURNSCREW: British XXX Corps / 51st (Highland) Divisions portion of Operation Plunder
which crossed the Rhine River near Rees to act as a diversion for Operation Torchlight.
TORCHLIGHT: British XII Corps / 15th (Scottish) Divisions portion of Operation Plunder
which consisted of the 44th Lowland Infantry Brigade and the 227th Highland Brigade crossing
the Rhine River from the Xanten side of the river towards Bislich.
FLASHLIGHT/FLASHPOINT: US 9th Armys portion of Operation Plunder which consisted of

the 30th US Div. and 79th US Div. crossing of the Rhine River between Wesel and Dinslaken.
VARSITY: Airborne assault portion of Operation Plunder consisting of the British 6th and US
17th Airborne Divisions air landing / air dropping in the area between Hamminkeln and the
Diersfordt forest.
55
Historic Allied Table of Organization: These tables of organization have been recreated from
reading several books and is as complete as can be down to regimental level. Unit commander
names have been added where available. Units marked as lead element were in the first wave
of units to cross the Rhine River. 2nd element denotes this unit was in the second wave of river
crossings.
21st Army Group - Commander: Field Marshall Sir Bernard Montgomery
Assault Formations
British 2nd Army - Commander: Lt Gen Sir Miles C. Dempsey
o GHQ 4th Independent Armored Brigade - Commander: Brig R.M.P. Carver

o Staffordshire Yeomanry (DD Shermans)
o 44th Royal Tank Regiment (DD Shermans) Lt Col
Hopkinson
33 Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division) -
rd
Commander: Brig H.B. Scott

o 11th Royal Tank Regiment (LVT Buffalos)
o East Riding Yeomanry (LVT Buffalos)
o (Also had Flail tanks, Crocodiles & Kangaroos)
31 Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division) - Commander:
st
Brig G.S. Knight
o British XII Corps - Commander: Lt Gen Neil M. Ritchie
7 Army Troop Engineers comprising of H.Q. 7 Army Troop ... Army

Troop Engineers 71 Field Company R.E. less one platoon built "Digger
Bridge" aka Xanten Bridge - the first Bailey Bridge across the Rhine.
7th Armored Division - Maj Gen L.O. Lyne
15th (Scottish) Division - Commander: Maj Gen C.M. Barber
44th Lowland Infantry Brigade

o 6 Royal Scots Fusiliers (lead element)
o 8 Royal Scots (lead element)
o 6 Kings Own Scottish Borderers (2nd element)
227th Highland Brigade

o 10 Highland Light Infantry (lead element)
o 2 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (lead element)
o 2 Gordon (2nd element)
56
1st Commando Brigade - Commander: Brig D. Mills Roberts
46th Commandos Royal Marines (lead element)
6th (Army) Commandos (lead element)
45th Commandos Royal Marines (2nd element)
3rd (Army) Commandos (2nd element)
1st Cheshire (3rd element)
84th Field Company RE(supplied Storm Boats for crossing)
1st Mountain Regiment RA (Forward Observers)
77th Assault Squadron RE (LVTs)
52nd (Lowland) Division - Commander: Maj Gen E. Hakewill Smith

Protected Home Bank opposite 15th (Scottish ) Division
53rd (Welsh) Division - Commander: Maj Gen R.K. Ross
115th Infantry Brigade (attached) - Commander: Brig E.L. Luce
o British XXX Corps - Commander: Lt Gen Sir Brian Horrocks
Guards Armored Division - Commander: Maj Gen Alan Adair
3rd British Division - Commander: Maj Gen L.G. Whistler

Holding Home Bank or western side of Rhine River.
Responsible for creating gaps through dykes, build road to river
and ramps into river.)
3rd Divisions Royal Engineers
50 GHQ Engineers
51st (Highland) Division - Commander: Maj Gen Thomas Rennie (killed

March 24, 1945) Maj Gen G.H.A. MacMillan (took over command March
25, 1945)
153rd Brigade
o 5th Black Watch (lead element)
o 5th / 7th Gordon Highlanders (lead element)
o 1st Gordon Highlanders (2nd element)
454 Mountain Battery (3.7 inch howitzers)
154th Brigade
o 7th/10th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regiment (lead
element)
o 7th Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) (lead element)
o 1st Black Watch (2nd element)
57
9th Brigade of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (attached) from II
Corps of 1st Canadian Army - Commander: Brig J.M. Rockingham
o Highland Light Infantry (lead element) (under command of
154th Brigade)
o Stormont Dundas & Glengary Highlanders (2nd element)
o North Nova Scotia Highlanders (2nd element)
152th Brigade
o 2nd Seaforth Highlanders (2nd element)
o 5th Queens Own Cameron Highlanders (2nd element)
o 5th Seaforth Highlanders (2nd element)
Canadian 3rd Division - Commander Maj Gen Dan Spry

8th Armored Brigade - Commander Brig Prior Palmer
Follow-up Formations
British 43rd (Wessex) Division - Commander: Maj Gen G. Ivor Thomas

2nd wave - Crossed Rhine, took command of 9th CAN Inf. Bde and
protected left flank of 51st Highland Division.
81st Field Regiment
83rd Field Regiment
133rd Field Regiment
17th AT Regiment
Canadian II Corps - Commander: Lt Gen Guy Simmonds

o Canadian 4th Armored Division - Commander: Maj Gen C. Vokes
o Canadian 2nd Division - Commander: Maj Gen A.B. Mathews
Reserve Formations
British VIII Corps - Lt Gen E.H. Barker

o 11th Armored Division - Commander: Maj Gen Pip Roberts
o 6th Guards Armored Brigade - Commander: Brig W.D.C. Greenarce
58
Airborne Formations
US XVIII Airborne Corps - Commander: Maj Gen Matthew Ridgeway
o British 6th Airborne Division - Commander: Maj Gen Eric Bols

Transported from airfields located in Southern England by the RAF 38th
and 46th Group using Stirlings, Halifaxes and C-47s to tow gliders and US
52nd Wing of IX Troop Carrier Command to transport paratroopers using
C-47s.
Main HQ Detachment 22 Independent Para Company
3rd Parachute Brigade - Commander: Brigadier James Hill

3rd Para Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron
8th Parachute Battalion (1st wave) - Commander: Lt. Col. George
Hewetson
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (2nd wave) - Commander: Lt. Col.
Jeff Nicklin
9th Parachute Battalion (3rd wave) - Commander: Lt. Col. Napier
Crookenden
One troop 3 Airlanding AT battery RA (6 pounder)
In support: Three field regiments RA 52nd Divisions Artillery
Group
Troop 3 Para Squadron RE
224 Para Field Ambulance - Commander: Lt. Col. A. D. Young
DSO
Detachment Glider Pilot Regiment
5th Parachute Brigade - Commander: Brigadier J. H. Nigel Poett DSO

5th Para Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron
7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion (2nd wave) - Commander:
Lt. Col. Geoffrey Pine-Coffin DSO
12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion (2nd wave) - Commander: Lt.
Col. Ken Darling
13th (Lancashire) Parachute Battalion (2nd wave) - Commander: Lt.
Col. Peter Luard
4 Airlanding AT Battery RA (8 x 17 pounder & 8 x 6 pounder)
One battery 53 (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light
Regiment RA (12 x 75mm)
One medium regiment RA 52nd Div Artillery Group
Part 591 Para Squadron RE
225 Para Field Ambulance - Commander: Lt Col. Bruce Harvey
Detachment Glider Pilot Regiment
59
6th Airlanding Brigade - Commander: Brigadier Hugh Bellamy DSO
6th Airlanding Brigade HQ and Signal Squadron
1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles (1st RUR) - Commander: Lt. Col.
Jack Carson
2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (2nd
OBLI) - Commander: Lt. Col. Mark Darrell-Brown DSO
12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment (12th Devons) - Commander:
Lt. Col. Paul Gleadell
2nd Airlanding Anti-Tank Regiment RA consisting of 6 x 17
pounder Commander: Lt. Col. F. E. Allday
53rd (Worcestershire Yeomanry) Airlanding Light Regiment RA
consisting of one battery - 12 x 75mm - Commander: Lt. Col. R.
A. Eden
One medium regiments RA 52nd Divisions Artillery Group
195th Airlanding Field Ambulance - Commander: Lt. Col. M. W.
Bill Anderson
2nd Forward Observation Unit (Airborne) RA - Commander: Lt.
Col. Harry Rice
Divisional Reserve
6th Airborne Armored Recce Regiment consisting of two Locust
Tank Troops - Commander: Lt. Col. Godfrey Stewart
One 6 pounder troop and one 17 pounder section from 3
Airlanding AT Battery RA
After link up with sea tail: 6 Airlanding AT Battery RA (4 x 17
pounder & 12 x 6 pounder)
Indirect Artillery Support

Direct artillery support for 6th British Airborne consisted of one
field, one medium and one heavy Royal Artillery regiments. May
have been units of 79th or 80th Field Regiments RA from 52nd
(Lowland) Division, 63rd (Midland) Medium Regiment RA and
53rd Heavy Regiment RA
3 battalions of 155mm from 9th US Army
60
o US 17th Airborne Division Thunder from Heaven - Commander: Maj Gen
William M. Miley
Transported from airfields located in France by the IX Troop Carrier

Command using C-47s.
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Commander: Col Edson D. Raff
464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. Edward S.

Branigan Jr.
513th Parachute Infantry Regiment - Commander: Col James W. Coutts
466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. Kenneth

L. Booth
194th Glider Infantry Regiment - Commander: Col James R. Pierce
681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. Joseph W.

Keating
680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. Paul F.

Oswald
155th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. John

Paddock
139th Airborne Engineer Battalion - Commander: Lt. Col. Stanley T.B.

Johnson
517th Signals Company - Commander: Captain David Jesberg
224th Airborne Medical Company - Commander: Major James Kenny
Indirect Artillery Support
British 8th Army Group Royal Artillery

o 25th Light AA Regiment, RA
o 77th Medium Regiment, 8th AGRA
o Battery of 382nd Heavy AA Regiment, RA
61
US Ninth Army - Commander: Gen William H. Simpson
Assault Formations:
o US XVI Corps - Commander: Maj Gen John B. Anderson

8th Armored Division - Commander: Brig Gen John M. Devine
79th Division Cross of Lorraine - Commander: Maj Gen Ira T. Wyche
313th Regiment (lead element)
30th Division Old Hickory - Commander: Maj Gen Leland Hobbs

35th Division Santa Fe - Commander: Maj Gen Paul W. Baade

69th Infantry Brigade (2nd element)
70th Infantry Brigade (2nd element)
60th Field Artillery Brigade (2nd element)
75th Division - Commander: Maj Gen Ray E. Porter

289th Infantry Regiment (2nd element)
290th Infantry Regiment (2nd element)
291st Infantry Regiment (2nd element)
Follow Up Formations:
o XIX Corps - Commander: Maj Gen Raymond S. McLain

2nd Armored Division - Commander: Brig Gen Isaac D. White
29th Division - Commander: Maj Gen Charles H. Gerhardt
83rd Division - Commander: Maj Gen Robert C. Macon
95th Division - Commander: Maj Gen Harry L. Twaddle
o XIII Corps Commander: Maj Gen Alvan C. Gillen Jr.

5th Armored Division - Commander: Maj Gen Lunsford E. Oliver
84th Division - Commander: Maj Gen Alexander R. Bolling
102nd Division - Commander: Maj Gen Frank A. Keating
Company E & C of 17th Armored Engineer Battalion / 2nd Armored

Division (constructed 2 Treadway rafts on Rhine river 5 kilometers south
of Wesel)
823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
717th Tank Battalion
62
744th Light Tank Battalion
813rd Tank Destroyer Battalion
771st Tank Battalion
29th US Tactical Air Force
Special detachment (Already noted under the British XII Corps):
1st Canadian Army - Commander: Henry Crerar

o Canadian II Corps - Commander: Lt Gen Simmonds
3rd Canadian Infantry Division
9th Infantry Brigade
o Stormont Dundas & Glengary Highlanders Regiment
o North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment
63
Historic Axis Table of Organization: This table of organization for German forces has been
recreated from reading several books and is as complete as can be down to regimental level.
Much of the information comes from Allied intelligence pre-battle reports and post battle
interviews with German commanders. Unit commander names have been added where
available.
C in C West - Commander: Gen Field Marshal Albert Kesselring
Army Group H - Commander: GenObst Johannes Blaskowitz
Army Group H Reserve
XLVII Panzer Corps - Commander: General der Panzertruppen Heinrich Freiherr von
Luttwitz
Located 15 miles to the northeast of Emmerich near Isselburg
Its historic objective was to cross and hold the Issel River bridges.
o 15th Panzer Grenadier - Commander: Maj Gen Wolfgang Maucke

Used to counterattack British units in Rees
Estimated up to 15 tanks (Panzer IVs?) & 20-30 assault guns & Infantry
104th Panzergrenadier Regiment (partial)
33rd Artillery Regiment (motorized) (partial)
115th Panzer Battalion (partial)
33rd Panzerjager Battalion (partial)
315th Heer Flak Battalion (motorized) partial)
33rd Recon Battalion (partial)
o 116th Panzer Windhund Division - Commander: Maj Gen Siegfried von

Waldenburg
Some elements were in the Diersfordter Forest protecting artillery sites
when Plunder/Varsity began. Some units broke out to the north and
northeast beyond the airborne envelopment.
Estimated up to 70 tanks (Panzer IVs and SPGs) & Infantry
16th Panzer Regiment (partial)
146th Panzer Artillery Regiment (partial)
116th Panzer Recon Battalion (partial)
228th Panzerjager Battalion (partial)
281st Panzer Flak Battalion (partial)
64
Formations defending along the Rhine River
1st Parachute Army of Army Group H - Commander: General der Fallschirmtruppen Alfred
Schlemm (badly wounded on March 21, 1945) General der Infantrie Gunther Blumentritt took
over command March 28, 1945
Estimated to have around 85,000 men and 150 armored vehicles
Estimated to have 712 20mm weapons, 114 heavy weapons including
several batteries of 88mm flak guns in fields around Hamminkeln &
Wesel.
II Parachute Corps - Commander: General der Fallschirmtruppen Eugen Meindl

o 6th Parachute Division - Commander: Lt Gen Hermann Plocher
Estimated to have 3,500 men
17th Parachute Regiment
6th Parachute Artillery Regiment
o 7th Parachute Division - Commander: Lt Gen Wolfgang Erdmann

21st Parachute Regiment
o 8th Parachute Division - Commander: Lt Gen Wadehn

22nd Parachute Regiment
32nd Parachute Regiment
LXXXVI Corps - Commander: General der Infanterie Erich Straube

Held the riverbank from Wesel to Dinslaken
o 84th Division - Commander: Maj Gen Heinz Fiebig

Reconstituted as a Volksgrenadier Division
Held the riverbank on either side of Wesel
1051st Grenadier Regiment (partial)
1052nd Grenadier Regiment (partial)
1062nd (Mountain) Regiment (partial)
184th Elbe Artillery Regiment (partial)
317th Ersatz Battalion (located in Wesel)
286th Ear Battalion (soldiers deaf or hard of hearing)
65
o 180th Grenadier Division - Commander: Maj Gen Bernhard Klosterkemper
Held riverbank near Dinslaken
1221st Grenadier Regiment (partial)
1222nd Grenadier Regiment (partial)
1223rd Grenadier Regiment (partial)
180th Artillery Regiment (partial)
o Wesel Garrison - Commander: Maj Gen Deutch

16th Flak Division
LXIII Corps - Commander: General der Infantrie Erich Abraham

o Division Hamburg (old men & young teenagers)
Located near Rhine River south of Dinslaken
o 2nd Parachute Division - Commander: Lt Gen Walther Lackner
Located in Duisburg
Kampfgruppe Karst
o Anti-Airlanding unit consisting of halftracks, armored cars and light armor (Mk
IV tanks)
o Assembled somewhere east of River Issel and used to counterattack Wesel.
190th Division - Commander: Lt Gen Ernst Hammer

o Committed later to counter allied crossings. Attached to XLVII Panzer Corps
66

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Location & Date: Operation Varsity / Plunder - 21st Army Groups crossing of the Rhine River

Game Length: Seven turns.

SMLE No.4 Rifleman cost: 3

Airspeed AS.51 Horsa Glider (custom figure) cost: 3

Airborne Jeep (US Jeep) cost: 3

River Assault Force - Elements of the British 2nd Army

GHQ 4th Independent Armored Brigade

44th Royal Tank Regiment

33rd Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division)

11th Royal Tank Regiment

31st Armored Brigade (from 79th Armored Division)

7th Army Troop Engineers (from 79th Armored Division)

71 Field Company R.E.

227th Highland Brigade

1st Commando Brigade

Artillery Support for British XII Corps and Airborne Formations

Elements of British 8th Army RA and US 9th Army Artillery

29th US Tactical Air Force

3rd Parachute Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division

o 1 x Red Devils Captain (P) or (HA)

5th Parachute Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division

o 1 x Red Devils Captain (P) or (HA)

6th Airlanding Brigade / British 6th Airborne Division

o 1 x Red Devils Captain (P) or (HA)

o 2 x M22 Locust (HM)

o 1 x Screaming Eagle Captain (P)

Volksgrenadier (Finnish Infantry) cost: 4

Formations defending along the Rhine River

Elements of 7th Parachute Division / II Parachute Corps

84th Volksgrenadier Division

16th Flak Division

Reserve Formations that begin the scenario off board

15th Panzer Grenadier Division / XLVII Panzer Corps

116th Panzer Windhund Division / XLVII Panzer Corps

a. Constructing a Bridge Section - Two Soldier units, one of which must be an

k. All paratroopers air dropping immediately receive a face up disruption marker.

a. Smoke - Must be performed during the Bombardment Phase. Can be targeted

Disciplined - While this unit has cover it gets +1/+1 defense.

Inaccurate 1 - This unit gets -1 on each attack die.

The River Crossings

The Airborne Operations

6th Airborne Division

17th Airborne Division

Aircraft and troop losses

Suggested tactics for players:

Year available: 1941

High Gear 2 - If this unit makes its entire

Light Towing - This unit can transport units

Transport - This unit can carry one soldier.

The Willys-Overland and Ford Companies

Year available: 1942

Slow - Enemy Aircraft get +1 per attack die

Air Lift 2 - This unit can transport two

Glider - During the air strike phase, this unit

With up to 30 troop seats, the Horsa was

Year available: 1944

Dozer AVRE - This unit destroys Barbed

Dozer Blade - During the assault phase, this

As UK armies advanced across Western

Year available: 1940

Close Assault 7 - This unit has an attack

Hand to Hand 10 - This unit has an attack

Infiltrator - This unit doesnt get placed on