Cutting Hells Highway | Koevering Operation Market Garden | Arma 3 Northern Fronts RIS
3"Hell's Highway" refers to the corridor created by the Allied forces during Operation Market Garden, specifically the route taken by the British XXX Corps, which included the U.S. 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, as they advanced through the Netherlands. This corridor was crucial for the success of the operation, connecting the airborne landings zones to the ultimate objective—the bridge at Arnhem.
From the airborne perspective, "Hell's Highway" presented both opportunities and challenges. The corridor was the lifeline for the airborne troops, as it facilitated the movement of supplies, reinforcements, and equipment. The 101st Airborne Division, in particular, played a significant role in securing and defending this vital route.
The airborne troops faced challenges in maintaining control over the corridor. German counterattacks, particularly in the areas around Eindhoven and Nijmegen, tested the resilience and determination of the airborne divisions. The Germans recognized the strategic importance of disrupting the corridor to prevent the reinforcement of the British paratroopers at Arnhem.
The defense and maintenance of "Hell's Highway" became a grueling task for the airborne troops. They had to contend not only with German ground forces but also with the constant threat of air attacks. The Luftwaffe targeted the corridor, seeking to cut off the Allied advance.
On 24 September 1944, Koevering and Logtenburg were captured by German units during Operation Market Garden. As a result, the corridor, the Allies’ advance route to the north, got breached. There was heavy fighting here the following day. In the night of September 25-26, the German troops withdrew and the Allied ground troops were able to advance further towards Arnhem. The breaching of the corridor was one of the reasons for the failure of Operation Market Garden.
The 101st Airborne Division assigned four drop zones to land paratroops and one landing zone for gliders. The main force of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment and elements of the 326th Airborne Engineers Battalion were the first to land at drop zone A (see map) at Eerde. 1st Battalion was assigned to Drop zone A1, just west of Veghel, in between the Aa river and the Zuid-Willemsvaart. The pathfinder stick for drop zone A made a perfect jump over the drop zone and set up their beacons for the Troop Carrier serials within 30 minutes. The other Pathfinder stick for drop zone A1 was shot down over Retie (Belgium), therefore 1st Battalion wasn’t able to find the right drop zone. They were misdropped at Kameren, on the grounds of Heeswijk Castle and the surrounding meadows. The grounds around the castle were far from an ideal drop zone, therefore 1st battalion suffered a lot of jump casualties. The wounded were left behind at the castle and 1st battalion marched towards Veghel, which was located 5 miles to the east. 2nd and 3rd battalion of the 501st and the engineers marched to the bridges quickly and soon they captured the two railway bridges at Veghel and the two road bridges. They set up roadblocks at Veghel and Eerde.
The 502nd were assigned with the task of capturing the Dommel bridges at Sint-Oedenrode, the bridge at Best over the Wilhelmina canal and protect the drop- and landing zone(s) at Son. They were able to seize the bridges at Sint-Oedenrode, set up positions at the drop zone, but received heavy enemy resistance at Best. Later in the afternoon, Colonel John Michaelis, commander of the 502nd, ordered more troops to move towards Best but it didn’t help. The troops at Best had to dig in for the night and try to capture the bridge the following day.
The 506th had to capture the bridge over the Wilhelmina canal at Son and move further south to Eindhoven and secure four bridges over the Dommel river. They achieved none of their tasks on the 17th. They assembled quickly, marched towards Son but were met by a German 88 mm gun in the center of Son which stopped the advance. 1st Battalion tried to bypass the town on the west and flanked the German position, but they were stopped by two 88 mm guns positioned at the canal, inflicting many casualties in the ranks of the paratroops. The paratroopers of the 506th moved up the main road quickly, took out the 88 mm guns and forced their way towards the bridge. The enemy had halted the troops of the 506th long enough to wire the bridge with explosives and once the first paratroopers neared the bridge, they blew it up sky high. The engineers prepared a small wooden bridge over the canal and two battalions crossed, but it wasn’t big enough to get the battalions across quickly. Colonel Robert Sink, commander of the 506th ordered his troops to dig in just south of the canal, they would try to take Eindhoven the next day.
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