Operation Aintree 1944

With my mate Phil on the Coast this weekend attending a Reunion, we took a bit of free time that he had last night to game a quick battle. Operation Aintree was a WW2 battle between Allied forces and the German army which took place in and around the village of Overloon in the south-east of Holland between September 30th and October 18th, 1944. The battle, which resulted in an Allied victory,saw some 2,500 soldiers killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in the Netherlands during the Second World War. It was also the only major tank battle ever fought on Dutch soil. Dozens of tanks, mainly British, were destroyed. After a couple of coin tosses we saw Phil established as the Germans in Defence and myself as elements of the British 11th Armoured Division hoping to break through Overloon Village and capture a Farm that overlooked a road junction.
British ORBAT
Elements of the British 11th Armoured Division consisting of:

• 1 SQN of 3 Troops M4 Shermans (Including 3 Fireflies)-12 Tanks total.
• 1 Troop Achilles Tank Destroyers-2 Achilles
• 1 Recon Element of 2 Armoured Cars,2 Halftracks and a Jeep.

German ORBAT
Elements of Panzer Brigade 107 consisting of:

• 1 Platoon of 3 Panther tanks
• 1 Platoon of 3 Panzer Mk IV Ausf J
• 1 Platoon of 2 StuG III
• 1 Recon Element of 2 Sdkfz 251/1

So we can see that the British Forces outnumber the Germans, however the Germans were acting in the Defence role and had supieror tank weapons and defence values with its Panther Force, so we figured we were both evenly matched. Airfix rules were to be used. The Cook had send up a nice Cheese Board and we were all set for a good nights action above the Stables...