Operation Deadstick (Coup de main) - Pegasus Bridge part 1

 Operation Tonga - Pegasus Bridge part 1

One of my primary projects for 2024 is to build an accurate Pegasus bridge table on a permanent setting, with that in mind I have started to collect a number of period photos together, plus intelligence photos, postcards of the village. I will also identify the gliders and build them as per the description of the destruction upon landing. I will be using three or four books on the subject plus a few local photos from my visits and actual measurements for scratch building or 3d printing. I will also build specific tiles for the table to cover both the Bénouville bridge (pegasus), and the Orne river bridge (Horsa), plus the village of Bénouville up to the cross roads and perhaps the chateau Bénouville and the edge of the village of Ranville.

I plan to build all the buildings at 1/76th scale approximately so the templates are not to large. For he bridge over the canal I have purchased the 20mm resin bridge from ravensthorpe for Pegasus bridge but have already started to add a few modifications to the resin piece including new hand railings and more accurate supports and the boom gates. The bridge over the river Orne will be a 3d printed piece. The narrow gauge rail line will be likely N scale track to reduce the footprint of the line. I have purchased the Bénouville chateau also as a 3d file, not sure if i will add it to the table though as it is huge. 

The Bridges and environs

Aerial view of Pegasus bridge, the train station, water tower,  german trenches are clearly visible, along with railway line, towpath the layout of the Gardens behind. If you visit today the ground has changed a lot, the canal was widened in the 60s, the AT gun was moved and the bank on the village side considerably reduced.

The 

The Bénouville Gare (railway station) and water tower was still in its position on DDay along with the rails. I have only ever seen it on a pegasus bridge table once. The station and tower were removed in 1960, a similar station remains today which I have taken photos and measurements from.

A photo of the construction of the second bridge (replacing the swing bridge) in the mid 30s, note how the bridge if off set to the road alignment to the village of Bénouville, this was changed when the new bridge was installed in the 60s. A much better view of the light railway line, the station and water tower, directly behind it was a deep drain which runs through a culvert under the road behind the cafe Gorondee also. 

British soldiers crossing the bridge heading to Ranville. note the boom gates, metal pedestrian fencing the bank revetments, the edge of the gunpit, and the British load sign

A postcard from 1960, note the bridge footings and shorter span bridge, with the proud jetty. The old 1960s bridge in the museum grounds is one panel longer than the ww2 bridge, this is a photo of that bridge before it was moved.

A photo of the bridge after the war as the sandbags are missing on the control shack, the Pegasus sign is up on cafe Gondrée, note the large trees on the right where the train station is.

A photo of the bridge with major howard, note the footings of the building in the foreground, the germans had a MG nest in this area, note the old mill building is attached to cafe Gondree still.

Cafe Gondrée, note the brick front and shutters as it was directly after the war.

Cafe Gondrée 2017, there was no hedge during the action.

Myths about Pegasus bridge

1. First building liberated was not in fact cafe Gondree, but the building opposite . 
2. Commandos of lord Lovatt ; Bagpipes not played at Pegasus bridge as per the "longest day" but as the commandos crossed Horsa bridge. 
3. Resistance told allies germans had explosives on the bridge, however they were not wired up
4. Scars counterbalance are from the combat with the patrol boat
5. In 1944 the bridge was shorter (photo extension) and the road was made of wooden planks either side of the rail line

Bibliography

cheers

Matt

Part two - Whisky on the Rocks - Soviet order of battle

 

Soviet Order of Battle  

Invasion of Gotland 1981

Part two 

“Admiral Ivan Kapitanets stared at the map of the island of Gotland. Preoccupied with his primary concern; The naval spetsnaz operatives actions against the strike capability of the Swedish Airforce and the anti ship missile defences on Faro Island. He pondered, if the planned operation was only partially a success, would the remainder go to plan, and from past experience nothing ever goes to plan….” 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

The 336th consisted of four battalions, one heliborne air landing  and three battalions of Naval Infantry equipped with the amphibious BTR 60 armored personnel carriers, a tank battalion with two companies of PT-76 amphibious light tanks and a company of T-55 main battle tanks. Artillery support was provided by a battery of BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Nona and Gvozdika SP guns and a battery of anti-tank guided missiles, while air defense consisted of a platoon of ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft guns and a platoon of 9K31 Strela-1 surface-to-air missiles. Support units included support, reconnaissance, engineer, and NBC defense companies. 

336th Independent Naval Guards Brigade 

Order of Battle

877th Naval Infantry Battalion
878th Naval Infantry Battalion
879th Naval (Air Landing) Infantry Battalion
884th Naval Infantry Battalion
112th Tank Battalion 

887th Reconnaissance Battalion
1612th Artillery Battalion
1618th Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion
1615th Multi-Rocket Launcher Artillery Battalion
1621st Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion

40 T-55, 26 PT-76, 96 BTR-80, 64 BTR-60, 18 2s1 Gvozdika, 24 2s9 Nona, 18 BM-21 Grad, 15 MT-LBT, 3 PRP-3 Forward Observor , 3 PU-12, 1 BTR-60PU, 7 R-145BM, 6 1V119, 3 1V18, 1 1V19, 1 BTR-70KSh, 

Able Archer order of battle 336th Naval Guards Brigade 

Brigade HQ 

BTR 60 R-145BM command vehicle CO + radio + 5

BTR 80 ZS88 PSYOP vehicle PO + NKGB platoon, 

MTLB  ambulance OC + 2 medics 

Ural 4320 supply truck

561st "Maritime Recon” (Spetsnaz) battalion 

HQ coy 

CO+RO SA-7 team (2 figures), 4 figures medic, sniper, radio ops

I companies 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG

II company 

8 figures spetsnaz RPG and LMG 

Regiment HQ:

BTR 60 PU-12 command vehicle 

- regimental commander +3

- SA-7 team (2 figures)

Naval Infantry battalions

877th Naval infantry 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

878th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MTL- B 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

879th Naval Air landing battalion 

Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

884th Naval infantry battalion 

Battalion HQ Company:

- BTR-60/8 Regimental CO + radio, sniper, medic, SA-7 team (2 figures)

3 Companies:

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

BTR-60 7 figures with RPG and LMG

Support Company:

MT-LB 9 figures with 120mm mortar, AT-4 and SPG-9

112th Tank Battalion 

BHQ 1 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) BTR60 P

I Company

      1 x TO55 (flamethrower)

      2 x T55 AD (DRZOD APS) 

II company 

2 x PT76 

III Company

2 PT-76B

887th Reconnaissance battalion:

HQ company 1 x BDRM 2, 1x BTR 60 PU radio 

 I company

1 x BDRM 2

II company 

1 x PT-76B 

1612 Artillery battalion 

HQ 

Observor PRP-3 VAL

I Battery 

2 x 2S9 Nona 

II Battery 

1 x 2s1 Gvozdika 

Engineer Company:

PTS M 7 figures, rpg, lmg

BTR 50 UR67 (mine clearance rocket) 

1621st Anti tank battery 

BRDM-2 with AT-3

1618th AA Battery:

HQ coy BTR 60 PU 4 figs 

I battery SA-9 Gaskin 4 figs

II battery 1 x ZSU-23-4

1618th MLRS Battery:

HQ Gaz -66 IV19 radio command vehicle 

 2 x BM-21 Grad MLRS 4 crew

Tactical air support 

Observer BTR 60 R-975M1

71st red star landing brigade

The Ondatra class Soviet designation Project 1176 Akula LCT

(Landing craft, can carry two T-55, two APC or trucks or 50 infantry). 

Ropucha class LCM

Korolev, Minsk, Kaliningrad, Pyotr Morgunov, Georgy Pobedonosets

Baltic Fleet Naval Aviation  

689th Fighter Aviation Regiment SU27
4th Naval Attack Aviation Regiment SU24
125th Independent Helicopter Squadron Mi8 and Mi24
398th Transport Aviation Squadron Mi8

Cheers

Matt

Research 

Russian

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 2

Completed the 7 miniatures for my Customs border unit. These chaps are all Esci and Airfix. The figures are from the Esci ground crew (radio operator ) NATO troops man with hand up, and from the Airfix nato ground crew the dog and the three walking (minus their tool boxes)

The unit will be used for my skirmish and larger battles as opposition to my Soviet special forces. 

Bundeszollverwaltung -  Customs patrol

Cheers

Matt

Terrain Tuesday - TV crew

 Another table piece for my Cold War collection this time a camera crew covering the troubles along the border….. figures from Elhiem miniatures range. 

Cheers

Matt 

Bundeszollverwaltung - Customs company part 1

 Bundeszollverwaltung 

Bundeszollverwaltung

A small addition to my Cold War west German are some customs border officers, mostly at the suggestion of Carlos on the lead adventure forum as they often were the first person to be encountered when entering West Germany. The Bundeszollverwaltung patrolled the border in a set area up to 10 klm deep, living in the area close where they patrolled.  They even had riverine and ocean going patrol boats. I plan to use up left over airfix and Esci nato figures and another dog handler to make up another 7 figure company, plus a VW van and VW beetle car to come. 

Uniform

Dress uniform 

A lime green shirt, black tie,  green dress jacket, field grey trousers, black shoes, dress cap green, grey cords and black peak.

Field uniform 

A dark green field jacket, with field grey trousers black belts and boots, a green field cap 

Weapons 

Pistol, rifle or SMG. 

Cheers 

Matt

50th Infantry Division Tyne Tees Part 5

Tyne Tees part 5

Completed some more crews for vehicles and Bren Carriers etc. another 30 odd figures to go. Again all figures are Britannia miniatures. 

Cheers 

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil part two

Finally completed this during the week during my down time between guests I have been airbrushing and catching up on my kit builds during the year. I do need to add crew from elhiem when I find them in the pile of opportunity. 

The Volvo c303 pansarvarnspjasterrangbil was armed with a Pvpj 1110 90 mm recoil-less antitank gun. I picked up the Gecko models 1/72 model last year and finally assembled it this week for Mad March build, so has been a while between build and painted but until I complete the renovations on my workshop upstairs I will need to be patient until I get my airbrush studio space completed. 

This chap will join my Swedes in the anti armour platoon of my infantry regiment for my Cold War game later in the year. 

Cheers

Matt

Swedish Army Project - Volvo C303 TBG 11 part two

 Additions for my Swedish army is a passenger truck, the Volvo C303 TGB11 these small vehicles were commonly referred to as the Puppy in Swedish service and were used in a variety of uses. 

The PLTGB 903 was designed and built by Volvo and was designated the Laplander L3314. It came in hard top, soft top and the specialized anti tank version. I picked up the Gecko heavy industries model, which to be frank is not that good for its price, with lots of air bubbles and a clear cabin in very hard resin. See my previous kit review Here 

I am quite happy with the result though and was a simple dark green airbrush job then hand painted windscreens, tactical signs and lights etc. 

Cheers

Matt

Nationale Volksarmee - Trabant 601 car

 Elhiem miniatures have released a few pieces for the Nationale Volksarmee GDR East Germans. A simple start to my project coming up this year is a Trabant 601 car for some minor officer of the army. A nice start to kit off the army! 

Cheers

Matt

National Volks Armee

 A upcoming project later on the year is to add some Nationale Volksarmee GDR troops, particularly to oppose my Brit’s on the northern plain. I plan to Armoured, motorised and artillery support, plus choppers and aircraft! This will be all set around Able archer rules structure. I have quite a lot of Un allocated armour, plus the files for the support events to print most of them. The infantry will be Elhiem I suspect.  

9th Panzer Division 

21st Panzer Regiment "Walter Empacher"

RHQ 1x T-55 and radio truck

3 tank companies of T54 or T55

9th Motor Rifle Regiment "Rudolf Renner"

RHQ BMP 1 CO, PO, medic, sniper, LMG, RPG , radio truck, signaler, +1

2 x motor battalions 

BHQ BMP 1 OC + RO, RPG, LMG + 4 

2 x Company BMP 1, RPG, LMG + 5 

Gaz 66 + 2 crew, MTLB with 120mm mortar 5 crew 

9th Artillery Regiment "Hans Fischer"

BTR 60 TACP (forward Observer) 

2s1 Gvozdivka 122mm  

9th AA-Missile Regiment "Rudolf Dölling"

1st Battery BTR 60 SA9 x 3 

2nd battery ZSU 23/4 

9th Rocket Detachment "Otto Nuschk"

2x BM21 Grad 

9th Reconnaissance Battalion "Eduard Claudius"

Recon platoon BDRM 2 2 figs 

9th Panzerjägerabteilung

Two jeeps AT4 2 figs, SPG -9 3 figs 

As I am a big fan of soviet helicopters I am planning 

Combat Helicopter Squadron 5 Adolf von Lützow

1 x Mi2 for recon
2x  MI 8 for troop transport 
1x Mi24 attack helicopter 

In addition I like to add a jet to my collection looking in the stash I already have selected for a fighter squadron and fighter bomber. 

Jagdfliegergeschwader 9 (JG-9) "Heinrich Rau"

I.Jagdfliegerstaffel/JG-9 (I.JS/JG-9), MiG-23ML

Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 77 (JBG-77) "Gebhardt Leberecht von Blücher"

I.Jagdbombenfliegerstaffel/JBG-77 (I.JBS/JBG-77), Su-22M-4

Cheers

 Matt

Leopards Roar - Bundeswehr upgrades to nato camouflage

 Bundeswehr upgrades

As the majority of my Bundeswehr are painted with Ammo RAL6014  for the true Cold War period I do have sitting in storage plenty of kit to extend the date past 1984 which is my current cut off. 

This year I have decided after joining a few of Bob Mack’s kickstarters I will go past my cut off date and add Bundeswehr in three colour NATO. My new additions will include-

• 3d printed Marder 2 
• Diecast Fuchs
• Diecast Luchs
• 3d printed trucks 
• Diecast Leo 2
• Diecast ME 109 SP artillery (battery of two) (need to change the muzzle break to reflect the FH70)
• MLRS (M270 Rocket launcher) battery of two 
• Plastic fennek 
• Plastic weisels 

This will extend the playing period past 1986 and plan to paint them all in the coming 8 weeks over summer. 

NATO 3 colour was adopted and rolled out over three years being completed in 1988. Team yankee has a fine guide available Here , I will be using AK three colour nato in their new real colour range. 

Cheers

Matt