Battle for Arnhem.... (1 Viewer)

[The Lt.]

As always Kevin it's such a pleasure seeing you returning to The Battle of Arnhem with another great selection of photos an historical background note to go along with them. Thanks for continuing to do so{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

 

[panda1gen]

As always Kevin it's such a pleasure seeing you returning to The Battle of Arnhem with another great selection of photos an historical background note to go along with them. Thanks for continuing to do so{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

Thanks Joe

Viktor Eberhard Gräbner

(24 May 1914 – 18 September 1944) was a Oberleutnant in the Heer who transferred to the Waffen-SS with the rank of Hauptsturmführer (Captain) during World War II. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany. Gräbner was born on 24 May 1914 in Leipzig. During World War II he was a member of the Heer and served as an Oberleutnant in command of the 2nd Company, 256th Reconnaissance Battalion, 256th Infantry Division and was awarded the German Cross in Gold in May 1942. In August 1944 he transferred to the Waffen SS as a Hauptsturmführer and was given command of the 9th SS Reconnaissance Battalion, 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen and was awarded the Knight's Cross on 23 August 1944. Hauptsturmführer Gräbner is perhaps most famous for his part in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Arnhem.




On 17 September 1944, his 40-vehicle 9th Reconnaissance Battalion was ordered south of Arnhem, to carry out a reconnaissance of the airborne landings between Arnhem and Nijmegen. On his return to Arnhem, the bridge across the Rhine had been captured by Lt. Col. John Frost's 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. On the morning of 18 September, Hauptsturmführer Gräbner ordered his battalion, numbering about 22 armored cars, half-tracks, and a few trucks with infantry, to assault the bridge.






The first five German armored cars of the column managed to make it across the bridge unscathed due to the fact that they took the defenders by surprise. The British had laid mines on the bridge's approaches and these were expertly avoided by the speeding German drivers. In the resultant two-hour battle, the battalion was beaten back with heavy losses in which 12 out of the 22 vehicles were destroyed or knocked out and over 70 men killed, including Gräbner who was killed in action during the assault.

Viktor Eberhard Gräbner​
​
Born	24 May 1914 Leipzig, Germany
Died	18 September 1944 killed in action Arnhem, Holland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Waffen-SS
Years of service	1939–1942 Heer 1942–1944 Waffen SS
Rank	Oberleutnant, Heer Hauptsturmführer, Waffen SS
Unit	256th Infantry Division 9th SS Panzer Division Hohenstaufen
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross German Cross in Gold Iron Cross 1st Class Iron Cross 2nd Class

from wikipedia

 

[Mitch]

nice pics and historical content
Mitch

 

[panda1gen]

Thanks Mitch ....

In 1939 a requirement was issued for a gun that was capable of firing a 90lb shell 16,000 yards and that weighed less than 5 tons, the result was the 5.5" medium gun. The weapon was to be as up to date and as advanced as possible but this lead to some teething problems which resulted in simpler more effective solutions being used. The carriage was of two wheeled, split trail type and a quick loading gear was fitted so that when the gun was fired at high elevation a lever was pressed which swung the cradle down.

It was not until 1942 that the first guns were in action and initially they lacked range but this was solved by the introduction of an 80lb shell, the weapons were highly successful and were used throughout the rest of the war.

5.5" Medium Gun Data

Weight of gun and breech	4,120lb
Total length	171.6"
Length of bore	164"
Rifling	36 groves, 1/25
Elevation	-5 +45 degrees
Traverse	30 degrees left/right
Weight in Action	13,646lb

5.5" Medium Gun Ammunition Data

Type	HE	HE
Weight	100lb	80lb
Muzzle Velocity	1,655fps	1,950fps
Maximum range	16,200 yards	18,100 yards

Production of 5.5" medium guns by year (UK only)

	Pre-War	Sep-Dec 1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945
5.5" Guns	3	2	-	177	221	908	295	73
4.5"/5.5" Carriages	-	2	-	213	590	801	754	131

Production of 5.5" medium gun ammunition by year (UK only, filled only)

	Pre-War	Sep-Dec 1939	1940	1941	1942	1943	1944	1945
100lb HE	-	-	560	146,100	1,240,000	1,636,000	566,000	159,000
80lb HE	-	-	-	-	-	--	443,400	720,000

Sources - British & American Artillery of WWII, AVIA 22 456 - 514

Done the Figarti way .......

 

[panda1gen]

Some more shots of elements of 9th SS Reconnaissance Battalion ....

 

[panda1gen]

The 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery, operated as a unit of the British 1st Airborne Division from 1942-45, and was formed from 204 (Oban) Anti-Tank Battery, RA. 204 Battery was originally part of the Argyll based 51st (West Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment, RA, a Territorial Army unit which had been created in 1938 following the conversion and redesignation of the 54th (West Highland) Field Regiment RA. After the war started, 204 Battery was equipped with obsolescent 12 x two pounder guns, in three troops of four.

By February 1940, 204 Battery was at the Maginot line in France with the British Expeditionary Force, although it did not fire its guns in anger until the retreat began in May. Lieutenant Harry Dunn said that the 2 pounders were only effective against the German tanks at a range of less than 200 yards, otherwise the shells bounced off.

Two thirds of the 51st (Highland) Division was forced to surrender when the ammunition ran out. However, 204 Battery avoided capture at St Valery and Dunkirk, because it had been assigned to ARKFORCE on 9 June 1940 and sent to the west. The battery came back to England with its guns, via Cherbourg, thanks to Major Carmichael who insisted the guns were loaded onboard prior to the men's embarkation.

Subsequently 204 Battery was split into two parts; one part was assigned to 1st Airborne Division on 5 August 1942 and redesignated as 2nd (Oban) Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery on 23 October 1942. Many men from Oban continued to serve in it under different officers in North Africa and Italy, finally landing by gliders at Arnhem.

The battery's planned deployment to Sicily on 10 July 1943 for Op Husky was cancelled at the last minute and it later suffered heavy losses during the amphibious landings at Taranto, Italy, in September 1943 when one of the Royal Navy’s new fast-mine-laying ships struck a mine in the harbour and sank in just a few minutes. The battery lost its Commanding Officer, Major James Wilson, Lieutenant George Thomason and 22 Other Ranks.

The original establishment of each battery of four troops, each with four 6-pounder guns, was reorganised in 1944 to accommodate the larger and more powerful 17-pounder gun, which had been developed to counter the growing thickness of German tank armour. One 6-pounder Troop had been converted and three extra troops had been formed for this new gun, which could be carried, along with its towing vehicle in the Hamilcar glider. This development took place only just before Arnhem; the Germans did not know that the 17-pounder was capable of being transported by glider and were surprised by its appearance at Arnhem.

During Operation Market Garden the 2nd (Oban) Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery was based at Harrowby. Under the command of Major AF Haynes the battery flew in 24 Horsas from Blakehill Farm and 8 Hamilcars from Tarrant Rushton. Of the 158 men that went one officer and 58 other ranks were evacuated across the river to safety at the end of the battle.

The battery and 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Regt were disbanded later that year, shortly after their return from the liberation of Norway. Following Arnhem, the 1st Battery, 2nd Battery and newly formed 5th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery became part of 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Regiment RA, which was created on 25 March 1945.

Battery Commanders

1943	Major JR Wilson (KIA 10 September 1943 Taranto)
1943-44	Major AF Haynes (PoW Arnhem)
1944-45	Major GBS Lardner

Compiled by Bob Hilton with the kind assistance of the 51st Highland Division Trust.

Some very old (2005/6) pictures of K&C paras with 1/32 Mountford 17pdr, the final shot is with the original Montford crew

 

[panda1gen]

1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery RA

Under Major Arnold, who took over from GPR-bound Major Ian Toler, the Battery was kept in peak physical fitness as Arnold insisted upon daily PT sessions, usually at 0700hrs.

The Battery saw it’s first action in Sicily during July 1943. Tasked with supporting 1st Parachute Brigade in their operation to capture the Primosole Bridge, this was the first Airborne operation to transport 6-pounder Anti-Tank artillery into action, using WACO and Horsa gliders. 1st Airlanding A-Tk Bty was allocated 11 Horsas and 8 Waco gliders to take 6 officers and 69 men.

The Battery Commander Major Bill Arnold parachuted in as a 'Recce party' to select gun positions with 2 NCO troop commanders and 3 NCOs from each troop (although records show Major Arnold actually arrived some hours after the Operation began, at 0930hrs). The Battery was also deployed during the seaborne invasion to Italy in September 1943, before returning with the rest of the Division to the UK.

After several cancelled operations, the Battery was sent to Arnhem, during Op Market Garden. By now the Battery consisted of A, B and C Troops who were to support the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Parachute Battalions respectively. These three troops each had four 6 pounder guns each.



D Troop, equipped with four 17 pounders, was to be deployed to protect the Divisional area. P and Z Troops, with four 17 pounders and two 6 pounders respectively, were to support the 1st Parachute Brigade and Divisional troops respectively.




Travelling at the tail of the 2nd Parachute Battalion 'snake', the HQ Battery group travelled towards Arnhem Road Bridge, and eventually succeeded in reaching the Bridge. Five of the Battery guns reached the location and over the following days of the Battle of Arnhem, formed a key component to the the defensive force at the Bridge.

As the Battle progressed however, more of the original gun crews were killed or wounded. Towards the end of the Battle, it was recorded that some of the last rounds fired by the last serviceable gun were fired by a crew consisting of Major Arnold, Captain Llewellyn-Jones, Lieutenant McFarlane and Sergeant Colls.

From

http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/1st-airlanding-anti-tank-battery-ra

 

[panda1gen]

The Ordnance Quick Firing 6 Pounder (57mm) Anti Tank Gun had a crew of 6. With an effective range of 1500m against earlier German tanks such as the Stug III and Pzkpfw IV, it was outmatched by the armour of the heavier Tiger tanks where penetration could only be achieved within 100m of the tank. Adopted for Airborne use a number of changes were made particularly to the trailing arms.

The gun and its tow vehicle, the Airborne Jeep,

could be deployed inside the Horsa Glider.

Resupply of ammunition was by parachute containers. The 6 Pounder was heavily used in Operation Market Garden and accounted for a number of enemy vehicles, with Sgt Baskeyfield earning a Victoria Cross for single handedly destroying German vehicles with one such gun.

 

[panda1gen]

Airborne Jeep

The 4x4 General Purpose vehicle, (nicknamed “Jeep” either due to the “GP” initials or after a character “Eugene the Jeep" in the Popeye cartoons), became a familiar sight amongst all allied units. Used for a variety of purposes it was heavily modified when adapted for a wide variety of roles for Airborne use. The Jeeps were used to tow 6pdr anti tank guns, to provide a reconnaissance role, signals vehicle and to provide transport for the wounded, amongst others.

The changes were necessitated by operational needs and experience. The main modifications were in order to fit the Jeep into the Horsa Glider for transportation. Changes included:

- Cutting down the front bumper Footsteps and grab handles removed to allow fitting into the Horsa Glider
- Stowage of the spare wheel in front of the radiator grill to prevent shrapnel damage in the Reconnaissance version. This, in turn, unfortunately caused over heating.
- Addition of a pintle mounted single or twin Vickers K Machine Gun for the front passenger in the Reconnaissance Role-
- Stowage of the rear jerry can in between the front seats, with two more added behind the seats to enable loading in a Horsa Glider
- Fitting of a 22 Wireless set over the rear drivers side wheel arch and additional battery holders and reels for the Signals variant
- Attachment points for stretchers for the Medical version
- Removal of the windscreen
- Addition of a removable steering wheel with the horn being moved to the dashboard
- Entrenching tools removed from the sides, to allow for easy loading and unloading, with the tools relocated to the bumper
- Black-out driving light on the left front mudguard removed and the lights in the grill were replaced with smaller versions mounted on the mudguards. The two main headlights were generally replaced by a single British blackout headlight.

The Airborne Jeeps were heavily used from Normandy through to the Rhine Crossing and were heavily committed during Operation Market Garden at Arnhem. Post war they continued in service until the late 1950s, seeing action in many locations such as Palestine and Suez, having been adapted to be parachute deployable from beneath the wings of the Hastings aircraft.

Statistics
Length: 333 cm
Width: 157.5 cm
Height: 183 cm with top up reducible to 132 cm
Weight: 1040 kg

by ParaData Editor http://www.paradata.org.uk/content/airborne-jeep

 

[Mitch]

Nice pics of a great range and, interesting narrative
Mitch

 

[panda1gen]

Nice pics of a great range and, interesting narrative
Mitch

Thanks - some 30 Corps shots from the Brit Pack weekend

 

[Firebat]

Thanks - some 30 Corps shots from the Brit Pack weekend

I love these especially the top two . We spoke on the other Photo topic. It is no holds barred now only top line. Go for it my man.....Top shelf only. Alex

 

[panda1gen]

more of ss recon battalion preparing to force the bridge

 

[The Lt.]

Just love it when you play in the sun Kevin as the Germans prepare to force the bridge.{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

 

[villagehorse]

That Horsa glider is symbolic as it indicates Market Garden Arnhem always to me. Had I been collecting at the time Gordon was making them, this would feature in my MG collection now. Almost the centre piece to this series, that and the jeeps. Always a pleasure to view this thread for the common theme of this battle. Looking forward to seeing the up coming releases displayed here. Cheers, Robin.

 

[panda1gen]

Just love it when you play in the sun Kevin as the Germans prepare to force the bridge.{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

That Horsa glider is symbolic as it indicates Market Garden Arnhem always to me. Had I been collecting at the time Gordon was making them, this would feature in my MG collection now. Almost the centre piece to this series, that and the jeeps. Always a pleasure to view this thread for the common theme of this battle. Looking forward to seeing the up coming releases displayed here. Cheers, Robin.

ok, just for you ...

 

[Rob]

Splendid shots throughout this thread Kevin, just superb. {bravo}}

Rob

 

[Louis Badolato]

ok, just for you ...

Brings back some great memories, my friend . . . that was one fun week!:smile2:

 

[panda1gen]

Splendid shots throughout this thread Kevin, just superb. {bravo}}

Rob

Brings back some great memories, my friend . . . that was one fun week!:smile2:

Thanks Rob. Happy memories indeed Louis.

 

[villagehorse]

Thanks Kevin, not sure seeing more of your Horsa is doing me any good, just want it more. Just have to be content looking at your diorama's which are excellent. Cheers, Robin.