Operation Market Garden

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Operation Market Garden was an Allied Airborne operation designed to parachute troops into German-occupied Arnhem, Eindhoven, and Nijmegen in the Netherlands to capture a strategically important set of bridges, however U.S. airborne forces never actually landed in Arnhem (instead the 1st British Parachute Brigade and Polish Independent Parachute Battalion landed in Arnhem while the U.S. took Eindhoven and Nijmegen) this may be a mistake made by DICE or used so that they would not have to create another faction.

In reality, the plan was to take and hold strategic points with airborne troops and have the 30th Corps relieve the paratroopers with lightning-speed advances to eventually liberate the Netherlands and invade Germany. 'Market' is the code name for the initial paratroop landings and 'Garden' is the subsequent advance of the 30th Corps. The entire operation failed due to the slower-than-expected advance of the 30th Corps and logistical problems on the Allied side. The airborne forces suffered very heavy casualties and had to be withdrawn and in doing so ended any chance of the war in Europe ending in 1944. In Arnhem, after a valiant and costly defensive battle, almost all of the 1st British Parachute Brigade were killed or captured while the U.S. 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions had to retreat after suffering heavy casualties.

It is a map featured in Battlefield 1942.

Description

"With the liberation of Belgium, the Allies seek to push further toward Germany. First, though, they must secure bridges at several key points on the Rhine River. To achieve this objective, Allied commanders have devised the largest airborne assault ever attempted. If successful, Operation Market Garden could truly mean that the end of the war is within sight. The bridge at Arnhem is one of the critical points on the Rhine. An Allied unit has been dropped behind enemy lines to capture the city and secure the bridge. Their mission is to hold off German troops and hold on to the bridge until the arrival of reinforcements. It is critical that these soldiers must hold the bridge at any cost."

— Map Briefing

Conquest

At the beginning of the game, the US and German forces both have uncapturable bases, the German close to the bridge, the US beyond the town of Arnhem on the other side. US forces can also initially spawn by parachuting close to one of the bases, the Church. Between the two forces lie 4 capturable flags, the church, on the US side of the town, one in the middle of the town, one on edge of the town at the end of the bridge and a final to the West near a more minor bridge.

The Allies start off with 3 planes, including a B-17, Jeeps and armored buildings. The Axis start with more tanks, but no planes at all.

Equipment


United States Army
Light vehicle(s)	Willys MB (4)
Half-track(s)	M3A1 (1)
Medium tank(s)	M4 Sherman (2)
Fixed-wing aircraft	B-17 Flying Fortress (1) P-51 Mustang (2)


Wehrmacht
Light vehicle(s)	Kubelwagen (2)
Half-track(s)	Hanomag (2)
Medium tank(s)	Panzer IV (5)
Heavy tank(s)	Tiger (2)
Self-propelled artillery	Wespe (1)
Anti-aircraft vehicle(s)	Flak 38 (5)

Bases

United States Army:

Allied Airfield

Cannot be captured by the Germans. Spawns four Willys MBs, two P-51 Mustangs, and a B-17 Flying Fortress.

Wehrmacht:

2nd Panzer Division Field HQ

Cannot be captured by the Americans. Spawns five Flak 38s, three Panzer IVs, two Tigers, two Kubelwagens, a Wespe, and a Hanomag.

Neutral:

Church

Spawns two M4 Shermans under American control or two Panzer IVs under German control.

Arnhem

Spawns nothing.

Arnhem Bridge

Spawns an M3A1 under American control or a Hanomag under German control.

Stone Bridge

Spawns nothing.

Outcomes

"The victory at Arnhem came at a heavy price. Allied command knew that Operation Market Garden would be on of the most daring missions of the war. It also turned into one of the bloodiest. The Germans fought with complete determination to keep the bridge. However, by the end of the battle Allied troops were able to secure the bridge."

— American Victory

"At Arnhem, the German units once again won the day. The enemy made an ill-advised attack on the bridges along the Rhine. It is clear that the 2nd Panzer Division is still the elite tank force in this war. Enemy forces will never set foot on German soil as long as this armored division stands between them and the German border."

— German Victory