Operation Market

Operation Market is the 4th chapter of Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. It introduces an new team, MG Team and shows the basics of squad controls, tactics and collectibles.

Summary[]

With the gliders on the ground, the operation is ready to roll.

Plot[]

Baker and his team gather together for their briefing. They have two objectives, securing the landing zones for Operation Market and meeting a Dutch contact in nearby farmhouse. Baker, Jasper and Connor forms a team to meet up with the contact while the rest secure the landing zones nearby.

They cross the field and arrive at the farmhouse where the contact was waiting. He introduce himself as Nicolaas and gave them map on German positions for Baker to clear before leaving as he worried about his son. Baker and his MG team engage the Germans and push forward, where they eliminate the Germans in the farm, farmhouse and finally the field.

Baker and his team arrived at 502nd PIR drop zone where they meet Mac, Baker's old boss and Cole. Cole ordered Baker and his men to secure one of the landing zone and the jeep waiting for them is Zano and his team. They soon join and headed to the landing zone where they saw a glider crashed with both wings lost to the tree while landing. Baker and his team fought the Germans who were also fighting the glider infantry who survived the crash. After a serious firefight and wave attack by the Germans, Baker and his team managed to secure the landing zone and headed to the road where the platoon jeep are waiting.

Red told Baker new orders from the 506th PIR where Sink order them to go to Son with the Regiment. Soon, the platoon headed to Son to secure the bridgehead at Wilhemina Canal. Baker also narrate about Corrion wanted his promotion as well.

Objectives[]

Secure LZ 'W'[]

Follow Your Compass
Locate Dutch Resistance
Eliminate German Patrol
Clear Germans from Farm
Clear Germans from Farmhouse
Repel German Counterattack
Patrol to Landing Zone
Defend Glider Crash Site
Rendezvous with Hartsock

Checkpoint[]

Landing Zone 'W'
Germans in the Farm
Cleaning House
Counterattack
Along the Road
Gilder Infantry

Transcript[]

All the men of the 3rd Squad have gathered in a huddle, their briefing with Baker.

Baker: Alright, we have a twofold objectives here: Secure the landing site for the incoming gliders—that's you Sam and Zano too.

Corrion nods.

Baker: And we have to get a report from Nick somebody. He's Dutch Resistance near a farmhouse somewhere around here.

Dawson: Is it that farmhouse?

Dawson nods his head in it's direction, located behind Baker.

Baker: Yeah, that's it. That's me, Jasper and Connor. We'll bring the MG. Hop to it!

With this briefing done, the squad disperses to their objectives and all that's left standing is Baker, Jasper and Connor. Heading down the field, past Sheep, farming equipment and a supply drop, they approach the farmhouse and with a stroke of luck, find the contact, a middle aged man wearing a orange armband, a signal of the Dutch Resistance.

Nicolaas: Hello, I am Nicolaas and I will try to be of help. Here, I have prepared a map.

He hands a crudely drawn map, primitive but very effective.

Nicolaas: It is not a lot, but I managed to find some German positions. Quick, we haven't much time.

Despite the warning, Jasper feels the need to inadvertently stall.

Jasper: Whoa! He speaks good English.

Nicolaas: Um, Yes, I do. We must be very careful. There are Germans on the other side of the wall. Now, I must get back to my son, Pieter. He wants to run away and fight very badly and if I don't return home soon... I'm afraid he will do exactly that.

Baker peeks behind the corner, noticing a small German patrol ahead.

Nicolaas: Good luck, Sergeant Baker.

The contact soon leaves the area as Baker prepares to tackle the first group of German soldiers since Normandy. No idea the Americans have landed, Baker uses the surprise to his advantage, setting his MG squad up for maximum coverage, the perfect ambush to kick off his Operation Market Garden.

Heading through the fields and farmyards, methodically picking off numerous oblivious German Patrols, Baker and his MG team finally reach the major drop zone of the 502nd PIR, and is greeted by a familiar voice, heard so many times in Normandy.

Mac: Baker!

Baker and his MG squad follows his old NCO, Mac, flanked to his left by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole, who seems to have forgot the Sergeant, despite fighting alongside him outside of Carentan.

Mac: Matt! I'd heard they'd put you guys on recon. Can't say I figured you'd be waiting in our DZ. Sir! A few of these men fought at...

Cole: Baker? Yeah, I remember. I'm not great with names, but I certainly heard yours enough after D-Day. I could use a favor if y'all are up to it. Division has a whole mess of gliders coming in to the south. I already radioed one of the jeeps to meet you here.

The jeep in question turns out to be Zanovich, with McReary and Holden, currently making a scene honking his jeep at other paratroopers.

Zanovich: In Holland, the horn still means get out my fucking way!

Zanovich recovers quickly, noticing Baker and even more importantly, the higher ranking soldiers of Mac and Cole. He gives a sheepish apology a even weaker salute.

Zanovich: Sorry, Sir.

Holden: We're ready to move out whenever you are, Sergeant.

Moments later, Baker is leading his now extended squad through a eerily quiet field, where a few of the men discuss the uncertainty of their new roles as recon soldiers.

Holden: How solid is our intel? Do we know for sure there will be Germans attacking the gliders? Seems like a foolish move.

Zanovich: We don't know for sure. That's why it's called 'recon'.

Holden: Oh yes, I'm quite aware of the ramifications. We protect the brass by dying first. I understand.

Zanovich: The Gospel according to Holden.

A glider soars past the patrol above, clipping it's wings past two trees and plummeting into the next field, Baker has a few moments before faced with a large German patrol heading his way, he readies his men to prepare a ambush.

Finally making it to the crashed Glider, more German reinforcements scatter into the field, another lengthy skirmish occurs and the Germans are repelled.

At the edge of the field, two jeeps arrive, led by Hartsock, who waits for Baker on the fence.

Hartsock: We managed to get all our stuff together after we linked up with Sink. He, uh, ordered us to follow him to Son with 506.

Sat in the jeep behind is Dawson and Franky, along with a buoyant and amused Corrion.

Corrion: Tell him about the jeep.

Hartsock knows he isn't getting out of this without giving context.

Hartsock: When we crashed, my jeep took a beating.

Corrion: He hit a tree!

Hartsock: Well, it wasn't steering right at the time.

Corrion: Oh no!

Hartsock rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

Corrion: A conspicuously placed tree that could be a German in disguise. Take cover, men! I'll save us!

Hartsock turns to face his men.

Hartsock: Let's keep moving, guys!

With the four jeeps assembled and in convoy down the dirt paths of the countryside, the platoon are heading to Son as part of the 101st operation, joining Sink and the 506th assault. During the ride and past burning wreckage, Baker gives his thoughts about Corrion.

Baker: Sam Corrion worked at a textile mill in Augusta, Georgia, before the war. I've never known him to complain or question an order I've given him. There's something wrong though-- It's there in his eyes. He's been passed up for a promotion to Sergeant three times, now, and I don't believe he'll abide by a fourth. Hell, he'd lead the whole damn army if he could.

Chapter Ends.

Characters[]

Colonel Robert Sink (Mentioned)
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Cole
First Sergeant Gregory Hassay
Staff Sergeant Matthew Baker (Playable)
Staff Sergeant Joseph Hartsock
Corporal Jacob Campbell (does not speak)
Corporal Samuel Corrion
Corporal Franklin Paddock (does not speak)
Corporal Thomas Zanovich
Technician 5th Grade Nathan Holden
Private First Class Timothy Connor (does not speak)
Private First Class Jack Courtland (does not speak)
Private First Class Mike Dawson
Private First Class Gary Jasper
Private First Class James Marsh (does not speak)
Private First Class Dale McCreary (does not speak)
Private First Class James Roselli (does not speak)
Private First Class Dean "Friar" Winchell (does not speak)
Private Franky LaRoche (does not speak)
Nicolaas
Pieter (Mentioned)
Glider Soldiers
Sheep Squad:
- Corporal Lester
- Private First Class Bubbles
- Private First Class Fluffy

Weapons[]

American Weapons[]

German Weapons[]

Teams[]

MG Team[]

Pfc. Jasper - M1919 Browning MG
Pfc. Connor - M1 Carbine

Later:

Assault Team[]

Cpl. Zanovich - B.A.R. M1918
T/5. Holden - M1 Garand
Pfc. McCreary - M1 Garand

Recon Report[]

The Plan: Market[]

Field Marshal Montgomery planned to take his 21st Army Group North around the Siegfried Line.

The first half of Field Marshall Montgomery's plan to invade Holland was given the codename "Operation Market". The operation detailed a massive airborne invasion to open the main causeway heading north from the front lines in Belgium, over the Nederijn River, and into the city of Arnhem. The airborne light infantry divisions would drop deep into enemy territory, where they would have to hold out against unknown German forces until armored support provided by the British 2nd Army arrived. The plan was certifiably risky, and completely unproven, but if successful, could just end the war by Christmas.

The 101st's Gen. Maxwell Taylor, the 82nd's Gen. James Gavin, The 1st's Gen. Roy Urquhary, and the Polish 1st's Gen. Stanislaw Sosabowski

The "largest airborne invasion ever assembled," Operation Market would require the whole of SHAEF's airborne reserve unit, the 1st Allied Airborne Army Corps. The Corps was comprised of the American 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne Division, the British 1st Airborne Division, and the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade, totaling more than 150,000 soldiers and 10,000 aircraft. The Corps required five entire airfields throughout England as their staging grounds. An airborne deployment of this magnitude had never been attempted, and some wondered if it could even be pulled off at all.

A stick of the 101st Airborne paratroopers load into their C-47 Skytrain.

Each unit would be dropped into a separate region of Holland and expected to hold their part of the main causeway. The 101st Airborne would hold the Southern region, stretching from Eindhoven up through Uden. The 82nd would be just North of them, securing the road from grave up through the city of Nijmegen. Lastly, the 1st, providing support, would hold the main objective of Arnhem.

A "Parade Day Jump"[]

The C-47 pilots of the 437th TCG fly a tight formation on their way to the DZ.

At 1300 hours on Sunday, September 17, 1944, the sky was clear and calm, the AA ground fire light, the situation perfect (as perfect as it could've been, anyway) for the largest airborne invasion in history. Guided in to the DZ's by the smoke flares and radar trackers laid out by the Pathfinder teams that dropped before them, the Parachute Infantry Regiments (PIRs) of the 101st Airborne dropped into the fields with minimal casualties and none of the bedlam and confusion that cursed the Normandy invasion.

Hundreds of 101st Airborne paratroopers till the sky over LZ 'W'.

With experience from Normandy, the C-47 pilots of the 437th Troop Carrier Group kept their course under fire, and at the risk of life and plane, delivered their heroic cargo directly to their destinations. The pilots flew sometimes burning wrecks of airplanes straight over the drop zones, making sure the troops in the back got where they needed to go, even if it meant they themselves wouldn't be making it back to England. Thanks to the courageous efforts of these efforts of these valiant men, the 101st was able to quickly assemble once on the ground and move out to capture its immediate objectives.

101st Gilder Infantry[]

A squad of glider troopers receive their last orders before loading up in their CG-4A Hadrian.

The glider infantry of the 101st Airborne are the unsung heroes of the division. Unlike the paratroopers in the PIRs, gilder troopers didn't volunteer for their duty, and weren't regarded with the same "Superstar" status as their flashier counterparts. "All of the risk with none of the pay" was a common motto of these men, as even though their descent into the battlefield was every bit as hazardous as the men in the PIRs, if not more so, they didn't receive the "Jump Bonus" to their monthly pay that the parachutists enjoyed.

Glider troopers and paratroopers team up to help the trapped soldiers escape the wreckage of a crashed gilder.

The men of the 327th and 401st Glider Infantry Regiments (GIRs) rode into battle on Waco CG-4A Hadrian Gilders made of nothing more than canvas stretched over a rolled steel frame. The engine-less gliders were an easy target for anti-air guns, as their speed and maneuverability was low and their descent patterns frequently forced them into predictable circular flights over their landing zones. Even landing in the gliders was a dangerous endeavor, as gliders would often have to approach more quickly and more steeply than their construction could withstand, and although few landings were bad enough to cause many deaths, loss of plane and equipment or injury were frequent.

Gallery[]

Template:Empty section

Trivia[]

In the end cutscene, Corrion has a Staff Sergeant insignia on his uniform instead of a Corporal insignia.