RCD in Holland

[Dragoon]

Hello,

I would like to make a scenerio based on the liberation of Leeuwarden by the Royal Canadian Dragoons April 15 1945.Historicaly the bulk of the Germans left the town before their arrival and C squadron of the RCD entered the city to crowds of thankfull citizens.Two other squadrons were positioned north and south of Leeuwarden.

The RCD's were an armored car unit,but did as much fighting on foot as in their cars.Any suggestions on how best to portray this considering in the game they cant dismount from their vehicles?EX: what kind of infantry unit best to simulate calvary/scout troops for the RCD.

Also I cant locate what German units would have been in the area at that time.Does anyone have any info that would help?

The scenerio would be based on a "what if" scenerio.What if the Germans tried to defend the city or perhaps what if the Germans that came to the RCD to surrender instead came to take the city back.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Dragoon

[Kool Kat]

A quick glance at the British OOB platoons leads to several possibilities? :chin:

Jeeps, Priest or Ram Kangaroo armored personnel carriers, white scout cars (I think these units can carry troops?), can be the Dragoon transport?

I spotted a cavalry platoon... or you can take a "regular" rifle platoon and reduce its strength to represent dismounted cavalry / scout troops?

And than you can use the AC's as support units?

It will also be difficult (maybe impossible?) to get accurate German OOB's for forces in that region - since there was not an actual battle for Leeuwarden?

So... maybe a small German rear guard force? Understrength battalion with a scattering of anti-tank guns? Some improved positions? Maybe a road block or two?

Again, I'm just guessing since this is a hypothetical battle... but with it being a fictional engagement, you will have the flexibility to improvise as you wish? :chin:

Good luck in your scenario design!

[Crossroads]

You might want to post your question in the Axis History Forum, lots of very very serious history buffs there.

Quite an active place, that's where I go for any of my WW II history related questions.

[Huib Versloot]

Hello,

I would like to make a scenerio based on the liberation of Leeuwarden by the Royal Canadian Dragoons April 15 1945.Historicaly the bulk of the Germans left the town before their arrival and C squadron of the RCD entered the city to crowds of thankfull citizens.Two other squadrons were positioned north and south of Leeuwarden.

The RCD's were an armored car unit,but did as much fighting on foot as in their cars.Any suggestions on how best to portray this considering in the game they cant dismount from their vehicles?EX: what kind of infantry unit best to simulate calvary/scout troops for the RCD.

Also I cant locate what German units would have been in the area at that time.Does anyone have any info that would help?

The scenerio would be based on a "what if" scenerio.What if the Germans tried to defend the city or perhaps what if the Germans that came to the RCD to surrender instead came to take the city back.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Dragoon

Most important German units where in Groningen those days as Leuwarden was strategically insignificant. Probably it is impossible to find out which units were present in Leeuwarden as local Dutch histories mostly only mentions them as "Germans" or "Nazis". The unit history of the Dragoons, if it exists will probably have the most info or the Canadian HQ sources. There were a lot of troops between Groningen and Leeuwarden, because of the large radar warning station situated there and Leeuwarden had an important airfield, but by April 1945 I don't know if this airfield was still in use and in my understanding most troops were ordered to Groningen before 13th of April to defend that city. I can browse some Dutch sources this weekend if you like, I also have the war time 1/50.000 topo maps of the area if you want them.

Huib

[Cam]

Check out www.12mbdragoons.com
Stands for XII Manitoba Dragoons
Cool little museum and it may be helpful
Cam

[Huib Versloot]

I read into the events a little. To me it seems too "what if". If there where a serious defence (like in Groningen) the whole rest of the Canadian 3rd Div. would have been ordered to the scene and you would get a copy of the battle of Groningen at an another (but unrealistic)location.
There must have been more interesting events in Holland where the Dragoons where involved.

Huib

[Dragoon]

Hello,

Thanks for the helpful info.Ive been wondering about this and I think your right Huib.I think covering the unit in the actions they earned battle hnours in would be a better plan.Such as Gronigen,Hitler and Gothic lines in Italy for example.It is my hope to create scout/recon types of scenerio's not too heavily loaded with other units,but I guess that will depend on the different situations.

So I need to look into the units history further and do some more research.

Thanks,

Dragoon

[Ashcloud]

Hello,

I would like to make a scenerio based on the liberation of Leeuwarden by the Royal Canadian Dragoons April 15 1945.Historicaly the bulk of the Germans left the town before their arrival and C squadron of the RCD entered the city to crowds of thankfull citizens.Two other squadrons were positioned north and south of Leeuwarden.

The RCD's were an armored car unit,but did as much fighting on foot as in their cars.Any suggestions on how best to portray this considering in the game they cant dismount from their vehicles?EX: what kind of infantry unit best to simulate calvary/scout troops for the RCD.

Also I cant locate what German units would have been in the area at that time.Does anyone have any info that would help?

The scenerio would be based on a "what if" scenerio.What if the Germans tried to defend the city or perhaps what if the Germans that came to the RCD to surrender instead came to take the city back.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks,

Dragoon

Most important German units where in Groningen those days as Leuwarden was strategically insignificant. Probably it is impossible to find out which units were present in Leeuwarden as local Dutch histories mostly only mentions them as "Germans" or "Nazis". The unit history of the Dragoons, if it exists will probably have the most info or the Canadian HQ sources. There were a lot of troops between Groningen and Leeuwarden, because of the large radar warning station situated there and Leeuwarden had an important airfield, but by April 1945 I don't know if this airfield was still in use and in my understanding most troops were ordered to Groningen before 13th of April to defend that city. I can browse some Dutch sources this weekend if you like, I also have the war time 1/50.000 topo maps of the area if you want them.

Huib

I would love to see some of those maps.

[Huib Versloot]

Hello,

Thanks for the helpful info.Ive been wondering about this and I think your right Huib.I think covering the unit in the actions they earned battle hnours in would be a better plan.Such as Gronigen,Hitler and Gothic lines in Italy for example.It is my hope to create scout/recon types of scenerio's not too heavily loaded with other units,but I guess that will depend on the different situations.

So I need to look into the units history further and do some more research.

Thanks,

Dragoon

If you could find info on the battles at Emden and Leer that would be a very nice addition to the existing scenarios of Groningen and the Delfzijl pocket. This article sums up some events in April 1945 that are interesting but it is difficult to find something particular for the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
http://www.legionmagazine.com/en/index.p...the-editor