20-28mm Wargames

Operation Green

Unternehmen Grun

The United Kingdom fell to the Nazis in early August 1940, and Hitler gave his permission for the invasion of the Irish Free State in late September. British forces in Northern Ireland have not surrendered, and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Eammon de Valera stands by Ireland's neutrality and calls for an end to the partition of Ireland. Churchill and the government (and Royal family) have escaped to Canada, and the US maintains its neutrality.

At 7.00am on the morning of September 30, 1940, German airborne units parachute and glider assault into Rineanna (Shannon) and Baldonnell (Casement) aerodromes in the Irish Free State and Aldergrove airfield in Northern Ireland. Simultaneously, amphibious forces will land on the Waterford and Wexford coast lines and establish two beach heads. The airfields have to be secured intact by the paras thus allowing JU 52s to fly in reinforcements.

The Irish Defense Forces are under strength, under equipped, and lack combat experience. The Air Corp consists of three Gloster Gladiators at Baldonnell, and Walrus flying boats and Ansons at Rineanna. There is no radar to warn of any air attacks, and there is no navy to protect the coastline. British unit commanders have offered their assistance to the Free State, but de Valera has refused, as he is worried about violating Irish neutrality and giving Hitler an excuse to invade.

Baldonnel Defenses:

1 platoon of Irish Infantry

1 Boffars AA gun

2 Lewis MGs (AA version)

1 2 pdr. gun

1 Ford Armored Car

1 Bren Gun carrier

1 Vickers MG team

German Forces:

5 DFS 230 gliders each carrying a pilot and a 8-9 man Fallschirmjager squad. The glider had a roof hatch MG 15 (7.92mm). 4 gliders carry a squad each with the fifth glider carrying support weapons.