Complex sentence: By now the British had positioned light and medium sized anti-aircraft guns around the bridges and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire the attack failed, although they did claim one of the bridges destroyed by a direct hit.
Split into simpler sentences: By now the British had positioned light and medium sized anti-aircraft guns around the bridges and in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire the attack failed. Although they did claim one of the bridges destroyed by a direct hit.