Part 53: Turn 49: 0700 26th May

Game Turn 49: 0700, 26th May

Supply Levels



With the potential that the Germans might siege the city, the Welch Regiment repositions to cover the eastern approaches to the city. One of the AA attempts to mount up and leave, but even with the cover of the city, exiting the area will be tricky.



Artillery fire attempts to provide cover to the Rangers pulling back towards Suda: it is more than effective and the motorbike troops get decimated, allowing the Rangers to pull back to within a kilometre of the port. Layforce commandos near the port enter the prebuilt trenches that protect the port.



Mixed forces of Australians and Royal Marines leave column in order to protect the crucial crossroad town of Neon-Charion. They will pull back eventually, but it is crucially important that the town is held in order to keep the retreat path open both for combat and non-combat evacuees.



The 19th Australian finally arrives at Georgeoupolis, although interdiction efforts by the German Luftwaffe have made the trip hazardous. Still, apart from having to leave the road a couple of times, the Brigade is relatively unscathed. Their first objective is to relieve MNDBO forces in Neon-Charion.



Most of the 14th Brigade has successfully ex-filtrated to the south of the island, and only three companies remain in the area, although they are constantly harassed by German troops. Some of the British troops from C Company of the Leicestershire Regiment are forced to surrender under withering firepower, although other soldiers manage to get away as the supply situation for the Germans is rather dire after 7 days of fighting.

Partisans are a constant threat for the Germans, and they have lost many a commanding officer due to them. The latest casualty is Oberst Krakau of the GJR 85, who gets wounded by a sniper and is forced to concede command of the regiment. (Random Event: Leader Loss)

The LLSR keeps moving up, aiming to set up to the east of Canea and attack the city from there.



The 1st FJR tries to move as quickly as possible in order to catch the last few remaining elements of the 14th Brigade left at Heraklion. They are successful in catching some of them, causing heavy casualties on the fleeing British soldiers.



The last of the 141 GJR arrives at Maleme. This is the last of the reinforcements due to arrive by air for the Germans. Some of the elements of the 5th Gebirgs Regiment had attempted to arrive by sea, but they had been driven off by the Royal Navy, although the Royal Navy had not escaped unscathed from protecting the island, losing several cruisers and destroyers in the fight.



A preliminary bombardment of Canea is already underway, and the emplaced AA guns take withering fire from the GJR 141. Meanwhile, the bulk of the GJR 85 moves closer to Suda, and the GJR 100 and motor and bicycle elements prepare to take the winding road up the hills to Malaxa in order to bypass the defenders at Suda and attempt to cut the road south to Skafia.



In Heraklion, the Medium Royal Artillery regiment that was trying to retreat is finally caught by the Germans and is forced to surrender.

The attack on Canea finally begins, and the first targets are the AA guns protecting the city. Swift fire from the Germans knocks two out of the three emplacements in the first half hour of the attack, but further probes are repulsed by determined British troops.



The LLSR finally sets up in position to attack the city, and some artillery is fired at the AA guns currently attempting to pull back from the edges of Canea.



The 2nd NZ Division, apart from firing some artillery at the German bicycle troops, hunkers down, still digging fortifications that will certainly help stem the tide a little bit. The artillery fire is ineffective and does little to discourage the Germans.

Meanwhile, the GJR 100 and motorcycle units race up the road to Malaxa. There is no road down from the hill to the east, so the climb down will be more difficult, but hopefully by the end of the day, the regiment should be able to be on the road towards Georgeoupolis.



The attack on Suda by the GJR 85 is underway, but first the Germans need to clear the Rangers blocking the road to the port. Artillery fire is directed towards the Rangers, causing light casualties, and attempts at encircling the British troops are made, although held in check by 4th NZ Brigade forces.



The Rangers attempt to pull away, but the north-most company is forced to the ground by heavy, accurate German fire. The other company manages to disengage, although takes some casualties while doing so. The rest of the MNDBO forces ether fire at the Gebirgsjager of the 141st Regiment, or keep fleeing towards the south of the island.