Part 5: Turn 3: 1100 20th May

Game Turn 3: 1100, 20th May

Radio contact is finally established with all artillery units for the three Artillery Parks attached to the 2nd NZ Division. Although useful, these artillery assets in actuality are significantly weaker than what the Germans have available, especially when taking into consideration the LLSR, which has much heavier firepower than anything else on the island.

The LLSR is the first to act, and the mortars from 13th Company fire once more. Their target is the C Company defending the Airfield, and now that they are ranged in, the fire is much more accurate. The New Zealanders run for cover, but the officers manage to keep order, although with some light casualties. The other mortar assets of the LLSR provide more fire, with the southern-most mortar company firing on the troops on Hill 107, but their firepower is relatively ineffective.



It's now the turn of the artillery pieces, and the targets are, once again, C company, where accurate fire causes even more disarray on the defending troops, and D company, where the fire is not ranged correctly yet and falls onto the orchard where the New Zealanders are hunkering with little effect. The 9th Company, on the other side of the airfield, also fires on C Company, but with some many casualties amongst the Germans, the fire is also ineffective. Direct fire from the Dual Purpose guns of the LLSR 14th and 15th Company force D Company to hit the ground, but the Company commander manages to keep order, even though some casualties are substained.



With the artillery preparations over, it is now the time for the German infantry to shine. The 6th and 5th Company finally take hold of the western end of the airfield, and the 5th Company immediately charges towards the New Zealanders now held in a pincer between the German parachutists. The disorganised New Zealanders of C Company attempt to put up some resistance, but the casualties taken already are starting to have their toll, and the defending fire is weak. The Germans, on the other hand, place accurate fire on the Commonwealth troops, and many go down. As 5th Company FSJ creeps even closer, the fire is too much for the New Zealanders, and many surrender. After 5 hours since the initial landings, the airfield is under total German control.



With the success of 5th Company apparent, 7th Company is not to be outdone, and attempts to close the distance on the NZ D Company, still out in the open to the west of Hill 107. However, fire from the MG emplacement from the hill itself prevents them from flanking D Company successfully, and the attack is called off.

10th and 12the Company, meanwhile, are attempting to extricate themselves from the trap that is about to be sprung by the rest of the NZ 5th Brigade, and target the small mortar detachment in Pirgos. Mortar fire from 12th Company is hasty and inaccurate, but 10th Company has little time to waste, and attempts a charge into the village. This is successful, and the mortar detachment has no hope of beating back an entire company of German Fallschirmjager, and they are swiftly captured.



With the linkup of stranded LLSR Germans almost complete, and the Airfield fully in German hands, the situation for Brigadier Hargest and the 5th NZ Brigade looks grim.

The Commonwealth troops start moving, trying to cut off the 12th Company LLSR Mortars, which are still in a precarious position. D Company attempts to move out of their exposed saliant, but accurate fire from both the 14th and 7th Company cuts off their retreat path to hill 107, and they hunker down in an even more exposed position.



The Maoris are pulled back slightly in order to make it easier for them to be contacted by Hargest: it means that their defensive positions will have to be abandoned, but the shorter line of communications should help, and potentially they can be used as a counter-attack reserve against the Airfield, if needed.



The Greek 8th Infantry Brigade drives a further wedge between the Pioneers and the rest of 3FJR, but armed only with small arms, it is difficult to say if they will actually be able to blunt the German paratroopers.



Meanwhile, the 4th NZ Brigade keeps moving. They need to clear the stranded Germans, and then move to cut off 3FJR from being able to reach the coast, and drive a wedge between them and the rest of the 2nd NZ Division. Light Mortar fire finally causes some casualties on the stranded German 10th Company.



Elements of the Luftwaffe, unaware that the Airfield has been taken, start strafing the 9th Company troops on the eastern end of the Maleme airfield. Fortunately, the parachutists manage to find cover, and no casualties are inflicted. (Random Event: Air Strike for the British)

With renewed vigour at having achieved their first objective, the LLSR starts moving more of their units towards the hill, heading east. The Piooneers of 16th Company LLSR assault D company, and although some casualties are caused by the New Zealanders, the heavier firepower of the Piooners takes a toll on D Company. 7th Company, seeing an opportunity, swoops down from the North and the fate of D Company is sealed, with many New Zealanders dead or captured. 12th Company, under fire, moves towards Pirgos, linking up with 10th Company within the village.



Meanwhile, the 3FJR and Piooner KG move up in preparation for a larger attack in a couple of hours, as preparations are made to strike the scratch 10th NZ Brigade up north.



Having dropped in the middle of the New Zealanders, much of the ammunition of 10th Company LLSR was lost, and ammunition shortages are being felt by the men of the company.


_{Random Event: Ammo Shortage for the Germans. Placed a Cohesion Hit}

With renewed impetus to regain the Airfield, the 5th New Zealand Brigade goes into action, with Brigadier Hargest attempting to rally his troops to strike at the still exposed Paratroopers in Pirgos, which are currently shielding the approach towards the Airfield. Pirgos, however, is a tough nut to crack, with artillery fire on the town not doing much apart from forcing the paratroopers into cover. Mortar fire against the 12th Company LLSR is more effective, causing some casualties, and even the fire from the Matildas manages to disorganise the reduced 9th Company LLSR at the eastern edge of the Airfield.



Wanting to get rid of that German mortar company near Pirgos, Brigadier Hargest and A Company, 23rd Battalion, approaches the village and attempts to close the distance with the enemies. The attempt is successful, and the heavy firepower from the Allies takes its toll. A heavy base of fire sweeps through the German mortar company, and once A Company enters the village, only a few Germans, that immediately surrender, are left. It is likely, however, that the Germans in Pirgos itself will be much harder to extricate, but at least 5th NZ Brigade is in position to bring significant firepower to bear on them.



The Maori, on their part, keep shortening their lines of communication, with one Company pulling back to help with the counter-attack.



In the Kastelli sector, Det Meurbe attempts to storm the Greek once again, but feeling isolated, the Germans are having none of it. Some of the Greeks are moving forward in anticipation of getting to grips with the Germans.



Det Gentz, south of Canea, makes contact with A Company, Royal Marines, in an attempt to make contact with the 3FJR. Some fire is directed at them from the Royal Marines, but it is ineffective.