Part 6: Turn 4: 1300 20th May (Part 1)

Game Turn 4: 1300, 20th May (Part 1)

With no time to lose, the 3rd Fallschirmjager regiment starts attacking the belaguered 10th NZ Brigade. First to fire is the recoilless rifles of 13th FJ Company, which fire at the NZ Divisional Supply company. Even with the range involved, the fire is accurate and the New Zealanders suffer considerable losses.


_{Guess the hail Mary goes through sometimes.}

The mortar companies also fire, although this time it is less accurate, although the Greek troops are forced to dive for cover, giving an opening for the 11th FJ company to attempt to escape. The infantry moves up, and 6th and 11th Company prepare for an assault.



6th Company assaults the NZ Divisional Supply Company, and manages to close the gap. With parachutists controlling the heights, the prospects for the Commonwealth company seem dire, and they elect to retreat instead of facing the Germans head on. Unfortunately, fire from the hill proves to be too much, and they are caught before they are able to withdraw away from the assaulting Germans, surrendering as a whole. Lt Col Kippenberger manages to escape, joining the two Companies directly north. Fire from the 7th Company on the hill also targets the Divisional Petrol Company on the high ground to the west, but has little effect.



As for 11th Company, it charges the badly equipped Greeks, and a charge scatters them, making the Germans that much closer to rejoining the bulk of the 3rd Fallschirmjager Regiment.



Up north, 10th Company tries to make its way towards the light tanks, hoping to find a way to get out of the grip of the New Zealanders, but they do not manage to move unscathed: command and control for the company is starting to break down.



The Pioneers keep the pressure on the Divisional Cavalry Company of 10th NZ Brigade, now out of radio range from Lt Col Kippenberger due to the hill between them and the rest of the Brigade. A firefight ensues, and the New Zealanders take some casualties.



Near Maleme, the mortars begin firing against the MG positions on Hill 107: once again, the heavy fire from the 13th Company LLSR prove its worth, and on the exposed hilltop, the New Zealand MG company suffers many casualties. Further mortar rounds are fired, but to little effect this time. The Pioneer of the LLSR manage to regroup and recuperate as well.



Nearer to Canea, mortars from the 12th Company, 3FJR fire at the Greek 6th Infantry Company, which also suffered extensive casualties. Seeing their chance, the Germans of 11th Company charge once again, and again the Greeks are swept away easily by the determined Germans.



Royal Marines south of Canea keep up the fire against Det Gertz, but with the Germans in good cover of the orchard, it still has little effect.

Mortar fire starts targeting 10th Company LLSR, who are now almost surrounded, but holding strong defensive positions in town. Although casualties are light, the lack of ammo is certainly going to cause issue if the attack from the New Zealanders keeps up.


_{Gotta love Light Mortars rolling 0!}

Another Maori Company heads west, while finally the engineers finish their entrenchments, and other companies start improving their positions as well.



In Kastelli, the Greeks, under the command of Major Bedding, attempt to cut off the Germans of Det Muerbe.



Meanwhile, 4th NZ Brigade under Brigadier Inglis moves into position to help the 10th Brigade and stop the Germans from cutting the Maleme/Canea road.



Part 2 to come...