Part 13: Turn 9: 0700 21st May

Game Turn 9: 0700, 21st May

Dawn is greeted by the thud of artillery, as the now grossly delayed 2nd NZ Division attempts to put up an offensive. Seeing the emplaced AT guns, artillery is ranged to suppress them, which it does admirably, sending the guns crew running for cover. Light mortars, meanwhile, take their toll, and both 9th LLSR Company and the Pioneers take minor casualties. 6the Company LLSR also takes some fire, but it is ineffective. Similar fire from the 4th NZ Brigade is less effective, although one of the recoilless gun teams takes casualties as well.



What follows could be considered an unmitigated disaster for the Kiwis of 5th Brigade. The LLSR, knowing that this fight might swing the battle, makes an unprecedented assault. The attack starts with the AT gun crew getting clear of the blast, while the other gun crew rallies around. The heavy mortar companies now start raining shells on the exposed Maoris and other New Zealanders: these are soon joined by artillery pieces and fire from the eastern end of the runway. The men hit the ground, not for lack of coaxing from their officers. Artillery also shells the Matildas, limiting their view. The half-strength 6th Company, seeing the heavy shelling and disorganisation of the Allied troops, see this as a chance to even the score. They go full sprint for the Maoris, and engage in close combat: fully suppressed, the New Zealanders can do little, and the Maoris are quickly overrun. C Company, 23rd Battalion just behind meets the charge and even though suppressed, somehow manage to hold on and not run.

The southern edge of Hill 107 also falls under attack, taking fire from 7th Company LLSR, who attempts a charge soon afterwards, although the attack is repulsed easily. The Pioneers, seeing the defenders of A Company, 22nd Battalion too busy reacting to other LLSR troops, charge up the hill and take the Kiwis by surprise: to a man, the entire Company has been captured. In less than an hour, 5th Brigade has lost 2 and a half Companies. Brigadier Hargest desperatly calls for reinforcements.


_{The activation order really did a number of 5th Brigade. I ran out of CPs and then couldn't present the suppressions/charges.}

More mortars fire, causing casualties on the D Company Moaris to the south of Hill 107, but the rest of the sectors, including Prison Valley, are relatively quiet, with some of the lost Fallschirmjager managing to catch up within the Heraklion sector. A Kampfgruppe is set up in the order to give the men there some kind of leadership. LLSR survivors of the ill-fated glider landing have also been found: they had spent the night in a cave near the coast, but now enough have been found to fill a scratch half-company. (Random Event: Lost Fallschirmjager)



It's the turn of the 3FJR now as well, and although their fire is less effective, it still takes its toll, and many of the men of 10th and 4th Brigade are forced into cover. However, it seem that no direct charge is forthcoming from the Germans for now.The Divisional Cavalry, still stranded, holds out against the Pioneers despite intense fire.



MNDBO advances and hurries to attack the men of the 3FJR: some casualties are caused, but the lack of any artillery or mortars is telling, as small arms alone have difficulty harming the well-entrenched Germans. However, the encirclement of 3rd FJR is almost complete, although the formation clearly still has teeth.



The Heraklion sector finally heats up, as 1FJR attacks in earnest, sweeping away the Greeks holding the gate to the city and engaging the rest of the Greek forces in close quarter combat. In the east, the newly formed Kampfgruppe finally has enough strength to at least threaten the eastern approaches to the airfield.



The Long snaking column of 19th Australian Bde still advances towards Canea. In Rethymnon, mortars keep a constant fire, causing many casualties on the paratroopers that surround the position. The 1FJR strikes back and although the Australians are hard-pressed from all sides, they manage to see off the attacks by the Germans. B Company especially is hard pressed, but they manage to see off the German charge even while being suppressed.



Heraklion also sees more action, as the artillery of the Australians rains fire on the Germans, causing many casualties on the exposed infantry. The Germans are still in strength in the area, so reserves are rushed to prevent any breakthrough. Near Canea, the 19th Australian Brigade inches closer, and MNDBO forces continue to encircle 3FJR.



5th Brigade attempts to strike back at the German but it is clear that they are spent in terms of offensive potential. Mortars and artillery fires, but scant few German casualties are caused. The earlier preparations by the Germans have blunted any possible attack.



4th Brigade also send ordnanance sailing towards the enemy paratroopers, and although relatively light, the Germans are slowly getting chipped away. Eventually their losses will be high enough that holding a perimeter is no longer possible, although it is clear that the fighting in the Prison Valley will be prolonged for hours. The remains of 10th Brigade also join in: the fire from their small arms does little, and the Divisional Cavalry, trying to escape into the hills, is pinned down by the Pioneers.