Part 17: Turn 13: 1500 21st May

Game Turn 13: 1500, 21st May

CREFORCE repositions to press the 3FJR even more, while in Heraklion, artillery from 14th Australian Brigade takes out the mortars of 1FJR that were supporting the attack on the east end of the sector.



2nd NZ Division keeps hammering the LLSR. The Pioneers south of Hill 107 are finally cleared, and the Maoris finally scale the heights. The rest of 5th Brigade presses the Germans as much as possible.



5th Brigade and the remains of 10th Brigade keep disengaging and moving towards Maleme.



The LLSR, holding on for dear life, mounts yet another attack on the Kiwis, shelling the two Companies holding the eastern end of the airfield. The bombardment is followed by an assault, and C Company Moaris and B Company, 23rd Battalion just manage to beat off the German charge, although at high cost. 6th Company LLSR once again charges down the clearing after an artillery preparation there, and manages to sweep away C Company, 23rd Battalion thanks to the fire from Hill 107, which ownership has proved crucial to the battle.



The Germans, seeing this as a crucial point in the battle, send everything they can towards the New Zealanders. Mortar fire and artillery is followed by a charge by 5th Company, but the brave Kiwis hold on to the last. 6th Company, however, performs another daring charge, and attacked from the flank, resistance collapses, and many men from 5th Brigade are captured. With such losses, any possible attack is called off.



To add insult to injury, the Luftwaffe makes an appearance over the skies of Maleme, dropping Kampfgruppe Ramcke near Modion, to the rear of 5th NZ Brigade. Stukas and Bf109s also make an appearance, targeting the remaining troops around Maleme and especially the Matildas. The air strikes are effective, severely damaging the tanks and scattering the remaining Kiwi forces near the beach.



5th Brigade, battered and bloodied, disengages from the battle, trying to rejoin with 4th Brigade and the rest of CREFORCE before it is too late. The Matildas, broken and battered, are left near Hill 107.