Part 21: Turn 17: 0700 22nd May

Game Turn 17: 0700, 22nd May

Dawn once again starts the fighting, and the Luftwaffe arrives in mass, targeting the support weapons and tanks of 5th Brigade. The air strikes, however, have little effect apart from making one mortar crew run for their trenches.



Even through the air strikes, 2nd NZ Division prepares for the coming storm, setting up positions for 5th Brigade and 4th Brigade moving to the south to push the Pioneers away and open up a path for the Kiwis to escape.



The Rethymnon sector finally becomes active as the Germans make some small localised attacks. D Company of the 2/1 Infantry Brigade is especially hard hit, and takes many casualties from the storm of lead from the Germans. Otherwise, the situation within the sector remains relatively stationary.



The LLSR sets up, ready for an attack which they know will come soon. The Regiment has more support guns than infantry, but with the back-up of the 5th Gebirgs Division, they feel secure now. The 5th NZ Brigade shells the positions held by KG Ramcke and the Pioneers, but to little effect. The rest of the men keep digging in, preparing for the eventual assault.



Near Heraklion, the fighting continues, and the 1FJR paratroopers keep losing men on the east-most side of the battle, but apart from that, the situation changes little.

The 4th Brigade is finally in position to make contact with the Pioneers, and the attack begins in earnest. The mortars take their toll, and already the pioneers are sustaining casualties, even in their entrenched positions. The 19th Australian also sets up in position to attack quickly in the coming hours. The MNDBO keeps up their fire against the 3FJR, targeting mostly their support weapons, which take light casualties.



GJR 100 keeps trying to encircle south, but the presence of a hill slows down their movements, although it is clear that they will be able to get into position soon to threaten 5th Brigade, while attempting to save the Pioneers as well.



The LLSR finally attacks, targeting the vulnerable support weapons of the Allies, and taking out two mortar teams, although the rest of their barrage is not very effective, apart from the pioneers giving the men of D Company, 20th Battalion, 4th Brigade a bloody nose.



Early morning reinforcements arrive for the Germans, with the Gebirgs Jager Regiment 85 finally making it to the scene. Meanwhile, GJR 100 keeps moving to encircle south.



1FJR in Heraklion keeps pushing into the city, managing to sweep aside the Greek defenders, trying desperatly to take hold of the docks. The going is slow, however, and on the east side, the situation is dire, with only 3 companies still combat-worthy.



The 19th Australian Brigade finally mounts an attack, their first offensive action since the battle started, after a long 2 day march up from Georgeoupolis. The pioneers once again face the brunt of it, with many casualties sustained. In Rethymnon, the rest of the Brigade keeps pushing the remaining Germans hard.