Part 29: Turn 25: 0700 23rd May

Game Turn 25: 0700, 23rd of May

Dawn is met by an early-morning bombardment by the 2nd NZ Division, which shells mostly the positions of the 5th Gebirgs Division, to some effect, with the 1st Company of the GJR 100 facing mounting losses, which forces the survivors to the rear.

The preliminary fire is followed by a more accurate volley as all of the available artillery left to the 2nd NZ Division fires, concentrating on the Pioneers and KG Ramcke paratroopers, with good effect: a path has now been opened for the remains of 5th Brigade to escape, although they will have to extricate themselves out of the trenches first, which will be risky.



CREFORCE also joins into the mix, with the 19th Australian sending ineffective fire towards the Germans near Modion, but managing to clear some of the remaining Germans to the west of the Rethymnon sector.



In Heraklion, the 14th Brigade keeps grouping up and threatening the Germans from the south. The only units left in the extreme eastern edge are small groups trying to round up the gaggle of Germans that are left and some AA and artillery guns.



Air recon of the Allied positions around Modion seems to reassure the LLSR that they will be able to tackle the remaining Allied forces. (Random event: Intelligence, +2 CP +1 DP to 7th Flieger Division)

A German airstrike comes in, but the targets have been mixed up, and instead of targetting the Allied forces, it strike the KG Ramcke forces holding out. Thankfully, apart from lots of swearing, no casualties are reported by the paratroopers. (Random event: Allied Air Strike)



Although for most of the morning the Allies had taken the initiative, the German artillery finally fires back, targeting the concentrations of Australian infantry that threaten the last few remaining members of KG Ramcke, but the fire does little more than force some of the Aussies into their dugouts.

Further attacks by mixed MNDBO forces constrict the 3 FJR further.



Fire from the assembled forces of the GJR 100 is accurate enough to cause some casualties all throughout the line, and now that the Mountain troops have artillery of their own, it is likely the balance of power in this sector will shift soon, if the Allies aren't careful.



Near Heraklion, the Germans are also attempting localised offensives as they try to push deeper into the city. They manage to suppress the Greek troops facing them, but somehow the Greeks, defending their homeland, resist the charge.



LLSR artillery joins in, along with an airstrike from the Luftwaffe targeting the engineers on the north-most part of the Australian line, but apart from blanketing the ground with explosions, they have little effect.



The 3 FJR, seeing their imminent demise, attempt one last attempt to break northwards, but the British troops remain steadfast, although they are forced into cover at the end of the assault. The remaining German fire from the Regiment does little.



The 19th Australian advances, pushing the remaining KG Ramcke soldiers hard. In Rethymnon, there isn't much left of the Germans, and it is likely that soon the entire sector will be cleared of effective German forces.



It's the turn of the LLSR to attack, and artillery brackets the entire line of Allied troops. An assault into Modion is finally successful in dislocating some of the remaining 5th Brigade forces there.



Early morning attacks by the 2 FJR also shows that the Regiment still has some bite left, with close range mortars and artillery taking a toll on the Australians.



The GJR 85 finally is in a position to threaten the Greeks and forms up, ready to attack in the next few hours.



On the runway, the protective trenches have finally finished construction, and the Pioneers are likely to head for Hill 107 to fortify it as well. More artillery is air-landed into the island, adding to the artillery dominance of the Germans. Apart from some artillery fire from the artillery park, the rest of the 5th Gebirgs Division is quiet, as the GJR 100 holds their fire, waiting for a better opportunity.