Part 41: Turn 37: 1500 24th May

Game Turn 37: 1500, 24th May

Supply Levels



Even with supplies in Rethymnon running low, 19th Australian attempts to finish off the last elements of the 2 FJR, with the recoilless rifle company finally going down, and the Australians chasing the remaning paratroopers to the village of Strawromanos on the coast, where the Fallschirmjager have made their last stand.



The LLSR presses the attack, moving up their AT guns and performing a barrage, that mostly targets the rear areas of the Allies, especially the mortar teams, which take a withering fire. Although forced to seek cover, only light casualties are reported, mostly in the Divisional Petrol company in the 10th Composite Brigade.



The 2nd NZ Division attempts to strike back at the aggressors, with mortar fire forcing the GJR 100 company that had advanced into contact to scatter. The space allows the men to get to work improving their positions, and some defensive preparations are completed: although not as strong as the ones in the north, they should be able to help still.



The AT guns of the LLSR unmount from their transports, ready to start firing at the defensive line of the Allies, while accurate artillery fire all but takes out the remaining mortar assets of the 19th Australian Brigade: counter-battery fire has been especially effective, and the Allied fire support is being diminished by the hour, with only 3 artillery batteries left and 2 heavy mortar squads.



The Luftwaffe starts some planned air strikes, mostly targetting the docks of Heraklion, as well as the British units in the open to the south, but the strikes are ineffective.



More effective are the strikes against the mortar assets of the 2nd NZ Division, with a bombing run taking out one of the few Allied mortar teams remaining. Only one squad is left on the scene, all others have been interdicted by the German counter-battery attempts.



19th Australian keeps approaching the village of Strawromenos, approaching both from the coast and the south, but keeping out of range of the MG emplacements, while in Heraklion, the constant harassing fire of light mortars does little to the German troops present.