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Game Turn 27: 1100, 23rd May With the Allied and German forces so mixed, another errant air strike attacks the now-vacated entrenchments of the Allies, strafing some of the 3rd Company LLSR troops, but thankfully this incident of friendly fire has little result. More 5th Gebirgs Division troops arrive, this time some dual purpose and HE direct fire guns. Some preparatory artillery is fired but overall the front, at least for the Germans, is quiet. The Pioneers move to Hill 107 in preparation of creating entrenchments there, just in case.  Not hitting entrenched opposition any more, the troops of the LLSR are on form, and push the attack against the Australians, who face a storm of artillery, mortar and small arms fire, taking many casualties. The Commonwealth troops are getting hit hard, and the advantage in guns and training is beginning to take its toll on the Australians and Kiwis currently fighting on the front.  The 2nd NZ Division tries to answer back the artillery fire, but the radio connection seems to be scrambled and only one of the artillery batteries manages to fire. The fire is aimed towards the troops of the GJR 100, which take some casualties.  The Australians, now knowing there is no one left to rescue, start pulling back, providing some cover fire with their mortars in order to pull back their most exposed positions. This is effective, and the two half-companies in the salient manage to pull back without casualties.  The LLSR keeps moving forward, their artillery helping to cover the advance, and causing many casualties on the retreating Australians that are caught in the open. Casualties on the 19th Bde are mounting, and it's likely that the Brigade, along with the 4th NZ Bde to the south of them, will have to pull back to more defensible positions, which their engineers are trying to set up in the rear.  1 FJR continues their attempted assault on Heraklion. A company from the York and Lancashire Regiment takes the brunt of the fire, with many casualties, but an attack on the dock is repulsed. The 14th Bde answers back, taking out some of the recoilless rifle squads from 13th Company.  In Rethymnon, the mop-up troops column-up and start heading east, while the rest of the Australians make contact with the German support guns, hoping to take them down swiftly.  The Australians keep retreating back, inch by inch, but the cover provided by artillery and mortars is effective enough, making the German fire ineffective. The engineers in the back start to build the necessary fortifications for the planned defensive line a few kilometres back.  The MNDBO has nearly finished it's clean-up duty, with one infantry company surrendering and a recoilless rifle platoon being overrun. This includes the fight against Detachment Gentz, which has been a low-intensity battle for the last 4 days.  Seeing the Australians pull back slightly, the Kiwis also reform their line while trying to keep the heads of the Mountain soldiers down. This is relatively effective, and only light casualties are reported. Over several hours, the defensive line has been pulled back at least 500 meters from where it was originally, with the entire front line bombarded with covering fire in order to do so.  In Kastelli, the Greeks are pressed hard, but manage to keep away the German assaults, although the best Greek unit, the gendarmes from Kastelli itself, are hit hard by the German assault. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 11:16 on Feb 4, 2024 |
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Feb 1, 2024 12:06
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Game Turn 28: 1300, 23rd May The Luftwaffe descends from the skies and strikes the positions of the Australians, targeting the mortars and infantry of B Company, 2/8 Infantry, but the strikes do not produce any significant results. (Random Event: Air Strike)  The battle continues in both Rethymnon and Heraklion, with CREFORCE units moving to engage the remaining Germans in either sector, with mixed results in terms of the fire, since the enemy formations are only lightly disrupted by it.   As for the front line near Canea, both the 19th Aus Bde and the 4th NZ Bde pull back some of their units, while entrenching operations are still taking place right behind them, with the plan being to hold the line there until the defences are in place and both Brigades can retreat back to them for a more defensible position.  Not wanting to give the Allies a chance to recuperate, the LLSR presses on, re-engaging the Australians so they can't retreat back further without risking further fire from the paratroopers. There is some light mortar and artillery fire, but it is largely desultory.  The GJR 100 also attempts to reconnect with the retreating Commonwealth troops, but also pull back some of their companies in order to give them some rest and respite, as their cohesion is rather low. Some artillery is also sent to help the retreats, and does little but make some New Zealanders duck. In the south, the GJR 100 is thinner, and thus somewhat of a no-man's-land is created.  In Kastelli, the situation is looking grim, as the GJR 85 continues to assault the Greek troops there, taking out the northern part of the line. Thanks to their defensive positions in the south, however, the Greeks hold strong, forcing some casualties on the Germans. 
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Feb 1, 2024 16:19
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Game Turn 29: 1500, 23rd May The GJR 100, having delayed their offensive, finally spring into action. The attack, however, starts with a whimper, as radio contact is lost with two out of the three batteries that the GJR 100 was in contact with, leading to a much lower level of fire than expected. The targets are the north-most part of the 4th NZ Bde line, with A Company, 18th Battalion taking the brunt of the attack, which sends the men diving for cover.  Returning fire from the 4th NZ Bde is rather more effective, causing many casualties in the 10th Company Pioneers of the GJR 100, and scattering them to the rear. Other mortar fire is similarly effective, causing further casualties down the line. The Artillery fire is especially deadly, and the 5th Gebirgs line to the north is being stretched especially thin.  Some last desperate attacks are attempted by the German forces in Rethymnon, but the stout defence by the Allies prevents any last-minute heroics in the sector. Harassing fire within the Heraklion, Rethymnon and Canea sectors has little effect on the remaining paratroopers, however. The only movement by CREFORCE units is near Rethymnon.  Needing to help the Gebirgsjager, the guns of the LLSR open fire once again, and A Company, 18th Battalion takes the lion's share of the artillery fire, making the company as a whole combat ineffective. Some Luftwaffe support also comes to help thin the Allied line, but the strafes are unsuccessful. The assault also continues in Kastelli, and the Greeks are giving as good as they get, with some casualties on both sides as the Greeks attempt to protect their homeland. The 19th Aus Bde adds their fire to the fight, but the mortars they have land their ordnance far away from the Germans, both near Canea and in the Rethymnon sector, although some advances under fire are made to get closer to the enemy support guns.  Even with their dogged resistance, Kastelli is finally cleared, and the Germans either head for the port, or start to head back to their positions in Maleme. The Greeks put up a brave fight, but it wasn't enough.  Near the airfield, construction of the entrenchments on Hill 107 are complete, and motorcycle infantry touches down on the runway. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 19:37 on Feb 1, 2024 |
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Feb 1, 2024 18:09
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Game Turn 30: 1700, 23rd May LLSR artillery barrages light up the sky, this time mostly targeting the mortar assets of both the Australian and Kiwis, although some artillery is directed towards infantry as well. Most of the mortars are suppressed, along with C Company, 18th Battalion, which took the brunt of the remaining artillery and mortar fire.  Elements from the 14th and 19th Brigade keep up their light mortar fire, with some success in Rethymnon, but nothing ventured apart from that. The 4th NZ Brigade also joins the fire, disorganising several units within the GJR 100. This, however, was likely a prelude to a much bigger attack, and the Pioneers on the very south of the GJR 100 are swept away by mortar fire: the 4th Brigade, braving the machine-guns of the Germans, approach in order to put pressure on the German assault weapons.  The last infantry company of the 3 FJR surrenders, and the only hold-outs left are a mortar company near the hill: it is clear that soon the MNDBO troops will end their days-long fight. Partisans attack the artillery concentration near Pirgos, but the crews are disciplined enough to stay at their guns and fire back at the franc-tireurs.  The Germans troops in Kastelli capture the port and rally, ready to head out back towards Maleme. Otherwise, they strengthen the line and send the motorcycles as possible reinforcements, while the AT guns climb a hill in order to protect the southern flank. Artillery also fires, and takes our several squads from the 2nd NZ Division, most of them from C Company, 18th Battalion. 
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Feb 1, 2024 19:39
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Game Turn 31: 1900, 23rd May With dusk approaches, the fighting appears to die down, although the ever-present mortar and artillery fire from the crews of the LLSR does not disappoint either, as ineffective as it is with light slowly fading. The GJR 100 attacks meet similar fate, although the fire is heavy enough that the leaders of both 4th and 10th Brigade spend a lot of time rallying their troops in order to prevent them from being suppressed by the incoming fire. The AT guns set up to the south, and the motorbike infantry moves in to shore up the southern-most part of the line. In the middle of the fighting, a stray bullet finds Oberst Utz and a replacement officer needs to be quickly found.  The ever-present light mortar fire can also be heard, and it is especially effective in Rethymnon, where one of the German mortar companies is finally rendered combat-ineffective.  The 5th Gebirgs Division moves around to bring the 85th Regiment troops back to bolster the fight in Maleme, while the Pioneers are sent west in order to prepare the port for any potential naval reinforcements. Elsewhere, the mountain troops are relatively quiet, as night is soon approaching, although some localised attempts to push the 10th Composite Brigade are made, to no avail. Further north of the line, attacks by the 19th Australian Brigade are similarly useless, as is fire on the eastern flank of the Rethymnon sector.  With the final flights of the day, the rest of Gebirgsjager Regiment 85 arrives on the scene. With the GJR 100 having taken many casualties, a fresh infantry regiment, and the troops coming back from Kastelli, should bolster the Germans significantly in the coming days. 
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Feb 1, 2024 21:53
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So you might wonder why I'm bothering sending some Pioneers to Kastelli. There's actually a scenario condition where I have to send 4 units to the west and keep them there. The pioneers of the 95 were historically sent to capture Kastelli, which they managed to do, even freeing some units from Detachment Muerbe in the process. They stayed there to look after the port. The scenario says that they are "out of the scenario" which is weird, though.
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Feb 1, 2024 22:58
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Lots of casualties, but the Allies seem to be holding now. Hopefully MNDBO and CREFOR can establish a new defensive line that the remnants of 2 NZ Div can fall back behind.
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Feb 1, 2024 23:21
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tomdidiot posted:Lots of casualties, but the Allies seem to be holding now. Hopefully MNDBO and CREFOR can establish a new defensive line that the remnants of 2 NZ Div can fall back behind.
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Feb 2, 2024 00:12
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Looks like the front lines are starting to stabilize.
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Feb 2, 2024 00:20
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Game Turn 32: Night, 23rd May As the fighting drags on, the supply situation is being felt negatively, by both sides: while the airfield in Maleme is providing ample resources to the Germans there, the occasional drops in Rethymnon and Heraklion do not do enough. The Allies, on the other hand, are having a lot of their shipments interdicted by the Luftwaffe. Although it would have no effect on the fighting yet, if the supply conditions continue to worsen, both sides could feel the pinch soon enough. The 4th NZ Brigade repositions to straighten the line: although the division has had many losses in the past few days, it is still capable of packing a punch if necessary.  The 7th Flieger Division also repositions, and provides some covering fire for the 3rd LLSR Company: some of the mortar fire is surprisingly effective consider the late hour, and many Australians are unfortunately hit in their fox holes while attempting to sleep, with C Company of the 2/1 Infantry Regiment hit especially hard. In Rethymnon, a localised attack by the remaining paratroopers there also causes many casualties on the Australians in that sector.  Light mortar fire has its usual lack of effect, but it does manage to finally take out the recoilless rifle company in Heraklion, and as well as that, fortifications are finally finished in the dock-side area.  GJR 85 is almost back on its trip from Kastelli, and Oberst Krakau speeds ahead to join the column marching off the airfield.  GJR 100, still wanting to press the attack, infiltrates ahead during the night in order to be ready for a morning attack, although the southern flank, only populated by motorbike infantry, remains immobile. The infiltration is just in the nick of time, as dawn finally rises, bringing the 5th day of almost continuous combat. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 09:39 on Feb 3, 2024 |
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Feb 2, 2024 08:00
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Rules Post: Supply Level On the night of the 23rd of May, we have a new scenario mechanism to worry about : supply levels. The actual way that it works is relatively simple: at the start of each turn, I roll a d10 for each of the sector for both allies and germans, and if I roll 1 or below, the supply level increases. If i roll 7 or above, it decreases, otherwise it stays the same. There are two caveats though: German supply level can't go down if they hold an airfield on that map, and Allied supply level can't improve if they don't hold a port. Crucially, this means that although the supply level on the main map (Canea-Maleme) can go up and down for the Allies, for the Germans it is always going to be full supply, since honestly at this point I'd be highly surprised if the Allies recaptured Maleme. For the very first roll of the game, all the sectors and sides that could fail a roll, did:  The supply levels are Full Supply, Reduced Supply, Diminished Supply and Emergency Supply. The first two levels do not affect the battle much. Diminished supply gives -1 Troop Quality to all your troops on that map. Emergency Supply gives -2 Troop Quality, and -1 Fire/Assault Rating to your troops. So yeah, pretty bad. Diminished/emergency supply also has morale implications on the Allies when they reach those levels for the first time on the Canea-Maleme map. Reaching those levels during the battle could badly affect the ability of the Allies to keep the German advance in check.
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Feb 2, 2024 08:11
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Game Turn 33: 0700, 24th May Supply Levels:  The dawn bombardment begins with the Australian mortars, who manage to catch the men of the LLSR sleeping: the 3rd Company, reconstituted from the remains of the glider-borne troops and other paratroopers gathered in the Maleme area, is rendered combat-ineffective once again. The paratrooper company north of them is also hit hard by the barrage.  In Rethymnon, the AT guns of the Germans are successfully captured after an assault, and the remaining German infantry is very hard pressed to the north.  The last remnants of the Prison Valley pocket are assaulted again and again by MNDBO forces, as well as attacks on Detachment Gentz, but the Germans still hold out for now. Some of the MNDBO forces start moving north in preparation of backing up the 19th Australian Brigade.  The 14th Brigade hits the Germans in Heraklion hard, with mortars managing to take out a surprising number of Germans even through the protective shield of the city.  The start of the German attack near Modion is pre-empted by a strafe of the enemy mortar teams by the Luftwaffe: largely ineffective, the only success is in the south, where a 4th Bde mortar team gets taken out by a strafing run.  The LLSR opens up on the Australian, and the storm of lead forces the Australian officers to go on a frenzy trying to make sure their soldiers return fire and remain alert despite the attack. Casualties are limited, but both the Kiwis and Aussies are being stretched thin. The 4th Brigade fires some of its mortars back, but they fail to find their mark: some supplies, however, do make it to the front, helping the Allied troops on the line. (Allied random event: Supply Drop)  Attempts are made in Rethymnon for the 2 FJR to fight back, but there aren't enough Germans left to make an impact: the little firepower they can produce doesn't make a dent on the Australian troops.  The 4th NZ Brigade keeps up the fire, lighting up the positions held by the GJR 100, but the effect of the fire is low, as the German officers and NCOs keep the soldiers in line.  With their artillery ranged, the LLSR lets loose again, and this time the fire is much more effective, decimating D Company, 20th Battalion of the 2nd NZ Division, which takes high casualties and becomes exposed by small arms fire from the paratroopers, which proceed to pick them off as they retreat.  Light mortar fire from the various CREFORCE units does little, although the MNDBO starts approaching the trenches being created: backing the line is crucial at this point in the battle.  A desperate attack is attempted in Heraklion, but the houses and maze-like alleys prove too difficult to traverse for the paratroopers, and the whole thing is called off after a few quarters of an hour. More reinforcements come up for the 5th Gebirgs Division, this time in the form of bicycle troops and a bicycle-towed heavy mortar. The GJR 85 keeps moving up the road in order to get into position, and artillery strikes the Australians, causing many casualties. 
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Feb 2, 2024 10:07
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Game Turn 34: 0900, 24th May Supply Levels:  The Australians are hit hard by artillery and MG fire from the GJR 100, and D Company, 2/7 Infantry takes the brunt of casualties, although mortars from the 2nd NZ Division are also targeted, albeit unsuccessfully. The dual purpose guns of the 1st Gebirgs Panzer Jager Company hit the Kiwi D Company, 19th Battalion hard, and the remaining New Zealanders flee to the rear. The integrity of the Kiwi line is about to disintegrate as they are starting to not have enough infantry to hold back the attack, especially with the coming GJR 85, which is currently still full strength.  The 2nd NZ Division decides to pull back, after laying down some cover fire using their artillery. The retreat goes relatively well, but they will need to make some distance from the Germans: as well as that, the Australians will need to disengage as well, or they will remain exposed.  In the next half an hour, more cover fire is provided, and by the end, the 4th Bde has managed to retreat at least 1.5 kilometres, with the remaining light tanks providing cover fire while the main body retreats. Many of the Greek troops, not even told about the retreat, are left behind to face the wrath of the Nazis.  It's just in time, as the GJR 85 finally arrives on the scene, taking a spot south of the diminished GJR 100. Some artillery is fired at the Australians as well, in an attempt to pin them down when they inevitably attempt to retreat. One of the Greek infantry companies, seeing the approaching German coming in force, flees the battle.  Unfortunately, it is too late for the Australians, as the LLSR makes an all-out attack. Artillery preparations force the Australians into cover, and a full frontal assault destroys the Australian front line, with only a single company managing to fight off the encroaching paratroopers. If a line isn't established soon, the Germans might have a straight shot for Canea.  The remaining elements of 19th Bde retreat to the entrenchments, while in Rethymnon tries to assault the remaining Germans, but is largely unsuccessful, with several assaults stopped within the scrubs and foliage of the hills and coast.  A follow-up assault by the LLSR Fallschirmjager finally manages to capture the last holdout of Australian resistance, forcing many of the brave Aussies to march towards the west under armed guard. The LLSR keeps moving up, although it is clear it won't have the impetus to keep moving forward for now.  The MNDBO hustles to cover the gap in the line, managing to get into the entrenchments without too much of a fuss. The line isn't complete and the 2nd NZ Division is too fragile to hold for much longer, but at least the road to Canea is for now blocked by the mixed forces of the defence organisation. In Heraklion, the clean-up of German paratroopers continues apace, with the recoilless rifle gun company finally taken out. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 09:39 on Feb 3, 2024 |
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Feb 2, 2024 11:26
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The Allies got starved of CPs from repeated bombings, and once they were dry, the LLSR punched right through with successful suppressed assaults. This is why I pulled back the 4th NZ or their front line would have faced similar devastation, but the sequencing of activation chits meant that the Australians were stuck, and they paid for it at the price of 8 steps lost in a single turn.
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Feb 2, 2024 11:33
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How far are the Germans from their next objective?
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Feb 2, 2024 12:54
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Tevery Best posted:How far are the Germans from their next objective? Germans are about 13 km away from Canea, which is the next main objective for them, although it's a city fight so it's gonna be a tough nut to crack.  The issue with the allies now is that the 19th Aus and the 2nd NZ were their best formations, and had most of their light mortar companies, which is what they need to beat the qualitative advantage of the Germans. The MNBDO lacks any sort of heavy firepower and only has small arms, and took three days to clear a fully encircled enemy. The rest of the 19th Aus is relatively far away in Rethymnon and can potentially come to Canea once their sector has been cleared. 14th Bde still needs to clear Heraklion but even if they do they might as well be in Narnia in terms of what effect they will have on the Canea fight. 4th Bde and 19th Aus were bleeding the Germans but they paid the price for it. Tekopo fucked around with this message at 13:24 on Feb 2, 2024 |
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Feb 2, 2024 13:20
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Game Turn 35: 1100, 24th May Supply Levels  The supply situation within Heraklion is getting desperate for the Germans: dropping supplies right within the city is spotty and shortages are now starting to affect the men. The GJR 85 advances on the extreme southern flank, firing up at the Greek troops on the hills that have been abandoned by the Allied forces. The fire is ineffective, but it is unlikely the Greeks will be able to hold the Germans back for long.  The 2nd NZ Division starts digging in while they want for the rest of the MNDBO forces to arrive on the southern flank. Some Greek companies move up in hopes of filling up the gap.  Concentrated artillery and AT gun fire takes out the last of the Hussars light tanks, which allows the rest of the LLSR to march up near the new Allied defensive line.  GJR 100 soldiers start heading northwards, in order to take the position between the GJR 85 and the LLSR, while the newly arrived regiment keeps heading south, trying to keep contact with the Greeks in order to push through them in the next few hours. What little fire erupts from the Gebirgsjager is ineffective.  One of the German motorbike companies almost runs out of ammunition while it attempts to pepper the Greek hilltop soldiers, while reports of the loss of the 19th Australian Brigade creates confusion within the ranks of the 2nd NZ Division. Ending fights that had started back on the 20th of May, both Detachment Gentz and the final mortar company of 3 FJR finally surrender, freeing the remaining MNDBO troops from their mop-up tasks. The companies that did not take part in the final assault immediately start heading west.  Forewarned thanks to ULTRA of a potential drop to the south of Heraklion, the Allied troops are ready: the drops themselves are flawless, and the paratroopers hit the ground (almost) running.  Say hello to the very last 7th Flieger Division reinforcements! Tekopo fucked around with this message at 16:49 on Feb 2, 2024 |
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Feb 2, 2024 16:44
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Game Turn 36: 1300, 24th May Supply Levels  CREFORCE troops move into position, trying to make sure that both the area south and north of the hill has enough soldiers to be able to defend in depth.  In Rethymnon, the last few paratrooper infantry squads have been rounded up, and the only thing that is left are the support weapons of 2 FJR, which should be quicker to deal with. The low intensity fighting in Heraklion continues, however, although the recently landed paratroopers to the south are left alone, for now.  The 2nd NZ Division, or what is left of it, repositions to lenghten the line: the very southern edge is covered by Greeks so far, but hopefully more MNDBO units will arrive to bolster them.  Partisans in Modion attempt to strike at the heavy mortar teams just north of the town, but the fire is quite inaccurate: the partisans quickly dissipate back into hiding. 1st Fallschirmjager Regiment, in a desperate position and lacking supplies, still puts up a fight. Accurate guns in direct fire mode manage to eviscerate one of the 14th Brigade companies, while in the city, firefights near the dock seem to suggest a possible future attack.  GJR 85 sets itself up for an attack: some assaults of the Greek positions are attempted, but even though they are outnumbered and outgunned, the Greeks put up a brave fight.  The LLSR sits back for now, and some light artillery and mortar fire targets the concentration of the 10th Composite Brigade, with light casualties sustained by the troops under the command of Kippenberger.  GJR 100 leads the assault, striking at the exposed Greeks, that after some small arms fire and a spirited assault, are overtaken and killed or captured, as well as artillery preparations targeted at the remaining 10th Brigade troops, which also suffer casualties.  GJR 85, for their part, start firing at the Greeks, who fold under the weight of fire, with only one hold out in the south, albeit one completely surrounded by Nazi soldiers. 
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Feb 3, 2024 00:59
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The Gebrigsjager not having the -1 defensive modifier and having a lower TQ makes them a hell of a lot more squishy than the FJ.
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Feb 3, 2024 01:34
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Also makes them worse in an assault, since they have to roll 6 or below (without considering the enemy) instead of 8 when doing the bravery check. On the other hand, they have a fire rating of 6, so if they catch allied infantry in the open, pass their company check, and roll an 8, they can eliminate two steps in one go. This has happened once already.
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Feb 3, 2024 09:31
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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. 
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Feb 3, 2024 10:16
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Losing three different mortar 0-step units in one turn is going to hurt a lot. They force step losses when they roll 0, and are useful when retreating as well, so having only one left is going to make getting away that much harder. The allied offensive strength is pretty much gone, and most of what they have left in Maleme uses small arms instead of light mortars. It's going to be very rough for them going forwards.
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Feb 3, 2024 10:25
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Game Turn 38: 1700, 24th May Supply Levels  More motorcycle troops appear in Maleme, including a motorcycle mortar unit, useful in the hilly terrain to the south.  Bombardments and an assault by the GJR 85 finally clears the last of the Greek rear-guards from the hills south of Modion, clearing a path for the 5th Gebirgs Division to manoeuvre for attack in the next couple of hours. Motor and bi-cycle troops take the southern path, descending down into the valley. Artillery fire is directed at the last mortar team of the 2nd NZ Division, taking it out of commission. The indirect fire assets for the Allies have diminished significantly from the situation a scant few hours ago.  The few assets that they do have left target a concentration of GJR 100 forces, but the fire has little effect. With few assets left combat-effective, and the MNDBO forces behind them, this is the only chance that the 2nd NZ Division can withdraw and regroup without being under enemy fire, and they take the opportunity. The line is abandoned, and the Kiwis pull back, hoping to be screened by other CREFORCE units.  The GJR 85 moves forwards, sending its cycles to the rear of the Allied lines, while all other elements make contact with the Greek troops that are barring their path. A chance for an attack before the day is over is unlikely but General Ringel feels that pressure needs to be kept on the Allies at this point, especially since they haven't formed a cohesive line south yet.  The remaining 2nd NZ Division artillery targets one of the AT companies of the Germans, causing light casualties but little else. 4th NZ Bde retreats further, creating a secondary line behind the MNDBO forces.  This is what remains of 2nd NZ Dv, after 5 days of fighting, bar some 10th Bde remnants further north. Yikes. Over in Heraklion, the 1 FJR is still making attempts at taking the port, but the defences of the Allies in that area are too stout. More success is met south, where the dual purpose guns manage to make one of the 14th Bde companies scatter, and contact is made by the paratroopers, hoping to link up with the forces in the city proper.  The 7th Flieger Division artillery assets mount up on trucks: they are firing at the limits of their range and will need to get closer if they hope to continue their fire.  GJR 100 makes a localised attack, but the tired Gebirgsjager do little to the dug-in Allied troops. 
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Feb 3, 2024 12:51
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Game Turn 39: 1900, 24th May Supply Levels  The MNDBO forces form a line on the western end of Prison Valley, trying to make the best of the terrain, They will, however, have to be careful of infiltration attempts by the Germans: those bikes have an easy time moving amongst the hills to the south, so can easily flank the entire formation if the Allies aren't careful. Rethymnon force move closer to the German holdouts, while Heraklion stays relatively quiet.  Heraklion does seem the arrival of some new reinforcements for the 14th Brigade, as well. More matildas and infantry.  MNDBO forces fire on the cyclist to the south, but their small arms fire is ineffective. Elsewhere, they start digging defensive positions, waiting for the oncoming storm which will likely hit them tomorrow, considering daylight is fading fast.  Likewise, the remains of the 2nd NZ Division build their own fortifications in the second line, just in case.  The 5th Gebirgs Division advances locally and fires their artillery at the Greeks, causing many casualties on the underequipped but eager troops.  The LLSR pours fire on the MNDBO defenders, but the trenches and fortifications manage to soak most of the fire. The attacks on the backline, however, are more successful and casualties start mounting. The German artillery also moves up closer, ready to deploy during the night.  Just before the sun goes down, the last elements of GJR 85 touch down at Maleme: the full strength of the Regiment is now present on the field. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 18:27 on Feb 3, 2024 |
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Feb 3, 2024 18:24
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Game Turn 40: Night, 24th May Supply Levels  The GJR 85, after incredible delays, finally attacks, but it is already dark by the time the offensive begins. The Greeks troops, however, can do little to stem the tide, and are easily swept aside by assaults by the Gebirgsjager, who move up to make contact with the MNDBO forces as they advance.  The nightly bombardments are heavier this night, as a surplus of shells are available to the Germans in Maleme, and the fire has some effect, with the Australian troops in the MNDBO taking many casualties as the Germans pound the Commonwealth troops behind the front lines.  The CREFORCE units spend the night digging in, rallying and generally preparing for the coming fight the next day. There is some fire within Heraklion, but due to the supply situation there, it is not very effective.  The 5th Gebirgs Division repositions during the night to get closer to the Allied forces, arriving to their jump-off points just before dawn hits.  The diminished 2nd NZ Division forces dig in within their positions, hoping that the MNDBO forces in front of them can stem the tide.
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Feb 3, 2024 19:40
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk&t=91s 40 out of a potential 80 turns done! Been having a blast so far!
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Feb 3, 2024 19:44
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Also would like to say that there are some rules which I did definitely got wrong. It's nothing that would have affected the game majorly, but I think I'll need to do a thorough re-read of the entire rule book at some point. Not that I'm a huge fan of how the rule book is laid out, mind you.
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Feb 3, 2024 23:29
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Having a fun time following! Looks like the Aliles are well on the back foot here. Low on supplies, even if dug in they don't have a lot of heavy artillery left, if at all.
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Feb 4, 2024 00:33
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Game Turn 41: 0700, 25th May Supply Levels  The supply situation for the Allies is turning dire, with even some units within the Maleme front going out of ammo. Time will tell if enough ships will arrive to keep the fight going. (Random Event: Out of Ammo (Allies) The CREFORCE artillery breaks the silence of dawn, and even though the artillery assets of the Allies have been greatly diminished, what is left can still be effective, causing many casualties amongst the GJR 85 13th Company, that was attempting to advance on the MNDBO positions.  Although the repeated attempts to attack Heraklion seem foolhardy, the attacks from the south are having more results, and are able to cause significant casualties on the screening forces south of the city, although the attacks on the city itself are kept at bay relatively easily. Even then, the supply situation in this sector for the Allies does not look good.  Artillery assets from the remains of the 2nd NZ Division blanket the troops from the GJR 85, trying to screen the forthcoming attack. The artillery fire is somewhat accurate, but clearly not enough to stop the Germans.  The dire supply situation in Heraklion makes any sort of bombardment difficult, but the 14th Infantry Brigade at least attempts to get closer to the German positions both in the city and south of it, trying to keep pressing the Germans and hope that supplies finally start coming in.  The LLSR start their daily morning bombardment around this time as well, blanketing the entrenched Allied positions but doing little lasting damage to the reinforced positions.  The assault by the 19th Australian is starting to see the twilight of the fight within the Rethymnon sector. The few remaining Germans are almost out of ammo and give little resistance.  The MNDBO opens fire, targeting mostly the forces of the 5th Gebirgs Division, to mixed effect. Although some casualties are caused, it's unlikely to affect the German attack that's likely scheduled to happen in less than an hour's time.  The LLSR is on the attack, and the one success is them managing to successfully assault the Allied engineers that were attempting to continue the line of entrenchments. The engineers are forced to surrender, something that potentially could unhinge the line if attacks on that side are allowed to continue, although the MNDBO has reserves ready to plug any gaps.  The final regiment of the 5th Mountain Division is finally on the scene, the Gebirgs-Regiment 141. They will need to de-plane before heading to the front, but with so many German reinforcements, how long will the Allies be able to hold?  The rest of the division moves up in attacking positions ready for an attack that they know will occur soon, as well as the artillery assets setting up to provide covering fire in the next few hours.  The hour arrives, and GJR 85 mounts an all out attack, heavily hitting the entire MNDBO line, which thankfully holds for now, but with many casualties. The GJR 100, or what is left of it, is also poised to attack, but the attack itself seems to be delayed, although that might be a small blessing as it should allow enough time for the artillery park to be set up. 
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Feb 5, 2024 10:45
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Game Turn 42: 0900, 25th May Supply Levels  The artillery park for the Gebirgs Division is set up, and contact is made to the forces of the 85 and 100 GJR, ready for the coming bombardments. The GJR 100 is the first to act, attempting to storm the Hussars on the hill, but even with a heavy preliminary bombardment, the Gebirgsjager are unable to scale the heights.  The LLSR keeps attacking the MNDBO forces, especially on the hill, and they take a hard pounding, especially amongst the remnants of the 19th Australian Brigade, with a gap opening up on the line that is likely to be exploited by the Germans soon. Morale for the Commonwealth troops is flagging: this level of casualties can't be sustained for long.  Another attack by the GJR 85 devastates the MNDBO line: at this point, it is clear that the Allies need to pull back or lose most of their force in the fighting. but the Allies lack any sort of artillery that might be able to screen their forces. It seems that the time for the Allies in Crete is soon coming to an end.  Trying to help their comrades in the MNDBO, the 2nd NZ Divisional artillery, probably the largest concentration that the Allies have left within the Maleme/Canea sector, provides cover fire for the MNDBO troops to withdraw. Will it be enough?  One of the 2nd NZ Division Companies moves forward to provide spotting for more artillery fire, and the artillery keeps going down the line to allow the allied forces to retreat.  While the GJR 141 starts moving off the airfield, the rest of the Gebirgs Division renews the attack, wanting to press the Allies hard while they can. The Hussars on the front line get assaulted by the 1st Company Gebirgsjager, and are quickly forced to surrender, even after downing some of the charging Germans. The Royal Artillery company, acting as front line infantry, also gets charged and is forced to surrender. The front line is crumbling.  Although some supplies are making it through to the front, it is unlikely the swing the balance now, that has shifted firmly in the favour of the Germans and the constant reinforcements pouring in from Maleme. (Random Event; Supply Drop (allies)) The LLSR replicates some of the success down south, clearing the entire hill between the two fronts of Allied troops. Artillery and mortars saturation attempts to dislodge the southern end of the entrenched line, but the men stand fast in their heavily protected shelters.  After spotting for some more covering artillery fire, the 2nd NZ Division company retreats. With the situation untenable even with a second defensive line, the 2nd NZ Division retreats. 
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Feb 5, 2024 11:48
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The Germans in the last two hours inflected 12 step losses on the Allies. The current morale level is 5. The Allies are not holding Crete. They already need to start thinking about evacuating their troops.
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Feb 5, 2024 11:50
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Catching up to this, I love the progression of - Gebirgs moves into position during the night turn to get to their jumping-off point before the dawn - Gebirgs unleashes their assault - Gebirgs punches hard right into the MNDBO - Gebirgs takes out two whole companies and collapses the Allied line
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Feb 5, 2024 12:36
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Game Turn 43: 1100, 25th May Supply Levels  The MNDBO pulls out completely from the southern front, trying to get away from the Germans as quickly as they possibly can. The MNDBO forces in the trenches are stuck, however, since getting out of them will force them into a crippling fire from the LLSR paratroopers: the men seem resigned to their fate while all other elements of the force retreat back towards Canea.   The only piece of good news for the Allies is that over in Rethymnon, the final resistance by German forces might soon be over, as the mortar company gets picked off and the MG company is suppressed.  With the supply situation in Heraklion stabilising somewhat thanks to shipments coming in from the port, the Allies rally and fire their light mortars once again, to good effect.  4th NZ Brigade continues to retreat towards Canea, trying to buy enough time to set up a defensive line.  Mortar and artillery fire keeps harassing the defensive line that cuts the road between Maleme and Canea, but apart from the barrage itself, there is little effect.  The two diminished companies of 10th Brigade also start moving, leaving rear-guards in place in order to screen the retreat.  The LLSR keeps assaulting the trenches, and although the engineers dug in on the southern end of the line are shaken, they stand fast against repeated paratrooper charges.  The 1st FJR attempts to attack the encroaching Allied troops, but the fire falls short, and the 14th Infantry Brigade remains relatively unscathed.  Leaving rear-guards behind, the men of the MNDBO make their retreat, managing to gain space from the attacking Germans. The only units not told about the retreat are the Greeks on the hill, with no runner coming to tell them to move back yet.  The Retreat continues, with most of the troops heading towards Canea since that's where most of the roads of the region meet.  Trying to help the retreat, partisans in Modion attack the artillery park nearby, but once again the fire is too small to be more than a nuisance to the Germans. The Mountain Division, seeing the Allies pull out, prepares to move, mounting their guns to their support vehicles, and getting ready to approach the rear guards set up by the Commonwealth troops. 
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Feb 5, 2024 13:07
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gradenko_2000 posted:Catching up to this, I love the progression of Rear-guards are what they say on the tin: 0-step, low firepower infantry and is never going to stand up to a charge but they are going to slow down your opponent while you retreat. They cost an engineering action to perform (so always have to be performed as a first action), and every Division has a limited number of them.
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Feb 5, 2024 13:12
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Somezoomed out maps to get a bigger picture:  
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Feb 5, 2024 13:36
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Game Turn 44: 1300, 25th May Supply Levels  The attack of the GJR 85 is rather late, and by the time they are ready, the MNDBO forces have already pulled away, leaving rear guards behind. The, in turn, are assaulted by the Germans, who are trying to push ahead and reach the vulnerable Allied columns further up the road to Canea.  Attacks by the LLSR on the entrenchments are chipping down the 19th Australian Engineers, but they are holding on, even against repeated attacks on all sides. The strength of those defensive positions has definitely been proven.  The troops in the trenches, not wanting to get stranded, and while they still have the possibility of escaping, leave the trenches to withering fire from the LLSR infantry and guns, leading to many casualties. The few 19th Aus troops left try to rally, but are unable to leave the trenches, as they are surrounded.  The rest of the MNDBO and CREFORCE units near Canea keep pulling back. The bulk of the Allied forces have managed to retreat, and hopefully the defensive positions around Canea will slow down the Germans.  The LLSR storms the enemy units that climbed out of their trenches, capturing them to a man, with the only holdout being the engineers on the southern part of the line. Allied morale is overall dangerously low. Even then, one final assault by the LLSR manages to force the engineers to surrender as well. No one from the trench managed to get out.  The GJR 85 brushes away the rear guards, while the GJR 100 further north tries to clear the hill of any enemy rear guards and left-behind Greek infantry. Motorbike and bicycle elements stream up the road, trying to catch the fleeing Commonwealth troops, although their own bombardments are slowing down the advance.  The forces of GJR 141, now that the road is clear, take the road straight to Canea instead of swinging down south. They will probably take over the northern-most position from the battle-weary forces of the LLSR. 
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Feb 5, 2024 15:23
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The reasons why those units got out of the trenches, if you were wondering, is that those two units were out of command. With the cohesion hits stacking up, if they were suppressed, I couldn't prevent them from surrendering using CPs, so I gave it a shot at trying to escape while I wasn't completely enveloped. Didn't pan out. Edit: Trenches are kind of both good and bad, although mostly good. Any unit in ENTs will have a hard time getting out of them if any enemies are facing them. Makes it a really hard decision to either brave enemy opportunity fire and retreat, or hunker down and hope for the best.
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Feb 5, 2024 15:53
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Turn Game 45: 1500, 25th May Supply Levels  Now that they have managed to retreat to Canea, the 2nd NZ Division attempts to create another line to protect both the city and the approaches the Suda, a port and dock that still has a lot of transports taking shelter within it.  More GJR 141 troops arrive on the island, although they might even be too late to actually be able to make contact with the enemy, considering how fast the front line is moving now.  GJR 100 and 141 elements move up the Maleme/Canea road, clearing up the last few rearguards present before forming travel columns and moving up the road.  Meanwhile, the motorcycles of the 5th Mountain Division have caught up with the trailing elements of the MNDBO forces stretched out on the road, and create a withering fire that forces many of the British troops to seek cover, unable to move, while still being in a highly vulnerable column formation.  Those motorbike troops are adapt at chasing and harassing infantry down. A renewed assault by the motorbike troops cuts down the soldiers of the Australian command and does considerable casualties on the Royal Marines trailing behind the column. The rest of the GJR 85 keeps moving up, getting closer and closer to Canea.  With so many casualties and set backs, Freyberg has no choice any more but to call for a general evacuation of the island. Suda bay needs to be held in order for the ships docked there to be able to exit, but all commanders are told to either head for a port or the south of the island, which has ports less threatened by the daily Luftwaffe raids. The Battle of Crete has been lost, now the only priority is to evacuate as many troops as possible. The 6th day of fighting and the call for evacuation does see a conclusion to some of the fighting, however, as even though they are low in supplies, the Aussies in Rethymnon finally manage to clear all traces of organised German resistance in the area. They immediately start heading for Georgeoupolis, and the road down to Skafia.   Seeing the Allies wavering, the 1st FJR attacks with renewed vigour, but largely their attacks are useless considering their supply situation, although many of the British troops, with low supplies and morale, are forced to the ground.  Having received the order to evacuate, the survivors of the 2nd NZ Division start pulling back. Suda will need to be defended but Canea is almost considered lost already. The 10th Brigade heads for the docks, ready to board ships once the cover of night is present.  CREFORCE units form up to protect Canea, mostly consisting of Australian units that will try to defend the city until at least the end of the day. Other MNDBO forces head south, ready to protect Suda.  The 14th Brigade immediately starts to pull out, heading south, leaving the city to the Germans. Somehow, the 1st FJR has survived and managed to hold on enough to win the battle for the city. 
Tekopo fucked around with this message at 17:40 on Feb 5, 2024 |
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Feb 5, 2024 17:22
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This has been a very engaging Let's Play and I am really enjoying following along!
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Feb 5, 2024 17:39
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| # ? May 3, 2024 20:06 |
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Rules Post: Victory and Evacuation So, throughout the game I have been keeping track of the morale level for the Allies. This starts at 35 (and can never get higher than this, so any gains on this while it is 35 are "lost"), and goes up and down based on the following: - Everyone non-greek step loss -1 - Every german step loss +1 - Every port and complete airfield lost is -10 (although this is refunded if you recapture it) - The first time the Allied supply level in Maleme/Suda reaches Diminished Supply, -3 (this never happened) - The first time the Allied supply level in Maleme/Suda reaches Emergency Supply, -5 (this never happened) We just reached Allied Morale 0, which means that now the victory conditions change. I have to retreat as many units from the island as possible, and the number of units (not steps) I retreat, adds to my victory level. However, I still need to defend Canea until at least the end of today, and I have to defend Suda until the 0700 28th May turn comes around. The first is certainly possible, but two days and a half of defending Suda will be tough, and means that I can't send everyone off the island immediately. The next two days will be a crucial juggle of keeping enough people to defend Suda and evacuate enough people to at least win a moral victory. The way you evacuate is two exit hexes, one to the south of Georgeoupolis, and one to the south of Heraklion. Per night, I can also evacuate two units per port, which will likely be from Canea while I can evacuate from there, and eventually Suda once it comes to it.
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Feb 5, 2024 17:49
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