The German 2nd Fallschirmer Regiment was entrusted to capture Heraklion,the largest c8ty on Crete. But the attack was historically a failure. It was not well planned and the first two days resulted in heavy losses for the paratroopers. On the first day the Regiment was almost destroyed. However, this re-enactment the Germans didn’t lose many paratroopers. 90% of the paratroopers hit the drop zones. Two out of four heavy weapons were lost. A 75rcl drifted into the major wadi. The Greek 5th Reg. was on the spot.and destroyed the weapon. ( Should there be a house rule for capturing weapons instead of automatic removal.) And a20mmAA piece was lost in the drop.

Two objectives were necessary to prevail for. both players in this scenario. First, an 80m hill begins the game in Australian hands. But they are not allowed to set up in strength around the airfield. special rules prevent the Australians from setting up more troops on the East Hill. That appears to be left to the Greeks. And the Greeks were ready. They stunned the Germans w accurate shooting and constant stout morale passes. They held their position against the Pressing German attack to remove the Greek threat.. in fact, the Germans controlled the airfield area but did n actually occupy the hexes of the field.Thy did not wish to give away their precise defense lans. The overall idea was to occupy the field on the last turn of the game. The Germans began by attacking the East Hill, which held the Greek force and a company of Australians. The Allies didn’t appear strong enough to hold off the Paratroopers. But the attack failed. German marksmanship was ineffective turn after turn. But the Greeks did take a major toll. On turn 3, the Greeks atttacked a stack of two full strength paratroopers and a 9-1-0 Major. The Major fled and the paratroopers were completely wiped out and caused an immediate loss of an initiative. To the west, the Germans held their perimeter against a formidable Australian force. The Australians decided to move off the 80m hill toward the airfield around turn 8. B

TheAussies moved out of range but still were hampered by enemy fire from mortars and weapons. Yet this caused very little true loss. By turn 10, the Australian force was in the west wadi and vegetation. Because +1 modifier, the attack by the Australians crossed to within direct LOS Of the airfield. On turn 14 the move onto airfield. This last phase was extremely tense and exciting! The Germans had defeated the airfield well , positioning weapons, mortars and troops on the slopes of the hill overlooking the airfield. In one small battle on the hill overlooking the airfield, two German platoons and their 10-2-2 leader were eliminated as they tried to move off the hill. Australian platoons maade a desperate low odds attack. It was impossible success! In two separate phases, the result was double die rollls achieving a 2X result. The leader was also killed.

Nothing that the paratroopers did worked to hold the airfield. But it came down to the last turn 16; the desperate firefight and attack by the Germans completely failed to dislodge the Australians from the airfield hexes that they captured. Loss total = Germans, 13; Australians, 5. Both objectes were in Allied hands on turn 16.