Hailstone
Posts: 666
Joined: 1/19/2016 From: Phoenix, AZ Status: offline
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Duck, here comes another one... Probing Layforce Babali Hani, Crete, May 28, 1941: First Norway, then France; then Greece and now Crete. Once again British forces had suffered defeat and were in retreat, streaming towards the beaches at Sfalia and evacuation by the Royal Navy. But the pursuing German mountain troops were pressing hard and had to be checked. Already lead elements of the German 5th Mountain Division had overrun the weakened 2/8th Australian Battalion. The commandos of Layforce were ordered to stop and act as a rearguard, even though too lightly equipped to operate as regular infantry. Lt. Colonel Young of D Battalion, Layforce, decided to make his stand where the only road over the White Mountains dividing Crete into north and south passed through a narrow valley thickly covered with olive groves. And he had even promised armor support. But the enemy arrived first. Game Length: 11 turns For the Germans to win they must capture the valley road through the White Mountains For the British to win they must defend the valley road against the Germans Germans: Squads, HMG, MMG, LMG's MTR's, ATR's, Radio British: Squads, MMG, LMG's, AFV Boards: #2, #9, #15 Aftermath: Despite the limitations of their equipment, the commandos put up stiff resistance. Under heavy mortar fire, the British - and remnants of the 2/8th Australian co-opted by Young to guard his rear - withstood several German probing attacks. Meanwhile, Lt. J.F.G. Terry in his surviving Matilda (the others having been destroyed as they were abandoned en route to Hani) arrived in the valley and positioned himself on the road. "Firing at everything that moved" on the slopes above. Towards evening, The Germans, frustrated at the delay, at last, mounted an encircling swing on the left. The Australians, in the falling light, managed to hold off this thrust long enough for the commandos to withdraw, then they too fell back in the darkness, passing through defensive lines established by the 4th New Zealand Brigade. Although casualties among the Gebirgsjager had been heavy, the commandos had lost but 15 men. The respite was only temporary, however, the next day, the weary Commonwealth troops continued their retreat. Source: ASL Scenario A43, Probing Layforce ***Here's the version with the .scn file. Thanks for the catch!***
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< Message edited by Hailstone -- 8/3/2019 3:23:07 PM >
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