MALEME AIRFIELD – 20TH MAY, 1941 - BY MARK PIPER

(CRETE)Background

Operation Mercury, the German airborne assault on the island of Crete in May 1941, was the first strategic use of airborne forces in history. The assault began on the 20th, with landings near the island’s key airfields. The most western of these (Maleme) was the scene of a brutal battle fought around the important features of the airfield and Hill 107. The German Luftlande Sturmregiment was given the task of assaulting the entrenched but poorly coordinated forces of the 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade.

The Wargame Scenario

The game table is approximately 9’ x 5’. The Travonitis River bed is rocky and dry and is a continuous feature for movement. The banks are quite steep and provide an area of dead ground. Figures directly behind the eastern bank can therefore not be fired on by small arms, nor can they return fire. The Germans historically used this dead ground as an assembly area for their attacks.

Hill 107 is a continuous obstacle for movement for infantry and provides soft cover on its eastern slope only. Buildings start undamaged. Olive groves are treated as open woods. The RAF camp is not a continuous feature for movement but provides soft cover for infantry only.

The objective for both sides is to control two out of three objectives i.e. airfield huts, RAF camp and point 107 at the end of 15 moves. An objective is considered controlled if only one side has infantry deployed within 6” of the objective. The game is a draw if neither side can achieve the victory conditions.

Sources

Battle for Maleme, Wargames Illustrated # 150, March 2000 – Stewart RevelleCrete – The Battle and Resistance – Antony BeevorAirborne at War – Napier CrookendenThe Fall of Crete – Alan ClarkCrete 1941 (Osprey Campaign series) – Peter AntillHunters from the Sky (board game) – Tactical Combat SeriesFallschirmjager in Crete – Jean Yves NasseAustralia in the War of 1939-1945 - “Greece, Crete and Syria” – Gavin Long

Pages 2 and 3 are for the New Zealand player’s eyes onlyPages 4 and 5 are for the German player’s eyes only

NEW ZEALAND ORDER OF BATTLEAll troops are regular accept RAF Detachment who are poor.

RAF DETACHMENT(RAF Camp)

10 figures

22ND NEW ZEALAND INFANTRY BATTALION + DETACHMENT 27TH MG BATTALION (Lt Col Andrews) - test @ 20 figures

HQ Company CO + 4 figures, 2” mortar, AT rifle

Support Company9 figures, 3" mortar, 2 x Vickers MMG

A Company 8 figures

B Company 8 figures

C Company 8 figures

D Company 8 figures

Transport Company (Pirgos)2 x Bren Carrier, 2 x truck

OP for Off-Table Artillery (Attached to A Coy)

23RD NEW ZEALAND INFANTRY BATTALION + DETACHMENT 27TH MG BATTALION(Lt Col Leckie) - test @ 17 figures

HQ Company CO + 4 figures, 2” mortar, AT rifle

Support Company9 figures, 3" mortar, 2 x Vickers MMG

A Company 8 figures

C Company 8 figures

D Company 8 figures

7TH AUSTRALIAN

LIGHT AA BATTERY 6 figures, Bofors 40mm AA gun

B SQUADRON

7TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT(Maleme)

Matilda Mk II (2pdr)

“Z” COASTAL

DEFENCE BATTERY

ROYAL MARINES(Hill 107)

4 figures, 4” gun

New Zealand forces set-up first as indicated. Infantry and guns start entrenched, concealed and on reserve fire. Reinforcements arrive within 12” of the road at D. The Bofors can engage ground targets.

The Matildas in Crete were prone to serious mechanical problems. On any turn when the tank moves roll a D6. On a 1 or 2 it will breakdown. It requires two turns to repair. Once repaired continue to roll each turn as before.

Off-Table Artillery27th Battery, 5th New Zealand Field Artillery Regiment 75mm Italian field gun, 3.7” pack howitzerObserver team located with A Company, 22nd NZ Infantry Battalion

ReinforcementsFrom turn 6 - entry point D.

RAF DETACHMENT(RAF Camp)

10 figures

N

Olive Groves

PIRGOS

MALEME

Hill 107

Tavronitis River Bed

B SQUADRON

7TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT(Maleme)

Matilda Mk II (2pdr)

On turn 1 roll D6 for the observer team. On a roll of 1 or 2 the phone line to the battery has been cut by German air raids. The off table guns are then unavailable for the rest of the game. The 4” coastal battery may not engage targets on the table whilst the field artillery OP is able to control the off table artillery. If the OP loses contact with the off table guns it may move to within 6” of the RM gun and direct fire at on table targets.

From turn 3 a request can be attempted for the planned counter-attack by 23rd NZ infantry Battalion. Roll a D6. On a roll of 6 the message has got through and the 23rd battalion will arrive two turns later within 12” either side of the road at D. If unsuccessful roll again in the following turn but with a 5,6 required. Followed if necessary with 4,5,6 etc.

The New Zealanders may make one grenade attack per 5-8 figures. Companies with 4 or less figures cannot carry out grenade attacks.

NEW ZEALAND DEPLOYMENT AND ARRIVALS

D

BHQ

B Coy

A CoyD Coy

C Coy

RAF CampBofors

X

Airfield huts

Point 107

4” gunX

Matilda

GERMAN ORDER OF BATTLE Elements of Luftlande Sturmregiment (all elite except 5th & 7th companies who are regular for firing).

Off-Table Artillery1st Battery / 7th FJ Artillery battalion75mm howitzer

Air Support From turn 5 roll a D6. On a 5 or 6 air support is available.

Odds = ME109 Evens = Stuka (available for one turn only)

2ND BATTALION GROUP (Major Stentzler) – test @ 16 figures

HQ (Turn 2 - Entry Point A)CO + 5 figures, Grenade launcher, AT rifle,

5th Company (Turn 5 - Entry Point B)8 figures

7th Company(Turn 5 - Entry Point B)8 figures

8th Company (Turn 2 - Entry Point A)6 figures, 80mm mortar, MMG

1ST BATTALION GROUP (Major Koch) – test @ 18 figures (Turn 1 - on table)

HQ CO + 7 figures, Grenade launcher, AT rifle, glider

3rd Company 10 figures, glider

4th Company10 figures, glider

16th Company (starts on foot)8 figures, flamethrower

4TH BATTALION GROUP (Captain Gericke) – test @ 16 figures(Turn 2 - Entry Point A)

HQ CO + 7 figures, Grenade launcher, AT rifle,

13th (Heavy Mortar) Company 8 figures, 2 x 105mm mortar

14th (Anti-Tank) Company4 figures, 37mm AT gun, Motorcycle prime mover

15th (Machine Gun) Company 8 figures, 2 x MMG

3rd Flak Battery, 7th FJ Artillery Battalion 4 figures, 20mm AA gun, motorcycle prime mover

LUFTLANDE

STURMREGIMENT HQ(Brigadier Meindl)(Turn 3 - Entry Point A)

4 figures, AT rifle, 2 figure OP team

N

Olive Groves

PIRGOS

MALEME

Hill 107

Tavronitis River Bed

RAF Camp

The three glider companies land on turn 1 and each roll D6. The result is the losses each company suffers from landing on the very rocky river bed. Other German forces arrive as indicated. The 5th & 7th companies count as regulars for firing due to fatigue during the flank march from the drop zone.

The German light field artillery fire can be directed by the regimental HQ, 4th Battalion HQ or observer team.

German figures may emergency recrew a captured Bofors gun but fire at -1. They may also use captured New Zealand transport.

GERMAN DEPLOYMENT AND ARRIVALS C

B

A

3rd Coy 4th Coy HQ 16th Coy

Airfield huts

Point 107