Crete: The Battle for the Maleme Airfield AAR
Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:59 am
WARNING !!! Not all models are GHQ. (I needed to put this disclaimer first.)
May 20,1941 --- The New Zealand deployment was historical with the bulk of the defense of Hill 107 and the Maleme airfield left to the 22nd Battalion. HQ Co was stationed with the one squadron of Matilda tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regt in the town of Pirgos. C Co was deployed to cover the runways of the airfield, flanked by the 156th Light AA Bty in the town of Maleme and the single platoon of the 7th Light AA Bty guarding the iron bridge over the Tavronitis River.
Looking southwest over the island toward the airfield and the Tavronitis river
7th Light AA Bty guarding the iron bridge
A Co was positioned on top of Hill 107, which dominated the battlefield, supporting the 3.7" gun platoon of the 151st Hvy AA Bty. D Co was stationed in their left flank overlooking the river valley and B Co was on their right flank. A leaderless company of RAF personnel occupied the buildings between C and D Companies.
Looking north over Hill 107 and the NZ positions
Farther right were the 23rd Battalion and the 21st Battalion, each with a battery of 75mm guns of the 5th NZ Arty Regt. The 23rd was closer to Pirgos and the sea. The 23rd Light AA Bty was positioned on the spur of Hill 107 that extended down toward Pirgos. All other troops of the 5th NZ Brigade were stationed off board to the east, guarding against a sea invasion that never came.
156th Light AA Bty defending the town of Maleme
AAMG of the 23rd Light AA Bty
The game opened at 0730 with an aerial bombardment underway. The Ju-87s of Sturmkampfgeschwader #2 pounded the island, killing the crew of the 7th Light AA Bty at the bridge, but doing little other damage. The gunners of the 156th were deadly, sending one squadron of Ju-87's down in flames.
Ju-87 taking aim at the 7th Light AA Bty
Bofors gun of the 156th Light AA Bty positioned at the foot of the runway
The first of the lumbering Ju-52s appeared at 0800 and dropped the 3rd Battalion in the valley just south of Pirgos, between the entrenched troops of 21st and 23rd Battalions and B Co, 22nd Battalion. They were shot to pieces before they could get to their guns.
Ju-52s about to drop the 3rd Battalion
The gliders of the 1st Battalion had much better luck. The first wave landed safely with only sporadic fire from D Co on the forward slopes of Hill 107. The surviving commander of the 7th Light AA Bty rounded up the RAF personnel to man the Bofors.
Successful landing in the Tavronitis river valley
Meanwhile, more 3rd Battalion troops dropped into the valley, light artillery crews far from their guns and commands hopelessly intermingled. The slaughter continued as a third wave of paratroops descended into the firefight. Although they were struggling to survive, this battalion occupied the New Zealanders' attention and eliminated any thought of reinforcing their left flank where a second wave of gliders was approaching.
A Co, 21st Battalion attacking into an olive grove
One glider platoon crashed and another was shot down by the deadly fire from the 156th in Maleme. The Allied troops didn't realize they had killed the regimental commander until after the conflict. The loss was not as devastating as it could have been as the glider troops drove off the remnants of D Co and stormed up Hill 107.
Glider crash with the regimental commander aboard
1st Battalion view of Hil 107
Another thrust further north destroyed the RAF Co and began causing casualties among C Co defending the airfield. HQ Co drew what meager reserves they had and sent them with the Matilda tanks of the 7th RTR.
HQ Co leaving Pirgos for counterattack
A Bf-110 squadron from Zerstorergeschwader #26 circled the battlefield looking for targets, only to become the third victim of the accurate fire from the 156th Light AA Bty. Hand to hand combat raged in the olive groves as the 3rd Battalion tried to establish a defensible position, still scattered across the valley.
Bf-110 looking for targets
Brushing aside resistance, 1st Battalion swept up to the crest of Hill 107, overrunning positions of A Co and 151st Hvy AA Bty.
1st Battalion attacking up Hill 107
Remnants of B and D Companies counterattacked, driving back the Fallschirmjagers and regaining the gun position. And the small armored group from HQ Co checked the German advance to the airfield. But for how long?
Hand to hand combat over the gun position of the 151st Hvy AA Bty
Matilda of the 7th RTR
With fresh troops of the 2nd and 4th Battalions due to arrive shortly, the thin defenses of the Allied lines were not likely to withstand a determined assault for long.
In retrospect, the game played out quite historically, although a bit faster than real time. In my opinion, the only way for the Allied side to win is to release one of the reserve battalions immediately, probably the 23rd, and to receive off board reinforcements early.
Hope you enjoyed this report.
Bill
PS. This is not all the pictures. The full photo album can be found here http://www.freewebs.com/gupiao/cretemalemepictures.htm
May 20,1941 --- The New Zealand deployment was historical with the bulk of the defense of Hill 107 and the Maleme airfield left to the 22nd Battalion. HQ Co was stationed with the one squadron of Matilda tanks of the 7th Royal Tank Regt in the town of Pirgos. C Co was deployed to cover the runways of the airfield, flanked by the 156th Light AA Bty in the town of Maleme and the single platoon of the 7th Light AA Bty guarding the iron bridge over the Tavronitis River.
Looking southwest over the island toward the airfield and the Tavronitis river
7th Light AA Bty guarding the iron bridge
A Co was positioned on top of Hill 107, which dominated the battlefield, supporting the 3.7" gun platoon of the 151st Hvy AA Bty. D Co was stationed in their left flank overlooking the river valley and B Co was on their right flank. A leaderless company of RAF personnel occupied the buildings between C and D Companies.
Looking north over Hill 107 and the NZ positions
Farther right were the 23rd Battalion and the 21st Battalion, each with a battery of 75mm guns of the 5th NZ Arty Regt. The 23rd was closer to Pirgos and the sea. The 23rd Light AA Bty was positioned on the spur of Hill 107 that extended down toward Pirgos. All other troops of the 5th NZ Brigade were stationed off board to the east, guarding against a sea invasion that never came.
156th Light AA Bty defending the town of Maleme
AAMG of the 23rd Light AA Bty
The game opened at 0730 with an aerial bombardment underway. The Ju-87s of Sturmkampfgeschwader #2 pounded the island, killing the crew of the 7th Light AA Bty at the bridge, but doing little other damage. The gunners of the 156th were deadly, sending one squadron of Ju-87's down in flames.
Ju-87 taking aim at the 7th Light AA Bty
Bofors gun of the 156th Light AA Bty positioned at the foot of the runway
The first of the lumbering Ju-52s appeared at 0800 and dropped the 3rd Battalion in the valley just south of Pirgos, between the entrenched troops of 21st and 23rd Battalions and B Co, 22nd Battalion. They were shot to pieces before they could get to their guns.
Ju-52s about to drop the 3rd Battalion
The gliders of the 1st Battalion had much better luck. The first wave landed safely with only sporadic fire from D Co on the forward slopes of Hill 107. The surviving commander of the 7th Light AA Bty rounded up the RAF personnel to man the Bofors.
Successful landing in the Tavronitis river valley
Meanwhile, more 3rd Battalion troops dropped into the valley, light artillery crews far from their guns and commands hopelessly intermingled. The slaughter continued as a third wave of paratroops descended into the firefight. Although they were struggling to survive, this battalion occupied the New Zealanders' attention and eliminated any thought of reinforcing their left flank where a second wave of gliders was approaching.
A Co, 21st Battalion attacking into an olive grove
One glider platoon crashed and another was shot down by the deadly fire from the 156th in Maleme. The Allied troops didn't realize they had killed the regimental commander until after the conflict. The loss was not as devastating as it could have been as the glider troops drove off the remnants of D Co and stormed up Hill 107.
Glider crash with the regimental commander aboard
1st Battalion view of Hil 107
Another thrust further north destroyed the RAF Co and began causing casualties among C Co defending the airfield. HQ Co drew what meager reserves they had and sent them with the Matilda tanks of the 7th RTR.
HQ Co leaving Pirgos for counterattack
A Bf-110 squadron from Zerstorergeschwader #26 circled the battlefield looking for targets, only to become the third victim of the accurate fire from the 156th Light AA Bty. Hand to hand combat raged in the olive groves as the 3rd Battalion tried to establish a defensible position, still scattered across the valley.
Bf-110 looking for targets
Brushing aside resistance, 1st Battalion swept up to the crest of Hill 107, overrunning positions of A Co and 151st Hvy AA Bty.
1st Battalion attacking up Hill 107
Remnants of B and D Companies counterattacked, driving back the Fallschirmjagers and regaining the gun position. And the small armored group from HQ Co checked the German advance to the airfield. But for how long?
Hand to hand combat over the gun position of the 151st Hvy AA Bty
Matilda of the 7th RTR
With fresh troops of the 2nd and 4th Battalions due to arrive shortly, the thin defenses of the Allied lines were not likely to withstand a determined assault for long.
In retrospect, the game played out quite historically, although a bit faster than real time. In my opinion, the only way for the Allied side to win is to release one of the reserve battalions immediately, probably the 23rd, and to receive off board reinforcements early.
Hope you enjoyed this report.
Bill
PS. This is not all the pictures. The full photo album can be found here http://www.freewebs.com/gupiao/cretemalemepictures.htm
.)