Campaign for Greece An Early War Supplement for IABSM!
By Chris Stoesen
With a foreword by Richard Clarke
© 2005 Written by Chris Stoesen Edited by Nick Skinner
Table of Contents
Foreword...... 2 Introduction...... 3 Background ...... 3 The Campaign...... 3 Troop Types ...... 5 Campaign Notes ...... 5 Campaign Time Table ...... 5 Battle 1: VEVE ...... 6 Scenario 1: A Surprise Encounter...... 8 Scenario 2: A Stubborn Defence ...... 13 Scenario 3: Destruction of the 2/8th ...... 16 Battle 2: PTOLEMAIS ...... 21 Scenario 4: Holding the Line ...... 22 Scenario 5: Outflanked ...... 24 Battle 3: SERVIA PASS...... 28 Scenario 6: Surprise Attack...... 29 Battle 4: PLATAMON ...... 32 Scenario 7: Hell’s Angels...... 33 Scenario 8: Panzer Assault...... 36 Scenario 9: Pandeleimon...... 38 Battle 5: PINOS GORGE ...... 41 Scenario 10: Last Stand ...... 42 Battle 6: DEFENCE OF THE PASSES...... 45 Scenario 11: Domokos Pass ...... 46 Battle 7: CORINTH ...... 48 Scenario 12: Achtung! Fallschirmjäger! ...... 49 Scenario 13: Glider Assault...... 51 Battle 8: KALAMATA...... 53 Scenario 14: End of the 14th Hussars ...... 55 Scenario 15: The Rear Echelon’s Last Stand ...... 57 Bonus Battle: THE METAXAS LINE ...... 59 Scenario 16: Bunker Hill ...... 60 Units Needed Check List ...... 63
BAG THE HUN SUPPLEMENT: The Air War Over Greece ...... 64 Introduction ...... 64 Campaign ...... 65 Specific Rules for air combat in this campaign ...... 71 Map Notes ...... 72 Sources ...... 74 Appendix 1: Aircraft Lists By “Squadron”...... 75 Appendix 2: Airfield Forms ...... 83 Appendix 3: German Squadron Forms...... 96
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 1 Foreword
By Richard Clarke
hat the campaign in Greece in 1941 was a dismal failure for Britain cannot be denied when viewed from a political and strategic point of view. Vacillation by the Greek Tgovernment, combined with the limited resources of a Britain then isolated in her opposition to the Axis, ensured that too few resources were deployed, and these arrived too late.
But within this disastrous campaign can be found stories of heroism and defiance that typify the spirit of the British soldier throughout our history. In Greece, with their back to the wall, the British and Dominion troops from Australia and New Zealand conducted a hard contested fighting withdrawal in the hope of gaining sufficient time for the Royal Navy to rescue the thousands of men waiting for evacuation.
On the German side the emphasis is on the speed that typified the early war blitzkrieg campaigns. With Barbarossa looming the Germans needed to destroy all opposition in the Balkans and secure their oil supplies in Romania from aerial attack.
In addition to sixteen varied and challenging scenarios for I Ain’t Been Shot, Mum! Chris also allows the gamer to use our Bag the Hun rules to replicate the aerial war over Greece, as the hard pressed Royal Air Force faced the combined might of the Luftwaffe and the Regia Aeronautica.
The campaign structures that Chris Stoesen has provided replicates the pressures on both sides magnificently, and allows the gamer to link together his games, be they on land or in the air, and judge his performance against the brave men of all sides who fought and died in the battle for Greece.
Richard Clarke May 2005
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 2 Introduction
Background The struggle for Greece came after Germany had delivered an ultimatum to both that nation and Yugoslavia. The resistance to the demands of Nazi Germany led to the invasion of both countries on the 6th of April, 1941. Neither nation was ready for the German attack. Great Britain had defense agreements with both countries and had pledged to support both nations. By the invasion on April 6, only a portion of the three promised divisions had arrived. The troops that did arrive were from the New Zealand 2nd Infantry Division, the Australian 6th Infantry Division and the British 1st Armored Brigade. A Brigade sized formation of the RAF was also committed to the fight. The RAF had been operating in Greece for almost a year. The squadrons had experienced heavy action against the Italians in Albania in support of the Greek Army. By April of 1941, the RAF was exhausted and worn out.
The Greeks had two Army groups in place to meet the German advance. In the North West, the Greek 1st Army Group was fighting the Italians in Albania. To the Northeast, the 2nd Greek Army group was waiting for the German attack in Macedonia through the Bulgarian border at the Metaxas line. The Greek Air Force was a conglomeration of RAF cast-off aircraft and an assortment of French, Polish and even German aircraft. Most of their squadrons were barely operational by the time of the German invasion.
The Yugoslavs were hoping to defend the Monastir Gap that has historically funneled invading armies into Greece. Officers sympathetic to Germany divided their army. As such, Yugoslavia’s troops did not hold up well against the initial German attack. Within three days their country was in German hands.
On the 9th of April, the German push into Greece began. In the East, the Second Greek Army surrendered to the Germans on the 9th of April. This signaled to the British commanders that Greece was indefensible and began making plans to evacuate their forces. In the North-East, the New Zealanders who were supporting the Greek Second Army were given orders to fall back to the Mount Olympus Line. They set up an intermediate line at the Aliakmon River to cover the retreat from the Metaxas line. In the West, the Australians had set up a blocking force at the base of the Monastir Gap near the city of Vevi. Command gave them orders to fall back to the Servia Pass. On both sides, the German Army was in pursuit of the evacuating British forces. At no time during the campaign was any serious consideration given by the British to hold Greece.
The campaign quickly turned into a shambles as the Germans pushed harder than expected, leaving large numbers of British casualties and POWs in the wake of the retreat. The constant theme of the campaign was the absence of the RAF and the abundance of the Luftwaffe present over the battlefield. The RAF was known to the ground troops as “Rare As Fairies” due to this. In all fairness, this was a rather harsh judgment on the RAF as they were outnumbered in the theater by a ratio of 10 to 1. Also the RAF has older inferior equipment compared to the Luftwaffe. The 4th Australian Battalion of the 2nd Australian Division recorded this about the hardships of the campaign in their War Diaries:
“1. The multitude of enemy aircraft, and the complete absence of our own. 2. Repeated bombings, dive bombings and machine gunning. 3. The realization that if they became casualties, they had very little hope of getting away from GREECE.”
The reality of the campaign was that it was doomed from the start. This makes the campaign rather unique in that from the start, it is a fighting withdrawal instead of an attempt to hold the country.
The Campaign Unlike other campaigns, the goal of the Allies is not to hold off or push back the German attacks, but to conduct a series of holding actions to enable as many of the British forces to escape the mainland as possible. German victory conditions are that the Germans are able to push through the British defenses to
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 3 cut off the British escape. There are 8 scenarios in this campaign. The first three are aimed at the actions that occurred in the Northeast sector of Greece between the Australians, the 27 th NZ Infantry Bn and the German XL Corps. The second section of three scenarios covers the retreat from the North-East of Greece as the German XVIII Mountain Corps advances against the ANZAC troops there. The last two scenarios cover the combined British withdrawal from the Greek mainland.
The result of each section determines how many battalions were able to withdraw in good order from each section. A British “victory” would entail that a greater number of British battalions were able to withdraw from the mainland. A German victory would result in the capture of more of the British battalions involved.
The major British units involved were:
British Australian New Zealand 9th Bn, “Rangers” – KRRC 2/1st Infantry Bn 18th Infantry Bn 3rd Royal Tank Regiment 2/2nd Infantry Bn 19th Infantry Bn 4th Queen’s Own Hussars 2/3rd Infantry Bn 20th Infantry Bn 2/4th Infantry Bn 21st Infantry Bn 2/5th Infantry Bn 22nd Infantry Bn 2/6th Infantry Bn 23rd Infantry Bn 2/7th Infantry Bn 24th Infantry Bn 2/8th Infantry Bn 25th Infantry Bn 2/11th Infantry Bn 26th Infantry Bn 6th Division Cavalry Rgt 27th MG Bn 28th “Maori” Infantry Bn 2nd Division Cavalry Rgt
I have deliberately left out of the list the various artillery, engineer and support units attached to “W- Force”. Also excluded are the Greek Units that fought along side the Commonwealth forces.
This gives 25 battalions that need to leave Greece. Consult the chart below to determine the number of battalions that retreat after each battle.
Scenario British Victory Draw German Victory 1: Veve 2 1 0 2: Ptolemais 2 1 0 3: Servia Pass 4 3 2 4: Platamon 2 1 0 5: Pinos Gorge 2 1 0 6: Domokos Pass 4 3 2 7: Corinth 3 2 1 8: Kalamata 4 2 1
Using the table above as a reference, total the number of battalions that escaped and match them against the table below to determine the campaign outcome.
Campaign Victory Conditions Major British Victory 19 or more Battalions withdrawn Minor British Victory 16 or more Battalions withdrawn Draw 14 to 15 Battalions withdrawn Minor German Victory 11 to 13 Battalions withdrawn Major German Victory 10 or less Battalions withdrawn
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 4 Troop Types Since this campaign involves a number of troops from various locations, it would be useful to break them down into categories. This campaign utilizes the Infantry charts from the “In the Footsteps of Legions” supplement for IABSM! In scenarios involving Australian or New Zealand soldiers, these are rated as Elite Infantry for this game. British Infantry such as the Rangers of the 1st Armored Brigade are treated as Regular Infantry. Unless otherwise noted in the scenario, this is how the units should be rated.
The Germans are a mixed lot. For the Corinth battles the paratroopers and glider soldiers are rated as Fallschirmjagers. Most of the rest of the German troops are rated as First Rate Troops unless otherwise noted. The LSSAH are rated as Line Troops.
The Greeks are rated as Line troops.
Campaign Notes This campaign was based off of the documentation from many sites and books. Among them are: http://www.feldgrau.com A Great overview of the German Campaign through Greece. http://www.awm.gov.au/ Excellent source with the War Diaries from several of the participating Austrailian Battalions. http://www.geocities.com/ww2greece/ - Interesting site that focuses on the Greek Army. http://www.nzetc.org/ This site hosts unit histories from the New Zealand Battalions. This was very useful in preparing the maps and scenarios. http://www.geocities.com/greekmedals/WarCross.htm - This site is about Greek Medals awarded to British and Comonwealth soldiers during the Greek Campaign. http://www.orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/ - This site contains a wealth of information on the various organizations for any period of the Second World War. http://www.geocities.com/ww2greece/ - This site focuses on the Greek troops during the battle for Greece and also on the Italian invasion of Greece in 1940. http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/greatrisk/greatrisk06.html - A site that includes some interesting information about the Australian troops in Greece. http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/idriessi/wogdog/chap9.htm - This is one of the odder sites. This is a story about a unit mascot during the Greece campaign. With a title such as “The Wog-Dog Conquers Greece” what is not to like. Long, Gavin. 1953. Greece, Crete and Syria. Canberra, Australia: Australian War Memorial. This book is excellent and I highly recommend it. Very detailed accounts.
There are many other sites and sources that I owe a debt of gratitude that I have not listed. While the scenarios are based on the actual battles fought, the land scale of the maps and the units fighting over the represented areas are somewhat skewed. The hope is that the campaign will give the reader a few hours of fun with their favorite toy armies.
Chris Stoesen 2005
Campaign Time Table Metaxas Line April 6th to the 9th Pinos Gorge April 18th Veve April 9th to the 12th Elasson April 18th Mount Olympus April 10th to the 18th Domokos Pass April 19th Aliakmon Bridge April 11th to the 13th Brailos Pass April 22nd to the 25th Ptolemais April 13th Molos April 22nd to the 25th Soter April 13th Corinth April 26th Proasteion April 13th Kalamata April 29th Platamon April 14th to the 16th Servia Pass April 15th to the 17th
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 5 Battle 1 Veve
eve is located 16 kilometers south of the Yugoslavian border. It is situated at the narrow end of the Monastir Valley. The Australians, New Zealand and British V troops were to fight a delaying action so the Greek troops in Albania and Macedonia could withdraw to better defensive position along the Aliakmon River. Arriving on the 9th of April, the 4th and 8th Australian Infantry Battalions began to dig in. The 1st Battalion, “The Rangers”, and elements of the 1st Australian Anti-Tank Regiment, the 2nd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and the 27th New Zealand Machinegun Battalion supported them.
In the late morning of April 10th, the forward patrols of the 2nd Australian Division came in contact with the advance units of the 1st SS Motorized Regiment just north of the Vevi. To claim the 1st SS as only a Regiment minimizes the size of this formation. Before the invasion of Greece, the 1st SS (Liebestandart SS Adolf Hitler - LSSAH) was reinforced to the size of a brigade.
The British command was surprised at the speed of the German advance and ordered the Aussies to withdraw to better defensible positions south of the town. Occupying the hills overlooking the road from town they did not have to wait long before the LSSAH pushed through and engaged them for the pass. At dusk of the 11th, the LSSAH did a reconnaissance of the Australian positions South of the town. Knowing what to expect, they attacked on the 12th of April.
The reputation of the Waffen SS as fierce warriors is quite well known. However, it must not be forgotten that the SS fled from battle during the battle for Arras just a year earlier in May of 1940. An interesting story from this battle is that
The 8th Australian Infantry Battalion took on the brunt of the attack. The resulting combat destroyed the 8th Battalion as an effective fighting force for the remainder of the campaign.
The Australian forces were not prepared for April in mountainous Greece. In the War Diaries of the 4th Battalion, they record the hardships faced during this campaign.1
1. Loss of Sleep. The unit was moving without sleep one night in every three while we were in Greece.
1 AWM52 2nd Austalian Imperial Force and Commonwealth Military Forces unit war diaries, 1939-45 War. Item number 8/3/4. 2/4 Infantry Battalion April 1941. http://www.awm.gov.au/database/awm52/display_image_frame.asp?page=1&item_number=8/3/4&class_name=Infantry &diary_name=2/4%20Infantry%20Battalion&folder_number=010&folder_date=April%201941&lastpage=5
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 6 2. Exposure to Cold and Snow. Fighting three days in snow without blankets. Early Frost Bight of Feet prevalent.
3. Long Marches. With precipitous climbs over rough country carrying heavy loads.
4. Frequent changes of positions meant almost continuous digging when not marching.
5. There were quite a few wounded still walking with the unit.
After a hard fought battle, the Australians were driven from the heights and were ordered to fall back toward a new defensive line to the south towards the town of Kozani. The Australian 2/8th was reduced to 250 men of whom only 50 retained their weapons. The Australian 2/4th lost one company worth of men captured. The 2/3rd Field Regiment lost 2 of their 11 guns in the battle and the Australian Anti-Tank gunners lost 16 guns including an entire battery, its officers and men. This action was successful in that they held the Germans long enough to pull out most of the Greek troops back to the Alkimon River line.
The LSSAH was given new orders and sent to block the Greek 1st Army’s retreat from Albania. The other divisions of the XL Korps continued to pursue and harass the British retreat across Greece.
Scenarios This battle has been divided into 3 separate scenarios. The first scenario is the actions undertaken by Lt Cole’s troop of armored cars and a detachment of Royal Engineers against the reconnaissance battalion of the LSSAH.
The second follows the actions of the New Zealand 27th Machinegun Battalion. And the third relates to the actions of the Australian 2/8th Infantry Battalion.
Scoring The scenarios are to be weighted in determining the winner of the battle. Each scenario is worth a number of points. There are 2100 points possible for the three scenarios. These points that each side wins for their scenario are then totaled to determine the winner of the battle. A draw will result if the point totals are equal or within 15% of each other. Otherwise, the player with the most points is the winner. Consult the chart in the beginning of the Campaign booklet to determine the number of Battalions that can be withdrawn.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 7 Greece. There are several other bridges along Scenario 1 the way that you must destroy as well. If you are unable to destroy the stone bridge, salvage as much equipment as you can and retreat. The A Surprise Encounter engineers and their supplies are of vital importance to high command. Historical Background In order to destroy the bridge, you must have at s Dominion forces arrived in Greece they least 1 section of engineers on the bridge focused were rushed forward to man the defensive on demolition duties for 4 full turns. After 4 Alines along the borders of Greece. Several turns, on the turn of the next engineer card, you units were called upon to perform the hazardous may blow the bridge. If the section stops to duty of heading northbound to destroy bridges in engage the enemy or is driven off of the bridge, order to slow the rapid German advance. they or another engineering section must regain Penetrating into Yugoslavia, Dominion troops set the bridge and continue the count starting with about to destroy several key bridges along the the next turn. The remaining engineering main invasion route into Greece. sections may act as infantry and engage the
th enemy as the needs arise. They have no On the 10 of April, units from the Royal specialist equipment (such as flame throwers), as Engineers under the command of Captain Page, RE they are not combat engineers. and a Troop of NZ Divisional Cavalry (under the command of Lt Cole) were engaged in doing this Your forces are out far beyond friendly lines and very task. While in the process of rigging the as such have no support available. If you act bridge for demolition, the detachment came quickly, you should be able to accomplish your under fire from a German reconnaissance patrol. mission. The armored cars and engineers must be The ensuing fight was the first shots fired by the preserved at all costs. Dominion in the defense of Greece. Your force is as follows: The action that ensued also netted the first medal issued to Dominion personnel in the defense of Big Men Greece. Corporal King when he received a Captain Page Royal Engineers – d6 message to pull back from the fight, he instead Lt Cole, Armor Platoon Leader – d6+1 advanced his vehicle closer and engaged the Cpl King, Armored Car Commander – d6+2 enemy to give additional time to the Royal Engineers so that they could evacuate. His Engineers actions in this battle earned him the Military Engineer Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 4x Trucks Medal. At one point he was nearly surrounded by German troops. Cavalry Troops Armored Car Troop: 3x Marmon-Herrington ACs Corporal King was able to retreat from the battle but was later injured from bombs dropped by Note: Treat all Engineers as Regular Infantry per German aircraft and died several days later from the “In the Footsteps of Legions” IABSM! his wounds. In the retreat from the stone bridge, Supplement. there were two wooden bridges that the Engineers were able to burn or destroy. The detachment was able to return to friendly lines, more or less intact. German Briefing Yugoslavia has fallen before us! You must quickly drive forward to meet the enemy. As the sharp British Briefing point to the spear thrust that will pierce the British resistance in Greece, your men stand Your forces are arrayed around a strong stone ready. As the forward reconnaissance for bridge. Intelligence estimates that the Germans Liebestandarte SS Adolf Hitler you will direct are advancing rapidly but will not reach your your forces where you can do the most damage. position for another day. You are to destroy the As a manner of unit pride you must beat the bridge and then fall back to our lines within
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 8 Wehrmacht to the fight. You are still some ways from the Greek Border. Stay alert. Your force is Reinforcements – The reinforcement card may be initially small but you have the rest of the added to the deck after the first turn. When it is Brigade behind you. You have already outraced drawn, the German player may choose which unit your artillery support but you know that you are enters. The reinforcement card remains in the well backed up. You must drive through the deck until all reinforcement units are in play. enemy as quickly as possible in order to isolate and trap the British Army in Greece. Big Men Platoon Leader – d6 Your force for this operation is as follows: Section Leader – d4 Motorized Infantry Big Men Platoon 1: 3x Rifle Sections, 3x Trucks Company Commander – d6+1 Platoon 2: 3x Rifle Sections, 3x Trucks Platoon Leader – d6 Section Leader – d6 German Armour One Section Leader – d6+1 2 x SdKfz 221
Kradschuetzen – Motorcycle Troops
Company HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 3x Motorcycles, 1x Motorcycle Umpire Notes w/sidecar, 2 x Cars This scenario should be run where the British player should be allowed to place two blinds for Platoon 1: his units and three false blinds. The emphasis PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, should be given to the German player that they 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars are to identify what opposition that they are facing and if possible neutralize the threat. The 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles Dominion player must focus on preserving his w/ sidecar (each section has a LMG), 2x force. Motorcycle. The scenario is actually two parts. The first part 1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x of the scenario should be made obvious to both Motorcycle w/side car, 1x Motorcycle players. The second part should come as a surprise to both players. The first part should be Platoon 2: a reconnaissance mission by the Germans. The PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, Germans are allowed to advance as one blind as 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars they enter the board from the road and are out of line of site of the bridge. The Dominion player 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles will know that something is coming but not what. w/ sidecar (each section has a LMG), 2x The first part ends when all surviving Dominion Motorcycle. units have exited the table to the south.
1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x When the first part of the scenario is complete, Motorcycle w/sidecar, 1x Motorcycle remove all units from the table. The table is then reversed. The now southern portion of the board Platoon 3: has a village added as noted on Map 2. This is the PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, village of Sitaria. When Lt Cole and Captain 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars Page’s troops retreated south through this town they encountered a German patrol that had 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles already bypassed the bridges. These troops were w/ sidecar (each section has a LMG), 2x relaxing and had sentries posted facing south. A Motorcycle. blank blind should mark them, as neither player should know who or what the troops are. 1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 1x Motorcycle
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 9 The umpire will run these troops until the Dominion player does a spotting check that identifies them and had attacked them. The British player should be notified of what troops are there once they have been spotted, but the German player should be left in the dark until they are engaged. Then the German player will take over.
For the second part, the Dominion troops should start at the road on north end of Map 2 and must push through to the end of the map. The Germans were waiting in the town to meet up with the rest of the German army and were observing the road to the south for signs of the enemy. When they encountered the Dominion The Greek countryside was particularly harsh on troops they were surprised to say the least as they vehicles. This is why the vehicle breakdown card were coming from the wrong direction. The is present for the German forces. This will apply umpire should play these troops in this manner to any vehicles that leave the road. The vehicle and not attempt to engage the Dominion troops breakdown is not present for the Dominion for until they are engaged first. reasons of game play. Historically, the British vehicles were fortunate and did not break down. The remainder of the German forces will begin to If they did in the scenario, it would ruin the take part in the pursuit starting on turn 2. A chances of the Dominion troops to survive. reinforcement card should be placed in the deck. When it is turned, the German player may use any of the troops the survived from part one to enter the board. The reinforcement card remains in the The Cards deck until all of the German players forces are on There are two sets of cards to have ready. The the table. second set should be added to the first. Remember, that only the unknown blind should be Part 2 of the scenario ends when all the surviving played for the troops in the town, until they are Dominion troops have exited the board to the spotted and engaged. south or the force has been destroyed. For both players the emphasis is speed. Cards Tea Break German Big Man 1-4 Blinds Recon HQ Big Man 1-3 Recon Platoon 1 -2 Terrain Engineer Platoon Reinforcements The map shows the route taken by Lt Cole’s troop AC Platoon Vehicle Breakdown of Cavalry. The rivers have been highlighted to Rapid Deployment Rapid Deployment differentiate them from the other terrain Armored Bonus Move markers. This has been provided to give an Rally d6 overview of the area where the battle took place. The full version of this map can be found in Reinforcements “Divisional Cavalry” by R J M Loughnan. (visit Big Man 5-8 Infantry Platoon 1-2 http://www.nzetc.org/corpora/WH2.html) AC Platoon Armor Bonus Move The land is primarily open with a few groves of Cards Part 2 olive trees spread out around the plains. Several
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 10 Map for IABSM! Scenario 1: A Surprise Encounter (part one)
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 11 Map for IABSM! Scenario 1: A Surprise Encounter (part two)
Note that this map is identical to Map 1. Just rotate the direction of North and South.
Scoring This scenario is worth 100 points toward the total battle points. If 50% or greater of the British forces escape, then the all 100 points are awarded to the Dominion player. If less than 50% of the Dominion forces escape, the 100 points goes to the German player. Out of the overall battle this scenario only amounts to 10% of the overall point total for the battle.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 12 front of their position was “full of dead Jerries.” Scenario 2 This was done in conditions where the New Zealanders has not slept for three days straight and were suffering from frostbite. They A Stubborn Defence stubbornly defended their position and were able to withdraw by morning were they were given fresh clothes, rum and hot food for the first time in four days. Historical Background he Battle for Veve was spread out across several miles. Two Australian battalions T(2/4 and 2/8), a New Zealand battalion (27th Dominion Briefing MG) and the Rangers (an infantry battalion of the KRRC) were the principle members of MacKay You are Lt Liley, commander of 6th Platoon. The Force that was to hold the base of the Monastir remains of your command are huddled on this Gap while the Greeks retreated from Albania so outcropping. Your 3rd section is assigned that a stand could be made further south at the elsewhere and is unavailable. 1st section is down Aliakmon River. to just 2 Vickers MMGs. 2nd section was surrounded and only a few men were able to The terrain was a series of valleys surrounded by escape. Section leader, Corporal Green, made a high mountains. Even though it was April, on the valiant attempt to retake the guns after they 10th and 11th, the troops were subjected to were captured but failed to do so. You also have blizzard conditions as they had to fight in snow up a few men of the Rangers who were assigned as to several feet deep. In spite of the conditions, a protection for 2nd section that escaped capture valiant defense was given. with Corporal Green. You have deployed Corporal Green to the south as rear security. The The New Zealanders were spread out across the Vickers must stand against attacking force from front to provide extra machinegun power to the the north. infantry. They were allocated by section to various areas spreading them out thinly across the The top of the hill is fairly flat, some stunted lines. By the 12th, several of the sections had Brush and rock hard. It is impossible to dig been driven from their positions and in some entrenchments. Some rocks can be moved around cases had men and equipment captured. to create fighting positions though. Continuously on the move, the machine gunners moved themselves and their equipment from Your force must stand and hold position through position to position inflicting a high rate of the night. casualties on the attacking men of the LSSAH. Your force is as follows: th In the early morning hours of the 12 , the men of 6th Platoon found themselves surrounded and Big Men under assault from a strong patrol of Germans Lt Liley (Platoon Leader) d6 that was pushing on their positions. With only one Corporal Green (2nd Section leader) d6+2 machinegun armed section and the survivors of Corporal Cook (1st Section Leader) d6 another section acting as riflemen, the New Zealanders fought on. Lt Liley’s Platoon, NZ MG Battalion Platoon HQ: 2 Bren LMG teams Section 1: 2 x Vickers MMGs with crews (a third Vickers was out of action Historical Outcome and the crew was teamed with 2nd The New Zealanders gave the LSSAH a bloody nose section as infantry) th and escaped. The official history of the 27 MG Section 2: 1x Rifle Section Battalion records that the Germans advanced to within 20 paces of their positions but were Elements of the Rangers: stopped and forced to ground by heavy and 2x Rifle Sections. accurate LMG and HMG fire. The gully running in
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 13
German Briefing Umpire Notes
The battle is joined. Already the Britishers are The British are allowed to set up in blinds. They coming apart and several units have been over- may have a blind for each section. Since the run and captured. At least this is what you are battle is at night, spotting should be limited to told. In two days of combat you have seen the 15” or less. Because of this, the German player British put up a tough resistance. If you can only may enter using up to 3 blinds. The “Lost Squad” achieve a breakthrough, the British lines should may not deploy as a blind. The Dominion player crumble. Your company has been assigned to may start with up to 5 blinds with 2 of them being drive through a narrow gap south of Veve. If you fakes. can push through you will be behind the British lines and change the course of this battle. Your men are tired but determined. You have had to leave your vehicles to the rear. The stubborn Terrain British Machine gunners have destroyed several on the way to your drop off point. Each platoon The terrain is a series of rocky hills and valleys. is in reduced strength because of this. You have There is little in the way of brush or trees. Place heard that there are Germans who have made it some spotted scrub brush around any flat areas. into the enemy’s rear but are now cut off and The heights are inaccessible to vehicles. There is isolated. Join up with them if you can. The a gully that runs north and south through the low- emphasis is to break through the lines with most lying hills. Most of this should be viewable from of your force. the heights on the right side of the map. This gully is wide enough for men to maneuver down but not wide enough for a vehicle larger than a Your forces are as follows: motorcycle. Big Men Company Commander – d6 Platoon Leader – d4 Cards Platoon Leader – d4 This scenario requires the following cards: Elements of LSSAH Company HQ: 2x Rifle Squads, 2 x MMG Cards Platoon 1: 3x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm mortar Tea Break Blinds Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Squads Blinds Big Man 1-3 Platoon 3: 2x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm mortar Big Man 1-3 Company HQ NZ Platoon Platoon 1-3 The Lost Squad Ranger Platoon Lost Section 1x Rifle Squad, 2x 50mm mortars Rally d6 Poor Fire Discipline MG Bonus Fire Mortars Heroic Leader Mortar Bonus Fire Sniper MMG Bonus Fire
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 14 Map for IABSM! Scenario 2: A Stubborn Defence
Scoring units and the Germans do not exit more than half If the German player is able to exit more than half of their force off of the south edge of the board, of his force off of the south end of the map, then it is a draw. If more than half of the Dominion it is a major German victory. If the Dominion forces survive and the Germans do not exit more force is destroyed, but less than half of the than half of their forces, it is a minor Dominion German forces exit the board by the end of turn victory. If over half of the Dominion Forces 10, it is a minor German Victory. If the Dominion forces loose more than three-quarters of their
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 15 survive and the Germans do not exit more than The British unit, the Rangers, withdrew around half of their forces, it is a major Dominion victory. 4pm. This unit was located to the left of the 2/8th. This left the left side of the 2/8th position See the point’s table for the results. very exposed. On their right, the Australians were of the belief that the Greeks had withdrawn Points Table since they had lost contact with them. In truth, the Greeks continued to engage the Germans on Result Points th Major German 500 German the right of the 2/8 until 8 pm that evening. Victory Minor German 250 German, The Germans began to renew their attack again in Victory 100 British earnest by 5:30 pm with more tanks and Draw 100 Each approximately an additional battalion of infantry. While the advance was against the whole of the Minor British 250 British, 100 2/8th’s positions, it was concentrated against Victory German Coombes’ company on the left. The German Major British 500 British tanks were impervious to the Boys Antitank Rifles Victory and forced the Australians to withdraw. In the withdrawal, many of the men in their exhaustion abandoned their equipment in order to escape. By the evening only 250 men from the 2/8th managed to make it to the assembly area and Scenario 3 many had no weapons.
By their withdrawal from the Monastir Gap near Destruction of the 2/8th Veve, the battalion was nearly destroyed. Many of its men were killed or captured. The Historical Background completion of its destruction would be wrought in hen the German attack came, the brunt Crete where only 14 survivors would escape the of the force was aimed squarely at the island out of the entire battalion. W2/8th Battalion. The men of the 2/8th were the last line infantry unit to be deployed prior to the German attack. They were exposed to the same hardships as the New Zealand units British Briefing and had to walk over harder terrain to get to their assigned positions. They lacked blankets and As the Captains of the two Australian companies were separated from their headquarters unit by you have a tough job ahead of you. From the over an hour and a half march through rough previous two days you have had little sleep and terrain. By the 12th of April, the men in the line kept up a constant vigil against the advancing were exhausted and several had to be pulled from Germans. Today you are to be pulled out of the the line from frostbite. At 8:30 am the German line at nightfall. Your men are anxious to leave advance began in earnest supported by but know their duty. You must survive and hold machinegun and mortar fire. On the left flank of the line for 12 full turns. the 2/8th’s position were the companies of Coombes and Robertson. The Infantry advanced Your force is as follows: behind tanks with a platoon of infantry behind each tank. Lt Oldfield’s platoon was mostly Big Men destroyed in this attack with only 6 men surviving Captain Robertson – d6+1 and escaping capture. By 11 am these two Lt Oldfield – d6 companies fell back in good order to fall back Lt Gately – d6+2 positions up the mountain they were position on. Section Leader – dAV At 2pm these two companies were reinforced by Captain Coombes – d6 an additional platoon that was withdrawn from Platoon Leader – d4 the right flank. Section Leader – dAV Section Leader – d6
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 16 Your force is as follows: Captain Robertson’s Company Company HQ: 1x Boys ATR, 1x 2” Mortar Big Men Lt Oldfield’s Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections Major Kurt Meyer, Battalion Commander – d6+2 Lt Gately’s Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections A Company Commander – d6 3rd Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections B Company Commander – d6 C Company Commander – d6 Captain Coombes Company 1 Platoon Leader – d6+1 Company HQ: 1x Boys ATR, 1x 2” Mortar 2 Platoon Leader – d4 Platoon 4: 4x Rifle Sections 4 Platoon Leader – dAV Platoon 5: 4x Rifle Sections 5 Platoon Leader – d4 Platoon 6: 4x Rifle Sections Section Leader – d6 Section Leader – dAV AT Gun Section: Section Leader – d4 2x 2pdr AT Gun & 5 man Crew LSSAH Aufklarungs Battalion Reinforcements: Battalion HQ: 2x Rifle Squads, 1x MMG & 3 man Big Men crew, 2x Trucks, 1x Kubelwagen Sgt Duncan – d6+1 Company A Rifle Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections Company HQ: 1x Rifle Squad, 4x MMG & 3 man (This platoon’s card will enter the deck starting crew, 1x Kubelwagen, 2x Trucks on turn 4.) Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x Trucks Platoon 2: 3x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x Trucks German Briefing Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x Trucks You are Major Kurt Meyer, battalion commander of the Aufklarungs-Battalion of the LSSAH. The Reinforcements 1: offensive has stalled against the Britishers. In Tank Platoon 1: 3x PzKfw II the chaos of battle, you have take over several companies outside of your command to continue Company B the attack. You have moved to the front and Company HQ: 1x Rifle Squad, 3x MMG & 3 man begun to motivate the troops.2 Gathering several crew, 1x Kubelwagen, 2x Trucks companies together, you have aimed them to a Platoon 4: 4x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x schwerepunkt and sent them ahead. You have Trucks already had to motivate some of your own troops Platoon 5: 4x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x and now you will motivate these too. You must Trucks get these men to engage the Britishers and push Platoon 6: 3x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x through them in order to ensure the defeat of Trucks the British in the Balkans. Your rapid advance has out paced your artillery and there is no air Reinforcement 2: support available. You should be able to press Tank Platoon 2: 2x PzKfw IIIs through them nonetheless. Company C
2 Platoon 7: 3x Rifle Squads, 3x Trucks The real Maj Kurt Meyer was present at Veve. He was Platoon 8: 2x Rifle Squad, 2x Trucks the commander of the Recon Bn for the LSSAH. At one point in the battle his troops proved to be hesitant in the attack. To motivate them forward he threw grenades at their feet. The none to subtle message move or die. He was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross in Greece. His presence in the situation outlined above is pure fiction. His was the only German officer’s name that I could locate with any connection to this battle.
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Umpire Notes Terrain This is very mountainous terrain. Vehicles may This scenario has several reinforcements for both only change terrain levels on the roads. They may sides. It is important to note when they are not attempt to go up a hill. Infantry may scale available. the hill at a significant penalty. The town of Veve is dominated by one and two story structures that 1) The British Anti-Tank Gun will abandon its do not provide line of sight to the hills. weapon after turn 5. In the actual battle they were forced to withdraw as the Rangers who were protecting them had withdrawn first forcing them to abandon The Cards their weapon. Note that the rapid deployment card is not available to the Germans. The terrain was too 2) Sgt Duncan’s platoon is available at the rough and negates the rapid deployment of start of turn 4. This card and Sgt forces. Duncan’s big man card and a Heroic Leader card is added to the deck at the Cards start of the turn. Turn 1 Tea Break Big Man 1-11 3) The German’s first reinforcement is Blinds Company HQ 1-2 available at the start of turn 5. They will AT Guns 1-2 BN HQ add 5 additional big men cards, a tank AT Rifles 1-2 Support Weapons platoon, a blitzkrieg card and 3 infantry PL 1-6 MMG Bonus Fire platoon cards to the deck. Co HQ 1-2 Rapid Deployment Mortars Mortars 4) Turn 8 marks the arrival of the last of the Mortar Bonus Fire Mortar Bonus Fire German reinforcements. An additional 2 Big Man 1-8 German PL 1-3 Big Men are added to the deck as well a 1 Rally d6 infantry platoon card and another tank Turn 4 platoon. Heroic Leader
PL 7 It should be encouraged to have the German Turn 5 player attempt to root out the Dominion forces rather then bypass them for the easy victory. German PL 4-6 Blitzkrieg Tank PL 1 Turn 8 Situation PL 7-8 Tank PL 2 The situation is fairly grim for the defenders. The Dominion troops may deploy behind blinds and use up to 3 false blinds. The Germans enter the board without the benefit of blinds. The unit histories of the units in this battle make it clear that the advance of the Germans was observed for the whole of the battle. This is a large battle involving 2 companies of Dominion troops. Nearly three companies of Germans will be present as well as tanks.
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Maps The Rangers were present on the plain to the In the bottom right hand corner is a bridge. There West of their positions. They abandoned these are 5 levels of terrain in this map. Each lighter positions and forces the AT gunners to abandon color is a higher elevation than the previous. theirs as untenable as well. The Anti-Tank Gun Robertson and Coombes companies occupied the should be present on the plain at the bottom left heights form below the centerline of the map of the map. The Germans started from positions down in almost step like progression. They began within Veve itself and came in from the road that the day on the third tier of the terrain and later enters in the northeast portion of the map. The fell back one higher tier up the mountain. thinner black roads are paths that may be negotiated by infantry. They are not suitable for vehicles.
Map for IABSM! Scenario 3: Destruction of the 2/8th
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Scoring See the point’s table for the results:
This scenario is worth 1500 points. To determine Points Table the winner the following must be considered. If the Dominion Player managed to prevent the Result Points Germans from exiting the south end of the board, Major German 1500 German they get a Major victory. If less than a quarter of Victory the total German units manage to exit the board Minor German 1000 German, to the south, it is a Minor British Victory. If the Victory 300 British Germans exit half or less of their forces off of the Draw 500 Each south end of the table, it is a Draw. If the Minor British 1000 British, Germans manage to destroy the Dominion forces Victory 200 German or drive them off of the board but exit less than Major British 1500 British three-quarters of their troops off of the southern Victory edge of the board, it is a Minor German Victory. If the Germans exit three-quarters of their troops or more off of the southern edge of the map, it is a Major German victory.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 20 Battle 2 Ptolemais
As the ANZAC and British forces fell back from Veve a line of defense was established near the city of Ptolemais to support their withdrawal. Elements of the NZ 27th MG Bn and the 1st Armored Brigade Group took up positions along the high ground overlooking the plain in front of Ptolemais. These forces were composed of 2 platoons of the NZ 27th MG Bn, the 4th Hussars, two squadrons of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Headquarters and the remaining Rangers. A battery of 2 pounder anti-tank guns supported them. This was a defensible position and they believed it was secure as the main road passed through their positions.
On the 13th of April, the Germans met the defensive positions of the British and ANZAC forces. When the German advance was blunted by the positions at Ptolemais, the German commander sought another route to flank them. He found a small bypass road that passed through a swamp. Several tanks became hopelessly bogged in the swamp. At least 30 German tanks of the 9th Panzer Division were able to flank the British forces and what ensued was the only tank battle of the entire Greek campaign.
The British were able to force the Germans to withdraw. In the process, most of their armor was either abandoned or destroyed. In effect the British armor was destroyed for the rest of the campaign. Six anti-tank guns were lost and complete squadron of tanks was destroyed. The Rangers had lost in just 3 days of combat half of their numbers.
One constant of the campaign had begun in full earnest. The Luftwaffe ruled the skies over Greece. The British and ANZAZC ground forces were constantly dive bombed by Ju87 aircraft.
Scenarios This battle will be fought in 2 scenarios. The first is the armored and infantry advance made by the Germans into the front of the British and ANZAC positions. The second is the armored battle fought on the left flank of the defenders.
Scoring Each scenario is worth 750 points. The player that takes the most points in the scenario is the overall winner. The battle is considered a draw if there is less than 50 points difference between each side.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 21 Section Leader d6 Scenario 4 MG Crew Leader d4
Rangers Holding the Line Headquarters Squad: 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle Historical Background 1st Platoon: 3x Rifle Section 2nd Platoon: 2x Rifle Section n 13 April, the Germans began to assault rd the British lines near Ptolemais. The 3 Platoon: 3x Rifle Section principle defenders were the Rangers who O st were attached to the 1 Armored Brigade and the Battalion AA Element: 1x Dual Bren gun AA Gun, 27th NZ Machine-gun battalion. Anti-tank guns and Mount & 3 Crew 25 pdr artillery pieces supported them. The 27th NZ MG artillery was close enough to the front that they rd fired over open sights at the oncoming tanks of 3 Platoon: 2x Vickers MMG & 3 man crews rd th the 33 Panzer Regiment of the 9 Panzer nd Division. 102 Anti Tank Gun 1x 2pdr Anti-Tank Gun & 4-man crew The one item that set this battle apart was that for the first time of the campaign, the German dive-bombers made their presence known on the German Briefing battlefield. From this point on, the RAF was completely unable to support the men in the The Britischers are on the run. Once we pass this field. The Luftwaffe owned the skies over the feeble rearguard, the whole of Greece is open to battlefield. The Luftwaffe would harass and us. The Greeks are in full retreat. We must attack the British throughout their retreat from advance and put an end to this campaign now. the Greek mainland all the way to Crete. You have been given an Engineering unit to assist you in crossing the anti-tank ditch in front of The German supply lines had finally caught up your positions. Speed is of the utmost with the infantry. Artillery began to fall on the importance. Your force is as follows: British positions. German Armor and infantry began to advance in tandem. Even being Big Men: outnumbered the British infantry held the line. Company Commander d6 The 4th Hussars were in position to support the Platoon Leader d4 infantry were a breakthrough to happen. As it Platoon Leader d6 was, this was unnecessary as the British were able Section Leader d6+1 to hold the line until 7 pm that evening. Panzer Platoon Leader d4 Engineer Section Leader d6
Elements of the 11th Panzer Grenadier British Briefing Regiment Your company has been in combat for several Company HQ: 1x Rifle Squad, 1 x 81mm Mortar, days in a row. You have been provided with some 3x MMG & Crew, 2 x Kfz 70 Trucks Vickers MG’s from the New Zealanders and a 1st Platoon: 4x Rifle Squads, 3x Kfz 70 Trucks single anti-tank gun. The Germans are beginning 2nd Platoon: 4x Rifle Squads, 3x Kfz 70 Trucks to press forward towards you. You must hold the 3rd Platoon: 4x Rifle Squads, 3x Kfz 70 Trucks line to allow our Greek allies the time they need rd to fall back to the Mt Olympus line. This is a Elements of the 33 Panzer Regiment critical crossroads that must be held at all costs. 1 Panzer Platoon: 4x Pz III Your force is as follows: Engineering Assets Big Men: Engineer Platoon: 1x Bridge Layer Vehicle, 2x Company Commander – d6 Engineer Squads, 2 x Kfz 70 Trucks Platoon Leader d6+1 Platoon Leader d4 Reinforcements:
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 22 Elements of the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment anywhere behind the northern most ridge. Infantry Platoon: 4x Rifle Squads, 3x Kfz 70 Historically the attack failed to produce any Trucks, 1x MMG substantive results. The Germans did not break through the lines. The Germans have the Luftwaffe card present throughout the scenario. Each time the card comes up, a Stuka will be Umpire Notes present for an attack. If the British manage to The British may set up along the ridgeline shoot down one of the Stukas, the Luftwaffe card overlooking the anti-tank ditch and the destroyed will be removed for 4 turns. bridge. The Germans may start or enter
Map for IABSM! Scenario 4: Holding the Line
Notes: The town at the bottom left of the map is Proasteion. An Anti Tank Ditch crosses the map in the center. A road runs from north to south. A burned out bridge is present in the center of the map.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 23 Cards Scenario 5 This scenario will require the following cards:
Cards Outflanked Tea Break German Blinds Dominion Blinds Big Men 1 – 6 Historical Background Big Men 1 – 5 HQ Section he Germans quickly assessed the terrain that HQ Section Infantry PL 1 – 3 the defenders had chosen near Ptolemais. Infantry Platoons 1 – Panzer Platoon TSeeing that a frontal assault would be a 3 wasted effort they looked into the possibility of MG Platoon Engineer Platoon bypassing the British positions and flanking them. th MG Bonus Fire Luftwaffe Finding a side road the 9 Panzer Division sent its Anti-Tank Gun Rapid Deployment tanks through this small track. In the process AT Bonus Fire Blitzkrieg they passed through a swamp and several vehicles Rally d6 Fuel Shortage became hopelessly bogged-in. Heroic Leader Reinforcements While the search for a flanking route was underway, the Luftwaffe made its presence Infantry Platoon 4 known. The British and Dominion troops were constantly under attack from Stuka dive-bomber aircraft. Infantry and armor alike were targets.
Terrain Upon emerging from the swamp they found themselves facing the British left flank. The The terrain on the map is predominantly open defenders quickly plugged the hole in the line. grassland. Add patches of rocky areas to provide The Germans passed through the city of some rough going across the map. There is little Asvestopetra with some 30 tanks at 7pm. The in the way of natural cover available. The AT British rallied and met the advancing Germans Ditch is impassable to vehicles. Infantry can cross outside the town of Mavropiye. it with little difficulty. Seeing that they had been flanked, the delaying action was brought to an end and the troops withdrew from the position. In the process they th Scoring had suffered horrific losses. The 4 Hussars and the 3rd RTR were no longer a fully armored force Each tank destroyed is worth 15 points. No points as they had been forced to abandon many of their are awarded for disabled tanks due to the Fuel vehicles. Of the 52 tanks that they began the shortage or Vehicle Breakdown cards. Other campaign with, only 13 tanks were left. Most vehicles are worth 5 points each. An aircraft shot armored losses were due to mechanical failure. down is worth 30 points. Each Infantry section While the tanks were in good shape upon arrival destroyed or forced to retreat is worth 10 points. to Greece, their treads were considerably worn. Total the points from each side. If the Germans The rough terrain only exacerbated the situation. win by a margin of 40 points or better, they take Of the 1st Armored Brigade, only a weak squadron the 750 points for the scenario. If the British win remained of serviceable tanks. This was the last by the same margin, they will take the 750 tank action undertaken by the British for the scenario points. If neither side has over a 40- remainder of the campaign. point advantage, the 750 points is split and each side receives 350 points for their efforts. The Rangers had half of their personnel to casualties. The 102nd Anti-Tank Regiment had lost 6 guns during the battle and retreat. The New Zealand machine gunners did not go unscathed
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 24 either. Between the dive-bombing and combat losses, the New Zealanders were reduced as well. In exchange there are mixed reports of how the Germans faired. In the German report of the German Briefing action, only 4 tanks were reported lost in addition You have by-passed the British positions and their to those that were bogged in the swamp. rear areas are open to us. Moving quickly we nd However, Lt Trippiers of the 102 Anti-Tank should destroy them. Most of your company has Regiment claimed his crews alone killed eight made the trek through the swamp. The only German tanks. thing that is nagging you is your fuel situation. You will receive Luftwaffe support. Already you can make out the Stuka’s in the air above the battlefield. Your command is as follows: British Briefing They enemy has flanked us. We are rushing all Big Men available forces to meet this new challenge. Tank Company Commander – d6 Your Company is in position to stop them. Other Tank Platoon Leader – d6 +1 units will be fed in as possible. Your force is: Tank Platoon Leader – d4 Tank Commander – d4 Big Men Tank Commander – d4 Tank Company Cmdr – d6 Infantry Company Cmdr – d6 Tank Platoon Leader – d4 Infantry Platoon Leader – d4 Tank Platoon Leader – d6 Infantry Section Leader – d6+1 Tank Commander – d6 Infantry Platoon Leader – d6 Elements of the 9th Panzer Div, 33rd Panzer Regiment 3rd RTR - A Company Light Company HQ Platoon: 1 x A13 Cruiser tank (cmd tank), 2 x Company HQ: 1x Pzkfw I bef, 1x Pzkfw III, 2x A 10 close support tanks, 1 x Mk VIC Lt Tank Pzkfw II (2nd IC tank) Platoon 1: 3x Pzkfw II, 2x Pzkfw I 1st Platoon: 3x A13 Cruiser tanks Platoon 2: 4x Pzkfw II, 1x PZkfw I 2nd Platoon: 3x A10 Cruiser tanks Platoon 3: 3x Pzkfw III 3rd Platoon: 3x Mk VIC Light tanks Platoon 4: 2x Pxkfw III 4th Platoon: 3x Mk VIC Light tanks Elements of the 9th Panzer Div, 11th Panzer Elements of the Royal Horse Artillery Grenadier Regiment 1x 25pdr and crew Company HQ: 1x 81mm Mortar & crew, 1x Rifle Section, 2x Kfz 70 Krupp Protze trucks, 1x Elements of the Rangers Kubelwagon Infantry Platoon 1: 3x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Sections, 4x Kfz 70 Krupp & crew, 1x Boys AT Rifle Protze trucks.
Reinforcements: Reinforcements: Elements of the 4th Hussars Elements of the 9th Panzer Div, 33rd Panzer Platoon 5: 3x MK VIB Light Tanks Regiment Platoon 6: 3x MK VIB Light Tanks Medium Company Platoon 1: 5x Pzkfw 38(t) Elements of the Royal Horse Artillery Platoon 2: 3x Pzkfw IV 1x 25pdr and crew Elements of the 9th Panzer Div, 11th Panzer Elements of the Rangers Grenadier Regiment Infantry Platoon 2: 3 x Rifle Sections, 1 x 2” Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Sections, 4x Kfz 70 Krupp Mortar & crew, 1 x Boys AT Rifle Protze trucks. Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Sections, 4x Kfz 70 Krupp Elements of the 27th NZ MG BN Protze trucks. MG Team: 1x Vickers MMG & Crew
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The Luftwaffe Card will be present throughout the game. The Germans have the reinforcement card Umpire Notes in the deck through out the game. Each time the The Germans are limited to entering within 10” of card turns up, they dice for the reinforcement either side of the road on the western half of the that arrives. One platoon at a time will arrive as map. Having just crossed through a swamp the reinforcement. The British are eligible for Germans entered the area in a small area. The reinforcements after turn 3. They may choose the British reinforcements can enter from anywhere reinforcement that arrives when the card turns up on the eastern side of the map. . Map for IABSM! Scenario 5: Outflanked
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Cards Terrain This scenario will require the following cards: The terrain on the map is predominantly open grassland. Add patches of rocky areas to provide Cards some rough going across the map. There is little Tea Break Luftwaffe in the way of natural cover available. British Big Men 1 - 5 German Big Men 1 – 8 Tank Coy HQ Tank Coy HQ Tank Platoons 1 – 4 Tank Platoons 1 – 4 AT Gun 1 Infantry Coy HQ Scoring AT Bonus Fire Infantry Platoon 1 Each tank destroyed is worth 15 points. No points Infantry Platoon 1 Blitzkrieg are awarded for disabled tanks due to the Fuel Heroic Leader Rapid Deployment shortage or Vehicle Breakdown cards. Each Rally dAV Fuel Shortage Infantry section destroyed or forced to retreat is Vehicle Breakdown Vehicle Breakdown worth 10 points. Total the points from each side. Sniper Dynamic Commander If the Germans win by a margin of 30 points or Reinforcements better, they take the 750 points for the scenario. Tank Platoons 5 – 6 Tank Platoon 5–6 If the British win by the same margin, they will Infantry Platoon 2 Infantry Platoons 2-3 take the 750 scenario points. If neither side has AT Gun 2 over a 30-point advantage, the 750 points is split MG Team and each side receives 350 points for their efforts. MG Bonus Fire
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 27 Battle 3 Servia Pass
The rapid advance of the XL Panzer Corps suddenly stalled at the Aliakmon River. The British forces set up a blockading force at the Servia Pass south of the Aliakmon River along the road from Kozani. The 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade entrenched themselves along the ridges surrounding this pass. The New Zealanders were well equipped with artillery. Along with the 3 infantry battalions of the 4th Brigade, the brigade was supported by 4 troops of the 6th Field Regiment as well as the carrier platoons for 2 of the battalions. The New Zealanders fought a delaying action to hold off the Germans until the Australians could fall back to the new defensive lines near Mount Olympus.
British Command in Greece determined that the battle for Greece was impossible. On the 9th of April the Second Greek Army surrendered unconditionally. By the 19th of April the First Greek Army had surrendered to the Germans. With the loss of the bulk of the Greek forces, the British were on their own and in a race with the Germans to leave Greece. The British defenders were able to hold off the German forces until the 17th of April. Then British command pulled the New Zealanders back to the Mount Olympus defensive line. In the mean time, the Germans had attempted to outflank the stubborn defenders of the Servia Pass by sending the 5th Panzer division to the southwest. By the time the 5th Panzer troops arrived, the New Zealanders had already evacuated. Without their stand at Servia Pass, the British may not have been able to pull as many of their troops out of Greece as they were able.
Scenarios There is 1 scenario for the Servia Pass battle. It takes place on the morning of the 15th of April. The 19th NZ infantry Battalion receives its first blooding against the Germans. In this action one company of New Zealanders is attacked by nearly 3 companies of Germans from the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment, 9th Panzer Division.
Scoring See the scenario for scoring.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 28 for the past 3 days. He keeps spouting some silly Scenario 6 notion that you are not able to effectively lead your men due to some minor inconvenience like influenza.
Big Men British Briefing A Coy Cmdr – d4 You are Captain C L Pleasants, Commanding Platoon 1 Ldr – d6 officer of the Wellington Company of the 19th Platoon 3 Ldr – d4 New Zealand Infantry Battalion. Your men have B Coy Cmdr – d6 done excellent work establishing their defensive Platoon 5 Ldr – d6 positions. The previous days dive-bombing did Platoon 6 Section Leader – d6 not cause any serious casualties though you C Company Cmdr – d4 regret the loss of the Battalion Mess. You have Platoon 8 Ldr – d4 been hiding from the battalion Medical Officer
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 29 Elements of the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment A Company Co HQ 1: 1x Rifle Squad, 4x MMG, 1x AT Rifle Terrain Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squad The terrain is predominantly open. The few Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Squad sporadic groves of olive trees are present. The Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Squad hills are rocky ground. The roadblocks consist of anti-tank ditches and barbwire. The trenches on B Company the map provide good cover. The Bridge is Co HQ 2: 1x Rifle Squad, 1x AT Rifle destroyed. Platoon 4: 4x Rifle Squad Platoon 5: 4x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar Platoon 6: 4x Rifle Squad Cards Reinforcements The cards seem rather harsh to the Germans. C Company This was based on the interviews with the Co HQ 3: 1x Rifle Squad captured German soldiers. The Captured troops Platoon 7: 4x Rifle Squad placed the blame on the poor tactics of their Platoon 8: 4x Rifle Squad commanders. The descriptions of the battle from Platoon 9: 4x Rifle Squad both Australian and New Zealand sources show the Germans as slow to respond and hesitant in execution. Their plan nearly worked but they did not capitalize on what they had accomplished. Umpire Notes Cards The starting points of this scenario are as follows. Tea Break German Big Men 1-8 German A Coy HQ, Platoon 1 and half of Platoon 2 British Big Men 1-6 German Coy HQ 1-3 may set up in between the two anti-tank ditches British Platoons 1-3 German Platoons 1-9 on the road. The rest of Platoon 2 is in among the middlemost antitank ditch. Platoon 3 may set up Rapid Deployment German AT Rifles anywhere to the east of the antitank ditch but Heroic Leader Hesitant Troops north of the New Zealand lines. Company 2 must British Mortars Hesitant Commander start on the other side of the river. The German Mortar Bonus Fire German Mortar Reinforcements do not enter until after turn 5. Sniper Mortar Bonus Fire Then enter from the other side of the river. Rally German MMG AT Rifles MMG Bonus Fire The battle must begin like this, the Germans are visible on the board but must be spotted before any Commonwealth soldier can open fire on them. This is to try to recreate the chaos that unfolded when the New Zealanders realized that the Map Germans had infiltrated their lines. Each platoon The Thick black squiggles on the map mark Fire must spot the Germans within their midst before Trenches dug by the men of Wellington Company. they can further act. Until spotted or fired upon, The lines running at right angles through the road the Commonwealth player must treat the German way are roadblocks consisting of barbwire, units as friendly units. antitank ditches and other obstructions. These have winding paths through them for infantry to advance slowly through.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 30 Map for IABSM! Scenario 6: Surprise Attack
Scoring If the British can hold off the Germans from The Germans earn points for each section of the overrunning their positions for 8 turns they Commonwealth that they destroy. They earn 25 receive an additional 100 points. Each side then points per section. The British earn points for totals their points. If one side wins with 100 each Platoon captured or destroyed at a rate of points or more, they win the battle. If the margin 75 points per platoon. is less than 100 points, the battle is a draw.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 31 Battle 4 Platamon
The British at the western side of the Aliakmon River stalled the XL Panzer Corps advance. The XVIII Mountain Corps picked up the pace from the east and pushed south through the Rhodope Mountains and established a bridgehead on the eastern part of the Aliakmon River. The next obstacle the XVIII Corps faced was that of the Platamon Pass. A ruined castle dominated the landscape. The Germans pushed a night attack against British positions with the Motorcycle Battalion of the 2nd Panzer Division. The 1st Armored Battalion of the 3rd Panzer Regiment supported the attack. This was one of the first actions along the Mount Olympus Line.
The British defenders were able to hold off the German attack that evening. The morning of the 16th, a demolitions detachment was to make its way up the Pinos River and assault the Platamon positions from the river and capture the remaining bridge intact. Heavy weather prevented the German attack forcing the 2nd Panzer Division into another frontal assault on the British positions. Two motorized infantry battalions, 100 tanks and supporting artillery were committed to this attack against a single battalion of New Zealanders. This time the Germans were able to force their way through the British positions causing them to fall back through the Pinios Gorge.
Scenarios This battle has three scenarios. The first is modeled after the attack by the 2nd Motorcycle battalion on the 15th of April against Castle Hill. The second is of the attack by 1st Battalion of the 3rd Panzer Regiment later that afternoon on the same target. The last is the attack against the 21st New Zealand Infantry Battalion’s left flank by the 2nd Motorcycle Battalion on the 16th of April. These scenarios are slightly different as they are directly linked. The decisions and outcomes of the first scenario affect the troop availability of the next one. The first two scenarios involve the same New Zealand Company.
Scoring The scenarios are worth 250 points each. The side with the most points by the end of the three scenarios wins the battle.
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Scenario 7 Big Men Captain McClymont – Company Commander d6 2nd Lt Bullock-Douglas – 8 Platoon leader d6 Hell’s Angels 2nd Lt Southworth – 7 Platoon leader d4 2nd Lt Roach – 9 Platoon leader d6 Historical Background n the morning of the 15th, the men of A A Company Company had taken up strong positions Company HQ: 1x Radio man (A big man must be Osurrounding the old Turkish fort on Castle present with him to contact the mortars) Hill. They had dug into the marble of the hillside Platoon 7: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys and were provided with spectacular cover. The AT Rifle & 2 Crew Germans bombarded the New Zealander’s Platoon 8: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys positions and then sent a company of AT Rifle & 2 Crew motorcyclists strait up the hill at them. Platoon 9: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Crew The dug in troopers forced the motorcyclists to stop at the base of the hill and tore the leading Off Board company to shreds. The Hill was difficult ground 2x 3” Mortars and proved to be too much and the Germans were forced back. German Briefing In this scenario, a full organization of a German Motorcycle Rifle company is laid out. Feel free to You have been given the privilege of being the modify it to suit your needs. lead element to cleanse the Poli Kastelli. Your Kradschutz Kompanie is ready for the task. Your artillery is engaged in a duel with the British and you have seen no sign of the Luftwaffe over your sector. B Kompanie is immediately behind you to British Briefing support your advance. Your boldness will seize You are Captain McClymont of A Coy, 21st NZ the day. Infantry battalion. Your company has been assigned to the Castle Hill to defend the pass Note: To make the forces fit better with IABSM, south towards Larissa. In the distance you have reduce the numbers in the Light Mortar Section made out a large force of enemy troops. Early to reflect the usual 2 crew and the HMG sections this morning the Germans fired a large artillery to 3 crew. Your forces are as follows: barrage against the castle behind you. No casualties were suffered, as your men were Big Men sensibly not in such an obvious target. You can Company Commander – d6 make out in the distance a dust cloud rising and Platoon Leader – d4 moving in your direction. You encourage your Platoon Leader – d6 men and prepare for the German attack. Section Leader – d6
nd In support you may call upon two 3” mortars from Elements of 2 Kradschutz Battalion Battalion Headquarters, which is located just Company HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 3x Motorcycles, 1x behind your positions off of the map. The 25 Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2 x Cars Pounders are not able to hit targets on your hill Platoon 1: due to the steep slope of the hill. Besides they PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, are engaged in an artillery duel with the Jerries 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars at the moment anyway. 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles w/ sidecar (each section has a Your force is as follows: LMG), 2x Motorcycle.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 33 1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x Motorcycle w/side car, 1x Motorcycle
Platoon 2: Umpire Notes PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, Both sides may set up as blinds. The British had 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars several 25 pounder guns in support but these guns 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles exchanged and artillery duel with the Germans. w/ sidecar (each section has a Little in the way of artillery fell on the site of the LMG), 2x Motorcycle. actual action. The battalion mortars located 1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x behind A Company were put to good use. The Motorcycle w/sidecar, 1x Motorcycle Company Commander of A Coy can call in mortar Platoon 3: fire. A Company can establish some wire PL HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x Motorcycles, obstacles just forward of their firing positions if 2x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 2x Cars they wish. 3x Rifle Sections: 8 men, 3x Motorcycles w/ sidecar (each section has a If the British appear to be in danger of being LMG), 2x Motorcycle. overrun, a platoon from B Company will appear on 1x Light Mortar section: 5 men, 2x the level 2-hill on the left hand side of the map to Motorcycle w/sidecar, 1x Motorcycle support them. They have the same composition HMG Half Platoon: as the platoons of A Company. If they still have PL HQ: 4x Motorcycle w/sidecar, 7 men trouble, they may have another platoon from B 2x HMG Sections: 3x Motorcycle Company assist them from just south of that hill. w/sidecar, 9 men, 3x Motorcycles, 1x HMG This must be carefully tracked, as having these platoons now will mean they cannot be used in Scenario 9. Their losses must be carried over to Scenario 8.
If the Germans begin to lose ground early in the game (first four turns) another platoon from B Kompanie will join them.
Terrain The terrain is very difficult going for vehicles and rough going for infantry. Anywhere that is not a road is covered in dense tangles of myrtus, ferns, scrub brush and brambles. The hills are rocky and a detriment to tank treads. The hills are very steep. Tanks can navigate them but it will be very difficult going.
Map The railway line runs through a tunnel in the right center of the map. This is why there is a break in the line. The Circle with the black square in it represents the old Turkish fort on Castle Hill. The other circle on the center left is a British minefield. Note that there are 3 levels of hills present. Each has a rather steep slope to it making negotiating of the hill difficult.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 34 Map for IABSM! Scenarios 7 & 8: Hell’s Angels and Panzer Assault
Cards Scoring Cards Points are awarded for not using reinforcements – Tea Break German Blinds 50 points. If the Germans manage to get to the British Blinds German Big Men 1-4 Castle, they receive 100 points. If the New British Company HQ German Co HQ Zealanders keep the Germans off of the Level 3 British Big Men 1-4 German Platoons 1-3 hill they receive 50 points. If they keep them off British Mortars Blitzkrieg of the level 2-hill by the end of the game, they British 2” Bonus Fire Vehicle Breakdown receive 120 points. If the Germans reach the Rally Petrol Shortage level 2 hill and have troops there in good order, Rapid Deployment they receive 75 points. Total the points. The Sniper player with the most points takes the 250 points Reinforcements for the scenario. If the British position is overrun, British Platoon 10 – 11 German Platoon 4 the Germans automatically win the scenario and (As Needed) (As Needed) no reinforcements are available for the next two scenarios.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 35 Platoon Leader – d4 Scenario 8 Tank Commander – d6+1 Infantry Platoon Leader – d4
Panzer Assault Elements of the 2nd Panzer Division Panzer Company HQ: 1x PzKfw I bef, 2x PzKfw II Historical Background Platoon 1: 4x Pz38(t) Platoon 2: 3x PzKfw II, 2x PzKfw I n the Afternoon of the 15th the Germans Platoon 3: 3x PzKfw III decided to assault the positions on Castle Hill Platoon 4: 3x PzKfw III yet again. This time they advanced with a light I tank company. The rough terrain accounted for Infantry Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x MMG as many immobilized tanks as the Dominion Anti- Tank Rifles, grenades and mortars. By evening, the Germans were forced to abandon their tanks as the entire company lost its treads on the hill. Umpire Notes
This scenario uses the same New Zealand Troops This scenario should be straightforward. All as the previous one. Any casualties suffered in forces may deploy as blinds. The Germans should the previous scenario must be reflected in this be easier to spot, as they are tanks. If the scenario. If any reinforcements were used, these, Germans are getting beaten too quickly add a minus their casualties, are also present. reinforcement card to the deck. When drawn, 1 platoon of PzKfw III’s (4 of them) arrives on the The Germans initially had infantry advancing with north end of the board on the rail line. them but they had no effect on the battle as they hung back and hid in the tall underbrush. They The New Zealanders have only the men that are included in this scenario just in case the survived the previous scenario. If they did not player wants to do a little more with them. call upon reinforcements for the previous scenario, those 2 platoons are available again as reinforcements if the going looks rough for them. If they did use those platoons, they have the option of calling up one of the other platoons of B British Briefing Company. This will eliminate all available Ok Men. Here they Jerries come again. This time reinforcements in Scenario 9. The NZ troopers they are bringing their armor. Don’t expose must shepherd their forces well. yourselves too much and keep up the fire with those AT Rifles. This time he’s bringing up his It is quite possible that the scenario starts out armor. You still have access to 2-3” mortars from with no Big Men for the NZ forces or even that the Battalion HQ. position was overrun and there are no survivors. In the case where no Big Men are left, the Your command comprises the survivors from battalion headquarters will appoint a new Scenario 7. Company Commander. The platoon leaders can be added from the turn of the up from the ranks card. One NCO is promoted at the start of the turn. If they were overrun, D Company, which was held in reserve, will occupy the positions. D German Briefing Company will have the same composition as A You are the company commander of a light Company did in scenario 7. However, they only Panzer Company of the I/3rd Panzer Regiment. receive a rally card of 1d4-1 instead of 1d6. Also You have been tasked with driving the British they do not get a rapid Deployment card nor from the Poli Kastelli. Your command is as reinforcements, as B Company would have taken follows: significant losses driving the Germans out of A Company’s positions. Big Men Company Commander – d6 Platoon Leader – d6
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 36 Terrain The terrain is identical to the previous scenario.
Map The same map and its rules apply as for Scenario 7: Hell’s Angels.
Cards
This scenario will require the following cards:
Cards Tea Break German Blinds
Scoring Just as before, there is a 75-point bonus for not calling on any reinforcements for either side. If the tanks manage to make it up the hill, the Germans are awarded an additional 100 points. If they are kept to the first level of the hill the British are awarded 100 points. The player with the most points wins the scenario points. If the British position is overrun, the Germans automatically win the scenario and no reinforcements are available for the next scenario.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 37 Company HQ: 1x Radio man (A big man must be Scenario 9 present with him to contact the mortars) Platoon 7: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Crew Pandeleimon Platoon 8: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Crew Historical Background Platoon 9: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Crew fter failing to break through near Castle Hill,
the Germans launched an attack against the Off Board New Zealand left flank. On the morning of A th 2x 3” Mortars the 16 , the attack began. Attacking through the small hamlet of Pandeleimon, the Germans were able to reach the NZ positions. This attack met with more success than any previous attempt and managed to capture 2 sections of New Zealanders German Briefing before they pulled out of their positions. While Reconnaissance forces have located the enemy’s the NZ troops did give ground and retreated from left flank. You will prepare your men to assault their positions, they had inflicted a heavy toll their positions. We have men in the town now. against the enemy. Link up with them and drive the enemy off of the
hills. Your command is as follows: When C Company pulled out from near st Pandeleimon, the 21 Battalion had managed to Big Men hold off an entire division for 36 hours. This Company Commander – dAV allowed a large number of British and Dominion Platoon Leader 1 – d6 Troops to fall back to the next defensive line. Platoon Leader 2 – d4 The cost of the 36 hours was 36 men missing, Platoon Leader 3 – d4 dead or wounded. In return, the Germans lost Motorcycle Section Leader – d4+1 nearly a company of tanks and numerous casualties among their motorcycle troops. Elements of 2nd Motorcycle Battalion
1 Platoon dismounted Motorcyclists: 3x Rifle
Sections, 1x MMG
Elements of the I/303rd Motorized Infantry British Briefing Regiment Company HQ: 2x Rifle Squads, 3x MMG & 3 crew You are Captain Tongue. Your position is in each. danger of being overrun. You have seen Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar movement to the south of the town of Platoon 2: 3x Rifle Squads Pandeleimon and are sure that it is the enemy. Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar Your men are secured in their firing positions.
During the evening your men engaged in some 1x 75mm Infantry Gun & 5 crew sporadic fighting with the enemy forcing you to move to fall back positions. Now it appears that he is massing for an attack. Umpire Notes Your force consists of the following troops: In this scenario the isolated C Company must defend its position against a numerically superior Big Men enemy. There are reinforcements available if the Captain Tongue – Company Commander d6 conditions are met from the previous scenarios. Lt O’Neill – 13 Platoon leader d6 The company has two 3” mortars in support. 2nd Lt Smith – 14 Platoon leader d4 nd However when the mortar card is drawn, C 2 Lt. Mason – 15 Platoon leader d6 Company must roll 1d6. On a roll of 1, the wire to Battalion HQ has been cut and no 3” mortar C Company support is available. C Company is dug in to the
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 38 east of the town. They may place up to 12” of wire obstacles in front of their positions.
The Germans will enter the board on the turn of Terrain each of their cards from either the north or west The terrain is very difficult going for vehicles and sides of the map. The dismounted motorcyclists rough going for infantry. Anyplace that is not a may be set up in a blind inside the town. road is covered in dense tangles of myrtus, ferns, scrub brush and brambles. The hills are rocky and a detriment to tank treads.
Map for IABSM! Scenario 9: Pandeleimon
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Cards Scoring This scenario will require the following cards: The scoring of this scenario is straightforward. If the Dominion troops retreat from the hill, the Cards Germans are awarded 100 points. If they are Tea Break German Blinds destroy or captured, the Germans receive the Dominion Blinds German Big Men 1-5 entire 250 for the scenario. If the Dominion Dominion Big men Company HQ troops hold the hill, they receive 200 points. If Company HQ Platoons 1-3 they retreat from the hill in good order they receive 100 points. Platoon 1-3 Motorcycle Platoon
Mortars Infantry Gun Mortar Bonus Fire IG Bonus Fire Rally Mortars Up from the Ranks Mortar Bonus Fire Sniper Rally Rapid Deployment
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 40 Battle 5 Pinos Gorge
The XVIII Mountain Corps continued to press their attack further south. In the Pinos Gorge region their attack was nearly halted. The gorge had steep walls up either side of the river and the British had demolished the bridges. On the 17th of April, the 2nd Panzer division forced a crossing over the Pinos River. Later that day, the 6th Mountain Division had also crossed the river further to the west. By 5:30 PM the New Zealand Defenders were pinched between the two divisions and were forced to withdraw after suffering severe losses.
Once again the British were forced from the area. The pressure of the Armor from the North-East and the Infantry from the West led to the near loss of the New Zealand 21st Battalion and their supporting Australian troops. The British fell back further to the area near Domokos Pass. The British High command had begun to evacuate the British forces in Greece as well as the Yugoslavian troops that had fled after that country’s fall. Efforts to extract themselves from Greece were paramount.
The 21st Battalion was once again the blocking force. This time they were given rather foreboding orders, “deny the gorge to the enemy till 19th April even if it meant extinction.”3 They were not alone as they were reinforced by the 2/2nd and 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalions. The battle was a rout. The Dominion forces were nearly surrounded but managed to disengage and pull back. It is important to note that once again, the Germans had managed to outpace their fuel supplies and had to stop for several critical days while they awaited resupply. This rear guard action helped the Dominion troops pull out of Greece.
Scenarios There is one scenario for this battle. It is from the perspective of the battered 21st New Zealand Battalion. There are other opportunities here such as the actions of the 2/2nd Australian Battalion holding off the 6th Mountain Division.
Scoring See the scenario for the battle’s scoring.
3 From: McClymont, W. G. 2005. To Greece. New Zealand Electronic Text Centre. Wellington, New Zealand.
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Scenario 10 Elements of L Antitank Troop 2x 2pdr Anti-Tank Guns & 3 Man Crews
Last Stand Historical Background German Briefing he forces are those that retreated and survived from Scenarios 7 through to 9. We have them on the run. Their outlying THistorically the forces that fought the battle positions were rolled up easily. With all speed were the remnants of C Company. There are two we must crush them. Your command is as follows: ways that this scenario can be run, as a continuation of the previous scenarios or as a Big Men stand-alone. Both orders of battle will be Company Commander, Infantry – dAV provided below. By 3:30 pm, the lead elements Infantry Platoon Leader – d6 of the I/3rd Panzer Regiment had blown through Infantry Platoon Leader – d4 the Remnants of B Company and were attacking C Section Leader – d6 Company’s positions. Armor Platoon Leader – d6
rd Elements of I/3 Panzer Regiment Platoon 1: 3x PzKfw III Platoon 2: 2x PzKfw II, 3x PzKfw 38(t) British Briefing th B Company has been nearly eliminated. You must Elements of I/304 Motorized Infantry hold against the Armored units advancing on you. Regiment You are Col Macky the Battalion Commander for Company HQ: 1x Rifle Squads, 3x MMG & 3 crew the 21st. Reports have come that the German each. 3x Trucks, 1x Kubelwagen Infantry has attacked the Australians behind your Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x positions and you are nearly surrounded. Trucks Preserve your forces as best you can and hold the Platoon 2: 3x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar, 4x gorge. Trucks Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar. 4x Your force is as follows: Trucks
C Company 21st New Zealand Infantry Battalion 1x Forward Observer Remnants of C Company from scenario 9 and the Remnants of A Company from Scenarios 7 and 8 Note: That several of the trucks are probably captured British vehicles. The motorized units or were short on their full allotment of vehicles. There are several accounts of Dominion troops Platoon 7: 4x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, running up against their own vehicles as the Platoon 8: 4x rifle Sections, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Germans marched across Greece. Crew Platoon 9: 3x rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x Boys AT Rifle & 2 Crew Umpire Notes
21st Infantry Battalion Headquarters The Umpire should add in an additional platoon of (Either option can have these troops) Australian troops if the New Zealanders seem to Carrier Platoon: 1x Carrier section (3 carriers: 1x be overwhelmed. This should only be added into Bren, 1x Vickers MMG, 1x AT Rifle) the deck after turn 5. The Germans have 105mm AA Platoon: 3x AA MGs & 2 man crews. Howitzers in support with a forward observer. Mortar Platoon: 4x 3” Mortars & 5 men crew. The Germans enter the map from either along the railroad track or the road at the north end of the
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 42 map. The loose group of buildings on the western edge of the map is village of Tempe. The Dominion troops historically set up in the hills on the south of the map. The Battalion HQ was in Terrain the plain to the south of Tempe. The terrain is fairly open covered in grass. There are a few patches of scrub brush and groves of olive trees in the area. Following the battle, the surviving members of the 21st battalion hid in olive groves until after nightfall where they made their way to the coast and escaped Greece to Crete.
Map for IABSM! Scenario 10: Last Stand
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Scoring Cards The scoring for the battle is simple. The This scenario will require the following cards: Dominion troops must hold off the German attack for 10 rounds. If the Germans fail to exit half of Cards their armor and infantry off the southern edge of Tea Break German Blinds the map in 10 rounds, the Dominion troops win, British Blinds Big Men 1-5 even if they are destroyed completely. If the Germans manage to exit some of their forces off Big Men ?? Armor Platoon 1-2 the southern edge but less than half, the battle is Battalion HQ Infantry Coy HQ a draw. If the Germans exit half or more of their Support Weapons Infantry Platoon 1-3 men, it is a German victory. AT Bonus Fire Luftwaffe
AT Guns 1-2 Support Weapons Mortar Bonus Fire Mortar Bonus Fire Rally Artillery Support Up From the Ranks Rapid Deployment Blitzkrieg Vehicle Breakdown Note: Available Big Men are those that survived the previous scenarios. If you select the alternative organization add 4 big men.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 44 Battle 6 Defence of the Passes
After retreating from Pinos Gorge, the British abandoned their facilities at Larisa. The Germans captured the airfield and the supply dumps intact. Seizing ten truckloads of supplies, the Germans re-supplied with British fuel and rations. The German steamroller continued South unchecked. The fleeing British forces set up a series of delaying actions along the coastal roads. These included Domokos Pass, Volos Pass, Brallos Pass and Thermopalyae Pass.
In large part the actions at the passes were successes as the British and Dominion defenders were able to withdraw most of their troops in good order. The various bridges were blown, further slowing the German advance. The British lost at least 1 tank as German mortars set it on fire.
Scenarios There is one scenario for this battle.
Scoring See the scenario for the scoring.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 45 6x 2-pounder Anti-Tank Guns & 5 man crews Scenario 11 Elements of the 3rd RTR 5x A13 Cruiser Tanks Domokos Pass C Troop, NZ Divisional Cavalry Historical Background 4x Marmon Herrington MkII Armored Cars t Domokos, a delaying force under Brigadier E. A. Lee set up a delaying action to allow Athe remainder of the British forces a chance German Briefing to escape. As soon as the New Zealanders had completed their retreat a small force was left Nothing can stop the advance now. The fate of behind as a rear guard while “Lee Force” the British is sealed. The question is who will withdrew. This scenario recreates the rearguard reap the glory. You intend that it is your action along the Lamia – Domakos Road on the company. Press on and go through the pass. 21st of April 1941. Your Force:
British Briefing Big Men Company Commander, Armor – d6 You are the Commanding Officer of B Company of Armor Platoon Leader – d4 th the 2/7 Australian battalion. Your men have Armor Platoon Leader – dAV been tasked with being the rearguard for the Infantry Platoon Leader – d6 retreating Lee Force. In support you have 6 Anti- Infantry Platoon Leader – d4 Tank guns from Captain Sweetzer’s 31 New Zealand Anti-Tank Battery, the last 5 cruiser Elements of the 2nd Panzer Division rd tanks of 3 RTR and Lt Atchison’s 4 armored cars Panzer Company HQ: 1x PzKfw I bef, 2x PzKfw III from the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry. The Panzer Platoon 1: 4x PzKfw III th other side of the road, a company from the 2/6 Panzer Platoon 2: 2x PzKfw 38(t), 3x PzKfw II is also part of the rear guard. You expect the enemy to arrive at any second. Your forces have Infantry Platoon1: 4x Rifle Sections taken the opportunity to dig in. Infantry Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Sections Infantry Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Sections Your command: 1x Forward Observer Big Men Company Commander – d6 Platoon Leader 1 – dAV Platoon Leader 2 – d4 Umpire Notes Platoon Leader 3 – d6 The Dominion troops may set up anywhere on the Lt Atchison AC leader – d6+1 map. The Germans enter from either road on the Captain Sweetzer, AT Gun Commander - dAV north end of the map. The Germans have access to 3 80mm Mortars in support. th B Company, 2/6 Australian Infantry Battalion Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x AT Rifle Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x AT Terrain Rifle The terrain is rocky. The plains are covered in Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar, 1x AT grass and some farmland to the south. Vehicles Rifle can only cross the hills on the roads.
31st NZ Anti-Tank Battery
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 46 Map for IABSM! Scenario 11: Domokos Pass
Scoring Cards If the Germans exit half of their forces in good Cards order off of the south edge of the map, they win Tea Break German Blinds the scenario. If they only exit a quarter of their British Blinds Big Men 1-6 forces off of the south edge by the end of turn 12, Big Men 1-4 Armor Company HQ the battle is a draw. Any lesser result is a British Infantry Platoon 1-3 Armor Pl 1-2 win. Armored Cars Infantry PL 1-3 Tank Platoon Air Support Anti-Tank Guns 1-6 Artillery Support Anti-Tank Bonus Fire Blitzkrieg Rapid Deployment Rapid Deployment Armored Bonus Move Rally dAV Rally d6 Vehicle Breakdown Vehicle Breakdown Sniper Sniper Mortar Bonus Fire Heroic Leader
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 47 Battle 7 Corinth
On the 25th of April, the last of the RAF left Greece. The Germans had uncontested air superiority over the Greek mainland. In an effort to cut off the retreating British forces, the Germans launched an airborne operation against the bridges on the Corinth isthmus. Using parachute dropped and glider borne Fallschirmjägers, the British troops encountered threats from a new direction. This would prove to be a rehearsal of Crete for both sides. This action is based on the after action reports from B Company, Australian 6th Infantry Battalion. The British had designated B Company of the 6th Battalion and elements from the 4th Hussars of the 1st Armored Brigade to defend the Corinth Area and keep the roads open to facilitate the retreat of W-Force (British forces in Greece).
The British forces were disorganized. The prepared defensive positions occupied by the Australian troops were poorly positioned. The units had to leave their positions in order to engage the enemy. As the battle progressed, one of the Lieutenants from B Company actually reported that large numbers of the men he was able to rally were unarmed, having fled their positions without their rifles. The Luftwaffe chased off the Armored Cars present. Needless to say, the Fallschirmjägers were able to disrupt the evacuation operations. In the end the British lost a large amount of equipment and many men. Of the 53,051 Australians, New Zealanders and British soldier that entered Greece, 11,840 were killed in action or taken as POWs. Of the Australians alone, 5,100 were taken as POWs and 590 were killed in action. The German forces lost 1,100 soldiers KIA and 4,000 were wounded or KIA. The fight for Greece was all but over. The last stage of the campaign was fought at the city of Kalamata to cover the last of the British forces withdrawal.
Scenarios There are two scenarios for this battle. The first covers the 19th New Zealand infantry Battalion’s stand near the bridge over the Corinth Canal. The next is that of the 2/6th Australian Infantry battalion north of the bridge. Both are based on the battle reports of the Dominion units involved and the general description of the battlefield that they painted.
Scoring Each scenario is worth 200 points. The player with the highest point totals wins the scenario. If the scenario points awarded are within 10% of one another, the battle is a draw.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 48 Platoon 11: 2x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortars, 1x Scenario 12 AT Rifle Platoon 12: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortars
Achtung, Fallschirmjäger! Sappers 1x Engineer section Historical Background he main objective of the German forces was the seizure of a bridge across the Corinth German Briefing TCanal. This would leave the road open for German Armored and Infantry units to capture the Your forces have scattered from the drop. You fleeing British. Things did not work out as have gathered together the men you could find planned. The Paratroops seized the bridge but it and have begun your assault on the bridge. exploded anyway. The New Zealand History of the campaign in Greece claims that it was either Your force comprises: the daring action of some engineers who managed to light the fuse, a lucky shot at some TNT by Big Men infantry or a stray anti-aircraft round that Company Commander – d6 detonated the explosives are all guesses as to how Platoon Leader – dAV the bridge was destroyed. Platoon Leader d6 Section Leader – d6+1 This scenario assumes that the bridge is defended Pioneer Section Leader – d6 and the paratroopers must take the bridge. The nd British must fight a delaying action and then Elements of 2 Fallschirmjager Regiment destroy the bridge. Company HQ: 1x Rifle Squad, 1x 50mm Mortar & 2 Crew Platoon 1: 3x Rifle Squads Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Squads British Briefing You are Major Gordon, commanding the Engineering Platoon: 2x Rifle Squads, 1x Wellington West Coast Company of the 19th Flamethrower, 1x MMG Infantry Battalion. You have been put on alert that an enemy airdrop is anticipated near the Corinth Channel Bridge. This is the only span Umpire Notes that crosses the channel. It must be held at all costs. Your men are on the north bank of the In the beginning of the game, a reinforcement Channel near the village of Loutraki. Keep a card will be added to the deck for the Germans. sharp eye out. You have heard the drone of If pulled, 1 additional Fallschirmjäger platoon will aircraft engines in the distance. add their weight to the fight. All German forces are Fallschirmjagers and should be treated as such You must give time for the sappers to destroy the from the list in the “In the Footsteps of Legions” bridge. They must spend 2 full turns on the supplement for IABSM! The Fallschirmjägers enter bridge. Then after that they must have the “Set the board from the north end. The Dominion Charges” card pulled 3 times while they are on troops may set up in the southern farms and in the bridge to destroy the span. trenches and barricades near the bridge. Your force:
Big Men Terrain Major Gordon, Company Commander – d6 2nd Lt Ferguson, 12 Platoon Leader – dAV Open fields, groves of olive trees and farms, 2nd Lt Budd, 11 Platoon Leader – d6 dominate the terrain. The Bridge over the canal is a large span containing a road bridge and a rail Wellington West Coast Company of the 19th bridge. The canal cannot be crossed without it. Infantry Battalion
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 49 Map for IABSM! Scenario 12: Achtung Fallshirmjager!
Cards Scoring Cards The Dominion troops win if the Bridge is blown. Tea Break German Blinds The Germans win if the Bridge is taken. If neither British Blinds German Big Men 1- result occurs, a draw happens. 200 Points are 5 awarded for a win. Both sides get 100 Points for a Big Men 1-3 Company HQ draw result. Platoon 1-2 Platoon 1-2 Engineer Section Engineers Demolitions Card Support Weapons Rally d4 Rapid Deployment Sniper Rally Sniper Air Support Heroic Leader Mortar Bonus Fire
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 50 German Briefing Scenario 13 Your Company has been tasked with a glider assault on the Bridge. Due to strong winds you have landed off course and your command’s Glider Assault gliders have been separated. Your command team is together. Gather what men you have and Historical Background drive towards the bridge. While landing you he 2/6th came under assault from glider observed several parachutes dropping near you. borne troops. It was the job of the 2/6th to You will use whatever troops you find nearby. Tkeep the roads open for the retreating Dominion troops. The gliders landed close enough Your Forces: to the Australians that they watched them land. Big Men The landing was so rough, they at first believed Glider Company Commander – d6 that they had crashed until the Fallschirmjagers Glider Section Leader – d6+1 began to exit their gliders. While the forces are Glider Section Leader – dAV what were reported from the Australian and New Paratrooper Platoon Leader Zealand sources, the map is entirely fictional drawn from the references that were in the Elements of 2nd Fallschirmjager Regiment sources. Glider Company HQ: 2x Rifle Squads, 2x 50mm Mortars, 2x PzB39 AT Rifles
Paratroop Platoon: 2x Rifle Squads, 1x MMG British Briefing You are the commander of B Company of the 2/6th Australian Battalion. The road must remain Umpire Notes open. High command has placed you hear to In the actual battle, two gliders landed within prevent the Germans from completing a vertical view of the Australian positions. These emptied envelopment of our retreat. If you can only keep two 12-man rifle sections out that began attacking the road open, your unit will be pulled out and immediately. Also two other sections of you will be headed to Crete to rest and regroup. paratroopers arrived and began attacking as well. These troops assaulted the Australian positions Your force is as follows: and drove them off.
Big Men Company Commander – d4 Platoon Leader – d6 Terrain Platoon Leader – dAV The terrain is open flat ground with a few citrus Platoon Leader – d6 groves and farm plots. This is just to the east of the positions occupied by the New Zealanders in B Company scenario 12. The Dominion troops may set up on Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 2” Mortar & 2 the south half of the map while the Germans Crew enter from the north. The paratroops from the Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Sections northeast and the glider troops from the north and north west.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 51 Map for IABSM! Scenario 13: Glider Assault
Cards Scoring Cards If the Germans drive the Australians off of the Tea Break German Blinds board, they have succeeded and win the scenario. British Blinds Big Men 1-4 If the Australians repel the attack and hold two of Hesitant Troops Company HQ the farmhouses, they win. If neither achieves Platoon 1-2 Platoon 1 their objectives, then it is a draw. The winner Big Men 1-3 Rapid Deployment gets 200 points. In the case of a draw, each side Air Support gets 100 points.
Rally d6
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 52 Battle 8 Kalamata
The British have nearly completed their exodus from Greece. The combat troops received priority space on the available shipping. Once embarked they quickly moved to either Crete or Alexandria. Even aboard ship they were not safe as the Luftwaffe attacked the fleeing vessels. The SS Costa Rica was sunk as it left harbor. As the last of ‘W – Force’ was evacuated, the Germans pressed in on the last British Beachhead. At the port town of Kalamata, the remaining British staff personnel – cooks, machinists, clerks and staff officers attempted to hold off the Germans. The bulk of the soldiers were from the New Zealand Replacement Battalion and other rear echelon troops. Some were men who were isolated from their units and missed their boat. These men gathered in the olive groves to the east of the city to await being saved by the Royal Navy when the Germans broke through and attacked. There were some 7000 men waiting to be saved.
It was during the defense of Kalamata that the only Victoria Cross of the Greek Campaign was awarded to Sergeant John Daniel Hinton. The text of the citation reads, “29th April, 1941 at Kalamai, Greece, New Zealand troops heading for the port to await evacuation were attacked by enemy machine-gun fire and self-propelled six-inch guns. Although the order to retire had been given, Sergeant Hinton rushed forward to the nearest gun and, hurling two grenades, killed the crew. He continued towards the quay, and clearing out two light machine guns and a mortar with grenades, then dealt with a garrison of a house where some of the enemy was sheltering. Later, when they were attacked by the main enemy force, Sergeant Hinton was only subdued and captured after being severely wounded.” It is this action and those reported by Edmund Sharpin of the Royal Army Service Corps that the scenario is based.
The British lost a large number of men who surrendered to the German army. In the last 2 days of fighting in Greece over 8,000 British, Commonwealth and Yugoslavian soldiers were taken prisoner. All of the Balkans had now fallen in to German hands. The prison camps containing Italian POWs were liberated and once the Greeks had surrendered. The last phase of this episode was the first and last Combat parachute jump of Italian paratroopers en-masse. In order to speed the capture of all of the outlying Greek islands, the Italians dropped a large number of paratroopers on one of the outlying islands and encountered no resistance save the local police who promptly surrendered. Hostilities were officially over with all British and Dominion soldiers captured or escaped on the 30th of April 1941. The Greek Campaign cost the British large amounts of equipment and personnel. Of the 53,051 Australians, New Zealanders and British soldier that entered Greece, 11,840 were killed in action or taken as POWs. Of the Australians alone, 5,100 were taken as POWs and 590 were killed in action. The German forces lost 1,100 soldiers KIA and 4,000 were wounded or KIA. The largest numbers of these POWs were taken at Kalamata. Much of the Armor and motor transport for the troops were left behind to fall
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 53 into enemy hands. It is the survivors of Greece that were called upon to defend Crete just a few days later.
Scenarios There are two scenarios for this battle. The first is the actions of A Company of the 4th Hussars. These men were the advance guard protecting the retreating Dominion forces. These men were overrun in short order and the 5th Panzer Division was able to penetrate into the city of Kalamata.
The second is the defense of the survivors against the advancing Germans. This records the actions of Sergeant Hinton and the other defenders who forced a large number of Germans to surrender before the Royal Navy arrived. Unfortunately all of these brave men were later left behind and subsequently captured.
Scoring The first scenario is worth 200 points. The second scenario is worth 500 points. The total points earned by each side will be used to determine the winner of the battle for the campaign.
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Scenario 14
End of the 4th Hussars German Briefing The resistance has diminished. The last remnant of the so-called W Force is waiting on the beach. Advance and destroy them. Historical Background Your force is as follows: o defend the city of Kalamata, the remainder of A Coy was assigned to defend Big men th Tthe northern approaches to the city. The 4 Company Commander – d6 Hussars were desperately under strength and Platoon Leader 1 – d4 woefully ill equipped to handle this task. The Platoon Leader 2 – dAV th rapid advance of the 5 Panzer Division sealed the Pz Platoon Leader – d4 fate of these defenders who were overrun and taken into captivity. This scenario is based off of Elements of the 5th Panzer Division this loose description. The forces are Company HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 2x MMG & 3 crew hypothetical as well as the terrain and map. each Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar & 2crew Platoon 2: 2x Rifle Sections, 1x PzB39 AT Rifle British Briefing Panzer Platoon 1: 4x PzKfw IV You are the commander of the last Allied Armored force in Greece. You have been tasked 1x Engineer Section: 1x Flamethrower, 1x Rifle with guarding the approaches to the loading Section zones so that the rest of the Allied contingent can get out of Greece. Unfortunately, this seems a hopeless task. The enemy has overwhelming superiority. Your force has been repeatedly Umpire Notes bombed. Your vehicles are worn out. Do your The Germans have the air support card available best. All troops are rated as Line Infantry. for the whole game. This is in the form of 1 Stuka aircraft. The Germans had complete air Your force is as follows: superiority over the Dominion troops by this time.
Big Men The dismounted tankers are classed as Local Levy Company Commander – d4 (from the Legions supplement), whilst the Platoon Leader (Tanks) – d4 Australian infantry platoon is treated as Line Platoon Leader (Tanks) – d6 Infantry (also from the Legions supplement). Platoon Leader (Infantry) – d6
Elements of the 4th Hussars Company HQ: 1x Mk VIb, 2x A13 Cruiser Tanks Platoon 1: 2x A13 Cruiser Tanks Terrain Platoon 2: 1x A13 Cruiser Tank, 2x A9 Cruiser The area is farmland with vineyards and olive Tanks orchards dotting the landscape. Tanks cannot Platoon 3: 2x Rifle Sections (dismounted tankers) cross a vineyard. The olive groves can be passed through as they are widely dispersed. There are a Attached Australian Platoon few stonewalls near the farmhouses. Infantry Platoon: 3x Rifle Sections, 1x MMG
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 55 Map for IABSM! Scenario 14: End of the 4th Hussars
Cards Scoring Cards The scenario is worth 200 points toward the Tea Break German Blinds battle. The Germans get 100 points for British Blinds Company HQ eliminating all of the British Armor. Each infantry Company HQ Platoon 1-2 platoon that is destroyed, captured or driven off Tank Platoon 1-2 Panzer Platoon of the map by the end of the game is worth an Dismounted Support Weapons additional 15 points. The British score 200 points Tankers* if they can keep the Germans from exiting the Infantry Platoon** Engineer Section south end of the road by the end of turn 10. Hesitant Troops MMG Bonus Fire Mortar Bonus Fire Rally Rapid Deployment Air Support
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 56 Sgt Hinton, Section Leader – d6+2 (pw April 29, Scenario 15 1941, VC) Lt J. W. Moodie, Platoon Leader – d6 ()
The Rear Echelon’s Maj Carey’s Group 1x Vickers MMG, 3x Crew, 1x Rifle Section
Last Stand Lt O’Rorke’s Platoon 3x Rifle Sections Historical Background nce the Hussars position had been overrun, Lt Rhind’s Platoon small bands of hastily organized defenders 2 x Rifle Sections, Ocharged into the city along the docks to defend the remaining Dominion personnel. The Lt Moodie’s Platoon New Zealand history of this engagement stated 4x Rifle Sections that of the huddled masses of some 7000 men, very few took to arms to repel the Germans. Yet Sgt Hinton’s Section these few did a great deal of good work. 1x Rifle Section
Organized into a few ad hoc squads and platoons, they fought street-to-street and house-to-house. German Briefing Eventually capturing the force attacking them. A survivor of the 4th Hussars took command of a The British are defeated. We will crush them if machine gun and provided coving fire for the we can prevent their departure from Greece. force from the quay. The Germans had run out of This will be a devastating blow to Churchill and a ammunition and were cut off from their resupply. tremendous victory for der Fuhrer. You have some support for this mission from the Regiment. The victory was short lived. When the Royal Navy Your force is comprised as follows: did arrive they were only able to remove about 332 ranks from the shores near Kalamata. Big Men Signaling Many Regrets the navy left these men to Company Commander – d6 be captured. What would follow for the next few Platoon Leader – d4 days leading up to the German invasion of Crete Platoon Leader – d4 was a series of escapes by brave men. Many of Platoon Leader – d6 whose stories were lost with the rest of the Section Leader – d6 records destroyed when Crete fell. Elements of the 5th Panzer Division
Company HQ: 1x Rifle Section, 1x MMG, 1x PzB 39 AT Rifle British Briefing Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 50mm Mortar Night has fallen and with night, the dive-bombing Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Squads has ceased. The volume of fire has increased Platoon 3: 4x Rifle Squads near the customs house. You are Major Carey just escaped from the Germans. Most around you Regimental Support are in a panic. Gathering men who still have 2x 75mm Infantry Guns & 5 crew their wits about them you desperately attempt to 1x PaK35 AT Gun & 4 crew form some kind of defense.
Your force: Umpire Notes
Big Men This scenario would work well with multiple players being the various Dominion groups and 1 Maj B. Carey, MG Leader/Force Commander – d4 player controlling the Germans. This would Lt O’Rorke, Platoon Leader d4 (KIA April 28, reflect the lack of cohesion among the Dominion 1941) troops. The Dominion troops advanced at a run Lt Rhind, Platoon Leader – d6 (pw April 29, 1941)
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 57 through the streets of the city to engage the Germans. Historically, the Germans had the bulk of their infantry in the large building to the north east of their largest concentration of guns. Map In the map, the positions of the German and Both sides may set up their forces behind blinds. British weapons are noted. On the bottom right The Germans can have up to 3 blinds and the of the map, the position of the British Machine Dominion troops may have up to 5. gun is listed. This is where Major Carey established a barricade and fighting position. On the bottom left are the German positions. There is 1 MMG, 2 field guns and one anti-tank gun that Terrain the Germans brought forward. The Gray blocks The terrain is a city. The empty spaces in the city are the buildings in the city. blocks may be filled with gardens parks and open ground.
Cards Scoring Cards The Dominion forces win this scenario if they can Tea Break German Big Men 1–4 silence the German Guns. 30 points are awarded Dominion Big Men German Blinds for The Germans win if they keep their guns in 1-5 operation or exit 2 platoons in good order off the Dominion Blinds Anti Tank Gun right hand side of the map. Dominion MMG AT Gun bonus fire MMG Bonus Fire Infantry Gun Platoons 1-5 IG Bonus Fire Rally Coy HQ Rapid Deployment Platoons 1-4 Rapid Deployment
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 58 Bonus Battle The Metaxas Line
While much so far has been made of the British and Dominion efforts during the campaign, it cannot be complete without a scenario dealing with the heroic defense of the Metaxas line. Out numbered, out gunned and with little to no vehicles, the Greek defenders held out against a vastly superior German force. Individual bunkers had to be rooted out one by one for the Germans to get through this stubbornly defended line. The Metaxas line resembled the French Maginot Line except that it nearly fulfilled its purpose.
The assault against the Metaxas Line was conducted by 2 mountain divisions and one infantry division, which formed the XVIII Mountain Corps (5th Mountain Div, 6th Mountain Division and 72nd Infantry Division). The credit for the defeat of the Metaxas Line goes to the 6th Mountain Division who crossed snow-covered mountains to flank the line and take the town of Salonika. The 5th Mountain Division was then able to advance through along the Strimon River taking out each bunker they passed.
The defenders were able to stall the advance three critical days while undergoing constant attacks from artillery and dive-bombers. Many fortresses held out even longer forcing the Germans to bring up heavy artillery in order to reduce the fortress enough for it to fall. On the 9th of April the Greek Eastern Macedonian Army surrendered. The Germans noted, “they had not experienced such effective resistance in either Poland or France.”1
Unfortunately there is little available on what the Metaxas line fortifications looked like. The scenario is based on one picture that I could find and the descriptions that the forts were similar to those of the Maginot Line. The forces that appear in the scenario are generally right in the larger scale terms. The map and the organization of the forces are based on a real location but are pure fantasy.
Scenarios There is one scenario in this battle. It is an assault on a bunker complex by the units of the 5th Mountain Division.
Scoring This scenario is included for fun and does not affect the outcome of the campaign.
1 John Moher. 2001. http://www.geocities.com/ww2greece/020106.html
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Scenario 16 German Briefing Bunker Hill The Metaxas defenses have proven very tough. Your company is to assault the defenses. Speed is Historical Background critical. Every hour we are delayed allows more On April 7th the Germans penetrated the Metaxas of the Greeks to fall back and get organized. Line. On the 8th, the German 5th Mountain They must be stopped now. You begin your Division began to mop up the fortifications along advance at dawn. the Metaxas Line. The defenders all along the line put up a stubborn resistance delaying the Your force: German advance by several critical days. Big Men Along the Strimon River, the Greek fortifications Company Cmdr – d6 put up a fierce battle. Each one in turn having to Platoon Leader – d4 be reduced before the Germans could advance. Platoon Leader – d6 While a fictional battle, this scenario recreates Section leader – d6+1 the harsh fought battles by the Greek defenders. Infantry Gun Leader – d4
Elements of the 100th Gebirgs-Infanterie Regiment, 5th Gebirgs Division Company HQ Section: 1x Infantry Section, 4x MMG Greek Briefing & 3 Crew each. st The Metaxas Line has been breached. Our orders 1 Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar, 1x AT Rifle are to hold out as long as possible. We must nd delay the Germans while our forces pull back to 2 Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar, 1x AT Rifle the Alikimon Line. We have several strong rd positions to fight from. The larger 75mm gun 3 Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar, 1x bunkers can support up to an additional platoon AT Rifle of troops. The smaller bunkers can hold up to a section of infantry as well as the MMG team. 2x 81mm Mortar Teams ΜΩΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ! Your force is as follows: 1x 150mm SiG33 Infantry Gun, 5 crew and pack mules. Big Men Reinforcements Infantry Company Cmdr – d6 th Platoon Leader – d4 Elements of the 100 Gebirgs-Infanterie Regiment, 5th Gebirgs Division Fortifications Commander – d5 th 4 Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar, th 1x AT Rifle Elements of the 26 infantry Regiment, VII th Division 5 Platoon: 4x Rifle Sections, 1x 50mm Mortar, Company HQ: 1x AT Rifle & 2 crew 1x AT Rifle Platoon 1: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 45mm Mortar & 2 crew. Platoon 2: 4x Rifle Squads, 1x 45mm Mortar & 2 Umpire Notes crew. The map is set for a defensive player. The Greeks Fortification Defenders may dig their troops in and have foxholes or 2x 75mm Guns (Italian Captured weapons) & 5 trenches anywhere on the map. It is suggested crew each. that they stay in the hills where their bunkers are. 4x MMG & 3 crew. The Germans enter the map on their first turn. They may enter anywhere on the northern edge of the map.
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Terrain Map
Grassy plains and rocky hills mark the terrain. All The river on this map is the Strimon River. It is ground except the lowest level should be impassable for the purposes of this game. The considered difficult to travel. hills are accessible to infantry but they are difficult to travel unless on a path at which point they become merely troublesome. The road along the river is the main route that the Germans wish to venture down but they must overcome the Cards fortifications along the way. This bonus scenario will require the following cards: The black squares represent machinegun bunkers. The longer black rectangles represent bunkers Cards with a 75mm gun in them. Tea Break German Big Men 1 - 5 Greek Big Men 1 - 3 HQ Section Inf HQ Section Infantry Platoons 1 – 3 Infantry Platoons 1 - Infantry Gun Scoring 3 MG Teams Rapid Deployment MG Bonus fire Mortars There is no scoring for this bonus scenario 75mm Gun 1 - 2 Mortars Bonus fire
Rally I Gun Bonus fire
Poor Fire Discipline Luftwaffe
Heroic Leader Rally
Reinforcements Infantry Platoons 4 - 5
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 61 Map for IABSM! Scenario 16 (Bunker Hill)
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 62 APPENDIX Units Needed Check List Scenarios 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Max Big Men 3 3 9 5 5 6 4 4 6 3 4 4 6 9 Rifle Sections 3 28 8 6 12 12 12 12 6 8 5 11 28 Truck 4 1 4 Forward Observer 3 1 3 Boys AT Rifle 2 1 2 3 3 1 3 2 1 3 2” Mortar 2 1 2 1 3 3 3 3” Mortar 1 3 3 2lb AT Gun 2 1 6 6 Mk VI b Lt Tank 6 1 6 Mk VI c Lt Tank 6 6
A9 Tank 2 N/A 2
A10 CS Tank 2 Variable Variable 2 Dominion A10 Tank 3 3 A13 Tank 4 5 5 5 Marmon Herr. AC 3 4 4 Vickers MMG Team 2 2 1 1 1 2 AA MG Team 1 1 25lb Gun 2 2 Engineer Sections 4 1 4 LMG Teams 2 2 Scenarios 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Max Big Men 6 3 11 6 8 8 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 11 Rifle Squads 6 11 30 17 13 39 4 16 12 12 8 4 7 13 21 39 50mm Mortars 4 6 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 5 6 Motorcycle Combo 22 29 29 Motorcycles 12 25 25 Kfz 70 Trucks 6 35 16 14 15 35 SdKfz 221 2 2 MG 34 MMG Team 2 8 4 4 1 4 3 1 1 2 1 4 8 PzKfw I 3 2 3 PzKfw I bef 1 1 1 1
y PzKfw II 3 9 5 2 3 9 n PzKfw III 2 4 6 6 3 6 6 PzKfw IV 3 4 4
Germa PzKfw 38(t) 5 4 3 2 5 Bridge Layer 1 1 Kubelwagen 8 3 1 8 1 8 81mm Mortar Team 1 1 1 AT Rifle 2 2 1 1 5 5 Pioneer Squad 2 2 1 2 Forward Observer 1 1 1 75mm Infantry Gun 1 2 2 Pak35 AT Gun 1 1 Flame Thrower 1 1 1 150mm GiG33 1 1 Big Men 3 3 Rifle Squads 8 8 MMG Teams 4 4 75mm Gun 2 2 Greece 45mm Mortar 2 2 AT Rifle 1 1
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 63 The Air War Over Greece April 6th to 22nd 1941
A Bag the Hun supplement for the IABSM! Campaign: A Campaign for Greece
“While all this was in full swing and machines were twisting and turning in all directions I found myself directly on the tail of another Hun at whom I let off burst after burst, but either he was made of cast iron or possibly my shooting wasn't so hot! I fear it was the latter as I have had cause to discover several times since. However, I do know the cause - excitement - which is something. I start firing with the centre of the gunsight dead on target, then find myself a few seconds later aiming purely by my tracer - looking round the edge of the sight instead of through it! On this occasion the enemy plane merely "vibrated" all over and started a diving turn to the left. I continued to chase it but still could not get it down. Luckily another Hurricane (F/Sgt Cottingham) suddenly came diving at it as well as myself and at last the enemy “bought his packet.”.” Pilot Officer Winsland
Introduction While the ground war raged on the air war over Greece was also hotly contested. The British ground troops never saw the RAF during the course of the campaign after the opening days. The rapid advance of the German troops caused the pull back of the RAF and a complete lack of air support for the men on the ground. The RAF concentrated its efforts on interdicting Axis raids and protecting their own airfields. The job of the RAF was nearly as hopeless as that of the ground troops. The end result was delaying actions to support the overall pull out of the British from the Balkans.
This campaign is designed to be played out with several players. Each player should assume command of a Squadron and plot the actions for that Squadron then battle out the results of your meticulous planning. The problem is that each nation had its own unique formation names that sound close to what the other nations used for a different formation size. To clear the confusion, the table below provides a comparison of the units with their corresponding sizes. For the sake of this project, a Squadron will be defined by the British definition.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 64 Table 1: Organization Luftwaffe Regia Royal Air US Air Force Aeronautica Force Rotte (2 Aircraft) Section: (2-4 aircraft) Flying Officer / Kette (3 aircraft) Pilot Officer Sezione Commanding Flight Flight: (6+ Aircraft) Schwarm (4 aircraft) Flight Lt Commanding Squadron: Staffel Squadriglia (12+ Aircraft) Squadron (10+ aircraft) Sqdn Leader Commanding Gruppe Wing: (between 30 and 39 Gruppo Wing Cmdr Group aircraft) Commanding Group: Geschwader Brigata Aerea Group Capt Wing Commanding FliegerDivision Divisione Aerea Air Division
Note from the Aircraft number in the appendix that the British Squadrons were greatly depleted, as were the Italians from months of previous combat. The Germans entered Greece with refreshed and refitted aircraft and crews.
In the Appendix there is a sampling of the units that participated in this campaign. Feel free to drop and add squadrons to your hearts content. If you prefer your Italians to fly nothing but the CR 42, feel free to add these units in. A good listing of the various Squadrons that took part in the campaign can be found online from several sources.
It is not necessary to have a player for each “Squadron” listed in the campaign. It can be done quite satisfactorily with just 2 players each controlling 1 squadron and borrowing some bombers from time to time. The current format opens the game up for long term play that can be accomplished by e-mail and only meeting to fight out the individual air battles.
Campaign To model the conflict in the air, several fighter and bomber squadrons have been selected. In many cases their actual pilots from the campaign are represented. An effort has been made to identify the aces present in the various fighter groups. In cases where pilots and their skills were not known, their entries have been marked with a generic pilot with manufactured skills.
A map has been provided that marks out the various airfields that were used by the represented squadrons. Note that several of the bomber squadrons are located outside of the operational range and therefore cannot be targeted for attack.
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During the course of the campaign, the British were outnumbered in the air by a factor of 10 to 1. As a result the British player will spend most of their time on the defensive.
To model the campaign, each squadron will be able to conduct a number of missions each day of the campaign. Table 2 gives the number of offensive missions that are possible. An offensive mission is one in which that player is the aggressor. There are several examples of this type of mission. The first type of mission allows the aggressor player to use their bomber aircraft. They may select a flight of 3 bombers and one or more accompanying flights of fighters to escort them. Two types of bombing missions are available: airfield and strategic target. The airfield mission is an attack on an enemy airfield to attempt to destroy their aircraft on the ground. This type of bombing mission does not necessarily need any bomber aircraft to carry out the mission. The other bombing mission is an attack against another ground target such as enemy headquarters, supply dumps, harbors or some such target. The fighter sweep mission is a search and destroy mission where the aggressor looks for targets to shoot down. They must pick an area of the map in which to operate. Any aircraft that are in the area, even those carrying out other missions can be drawn into this battle. The aggressor can place the operational area for this mission after all other missions have been set in order to foil an opposing offensive mission. The last mission type is ground support. The British player cannot undertake this mission type, as they were not able to support the ground troops.
Table 2: Mission Availability Mission Availability Offensive Defensive Mission Die Mission Die Bombing – Airfield 1-2 Scramble 1-2 Bombing – Strategic 3 Combat Air 3-4 Patrol Fighter Sweep 4-5 Intercept 5-6 Ground Support* 6 Note: * Ground Support missions may not be executed by British Squadrons.
The defending player must roll against Table 2 to determine the response for each mission. A scramble mission means that the defender starts the mission at his own airbase on the ground and must take off to respond to the threat. If a Scramble mission is rolled against a Bombing – Strategic or a Ground Support mission, the defending player arrives after the bombing runs have been completed and will contend with the aggressors as they attempt to return to base. A CAP mission for the defender assumes that the defender had a flight of aircraft already in the air that are able to respond to the attack. The combat still occurs near the target area. The last result, intercept, is one where the defender fly’s forward to engage the attacking aircraft before they reach the target area.
This means that there will be many battles over the course of the campaign. The types of missions that they can conduct will be determined by a die throw for each mission. Table 1 will be used to determine the number of missions that each squadron can undertake.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 66 To keep the battles manageable, a maximum of 5 aircraft from any given squadron can participate in a single mission. You can assign multiple squadrons to the same mission. The reason for this is to keep aircraft in reserve, the squadron may have additional missions and to keep each battle manageable. The number of aircraft only limits the total number of missions that a given squadron can undertake that they have available. This means that a squadron can be assigned to an unlimited number of defensive missions as well as their assigned number of offensive ones. Each day of the campaign may need over 8 battles to resolve.
While it is admittedly narrow to only let a pilot fly only one mission a day it does simplify the record keeping needed for the campaign. In reality the British aviators flew multiple missions a day. Squadron Leader Pattle flew at least 3 missions while suffering from influenza the day he was shot down.
Mapping it out: It is useful to map out your campaign for each day. Using a copy of MAP 1, each player must in turn mark out their objectives for each of their offensive missions. Remember to mark out any rolled fighter sweep mission last. Once these missions are designated, each player must determine the defensive mission that they will undertake to attempt to thwart the opposing offensive mission. This portion of the campaign may be best played out as a Play By E-mail (PBEM) to keep things moving quicker when it comes time to fight out the air battles. After all, it is the air battles that Bag the Hun is all about.
Bombing Mission Target Selection: When a squadron has been selected to perform a bombing mission, that unit will be attacking specific targets in the target area. If the bombing runs fail, the target is missed within the target area. This becomes important for the game only when an opposing airbase is targeted. For non-airfield targets, it will determine the success of the mission. Bomber pilots and crews will improve their ratings only on successful missions. Failed missions will not produce better bomber crews for the purpose of the campaign. To simplify the campaign, there are no secondary targets that are available. If the target is missed, it is completely missed and no other damage is done.
Table 3 below provides the targets that are present in an airbase. Roll 2d6 to determine the target that the mission is to bomb. If the target is hit then a die must be rolled to determine the severity of the damage rendered to the target. The damage must be accounted for on the Airfield chart.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 67 Table 3: Bombing Targets Die Roll Acquired Target 2-3 Runway* 4 Fuel Depot 5 Ammo Storage 6 Hangers 7 Air Craft** 8 Control Tower 9 Offices 10 Pilots Ready Room 11 Barracks 12 Squadron Mascot Note: * There may be more than one runway on a given airfield. If there is more than one, one of these must be selected. It will be the choice of the attacker.
** This represents aircraft from any of the squadrons that are not participating in a given raid. Such as those under repair or that were unused for the day. If more than one squadron occupies the airbase, then the attacker can choose the squadron that they wish to attack.
Airfield damage can be repaired over time. Some types of damage will close an airfield or a portion of an airfield for a certain amount of time. Use the table (Table 4) below to review airfield damage. After your bombers have had a successful bombing run, roll 1d6 to determine the damage done to their target in the airfield following the attack.
Table 4: Airfield Damage and Effects Die Bombing Effects Roll Runway 1-2 Light Damage: No effect. Damage repaired in 2 days. Subsequent light damage before repairs are complete result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: The runway is closed for 1 day. Damage is completely repaired in 3 days. During repairs, subsequent light damage closes the runway for 2 days, additional moderate damage results in a heavy damage result. 6 Heavy Damage: The runway is closed for 3 days. The runway can be repaired in 5 days. Subsequent light damage closes the runway for 1 additional day, moderate damage for 3 days, heavy damage for 6 days. Fuel Depot 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effects. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: Only enough fuel remains for ¾ of the airfield’s remaining aircraft. Repairs will take 4 days. Additional light damage will extend repairs 2 days. Additional Moderate damage will result in a Heavy damage result. 6 Heavy Damage: Only enough fuel remains for ½ of the airfields remaining aircraft. Repairs will take 6 days. Additional light damage will extend repairs 2 days, moderate damage will extend repairs 5 days, and heavy damage will result in closing the airfield for 2 days. After this, flight operations may resume with only 1/3rd of the aircraft having fuel and an additional 3 days of repairs. Ammo Storage 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: Ammunition stores are reduced and only ¾ of the aircraft are operational. Repairs will take an additional 3 days. Additional Light damage will
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 68 extend repair times 2 days. Additional medium damage will result in a Heavy damage result. 6 Heavy Damage: All aircraft are grounded for 2 days in order to acquire more ammunition. Repairs to the ammo storage facility will require 7 days. Additional Heavy damage will result in continued closure of the base for another 2 days. Hangers 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: Repairs to damaged aircraft will take 2x’s longer than normal. Hangar repairs will take 4 days. Additional light damage will prolong the repairs an additional 2 days. Additional moderate damage will result in Heavy Damage. 6 Heavy Damage: The hangar is destroyed. No aircraft repairs can occur until the hangar is rebuilt in 6 days. Additional damage extends the rebuilding time 2 days. Air Craft 1-2 Light Damage: ¼ of the aircraft on the ground take light damage. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in 2 additional aircraft being damaged. Repairs are extended an additional 2 days. 3-5 Moderate Damage: ¼ of the aircraft on the ground take moderate damage. Hanger repairs will take 4 days. Additional light damage will result in 3 additional aircraft being damaged. Repairs are extended an additional 3 days. Additional medium damage will result in an additional 4 aircraft being damaged. Repairs are extended an additional 4 days. 6 Heavy Damage: 1/8th of the aircraft on the ground are total losses. 1/8th are lightly damaged. Repair time for the damaged aircraft is 2 days. Control Tower 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: Repairs will take 5 days. Any additional damage will result in a Heavy damage result. 6 Heavy Damage: The Control Tower is destroyed. Only 1 squadron at a time may operate from this field until another is built. Repairs will take 5 days. Offices 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: No paper work can be processed for 4 days while repairs are under way. Pilots may not advance in ability despite their kill total until repairs are completed. Additional light damage extends repairs for 1 day. Additional medium damage will extend repairs for an additional 3 days. 6 Heavy Damage: The offices are a total loss. The kill totals for today and the previous day are lost. Pilots from this airfield cannot use their mission or kill totals from these 2 days to advance. No pilot may advance until repairs are completed in 5 days. Additional damage postpones repairs an additional 2 days. Pilots Ready Room 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: Until repairs are completed defensive missions can only be Scramble or Intercept. No CAP missions are available from this airfield. Repairs will take 3 days. Additional damage will postpone repairs 2 days. 6 Heavy Damage: Only Scramble defensive missions can be launched from this airbase until repairs are made. Repairs will take 5 days. Additional damage postpones repairs 3 days. Barracks 1-2 Light Damage: No immediate effect. Repairs will take 2 days. Additional light damage will result in a moderate damage result. 3-5 Moderate Damage: The commanding officers liquor stash is destroyed. All aces
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 69 get an additional +1 to their luck rolls against the attacking squadron(s). 6 Heavy Damage: The pilots favorite female companion has perished with the barracks. Depression sets in. 2 pilots at random loose 1 ability level for the next mission. Roll necessary die to determine pilots. Squadron Mascot 1-2 Light Damage: No effect 3-5 Moderate Damage: The highest scoring pilot is now depressed and will fly the next mission as if he were a one ability level lower. 6 Heavy Damage: The squadron is angered. The next mission two pilots at random will be treated as one ability level higher.
Progression: After each air battle, the players must take note of their remaining assets. Pilots that have been killed or captured will be removed from their squadron. Aircraft losses will not be replaced and must be removed from the player’s inventory. In some cases a pilot may be wounded or their aircraft may be damaged. These will not be available for the next day’s mission. If a pilot successfully bails out over friendly territory, he can be recovered and used again in 2 days from the point he was shot down. Note that not every day in the month of April is represented in the campaign. So if an aviator is shot down over friendly territory on April 7th he is available for use again on the 10th. If a pilot is shot down over unfriendly territory roll a d6. On a roll of 1 or 2, they make their way back and can be used in 4 days. Any other roll leaves them as a prisoner of war for the duration.
To better keep track of ones forces, two forms are added to the back of the campaign booklet. The first is the airbase form. This keeps track of the facilities, personnel and equipment available at the particular airbase. Note that in some cases, a given airbase will support more than 1 squadron of aircraft. The German players do not need to concern themselves with this form as all of their aircraft fly from airbases beyond the scope of this game.
The second form is the squadron form. This form lists out the number of aircraft, their condition and pilots available to that squadron. This allows the squadron leader to track what has happened to his forces to track their progress and availability.
Pilots can improve their rankings. After 3 missions a Sprog pilot becomes a Regular pilot. After 2 kills a regular pilot becomes a veteran. After 5 kills a veteran pilot becomes a Junior Ace. After 12 kills, a Junior Ace becomes a Top Ace. If a Sprog pilot manages to shoot down 5 aircraft before he has advanced to a regular pilot, he may skip the rankings to meet the one appropriate – Jr Ace.
Notes on the available forces: The German Airfields are located in Romania and in Hungary and are therefore out of reach for Allied bombing. Allied offensive actions are limited to bombing the Italians and fighter sweeps against Germans. Allied fighters and bombers can reach any of the Albanian airfields. Axis forces can reach any of the Allied airfields.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 70 Table 5: Offensive Mission Availability Offensive Mission Availability Date UK Germany Italy April 6 4 2 1 April 7 3 2 1 April 10 3 3 1 April 11 2 3 1 April 14 2 3 2 April 15 2 4 2 April 18 1 4 2 April 19 1 5 2 April 22 1 5 2
Specific Rules for air combat in this campaign Terrain: The terrain in Southern Albania, Bulgaria and Northern Greece is very mountainous. The mountains in the region can extend up into the 3rd altitude band. This means that the mountains can be represented on your playing surface.
To simulate these, add some terrain that follows the contours of a hex on your hex mat. Any aircraft that is in altitude band 1, 2 or 3 runs the risk of crashing into a mountain. Forward movement beyond your anticipated or desired range can be disastrous.
For example, an aircraft is flying in a straight line that starts at in the bottom left corner of the map below and moves towards the upper right hand corner of the map. This aircraft is at altitude band #4. Notice the change in the shading of the hill in the upper right hand corner. This reflects a hill that extends from altitude band 1 up to band 3. Our aircraft in question is getting shot at. The aircraft is hit and receives critical damage resulting in Temporary loss of control. The aircraft begins to descend 1 altitude band per turn straight ahead. Now that the aircraft has dropped into altitude band #3 it will hit the top of the mountain in the far corner if it continues in the same flight path. Not only must pilots contend with the enemy, they must pay attention to their physical surroundings as well.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 71 Weather: In April, the air and ground forces of both sides had to contend with snowstorms. On the map, each day, roll for snowstorms in each grid square in the Northern most sections of the map (a1 – e12). On a d6 any result of a 1 means that that grid has a snowstorm. Open cockpit aircraft such as any biplanes or the Italian G50 cannot fly through these areas. If their airfield is in such a grid, their aircraft are grounded for that day’s operations.
When fighting in a snowstorm the visibility is greatly reduced. When flying, each turn the aircraft must roll for staying on course. Pilots may add their skill bonuses to the roll. Any roll total below a 2 results in the aircraft drifting to a side. Roll a d6 and consult the drift table below for the results:
Table 6: Drift Table Drift Table D6 Result Result 1 Move 1 hex to the left 2 Move 1 hex to the right 3 Move 2 hexes to the left 4 Move 2 hexes to the right 5 Loss of 1 Altitude band 6 Loss of 2 Altitude bands
This may cause an airplane to veer into a mountain. Any aircraft that had managed to get on the tail of another aircraft that has veered and not crashed stays on the tail of the other aircraft. If the aircraft that they are tailing has veered into a mountain, then it is assumed that the other pilot is paying close enough attention to not fly into the mountain and can remain away from the offending edifice.
Map Notes The map shows approximate locations of the various airbases that correspond to the squadrons in the appendix. Where one could not be found, one was invented. Use the terrain from the map as a guide to making your scenario maps. Lots of mountains will make things interesting for dive-bombers.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 72 Map 1: The Combat Arena
Definitions: 1: Berat, Albania – 154 Gruppo, 5 Gruppo 2: Tirana, Albania – 70 Gruppo 3: Yanina, Greece – 112 Sqdn 4: Larissa, Greece – 33 Sqdn 5: Eleusis, Greece – 80 Sqdn 6: Menidi, Greece – 84 Sqdn 7: Paramythia, Greece – 211 Sqdn
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 73 Sources Håkans aviation page: Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War. http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/
Comando Supremo: Italy at War. www.comandosupremo.com/
World War II Armed Forces: Orders of Battle and Organizations. Dr. Leo Niehorster. http://orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/index_01.htm
Luftwaffe Markings & Camouflage. [email protected] . http://users.hol.gr/~nowi/
Tony Wood's Combat Claims & Casualties Lists. Tony Wood. http://www.lesbutler.ip3.co.uk/tony/tonywood.htm
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 74 Appendix 1: Aircraft Lists By “Squadron” Luftwaffe
Dive Bomber Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces I/St.G 77 Arad Ju87B Hpt Bruck Stab Arad Ju87B 3 Hpt Bruck Hauptmann Bruck – Veteran Pilot Bf110C 1 2 x Veteran Pilots 1 x Regular Pilot Staffel 1 Arad Ju87B 10 2 x Veteran Pilots 4 x Regular Pilots 4 x Sprog Pilots Staffel 2 Arad Ju87B 10 3 x Veteran Pilots 4 x Regular Pilots 3 x Sprog Pilots Staffel 3 Arad Ju87B 10 1 x Veteran Pilot 6 x Regular Pilots 3 x Sprog Pilots II/St.G 77 Arad Ju87B Major Bode Stab Arad 3 Major Bode Major Bode – Veteran Pilot 2 x Veteran Pilots Staffel 4 Arad 10 1 x Veteran Pilot 6 x Regular Pilots 3 x Sprog Pilots Staffel 5 Arad 9 2 x Veteran Pilots 7 x Regular Pilots Staffel 6 Arad 10 1 x Veteran Pilots 8 x Regular Pilots 1 x Sprog Pilot
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 75 Destroyer Squadron Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces I/ZG 26 Szeged BF110C Hpt Wilhelm Makrocki Stab Szeged Bf110C 3 Hauptmann Wilhelm Makrocki - Jr Ace 2 x Regular Pilots Staffel 1 Szeged Bf110C 10 1 x Veteran Pilot 5 x Regular Pilots 4 x Sprog Pilots Staffel 2 Szeged Bf110C 8 1 x Jr Ace 2 x Veteran Pilots 4 x Regular Pilots 1 x Sprog Pilot Staffel 3 Szeged Bf110C 9 2 x Veteran Pilots 4 x Regular Pilots 3 x Sprog Pilot
Fighter Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces III/JG 54 Arad Bf109E Hpt Arnold Lignitz Stab Arad Bf109E 6 Hpt Arnold Lignitz Hpt Arnold Lignitz - Veteran Pilot Oblt Gunther Scholz - Regular Pilot 2 x Veteran Pilots 2 x Regular Pilots Staffel 7 Arad Bf109E 11 1 - Jr Ace Lt Max-Helmuth Ostermann - Regular Pilot Oblt Gerhard Koall - Regular Pilot 3 - Veteran Pilots 2 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 8 Arad Bf109E 10 1 - Jr Ace 3 - Veteran Pilots 3 - Regular Pilots 2 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 9 Arad Bf109E 12 Oblt Hans-Ekkehard Bob Oberleutnant Hans-Ekkehard Bob (StafelKaptain) 19 kills Ritterkreuz Later 60 Kills - Top Ace
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 76 3 - Veteran Pilots 3 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots II/JG77 Deta Bf109E Hpt Franz-Heinz Lange Stab Deta Bf109E 4 Hpt Franz-Heinz Lange Hauptmann Franz-Heinz Lange - Veteran Oblt Patz - Regular Pilot 2 - Regular Pilots Staffel 4 Deta Bf109E 10 Lt. Jakob Arnoldy (KIA April 14, 1941) 7 Jr Ace Ofw Dyk - Regular Pilot Fw Armin Kohler - Veteran Pilot 2 - Veteran Pilots 2 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 5 Deta Bf109E 10 1 - Jr Ace Oblt Jung - Regular Pilot Ofw Wermer Petermann - Veteran Pilot Oblt Rahm - Regular Pilot Fw Froba - Regular Pilot 2 - Veteran Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 6 Deta Bf109E 10 Gefr. Hans Gabler - Regular Pilots Siegfried Freytag - Sprog later 102 kills 2 - Veteran Pilots 3 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots III/JG77 Deta Bf109E Hpt Alexander von Winterfeld Stab Deta Bf109E Hpt Alexander von Winterfeld Hauptmann Alexander von Winterfeld – Top Ace Pilot (19 Kills) Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber - Adjutant (5) Later 96 Kills - Jr Ace 1 - Regular Pilot Staffel 7 Deta Bf109E 3 - Veteran 4 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 8 Deta Bf109E Oblt Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben Oberleutnant Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben (7) Staffelkaptain 8./JG 77 Later 111 Kills -
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 77 Jr Ace Lt Hans Schopper - Regular Pilot Obfw Herbert Kaiser - Regular Pilot Feldwebel Heinrich Hackler - Sprog Fw Reinhold Schmetzer - Veteran Pilot Fw Ebeling - Veteran Pilot 1 - Regular Pilots 3 - Sprog Pilots Staffel 9 Deta Bf109E Oblt Armin Schmidt Oberleutnant Armin Schmidt (Staffelkapitän) (KIA April 19, 1941) - Veteran Oblt Kurt Lasse - Regular Pilot Oberfeldwebel Emil Omert (1) Later 70 Kills - Veteran Fw Erwin Riehl - Veteran Pilot 2 - Regular Pilots 4 - Sprog Pilots
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 78 Royal Air Force
Fighter Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces 33 Sqdn Larissa Hurricane SL M. T. St J. Pattle Larrisa Hurricane 12 SL M. T. St J. Pattle SL M.T. St J. Pattle - DFC & Bar - Top Ace (50 victories) (KIA April 20, 1941) FL Rumsey - Veteran FL Littler - Veteran FL George Kettlewell (2 Injured April 20. 1941) - Veteran FL A. B. Mitchell (1) - Veteran FL John Mackie (7) - Jr Ace FO Frankie Holman (2 - KIA April 19, 1941) - Regular FO Vernon Woodward (3) - Veteran FO Percival ‘Ping’ Newton (2) - Regular FO Charlie Dyson - Regular FO Henry John 'Harry' Starrett (KIA April 20, 1941) - Regular FO Moir (1) - Regular FO Peter Wickham (7) Jr Ace PO CAC Cheetham (KIA April 15, 1941) Sprog PO Winsland - Sprog FS Leonard Cottingham (11) Top Ace FS Charles Casbolt (3) - Sprog 80 Sqdn Eleusis Hurricane SL E. G. Jones Eleusis Hurricane 12 SL E. G. Jones SL E. G. 'Tap' Jones (5 Jr Ace) FL William Woods (6 DFC KIA April 20, 1941) - JR Ace FO P. T. 'The Keg' Dowding (2) - Veteran FO Wanklyn 'Twinstead' Flower (2) - Veteran FO F.W. Hosken - Regular PO J. Lancaster - Sprog PO William Vale (30 Top Ace) DFC & Bar, Greek DFC PO J. Still - Sprog PO Roald Dahl (the author, 1 kill) - Sprog FS Pierre Wintersdorff (1) -Regular
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 79 FS Edward Hewett (16) - Top Ace FS Jacques Rivalant -Sprog 112 Sqdn Paramythia Gladiator SL L.G. Schwab Gladiator 15 SL L.G. Schwab SL Lloyd Gilbert 'Algy' Schwab (6) - Jr Ace FL Joseph Fraser (A Flight) (10) - Jr Ace FL Henry Harrison (2) - Veteran FL Charles Fry (C Flight) (5) - Jr Ace FO Homer Powell Cochrane (7) - Jr Ace FO EH Brown (1) - Regular FO R. J. Bennett (3) - Veteran FO Holman - Regular Pilot PO Jack Lawson Groves (6) - Jr Ace PO Neville Bowker - Sprog PO D. G. H. MacDonald - Sprog PO Peter Charles Lindsay Brunton (1) - Regular Pilot PO Neville Bowker (10) - Jr Ace FS George Millar 'Paddy' Donaldson (6) - Jr Ace Sprog Pilot
Bomber Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces 211 Sqdn Paramythia Blenheim I Sqdn Ldr A. T. Irvine Paramythia Blenheim I 9 Sqdn Ldr A. T. Irvine Sqdn Ldr A. T. Irvine – Veteran Pilot 2 Veteran Pilots 2 Regular Pilots 4 Sprog Pilots 84 Sqdn Menidi Blenheim I Sqdn Ldr H. D. Jones Menidi Blenheim I 9 Sqdn Ldr H. D. Jones Sqdn Ldr H. D. Jones – Veteran Pilot 2 Veteran Pilots 4 Regular Pilots 2 Sprog Pilots
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 80
Regia Aeronautica
Fighter Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces 154 Gr. Berat G50 361 Sqd Berat G50 10 1 – Jr Ace 2 – Veteran Pilots 4 – Regular Pilots 3 – Sprog Pilots 395 Sqd Berat G50 10 2 – Veteran Pilots 4 – Regular Pilots 4 – Sprog Pilots 150 Gr. Devoli MC200 363 Sqd Devoli MC200 7 Ugo Drago (4 kills, later 17 kills) – Veteran Pilot 1 – Veteran Pilot 3 – Regular Pilots 2 – Sprog Pilots 364 Sqd Devoli MC200 7 1 – Veteran Pilot 3 – Regular Pilots 3 – Sprog Pilots 365 Sqd Devoli MC200 6 1 – Veteran Pilot 3 – Regular Pilots 2 – Sprog Pilots
Bomber Squadrons Squadron Location Aircraft Numbers Commander Aces 5 Gruppo Berat Ro37bis 31 Sqd Berat Ro37bis 9 2 – Veteran Pilots 2 – Regular Pilots 5 – Sprog Pilots 39 Sqd Berat Ro37bis 9 3 – Veteran Pilots 3 – Regular Pilots
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 81 3 – Sprog Pilots 70 Gruppo Tirana Ca. 311 144 Sqd Tirana Ca. 311 8 2 – Veteran Pilot 3 – Regular Pilots 2 – Sprog Pilots
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 82 Appendix 2: Airfield Forms Template Airfield Name:
Squadrons:
Number of Runways:____ Number of Hangers:____
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Note: Squadron Aircraft are tracked on a separate Squadron Form.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 83 Airfield Name: Berat
Squadrons: 5 Gruppo OA 154 Gruppo CT
Number of Runways:__2__ Number of Hangers:_2__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Note: Squadron Aircraft are tracked on a separate Squadron Form.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 84
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 31s/5 Veteran Pilot 1 Gruppo 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Sprog Pilot 1 5 Sprog Pilot 2 6 Sprog Pilot 3 7 Sprog Pilot 4 8 Sprog Pilot 5 9 39s/5 Veteran Pilot 1 Gruppo 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Veteran Pilot 3 3 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 361s/154 Jr Ace Pilot 1 Gruppo Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 4 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 395s/154 Veteran Pilot 1 Gruppo 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 85 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Regular Pilot 6 4 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9 Sprog Pilot 4 10 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 86 Airfield Name: Tirana
Squadrons: 70 Gruppo
Number of Runways:_1___ Number of Hangers:__1__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 144s/70 Veteran Pilot 1 Gruppo 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Sprog Pilot 1 6 Sprog Pilot 2 7 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 87 Airfield Name: Devoli
Squadrons: 150 Gruppo CT
Number of Runways:_1___ Number of Hangers:_1___
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 363s/150 Ugo Drago (4) 1 Gruppo Veteran Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Sprog Pilot 1 6 Sprog Pilot 2 7 364s/150 Veteran Pilot 1 Gruppo 1 Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Sprog Pilot 1 5 Sprog Pilot 2 6 Sprog Pilot 3 7 365s/150 Veteran Pilot 1
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 88 Gruppo 1 Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Sprog Pilot 1 5 Sprog Pilot 2 6 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 89 Airfield Name: Paramythia
Squadrons: 112 Squadron 211 Squardron
Number of Runways:_2__ Number of Hangers:__ 2__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Note: Squadron Aircraft are tracked on a separate Squadron Form.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 90
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 112 Sqdn SL L.G. (6) 1 Schwab FL Joseph (10) 2 Fraser FL Henry (2) 3 Harrison FL Charles (5) 4 Fry FO H.P. (7) 5 Cochrane FO EH Brown (1) 6 FO R. J. (3) 7 Bennett FO Holman 8 PO Jack (6) 9 Lawson Groves PO Neville 10 Bowker PO D. G. H. 11 MacDonald PO P. C. L. (1) 12 Brunton PO Neville (10) Bowker FS G. M. (6) Donaldson Sprog Pilot Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 211 Sqdn SL A.T. Irvine 1 Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Sprog Pilot 1 6 Sprog Pilot 2 7 Sprog Pilot 3 8 Sprog Pilot 4 9 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 91 Airfield Name: Menidi
Squadrons: 84 Squadron
Number of Runways:__1__ Number of Hangers:__ 1__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 84 Sqdn SL H. D. 1 Jones Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 4 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 92 Airfield Name: Eleusis
Squadrons: 80 Squadron
Number of Runways:_1___ Number of Hangers:__ 1__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 80 SL E. G. (5) 1 Jones FL William (6) 2 Woods FO P. T. (2) 3 Dowding FO Wanklyn (2) 4 Flower FO F.W. 5 Hosken PO J. 6 Lancaster PO William (30) 7 Vale PO J. Still 8 PO Roald (1) 9 Dahl FS Pierre (1) 10 Wintersdorff FS Edward (16) 11 Hewett FS Jacques 12 Rivalant
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 93 Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 94 Airfield Name: Larisssa
Squadrons: 33 Squadron
Number of Runways:__1__ Number of Hangers:__ 1__
Status Chart: Fill in the number of Days to repair in the status box based on the damage taken. Facility Light Moderate Heavy Notes Damage Damage Damage Runway 1 Runway 2 Runway 3 Hanger 1 Hanger 2 Hanger 3 Ammo Storage Fuel Storage Control Tower Offices Pilot Ready Room Barracks Squadron Mascot 1 Squadron Mascot 2 Squadron Mascot 3
Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Statuss Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy 33 SL Pattle (50) 1 FL Rumsey 2 FL Littler 3 FL Kettlewell (2) 4 FL Mitchell (1) 5 FL Mackie (7) 6 FO Holman (2) 7 FO Woodward (3) 8 FO Newton (2) 9 FO Dyson 10 FO Starrett 11 FO Moir (1) 12 FO Wickam (7) PO Cheetham PO Winsland FS (11) Cottingham FS Casbolt Pilot Status is either: OK, Wounded, MIA or Dead. Aircraft Status is either: OK, Damaged or Destroyed. Kills: The number in brackets is their starting kill totals at the beginning of the campaign.
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 95 Appendix 3: German Squadron Forms Fighter Squadrons Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft # Status Damage Light Moderate Heavy II/JG77 - Hpt Franz- (2) 1 Stab Heinz Lange Oblt Patz 2 Regular Pilot 3 Regular Pilot 4 II/JG77 – 4. Lt. Jakob (7) 1 Arnoldy Ofw Dyk 2 Fw Armin 3 Kohler Veteran Pilot (1) 4 1 Veteran Pilot (2) 5 2 Regular Pilot (1) 6 1 Regular Pilot 7 2 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 II/JG77 – 5. Jr Ace Pilot (5) 1 Oblt Jung 2 Ofw Wermer 3 Petermann Oblt Rahm 4 Fw Froba 5 Veteran Pilot (2) 6 1 Veteran Pilot (1) 7 2 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 II/JG77 – 6. Gefr. Hans 1 Gabler Siegfried 2 Freytag Veteran Pilot (3) 3 1 Veteran Pilot (1) 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 1 Regular Pilot 6 2 Regular Pilot 7 3 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10
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Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy III/JG77 - Hpt (19) 1 Stab Alexander von Winterfeld Diethelm von (5) 2 Eichel- Streiber Regular Pilot 3 1 III/JG77 – Veteran Pilot (1) 1 7. 1 Veteran Pilot (3) 2 2 Veteran Pilot (2) 3 3 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 4 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 III/JG77 – Oblt Kurt (7) 1 8. Ubben Lt Hans 2 Schopper Obfw Herbert 3 Kaiser Fw H. 4 Hackler Fw Reinhold 5 Schmetzer Fw Ebeling 6 Regular Pilot 7 1 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 III/JG77 – Oblt Armin 1 9. Schmidt Oblt Kurt 2 Lasse Ofw Emil (1) 3 Omert Fw Erwin 4 Riehl Regular Pilot 5 1 Regular Pilot 6 2 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9 Sprog Pilot 4 10
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Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage t # Light Moderate Heavy III/JG54 - Hpt Arnold 1 Stab Lignitz Oblt Gunther 2 Scholz Veteran Pilot (1) 3 1 Veteran Pilot (1) 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 1 Regular Pilot 6 2 III/JG54 – Jr Ace Pilot (6) 1 7. Lt Max- 2 Helmuth Ostermann Oblt Gerhard 3 Koall Veteran Pilot (1) 4 1 Veteran Pilot 5 2 Veteran Pilot (2) 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 1 Regular Pilot 8 2 Sprog Pilot 1 9 Sprog Pilot 2 10 Sprog Pilot 3 11 III/JG54 – Jr Ace Pilot (5) 1 8. Veteran Pilot (2) 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Veteran Pilot (1) 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 1 Regular Pilot 6 2 Regular Pilot 7 3 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 III/JG54 – Oblt Hans- (19) 1 9. Ekkehard Bob Veteran Pilot (1) 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Veteran Pilot (1) 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 1 Regular Pilot 6 2 Regular Pilot 7
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www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 99 Destroyer Squadron Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy I/ZG26 – Hpt Wilhelm (5) 1 Stab Makrocki Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 I/ZG26 – 1. Veteran Pilot (1) 1 Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 4 Regular Pilot 6 5 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9 Sprog Pilot 4 10 I/ZG26 – 2. Jr Ace Pilot (5) 1 Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 4 Sprog Pilot 1 8 I/ZG26 – 3. Veteran Pilot 1 1 Veteran Pilot (1) 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Regular Pilot 6 4 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9
www.toofatlardies.co.uk Page 100 Dive Bomber Squadrons Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Status Kills Aircraft Status Damage # Light Moderate Heavy I/StG77 - Hpt Bruck 1 Stab Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 Bf110C 1 I/StG77 – 1. Veteran Pilot 1 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Regular Pilot 6 4 Sprog Pilot 1 7 Sprog Pilot 2 8 Sprog Pilot 3 9 Sprog Pilot 4 10 I/StG77 – 2 Veteran Pilot 1 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Veteran Pilot 3 3 Regular Pilot 4 1 Regular Pilot 5 2 Regular Pilot 6 3 Regular Pilot 7 4 Sprog Pilot 1 Sprog Pilot 2 Sprog Pilot 3 8 I/StG77 – 3 Veteran Pilot 1 1 Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 4 Regular Pilot 6 5 Regular Pilot 7 6 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3
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Pilots Aircraft Squadron Pilot Kills Aircraft Status Damage Status # Light Moderate Heavy II/StG77 - Major Bode 1 Stab Veteran Pilot 2 1 Veteran Pilot 3 2 II/StG77 – 4 Veteran Pilot 1 1 . Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 4 Regular Pilot 6 5 Regular Pilot 7 6 Sprog Pilot 1 8 Sprog Pilot 2 9 Sprog Pilot 3 10 II/StG77 – 5 Veteran Pilot 1 1 Veteran Pilot 2 2 Regular Pilot 3 1 Regular Pilot 4 2 Regular Pilot 5 3 Regular Pilot 6 4 Regular Pilot 7 5 Regular Pilot 8 6 Regular Pilot 9 7 II/StG77 – 6 Veteran Pilot 1 1 Regular Pilot 2 1 Regular Pilot 3 2 Regular Pilot 4 3 Regular Pilot 5 4 Regular Pilot 6 5 Regular Pilot 7 6 Regular Pilot 8 7 Regular Pilot 9 8 Sprog Pilot 1 10
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