CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 SOLITAIRE GAME STRUCTURE 3.0 GAME COMPONENTS 4.0 HOW TO WIN 5.0 HOW TO SET UP THE GAME 6.0 SEQUENCE OF PLAY 7.0 THE MAP & POSITIONING OF UNITS 8.0 GERMAN FORCES 9.0 ALLIED FORCES 10.0 XI FK STAFF POINTS 11.0 INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS 12.0 REFITTING GERMAN UNITS 13.0 GERMAN STAGING 14.0 GERMAN TACTICAL MOVEMENT 15.0 GERMAN AIR OPERATIONS 16.0 STRATEGIC AIR ATTACKS ON THE ALLIED COMMAND INDEX 17.0 STRATEGIC AIR ATTACKS ON THE ROYAL NAVY 18.0 AIR TRANSPORT, AIR DROPS, AIRLANDING NOTE: To remove the rules from this 3.0 GAME COMPONENTS 19.0 AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS magazine, carefully and slowly peel 20.0 FOG OF WAR & REVEAL PHASE them from the subscription card they are 3.1 Game Map attached to by peeling from the top and 21.0 ALLIED ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE The map shows Crete and the surrounding seas, then the bottom meeting in the middle. with displays (boxes) representing the German 22.0 TACTICAL AIR ATTACKS The card is not intended to be removed. 23.0 GROUND COMBAT staging areas in mainland Greece (see rule 7.0). 24.0 FIRING & CRT These rules use the following color system: 25.0 WINNING A BATTLE Red for critical points such as errata and 3.2 Game Displays 26.0 PURSUIT exceptions, Blue for examples of play. Game displays record various information 27.0 ALLIED COMMAND LEVEL during the course of a game, listed as follows. 28.0 ALLIED MIDDLE EAST COMMAND EVENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION Turn: Shows the current turn. 29.0 ALLIED RESERVES Crete 1941 is an operational level simulation of 30.0 ALLIED OFFENSIVES, MOVEMENT the German airborne assault on the island of Allied Command: Indicates overall Allied & COUNTERATTACKS Crete in May of 1941. Crete 1941 is a solitaire command and command control level. 31.0 ALLIED EVACUATION game; the player controls German forces, and the game system controls the opposing Battle Space: This is a convenient place to OPTIONAL RULES Allied reaction. The objective of the game put units that are engaged in combat. 32.0 SPECIAL GERMAN UNITS is for the Germans to capture Crete at the 33.0 ADDITIONAL AIR MISSIONS lowest possible cost in terms of casualties. German Staging: Organizes German units 34.0 ADDITIONAL TACTIC in Greece which will move to Crete. 35.0 ALLIED HQS AND 2.0 SOLITAIRE GAME COMMAND LEVEL STRUCTURE Luftwaffe: Organizes German air units in 36.0 SCENARIO VARIANTS Crete 1941 requires only one player to play. Greece that will fl y missions in a turn. 37.0 TEAM PLAY There are two sides in the game, German and Allied. You, the player, control the Germans Royal Navy: Indicates the current strength CREDITS and all of their contingents (the German and aggressiveness of the Royal Navy military and the Italians). The game system in the waters surrounding Crete. Design: Joseph Miranda controls the Allied side and its contingents Development: Eric R. Harvey (British Commonwealth and Greek). You have Victory Points: This is used to track Playtesters & Proofers: Ty Bomba, the option to maneuver German units as you the current Victory Points (VP). Roger Mason, Joe Youst, John desire within the rules’ allowances, but when Burtt, Milton Duncan, Lee Enderlin a rule calls for the Allies to do something, 3.3 Game Tables & Charts Map Graphics: Joe Youst you, the player, must execute that action. These provide various randomized Counters: Nadir Elfarra events and actions. Production: Callie Cummins 2.1 Team Play and Chris Cummins Crete 1941 can also be played by two Airborne Assault Table: Used when German or more players, controlling different airborne units are making assault landings. © 2016 Decision Games parts of the German invasion. This is Bakersfi eld, CA. explained in the Optional Rules. Allied Middle East Command Events: Made & printed in the USA. Generates commands for Allied forces. WORLD AT WAR 47 | APR–MAY 2016 R1 Combat Results Table: Provides the parenthesized strength. Unarenthesized German Abbreviations die roll ranges generating outcomes units are “maneuver” (ground) types. BB: Brandenburgers in various types of combat. F: Flieger (airborne) Elite Unit: Certain units have a “plus” (+) G: Gebirgs (mountain) Fliegerkorps XI Staff Points: sign after their combat factor. This KG: Kampfgruppe Indicates the current level of German indicates that they provide a bonus LSR: Luftlande Sturm Regiment planning and logistic support. when determining Tactical Edge (23.4). (airlanding assault regiment) R: Regina (Italian 50th Infantry Division) Naval Attack Outcome Table: Provides Note: “Elite” is a relative term in the 5PZ: 5th Panzer Division results for successful German air game; most German and Commonwealth attacks against the Royal Navy. units on Crete were elite by WWII Allied Abbreviations standards, but for the game this means Au: Australian VP Table: Lists events which will units with superior leadership. Comp: Composite change the VP level. LF: Layforce Ground Unit Types (Maneuver) NZ: New Zealand 3.4 Game Units The following list indicates units that GRR: Queen’s Royal Regiment There are three general types of are ground (maneuver) types. RM: Royal Marines counters in the game: combat units, air RP: Royal Perivolian units, and administrative markers. Airborne Armor (German) Commando Deception Air Units Ground Combat Units Engineer/Pioneer Headquarters (HQ) Air units have the following information. Infantry Logistics Sample Elite Unit Mountain Infantry Motorcycle Aircraft model/silhouette: This is the type Certain combat units are Elite; they have Marine Partisans of aircraft which predominates in the unit. a “plus” sign after their combat factor. Targets (represent strategic level objectives) Unit identifi cation: The historical Note: Targets refer to the special Allied identifi cation (each air unit units: RAF, Intel, and King George. represents 3-6 squadrons). Tactical Combat Rating: A numerical rating of the air unit’s ability to attack Allied units located in Zones on Crete. Strategic Combat Rating: A numerical ratings of the air unit’s ability to attack the Allied Command and Royal Navy Indexes. Air Unit Types Bomber (Do-17, Ground Unit Types (Support) He-111, Ju-88) Ground combat units have the Armor (Allied) Dive Bomber (Ju-87 Stuka) following information. Heavy weapons Fighter (Me-109, Me-110) Artillery Transport (Ju-52) Unit Type Symbol: This is the general Anti-aircraft artillery (AA or Flak) type of weapons systems of the unit. Backprinting of Units Note: The term “airborne” includes Airborne Qualifi ed: This indicates if the both parachute and glider forces. German units (generally) have two sides; unit can use airborne movement (includes the front shows the unit at full combat both parachute or glider types). Unit Sizes strength. The reverse side shows the The following symbols indicate the “size” of unit at reduced combat strength. Unit Identifi cation: This is the a unit relative to other units in the game. historical identifi cation. Note: In some cases, Elite units that XXX = Corps are reduced lose their Elite status. Combat Rating: A numerical rating of XX = Division the unit’s combat effectiveness. X = Brigade Allied units have two sides. The front | | | = Regiment shows their combat values. The reverse “Support” Unit: This is indicated with a | | = Battalion shows a generic Allied symbol. | = Company, Detachment [ ] = Kampfgruppe, Task Force R2 WORLD AT WAR 47 | APR–MAY 2016 Airlanding: The general term for fl ying from 12 hours of intense combat action to in units via air transports. three days of attritional warfare or refi tting Amphibious Move: The general Note: Historically, the battle began on term for moving units via sea. 18 May 1941, with a two-day German air 3.5 Administrative Markers bombardment, followed by the fi rst airborne The following types of markers are Control (a Zone): A side controls a Zone if it landings on 20 May. It ended on 1 June. used to track the various functions has at least one ground unit in it and there of the game during play. are no enemy ground units in it. If both 4.0 HOW TO WIN sides have ground units in a Zone, then At the end of the game, check the Victory it is disputed. If neither side has ground Points (VP) Index. The range it is within will units in a Zone, then it is uncontrolled. determine the level of German victory. Force: One or more units conducting 25 or less: Strategic defeat some game action together. 26-75: Tactical defeat Amphibious Move: Indicates a German force 76-125: Draw that is engaging in amphibious movement. German: The general term for all Axis forces; 126+: Victory Wehrmacht (German and Italian forces). Allied Evacuation: Indicates that an Note: Strategically, the historical result was Allied Evacuation is in effect. “May”: The player can choose to a draw. The Germans took Crete, but the take this action or not. loss of paratroopers and aircraft led to Hitler Allied Command: Indicates the becoming hesitant about future airborne current Allied command control and “Must”: The player must take this action. operations. The objective of the game is willingness to continue the battle. for you, the player, to seize the island with Pick or Pick at Random: Choose a better record than XI Fliegerkorps did. Royal Navy Level: Indicates the without looking a counter. current strength and aggressiveness 4.1 Catastrophe of the Royal Navy. Reveal: Flip a face down Allied If no Allied evacuation has occurred by counter face up. end of game turn "7," the game ends Turn: Indicates the current turn. immediately as a defeat for the German Select: Choose a marker or other player (i.e., a "sudden death" victory). VP: Indicates the current number of victory item intentionally.