This 33 counter scenario was more of strategic game than a tactical one. The Germans had two objectives: capture the bridge over the Tavronitis River on board 96 and control the airfield on board 97. Two companies from the low New Zealand 22nd Infantry Battalion stood in the way against seven platoons, two Paratrooper MG platoons and two mortars. The. Kiwis had five infantry platoons and an HMG platoon. They also had 18 points of off-board artillery. The objectives for to hold the bridge, control more hexes of the airfield than the Germans and eliminate at least three German steps. Yet the Kiwis had an a very understrength force to accomplish their task. The 14 turn scenario seemed of sufficient length for an attack to be carefully planned and executed. But in fact the game came down to the last turn.

The New Zealanders found that their force was compromised by a geographically fractured set up. They were forced to put two platoons next to hex #0804 next to the bridge and the rest of the force east of river. If they set up near the river, they could consolidate their force, but the Germans could trap them from the to the west and away from the airfield. They set up east of the of the wadi on the east side of board.

The Germans wiped out the Kiwi outpost near the river by turn three, but one unit of Kiwis fled in DM status. This caused the Germans into two platoons at the bridge. In the meantime, the rest of the paratroopers attacked the Kiiwi line in the wadi area. One platoon circled around the Kiwi line and eventually made it unscathed to the airfield. This forced the Kiwis to move as quick as possible to capture the the airfield. In the end, both sides held one hex of airfield. The Germans could not move fast enough to put more troops on the airfield. They did destroy four Kiwi steps, but this did not play into the victory conditions. Another problem was that ttwo FOW e events on turns 12 and 13 stopped the German advance to the airfield.

Parachutes Over Crete: scenario #2: By the Tavronitis

Another quick playing scenario with opposite results of my last one. The Germans need to control a bridge and most of the four airfields but the New Zealand & British forces have some good fight in them.

The Germans try to take the Bridge first but are blunted badly and then decide to take half of their batter force and go after the airfields but are again bloodied. After 14 turns, the Allies control two out of four airfields and the Bridge for a Major New Zealand Victory. The Germans have only two airfield hexes and have lost 6 steps and 2 leaders in their high price loss! A fun scenario to try and master.

The New Zealand forces put up a defensive line on the East side of the river, which served them well until an hour and a half until the end of the game. They could not get back in time to make a proper stand in front of the air field. The Germans put a flank attack around the North end of the airfield and it was all over from there. (Note: I had thought that there should have been some sort of "penalty" for attacking out of the wadi, I played the attackers with a -1 on the column, it IS an uphill attack. I queried the forum in hopes of getting a "read" on the situation.)