GIA TAHGC Q "GAMBIT"

Updated 061210

MALEME, CRETE, May 21, 1941: The New Zealanders had spent most of 20th May pinned down by endless sweeps of German fighter aircraft. Communications were a shambles, casualties where heavy, and local counterattacks simply failed. Colonel Andre of the 5th New Zealand Brigade opted to withdraw from the immediate area of Maleme airfield and regroup to the southeast. The problem remained of how to draw back when the German paratroopers seemed everywhere.

VICTORY CONDITIONS: For the British player to win, he must exit nine squads off the south edge of Board 2 on or adjacent to hexes 2I1, 2Q1 and/.or 2Y1. The German player winds by avoiding the British victory conditions.

BOARD LAYOUT:

NORTH

SCENARIO SEQUENCE:

British sets up first	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	END
German moves first

BRITISH FORCES:

AT START: Elements of the 22nd New Zealand Battalion; set up per Special Scenario Rule Q.1:
1x9-1; 2x8-0; 12x457; 2x51mm MTR; 2xLMG; 1xATR

GERMAN FORCES:

AT START: Elements of the 7th Paratrooper Division; set up in any whole hex numbed 8, 9, and/or 10 on Board 4:
1x9-2;2x8-1; 8x838

SPECIAL SCENARIO RULES:

SSR Q.1: The British player may set up any five counters in any whole hexes numbered 5, 6, and/or 7 on Board 4. The rest of the New Zealand forces enter on teh north edge on Game Turn 1.
SSR Q.2: No Troops have smoke grenades and there are no smoke rounds for the 51mm mortars.

AFTERMATH: The Germans swept down from the hill and surround one isolated platoon of the New Zealanders. In so doing, they opened a corridor through which the rest of the 22nd was able to pass. Colonel Andre was able to regroup and hoped to retake the airfield the following day. His hopes were never to be fulfilled.