Crete 1941 (1 Viewer)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

A couple of you were asking and some others wrote to me privately asking for suggestions as to what British troops could go up against the upcoming Fallschirmjager in a Battle of Crete scenario?

Well, you’re in luck because either “Fields of Battle” British Tommies or British 8th Army work equally well.

As many of you know the British, Australian and New Zealanders sent over to Greece virtually all came from North Africa and the Western Desert Force which later became the 8th Army.

Many photos of the campaign show a complete mix of British battle dress and desert uniforms being worn at that time. So, let me suggest a mixture would work very well...ultimately the choice is yours. Take your pick.

Best wishes and...happy collecting!

Andy C.

 

[Rob]

Thank you Andy,thats very helpful.Love the new FJ's by the way.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

I'll be using my 8th army figures to go up against the FJs.
I dont think Creforce had much armour support either so the ground figures would go well.

 

[Rob]

That sounds good.I also think the FOB figs look very strong so i might mix and match.It will be good to have some strong resistance for the FJ's, after all their operation in Crete was nearly a disaster.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

Commonwealth forces were very cautious during this battle but still put up strong resistance. Definite pyhrric victory for the Germans.

 

[Rob]

Commonwealth forces were very cautious during this battle but still put up strong resistance. Definite pyhrric victory for the Germans.

I read in that book we were talking about yesterday,that one in four FJ's were killed in the Landings on Crete.Plus they had that fishing fleet of troop ships sunk by the Royal Navy.There is a photo in the book of FJ's all laughing and joking in their Junkers as they approach Crete,unaware of the firestorm that awaited them.No wonder they were never deployed in such numbers again.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

The idea of dropping onto a heavily defended island without being armed and putting weapons in cannisters has always seemed an odd decision. I guess though that was just their standard procedure at the time and had been successful in smaller operations.

 

[Rob]

And of course you had the extra dimension of a violent and armed population only too willing to come out onto the fields and into the Olive Groves and kill your FJ's before they could even fight the Brits.Arming themselves with the weapons from the cannisters i believe they killed about one hundred and fifty FJ's.I remember seeing a documentary about Crete in which this very elderly Cretian took the camera crew into his house and showed them the weapons (MP4O/Grenades etc)he'd taken from a canister 60yrs before.(all in pristine condition still-and very proud he was too!)

Rob

 

[Eazy]

Check out this trailer for a Greek film/documentary called The 11th day.
It's about exactly what we've been talking about, the way the local population put up real savage resistance.

I haven't seen the whole thing but even the trailer is pretty bloodthirsty in parts.


http://www.crete1941.com/splash.htm

 

[Harrytheheid]

What I like about the new FJ's is the versatility they offer. My main WW2 interests are the Fall of France 1940 and Battle of the Bulge. I might well be wrong, but I'm sure that some of the FJ's still used the early war field grey uniforms and equipment during BotB. I'd like to see some FJ tank riders, but don't want to be thought of as demanding more when we've just been given the opportunity to buy these wonderful new sets.

BTW, I watched a great old movie called "Dunkirk" the other day. Stars John Mills as the archetypical Tommy. Best line in the whole film was when the lost platoon is trudging down this dusty French road and John Mills character says to a (Scottish) member of his section;

"Here Jock, 'ave you got a ***?"

And the response is;

"Aye.....And aahm bl**dy keepin' it as well."

Absolutely brilliant....They just don't make them like that anymore.


Cheers
H

 

[Peter Reuss]

Check out this trailer for a Greek film/documentary called The 11th day.
It's about exactly what we've been talking about, the way the local population put up real savage resistance.

I haven't seen the whole thing but even the trailer is pretty bloodthirsty in parts.


http://www.crete1941.com/splash.htm

Wow - that looks really good.

As I sit here in my quiet office, I sometimes find it hard to believe that harsh realities of war that overwhelm people. It doesn't look like 11th Day tiptoes around the violence that took place. Amazing what people are capable of.

 

[Rob]

This really does look good,trying to find out if its out on R2 dvd yet.Thanks James.

Rob

 

[Eazy]

It looks like it's Region free Rob. Seems to be only available from the US though.

 

[Rob]

I'd forgotten my dvd is multi Region,and there are loads of dvd suppliers out there who supply discs for all regions.I think i'm going to take the plunge and just buy this.

Rob

 

[johngambale]

Andy, is that mean we're going to get MORE 8th Army Infantry Figure Pose's; And MORE DAK INFANTRY?

 

[Rob]

Andy said in his post that the British FOB figs and the 8th army can be used as opponents of the FJ's.So i'm guessing he won't be rushing anymore out right away.

Rob

 

[vandilay]

I'll be using my 8th army figures to go up against the FJs.
I dont think Creforce had much armour support either so the ground figures would go well.

From what i,ve read the only armour they had was 9 matildas [all pretty poor condition]and 16 light tanks .Because the matildas where only equiped with armour piercing rounds they where pretty much useless againt infantry.
I think most of the heavy weapons where lost on the retreat from
the greek mainland.
So as you say it pretty much looks like the eigth army figures to provide
opposition to the paras.

 

[Rob]

So it might look a bit stupid if i put my Matilda into battle against the FJ's,trying to hit individuals with armour piercing rounds!.

Rob

 

[vandilay]

I,ve got to admit if I saw a tank coming towards me even if
was firing dirty socks i,d probably be running the other direction

 

[Eazy]

The Matilda and 8th army figures vs the Fallschirmjagers would look spot on in my opinion for a little Crete dio.
But yeah even though the tanks weren't in best condition they had some success until the Germans got themselves some anti tank rounds!