Battle of Crete

[Trp.Werewolf]

The Battle of Crete (German Luftlandeschlacht um Kreta; Greek Μάχη της Κρήτης) began on the morning of 20 May 1941, during World War II, when Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur (Operation Mercury). The operation was successful in terms of taking the island from the Allied forces holding it, but the victory was so costly that the Germans never again launched a major airborne mission. Today, the Battle of Crete is marked as the first major principally airborne invasion and the largest in history. (The "Market" airborne component of Operation Market Garden was larger, but was backed by advancing armoured units from the beginning). The battle is also especially important to Cretans because of the unexpectedly fierce resistance they put-up against the numerically superior Germans and the terrible toll the invasion and subsequent occupation took on the island's population.

The British and Commonwealth contingent consisted of the original British garrison and another 25,000 Commonwealth troops evacuated from the mainland. The evacuees were the typical mix found in any contested evacuation — there were substantially intact units under their own command, scratch units hurriedly brought together by leaders on the spot, stragglers without leaders from every type of unit possessed by an Army, and deserters. Most of these men lacked heavy equipment.

The key formed units were the New Zealand 2nd Division (less the 6th Brigade and division headquarters, which had been sent on to Egypt), the Australian 19th Brigade Group and the British 14th Infantry Brigade. Allied armour resources consisted of 16 obsolescent Cruiser Mk I tanks. There were approximately 85 artillery pieces of various calibres — many of them captured Italian pieces without sights.

On 30 April, a New Zealander, Major General Bernard Freyberg was appointed commander of the Allied forces on Crete.

Possession of the island provided the Royal Navy with excellent harbours in the eastern Mediterranean. From Crete, the Ploieşti oilfields in Romania were within bombing range. Also, with Crete in Allied hands, the Axis south-eastern position would never be safe, a vital necessity before starting Operation Barbarossa, (the invasion of Russia). The Germans commenced operations with a constant bombardment of the island which eventually forced the Royal Air Force to remove its planes to Alexandria, giving the Luftwaffe air superiority. However, the island remained a threat and would have to be taken eventually.


Anyone do Aussie/NZ mods? :lol:

Something to think about for the future?

[Pierog]

all these different sides will require so so much art...

[Ginger Lord]

Indeed, its a nice idea. One for the backburner.

[Jed]

We could localise it down to one specific battle certainly. That might make it more manageable.

[Trp.Werewolf]

Yes, I never expected the WHOLE campaign!

But maybe a certain Greek city.

I'll do a little more reading and see what I can come up with.

Then maybe I can be promoted to "contributor"... 8)

[Sly Assassin]

all these different sides will require so so much art...

You could do what we do for our mod and for different Regiments and so on just change the patch on the uniform, I know us New Zealander's used the same uniform as the rest of the commowealth just alternative unit badges and of course our voices are different. We used all the same weapons, ie the enfield, bren, sten etc so it won't be to much trouble if you've got good texture/model artists etc.

I'll be willing to record NZ voice commands for you if/when I get the time between mapping for RnL, life, work etc etc.

[Ennui]

all these different sides will require so so much art...

You could do what we do for our mod and for different Regiments and so on just change the patch on the uniform, I know us New Zealander's used the same uniform as the rest of the commowealth just alternative unit badges and of course our voices are different. We used all the same weapons, ie the enfield, bren, sten etc so it won't be to much trouble if you've got good texture/model artists etc.

I'll be willing to record NZ voice commands for you if/when I get the time between mapping for RnL, life, work etc etc.
if all that's true, then it wouldn't be nearly as much extra work as one would think.

i like the idea :P

[Lardassmonkey]

I'd love to play a crete map or two. Early campaigns are so often overlooked in games/mods you could be forgiven for thinking the war in the west started on june 6th 1944.
The fighting around Maleme airfield such as hill 107 would be a good spot to base a map IMO. If not there's plenty of small villages where fighting took place that could be recreated.


As for art- the only extra things needed that i'm guessing aren't in already are german para skins (greeks would be nice but not essential)and a few vehicle models. I think the only vehicles needed would be motorbikes, british trucks and perhaps the odd tank like the light tank Mk VI since it was mostly an infantry battle. Of course I think it would also have to have aircraft, it would feel right without swarms of 109s, 110s and Ju52s flying over. :D

[Ginger Lord]

all these different sides will require so so much art...

You could do what we do for our mod and for different Regiments and so on just change the patch on the uniform, I know us New Zealander's used the same uniform as the rest of the commowealth just alternative unit badges and of course our voices are different. We used all the same weapons, ie the enfield, bren, sten etc so it won't be to much trouble if you've got good texture/model artists etc.

I'll be willing to record NZ voice commands for you if/when I get the time between mapping for RnL, life, work etc etc.
if all that's true, then it wouldn't be nearly as much extra work as one would think.

i like the idea :P

At the moment, we only have the Brit Para model (well technically 3 versions, 2 old ones Beret/Helmet and one new model in the works) So we have to make a standard British Infantry one, but yes changing patches would be a good way to do it.

[Lost]

I'd love to play a crete map or two. Early campaigns are so often overlooked in games/mods you could be forgiven for thinking the war in the west started on june 6th 1944.

Too true that. So many people think the war started when the US landed in France that its not even funny. And our history books don't much correct them.

[Sly Assassin]

all these different sides will require so so much art...

You could do what we do for our mod and for different Regiments and so on just change the patch on the uniform, I know us New Zealander's used the same uniform as the rest of the commowealth just alternative unit badges and of course our voices are different. We used all the same weapons, ie the enfield, bren, sten etc so it won't be to much trouble if you've got good texture/model artists etc.

I'll be willing to record NZ voice commands for you if/when I get the time between mapping for RnL, life, work etc etc.
if all that's true, then it wouldn't be nearly as much extra work as one would think.

i like the idea :P

At the moment, we only have the Brit Para model (well technically 3 versions, 2 old ones Beret/Helmet and one new model in the works) So we have to make a standard British Infantry one, but yes changing patches would be a good way to do it.

We've got maybe as much as 5 different PIR skins/models with the only thing being changed is the badge's. It's alot easier and cuts down on the problems of having to make new models/skins for every new country/team

[War Pig]

Umm.. nice Diablo -style font here btw.

Anyhoot. I've got a question/idea, which actually has nothing to do with this particular thread. I just didn't want to open a new thread just because of this..

Here goes:

Is it possible/feasible/sensible to make the bodies stay on the ground. Not endlessly though, nor cumulatively per se. But in a way, it might be "cool" to have the bodies lie on the ground for some time. To give a feeling to it.. A bit like in Action HL.

I don't even know if the Source engine allows you to do this, or if it would put too much stress on the servers/comps, but just an idea.

[crookedJ0K3R]

Umm.. nice Diablo -style font here btw.



Is it possible/feasible/sensible to make the bodies stay on the ground. Not endlessly though, nor cumulatively per se. But in a way, it might be "cool" to have the bodies lie on the ground for some time. To give a feeling to it.. A bit like in Action HL.

I don't even know if the Source engine allows you to do this, or if it would put too much stress on the servers/comps, but just an idea.

Don't they do that already in DoDS and CSS? I dont think itd cause too much stress on the systems(server and client) nor would it stress out Source. I like the ideas comming around here on Hill 107 with the villages.

[Trp Dutch]

Dunkerque ... anyone?

Maybe the raid on Dieppe?

[Pierog]

Dunkerque ... anyone?

Maybe the raid on Dieppe?

oh my

[Trp Dutch]

And you thought Dog One was a bad map :)

Wait untill you make a Dieppe map ... It is worth trying though.

[War Pig]

And you thought Dog One was a bad map :)

Wait untill you make a Dieppe map ... It is worth trying though.

Haha, Dog One was an excellent map! :D Call me a masokist!

How can you make a map of Dunkerque, I mean, did they actually fight on the beach? Wasn't the German attack stopped before the beach, and the Commonwealth soldiers were able to evacuate during the pause?

[pasive]

Mabey the bodies could eventually (when were not looking o.O) turn into magical low poly body bags with the corresponding side insignia... *shrugs*

[Trp.Werewolf]

:( Another thread hijacked! :(

Make your own Dunkerque/Dieppe thread, mate! :P

[Blue]

It would be awesome to have a map where the Germans actually paradrop onto the field, could also be used for British paradrops in France, Holland etc.

But it would probably be easier to focus on a later battle where the Fallschirmjaeger are already on the ground and attacking on foot :(

[Rome]

It would be awesome to have a map where the Germans actually paradrop onto the field, could also be used for British paradrops in France, Holland etc.

But it would probably be easier to focus on a later battle where the Fallschirmjaeger are already on the ground and attacking on foot :(

it's not so bad, you could have parachutes around the area and crashed or overhead german transport planes dropping little parachutes around to give it atmosphere.

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/crete/index.htm

that should be a good resource for landscape, atmosphere, and scenario specifics.

[cannon]

what about the battle for Maleme airfield on Crete, that was the main pivotal battle for the island, and it could be like the old schwetz map with the spawns swapping. axis first then allies countering.

Oh :oops: hi there interesting mod cant wait to try it out

[Spartacus]

I'm reading Antony Beevor's "Crete" now and I gotta say it's one hell of a book! Pretty damn interesting battle. Would love to see Fallschirmjägers fight against some brits.