D3 - 12h00
High noon in Crete, and the rain is still pouring heavy on us. It's been like that all morning and this weather has prevented the Luftwaffe from doing any airstrikes.
Regarding fatigue, only 1st Bn and 2nd Bn managed to rest this morning. The 4th Bn had to move to fill the gaps in the supply lines while the 3rd retreated under constant enemy pressure. Overall, no great reduction of fatigue.
Supply-wise, we succeeded in reestablishing lines with 10th Coy which was cut off at 6h00, but as you can see on the screenshot we have 5 threatened lines where the distribution of supply has been disrupted. Still, the basic supplies situation is better than it was because quite a few units got resupplied this morning. Also, the supply base got an important load delivered from the SEP. And most of our artillery units have been supplied enough to support attacks for the rest of the day.
So we cannot wait anymore to start offensive operations now, especially that since 10h00, 3rd Bn has slowly lost ground due to small but repeated counterattacks from Australian forces. We need to get on the move again.
Today's plan of attack to capture and secure Khrisoply is the following:
- 1st Bn will attack in a NNE direction, just north of the Khrisoply objective. I suspect many enemy units could still be stationed there, near the sea.
- 4th and 2nd Bn will attack, under the leadership of 4th Bn HQ, on the right flank of 1st Bn on a NE direction, and will pass the objective a bit.
- Finally, 3rd Bn will attack straight to the north unto the objective (this way, 3rd Bn should also be able to secure their lines of supply).
- Meanwhile, I am going to move inside Iraklion all regimental units still outside it (the base, the AT coy, the heavy mortar coy, and the 2nd Bn mortar platoon). This will help to keep Iraklion fully under our control.
This is probably going to be the thoughest day so far, and all battalion commanders know it.
