Leros 1943

[Hoplomachia]

My first scenario Leros: Island Prize for COTA is now available for download here:

Leros: Island Prize

For easy installation, extract all files in the MODS folder created by the Generic Mod Enabler.

Get the Generic Mod Enabler here (instructions included):

Generic Mod Enabler

I have also made a video with historical pics from the battle (52 Mb):

Leros Video

Feedback appreciated [:)]

[Hoplomachia]

LEROS: ISLAND PRIZE

Designers Notes


The Battle
This battle signifies the end of the British Dodecanese campaign and was a much needed victory for the Germans. After a month long race for these Greek islands near Turkey, the final showdown would take place on Leros. The British viewed Leros as a fortress and Churchill emphasized that the island must be held at all costs. The Germans no doubt saw this as a means to boost morale as well as keep the Allies out of the Aegean for good.

1941 vs. 1943?
I have taken the chance to create this scenario using 1941 estabs to simulate 1943. Although some weaponry obviously is missing from certain units, it nevertheless seems to me that the overall quality of the scenario does not suffer because of this. When estabs for this area appear for 1943 in future releases from Panther Games, I will of course adjust the scenario accordingly.

Where are the Italians?
The Italian garrison on Leros numbered approx. 5.500 personnel. The British apparently did not trust them though, as they were forbidden to leave their posts during the battle unless they had a visible armband. From the various sources it appears that the Italians had their finest hour firing the coastal batteries, but once the Germans landed their impact on this battle was negligible, but it might appear differently from Italian sources unknown to me.

The Game Map
The game map is based on a Russian topographic map of Leros especially with regard to altitude levels and some other features. In addition to this other resources, among these a board game map based on a historical map of Leros from 1942, were used to place certain geographical landmarks.
Map names may differ from source to source as will the spelling, but I have made an effort to use historical names as far as they are known to me.

OB’s and Kampfgruppen
The German attack on Leros was performed by a number of Kampfgruppen with individually attached units. I have tried to simulate this by placing all units under a Kampfgruppe HQ unit.
Be aware that as Kampfgruppe Müller does not enter the map at any time, the ‘On Map Boss’ will be found among the most senior commander in the Kampfgruppen on the map. So care should betaken when ordering individual Kampfgruppen as the other Kampfgruppen will follow unless given individual orders at scenario start.

Reinforcements
All reinforcements appear on their historical time slot, but allowance for variability has also been included in the reinforcement schedule. I have also added a variety in unit placement especially for Air drops, which is needed if the scenario is multi-played as the British will have a pretty good idea where these drops takes place. The Air drops will still be in the vicinity of the historical DZ though.

Scenario Balance
The standard scenario will be difficult to win for the British. The best chance for the British is probably to hit the Germans as hard as possible during the first two days. The Germans get continuous reinforcements day by day of which some are elite units, while the British get their first reinforcement very late on the third day.
The Germans ruled the skies by day and the British Royal Navy ruled the seas by night. The few air strikes that the British get, is in fact a compensation for the few historical nightly naval bombardments of German positions.
An option for the British to get earlier reinforcements, as was a historical possibility, has been included. For the Germans there is an option to have some reinforcements earlier as well, which also was a similar historical possibility.

References:
My main source of information on this battle is from the book ‘Churchill’s Folly’ by Anthony Rogers. This book contains a lot of references that are not always found in other material. So whenever I was in doubt, Anthony Rogers got the last word.

Churchill’s Folly by Anthony Rogers
By underground to Leros by Leonard Gander
Various Internet sources.


Leonidas, January 2007

[tukker]

Hi Hoplomachia,

I've downloaded the gamefiles and the generic mod enabler, and everything runs smoothly. I've started playing the scenario as the Germans (standard reinforcements). It's now dusk of D2, and I've just taken the last objective, Leros Castle. I'm now anxiously awaiting the British counterattack.
Both the OOB and the map look very detailed and well researched. [&o]
Congratulations on a great first scenario, I'm very much looking forward to the one covering Narvik.

Pieter

[Hoplomachia]

Thanks tukker.

Playing as German try the option Favour Allies with Painfully realistic order delay, that should give you more of a challenge. The British will be reinforced with the Royal West Kent batallion two days earlier and the Buffs A company, that otherwise perished in transit when HMS Eclipse struck a mine, will start deployed as well.

Good luck.

[Arjuna]

Leonidas,
 
Well done. Congrats. [&o]

[Renato]

Beautiful map and interesting scenario. I'm playing as Axis with favour Allies, as you suggested, and am at night of day 1. I play slowly because this is my way to enhance immersion.

Up to now all works very well; the only glitch I found is the reduction of visibility at sunset, which comes late. The same inconvenience happens also in the scenario Ray of Hope, and is perhaps a bug of the Scenario Maker.

Thank you very much for your contribution.

[Renato]

The Scenario seems much tilted in favour of the Axis. In particular Day 5 is terrible for the British; I suffered for them either when playing as Axis, or as Allies. [:)]

Pehaps a more balanced situation could be achieved by shortening the Scenario to 4 days and by tweaking the Victory Points giving some of them even for occupation and not only for control at the end.

Anyway I enjoyed playing it. Thank you.

[Hoplomachia]

Hi Renato,

Glad to know you enjoyed it [:)]

And yes Day 5 is and was a bad day for the British. The battle of Leros was all about attrition although possession of certain terrain features did matter.

I have considered a number of ways to balance the scenario, perhaps in a new version.
1. Tweaking victory points as you suggest.
2. Less Axis air cover.
3. More chance of high casualty rate in the Axis air drops.
4. More British artillery ammo (originally they had 400 shells per piece).
5. Italian Infantry Batallion.
6. ...

The purpose of balance I think would be to give the British more chance to throw back the assault in the initial two days to still keep within the historical setup somehow.
If not they lose...

I am currently working on Norway 1940, but I will nevertheless contemplate these changes in a new scenario.

I actually also need to multiplay Leros so I would know just how well the British can do against a human Axis player.

[flintlock]

Leonidas,

A well done and most enjoyable scenario! Many thanks for sharing your hard work.

Cheers,
flintlock