Grymme´s War in the Aegean

[RufusTFirefly]

This is a short AAR of Grymme´s scenario War in the Aegean. It will report about the first turns with focus on the southern area of the theater. There is some more action in the northern area, but there should be some things to discover by yourself when you like to try out this scenario. Maybe some of you might get curious and be interested in a pbem – there are some really good small scenarios that are worth playing but seem to be often overlooked, so this is some kind of appetizer.

The whole theater covers a group of island in the Aegean Sea. Some islands are quite small and might not be worth to be noticed, but others are larger, with larger cities and airfields, that might be used as bases.

The image shows the southern part of the Aegean. Rhodos is the largest island here. It seems to be a good target for the first approach. A harbour and three airfields would provide supply bases for a further advance towards Greece. The Allied forces are based in an off-map area (displayed in the lower right corner. Transporters and fighters are as well available as transport ships and destroyers. B company of Group Tilney is a typical infantry unit in this scenario. It contains rifles and scouts, that are supported by a mortar, a bazooka and a machine gun squad.

[RufusTFirefly]

First recon flights were done. Rhodos does no longer appear as first choice for an approach. Several enemy units were spotted. Mainly the airfields seem to be in use and have some ground forces as defence. Further west on the island of Kaphathos there seems to be an unused airfield and only a small infantry unit garrisoned at the main city.

Task force Faulknor, a group of transport vessels and landing ships escorted by the destroyer Faulknor is ordered to approach Karphathos from northeast. On their way they spot a group of enemy ships of unknown type and strength. A dangerous situation, as the enemy ships might manoeuvre well enough to disable the single destroyer to provide cover for all transports.

Meanwhile in a quick attack British parachuters take the airfield on the island. B company of group Tilney gets an airlift to Kathaphos. 74th fighter squad together with 127th and 274th dive bomber group fly in to use the airfield as base for further action. Two transporters take D company and an auxiliary squad and leave Alexandria towards the Greece island. Destroyers Eclipse, Intrepid and Queen Olga serve as escort, while the submarine Katsonis provides recon some miles in front of the task force.

Half way to Karphathos a first engagement with the enemy happens. Sub Katsonis is spotted by German dive bombers. Calling in 74th fighters for help, Katsonis manages to endive and escape. As the British fighter squad tries to attack the German bombers they are attacked by a group of German Messerschmitts, that have escorted the bombers. The British pilots are unable to defend against the well experienced German pilots and get shut down – 74th fighter squad is wiped out before it could play any important role in the Aegean theater!

[RufusTFirefly]

13th of September 1943 - turn 2

Task force Faulknor has arrived at Karphathos. The German ships have no longer been spotted. Maybe they were taking supplies and fuel and could not follow the British task force immediately. But they remain a threat smewhere behind the horizon. Therefore British HQ in Alexandria decides to land the whole company Kenyon.

Further south the submarine Katsonis spotted a group of small transport vessels that seem to bring supply to German bases. Cdr.Laskos gave order to get closer and attack the transports. Starting the manoeuvre to take a good position for a torpedo shot the so far unnoticed submarine chaser UJ2101 launched a surprize attack and sank Katsonis. 15 of 48 men survive while the rest of the crew went down with their sub.

The destroyers and transport further north remain undetected and manage to arrive at Karphathos. D company of group Tilney and support squads are landing south of the main city.

US Air Force sends two fighter squads and two recon planes to Alexandria (this is an event that might happen with 50 percent chance between round 2 and 5, after turn 5 these units are withdrawn).

[RufusTFirefly]

The sea at Karphathos turns into dangerous waters: German torpedo boats, a submarine, and a mine layer appear on the scene.

Destroyer Queen Olga leaves the defence line around the transports to engage the enemy. The German submarine is unable to dive quickly enough. The destroyer moves at full speed and passes the area where the sub has just disappeared, throwing several depth charges. The sub sinks. Then the hunter turns into the hunted. The torpedo baots start their attack. Like sharks they draw their lines around the destroyer. Queen Olga tries to keep the enemy in distance firing permanently its light weapons. Two torpedo boats get hit and go up in flames. But it is impossible for the destroyer to avoid being hit itself. A torpedo tears a big hole in the flank of the ship. Taking water the destroyer turns to the side and sinks. But the heroic fight of Queen Olga has given the transports enough time to unload. While the destroyers Eclipse and Intrepid lay a curtain of smoke to hide the transports and keep the enemy in distance using their guns the fleet takes course back to Alexandria.

The landing ship that had already left the fleet has been spotted by German planes. Fighters and dive bombers attack and sink the vessel. On their way home they are attacked by P 38 fighters of US Air Force. One Messerschmitt is shot down before the P 38s have to turn and fly back to Alexandria due to lack of fuel.

[RufusTFirefly]

18th of September 1943

Karphathos was Taken. A combined attack of forces of gropu Tilney and group Kenyon drove the German unit out of the town. Only few survivers managed to build up a defence position north of Karphathos town, but the British units will shortly taken this position as well.

Meanwhile supply gets short. German torpedo boats near the shores make it impossible to send enough supply. Using transport planes to drop supply seems to be too dangerous. Although a recon flight towards Rhodos shows that the airfield at Archangelos seems to be out of service the German Luftwaffe is still present in the area.

[RufusTFirefly]

On their way from Karphathos back to Alexandria the transports and destroyers get in contact with some more German torpedo baots and ships. Help from Alexandria is demanded. In Egypt the light cruisers Carlisle, Sirius, Aurora, Penelope, and Dido have arrived. They are supported by the destroyers Fury, Panther, Aldenham, Miroulis, and Themistocles and the submarine Torbay. All ships lift anchor and take course northwest to meet with transport fleet and engage the enemy.

[Jeffrey H.]

One of the fun things about these scenarios is the historical accuracy of the units. It's always been fun for me to see the actual vessels by name, rather than generic "destroyer" points.

[RufusTFirefly]

ORIGINAL: Jeffrey H.

One of the fun things about these scenarios is the historical accuracy of the units. It's always been fun for me to see the actual vessels by name, rather than generic "destroyer" points.

Yes, thats something I like as well. So in case the game and the historical facts fit together I have stayed close to history in this AAR. For example there is no submarine chaser in the scenario, but torpedo boats and mine layers (so far, dont know what will come along later). Therefore the sub chaser UJ2101 that sank the Katsonis in 1943 is mentioned only once, referring to the real circumstances of the loss of Katsonis. The fact that some destroyers are commissoned in early 1943 is mentioned because of it is historical - it is not of any importance fo the game itself.