[Balkans] Raid on Brac Island - June 01, 1944 - June 02, 1944

Operation Flounced -
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 12/22/2021
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x10 x12 x10 x12
    first You play first


Historical Background:
The Brac raid (Operation Flounced) was decided when the Germans attacked Tito HQ on Drvar (Unternehmen Rösselsprung). At that time , the raid was a diversion to prevent the Germans to send reinforcements on Drvar from the Dalmatian islands. This was an inter-Allied operation with mainly British units (40 and 43 RM Commando, 2nd Army Commando HQ, 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, and a single battery of field guns), Yugoslav partisans (1st and 13th Brigades) and even a small US support detachment. Landed in the night of 1st June, the "Jocks" (HLI soldiers) had to capture a German observation post on Vidova Gora, a high point which overhang the area. In the same time, a brigade of Yugoslav partisans, landed at Bol, had to cover the operation on the south flank to prevent the enemy to send reinforcements to Vidova Gora. The "Jocks" climbed the rocky steep hills but were quickly under the fire of German mortars, pinned down between barbed wire and minefields. They were repelled by the enemy well entrenched and determinate to resist. Landed farther in the north, the commandos had to attack another German strong point near the village of Nerezisca, with the support of Yugoslav partisans who attacked the village. The commandos suffered heavy losses too because of the German defense made by the 3rd battalion, 738.IR, 118.Jäger Division, mainly by mortar fire. The RAF gave an air support to the operation with some Hurricane fighters. On the 2nd of June, the commandos succeeded to enter in the German strong point but they were repelled quickly by a counter-attack. LtC John Churchill "Mad Jack", commander of the operation was taken prisoner during this counter-attack. Thinking that the German defense on Brac Island was too strong, the Allied troops re-embarked on the 4th of June and withdrew on Vis Island.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 10 command cards.
Allied player [United Kingdom and Yugoslav partisans] : 10 command cards, you move first.

Conditions of Victory:
13 medals.
Vidova Gora is a Permanent Medal Objective for the Allied player.
The 13 hexes of Hill 622 form a Temporary Majority Medal Objective worth 1 medal for whoever controls the hills.
So the Axis player begins the game with one medal in his victory path.

Special Rules:
- Use "French Resistance" rules (Nations 1) to all Yugoslav partisans units. Badges are not required.
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nation 5) to all British units.
- Use "Specialized Unit" rules (Troops 2) to the seven commandos units.
- Special Weapon Asset >1942 rules (SWAs 4) are in effect for the three German units equipped with mortars (SWAs 6).
- The Axis player lays out the minefields (Terrains 29).
- Use "Night Attacks" rules (Actions 19).
- If you play with the New Flight Plan expansion, use only the fighters for each camp (Spitfire and Me 109).

Scenario Bibliography:
- "Occupation and Resistance on Hvar in WWII : The Brac Raid".
- "By land and by sea" - The story of the Royal Marine Commandos.
- Image satellite de l'île de Brac.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
40
1
25
8
2
1
12
12
1
2
10