[Aegean Sea] Battle of Leros - November 12, 1943 - November 16, 1943

Unternehmen Taifun - Unternehmen Taïfun.
Mediterranean Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 12/01/2018
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x6 x7 x5 x7
first You play first    


Historical Background:
In September 1943, following the Italian Armistice, British forces occupied the Dodecanese islands. German troops, under the command of general Müller prepared the invasion of Leros (Operation Leopard renamed as Taïfun). After several days of bombing by Luftwaffe, the operation begun on the 12th of November. Two amphibious forces had to land on Gurma bay (western coast), then on Alinda and Pandeli bays (eastern coast). While an airborne force landed in the middle of Leros, to cut the island in two parts. The western landing force was repulse by Italian coastal artillery, but Brandenburg commandos succeeded to land in the east and captured "Castle hill", the antic fortress overhanging Agia Marina. In spite of British fire, German paratroopers created a bridgehead in the center of Leros, on the foot of Germano mountain. The central position of different German bridgeheads divided the defenders and stopped any coordinated action. On the 13th of November, German reinforcement arrived by parachute and seaplane in Gurma bay. 14th and 15th of November, British troops counter-attacked massively, but unsuccessfully. On the 16th of November, British brigadier general Tinley was made prisoner and Allied forces ceased fire in the evening. Leros was in German hands till the end of the war.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Germany] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [Unitd Kingdom/Italy] : 5 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
7 medals. Castle Hill and Partheni Airfield are each a temporary medal objective for the Axis player.

Special Rules:
- Use "Specialized Units" rules for all Axis units (Troop 2).
- Use "BCF Command rules (Nation 5).
- Use "Steep Hills" rules (Terrains 13).
- Castle Hill is on the top of a hill.
- Axis reinforcement : From the 4th turn, one infantry unit in Gurma Bay and one infantry unit near Mount Germano, on the hex with star token. Units enter with an activation card and can't do anything else in the turn.
- Use "Blitz" rules (Action 15).
- Italian artillery batteries are fixed, no retreat possible.

Scenario Bibliography:
- Magazine "Troupe d'élite" volume 4 - Objectif Léros.
- Article "The battle of Léros" sur Google Earth - page touristique de Léros.

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
4
20
4
2
1
1
5
6
2
2