Germans concentrate on one airfield at Crete

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stg 44
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Germans concentrate on one airfield at Crete

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Post by stg 44 » 23 Jan 2016, 00:08

What if the German commanders, realizing perhaps that Crete is better defended than they thought, focus their paras on one airfield to take it by overwhelming forces? Because of the point of departure being that the Germans realize that Crete is well defended, that means Malme is out as it is the best defended airfield. Heraklion is the least defended, so let's say for the sake of argument that that is the targeted airfield. It would seem that that field would fall to the initial assault force if it got the full concentrated force of the first wave of paras, gliders, and air support, while secondary air support missions to stop counteroffensives from being mounted from the West would be included. What then for the conduct of the battle if the field at Heraklion is taken with limited losses and the paras are able to form up as a fully division on this one area, while 5th mountain is brought in after to aid them in a combined move West to take the center and western parts of the island? Do the Brits manage to launch a counteroffensive and stop them or do they stay put and try and hold, ultimately pulling out of Suda Bay?

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