Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

Discussions on WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean. Hosted by Andy H
User avatar
Steelback
Member
Posts: 20
Joined: 13 Mar 2013, 21:34

Re: Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

#16

Post by Steelback » 08 Apr 2013, 21:43

:D Thanks very much for the replies guys
Six out of seven dwarfs are not happy

StefanSiverud
Member
Posts: 321
Joined: 29 Dec 2012, 17:03
Location: Sweden

Re: Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

#17

Post by StefanSiverud » 27 Jul 2013, 22:57

Overall, it seems no one knew quite how many tanks had actually been on Crete even a few months after the battle. I stumbled upon this, the report made by the US military attaché in Cairo Major Bonner Fellers, Air-Borne Invasion of Crete (September 1941). It has appendices that I believe are British sources, but the sources have been censored out. Anyway, he claims there were 8 infantry tanks and 16 light tanks. Listed by areas in his portion of the report, they were placed as follows:
Maleme sector: 2 I tanks, 10 light tanks
Retimo sector: 2 I tanks
Heraklion sector: 2 I tanks, 6 light tanks, and "Reinforced by Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders from EGYPT during battle; also 2 "I" tanks."

The number of infantry tanks coming as reinforcements is noted as 3 in appendix No. 11, "British losses in Greece and Crete" signed B.F.F., page 239.

However, the OOB in Appendix No. 4, "Service Committee on the Campaign in Crete" (I assume this to be the Combined Ops Inter-Services Committee report?), Appendix B, page 128, lists the following tanks by units:
Heraklion sector: 6 (3 H) + 5 (7 RTR) light tanks
Retimo sector: 2 I tanks (7 RTR)
Maleme sector: 10 light tanks (3 H), 2 I tanks (7 RTR)

In total: 21 light tanks and 4 infantry tanks.

Here is the report, if it will interest anyone: http://www.scribd.com/doc/105076590/Cre ... paign-1941
A big thanks to whoever scanned and uploaded it!


User avatar
Urmel
Member
Posts: 4896
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 10:34
Location: The late JBond

Re: Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

#18

Post by Urmel » 28 Jul 2013, 21:14

Nice find.
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

User avatar
Urmel
Member
Posts: 4896
Joined: 25 Aug 2008, 10:34
Location: The late JBond

Re: Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

#19

Post by Urmel » 22 Feb 2014, 10:39

I started a new thread on the I tanks:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 6&t=206048
The enemy had superiority in numbers, his tanks were more heavily armoured, they had larger calibre guns with nearly twice the effective range of ours, and their telescopes were superior. 5 RTR 19/11/41

The CRUSADER Project - The Winter Battle 1941/42

User avatar
CHARLEMAGNE 4
Member
Posts: 195
Joined: 12 Oct 2014, 12:09
Location: GREECE

Re: Fallschirmjäger Crete (Kreta) question

#20

Post by CHARLEMAGNE 4 » 12 Nov 2014, 02:36

Let me ''correct'' the name of city.
its RETHIMNO...not RETIMO..

Post Reply

Return to “WW2 in Africa & the Mediterranean”