Greek Mountain Brigade

8/11/2019 Greek Mountain Brigade

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/greek-mountain-brigade 1/14

1

UPDATED ON

11 FEBRUARY 2014

The 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade in Italy., 1944

By Wayne Turner



2

Te 1st Greek Brigade was formed in Palestine in 1941. Tesoldiers that formed this unit were escaped Greek militarypersonnel from Greece and Crete, and volunteer Greekoverseas residents. Te brigade had a total strength of 4,500

with three infantry battalions, an artillery regiment, engineer

company and machine-gun company. In July 1942 the2nd Greek Brigade was formed at Almiriya Camp in Egypt.

Te 1st Greek Brigade took part in the battle of El Alamein inOctober-November 1942 and fought well, but due to variouspolitical struggles and disruption throughout the Greek forcesin Mediterranean, the brigade was disbanded after acommunist inspired mutiny in April 1944.

Te most ‘reliable’ Greek soldiers were then formed into the3rd Mountain Brigade under the command of ColonelTrassivoulos sakalotos. Te new formation consisted ofthree infantry battalions, a regiment of field artillery and

attached support troops, approximately 3000 men. Some ofthe Greeks were veterans from Albania and El Alamein, butothers were yet to see action.

ITALY

In August 1944 the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade was attachedto the 2nd New Zealand Division and the New Zealandcommander, General Freyberg, inspected them at aranto on

17 August and was impressed by the Greeks’ bearing. TeBrigade then joined the New Zealanders in an exercise tofamiliarise the officers with all-arms co-operation andcommunication.

By the September the brigade was positioned near the villageof Catalica, just south of the city of Rimini. On 8 and 10September the brigade was engaged by two strong Germanattacks. Te Greeks held their line and pushed the Germansback, and then launched a counterattack to take Rimini.

R IMINI

Te Greeks were by then attached to the 1st CanadianDivision, but could expect support from their New Zealandfriends who were in reserve. o provide the Greeks somearmoured support B squadron, 20th New Zealand ArmouredRegiment was initially attached to the Greek brigade. For the

protection of the tanks the 22

nd

New Zealand Motor Battalion was attached. Additional firepower was given to the GreekBrigade in the form of the Canadian Saskatoon Light Infantry(SLI), with a Heavy Mortar company and a Machine-guncompany supporting. Te New Zealand 33 Anti-tank battery(17pdrs) was positioned behind the Greeks for the attack.

Te attack began on 13 September with the Greeks attackingtwo small farm settlements on the Marano road. Te two

3rd Greek Mountain Brigade



3

settlements (Mondaldini and Monticelli) were defended by1. Fallschirmjäger Regiment and some Ostruppen described asurkomen (likely a urkestani Ostlegion battalion from the162. Infanteriedivision). Te Germans were well prepared andheld off the Greeks.

Te following day the New Zealand support was called up toaid the Greeks. 7 and 8 roop of the B Squadron, 20th ArmouredRegiment we assigned to the Greeks and took part in the

attack on Monaldini, while soon after a platoon from22nd Motor Battalion aided the attack on Monticelli with thesupport of 5 and 6 roops’ Shermans. By 2000 hours theMonaldini farm had been taken, with only light casualties.Te focus then turned to Monticelli, where the Greeks andNew Zealanders once again attacked. Te German defenderscleared out of the position as soon as the attackers approachedand the farm was in Allied hands a short time later.

On 15 September the Greeks launched an assault on theRimini airfield. Te 1st Greek Battalion crossed the MaranoRiver (in truth a stream with only a gentle flow of water) at1000 hours, and immediately came under intense fire from

German positions around the airfield. Te Greeks halted tore-organise themselves for an attack. Te C Squadron,18th New Zealand Armoured Regiment replaced the20th Armoured Regiment in the line supporting the Greeks.

Air support was called in and Allied fighter/bombers attackedthe western side of the airfield, and the Greeks attacked shortlyafterwards.

Te 1st Battalion attacked the airfield itself, the 2nd Battalionthen attacked up the Route 16 road and the 3 rd Battalionattacked the small village of Casalecchio. Te 1 st Battaliononce more ran into stiff resistance from the airfield defenders.Heavy fire from airfield inflicted heavy casualties on the

advancing Greeks, however support from the New Zealandtanks and infantry was better co-ordinated as one of the NewZealand officers spoke Greek. Te tanks were able to fire oneach house lining the south of the airfield to ensure they

weren’t occupied. As the Greeks and New Zealandersapproached the defensive positions the came under fire frominfantry, Panzerschrecks, self-propelled guns, and emplacedPanther turrets. Te heavy fire pinned the Greeks just short ofthe airfield. Meanwhile the tanks edged around a hedgerow toavoid the anti-tank fire, but soon found themselves at theforefront of the attack.

A German self-propelled gun knocked out a Sherman, but the

New Zealanders continued forward and knocked out enemypositions with high-explosives and grenades, forcing theGermans withdraw from their positions. Te crew of thePanther turret abandoned it during the night.

Te 2nd Battalion, on the right of the brigade, attacked up the

Route 16 road, but became separated from their supportingNew Zealand tanks. Te Greeks were halted by mines andheavy defensive fire from the east side of the airfield andnearby houses.

Te 3rd Battalion attacked the village of Caselecchio on theleft flank, supported by New Zealand tanks and infantry. Telittle village stood on a crossroads with a few houses and achurch. Te Greek infantry quickly cleared the houses, but

the Fallschirmjäger in the church proved harder to budge. Techurch was finally cleared when a combined attack by Greekand New Zealand infantry and tanks finally drove theparatroopers out. However heavy machine-gun and mortarfire from the airfield halted any further advance.

Te following day (16 September) the Greeks continued tomop up around the airfield, though they held most of theairfield, one Panther turret was still in operation. Te3rd Battalion advanced up the left through the hedges andditches beyond Caselecchio until they came level with the1st Battalion in the centre, their task was made difficult asthey had to occasionally clear minefields and were under

constant fire. Te 2nd Greek Battalion advanced up the rightflank of the airfield. Anti-tank fire was lighter than theprevious day.

Te following day the three battalions continued theiradvance. Several attempts were made to knock out theremaining Panther turret with aircraft and artillery, but itfinally fell to one of the New Zealand Sherman tanks to workaround the flank of the turret. It fired several anti-tank roundsinto the turret before the crew were eventually persuaded toevacuate.

Once the airfield was taken the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade

turned its attention towards Rimini itself. On 18 Septemberthe 2nd and 3rd Battalions pushed on to Rimini, towards thecoastal suburbs of the town. Tey encountered heavy resistanceonce again from the German Fallschirmjäger , but with the aidof New Zealand and Canadian support were finally able topush into the outskirts of the town on 21 September. Teypushed into Rimini from the south, only to find the cityabandoned by the Germans, who were forced to withdrawafter the fall of Fortunato.

R ETURN TO GREECE

Shortly after the fall of Rimini the brigade was sent to Greece

to seize control of Athens and prevent the ELAS communistsfrom taking control of the country after to withdrawal of theGermans.

After fighting in the Greek Civil War the 3rd Greek Mountainbrigade went on to form the basis of today’s regular Greekarmy.



Oreinos lokhos pezikouMountain Infantry Company

(INFANTRY COMPANY)

You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from eachbox shaded grey.

4

New Zealand andCanadian Platoons in

you force are Allies and follow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook.

ALLIED PLATOONS

INFANTRY

1 0

9

SUPPORT PLATOONS

Air Support

AIRCRAFT

1 2

C O M B A T P L A T O O N S

H E A D

Q U A R T E R S

Oreinos LokhosPezikou HQ

HEADQUARTERS

5

Oreini Pezikou Platoon

INFANTRY

5

W E A P O N S P L A T O O N S

Oreini Mortar Platoon

ARTILLERY

6


INFANTRY

5


INFANTRY

5

Oreini Carrier Platoon

RECONNAISSANCE

7

Oreini Anti-tankPlatoon

ANTI-TANK

6

Oreini Pioneer Platoon

INFANTRY

7

New ZealandArmoured Platoon

ARMOUR

9

ARMOUR

Anti-tank Platoon, RoyalNew Zealand Artillery

ANTI-TANK

1 0

ARTILLERY

New Zealand LorriedMotor Platoon

8

New ZealandArmoured Platoon

Canadian Machine-gun Platoon

MACHINE-GUNS

1 1

Canadian HeavyMortar Platoon

1 2

MACHINE-GUNS

1 1 Canadian Machine-gun Platoon

Field Battery, BrigadeArtillery

ARTILLERY

8 Field Battery, BrigadeArtillery



Oreinos LoKhos Pezikou HQ

Lokhagos

Lokhagos

Company HQ

Company CommandRifle team

2iC CommandRifle team

Troop Carrier


Ypolokhagos

Ypolokhagos

HQ Section

Light Mortar team

PIAT teamCommandRifle/MG team

Rifle Squad

Lokhias Lokhias

Rifle Squad

Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team

Rifle Squad

Lokhias

Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team

MOTIVATION AND SKILL

New Zealand commander, General Freyberg, inspected the Greeks at aranto on 17 August1944 and was impressed by the Greeks’ bearing. Te 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade was laterhighly praised for its fighting spirit. A Greek Oreinos Lokhos Pezikou is rated as Fearless

Trained.

OREINI PEZIKOU PLATOON

Te Oreini Pezikou (mountain infantry) Platoons have beenformed from the most political reliable and dedicated men.

Among them are old hands, veterans from the beginning of the war in Albania, Greece and Crete, as well as those who hadalready serve alongside the British in North Africa, and newrecruits escaped from occupied Greece and volunteered fromaround the world.

Tey have been trained and equipped in the best of Britishtactics and weapons, and are prepared to fight in Italy, as oncethe Italians had invaded Greek soil. Revenge is sweet!

RELUCTANT

CONFIDENT

FEARLESS

CONSCRIPT

TRAINED

VETERAN

OREINOS LOKHOS PEZIKOU

Te Greek Oreinos Lokhos Pezikou (mountain companyinfantry) commander may only have a limited selection ofGreek support platoons to support his brave Greek soldiers,but he can always rely on the support of his Allies.

5

HEADQUARTERS

OREINOS LOKHOS PEZIKOU HQ

HEADQUARTERS

Company HQ 30 points

OPTIONS

• Add Jeep or Troop Carrier for +5 points.

• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per team.

COMBAT PLATOONS

PLATOON

HQ Section with:

3 Rifle Squads 170 points

2 Rifle Squads 130 points





Oreini Carrier Platoon

Ypolokhagos

Ypolokhagos

Carrier Patrol

Command

Universal Carrier

Universal

Carrier

Universal

Carrier

OREINI C ARRIER PLATOON

With less available Carrier Patrols than British units theGreeks have to spread their recce resources thinly.

Ypolokhagos

Ypolokhagos

Lokhias Lokhias

Oreini Pioneer Platoon

15cwt truck

OREINI PIONEER PLATOON

Each battalion has its own platoon of pioneers and sappers.Te pioneers receive additional training in the specialist areasof field fortifications and obstacles. Tey have proven their

worth time and time again in Africa and Italy, clearing the

way for infantry assaults against the German’s defences.

7

PLATOON

1 Carrier Patrol 80 points

OPTIONS

• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra hull-

mounted MG for +5 points per carrier or .50 calMG for +10 points per carrier.

• Replace up to to one extra hull-mounted MG with aPIAT anti-tank projector at no cost.

PLATOON

HQ Section with:

2 Assault Squads 75 points

OPTIONS

• Add 15 cwt truck and Jeeps with trailers to theplatoon for +5 points.

• Replace 15 cwt truck with an M5 half-track for+5 points.

You may replace up to one Pioneer Rifle team with a Flame-thrower team at the start of the game before deployment.

A Oreini Carrier Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.



Tagmatarkhis

Tagmatarkhis

HQ Troop

Lokhagos

Lokhagos

HQ Section

Lokhias

GUN Section GUN Section

GUN Troop

GUN Section GUN Section

GUN Troop

Lokhias

HQ Section

Lokhias Lokhias

Lokhagos

Lokhagos

Field Battery, Brigade Artillery

FIELD B ATTERY , BRIGADE ARTILLERY

8

PLATOON

HQ Troop with:

Two Gun Troops with a total of:

8 OQF 25 pdr 270 points

One Gun Troop with a total of:



OPTIONS

• Add 15 cwt trucks and Quad tractors for +5 pointsper Gun Troop.

• Replace the HQ Troop jeep with a White scout car

for +5 points.

Although a Field Battery, Brigade Artillery is a singleSupport choice, each Gun roop operates as a separate

platoon with its own Command team. Te Command teamand Staff team of the HQ roop must be attached to a Gunroop from its battery at the start of the game beforedeployment, see the British Artillery special rules on page

248 of the rulebook.

Te 3rd Greek Mountain brigade is supported by a regimentof artillery equipped with the British 25 pdr guns. Te Greeks

can always call on their own guns when the toughest enemypositions need to be cleared.

BRIGADE SUPPORT PLATOONS



2ND NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

CONSCRIPT

TRAINED

VETERAN

RELUCTANT

CONFIDENT

FEARLESS

New Zealand Armoured Platoon

Subaltern

Subaltern

HQ Tank

Command Sherman

Lance Corporal

Tank

Sherman

Sergeant

Tank

Sherman

9

New Zealand Support

In August 1944 the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade was attached to the 2 nd New ZealandDivision. While fighting for Rimini the Greeks could expect support from their New

Zealand friends who were in reserve. All New Zealand Support platoons are ratedConfident Veteran.

New Zealand Platoons use the normal British special rules found in the Flames Of War rulebook and the New Zealand special rule below. New Zealand Platoons are Allies and

follow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook.

NEW ZEALAND SPECIAL RULES

4 BY 2 AND NO. 8 W IRE

New Zealand is a small remote country and its soldiers had tolearn to make do or do without while they were growing up. Asthey say in New Zealand, they could make anything with a bit of4 by 2 timber and some No. 8 fencing wire! Tis independence

carried over to their military operations. Everyone was told the

New Zealand Platoons use the German Mission acticsspecial rule (see page 242 of the rulebook).

plan before each attack, and if an officer was killed, there wouldalways be someone to work out what to do now.

NEW ZEALAND ARMOURED PLATOON

PLATOON

3 Sherman III 250 points

OPTION

• Arm all Sherman tanks with AA MG for +5 pointsfor the platoon or arm any or all Sherman tanks witha .50 cal AA MG for +5 points per tank.

roops from both the 20 and 18 Armoured Regiments fought with the Greeks during the fighting for Rimini Airfield.

o provide the Greeks some armoured support B squadron,20th New Zealand Armoured Regiment, was initially attachedto the Greek brigade on 13 September 1944. On 15 SeptemberC Squadron, 18th New Zealand Armoured Regiment, replacedthe 20th Armoured Regiment in the line supporting theGreeks.



For the protection of the New Zealand tanks the 22nd NewZealand Motor Battalion fought in direct support of theGreeks during the fighting for Rimini Airfield.

A platoon from 22nd Motor Battalion aided the Greek attackon Monticelli with the support of 5 and 6 roops’ Shermantanks from B Squadron, 20th New Zealand ArmouredRegiment.

New Zealand Lorried Motor Platoon

Subaltern

Subaltern

HQ Section

Light Mortar team

PIAT teamJeepCommandMG team

Motor Squad

Corporal Corporal

Motor Squad

MG teamMG team

3-ton truck

MG teamMG team

3-ton truck

Te New Zealand 33 Anti-tank battery with 17pdrs anti-tankguns was positioned behind the Greeks for the attack onRimini on 13 September 1944.

Anti-tank Platoon,Royal New Zealand Artillery

Quad tractor and limber




15cwt truck

OQF 17 pdr gun

OQF 17 pdr gun OQF 17 pdr gun

OQF 17 pdr gun

10

NEW ZEALAND LORRIED MOTOR PLATOON

PLATOON

HQ Section with:

2 Motor Squads 175 points

1 Motor Squad 125 points

ANTI-TANK PLATOON, R OYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY

PLATOON

HQ Section with:



OPTION

• Add 15 cwt truck and Quad tractors and limbers for+5 points for the platoon.



1ST C ANADIAN DIVISION

CONSCRIPT

TRAINED

VETERAN

RELUCTANT

CONFIDENT

FEARLESS

Canadian Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI), a Machine-gunBattalion, provided support for the Greeks during the fighting

for Rimini.

Subaltern

Subaltern

Sergeant Sergeant

Canadian Machine-gun Platoon

11

CANADIAN SPECIAL RULES

ASSAULT TROOPS

Te Canadians have maintained their enviable reputation asaggressive assault troops, unwilling to be stopped by enemyfire, no matter how heavy.

A Canadian Armoured Platoon does not use the British

Bulldog special rule. Instead any Canadian Platoon that isPinned Down my re-roll failed Motivation ests to rally

from being Pinned Down or to remount vehicles after beingBailed Out.

W OODSMEN

Although Canada has been settled for centuries, it was notuntil the Nineteenth Century that its population underwentsignificant growth and it remains a largely rural country.Canadian soldiers are typically a little more independent (andunruly) than British soldiers.

A Canadian Platoon uses the German Mission acticsspecial rule (See page 242 of the rulebook).

Canadian Support

Te Greeks were attached to the 1 st Canadian Division during the attack on Rimini. Additional firepower was given to the Greek Brigade in the form of the Canadian SaskatoonLight Infantry, with a Heavy Mortar company and Machine-gun company supporting. AllCanadian Support platoons are rated Confident Veterans.

Canadian Platoons use the normal British special rules found in the Flames Of War rulebook, except British Bulldog and the Canadian special rules below. Canadian Platoonsare Allies and follow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook.

C ANADIAN M ACHINE-GUN PLATOON

PLATOON

HQ Section with:

2 Machine-gun Sections 150 points

1 Machine-gun Section 85 points

OPTIONS

• Add PIAT team for +15 points.

• Add Troop Carrier and MMG Carrier to the platoonfor +15 points per Machine-gun Section.

Canadian Machine-gun Platoons may fire ArtilleryBombardments, as shown in the Arsenal on page 13.



Te Heavy Mortars of the Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI)provided support for the Greeks during the fighting forRimini.

Te 4.2” mortars’ plunging fire makes them of great valueamong the steep hills of Italy. Because the mortar bombs fall

with little warning, the Germans hate the heavy mortars more

than any other weapon.

Subaltern

Subaltern

Canadian Heavy Mortar Platoon

Air Support

Flight Lieutenant

Flight

Flight Lieutenant

Aircraft

12

C ANADIAN HEAVY MORTAR PLATOON

PLATOON

HQ Section with:

2 Mortar Sections 165 points

1 Mortar Section 90 points

OPTIONS

• Add PIAT team for +15 points.

• Add Troop Carrier and Lloyd Carriers for +5 pointsfor the platoon.

AIR SUPPORT

LIMITED AIR SUPPORT

Kittyhawk or Spitfire 130 points

SPORADIC AIR SUPPORT

Kittyhawk or Spitfire 95 points

Te Royal Air Force provided the Eighth Army with air cover,

hitting enemy targets whenever they could, although perhapsnot as often as the soldiers on the ground would have hopedfor!



13

ARSENAL

TANK TEAMS

ArmourName Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes Weapon Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower

T ANKSSherman III Standard Tank 6 4 1 Co-ax MG, Hull MG, Tow hook. M3 75mm gun 32”/80cm 2 10 3+ Semi-indirect fire, Smoke.

R ECONNAISSANCEUniversal Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG. With PIAT anti-tank projector 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Hull-mounted

With .50 cal MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ Hull-mounted

V EHICLE M ACHINE-GUNSVehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 1 if other weapons fire.

.50 cal Vehicle MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ ROF 1 if other weapons fire.

Te Greek forces in Italy were trained and organised alongBritish lines and use the following British Special Rules: Night

Attack; Advance Under Darkness; Eight-gun or welve-gun

Greek Special RulesBatteries; and Mike arget, found on pages 246 to 248 of theFlames Of War rulebook.

Additionally Greek platoons use the following special rules.

MOUNTAINEERS

Mountain fighting was nothing outside the ordinary for thetypical Greek soldier who was accustomed to the mountainousterrain of Greece.

COME AND GET THEM! When the Persians demanded that the Greeks lay down their weapons and submit to their rule, King Leonidas famouslyresponded, ‘Come and get them!’ Tough two millennia havepassed since then, the Greek answer to Italy’s ultimatum wasidentical. If the Germans wanted the Greeks to lay downtheir arms, they would have to come and get them!

All Greek Infantry and Man-packed Gun teams are Mountaineers (see page 61 of the rulebook).

A Greek platoon may Charge into Combat and Consolidatewithout having a Platoon Command team, and if it does so,the Assaulting teams do not need to be or remain InCommand.

OCHI! When Mussolini demanded that the Greeks submit to Italianoccupation, Ioannis Metaxas’ reply was short and to thepoint: ‘Ochi!’ or ‘No!’. Tis defiance continues in Italy.

When Greek platoons test their Motivation to Counterattackin assaults, you may re-roll the die and apply the re-rolledresult to all Greek platoons that failed on the original roll.



14

TRANSPORT TEAMS

Armour Vehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and Notes

Jeep Jeep - - -

CMP, Bedford or Morris 15-cwt or 3-ton truck Wheeled - - -

Quad or Morris AA tractor Wheeled - - -

Troop, OP, Mortar. Lloyd Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0

MMG Carriers Half-tracked 0 0 0 HMG Carrier, Passenger-fired hull MG.

M5 half-track Half-tracked 1 0 0

White scout car Jeep 1 0 0

OP Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0

AIRCRAFT

Aircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Kittyhawk MG 3+ 6 5+

Bombs 4+ 5 1+

Spitfire MG 3+ 7 5+

Bombs 4+ 5 2+

INFANTRY TEAMS

Team Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Rifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6

Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm 2 2 6

MG team 16”/40cm 3 2 6 ROF 2 when pinned down.

Light Mortar team 16”/40cm 1 1 4+ Smoke, Can fire over friendly teams.

PIAT team 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Tank Assault 4.

Staff team cannot shoot Moves as a Heavy Gun team.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT

Pioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 3.

GUN TEAMS

Weapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower Notes

Vickers HMG Man-packed 24”/60cm 6 2 6 ROF 3 when pinned down or moving.

Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - - -

ML 3” Mk II Mortar Man-packed 24”/60cm 2 2 3+ Smoke, Minimum range 8”/20cm.

Firing bombardments 40”/100cm - 2 6 Smoke bombardment.

ML 4.2” mortar Light 48”/120cm - 3 4+ Smoke bombardment.

OQF 6 pdr gun Medium 24”/60cm 3 10 4+ Gun shield.

OQF 17 pdr gun Immobile 32”/80cm 2 13 3+ Gun shield, No HE.

OQF 25 pdr gun Heavy 24”/60cm 2 9 3+ Gun shield, Smoke, Turntable.

Firing bombardments 80”/200cm - 4 5+ Smoke bombardment.

Documents

Greek Mountain Brigade