Greek Mountain Infantry Company 1944 (PDF)... - Flames of War

By Wayne TurnerUpdated on4 February 2014

3 rd Greek Mountain BrigadeThe 1 st Greek Brigade was formed in Palestine in 1941. Thesoldiers that formed this unit were escaped Greek militarypersonnel from Greece and Crete, and volunteer Greekoverseas residents. The brigade had a total strength of 4,500with three infantry battalions, an artillery regiment, engineercompany and machine-gun company. In July 1942 the2 nd Greek Brigade was formed at Almiriya Camp in Egypt.The 1 st 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.The most ‘reliable’ Greek soldiers were then formed into the3 rd Mountain Brigade under the command of ColonelThrassivoulos Tsakalotos. The new formation consisted ofthree infantry battalions, a regiment of field artillery andattached support troops, approximately 3000 men. Some ofthe Greeks were veterans from Albania and El Alamein, butothers were yet to see action.ItalyIn August 1944 the 3 rd Greek Mountain Brigade was attachedto the 2 nd New Zealand Division and the New Zealandcommander, General Freyberg, inspected them at Taranto on17 August and was impressed by the Greeks’ bearing. TheBrigade 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. The Greeks held their line and pushed the Germansback, and then launched a counterattack to take Rimini.RiminiThe Greeks were by then attached to the 1 st Canadian Division,but could expect support from their New Zealand friendswho were in reserve. To provide the Greeks some armouredsupport B squadron, 20 th New Zealand Armoured Regimentwas initially attached to the Greek brigade. For the protectionof the tanks the 22 nd New Zealand Motor Battalion wasattached. Additional firepower was given to the Greek Brigadein the form of the Canadian Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI),with a Heavy Mortar company and a Machine-gun companysupporting. The New Zealand 33 Anti-tank battery (17pdrs)was positioned behind the Greeks for the attack.The attack began on 13 September with the Greeks attackingtwo small farm settlements on the Marano road. The two

settlements (Mondaldini and Monticelli) were defended by1. Fallschirmjäger Regiment and some Ostruppen described asTurkomen (likely a Turkestani Ostlegion battalion from the162. Infanteriedivision). The Germans were well prepared andheld off the Greeks.The following day the New Zealand support was called up toaid the Greeks. 7 and 8 Troop of the B Squadron, 20 th ArmouredRegiment we assigned to the Greeks and took part in theattack on Monaldini, while soon after a platoon from22 nd Motor Battalion aided the attack on Monticelli with thesupport of 5 and 6 Troops’ Shermans. By 2000 hours theMonaldini farm had been taken, with only light casualties.The focus then turned to Monticelli, where the Greeks andNew Zealanders once again attacked. The 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. The 1 st Greek Battalion crossed the MaranoRiver (in truth a stream with only a gentle flow of water) at1000 hours, and immediately came under intense fire fromGerman positions around the airfield. The Greeks halted tore-organise themselves for an attack. The C Squadron,18 th New Zealand Armoured Regiment replaced the20 th 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.The 1 st Battalion attacked the airfield itself, the 2 nd Battalionthen attacked up the Route 16 road and the 3 rd Battalionattacked the small village of Casalecchio. The 1 st Battaliononce more ran into stiff resistance from the airfield defenders.Heavy fire from airfield inflicted heavy casualties on theadvancing Greeks, however support from the New Zealandtanks and infantry was better co-ordinated as one of the NewZealand officers spoke Greek. The tanks were able to fire oneach house lining the south of the airfield to ensure theyweren’t occupied. As the Greeks and New Zealandersapproached the defensive positions the came under fire frominfantry, Panzerschrecks, self-propelled guns, and emplacedPanther turrets. The 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 theNew Zealanders continued forward and knocked out enemypositions with high-explosives and grenades, forcing theGermans withdraw from their positions. The crew of thePanther turret abandoned it during the night.The 2 nd Battalion, on the right of the brigade, attacked up theRoute 16 road, but became separated from their supportingNew Zealand tanks. The Greeks were halted by mines andheavy defensive fire from the east side of the airfield andnearby houses.The 3 rd Battalion attacked the village of Caselecchio on theleft flank, supported by New Zealand tanks and infantry. Thelittle village stood on a crossroads with a few houses and achurch. The Greek infantry quickly cleared the houses, butthe Fallschirmjäger in the church proved harder to budge. Thechurch 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.The 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. The3 rd Battalion advanced up the left through the hedges andditches beyond Caselecchio until they came level with the1 st Battalion in the centre, their task was made difficult asthey had to occasionally clear minefields and were underconstant fire. The 2 nd Greek Battalion advanced up the rightflank of the airfield. Anti-tank fire was lighter than theprevious day.The 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 3 rd Greek Mountain Brigadeturned its attention towards Rimini itself. On 18 Septemberthe 2 nd and 3 rd Battalions pushed on to Rimini, towards thecoastal suburbs of the town. They 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. Theypushed into Rimini from the south, only to find the cityabandoned by the Germans, who were forced to withdrawafter the fall of Fortunato.Return to GreeceShortly after the fall of Rimini the brigade was sent to Greeceto 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 3 rd Greek Mountainbrigade went on to form the basis of today’s regular Greekarmy.Greek Special RulesThe Greek forces in Italy were trained and organised alongBritish lines and use the following British Special Rules: NightAttack; Advance Under Darkness; Eight-gun Batteries; Roundson the Ground; and Mike Target, found in the Flames Of Warrulebook.Additional Greek special rules can be found on page 13 of thisPDF.

Oreinos lokhos pezikouMountain Infantry Company(Infantry Company)Combat Platoons HeadquartersHeadquartersOreinos LokhosPezikou HQInfantryOreini Pezikou PlatoonInfantry55You must field one platoon from each box shaded black and may field one platoon from eachbox shaded grey.Weapons PlatoonsArtilleryOreini Mortar PlatoonReconnaissance6Support PlatoonsArmourNew ZealandArmoured PlatoonArmour9Anti-tankAnti-tank Platoon, RoyalNew Zealand ArtilleryArtillery10Oreini Pezikou PlatoonInfantry5Oreini Carrier PlatoonAnti-tank7New ZealandArmoured PlatoonInfantry9Field Battery, BrigadeArtilleryArtillery8Oreini Pezikou Platoon5Oreini Anti-tankPlatoonInfantry6New Zealand LorriedMotor Platoon10Field Battery, BrigadeArtilleryAircraft8Machine-gunsAllied PlatoonsNew Zealand andCanadian Platoons inyou force are Allies andfollow the Allies rules onpage 70 of the rulebook.Oreini Pioneer Platoon7Canadian MachinegunPlatoonCanadian HeavyMortar PlatoonMachine-guns1112Air Support12Canadian MachinegunPlatoon11

Motivation and SkillNew Zealand commander, General Freyberg, inspected the Greeks at Taranto on 17 August1944 and was impressed by the Greeks’ bearing. The 3 rd Greek Mountain Brigade was laterhighly praised for its fighting spirit. A Greek Oreinos Lokhos Pezikou is rated as FearlessTrained.Oreinos Lokhos PezikouReluctant ConscriptConfident TrainedFearless VeteranHeadquartersOreinos Lokhos Pezikou HQHeadquartersCompany HQ30 pointsLokhagosLokhagosOptions• Add Jeep or Troop Carrier for +5 points.• Add up to three Sniper teams for +50 points per team.The 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.Company CommandRifle team2iC CommandRifle teamCompany HQTroop CarrierOreinos LoKhos Pezikou HQCombat platoonsOreini Pezikou PlatoonPlatoonHQ Section with:3 Rifle Squads 170 points2 Rifle Squads 130 pointsThe 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 thewar 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.They 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!CommandRifle/MG teamLokhiasRifle SquadYpolokhagosYpolokhagosPIAT teamHQ SectionOreini Pezikou PlatoonLight MortarteamLokhiasRifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG team Rifle/MG teamRifle/MG teamLokhiasRifle SquadRifle/MG teamRifle Squad

Oreini Carrier PlatoonPlatoon1 Carrier Patrol 80 pointsOptions• Arm any or all Universal Carriers with an extra hullmountedMG 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.A Oreini Carrier Platoon is a Reconnaissance Platoon.CommandUniversal CarrierYpolokhagosYpolokhagosUniversalCarrierCarrier PatrolOreini Carrier PlatoonUniversalCarrierWith less available Carrier Patrols than British units theGreeks have to spread their recce resources thinly.Oreini Pioneer PlatoonPlatoonHQ Section with:2 Assault Squads 75 pointsOptions• 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.LokhiasYpolokhagosYpolokhagos15cwt truckLokhiasEach battalion has its own platoon of pioneers and sappers.The pioneers receive additional training in the specialist areasof field fortifications and obstacles. They have proven theirworth time and time again in Africa and Italy, clearing theway for infantry assaults against the German’s defences.Oreini Pioneer PlatoonYou may replace up to one Pioneer Rifle team with a Flamethrowerteam at the start of the game before deployment.

New Zealand SupportIn August 1944 the 3 rd Greek Mountain Brigade was attached to the 2 nd New ZealandDivision. While fighting for Rimini the Greeks could expect support from their NewZealand 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 Warrulebook and the New Zealand special rule below. New Zealand Platoons are Allies andfollow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook.ReluctantConfidentFearless2 nd New ZealandDivisionConscriptTrainedVeteranNew Zealand Special Rules4 by 2 and No. 8 WireNew 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! This independencecarried over to their military operations. Everyone was told theplan before each attack, and if an officer was killed, there wouldalways be someone to work out what to do now.New Zealand Platoons use the German Mission Tacticsspecial rule (see page 242 of the rulebook).New Zealand Armoured PlatoonPlatoon3 Sherman III 250 pointsOption• 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.Troops from both the 20 and 18 Armoured Regiments foughtwith the Greeks during the fighting for Rimini Airfield.To provide the Greeks some armoured support B squadron,20 th New Zealand Armoured Regiment, was initially attachedto the Greek brigade on 13 September 1944. On 15 SeptemberC Squadron, 18 th New Zealand Armoured Regiment, replacedthe 20 th Armoured Regiment in the line supporting theGreeks.SubalternSubalternCommand ShermanHQ TankSergeantLance CorporalShermanShermanTankTankNew Zealand Armoured Platoon

New Zealand Lorried Motor PlatoonPlatoonHQ Section with:2 Motor Squads 175 points1 Motor Squad 125 pointsFor the protection of the New Zealand tanks the 22 nd NewZealand Motor Battalion fought in direct support of theGreeks during the fighting for Rimini Airfield.CommandMG teamCorporalJeepSubalternSubalternPIAT teamHQ SectionLight MortarteamCorporalA platoon from 22 nd Motor Battalion aided the Greek attackon Monticelli with the support of 5 and 6 Troops’ Shermantanks from B Squadron, 20 th New Zealand ArmouredRegiment.MG team MG team3-ton truckMotor SquadMG team MG team3-ton truckMotor SquadNew Zealand Lorried Motor PlatoonAnti-tank Platoon, Royal New Zealand ArtilleryPlatoonHQ Section with:4 OQF 17 pdr 270 points2 OQF 17 pdr 140 points15cwt truckOption• Add 15 cwt truck and Quad tractors and limbers for+5 points for the platoon.The New Zealand 33 Anti-tank battery with 17pdrs anti-tankguns was positioned behind the Greeks for the attack onRimini on 13 September 1944.OQF 17 pdr gunOQF 17 pdr gunOQF 17 pdr gunOQF 17 pdr gunQuad tractor and limberQuad tractor and limberQuad tractor and limberQuad tractor and limberAnti-tank Platoon,Royal New Zealand Artillery10

Canadian SupportThe 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 Warrulebook, except British Bulldog and the Canadian special rules below. Canadian Platoonsare Allies and follow the Allies rules on page 70 of the rulebook.ReluctantConfidentFearless1 st CanadianDivisionConscriptTrainedVeteranCanadian Special RulesAssault troopsThe 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 BritishBulldog special rule. Instead any Canadian Platoon that isPinned Down my re-roll failed Motivation Tests to rallyfrom being Pinned Down or to remount vehicles after beingBailed Out.WoodsmenAlthough 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 Tacticsspecial rule (See page 242 of the rulebook).Canadian Machine-gun PlatoonPlatoonHQ Section with:SubalternSubaltern2 Machine-gun Sections 150 points1 Machine-gun Section 85 pointsOptions• Add PIAT team for +15 points.• Add Troop Carrier and MMG Carrier to the platoonfor +15 points per Machine-gun Section.SergeantSergeantCanadian Machine-gun Platoons may fire ArtilleryBombardments, as shown in the Arsenal on page 13.Canadian Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI), a Machine-gunBattalion, provided support for the Greeks during the fightingfor Rimini.Canadian Machine-gun Platoon11

Canadian Heavy Mortar PlatoonPlatoonHQ Section with:SubalternSubaltern2 Mortar Sections 165 points1 Mortar Section 90 pointsOptions• Add PIAT team for +15 points.• Add Troop Carrier and Lloyd Carriers for +5 pointsfor the platoon.The Heavy Mortars of the Saskatoon Light Infantry (SLI)provided support for the Greeks during the fighting forRimini.The 4.2” mortars’ plunging fire makes them of great valueamong the steep hills of Italy. Because the mortar bombs fallwith little warning, the Germans hate the heavy mortars morethan any other weapon.Canadian Heavy Mortar PlatoonAir SupportLimited Air SupportKittyhawk or Spitfire130 pointsFlight LieutenantFlight LieutenantSporadic Air SupportKittyhawk or Spitfire95 pointsAircraftThe 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!FlightAir Support12

Greek Special RulesThe Greek forces in Italy were trained and organised alongBritish lines and use the following British Special Rules: NightAttack; Advance Under Darkness; Eight-gun or Twelve-gunBatteries; and Mike Target, found on pages 246 to 248 of theFlames Of War rulebook.Additionally Greek platoons use the following special rules.MountaineersMountain fighting was nothing outside the ordinary for thetypical Greek soldier who was accustomed to the mountainousterrain of Greece.All Greek Infantry and Man-packed Gun teams areMountaineers (see page 61 of the rulebook).Ochi!When Mussolini demanded that the Greeks submit to Italianoccupation, Ioannis Metaxas’ reply was short and to thepoint: ‘Ochi!’ or ‘No!’. This defiance continues in Italy.Come and Get Them!When the Persians demanded that the Greeks lay down theirweapons and submit to their rule, King Leonidas famouslyresponded, ‘Come and get them!’ Though 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!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.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.ARSENALTank TeamsArmourName Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and NotesWeapon Range ROF Anti-tank FirepowerTanksSherman 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.ReconnaissanceUniversal Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0 Hull MG.With PIAT anti-tank projector 8”/20cm 1 10 5+ Hull-mountedWith .50 cal MG 16”/40cm 3 4 5+ Hull-mountedVehicle Machine-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.13

Gun TeamsWeapon Mobility Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower NotesVickers 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.Infantry TeamsTeam Range ROF Anti-tank Firepower NotesRifle team 16”/40cm 1 2 6Rifle/MG team 16”/40cm 2 2 6MG 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 EquipmentPioneer teams are rated as Tank Assault 3.Transport TeamsArmourVehicle Mobility Front Side Top Equipment and NotesJeep 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 0MMG Carriers Half-tracked 0 0 0 HMG Carrier, Passenger-fired hull MG.M5 half-track Half-tracked 1 0 0White scout car Jeep 1 0 0OP Carrier Half-tracked 0 0 0AircraftAircraft Weapon To Hit Anti-tank Firepower NotesKittyhawk MG 3+ 6 5+Bombs 4+ 5 1+Spitfire MG 3+ 7 5+Bombs 4+ 5 2+14