Crete order of battle
Encyclopedia
This is the complete order of battle
for the Battle of Crete
and related operations in 1941.
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)
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} - Lt. K. R. C. Letts
} - Lt. G. R. G. Watkins
} - Cmdr. H. W. Briggs
} - Lt. Cmdr. J. F. W. Hine
- Capt.(D2) H. St L. Nicholson - Capt.(D14) P. J. Mack
Two glider companies were detached and seconded to 7th Flieger Division, below
The 2nd Battalion of the 2nd FJ Rgt was used with the 1st FJ Rgt
Order of battle
In modern use, the order of battle is the identification, command structure, strength, and disposition of personnel, equipment, and units of an armed force participating in field operations. Various abbreviations are in use, including OOB, O/B, or OB, while ORBAT remains the most common in the...
for the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
and related operations in 1941.
Commonwealth & Allied Forces, Crete - "Creforce"
Headquarters Creforce - (Eastern Zone, east of ChaniaChania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
)
- Major-General Bernard Freyberg, VCVictoria CrossThe Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
- C Squadron, 3rd The King's Own Hussars3rd The King's Own HussarsThe 3rd Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own Hussars in 1958.-The Glorious Revolution:...
- C Squadron, 3rd The King's Own Hussars
- Maj.G.W.Peck
- 10 Light Tank Mk VILight Tank Mk VIThe Tank, Light, Mk VI was a British light tank, produced by Vickers-Armstrongs in the late 1930s, which saw service during World War II.- Development history :...
tanks.- B Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment7th Royal Tank RegimentThe 7th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1959.-History:The 7th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
- B Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment
- Lieutenant George Simpson
- 2 Matilda tankMatilda tankThe Infantry Tank Mark II known as the Matilda II was a British infantry tank of the Second World War. It was also identified from its General Staff Specification A12....
s, crewed in part by 2 officers and 5 gunners of the 2/3rd Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery.- 1st Battalion, Welch RegimentWelch RegimentThe Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
- 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
- Lt.Col.A.Duncan, M.C.Military CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(Force Reserve)
2nd New Zealand Division
Headquarters New Zealand Division - Brigadier Edward Puttick - (Western Zone, west of ChaniaChania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
)
- 27th New Zealand Machine Gun Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel F. J. Gwilliam)
- 5th New Zealand Field Artillery Regiment
- 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Lindsay Inglis) between ChaniaChaniaChaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
& Galatas- 18th New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 19th New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 20th New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 1st Light Troop, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade (Brigadier James HargestJames HargestBrigadier James Hargest CBE, DSO & 2 bars, MC, ED, MP, was a New Zealand military officer and politician.Hargest was born in Gore, where his father was a farmer. He joined the Territorial Force in 1911, and when World War I broke out, he volunteered to serve in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force,...
) (MalemeMalemeMaleme is a town and airport to the west of Chania, in North Western Crete, Greece. It is located in Platanias municipality, in Chania prefecture....
& PlataniasPlataniasPlatanias is a village and municipality on the Greek island of Crete. It is located about west from the city of Chania and east of Kastelli-Kissamos, on Chania Bay. The seat of the municipality is the village Gerani. Platanias is a popular tourism village with a beach, several hotels, restaurants...
)- 21st New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 22nd New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 23rd New Zealand Infantry Battalion
- 28th (Maori) Infantry Battalion
- 7th NZ Field Company
- 19th Army Field Corps Company
- 1st Greek Regiment (1,030 Officers and men), (Col. Ip. Papadopoulos)
- Evelpidon Officers Academy (10 Officers, 300 Cadets), (Lt.Col. Loukas Kitsos)
- 10th New Zealand Infantry Brigade (Lieutenant Colonel Howard KippenbergerHoward KippenbergerMajor-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED, , known as Kip, served as a New Zealand soldier in both World Wars.-Personal life:Howard Kippenberger married Ruth Isobel Flynn, of Lyttelton in 1922...
) (Galatas)- New Zealand Divisional Cavalry
- New Zealand Composite Battalion
- 6th Greek Regiment (1,380 Officers and men), (Lt.Col. M. Grigoriou)
- 8th Greek Regiment (840 Officers and men), (Col. Pan. Karkoulas)
14th Infantry Brigade
Headquarters 14th Infantry Brigade - Brigadier Brian Herbert Chappel - (HeraklionHeraklion
Heraklion, or Heraclion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete, Greece. It is the 4th largest city in Greece....
)
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- 2nd Battalion, the Leicestershire RegimentRoyal Leicestershire RegimentThe Royal Leicestershire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Royal Anglian Regiment in 1964.-1688 - 1881:...
(Lieut.Col.C.H.V.Cox, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
) |637 Officers and Men - 2nd Battalion, the York and Lancaster Regiment2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster RegimentThe 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
(Lieut.Col.A.Gilroy, 742 Officers and Men) - 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, Black WatchThe 2nd Battalion, Black Watch was formed in 1881 when the 42nd Regiment of Foot and the 73rd Regiment of Foot were amalgamated to form the Black Watch ....
, the Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
(Major A.A.Pitcairn temporary command>867 Officers and Men - 2/4 Australian Infantry Battalion (Lt.Col.Ivan Noel Dougherty) 550 Officers and Men
- 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Lieut.Col. R.C.B.Anderson, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
Tymbaki Sector) - 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery (Major R.J.B.Snook, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(woundedWounded in actionWounded in action describes soldiers who have been wounded while fighting in a combat zone during war time, but have not been killed. Typically it implies that they are temporarily or permanently incapable of bearing arms or continuing to fight....
- 20 May 1941). No artillery equipment - armed as infantry. 450 Officers and Men - 3rd Greek Regiment (656 Officers and men)
- 7th Greek Regiment (877 Officers and men)
- Greek Garrison Battalion (ex-Greek 5th "Crete" Division, left behind as a garrison when their division was summoned to defend the mainland; 830 Officers and men)
- 2nd Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment
19th Australian Infantry Brigade
| Headquarters 19th Australian Infantry Brigade - Brigadier George Vasey - Georgiopoulis (Lieutenant Colonel I.R. Campbell commanding at Rethymnon) |
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| Unit | Commander | Remarks | |||||||||||
| 2/3 Field Artillery Regiment, Australian Army Australian Army The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army... |
Major I.J.Bessell-Browne | No.6 Battery consisting of 90 Men and armed with 4x100mm captured Italian guns and 4x75mm guns | |||||||||||
| 2/1 Australian Infantry Battalion | Lt.Col.Ian.R.Campbell | 620 Officers and Men (Rethymnon) |
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| 2/11 Australian Infantry Battalion | Maj.Ray Sandover | 650 Officers and Men (Rethymnon) |
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| 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion | Lt.Col.Theo Walker | ||||||||||||
| 2/8 Australian Infantry Battalion | Lt.Col.John.W.Mitchell | ? | |||||||||||
| 4th Greek Regiment | ? | 1,300 Officers and Men (Rethymnon) |
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| 5th Greek Regiment | ? | 1,200 Officers and Men (Rethymnon) |
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| Gerndarmerie Privates School | Col. Stamatis Pothoulakis | 916 Officers and Men (Rethymnon) |
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Mobile Base Defence Organization
Headquarters Mobile Base Defence Organization-Major General C.E. Weston-Souda BaySouda Bay
Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
- 15th Coastal Defence Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- "S"Royal Marine Composite Battalion, Major R.Garrett (Royal Marines)
- 1st Ranger Battalion - (9th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle CorpsKing's Royal Rifle CorpsThe King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
) - Northumberland HussarsNorthumberland HussarsThe Northumberland Hussars is a Squadron of The Queen's Own Yeomanry is an armoured Squadron of the British Territorial Army. It is part of a Formation Reconnaissance Regiment, equipped with the FV107 Scimitar and FV103 Spartan type armoured reconnaissance vehicles...
- without vehicles and armed as infantry - 102nd Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse ArtilleryThe regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
- no equipment, used as infantry - 106th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Horse Artillery, Lt.Col.A.F.Hely
- 16th Australian Brigade Composite Battalion - 350 officers and men
Formed from under strength 2nd/2nd and 2nd/3rd Australian Infantry Battalions - 17th Australian Brigade Composite Battalion - 270 officers and men
Formed from under strength 2nd/5th and 2nd/6th Australian Infantry Battalions - 1st "Royal Perivolian" Composite Battalion - a collection of misc. British units, or remnants thereof.
- 2nd Greek Regiment - 930 Officers and Men
- 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt. Royal Marines
Forces A1
Force A1- Rear Admiral H. B. Rawlings (R.A., 7th Cruiser Squadron)- Queen Elizabeth class battleshipQueen Elizabeth class battleshipThe Queen Elizabeth-class battleships were a class of five super-dreadnoughts of the Royal Navy. The lead ship was named after Elizabeth I of England...
- HMS Warspite (03) - Captain D.B.Fisher
- HMS Valiant (02)HMS Valiant (1914)HMS Valiant was a Queen Elizabeth-class battleship of the British Royal Navy. She was laid down at the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan on 31 January 1913 and launched on 4 November 1914...
- Captain C.E.Morgan
- G and H class destroyerG and H class destroyerThe G- and H-class destroyers were a class of twenty-four destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1935–1939. They served in World War II and sixteen were lost, with a seventeenth being written off as a constructive total loss...
s- HMS Greyhound (H05)HMS Greyhound (H05)HMS Greyhound was a G-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the 1930s. Greyhound participated in the Norwegian Campaign in April 1940, the Dunkirk evacuation in May and the Battle of Dakar in September before being transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet in November...
- Cmdr. W.R.Marshall-A'Deane, Sunk 22 May 1941
- HMS Greyhound (H05)
} - Lt. K. R. C. Letts
} - Lt. G. R. G. Watkins
} - Cmdr. H. W. Briggs
- J class destroyerJ, K and N class destroyerThe J, K and N class was a class of 24 destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1938. They were a return to a smaller vessel, with a heavier torpedo armament, after the Tribal class that emphasised guns over torpedoes. The ships were built in three flotillas or groups, eight each of ships with...
} - Lt. Cmdr. J. F. W. Hine
Force B
Force B - Admiral Rawlings- Light cruisers
- HMS Gloucester (62) - Capt. Henry A. Rowley, sunk 22 May 1941 with loss of 722 crew
- HMS Fiji (58) - Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, sunk 22 May 1941
- HMS Orion (85)HMS Orion (85)HMS Orion was a Leander class light cruiser which served with distinction in the Royal Navy during World War II.She received 13 battle honours, a record only exceeded by one other ship, and matched by two others.-History:...
- Capt. G.R.B. Back - HMS Dido (37)HMS Dido (37)HMS Dido was the name ship of her class of light cruisers for the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard , with the keel being laid down on 26 October 1937. She was launched on 18 July 1939 and commissioned on 30 September 1940.-Mediterranean:On 18 August 1942 Captain H. W. U...
- Capt. H.W.V. McCall
- Destroyers
- HMS Decoy (H75)HMS Decoy (H75)HMS Decoy was a D-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Ordered in 1931, the ship was constructed by Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, and entered naval service in 1933. Decoy was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935...
- Cmdr. E.G. McGregor - HMS Hereward (H93)HMS Hereward (H93)HMS Hereward , named after Hereward the Wake, was an H-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. She was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before and the ship spent four months during the Spanish Civil War in mid-1937 in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by...
- Lt. W.J. Munn, sunk by enemy aircraft 29 May 1941. - HMS Hotspur (H01)HMS Hotspur (H01)HMS Hotspur was an H-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s. During the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 the ship spent considerable time in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict...
- Lt.Cmdr. C.P.F. Brown - HMS Imperial (D09)HMS Imperial (D09)HMS Imperial was an commissioned in 1937, that served with the Royal Navy during World War II until she was scuttled by HMS Hotspur in 1941.-Construction:...
-Lt.Cmdr. C.A.De W. Kitcat, sunk 29 May 1941 off Crete - HMS Jackal (F22)HMS Jackal (F22)HMS Jackal was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 24 September 1937, launched on 25 October 1938 and commissioned on 31 March 1939...
- Lt.Cmdr. M.P. Jonas - HMS Kimberley (F50)HMS Kimberley (F50)HMS Kimberley was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She served in the Second World War and survived it, being one of only two of the K-class to do so. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Kimberley, after the town of Kimberley, Northern Cape, site of the Siege...
- Lt.Cmdr. J.S.M. Richardson
- HMS Decoy (H75)
Force C
| Force C - Admiral King (C.O. 15th Cruiser Squadron) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship | Commander | Armament | Tonnage | Remarks | |||||||||
| HMS Naiad (93) HMS Naiad (93) HMS Naiad was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company , with the keel being laid down on 26 August 1937. She was launched on 3 February 1939, and commissioned 24 July 1940.... |
Capt. M.H.A.Kelsey | light cruiser | |||||||||||
| HMAS Perth (D29) HMAS Perth (D29) HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936... |
Capt. Sir P.W.Bowyer-Smyth | 8x6 inch guns 8x4 inch guns 4x3 pdr guns 8x21 inch torpedo tubes |
6,830 tons | Sunk 1 March 1942 Sunda Strait |
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| HMS Kandahar (F28) HMS Kandahar (F28) HMS Kandahar was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, named after the Afghan city of Kandahar.-History:Kandahar was launched on 21 March 1939. On 21 February 1941, in company with and , she captured the German blockade runner off Iceland... |
Cmdr. W.G.A.Robson | destroyer | |||||||||||
| HMS Nubian (F36) HMS Nubian (F36) HMS Nubian was a Tribal-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw much distinguished service in World War II.She won 13 battle honours, a record only exceeded by one other ship, and matched by two others.... |
Cmdr. R.W.Ravenhill | destroyer | |||||||||||
| HMS Kingston (F64) HMS Kingston (F64) HMS Kingston was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by J. Samuel White and Company at Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 6 October 1937 as part of an order for six similar destroyers.... |
Lt.Cmdr. P.Sommerville | destroyer | |||||||||||
| HMS Juno (F46) HMS Juno (F46) HMS Juno was a J class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan in Scotland on 5 October 1937, launched on 8 December 1938 and commissioned on 25 August 1939. Juno participated in the Battle of Calabria in July 1940 and the... |
Cmdr. St.John Tyrwhitt | Sunk 21 May 1941 | |||||||||||
| HMS Calcutta (D82) HMS Calcutta (D82) HMS Calcutta was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Indian city of Calcutta. She was part of the Carlisle group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited in 1917, and launched on 9 July 1918... |
Capt. D.M.Lees | Anti-Aircraft cruiser Sunk 1 June 1941 within one hundred miles of Alexandria |
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Force D
| Force D - Rear-Admiral I.G.Glennie Destruction of Lupo Convoy (21–22 May 1941) |
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|---|---|---|
| Ship | Commander | Notes |
| Dido HMS Dido (37) HMS Dido was the name ship of her class of light cruisers for the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard , with the keel being laid down on 26 October 1937. She was launched on 18 July 1939 and commissioned on 30 September 1940.-Mediterranean:On 18 August 1942 Captain H. W. U... , light cruiser |
Capt. H.W.McCall | |
| Orion HMS Orion (85) HMS Orion was a Leander class light cruiser which served with distinction in the Royal Navy during World War II.She received 13 battle honours, a record only exceeded by one other ship, and matched by two others.-History:... , light cruiser |
Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett | |
| Ajax HMS Ajax (22) HMS Ajax was a Leander class light cruiser which served with the British Royal Navy during World War II. She became famous for her part in the Battle of the River Plate, the Battle of Crete, the Battle of Malta and as a supply escort in the Siege of Tobruk. This ship was the eighth in the Royal... , light cruiser |
Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy | Damaged |
| HMS Janus (F53) HMS Janus (F53) HMS Janus , named after the Roman god, was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Limited at Wallsend-on-Tyne on 29 September 1937, launched on 10 November 1938 and commissioned on 5 August 1939. Janus participated in the Battle of Calabria in July 1940... , destroyer |
Cmdr. J.A.W. Tothill | |
| HMS Hasty (H24) HMS Hasty (H24) HMS Hasty was an H-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the mid-1930s. She was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet until the beginning of World War II. The ship transferred to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in October 1939 to hunt for German commerce raiders in the South Atlantic with Force K... , destroyer |
Lt.Cmdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt | |
| HMS Hereward (H93) HMS Hereward (H93) HMS Hereward , named after Hereward the Wake, was an H-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the mid-1930s. She was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before and the ship spent four months during the Spanish Civil War in mid-1937 in Spanish waters, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by... , destroyer |
Lt. W.J. Munn | Sunk by enemy aircraft 29 May 1941 |
| HMS Kimberley, destroyer | Lt.Cmdr. J.S.M. Richardson | |
Force E
Force E - Captain J.P.Mack (CO 14th Destroyer Flotilla)- Capt.(D2) H. St L. Nicholson - Capt.(D14) P. J. Mack
- HMAS Nizam (G38)HMAS Nizam (G38)HMAS Nizam was an N class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy . The destroyer, named after Sir Osman Ali Khan, The Last Nizam of Hyderabad, was commissioned into the RAN in 1940, although the ship remained the property of the Royal Navy for her entire career.Nizam spent the early part of her...
- Lt. Cmdr. Max Joshua Clark - Capt. T. C. Hampton
5th Destroyer Flotilla
5th Destroyer Flotilla - Captain Mountbatten- HMS Kelly (F01)HMS Kelly (F01)HMS Kelly was a K-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy, and flotilla leader of her class. She served through the early years of the Second World War; in Home Waters, off Norway and in the Mediterranean. Throughout her service, Kelly was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten. She was lost in...
- Capt. Lord Louis Mountbatten, Sunk 23 May 1941 - HMS Kashmir (F12)HMS Kashmir (F12)HMS Kashmir was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by Thornycroft in Southampton in October 1937, launched on 4 April 1939 and commissioned on 26 October 1939....
- Cmdr. H.A.King, Sunk 23 May 1941 - HMS Kelvin (F37)HMS Kelvin (F37)HMS Kelvin was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Limited, at Govan in Scotland on 5 October 1937, launched on 19 January 1939 and commissioned on 27 November 1939....
- Cmdr. J.H.Alison - HMS Jackal (F22)HMS Jackal (F22)HMS Jackal was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 24 September 1937, launched on 25 October 1938 and commissioned on 31 March 1939...
- Lt.Cmdr. M.P.Jonas - HMS Kipling (F91)HMS Kipling (F91)HMS Kipling was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by Yarrow, Scotstoun on 20 October 1937, launched on 19 January 1939, by the daughter of the poet Rudyard Kipling, and commissioned on 12 December 1939. On 28 December 1941 Kipling sank the German submarine U-75...
- Cmdr. A.St.Clair-Ford
Evacuation Fleet
Sphakia evacuation force - Rear-Admiral King- HMS Phoebe (43)HMS Phoebe (43)HMS Phoebe was a Dido class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company , with the keel being laid down on 2 September 1937...
- Captain G.Grantham, light cruiser - HMAS PerthHMAS Perth (D29)HMAS Perth was a Modified Leander class light cruiser operated by the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. She was constructed for the Royal Navy , and commissioned as HMS Amphion in 1936...
- Captain Sir P.W.Bowyer-Smith, light cruiser - HMS CoventryHMS Coventry (D43)HMS Coventry was a C-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy, named after the English city of Coventry. She was part of the Ceres group of the C-class of cruisers.-Early career and wartime service:...
- Captain W.P.Carne, light cruiser - HMS CalcuttaHMS Calcutta (D82)HMS Calcutta was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Indian city of Calcutta. She was part of the Carlisle group of the C-class of cruisers.She was laid down by Vickers Limited in 1917, and launched on 9 July 1918...
- Captain D.M.Lees, Anti-aircraft cruiser, sunk 1 June 1941 with 255 survivors - HMS GlengyleHMS GlengyleHMS Glengyle was a Landing Ship, Infantry of the Royal Navy. She saw service in the Second World War-Design and conversion:Glengyle was built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, Dundee, for the Glen Line...
- Captain C.H.Petrie, Landing Ship, Infantry (Large)Landing Ship, InfantryLanding Ship, Infantry was a British term for a type of ship used to transport infantry in amphibious warfare during the Second World War...
Air forces
- Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Middle East - Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur LongmoreArthur LongmoreAir Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Murray Longmore GCB, DSO was an early naval aviator, before reaching high rank in the Royal Air Force.-Biography:...
-
- No. 30 Squadron RAFNo. 30 Squadron RAFNo. 30 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the second generation C-130J Hercules from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. The squadron operates alongside No. 24 Squadron and No. 47 Squadron all flying the Hercules.-History:...
(Sqn.Ldr.R.A.Milward/Sqn.Ldr.Shannon) Bristol BlenheimBristol BlenheimThe Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter... - No. 33 Squadron RAFNo. 33 Squadron RAFNo. 33 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the Puma HC.1 from RAF Benson, Oxfordshire.-Current role:The squadron is part of the RAF Support Helicopter force, which reports into the Joint Helicopter Command....
(Sqn.Ldr.M.T.StJ PrattleMarmaduke PattleSquadron Leader Marmaduke Thomas St. John "Pat" Pattle DFC & Bar was a South African-born Second World War flying ace for the Royal Air Force. Pattle was a fighter ace with a very high score, and is sometimes noted as being the highest-scoring British and Commonwealth pilot of the Second World War...
/Sqn.Ldr. Edward Howell, OBE, DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
) - Gloster GladiatorGloster GladiatorThe Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
, Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... - No. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAFNo. 80 Squadron RAF was a Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force squadron active from 1917 until 1969. It was operative during both World War I and World War II.-Establishment and early service:...
(Sqn.Ldr.E.G.Jones) - Gloster GladiatorGloster GladiatorThe Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
, Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... - No. 112 Squadron RAFNo. 112 Squadron RAFNo. 112 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. It served in both the First World War and Second World War and was active for three periods during the Cold War. It is nicknamed "The Shark Squadron", an allusion to the fact that it was the first unit from any air force to use the famous...
(Sqn.Ldr. L.G.Schwab) - Gloster GladiatorGloster GladiatorThe Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
, Hawker HurricaneHawker HurricaneThe Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force... - No. 203 Squadron RAFNo. 203 Squadron RAFNo. 203 Squadron RAF was originally formed as No. 3 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service. It was renumbered No. 203 when the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918.-First World War:...
, Bristol BlenheimBristol BlenheimThe Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
- No. 30 Squadron RAF
Fliegerkorps XI
| Unit | Commander | Equipment/Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| KGzbV 1 | Oberst Fritz Morzik | Junkers Ju 52 Junkers Ju 52 The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler... |
| KGzbV 2 | Oberst R. von Heyking | Ju 52 |
| KGzbV 3 | Oberst U.Bucholz | Ju 52 |
| 22nd Luftlande Division | General Hans Graf von Sponeck Hans Graf von Sponeck Hans Graf von Sponeck or Hans Emil Otto Graf Sponeck was a German General-Leutnant during World War II who was imprisoned for disobeying orders and later executed. He was the father of Hans von Sponeck.... |
Force Reserve - in Romania |
Fliegerkorps VIII
| Unit | Commander | Equipment/Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Kampfgeschwader 2 Kampfgeschwader 2 Kampfgeschwader 2 " Holzhammer " was a Luftwaffe bomber unit during the Second World War. The unit was formed in May 1939. The unit operated the Dornier Do 17 light bomber, Dornier Do 217 and Junkers Ju 188 heavy bombers.... |
General-Major H. Rieckhoff Herbert Rieckhoff Herbert Rieckhoff was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
Do 17Z Dornier Do 17 The Dornier Do 17, sometimes referred to as the Fliegender Bleistift , was a World War II German light bomber produced by Claudius Dornier's company, Dornier Flugzeugwerke... |
| Jadgeschwader 77 Jagdgeschwader 77 Jagdgeschwader 77 Herz As was a Luftwaffe fighter Geschwader during World War II. It served in all the German theaters of war, from Western Europe to the Eastern Front, and from the high north in Norway to the Mediterranean.All three gruppen within the Geschwader operated variants of the... |
Major B.Woldenga Bernhard Woldenga Oberst Bernhard Woldenga was born 4 December 1901 in Hamburg and died 19 January 1999. During World War II Woldenga served in the German Luftwaffe commanding the JG 27 and JG 77 fighter wings. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross... |
Me 109E Messerschmitt Bf 109 The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s... |
| Lehrgeschwader 1 Lehrgeschwader 1 Lehrgeschwader 1 formerly Lehrgeschwader Greifswald was a Luftwaffe multi-purpose unit during World War II, operating fighter, bomber and dive-bomber Gruppen. The unit was formed in July 1936... |
Oberst F-K.Knust | Ju 88A Junkers Ju 88 The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early... & He 111H |
| Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 Sturzkampfgeschwader 1 was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was formed in November 1939-History:StG 1 was formed in November 1939 and remained active until October 1943, when all Sturzkampfgeschwader were renamed Schlachtgeschwader 1 .-Norwegian campaign:Fliegerkorps X was the only... |
Oberst-Lt.W.Hagen Walter Hagen (aviator) Walter Hagen was a German Luftwaffe Stuka pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II... |
Ju 87R Junkers Ju 87 The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft... |
| Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 Immelmann was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II. It was named after Max Immelmann in 1939.The unit was originally formed as Fliegergruppe Schwerin in 1934; the first Stuka wing of its type, attaining the sobriquet 'Immelmann' in 1935... |
Oberst-Lt. O.Dinort Oskar Dinort Oskar Dinort was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka pilot and first Stuka pilot to be awarded the coveted Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves... |
Ju 87R |
| Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 was a Luftwaffe Dive bomber-wing of World War II.-History:Sturzkampfgeschwader 77 was formed on 1 May 1939, I. Group in Brieg, Stab and II. Group in Breslau-Schöngarten . The III. Group was formed from II... |
Major Graf von Schonborn-Wiesentheid | Ju 87R |
| Zerstörergeschwader 26 Zerstörergeschwader 26 Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" was a Luftwaffe heavy/destroyer Fighter Aircraft-wing of World War II.-History:Zerstörergeschwader 26 was formed in early 1936 from the Jagdgeschwader 134 "Horst Wessel". The Geschwaderstab and I. Gruppe was located in Dortmund, II. Gruppe in Werl and III.... |
Oberst J.Schalk Johann Schalk Johann Schalk was a flying ace and high ranking officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He is credited with 15 aerial victories, 4 of which on the Eastern front, claimed in 163 combat missions.... |
Bf 110C Messerschmitt Bf 110 The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten... & Bf 110D |
Luftflotte IV
| Unit | Commander | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Panzer Division | Gustav Fehn | |
| 6th Gebirgs Division | Ferdinand Schörner Ferdinand Schörner Ferdinand Schörner was a General and later Field Marshal in the German Army during World War II.-Early life:Schörner was born in Munich, Bavaria... |
Luftlande Sturmregiment
| Headquarters Luftlande Sturmregiment Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment The Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 was a Nazi German Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Regiment which captured the Belgian Fort Eben-Emael during the Battle of Belgium, assaulted Crete, and fought on the Eastern Front during World War II.-History:Research Battalion Friedrichshafen was formed at Hildesheim... - Generalmajor Eugen Meindl Eugen Meindl Eugen Meindl was a highly decorated German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Unit | Commander | Remarks |
| 1st Battalion | Major Walter Koch Walter Koch (Fallschirmjäger) Walter Koch was a member of the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions during the Battle of Fort Eben-Emael. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
glider Battalion |
| 2nd Battalion | Major Edgar Stentzler Edgar Stentzler Eduard Leopold Edgar Stentzler was a highly decorated Major in the Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
|
| 3rd Battalion | Major Otto Scherber | |
| 4th Battalion | Hauptmann Walter Gericke | |
Two glider companies were detached and seconded to 7th Flieger Division, below
7th Flieger Division
| Unit | Commander | Subunits | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Engineer Battalion | Major Liebach | ||
| 7th Artillery Battalion | Major Bode | ||
| 7th Machine Gun Battalion | Hauptmann Schulz | ||
| 7th Anti-tank Battalion | Hauptmann Schmitz | ||
| 1st Fallschirmjäger Regiment | Oberst Bruno Bräuer Bruno Bräuer Bruno Bräuer was a German paratrooper from Willmannsdorf, Prussian Silesia. In 1905 he joined the army cadets and started his military career. In World War I he received the Iron Cross first and second class whilst serving in the 7th West Prussian Infantry regiment... |
1st Battalion (Major Walther Erich Walther Erich Walther was a German general of the Fallschirmjäger who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... ), 2nd Battalion (Hauptmann Burckhardt), 3rd Battalion (Major Schulz Karl-Lothar Schulz Karl-Lothar Schulz , was a highly decorated German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... ) |
Heraklion |
| 2nd Fallschirmjäger Regiment | Oberst Alfred Sturm Alfred Sturm Alfred Sturm was a general of the Fallschirmjäger during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his actions during the Battle of Crete.-Awards:* Iron Cross... |
1st Battalion (Major Kroh Hans Kroh Hans Kroh was a German Fallschirmjäger and general in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... ), 2nd Battalion (Hauptmann Pietzonka Erich Pietzonka Erich Pietzonka , was a German Fallschirmjäger during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves... , 3rd Battalion (Hauptmann Wiedemann) |
Retimno |
| 3rd Fallschirmjäger Regiment | Oberst Richard Heidrich Richard Heidrich Richard Heidrich , was a highly decorated German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... |
1st Battalion (Hauptmann von der Heydte Friedrich August Freiherr von der Heydte Dr. jur. Dr. rer. pol. Friedrich August Freiherr von der HeydteIn German a Doctor of Law is abbreviated as Dr. iur. or Dr. jur. and a Doctorate of Economics is abbreviated as Dr. rer. pol.... ), 2nd Battalion (Major Derpa), 3rd Battalion (Major Heilmann Ludwig Heilmann Ludwig Heilmann , was a German Fallschirmjäger and general during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords... ) |
Hania |
The 2nd Battalion of the 2nd FJ Rgt was used with the 1st FJ Rgt
5th Gebirgs Division
| Unit | Commander | Sub units |
|---|---|---|
| 95th Artillery Battalion | Oberstleutnant Wittmann | |
| 95th Anti-tank Battalion | Major Bindermann | |
| 95th Reconnaissance Battalion | Major Castell | |
| 95th Engineer Battalion | Major Schaette | |
| 95th Signal Battalion | Major Nolte | |
| 85th Gebirgsjäger Regiment | Oberst August Krakau August Krakau August Krakau was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
1st Battalion - 2nd Battalion - 3rd Battalion |
| 100th Gebirgsjäger Regiment | Oberst Willibald Utz Willibald Utz Willibald Utz was a highly decorated Generalleutnant in the Wehrmacht during World War II who commanded several divisions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross... |
1st Battalion - 2nd Battalion - 3rd Battalion |
| 141st Gebirgsjäger Regiment | Oberst Maximilian Jais Maximilian Jais Maximilian Jais was a highly decorated Generalmajor in the Wehrmacht during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership... |
1st Battalion - 2nd Battalion - 3rd Battalion |
Sources
- Buckley, Christopher. Greece and Crete 1941, London, 1952. Greek pbk edition (in English): P. Efstathiadis & Sons S.A., 1984. Pbk ISBN 960-226-041-6
- Beevor, Antony. Crete The Battle and the Resistance,Great Britain, 1991. John Murray(Publishers). Pbk ISBN 0-7195-6831-5