Introduction

"The Dodecanese Campaign" is a Europa battle scenario covering the ill-fated British attempt to seize the Dodecanese islands in the autumn of 1943. It combines components from Second Front, Balkan Front, and War in the Desert.

Background

In late August 1943, with Sicily in Allied hands and Italian capitulation imminent, a major argument erupts between the British and the Americans. The British push for an occupation of Greece, starting with Rhodes and the other Aegean Islands, while the Americans insist on sticking to the target area of northwest Europe, meaning France or, at the very outside, mainland Italy.

The British argue that the Aegean occupation would, at the least, bring Turkey into the war on the Allied side but the Americans are adamant - the British can go adventuring if they want, but should not expect any American aid or shipping for the enterprise. Unfortunately, there are very few assets in the Mediterranean outside of Eisenhower's control and Operation ACCOLADE, the landing of a reinforced division on Rhodes, is cancelled. It is replaced by a smaller operation using a reinforced brigade aimed at seizing some of the smaller of the Dodecanese islands. The British hope that the sizable Italian forces in the area will rise to the Allied cause and that US aid, in spite of what the Americans say, will be forthcoming once the bullets are flying.

Components

Maps. Use maps 18A, 19A, and 20A from War in the Desert, and map 15B from Balkan Front.

Rules. Use the Second Front rules set as modified by the special rules outlined below.

Counters. With a few exceptions, all counters can be found in SF. The 2 point Allied TF can be depicted using the RN unit from WitD. The exceptions are British breakdown battalions. Players can make their own counters from the template on page 2 1, or use equivalent substitutes from another game.

Prepare for Play

First set up maps 18A and 19A. Map 18A can be folded so that only the northwest comer of the map shows. Map 19A can be folded so that only the northeast comer of that map shows. Next, set up Map 15B. Finally, set up map 20A.

The Allied player sets up first and plans any amphibious and airborne operations for the Sep I turn. After the Allied player has made his Sep I plans, the Axis player sets up.

Play begins with the Allied player turn of Sep I 43. Note that using the SF rules set, the Allies are the second player.

Special Rules

Operational Boundaries. Due to forces not represented in the game, Allied units may not enter any territory of the Greek mainland or Crete.

Axis units may not enter North Africa, Cyprus, or Palestine.

Italy. Italy has surrendered to the Allies. The Dodecanes, islands are part of Italy, not Greece, and are Allied territory a the beginning of the scenario, as are all hexes occupied by Italian units.

Supply sources. Allied regular supply sources are all ports in Africa and the Middle East. The Axis regular supply source in Athenai.

Turkish Neutrality. Allied naval units may enter coastal hexes of Turkey. The first turn that Allied naval units do this they cannot be attacked by Axis units while in a Turkish coastal hex. In any later Axis initial phase, the Axis player may appeal to Hitler for permission to attack any Allied shipping in Turkisk waters. He rolls on the Success Table. A result of 'S' means that Axis air units can, for the remainder of the game, attack any Allied naval units in Turkish coastal hexes. A result of 'F' means that Allied naval units in Turkish coastal hexes cannot be attacked for the remainder of the game. The first time the German player does attack Allied units in Turkey, the Axis player loses victory points, as shown in the Victory Point Schedule.

Naval Patrol. Axis air units may not be placed on naval patrol on the Sep I turn.

Danger Zones. No danger zones are in effect.

Allied Strategic Air Forces. The Allied player has two bomber wings available, one US and one British, which he may call up two times each per game, for HB missions only. He lose victory points each time he uses a strategic air wing, as shown in the scenario Victory Point Schedule.

The Second Front Allied Strategic Air Assets Chart gives the strengths of Allied strategic wings.

Abbreviated Allied Strategic Air Assets Chart
Mission	US MTO	BritiSh MTO
Tac Bmbg (HB)	10	4
Transport (HB)	5	2

Italian Construction Units. Each time an Italian construction unit attempts any repair task, the Allied player must roll on the Success Table. An 'S' result means the repair is successful; a 'F' result means the repair fails.

Off Map Airbases. The Axis player may use two off-map airbases: Larissa (15A:4913) and Thessalonike (15A:4510) Larissa is 3 hexes from the north map edge of Map 15B Thessalonike is 7 hexes from the north map edge of Map 15B Of course, if you wish, you may set up Map 15A, also.

Royal Navy Support. The Allied player may use the Allied TF naval unit for Naval Gunfire Support as often as he wishes.

234th Brigade Breakdown. The Allied player may break down the 3-8* 234th brigade as described in SF rule 15D. The brigade breaks down as:

1x 1-8 Inf II
2x 0-1-8 Inf II
1x 8* Inf X HQ

or

1x 1-8* Inf II
2x 0-1-8* Inf II

The brigade HQ unit may only provide support for one RE of unsupported units.

GS / DAS Limitations. Per SF rule 20G213, both sides are limited to using air units equal the number of REs. If a combat involves a single battalion on either side, this battalion can receive 1 point of GS or 1/2 point of DAS. Example: A German 2-6 Inf III and 1-5 Para II attack with 2 Ju87D air units flying GS in the hex. One Ju87D can support the Inf III with its full tactical bombing strength of 5, while the second Ju87D can add only 1 more point of support for the battalion.

Optional Rules

Navarone. Once per game, the Allied player may select any Axis hex with a coastal defense strength and roll on the Success Table. An 'S' result eliminates all Axis coastal defenses in that hex for the remainder of the scenario. The Allied player receives a +2 modifier to this roll (Hollywood being on the Allied side).

Victory Conditions

Only the Allied player scores victory points, as shown in the Victory Point Schedule below.

Victory Point Schedule

Event	Victory Points Awarded
At the end of the game:
British units is on Lero	24
British unit is on Coo	12
British unit is on Samos	16
British unit is on Colina	8
Allies hold Rodi	64
Upon occurrence:
First time a German air unit overflies Turkey	15
Each German strength point eliminated	1
Each German air unit eliminated	3
Each German air unit aborted	1.5
Each German LC or NT eliminated	1
Each British strength point eliminated	-2
Each use of the Brit. strategic bomber wing	-1
Each use of the US strategic bomber wing	-3
Each Allied air unit eliminated	-2
Each Allied air unit aborted	-1
Each hit on an Allied NT	-1
Each hit on an Allied LC	-2
Each hit on an Allied TF	-2
Each hit on an Allied CG	-4

Levels of Victory
Level of Victory	Allied VPs Scored
Allied Decisive Victory	40 or more
Allied Substantial Victory	15-39
Allied Marginal Victory	1-14
Axis Marginal Victory	(-9)-0
Axis Substantial Victory	(-19) - (- 10)
Axis Decisive Victory	-20 or less

Variants

As with any modern military operation that ends in defeat, there have been many post-mortems on the Aegean campaign. The following variants present these historical what-ifs in game form. Use them separately or together in any combination to examine the possibilities. Each tilts play balance toward the Allies.

Variant 1: The Americans Join In

This variant assumes that Eisenhower and the US Joint Chiefs of Staff provided at least some of the additional support requested by the British.

To the initial forces listed on the Allied Order of Battle, add:

At any air base in North Africa:

1x 1-5 Para II any (US)
2x P-38G 6F7 2-1/16 (us)
1x B-25 D 4B5 3-6/24 (US)
1x C-47 0T2 0/34 (US)

Place at Alexandria (20A.-4930): 1x LC any

Replacements: 4 US ARPs

Nov I 43

Convert: 1x B-25D to: 1x B-25 G 3 A 4 4-6/21 (US)

Use the rest of the standard scenario order of battle as is, but ignore all references to US reinforcements.

Variant 2: The Royal Navy Gets Serious

Perhaps the most baffling aspect of the Aegean campaign is the failure of the Allies to spare at least some of the 3000 odd aircraft messing around in Italy. Even more curious is the failure to use at least part of the considerable aircraft carrier strength available. This variant assumes that the Royal Navy diverts a carrier Task Force consisting of Formidable and I1lustrious to the Eastern Mediterranean.

To the initial forces listed on the Allied Order of Battle, add:
Place at Alexandria (20A:4930):

1x Carrier Group CG-1 (RN) with:
1x F4F-4 5F5 1 C 12 (FAA)
1x Sfire 2C 7F6 2C8 (FAA)
1x Albc 2A2 3-1 VC 15 (FAA)
1x 4 pt TF (RN)

Use the rest of the standard scenario order of battle with no changes. The 4 point TF is in addition to the 2 pt TF in the standard scenario OB. It can be found in WitD.

Variant 3: The Italians Hold Rhodes

With a little more luck, leadership, or Allied support, the large Italian garrison on Rhodes could have handled the Germans on the island. At the least they could have destroyed its airfields. This variant assumes this has happened.

To the initial forces listed on the Axis Order of Battle, remove:

1x 4-6* Inf X RhdsSt
1x 1-8 It Pz II Rhodos
1 pt pos AA
1x Ju 87D 3B4 5-1/10

To the initial forces listed on the Allied Order of Battle, add:

Italian: Place anywhere on the island of Rodi:

1x 3-4-6 Inf XX 50 Reg
2x 1-6 Inf III 309,311
2x 2-3-5 Art III 35,36
1 pt pos AA

Place two hits each on the airfields at Rodi (20A:2230) and 20A:2331.
All hexes of Rodi are Allied controlled at start.
When playing this variant, the Allies do not receive any victory points for occupying Rhodes as they do in other scenarios.

Variant 4: Operation ACCOLADE

Had they convinced the Americans, the British had big plans for ACCOLADE, the invasion of Rhodes, using landing craft waylaid on their way to Burma. This variant explores the full-blown invasion of Rhodes using a reinforced 10th Indian Infantry Division. This variant should not be used in conjunction with Variant 3.

To the initial forces listed on the Allied Order of Battle, add: Place at Alexandria (20A:4930):

1x 7-8 Inf XX10 (Ind)
1x 7-10* Arm X 9
2x LC
4x NT

More Dodecanese

Europa Battle Scenario
Designer and Developer Notes
Order of Battle and Counters