Players of Hunters from the Sky have come to recognize the area west of the Tavronitis River as a sort of German safe haven due to the set-up restrictions placed on the Commonwealth. Of course, Commonwealth players may elect to use option 3.9 and place the Ist Greek Regiment smack dab in the middle of this safe area. Most German players, knowing of their presence, avoid the unpleasantness of dropping Nazi paratroopers right on top of them.

I favor the alternative of a variable Greek option. Before play begins, the Commonwealth player twice rolls a die (or draws a chit) and keeps the result secret from the German player. The first die roll indicates the disposition of Greek troops on the map or as reinforcements (if at all available); the second roll determines the arrival time of Greek reinforcements (if any).

The true location of these units the morning of the 20th was well west of the battlefield in Hunters. Specifically, A/ 1 appears to have been 15-17 kilometers west of the battlefield along the coast road SW of Korfalonas. B/I was another 5-6K west along the coast NW of Kisamos Kastelli. In theory the regiment could have arrived much sooner in the Maleme area than the tables indicate, but given their real-world performance, the options listed are generous.

Using this option, German pre-game planning bears additional uncertainty. Early game turns hardly mitigate the uncertainty, since chances are good that the Greeks will show up within the next three days on the western edge even if absent initially. Finally, if the Greeks never arrive (the historical outcome), the Nazi player must still plan for that possibility well into the 23rd.

Poor quality of the troops limits the actual combat value of the 1st Regiment to the Allied cause. They have little chance in a stand-up confrontation with the Germans. Their best contribution to the cause-short of a suicidal Nazi paradrop-could very well be as a force in being, the sort of threat the true German commanders had to account for.

Variable Greek Arrival Table [Table 1]

Pre-Game Roll (Secret from German player)

Die Roll Result
1 No Greeks arrive
2 1st Rgt. arrives 5/23, roll arrival table for time
3 1st Rgt. arrives 5/22, roll arrival table +2 for time
4 1st Rgt. arrives 517.1, roll arrival table +4 for time
5 A/I (only) sets up per 3.9, B/1 arrives on two-dice roll "12" begin rolling 0800, 5/20 and roll every turn.
6 Entire 1st Rgt. sets up per 3.9

*Arriving Greeks enter anywhere on the West board-edge.

Arrival Table [Table 2]

Modified Die Roll Arrival Time on specified day
1 0600
2 0800
3 1000
4 1100
5 1300
6 1500
7 1800
8 1900
9 2100
10 2300

More Hunters from the Sky Special Section

Additional Notes and Scenario
Variable Greek Option
Death From Above Replay