Defense of Kiekinkoski

Rules: Nuts! By TwoHourWargames (28mm WWII skirmish)

 Campaign & Scenario Details:

Nationality	Unit Type	Month/Year	Location
Suomi (Finland)	Jääkkäri	Joulukuu (Dec),1939	Kuhmo Sector

 

ID	Mission	Finnish Morale	Soviet Morale	Finnish Inv Lvl	Soviet Inv Lvl	Notes
1.	Patrol	4	4	3	4	Soviet Victory
2.	Defend	4	4	3	4	Finnish victory

 

Note on Finnish Language: I prefer to use Finnish ranks and abbreviations. Note that these are my abbreviations and not necessarily the real ones. They are as follows:

Sotamies (Sm) private

Korpraali (Krp) private first class

Alakersantti (Aks) corporal (in game terms, an assistant squad leader)

Kersantti (Krs) sergeant (in game terms, a squad leader)

Ylikersantti (Yks): senior sergeant (in game terms, the platoon sergeant)

Vänrikki (Vrk): 2 Lieutenant (Platoon leader)

 

Date: December 4th, 1939, near Kiekinkoski, Finland

Weather: Snow storm: snow conditions; LoS 8”

Historical Note: (From Kuhmo museum web page)

The enemy had formed a battlegroup for the attack in the direction of Kiekinkoski. According to prisoner of war records, the battlegroup consisted of an engineer platoon, a cavalry detachment, an anti-tank platoon and the 4th Company of the 118th Mountain Infantry Regiment (4th Coy/118th Mount Inf Regt). The battlegroup was commanded by Captain Alekseyenko

Briefing:

 The Soviets aren’t going to let something like a snowstorm stop them from advancing on Kuhmo. In fact, they are hoping the snowstorm will allow them to approach closer to the Finnish lines before being exposed.

Lt Kantala has his entire platoon available. Krs Lehto’s second (LMG) squad will be on the right and 4^th squad (LMG) will be on the left. Third squad (SMG) will be off map in reserve. Kalvela’s 1^st (SMG) squad is in the center split into two groups. Kalvela is on the left center with the other SMG and two riflemen. Kantala is on the right of the road with the platoon’s MMG and the remaining riflemen and an anti-tank rifle (ATR). Yks Jutila is on the left with 4^th squad.

Kantala decides it is too dangerous to wait for the Soviets in their current positions, as they would be easily overwhelmed; he orders his men to advance to the edge of the woods in the hopes of catching the Soviets in the open.

First and second squads (the only ones I am keeping track of using campaign rules) are composed as follows:

1^st squad

ID	Roll/Figure	Rank - Name	Rep	Wpn	Attribute
1.	Sqd Ldr	Tapio Kalvela	5	SMG	STAR 3:2, 3:4
2.	ASL	Erkki Somppi	6	SMG	3:6 Nerves of Steele
3.	Sniper	Matti Helske	6	Rifle	2:2 Crack Shot
4.	Satchel/Rif	Villi Korpela	5	Rifle	6:2 Tank Killer
5.	Rifle #1	Martti Hakala	4	Rifle	4:3 Quick Reflexes
6.	Rifle #2	Matti Ylinen	4	Rifle	5:1 Shirker: Always outgunned
7.	Rifle #3	Vilho Erkkilä	3	Rifle	4.6 Runt: -1D6 in melee
8.	Rifle #4 ®	Pentti Saari	3	Rifle	3:3 Lucky: Reroll any 1 result

® = replacement

2^nd Squad

ID	Roll/Figure	Rank - Name	Rep	Wpn	Misc
1.	Sqd Ldr	Severi Lehto	4	R&P	2:6 Hard as Nails
2.	ASL	Antti Rokka	5	SMG	4:4 Rage
3.	LMG	Joonas Lahtinen	4	LMG	6:3 Tough
4.	LMG Amm	Andrei Rahikainen	4	Rifle	2:3 Dumb Ass
5.	Tank Hunter	Urho Hietanen	4	Rifle	3:1 Ball Player
6.	Rifle #1	Hannes Vanhala	4	Rifle	3:3 Lucky
7.	Rifle #2	Susi	3	Rifle	5:4 Slow to react: -1D6 IST

 

Soviet Squads:  Most Soviet squads are 10+ strong with one LMG. The squads are so big I allow them two assistant squad leaders: which I refer to as a senior and junior corporal in the narrative.

 SET UP:

Turn 1: Finnish initiative

  The Finnish 2^nd and 4^th (both LMG) squads advance on skis at the double. Second squad is just short of the edge of the woods. Kalvela’s group advances; Kantala’s group stays put.

2nd squad uses skis to advance quickly

Soviet PEFs advance, concealed by the snow storm.

PEF #1 is identified as a 11-man infantry squad in a building (1sqd/1pltn=1/1). The Finns win the In Sight Test (IST) and retreat back into the woods, out of sight.

 

1st contact - Finnish left identifies an enemy force

Turn 2: Finnish initiative, Soviets fail to activate

  Second and 4^th squads kick off their skis, but otherwise stay put. Kalvela’s group advances and is now even with 4^th (LMG) squad.

  Rules note: The rules don’t specify any penalty for shooting or engaging in melee while on skis. I think there should be, so I may “House Rule” something.

 Turn 3: Soviet initiative; Finns turn to fail to activate

Soviet 1/1 moves slowly forward; PEF #2 is determined to be nothing important; PEF #3 does not move.

 Turn 4: In a surprising turn of events, neither side activates

 Turn 5: Soviet Initiative. Soviets receive reinforcements of a single T-26(1933)

The first Soviet T-26 arrives

On the Soviet right, 1/1 advances and is spotted by both Kalvela’s group and 4^th (LMG) squad. The Finns win the IST and fire first.

 When the dust clears, three Soviets are wounded and five are forced to drop back, only three men are left in good order: two corporals and the assistant LMG. Fourth squad’s leader is forced to drop back.

  After the reaction is resolved, the assistant LMG picks up the machine gun; the two corporals drop prone and ready grenades.

 

Soviets in a defensive position in an attack scenario - that's just wrong! (LOL)

In the center PEF #3 is identified as a 10-man infantry squad (2sqd/1pltn = 2/1) in cover. The Finns with the IST and fire first. When the dust settles, Sm M. Hakala is wounded and Sm Saari drops back. Three Soviets are wounded and one drops back, most of the damage being done by the Finnish MMG. The Soviets duck under their cover, while the Finns hold their positions.

  During the Finn turn, on the Finnish right, Krs Lehto swings his 2^nd squad to the left and advances to the sound of the guns. In the center, Vänrikki Kantala readies a grenade and makes sure his squad is ready for the next assault attempt. Meanwhile Medic Pernaa goes over to check on Sm Hakala.

 

Medic Pernaa treats Sm Hakala - he stays in the fight

On the Finnish left, Krs Kalvela advances and wounds the new 1/1 LMG gunner. To their left, the members of 4th squad are content to wait under cover until their leader rejoins them.

 Turn 6: Finnish initiative and reinforcements: 3^rd (SMG) squad (10 men).

Kalvela and his small group wait in ambush for the T-26

 On the Finnish left, 4^th squad leader rejoins his squad. Kalvela decides to leave 4^th squad to deal with the remnants of Soviet 1/1 and falls back to the road to ambush the tank (he can’t see it, but he can hear it).

 

Lehto's 2nd squad flanks the Soviets

Krs Lehto and his 2^nd squad have completed their flanking move and pour fire on the left flank of Soviet 2/1: they wound a senior corporal, kill the captain and force others to drop back. Meanwhile Vrk Kantala throws his grenade, but does no damage. The MMG gunner does manage to wound a Soviet rifleman.

 

Comrades! For Stalin! does not provide the proper motivation
Not ethe standing figures have been replaced by prone ones to show their status

On the soviet left, in spite of the loss of their captain, the troops manage to rally, On the Soviet right, the surviving 1/1 troops ignore the pleas of their leaders and hunker down.

  In the center the Soviet T-26 drives down the road at a cautious pace.

Turn 7: Finnish initiative

 

Situation at the start of turn 7

On the Finnish right, 2^nd squad advances on the flank of the Soviet 2/1. The Finns fire first; they don’t cause any damage, but force the fleeing Soviets into the line of fire of Kantala’s group (Including the Finnish MMG) on the hill, only two privates survive.

This does not look good for the Soviets

  On the Finnish left, 4^th squad advances on the remnants of Soviet 1/1. The Finns fire first, killing the two corporals and advance on the four Soviet privates, who immediately surrender (they were in “Hunker Down” state).

 This move brought them into the proximity of the building, causing a new PEF – which turned out to be nothing.

  On the Soviet turn, the two privates from 2/1 manage to rally. The T-26 rumbled down the road, causing an IST with Kalvela’s group. They prudently duck out of sight into the woods.

 

Turn 8: Soviet Initiative

  The two surviving privates from 2/1 group together and await their fate. The Soviet tank commander decides to “gun it” and moves down the road at full speed.

  On the Finnish turn, 4^th squad takes a closer look at the building and discovers a T-26 (1931-twin MG turrets). The Soviet tank wins the IST but the poorly trained gunners do not score any hits. They do cause the Finnish 4^th squad to duck around behind the building.

Oh look, they have another tank 
(This one the twin-turreted version because that is the model I had)

Rules Note: This being a one-story building, the rules require a check for possible enemy forces twice. Once as soon as you come within 12” of the building and a second time when you enter it (you would do it again for each floor if it had multiple stories). The die roll resulted in a tank. I didn’t like the idea of a tank being inside the building, so I put it just behind it.

Back to the action…

  In the Finnish center, Group Kantala, 2^nd squad and 3^rd squad hold their positions. Aks Kalvela and his small group pop out of the woods onto the road and race up behind theT-26 (1933). Kalvela and Samppi cross the road and draw a bead on the last two survivors of the 2/1. They never even saw it coming. Meanwhile, Krp Korpela is able to get behind the tank and dispatch it with a satchel charge.

 

Korpela scores his first tank kill

Turn 9: Soviet initiative

  The T-26 (1931) drives around the building and spots 4^th squad, who is able to get away behind the building. At present, this tank is the only Soviet force on the board.

  Rules note: I have been playing this game for about a year now and this is the first time I ever got this type of result to an IST: neither side passed any of its dice. I presume that is the same as any other tie and gave it to the non-moving side (The Finns).

 

Chasing 4th squad into the woods

During the Finnish turn, 4^th squad fled into the safety of the nearby woods.  The other Finnish troops pretty much hold their positions. Vrk Kantala does order his anti-tank rifleman to head toward the noise of the T-26. Kalvela also moves his small group towards the T-26.

 

Turn 10: Finnish initiative and reinforcements: 10-man Sissi squad

A Sissi squad arrives to help

  Kalvela gives Korpela his Molotov Cocktail. The Sissi squad moves up on the Finnish far right.  Fourth squad composes itself and takes up a position just outside of sight in the woods. Third squad continues its cautious movement.

 Turn 11: The Soviets fail to activate, but do receive reinforcements: 3/1 squad (12), 4/1 (8), 2 x HMG and a political officer.

 

The final two squads of 1st platoon arrive, accompanied by a political officer and a pair of medium machine guns

Note: It looks like I didn’t take very good notes for the next several turns. There wasn’t any action anyway, so I’ll just do the briefest of summaries here of the next several moves (until T14).

Finnish Group Kantala stayed put. Second squad moved up to the edge of the woods, so as to have a clear view of the open terrain. Third squad kept moving up the left center, ever so slowly. Fourth squad stayed put, just far enough inside the woods so as not to be seen by the Soviet tank. The Sissi squad skied the far right of the board, hoping to gain the Soviet flank. Kalvela and his small group moved towards the building in front of 4^th squad.

 As for the Soviets, the tank commander decided to back track behind the building and move towards the road. At this point, the snow isn’t deep enough to seriously hinder the tank, but it cannot enter the woods. Its only real option was to stay put all game or try to gain the road. Given it had attack orders, heading for the road made sense.

 

Turn 12: Finnish initiative; the Finns rolled reinforcements, but I am out of Finnish figs! They’ll have to make do with what they have on board.

 

Sissi doing when they do best - looking fo ran exposed flank

Turn 13:  Soviet initiative, Finns fail to activate

Turn 14: Finnish initiative

  The Sissi squad kicks off their skis and start to go on line to be ready to threaten the Soviet left flank. Second squad maintains their position in the tree line. Third squad has finally liked up with 4^th squad. They are both under the command of Yks Jutila.

 

Korpela scores his 2nd tank kill
But this one costs them

Krs Kalvela (the “Star”) unleashes his assault on the lone T26. The plan is for him and Krp Somppi to open fire on the front of the tank as Krp Korpela (the tank killer) sneaks up behind it with a Molotov Cocktail. (Think that scene with Big Joe in Kelly’s heroes).

 Kalvela picked a bad time to fail an IST. The Soviet tank fired first and opened up a deadly barrage. By rights, killing both Kalvela and Somppi.

 Kalvela survived however, thanks to his “Star Power” (Special rules that prevent your main character from getting killed, sometimes. Oddly, I don’t remember my Airborne star ever needing this in his two campaigns. This is the second scenario in a row where those rules saved Kalvela).

 The ruse worked however, as Korpela was able to get in behind the tank and destroy it with his Molotov Cocktail.

  During the Soviet phase, the political officer keeps 4/1 (on the left) and 3/1 moving forward. Because of the snow storm, they are unaware of the threat from the Sissi squad developing off their left flank.

  The Soviets are spotted by 2^nd squad, with 4/1 getting the jump and firing first. 3/1 does not fire. The cover of the woods protects the Finns, but not 100% as Krp Hietanen is killed. Finnish return fire doesn’t cause any damage, but does cause several troopers to drop back. The Soviets follow up their initial contact with ‘active fire.” This time the Soviets get the worst of it as a rifleman is killed and Krp Rokka kills the Soviet LMG   gunner. The Finns are forced to drop back deeper into the woods.

 Turn 15:  Soviet initiative and more reinforcements: 1^st squad of 2^nd platoon (1/2 – 10 men)

Turn 15

  4/1 spends the turn rallying; 3/1 moves forward, but it does leave one MMG to join up with the 1/2.

  The Sissi squad is now in position, just out of sight and to the left of 4/1. Yks Jutila’s group (3^rd(SMG) and 4^th(LMG) squads) move forward to take position on the Soviet right. Second squad retreats through the woods to link up with Vrk Kantala’s group. Kalvela recovers from dropping back and gives Somppi’s SMG to Korpela.

  Turn 16: Finnish initiative

  Second squad has linked up with Kantala, and they turn to face the expected enemy. Yks Jutila’s group is now in position ready to receive 1/2. Kalvela’s group of three enter the building.

Yks Jutila has his men in position

   On the Finnish right, the Sissi squad moves up and encounters the left flank of 4/1.  When the dust settles, one Finnish rifleman is killed, as is the Soviet senior corporal; three Soviets are wounded and out of the fight. There is no cover in sight, so all the Soviets can do is drop prone.

  During the Finnish active phase, the Sissi squad completes their victory with SMG and rifle fire until there is no one standing.

Sissi surprising the Soviet left flank

  As for the Soviet phase, 3/1 continues their march through the woods towards group Kantala. The 1/2 moves off to the right, towards the building.

 Turn 17: Finnish Initiative

 The Finns basically remain in place, although the Sissi squad returns to pick up their skis.

  The Political Officer pushes 3/1 forwards towards Kantela’s position. At the conclusion of the shooting, two Soviets and Sm Saari are killed.

 

Political Officer Badinov pushes 3/1 forward

Turn 18: Soviets fail to activate

 The Finns hold their positions. The Sissi squad re-equips their skis.

 

Turn 19: Soviet initiative

  Political Officer Badinov pushes the 3/1 forward again: lots of fire, lots of misses; two Soviets are wounded. On the Soviet right, the 1/2 advance on the building, but Kalvela was waiting. Kalvela kills a senior corporal; Yks Jutila’s men kill one and wound another.

 

Turn 21: Finns fail to activate

The Soviets spent the turn rallying and getting ready for the final push.

 

Turn 22:  Soviet initiative

 Political Officer Badinov gives his men one last chance for glory, and they advance for the third time. The Soviet advance is halted again, although this time one private manages to throw a grenade that wounds two Finns. When the dust clears, there are no more Soviets standing.

  The 1/2  advance on the building with great courage, but are stopped dead in their tracks by accurate SMG fire from Kalvela and Korpela, as well as accurate rifle fire from Helske, the squad marksman.

 

End Game:

 The snow continues to fall, and now it is dark, even though it is only 1500. The Soviets call off their attack and will fight again another day. Victory to the Finns.

 The Finns had their share of good luck with reinforcements. Even though they were technically on defense, I don’t think they were ever outnumbered. The Soviet Political Officer had uncommonly bad luck; all three of his IST were ties, which go to the defender. The Finnish Jääkärit suffered one wounded (who returned) and three killed (Somppi, Hietanen & Saari).

 After the battle Kalvela (1^st squad) and Vanhala (2^nd squad) earned a Rep increase. In 1^st squad, Korpela is promoted to ASL; Sm Hakala takes over as the tank hunting specialist. In 2^nd squad, Sm Vanhala takes over as the tank hunting specialist.

Kersantti Kalvela is awarded his 2nd Sisu badge (for surviving his 2nd "deadly" wound.

Korporaali Korpela is awarded two tank destriction badges

There are no replacements to be had at present, so both squads are depleted.

Soviet morale is dropped by one; neither side had a change to investment level.

 After promotions, reassignments and no replacements, our two main squads are as follows:

1^st squad

ID	Roll/Figure	Rank - Name	Rep	Wpn	Attribute
1.	Sqd Ldr	Tapio Kalvela	6	SMG	STAR 3:2, 3:4
2.	ASL	Villi Korpela	5	SMG	6:2 Tank Killer
3.	Sniper	Matti Helske	6	Rifle	2:2 Crack Shot
4.	Satchel/Rif	Martti Hakala	4	Rifle	4:3 Quick Reflexes
5.	Rifle #1	Matti Ylinen	4	Rifle	5:1 Shirker: Always outgunned
6.	Rifle #2	Vilho Erkkilä	3	Rifle	4.6 Runt: -1D6 in melee
7.	Rifle #3 ®
8.	Rifle #4 ®

 2^nd Squad

ID	Roll/Figure	Rank - Name	Rep	Wpn	Misc
1.	Sqd Ldr	Severi Lehto	4	R&P	2:6 Hard as Nails
2.	ASL	Antti Rokka	5	SMG	4:4 Rage
3.	LMG	Joonas Lahtinen	4	LMG	6:3 Tough
4.	LMG Amm	Andrei Rahikainen	4	Rifle	2:3 Dumb Ass
5.	Tank Hunter	Hannes Vanhala	5	Rifle	3:3 Lucky
6.	Rifle #1	Susi	3	Rifle	5:4 Slow to react: -1D6 IST
7.	Rifle #2 ®

 ® = Replacement