Winter War Campaign - scenario #3 Patrol

 

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
3.	Patrol	4	3	3	4

 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): 2nd Lieutenant (Platoon leader)

 House Rule: I decided I wanted to tweak the ski rules a bit. We’ll see I fit was a good idea. I am no expert, but have read as much as I can on the conflict. From what I can tell, skis were not all that different from trucks or bicycles. That is, they were just used for transportation and once at the front you fought on foot. Secondly, the Finns had better skis (captured Soviet skis were considered only good for firewood) and better bindings, which enabled them to ‘mount/dismount’ quicker.

I will be using the following rules for figures mounted on skis (statement in parenthesis is a rule I thought was similar):

·       Shooting: counts as if figure was Fast Moving (similar to shooting mounted)

·       Melee: -1D6 (similar to “Runt” attribute)

·       Mount/dismount: costs Soviets one action (normal rule); Finns mount/dismount from skis as if going prone.

 

Date: December 15th, 1939, near Tulijärvi (Fire Lake), Finland

Weather: Intermittent light snow: Cold weather rules in effect; Skiing possible,

no hinderance to vehicle movement; visibility = 24” (when not hindered by the forests)

Historical Note:

Reports are coming in of Finland’s first victories. Although not complete, Col Aaro Pajari is making progress to the south at the Battle of Tolvajärvi (Dec 12-24) and Col Hjalmar Siilasvuo’s forces are starting to develop their Mottis to the north east at the Battle of Suomussalmi (Nov 30-Jan 8); but there is still much fighting ahead for both of them.

Briefing:

 Finnish Sissi Battalions are operating behind enemy lines, gathering intelligence and causing as much havoc to rear areas as they can.

Kersannti Kalvela has been ordered to take his depleted squad and deliver a load of supplies to Lt Takala, operating in the area of Tulijärvi. Kalvela is to meet Lt Takala at a Mökki (a small cottage on a lake or river – usually with a sauna) north of Tulijärvi near the village of Tulikangas.

Objective: move this pack of supplies to a Sissi squad behind enemy lines

 

 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	Martti Hakala	4	SMG	4:3 Quick Reflexes
3.	Sniper	Matti Helske	6	Rifle	2:2 Crack Shot
4.	Satchel/Rif	Veiko Korpela	5	Rifle	6:2 Tank Killer
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

 

Situation at start

Turn 1: Finnish Initiative

   The Finns enter the board in the middle of sector 8 on ski in column. Sm Helske is on point. The dense forests prevent any sightings. All three PEF (Possible enemy forces) move forward 8”.

Kalvela leads his men through the dense forests

 Turn 2:  Finnish initiative

  A bad start of the turn for the Finns. I rolled up two new PEF. There are now five on the board.

After placement of two more "Possible Enemy Forces" (PEF)

 

The Finns move up and PEF#3 is spotted by Sm Helske. The Finns back up and remove their skis. Since there are so few of them, they were able to pack their skis on the poro (reindeer), so as to have them readily available for future use. Sm Korpela readies a grenade.

  On the Soviet turn, all PEF move forward. PEF #3 is determined to be just rumors.

 Turn 3:  Finnish initiative

  Kalvela moves his squad to the right, hoping to avoid most of the PEF.

  During the Soviet phase, all four remaining PEF move forward.  PEF #5 is identified as a full platoon of four squads, a political officer and a medium MG. Fortunately for the Finns, the platoon is so big and the forest so dense that only one squad has a LOS on the small Finnish squad. The Finns won the IST and forced several Soviets back into the woods, but only caused two casualties. After the firefight, the Soviet commander became cautious and converted to a defensive mission.

 

PEF turns out to be Soviet 1st Platoon (4 squads + medium MG)

Kalvela's squad prepares to meet the Soviet avalanche

Looks like we're outnumbered pojat (boys)!

Turn 4: Finnish initiative

  With the path around the Soviet left now effectively closed (The Soviets outnumber the Finns about 6:1), Kalvela decides on a different tactic. The Finns drop back deeper into the forest and remount their skis.

Time to fall back and try another route

  PEF#2 & 4 move slowly forward. PEF#1 advances full speed, but is just more rumors. As for the Soviet 1^st platoon, they are content to retain their defensive posture. They do move their MMG forward. The political officer may not tolerate such behavior for very long.

 

Turn 5: Soviet initiative

  PEF#2&4 continue their cautious movement. First platoon remains in place.

  As for the Finns, Kalvela’s men use their skis to move quickly towards the Soviet right.

 

Kalvela pulls back and will try moving around the Soviet right flank

Turn 6: Soviet initiative

 PEF#2 moves forward at speed and has now moved even with 1^st platoon.

 PEF #4 moves forward and is identified as the 1^st squad of 2^nd platoon. Kalvela’s squad wins the IST (as a Rep6, Kalvela is unlikely to lose these). Unfortunately, Finnish fire is ineffective (both sides benefit for being in the cover of the woods), they force several Soviets to drop back, but cause no casualties. Soviet active fire wounds Sm Erkkilä and forces Sm Korpela and Ylinen to drop back deeper into the woods.

Oh, look! Another squad blocking our path

  On the Finnish turn, Kalvela, Hakala and Helske drop back and rejoin Korpela and Ylinen, who have regained their composure. Korpela and Ylinen both ready grenades. Kalvela breaks the bad news to Erkkilä that he doesn’t have any men to spare, he will have to make it back to the aid station on his own.

 Turn 7: Soviet Initiative

 1/2 Rallies and reorganizes. PEF#2 moves forward. The Soviet political officer gets first platoon moving (changes to attack posture).

  Kalvela moves his forces to the top of the wooded hill.

 Turn 8: Finns fail to activate; Finnish reinforcements: 4th Jalakväki (Infantry-LMG) squad, led by Lt Lamio. They arrive in sector nine (unfortunately for them).

2nd Infantry squad arrives just in time to get overwhelmed

  

Soviet 1/2 takes up a defensive position. PEF#2 remains in place. Soviet 1^st platoon advances towards Lamio.

Turn 9: Soviet Initiative

  Soviet 1^st platoon and PEF #2 advance on Lamio; 1/2 holds their position.

On the Finnish right, Sm Vuori and Mäki ready grenades, the others grimly prepare to receive the Soviet 1^st platoon.

  Krs Kalvela advances his squad on the Soviet 1/2, hitting the right of their line. The Finns fire first, causing many drop backs, but no casualties. After the reaction, Kalvela’s men advance on the withdrawing Soviets. Finnish active fire puts three Soviets out of action and drive the rest back.

 Turn 10: Finnish Initiative

  Kalvela’s men continue their pursuit of the Soviet 1/2, killing some, wounding others and driving the survivors off the battlefield.

We got 'em on the run!

  On the Finnish right, Soviet 1^st and 2^nd squads of 1^st Platoon (both squads are close enough to form one group lead by the platoon leader) enter the LOS of Lamio’s group. The Finns kill or wound a few, but do not cause enough damage to stop the Soviet advance. They do manage to knock down the LMG from each squad. Soviet return fire force Vuori and Mäki to drop back.

  Some Soviet rifleman stop to pick up the LMGs from their downed comrades; the others advance past their downed comrades and engage Lamio’s group in active fire. Krs Partanen is wounded and Aks Happonen is killed; causing Vuori and Mäki to leave the battlefield. Faced with overwhelming numbers, Lt Lamio and his LMG team decide it’s time to live and fight another day. With a full strength platoon of about 50 men bearing down on them, they were forced to leave the wounded Partanen behind.

 

End of turn 10

Turn 11 Finnish Initiative

Kalvela orders Sm Korpela to pick up the LMG left behind by the Soviets, as the others re-equip their skis

    The Soviet 1^st platoon spends its time reorganizing its squads, as they became intermingled during the attack on Lamio. PED #2 moves slowly towards Kalvela.

 Turn 12: Finnish initiative – but not before a new PEF (#6) is placed in Sector five.

  Using their skis to move quickly, and the wooded hill for cover, Kalvela’s small group moves toward the objective, with Sm Ylinen on point. Having gathered up the Soviet LMG and all the ammo he could quickly find, Korpela skis off at full speed to rejoin Kalvela.

 Cptn Koldinov, the leader of the Soviet forces, splits his platoon in half. He sends two squads in pursuit of Lamio’s group and turns the other two squads plus the MMG to the right to search for Kalvela.

 Turn 13: Finnish initiative, but more bad news, yet another PEF (#7) is placed; this one in sector #1, the perfect spot to keep Kalvela from reaching his objective.

 As Kalvela’s small group closes in on sector #1, Sm Korpela catches up to them.

PEF #6 approaches Kalvela’s flank, but Sm Helske determines it is only rumors.  Unfortunately for the Finns, the same is not true for PEF #7. Ylinen announces the presence of a full-strength Soviet rifle squad (14) with an additional medium MG on the road ahead.

Soviet 2nd sqd, 2nd pltn block Kalvela's path

 Ylinen performed his duty well, identifying the enemy squad before his own squad could be seen. He gets off a shot, but does no damage before Soviet return fire cuts him down.

 

The End

Kalvela decides to escape north before the noose is complete

  Kalvela has run out of luck (and then some), his four-man squad is heavily outnumbered and outgunned. There is a full-strength squad (14) with a medium MG in front of him and a full platoon (>30) coming up behind him. Although Kalvela considers one of his Jääkäri to be the equal to ten Soviets, what do you do when there is eleven? (borrowing a quote from the movie Tuntematon Sotilas)

  Kalvela orders his men to ski north into the deep woods. They will have to try again another day. At least they captured a light machine gun. The latter will not be reported to his superiors, no sense doing that, they’ll just confiscate it and give it to someone else.

  Sotamies Ylinen received a posthumous medal of valor for his sacrifice in saving his squad.

 Sotamies Erkkilä made it back to the aid station, but is hurt too badly to rejoin the front lines. He will finish the war as a clerk at division headquarters.

 

 Having suffered significant casualties, Kalvela’s group is being withdrawn from the front lines to receive replacements and build back up to ten men. He will have to sit out the next mission. Vänrikki (2Lt) Kantola (who will be acting “Star”) and the rest of his Jääkärit (Jaegers) will be attached to Kapteeni Kaarna’s infantry group to face the  expected Soviet assault.