Choclate & Cigarettes - a very different scenario

 My 2^nd Winter War Campaign

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

The Battle Card Deck will not be used this scenario

Campaign Background: Follows the exploits of Kersantti (Sgt) Tapio Kalvela, AKA “The Metsän (Forest) Kauhu” (Terror or Horror) or often just “The Kauhu” and his Jääkäri (Jaeger) squad. The Kauhu and his squad are attached to Kapteeni Kaarna’s infantry task force.

Further Campaign Background and a guide to my abbreviations found

1st Scenario: Patrol: Soviet Victory

2nd Scenario: Defending the approach to the village: Finnish victory

3rd Scenario: Choc & Cigs – Escort: Finnish victory

4th Scenario: Patrol – Finnish victory

5th Scenario: Finnish Attack – Soviet Victory

This Scenario: Choc & Cigs – A dangerous mission

 Date: December 29, 1939, somewhere in Finnish Karelia

Weather: Clear skies, freezing cold with snow on ground; Night

Campaign Morale: Soviets (4), Finns (4)

Investment Level: Soviets (4), Finns (3).

Personnel Update:

·       Korpraali (PFC) Surma has been promoted to Alikersantti (Cpl), but is transferred out of the outfit to a different Jaeger squad.

·       Jaeger Taikuri is promoted to Korpraali

·       Korpraali Viljam Pylkas (Rep5: Hard as Nails; Savy 5, Fit4, People 3; Logical) is called up as a replacement and promoted to Alikersantti.

·       Jaeger Lång (Rep3) is transferred in straight from Basic Training

Scenario Background:

   This scenario is based upon an event described in the book “The Unknown Soldier” (“Tuntematon Sotilas” in original Finnish) by Väinö Linna). This will be an unusual scenario in that there will be no Soviets appearing as an enemy. PEFs in this scenario will be friendly Finnish troops, officers, NCOs or others who could prevent them from accomplishing their “Mission.” The PEFs will move in random directions until they get close to a friendly team. For convenience, I will still call them PEF in the narrative.

  When a friendly force contacts a PEF, a conversation will take place. The friendly force will then take either an opposed (meaning a contest with a PEF) or unopposed (meaning against an inanimate object) challenge. Friendly figures will be using their People skills when engaging in a low-key conversation, or Savy skill, if they need to “con” their way into or out of a situation.

The Mission:

  The first month of the war has been very tough on Task Force Kaarna, as they have been continually forced back and suffered many casualties. They will be given a brief respite while they recover and take on replacements.

  The Kauhu decides that his men need more than just rest and could use a team morale building experience. With New Year’s Eve coming up, he has something special in mind that just might do the trick.  Time to brief the squad.

 “Sometimes it’s easier to get forgiveness, than it is to get permission and we’ll never get permission to do this. We need to “borrow” a large cooking pot from the field kitchen and gather some other supplies. We’ll wait for dark. Our little conspiracy will require something from everyone.”

The Kauhu splits his squad into four groups. The numbers in Parenthesis represent their Savy (S#) and People (P#) scores, plus any relevant attribute.

·       Group 1: The Kauhu (S5/P3)) and Kirsi (S2/P4+Attractive)

o   Mission is to “Liberate” a large cooking pot

·       Group 2: Korpi (S6/P4) and Kemppaala (S3/P4+speaks Russian)

o   Mission to distract sentry and otherwise provide overwatch

·       Group 3: Taikuri (S4/P5) and Suominen (S2/P3 + charisma)

o   Mission: Locate the scrounge Rahikainen and cut a deal for other necessary ingredients

·       Group 4: Pylkas (S5/P3), Niiska (S1/P3) and Lång (S1/P2)

o   Mission: occupy the main camp and keep anyone from noticing that others are gone

Turn 1: Initiative The Establishment (that is, not my main group)

Situation at start

  The various PEFs move around a bit.

The Kauhu's starting position and groups

Groups 1 & 2 move off to the left.  Group #3 can hear something in the woods (PEF3) to their left, so they move forward in an attempt to go around whatever it is.

 Group#4 moves towards PEF3 to head them off.

Turn 2: Initiative Establishment; New PEF (#4) in sector 2

  

PEF3 moves forward and makes contact with Aks Pylkas (group4).

Pylkas (muttering under his breath): Nuts! (see what I did there). It’s Ylikersantti (SSG) Sinkkonen (S2/P3). What are you doing here sarge?

Sinkkonen: Where’s Kalvela (The Kauhu)? I have a message for him.

Pylkas: He’s out practicing some night navigation with some of the new guys. He’ll be back in a couple of hours. I’ll give him a message.

Sinkkonen: Why didn’t I know about that? Oh well. Tell him to report to HQ in the morning.

“Jääkärit (Jagers) think they’re better than everyone,” thought Sinkkonen, as he returned back to HQ.

Turn3: Initiative The Brute Squad (Kauhu) – Establishment doesn’t activate

  Finnish groups continue to move cautiously forward. 

Korpi identifies PEF1 as Mess Sergeant Mäkinen and a reindeer pack animal.

Korpi: What are you doing out here, sarge?

Mäkinen: Taking some food supplies from battalion HQ to Number 3 company.

Korpi: Why aren’t you taking the main road?

Mäkinen: Too many men stopping me, begging me to give them something extra. Well, I ain’t got any extra. I hate that! Don’t even bother asking for anything; you won’t get it.

Korpi: I don’t need anything. But you look tired, here, let me give you a smoke…

Meanwhile, while Korpi distracts Mäkinen, Kemppaala quietly slips away.

Turn 4: Initiative Establishment; New PEF (#5) in sector 2

 Korpi continues to engage Mäkinen in conversation, as Kamppaala makes his way towards the main road. Otherwise. not much going on. The Kauhu’s group continues to move forward, but no further contact is made.

 Turn 5:  The Establishment does not activate

Situation on turn 5

  The Kauhu moves forward and identifies two PEFs, but does not contact them.

The Kauhu identifies a sleepy sentry and a "Lotta Svard"

PEF2: Sleepy sentry (S3/P2)

PEF3: Lotta Svard (female auxiliary; S2/P3)

Kemppaala intentionally makes a bit of noise to draw away the attention of the sentry, who advances cautiously in his direction.

Turn 6: The Establishment does not activate

  Mess sergeant Mäkinen has spent enough time with Korpi and attempts to leave.  Korpi is initially unsuccessful at delaying Mäkinen, but manages to stop him by breaking out a bottle of fine wine (loot from a previous scenario). “What’s the rush, sarge?”

 

Kemppaala, (who speaks fluent Russian), whispers just loud enough for the sentry to hear; drawing the sentry further and further away from the field kitchen.

 Kirsi, well known as a lady’s man, makes contact with the “Lotta” and starts making conversation.

  While the sentry and the Lotta are distracted, the Kauhu manages to find the large cooking pot and remove it from the field kitchen.

On the far left, Taikuri identifies PEF5 as the elusive Rahikainen

Turn 7: Brute Squad initiative

 On the far right, Kemppaala sneaks away from the road and makes contact with Korpi, signaling him it is time to leave. Korpi recognizes the signal and disengages from Mäkinen.

 In the center, The Kauhu grabs his pot and double times back towards his base. Meanwhile, it looks like Kirsi has secured a future date with the “Lotta.” Quite unusual for a lowly private, usually they only have time for officers.

On the left, Taikuri has finally made contact with Rahikainen. 

After some back and forth negotiations, Taikuri eventually is able to trade a Soviet battle flag (loot from a previous scenario) for the ingredients needed by The Kauhu.

Turn 8+

 The various groups were able to return to camp with their pot and ingredients without further incident.

Conclusion:

  Having gathered everything they need, The Kauhu turns it all over to Korpi, expert brewer of fine home-made beer. Korpi spends the next day creating his special brew, while The Kauhu and his men cover for him on their normal patrols.  The group will get a well-earned rest for New Years Day and are excused from duty, which leaves plenty of time for drinking on the night of the 31^st.

Success.

 Because of the unusual nature of this scenario, and its successful conclusion, I have decided to make everyone eligible for reputation and skill increase:

Rep increase: Niiska II to Rep4

Skill increase- People: Korpi to P5; Kauhu, Suominen, Pulkas to P4

Skill increase – Savvy: Kirsi to S3; Niiska II to S2