Winter War scenario #10 - Forest patrol

 

My 2^nd Winter War Campaign

Rules: Nuts! By TwoHourWargames (28mm WWII skirmish) – with a few personal touches here and there (not to mention forgetting a rule now and then).

The Mission Card Deck will be used for everything but friendly reinforcements – although in this scenario any result of vehicles will be ignored.

Note: Inappropriate capitalization in the middle of a sentence refers to rules’ mechanics. They, along with other abbreviations and more campaign background can be found HERE

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 Brute Squad). The Kauhu and his squad are attached to Kapteeni Kaarna’s infantry task force. In order to keep the scenarios fresh and not too repetitive, the squad transfers between fronts in a way that is unrealistic.

Note: Patrol and Choc & Cig scenarios do not affect Campaign Morale

1st Scenario: Patrol: Soviet Victory

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

·       Campaign Morale: Soviets (3), Finns (4)

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

4th Scenario: Patrol – Finnish victory

5th Scenario: Finnish Attack – Soviet Victory

·       Campaign Morale: Soviets (3), Finns (3)

6th Scenario: Choc & Cigs – A dangerous mission – Finnish victory

7th Scenario: Defense of the Kollaa River – Finnish victory

·       Campaign Morale: Soviets (3), Finns (3) [no change]

8th Scenario: Patrol – Finnish victory

9th Scenario: Attack – Finnish victory

·       Campaign Morale: Soviets (1), Finns (3)

 

Date: January 23^rd, 1940 – Somewhere in the deep forests of Ladoga Karelia

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

Campaign Morale: Soviets (1), Finns (3)

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

Historical Background:

  Loosely based on the search for Dolin’s Brigade, a so-called elite ski brigade of Siberians that operated near Kuhmo. Of the 1,800-strong ski brigade led by Colonel Dolin sent to reinforce the 54th Soviet Division, nearly 1,500 men were killed in four days of battle near the Kesseli and Vetko houses. In the early hours of 16 December, after a decisive battle, another 200 enemy soldiers fell in skirmishes and the remnants of the brigade fled east through the woodlands.

 

The Mission:

    The Kauhu and his squad are ordered to patrol the deep woods up to the Hirvijoki (Elk River) and Ketolainen’s möki (a small cottage, usually containing a sauna). They are to locate any remnants of Dolin’s brigade in the area and eliminate them.

  Vänrikki Koskela’s half-platoon will be available as reinforcements if needed. And as usual, one never knows when Lt Takala and his Sissi might show up…

But first - a couple of new terrain sections - rocky terrain

Map at start. The numbers in the black circles are the sector numbers. The map is a little smaller than by usual 4'x6' - closer to 3'x3'.

Turn 1: Soviet initiative and reinforcements: Medium Machine Gun (MMG#1) in a defensive position in sector #3.

The Kauhu and his squad moves out

  The Kauhu’s squad moves up, where the ever-vigilant Korpi determines that PEF2 is only rumors.

Turn 2: Finnish initiative and reinforcements: Lt Takala’s 10-man Sissi squad

Takala arrives. The road is the map edge

  Korpi, on advanced point as usual, spots PEF1 and identifies it as a 13-man Soviet squad (1^st squad/1^st platoon or 1/1) and a mortar barrage.  Korpi drops back before he can be seen, while The Kauhu moves the rest of his squad on line in preparation for the encounter with 1/1.

The Kauhu's squad engages the Soviet 1/1

 The mortar barrage falls on Takala’s squad, but does no damage.

Soviet phase

 The 1/1 moves forward and engages The Kauhu’s squad. The Finns fire first and get the best of the encounter. The Soviets suffer three casualties (including the LMG gunner – wounded by Kauhu) and the Finns two (Kirsi and Lång are wounded). The 1/1 Ducks Back, leaving their LMG behind, but the Finns Carry On.

 PEF3 is identified by Pylkäs as an artillery strike. Poor Kirsi is hit again and killed; there are no other casualties; both squads are in Duck Back.

Turn 3: Soviets do not activate

  Both Finnish squads Recover from their Duck Back. The Kauhu orders Jääkäri Niska to escort the wounded Lång to the rear.

Turn 4: Soviets cannot move, but receive another MMG (#2) team as reinforcements

  The Kauhu reestablishes contact with 1/1. The Finns fire first but cause only one casualty. The 1/1 Ducks Back again.

 Lt Takala’s squad advances to the right flank.

Turn 5: Finnish initiative (after three straight doubles, but too high for new PEFs)

Start of turn 5

  Nothing significant happens; the Finns move up and the 1/1 Recovers.

Turn 6: Finnish initiative

 The Kauhu moves his group forward, but doesn’t contact the 1/1

 

Takala moves his squad forward and spots Soviet MMG #1

The MMG fires first, but only forces Duck Backs.

Some Duck Back - some stay in the fight

Turn 7: Finnish initiative

 The Kauhu moves his squad forward and engages 1/1 – The Kauhu’s squad fires first. The Kauhu, Korpi and Pylkäs all cause casualties and the 1/1 decides it’s time to Leave the Battlefield.

  Takala and his Sissi Recover.

Turn 8: Finnish initiative

  The Kauhu begins moving up the left flank. Lt Takala and his Sissi Recover

Turn 9: PEF4 appears in sector #3; Finnish initiative

  The Kauhu’s squad moves up, Taikuri picks up the abandoned Soviet LMG on the way.

 Lt Takala moves his Sissi forward and engages MMG1 – the Soviets fire first. Unfortunately for them, they cause no casualties and run short of ammo. Although Lt Takala is forced back, Kersantti (Krs – sgt) Orava sprays the MMG nest with his Suomi SMG, causing two casualties – the rest of the Sissi finish off the crew.

Turn 10: Finns fail to activate

Start of turn 10

  PEF4 moves up, but Krs Orava determines it is only Rumors.

 MMG#2 fires on part of Takala’s squad – forcing more Duck Backs.

Turn 11: Finns fail to activate whereas MMG2 remains in position but has no targets.

Turn 12: Same as above

Turn 13: Soviets cannot move, but receive reinforcements: 2/1, a 12-man LMG squad

 The Kauhu continues to move up the left flank; Olava and those who had not Ducked Back fall back and rejoin the rest of the squad.

Turn 14:  Soviet initiative

 The Soviet 2/1 cautiously advances towards Takala’s last position

Finnish phase

 Takala Recovers most of his squad, but a couple of members Hunker Down

 The Kauhu leads his squad across the frozen river as he moves to get behind the buildings.

Turn 15: Finnish initiative

Start of turn 15

 The Kauhu clears sector #1. Takala and his sergeant convince the two men of their squad to regain their composure (i.e., they Recover from Hunker Down to Duck Back).

 Soviet 2/1 takes a Defensive Posture

Turn 16: Soviets fail to activate

 Takala and his sgt have now Recovered their whole squad

 The Kauhu continues to maneuver his squad behind the house (oops. Forgot to check for a PEF near the buildings).

Taking advantage of the "Blind Spot"

Turn 17: Soviet initiative

 The Soviet 2/1 advances and engages Takala’s squad. The Soviets fire first causing two casualties; the Finns cause only one.

Finnish phase

 The Kauhu and his squad emerge from behind the building and engage MMG2. One hand grenade (from Pylkä) and SMG bursts from The Kauhu and Korpi destroy the nest.

Takala and his Sissi withdraw to reorganize

Turn 18: Finns fail to activate

 The 2/1 goes on the offense and pursues Takala

Turn 19: Finns fail to activate (after another set of doubles does not result in new PEF)

 The 2/1 engages Takala, again firing first. The Soviets inflict three casualties on Takala, but only suffer one in return. Takala’s squad Ducks Back.

Turn 20: PEF5 in sector #3; Soviet initiative

Turn 20

 The 2/1 continues their pursuit of Takala -no casualties, but the Finns keep Ducking Back.

PEF5 advances, is identified as 3/1, a 13-man LMG squad, and contacts The Kauhu – with the Finns firing first. Mostly Drop Backs, but Pylkäs wounds a corporal, and Taikuri is wounded by the Soviets. In Active Fire, The Kauhu eliminates the Soviet LMG gunner and Korpi scores two kills. The Soviets Duck Back.

Turn 21: Soviets fail to activate

The Kauhu pursues 3/1 (9 left); The Kauhu, Korpi and Pylkäs all score kills and the 3/1 Leaves the Battlefield.

Takala fails to Recover his men

Turn 22: Soviet initiative

 

The 2/1 Continues its pursuit and engages Takala’s squad.

 The 2/1 fires first, causing a casualty; what’s left of Takala’s squad Leaves the Battlefield.

 Finnish phase –

  The Kauhu’s squad is basically positioned so that it can clear both sectors two and three. Now all they have to do to complete the mission is make it back to their own lines.

Turn 23: Soviets fail to activate

 Aks (alikersantti – a corporal) Pylkäs reminds The Kauhu they haven’t cleared the buildings. The Kauhu readies his squad to search the building; Jkr Suominen picks up the discarded Soviet LMG

Turn 24: Doubles – but no new PEF can appear as all areas have been cleared. Finnish initiative

  

The Kauhu secures the buildings

As they approach the möki, the Finns discover the Soviet 4/1 inside, a 9-man LMG squad. The Finns react first and the Soviet squad is easily dispatched.

 The Soviet 2/1 is unable to move.

Turn 25: Finnish initiative and reinforcements: Vänrikki (2Lt) Kantola and a 10-man rifle squad.

Kantala arrives too late to help Takala

 The Kauhu starts on his return journey while Kantola moves up towards the 2/1.

 Again, the 2/1 is unable to move.

Turn 26: Soviet initiative

 The 2/1 advance and engage Kantola’s squad. The Finns fire first, causing two casualties, but Sm (Sotamies – private) Ylinen is wounded. All but two Soviets Duck Back, and those two are immediately dispatched by Active Fire.

Kantala engages the 2/1

When dealing with large units, who's shooting who can get complicated, so I line them up like this for the resoltuion then return them to their positions afterwards

 Suominen and Kemppaala improvise a stretcher so they can take the wounded Taikuri to the rear. With limited numbers, The Kauhu cautiously leads his squad back towards friendly lines and the “Sound of the guns” (the fight between Kantola and the 2/1).

Turn 27: Finns fail to activate

  The last six members of the 2/1 fail to Recover.

Turn 28: Finns fail to activate

  The last members of the 2/1 Recover

Turn 29: Soviet initiative (reinforcements cannot come)

  The 2/1 does not move.

 Kantola’s squad advances, engages and destroys the last of the 2/1.

The End: - Finnish victory

 The Kauhu has not only accomplished his mission, he has captured two LMG (soon to be confiscated by HQ) and recovered his wounded.

This being a patrol scenario – no change to Campaign Morale

Casualties & Rep increases:

The Kauhu’s squad: 1 killed (Kirsi) and two wounded (Taikuri & Lång)

Tiakuri is invalided home; where as Lång returns to the squad

Rep Increases: Suominen and Kemppaala to Rep4

Takala’s Sissi squad: 1 killed 5 wounded

Koskela’s squad: 2 wounded

Next Mission: Defend

By rule, the next mission should be a Finnish attack, but I want to do a Mannerheim line scenario, and I am getting close to the end of the campaign, so they will be defending.