Winter War - scenario #11 - Mannerheim Line

 

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 – several times I forgot to fire one or the other of the casemates for example).

The Mission Card Deck will be used for everything (PEF resolution and reinforcements, loot, next mission, etc).

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)

10^th Scenario: Patrol – Finnish victory

 

Date: February 12, 1940 – the Mannerheim Line

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

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

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

Historical Background:

  The Mannerheim Line is a string of defensive positions, some of which, but by no means all, are made of concrete. For propaganda purposes, both sides tended to exaggerate the extent of the fortifications. It was no near as extensive or as sophisticated as the Maginot Line for example.

 

The Mission:

    VRK (Vänrikki - 2lt) Kantola’s half-platoon, with The Kauhu’s Jaegers attached, are defending a section of the Mannerheim Line. Major Sihvo (battalion commander) reports that the Soviets have forced open an effective breach in the line off-map to the left (That is, the first time I ran this scenario the Finns failed to activate in 4 of the first 5 turns, causing a disaster, so I modified the narrative and did a reload - LoL). Kantola is ordered to hold his position at all costs to give Kpt (Kapteeni) Kaarna enough time to organize a counter-attack

My Special Scenario Rules:

1.     Look to your front. In Sight Tests (IST - what happens when opposing groups see each other for the first time) are an important part of the game. However, in this scenario there is a lot of open ground in front of the defensive position. So in order to keep the game a little bit more fair for the Soviets, ISTs will only be done with squads looking directly to their front. Otherwise, any time a Soviet squad moves it would be spotted by all three Finnish squads.

2.     A figure/group in a Defensive Position (DP) treats Duck Back a little differently than normal. After all, that’s why you have a defensive works, to shield you from enemy fire and make it easier to recover from it. A figure in a DP that has to Duck Back will do so in place (essentially, they are just ducking behind their defense works) and count as being Prone. They still count as being in Duck Back, so must spend an action recovering. When they recover, they can retake their positions for free, which will likely trigger a new IST. They are also eligible for active fire. (Note: In my games, I have found it too easy to take a strong defensive position without this rule).

3.     Preliminary bombardment. This scenario assumes an extensive preliminary bombardment has left the Finns, except those in the casemates, in Duck Back status at the start of the game.

4.     The Finns have two casemates. The left (from Soviet perspective) houses a captured Soviet 45mm anti-tank gun. The right casemate houses a medium MG.

Starting Set-up: I decided try something new and did a video of the set-up

  I wanted to make sure this scenario looked like a major attack, so the Soviets started with three tanks on the board: a T28 on the main road and a pair of T-26s (one flame:OT, one twin MG:1931) to its right. There is a dismounted platoon leader and a rather ruthless political officer stationed between the tanks so they form a single group with the tanks for teh first turn. There is deep snow on the ground; if the Soviet tanks move off the road or move in anything but a straight line forward, they will have to take a driver’s test.

 The Soviets start with 5 x PEFs (Possible enemy force) on the board. Two on the left (PEF1&4), one in the center (PEF2) and two on the right (PEF3 & 5). However, only PEF1, 2 & 3 start the game active. PEF4 only activates after PEF1 is destroyed and likewise with PEF 3 & 5. I did this for the same reason as stated above – I wanted my Finns to be hard pressed to hold on.

 The Finns start the game with three squads. The Kauhu’s Jaegers on their right, Lt Kantola’s 10-man rifle quad in the center and the Kemi Sperate Battalion (Er.P. - 7 men w/ LMG), with an attached anti-tank rifle team, on the left. Kantola’s other squad is manning the weapons in the casemates: ATG under Ylikersantti (Crp) Väisänen, with Ylikersantti Korpela & crew on the MMG).

 

Original Set-up. Finnish at the bottom

Close up of the trenches and my two casemates. Didn't quite turn out like I had hoped, but not terrible, so I though I would use it anyway.

Turn 1: Soviet Initiative, but fail to activate

Finnish phase: All Finish units Recover.

 

Turn 2: Soviet Initiative;

PEFs fail to move. The Soviet Lieutenant orders the tanks forward, triggering a four-way IST. The MMG casemate won the IST, but was under-gunned so does not fire.

Active Fire:

T-28: main gun strikes the ATG casemate, but does no damage. The left MG turret fires at the Kauhu’s squad: Jkr (jaeger) Suominen is killed and The Kauhu is hit but not wounded –The right MG turret fires at the left end (Soviet Perspective) end of Kantola’s line: causing some Duck Backs.

OT-26 (Flame) fires its co-ax MG (Out of range of the flame) on the right end of Kantola’s line: Pentti Saari is wounded (One of Kantola’s best soldiers).

The T-26(31-twin turrets): fires both turrets at the Kemi ErP. – causing only Duck Backs.

 

Turn 3: Finnish initiative

  Both Finnish squads recover, but this time only the squad leaders (In Kauhu’s and Kantola’s squads) pop their heads up far enough to observe the enemy.

  Väisänen’s ATG crew miss their shot at the T-28; Sm (Sotamies – infantry private) Laine fails to damage the T-26(1931).

Soviet phase 

All three PEFs move up. PEF1 is not spotted yet; PEF3 is only rumors.

 PEF2 is identified as 1^st squad/1^st platoon (1/1), an 11-man LMG infantry squad. The Soviets win the IST and elect not to shoot, as they would likely come off worse (house rule).

Soviet approach the central position

 The T-28 fires at the ATG casemate, but misses. The left turret MG fires and hits the Kauhu, but again is not wounded (this time he is saved by Star Power). The right turret MG fires at Kantola, but misses.

OT-26 fires at Kantola – wounding him. The T-26(1931) fires both Turrets at Kemi ErP. wounding privates M Helske and Helander  – the rest Duck Back.

Turn 4: Soviet initiative

With PEF3 resolved as just Rumors, PEF5 is now active. It advances but is not spotted yet.

PEF1 advances and is identified by The Kauhu – another tank! This time a T-26(1933). The Kauhu wins the IST and quickly ducks behind the cover of his trench.

The T-28 slowly advances, it fires the main gun at the ATG casemate, but misses. It also fails its reload. Currently there is no visible targets for the MG turrets.

The OT26 has no targets so moves forward slowly. The T26(1931) fails to move.

Finnish phase

 Medic Paarna reaches Vrk Kantola, takes him into the dugout out of harm’s way and begins to treat him.

On the Finnish far right, Korpi ”Kuloematon” (Korpi the Immortal) leaves his position, puts on his skis, moving to his right, being careful to stay in cover.

Väisänen (ATG casemate) switches targets and decides to Active Fire on the OT-26 flame tank. He scores a direct hit and the tank explodes in a ball of flame. This unnerves his wingman and the T26(1931) attempts to leave the battlefield. However, while trying to reverse course, their tank falls victim to the deep snow. The crew abandons their tank and bails out. They are immediately cut down by Kantola’s MMG team in the casemate.

The OT-26 is destroyed by the Finnish ATG

 With enemy infantry approaching Yks Somppi orders his men to man their defenses – triggering an IST with the T-28 and 1/1. Both the T-28 and the 1/1 win the IST. The 1/1 elects only to fire with their LMG – causing some Duck Backs. TheT-28 fires its co-ax and the right MG turret, wounding Laitila and causing the rest of the squad to Duck Back.

Turn 5: New PEF (#6) in sector #3. Finnish initiative

On the far left, Korpi ski-sprints as fast as he can and avoids detection by the T26(1933). He makes it to the cover of the woods to the tank’s left.

  In the center, medic Paarna is able to treat Vrk Kantola and get him back in the fight.

Yks Somppi Recovers his men, and they re-man their positions (Fog of war: looks like I failed to do a new IST and Active Fire for them. Oops).

 On the Finnish left – the Kemi Er.P. fails to take action.

Soviet Phase: from left to right

The T-26(1933) fires at the AGT casemate, but doesn’t cause any damage.

The T-28 reloads its main gun. (Fog of war strikes again – failed to fire the turret MGs at Somppi – guess that makes it even).

Directed by the politcal officer, the 1/1 moves up at half speed, holding their fire.

PEF5 moves up and is spotted – More tanks! (never had that happen before) – a pair of BT-2s. There is a three-way IST between Ketolainen’s ER.P. squad, the ATR team and the BT2s. Ketolainen wins (ATR team loses) and holds fire (Under-gunned).

A pair of BT2's enter the field

PEF6 (now behind the BT-2’s) does not move and remains hidden.

Turn 6: Finnish initiative

On the Soviet left, Korpi skis up to charge distance behind the T26 (1933) and dismounts from his skis; with the T-26 turret facing the wrong direction, it was a simple matter of getting close enough to throw a Molotov Cocktail and destroy the tank.

Korpi Kuolematon (Korpi the immortal) destroys a T26

In the center, Medic Paarna moves over to the Kemi Er.P.

Yks Somppi again has his men man their positions hoping to engage the infantry, but the T28 fires its main gun first and causes most of the squad to Duck Back, but fails to reload. The three riflemen that have not Ducked Back (Alanen, Ylinen and Ahti Saari) engage the 1/1. Alanen and Ylinen both score wounds but Saari is wounded by return fire.

 The Soviets lose their nerve and begin to show signs of Leaving the Battlefield, but one look at Political Officer Badinov convinces them to stay in the fight. He didn’t even have to shoot anyone this time.

 Laine fires his ATR at one of the BT2s (Turret #37), scoring a hit but failing to penetrate.

Soviet Phase:

 PEF4 moves up slowly on the left. PEF6 moves up a bit quicker on the right – but neither is sighted just yet.

Having noticed the burning T26 to its left, the T-28 swings its main turret around and spots the Kuolematon (Korpi). Korpi wins the IST and holds his fire. Active Fire from the T-28 co-ax nearly scores a hit on Korpi – but true to his nickname of “Kuolematon” (the Immortal) he is not significantly wounded (Lucky Attribute). Korpi takes cover behind the still burning T26.

Both Turret MGs from the T-28 sweep the Trench of Kantola’s position – forcing them to Duck Back behind their cover.

Soviets assaulting the main trench (Kantola's position)

 With Kantola’s group distracted by the tank MG fire, Lt Koldinoff orders the 1/1 to charge the trench, while he and Political Officer Badinov observe from the rear – no doubt providing moral support. A Soviet corporal throws a grenade, wounding Marrti Hakala and Uhtila and the men charge in. The Soviets win the IST and elect to charge in rather than fire. The Soviets have a slight advantage in numbers.

(Note: The rules require a LOS before you can charge. With the Finns being in Duck Back, the Soviets had to advance to the lip of the trench to establish a new LOS – triggering the IST. Rather than engaging in a firefight with the Finns benefiting from having cover from the trench – they elect to charge in).

 The results of the melee were mixed. Yks Somppi manages to get a shot off and wounds one of his attackers on the way and in and kills the second in the melee. Alanen kills his lone attacker whereas Ylinen kills both of his (LMG gunner and the Soviet squad leader). Paavo Hakala and Erkkilä are both killed. Kantola is killed as well, though he manages to take out one of his two attackers first. Both squads are reduced to three men and Duck Back; the Finns in the trench and the Soviets retreating out of it.

Turn 7: Soviet initiative

 On the left, PEF4 does not move; on the right PEF6 moves forward and is identified by the Kemi Er.P. as 2/1 – a 9-man LMG infantry squad. The Soviets win the IST and elect to only fire with their LMG – forcing Laine’s ATR team to Duck Back.

In the left center, the T-28 reloads its main gun, but has no targets for its MG turrets.

The three survivors of the 1/1 have had enough and Leave the Battlefield; not even Political Officer Badinov can stop them.

On the far right, the pair of BT2s moves towards the Kemi position – but has no targets.

Finnish phase

 Yks Somppi manages to Recover with his last two men.

The ATG in the casemate fires at the T-28, but does not penetrate.

The Kauhu and Pylkäs have had enough and decide to break cover and go after the T-28,
while Korpi distracts the Soviet TC

The Kauhu manages to give a hand signal to Korpi before he breaks cover and the wily vet knows just what to do. Korpi breaks cover to distract the T-28 commander. The Soviets fire first and score three hits on Korpi with their co-ax; but not for nothing he is called “The Immortal,” as he is unwounded and retreats behind the cover of the still burning T26.

The Kauhu and Pylkäs break cover and advance on the T-28 (Finns win IST easily and keep moving). As they move forward, Pylkäs spots the two Soviet officers and breaks of his attack to engage them.  A short burst from his Suomi SMG does no damage but forces both to drop Prone.  A second burst from Pylkäs (Active Fire) wounds the lieutenant, but only manages to keep political officer’s head down.

Political Officer Badinov decides he has motivated enough of his own men for one day and surrenders to Pylkäs.

The Kauhu keeps rushing the T-28. With the TC distracted by Korpi (and thus with the main turret facing away from him), The Kauhu easily gets the jump on the MG turrets and destroys the tank with a satchel charge. There are no survivors (Kauhu has the "Tank KIller" attribute).

Turn 8: Finnish reinforcements (Hietanen’s 9-man assault squad) and initiative

 

On the Finnish right The Kauhu moves over and joins Korpi. 

 Väisänen fires his 45mm ATG and scores a catastrophic hit on BT2 #31. This frightens his wingman (BT2 #37), who leaves the battlefield.

 On the left, Medic Paarna is unable to improve M Helske’s condition. Meanwhile, Krs Ketolainen gets his men to man their positions.

Soviet phase

PEF4 is determined to be only rumors

The 2/1 advances and triggers a 4-way IST with the MG casemate, Ketolainen’s group and Laine’s ATR team on the flank. Only Ketolainen’s group is able to fire; but they don’t accomplish much other than several Duck Backs.

Turn 9:  Finns fail to activate and the Soviets do not move. Nothing happens.

Turn 10: Finns again fail to activate¸ but do receive reinforcements: Vrk Kariluoto’s 10-man rifle squad; Kapteeni Kaarna arrives with some HQ staff to take charge of operations.

Note: At this point, I seriously considered calling it a Finnish victory, as the Soviets had only one squad left and it was Ducking Back in the corner – but I decided to play it out. I am glad I didn’t, as things were about to get VERY interesting.

The Soviet 2/1 rallies and assumes a Defensive Position.

Turn 11: Finnish initiative

 Kapteeni Kaarna reorganizes his forces in the trenches. The exhausted Somppi and his two survivors are allowed to leave the front line and are given the assignment to escort the wounded and prisoners to the rear.  Koskela sends Hietanen’s assault squad to man The Kauhu’s old positions; Kariluoto does the same with Somppi’s position.

 Meanwhile, the Kauhu’s men don their skis (brining extras for The Kauhu and Pylkäs) and ski towards their leader.

Turn 12: Soviet reinforcements: the rest of 1^st platoon (3^rd and 4^th squads, both 10-men w/ LMG) under the care of a staff officer in sector #9. They also have a 45mm ATG attached.

Turn 12

Turn 13: Soviet initiative

 The staff officer consolidates all three Soviet squads (2/1, 3/1 & 4/1) into one unit (just called 1^st platoon).

 Koskela directs Hietanen’s squad to don skis and join The Kauhu.

Turn 14: a New PEF (#7) in sector 8; Soviets inactive but receive reinforcements again: a new 13-man LMG squad (1/2) in sector $7;

 Korpi hears a disturbance in the woods to their front (the arrival of the 1/2) and alerts The Kauhu. The Kauhu orders his troops to ski forward, with Hietanen skiing up their right flank. Both squads dismount  and form line of ambush.

The Kauhu gets ready to engage the 1/2.
Depending on circumstances, the ski marker represents the squad is mounted on skis, or as in this case, where they left them when they dismounted.

Turn 15: Finnish initiative

  The Kauhu advances both squads (his and Hietanen’s) and engages the 1/2. The Finns fire first – and get the best of it. Three Soviets are killed and three are wounded, with Korpi and Pylkäs doing most of the damage (The Kauhu came up empty). Jkr Lång is wounded. The rest of the Soviets Duck Back.

  Soviet phase

 The Soviet 1/2 Recovers. The 1^st platoon moves forward, stopping just short of the wood edge. From left to right, they are lined up: 3/1, 2/1, 4/1.

Turn 16: Finns fail to activate

 On the left, the 1/2 holds their positions and awaits the Kauhu’s next move.

 On the right, 1^st platoon moves forward at the double, triggering a 4-way IST between the MG casemate, Ketolainen’s group and the ATR team. Only the MG casemate fires, causing 1 wound and 4 Duck Backs (Called 3/1S {for stragglers} for now.).

 All three platoons Active Fire on the Er.P. positions; they cause only one wound and several Duck Backs.

PEF7 advances and is identified as nothing (Mission Deck said “Loot.”).

Turn 17: Finnish Initiative

 The Kauhu sends Hietanen and his squad in pursuit of the 1/2. The Finns fire first, killing one and wounding four (Rokka doing most of the damage); the survivors Leave the Battlefield. On the Finnish side, Sotamies Honkajoki is wounded. Hietanen’s group finishes their advance and captures the wounded Soviets.

 The Kauhu’s group goes back and remount their skis.

Soviet Phase:

 On the right, the 3/1S (a corporal and 3 privates) Recovers. The rest of the 3/1(-) remains in Duck Back.

1^st Platoon leaves the woods at the double, causing several Rep3 riflemen to fall behind a bit.

Turn 18: Soviet initiative

3/1S double times up and rejoins the 3/1(-). They are spotted by the MG casemate, but the soviets win the IST, so nothing happens.

The rest of 1^st Platoon fails to move. The ATG moves forward.

Finnish phase

 The Kauhu and his squad sprint-ski to the rear of 1^st platoon, using the woods as cover. Hietanen reorganizes his group. The first step is to search the PoWs for loot. The most significant item being a Soviet battle flag.

  Sm Sihvonen is tasked with escorting the wounded Honkajoki and the Soviet PoWs to the rear. Tassu Susi and Asumaa are tasked with retrieving the squad’s skis. Hietanen will follow and they will meet in the middle.

 After seeing the approach of 1^st platoon, Kariluoto leaves his two most ineffective men behind (Isoaho & Lampainen), and leads the rest of his squad into the Kemi Er.P.’s old positions. But for the moment, they are still inside the trench and invisible to the Soviets.

Turn 19: Finnish initiative

On the Soviet left, Hietanen and his men are now gathered together and mount their skis.

On the Soviet right, Kariluoto has his men take their positions, triggering an IST with 1^st platoon. The Soviets win and hold their fire, except for the LMG which causes several Duck Backs.

The Kauhu's squad prepares to engage 1st platoon from their flank

In the right center, the Kauhu advances to the woods edge, gaining line of sight of 3/1. (There is no IST because 3/1 is looking forward and can’t see the Kauhu’s force). They kill one and wound three (Korpi scoring the best – the Kauhu again hits without wounding). The survivors of the 3/1 Leave the Battlefield.

Korpela’s casemate MG fires at the 2/1 in the center of Soviet line, they wound one and force four others to drop prone.

Soviet Phase

 The Soviet ATG continues to move up and has now reached the edge of the woods.

The 2/1 engages Kariluoto’s squad(-) in Active Fire. 

 Although Kariluoto kills the 2/1 marksman, the Soviets kill two Fins, including the Rep5 Ukkola.

 The 4/1 continues to move at the double (including the staff officer) and enters the wood line on the Finnish left flank.

Turn 20: Soviet Initiative & reinforcements: 2/2 a 9-man LMG squad

Soviets cannot move

Finnish phase

The Kauhu moves towards Soviet 2/2

Koskela dons skis and moves out to find Hietanen and bring him back

Kariluoto fails to move and is flanked

The MMG casemate fires on the 2/1 still exposed in the open, causing two casualties

Turn 21: Very Bad news for the Finns, two new PEFs (8&9) in sector 9 (the only place left they can appear. To make matters worse, the Finns fail to activate.

Even though the new PEFs appear together, the Game Master (me) decides that because they have two threats (Kauhu to the flank and the trenches to the front) they will move in different directions. PEF8 moves towards The Kauhu, PEF9 moves towards Kariluoto and the trenches.

The Soviet ATG fires at the MMG casemate, scoring a hit and a penetration. The MMG is destroyed, one crew is killed and one wounded, the remainder flee.

The 2/1 Active Fires on Kariluoto: they kill one, wound two and the remainder (Kariluoto and two others) Leave the Battlefield. That leaves only two Rep3 privates in the middle trench, plus the ATG casemate.

Turn 22:  Finnish initiative

 Koskela sprints skis and stops Hietanen.

The Kauhu moves towards the 2/1, with Kuolematon (Korpi) on point.  He spots the 2/2 and identifies PEF8 – and things go from bad to worse.

 Rules Note: when Korpi identified PEF8, the Mission Deck card was one the most powerful. It basically called for the PEF to be resolved with two cards! The first one was for more tanks – another T26(1933). It should have been D3, but I only had one Soviet tank model left (I wasn’t going to use my German or US as proxies). The second card was a 10-man LMG squad with another ATG.

Korpi Kuolematon on point, with the Kauhu's squad just behind.

Facing such overwhelming numbers, Korpi ducks back and reports to the Kauhu it is time to live to fight another day. The Finns quickly withdraw.

The Mannerheim Line is breached!

End: Soviet Victory, Finnish morale reduced by one

Campaign Morale: Finnish (2); Soviets (1)

Next Mission:  Finnish counter attack

Casualties & Rep increases:

The Kauhu’s squad: 1 Killed (Suominen), 1 wounded (Lång); 7 survivors

No Rep increases (lost)

Kantola’s half-platoon: 4 Killed, 4 wounded, 3 survivors (escorted wounded and POWs off board – I didn’t think I would need them. Oops.

Kariluoto’s squad: 3 killed, 2 wounded, 3 left battlefield, 2 survivors

Koskela’s Group:  1 wounded, 7 survivors

  The Finns certainky had their fair share of bad luck, There are only 4 cards out of 50 that had tanks and I drew 3 of them using about 1/3 of the deck. It was a near run thing, as about half way through I thought the Finns had a certain victory, but the dice-gods and the card deck turned vicious after that.