Finns - Sonny Hays-Eberts
Russians - Jeff DeBraal
Set in December of 1939, elements of the 4th Finnish Division try and extinguish a Soviet salient in Kelja, Finland. Set on boards 7, 10 and 32, using Extreme Winter, it's primarily infantry and OBA, though the Finns can purchase some French 75 guns and the Soviets have access to BT-5 light tanks. The campaign spans six CG, including two at night. The Finns also get MOL capability, Skis and Winter Cammo. The Soviets get incredibley cheap infantry and the ability to fortify buildings. All in all, I'd rate this one pro-Finnish by a longshot - the only advanatges they don't have are much SMOKE capability (75s only; no Smoke exponent on Finns, nor any OBA Smoke) and no range advantage. However, I'm trying to move from being a defensive player into one comfortable with attacking, so this seems like a good place to start. :)
My overall strategy is to attack along the southern front and eventually encircle and isolate the 10Z6 stone building. While it doesn't offer as much cover as an attack from the east, I think the advantage of avoiding the obvious choice for fortified buildings will have three benefits. One, the resultant Ammo Shortage applied to any isolated units will only compound the Extreme Winter problems. Two, a lack of ability to reinforce and three, not walking into the face of a buzzsaw in Game 1. With luck the southern flank won't be guarded as forcefully as the eastern one.
25-DEC-39 10:00
Finn Purchases:
Soviet Purchases:
The Finss placed most of the pillboxes along the riverbank, facing west. This was meant to discourage any Soviet Counterattack across the southern portion of the river. A lone trench connected the Bd 10 south woods to the woods on Bd 7 near the river, just in case reserves needed to move there. The rest of the trenches lined up from 10-O5 to 10-O10, and served as the jump-off point for the attack. A lone Pillbox went into 32P0 and the MMG inside had firelane opportunities to prevent Soviet movement behind the lines.
The Soviets meanwhile expected the bulk of the attack to come from the east, so most of the wire and forces were set facing Bd 32. The south seemed to open to the Soviet, but don't forget the benefits of Winter Cammo with regard to movement in the open.
The Finns moved across the river and seized all buildings in the south without a struggle. Meanwhile, around Kelja, the fighting was nip and tuck. The Extreme Winter proved fatal, as within five turns the Soviets broke the following - Field Phone, 2 50mm MTRs, MMG, 2 LMGs.
The phone broke right afther the very first FFE:1 counter was placed. OUCH! There went 3 CPP in a hurry. The SissI Pltn was unable to capture either the west most CC and DD bldgs, but in the south the Finns took the southernmost 5 buildings in a very controlled Assault Move/Advance pattern that kept concealment for the moving units while the remainder (including the 75 guns) laid down as much fire as they could muster. The Finns nearly wiped out a full Pltn when the advance Finnish squad on the river got HoB to go beserk, charged a killer stack, braved the 24-2 (PBF) DFF, but couldn't get past the 12-2 SFF attack to complete the Melee.
A Finnish victory, though the next row of southern buildings requires another advance across 120m of open ground.
1400 Scenario:
Finn Purchases:
Russian Purchases:
The second scenario started poorly for the Finns. Intending to press the attack on the southern flank, the 75 refused to deliver accurate Smoke and the radio contact roll sucked. Since the 1-2 punch heralding the next offensive blew such big chunks, most of the rest of the troop seither hunkered down and kept concealed (the kill stacks) or slowly Assault moved across the three rows of open hexes. A lone squad tried to moved down the Suvranto River below the crest line.
By turn 3 the Finns still hadn't found any Smoke, and had finally gotten radio contact, but not battery access (second draw for concealed unit was red). At this point it looked bad for the Finns. The HMG in the 24 FP kill stack had broke, two squads had boxcared MCs in the open, and the only OBA around was red - both in the nationality of the deliverer, and the impact it was having on Finns caught in the snow. Meanwhile, to the northeast, the Sissis and reinforcement Rifle Pltn were finding the fortified buildings the hard way and not making much progress.
BUT - then the Finnish OBA showed up big time. In two quick turns the entire left flank of the Southern line (near the river) had vanished, and the Finnish rush carried them up to the W hexrow, taking several buildings in the process. Meanwhile the Sissi 10-0 leader had breached one of the fortified buildings and the Soviets were starting to fall back. In more disarray to the south, but falling back quickly nontheless. Luckily for the Soviets the game ended on the very first die roll (4.5 turns total), becuase there was a good chance the entire village could have ended up isolated. Only a lone unbroken squad, plus two broken ones and two reserve counters protected the bulk of the Soviet forces from being seperated from the river.
The Extreme Winter wasn't as tough on the Soviets this time, though losing a brand new HMG without a shot hurts. A further 82mm mtr sits unmanned between two Finnish Strategic Locations. Probably better, since the Finns can get it for a game without making a retaining roll first. Overall the Soviets lost 2 leaders, a HMG, MMG, 4 LMG and 9 squads. The Finns lost 4.5 squads but got to battle harden 3 afterwards! Overall a Finnish victory (9 CVP to 20 CVP), though they would have liked to see another turn or two since the Soviets were really on the ropes at game end. Now they'll get time to recover, though not much space to put any reserves on map. The bad side is I'll now have to defend the length of the river for any attacks to the far south would be a problem.
2400 Scenario
Finn Purchases:
Russian Purchases:
Once more the scenario started slowly for the Finns. A few squads went down drawing fire, and Soviet Tanks overran another out on the frozen river. With NVR of 7 to start (up to 9 by game end), night had little effect. However, eventually the winter took it's toll. Two tanks were recalled for gacked MA, while the third fell to a resolute MOL attack. Still, the Russian wave was advancing across the river.
Meanwhile the Finns were infiltrating the village. Brutal CC was the order of the day, with the Finns either stacking the odds with Sissis in normal CC or sending out 248 HS to use HtH. The initial Soviet body count advantage was voided when the Finns won three Melees in one turn, and almost every turn saw some CC action.
The Soviets were able to cross the river and exploit a few points, but the 75 gun crew from hell (back to back 'eyes for crit hits, one 24 flat, one 24(-2)) stopped the bleeding at the most crucial point. The Soviet 10-2 leader was able to help the Russians keep a few of the main posts in Kelja, but the Finns made strong advances into the town.
The losses on both sides were staggering - 28 CVP to the Finns, 48 to the Russians. At game end each side was down to a few platoons. Like two heavyweight fighters who's eyes were swollen shut, bruised and battered, each refused to fall. Mercifully, the game ended on turn 6.5. Each side has several isolated areas and much Ammo Shortage. The Soviets had 3x447 and a 9-0 commissar in 10Z6 (isolated). In 10AA5 is the 10-2, a HMG, 447, 458 (also isolated). To the south are two other isolated areas, one with a 447, 237, the other with a 8-0, 447, LMG. The retained forces for the major setup area are comprised of 4 447, a 237 and a 226, 8-1, 8-0, and 9-0 commissar.
The Finns don't have much more - several isolated groups [(648,LMG), (648), (648,LMG), (238), (10-1,9-1,248,238)] and the following main body - 6x648, 2x838, 9-1, 2 MMG, 4LMG.
A big Finnish victory - they now outnumber the Russians, and the bulk of the village is isolated. still, there is now a thorny southern salient to stomp out as well. 10 buildings remain to be captured for the Finns to win.
0400 Scenario
Finnish Purchases:
Russian Purchases:
No need to save for thet 150 OBA anymore, since the town now contains more Finns than Russians - so the hoarded points were spent all now to try and deliver a KO punch. The Rifle Pltn and MG Sect will enter to the south to clean up the salient established last game, while the Sissis will try and finish up the village.
The very first weather roll dropped NVR to 4 - thankfully that destroyed the chances of the radioman across the river to rake the Finns on the east bank until starshells could appear.
The expected reinforcement of the southern salient never materialized, so the Rifle Pltn and MG Sect removed it easily. Meanwhile, the remaining Kelja forces fought valiently. The 75 gun crew from hell showed up in force again, scoring an early crit hit on the Russians moving across the Suvranto; nailing both squads accompanying the 9-1. The 10Z6 building fell to the massed power of a full Sissi Pltn using PBF in a just a few turns. Fortified or not, 48 FP (even at +4) is nothing to sneer at. The 75 finally fell, as the Russians decided that gun crew needed some Communist indoctrination. Sorry to see those boys go, they get a Mannerheim Cross for what they've done this CG.
Still, the Russians held on, despite horrific losses. The tide turned however at the end of turn 3. A sleazy shot to check LOS by 2x(648, MMG) directed by a 9-1 found the Soviet 'Big Daddy' (10-2), who subsequently boxcared his MC and took both squads with him. That was the heart of the remaining Kelja forces. Then, a Soviet AR dropped as FFE drifted into Soviet lines, breaking another 3 or 4 squads. The final injustice was when the second Soviet battery pounded a forward Finnish position. It rubbled, then rubble fell into a nearby Soviet location - the one containing the Soviet 9-2 leader. In one short turn the bulk of the Soviet leadership and most of the forces east of the Suvranto fell. The rubbling was particularly harsh. Eyes to get the chance, a 1 to rubble, a 6 to see if rubble falls, a 1 for the direction.... about 1 in 7776 odds.
From then on, it was a matter of mopping up. Final CVP 19 caused to the Finns and 39 to the Russians. A lone 3 buildings remain in Soviet hands, but the Russians are now outnumbered 6 squads to 19. Of course, the Finns will now have to guard the entire river vs. the counterattack, but should be able to spare the manpower to do so. Finnnish win again.
After the game, the Soviet Divisional commander ordered a retreat across the Suvranto (conceded the CG). With only 3 buildings remaining, and more importantly a 3-1 squad advantage for the Finns, the odds of either holding on or striking across the river were dismal at best. Best to withdraw. By the end of the campaign game over 60 Soviet squads had been fed into the meatgrinder.
This is a very tough game to play as the Russian. In the two campaign games I've now completed, it seems defence is very tough - often calling for a personal Morale Check... :) The Extreme Winter rules hurt the Soviets more than anything - they must have removed a good dozen LMGs, 2 tanks, 4 mortars, plus some MMG and HMGs. Toss in the Extreme Winter Fate rules for MCs in the open, and you've given the Russians a rather substantial disadvantage to try and overcome.