Well, I played Raate Road as the Finns last Friday. At first inspection, I felt like the Finns had the advantage: deep snow, extreme winter, and ski-equipped troops are good for Finns. Add to that the fact that the Russians have only 4 leaders for 20-some squads, little or no opportunity to put together an effective MG fire group (2 5PP russian MMG's don't fit the ticket), and an ELR of 2, and it seems pretty obvious where the burden of proof lies.
I set up a skirmish line in the Board 5 woods around 1 roadblock. This group included my 9-1 leader, some 5 squads and some LMGs. I also put one of my crew-manned Lahtis with a pulkka in this group (not very useful really).
On my left, board 7, I covered the ice with my HMG, 8-0 leader, and 2 squads plus my ONLY dummy stack. There was also a pulkka there to move that HMG quickly if the Russians ignored the river.
On my right, I put the other roadblock, 2 or 3 squads, my 9-0 leader, and another Lahti on my side of the stream. Again, a pullka was over there as well to assist in moving the MMG or the Lahti.
The trenches and ATG were strung across their obligatory positions in the FF hexrow of board 5 to await the final Russian push that MUST come if the Russians are going to win. (As the defender, I relish having VC that require specific exit hexes or control of specific buildings: it makes developing a "point defense" much less complicated and allows you to put critical pieces of your OB (in this case, the captured Russian ATG) in positions where you KNOW you'll get to use them.)
For some reason, I was most afraid of the frozen river approach, probably because I was weakest there, and hadn't really put much thought into how to defend that approach. It worked out that my opponent failed his testosterone check, though, and couldn't bring himself to drive heavy BT-s across ice. (Can't say I blame him.) He set up on and around the plowed road on board 5.
His advance was well thought-out and deliberate. He kept concealment and applied pressure through sheer force of numbers. For my part, I pulled back steadily, resisting the urge to fire at adjacent concealed stacks. I kept at least 2 hexes between my squads and the concealed Russians so that he couldn't get adjacent to me without losing concealment or advancing. But, in doing so, I gave up my board 5 roadblock without a fight.
Meanwhile, my HMG on board 7 and my MMG on board 32 were beating feet back to the trenches. The other flank squads moved to the woods that flank the open area of board 5. The skis really helped. You can actually move through deep snow with those things.
When the Russians finally had my board 5 force backed up to the edge of the woods, I once again declined the invitation to open fire, and started my men across the open ground, using assault movement to maintain concealment due to winter camo.
The Finnish sniper came alive about then and picked off his 9-1 and his radio-operating 6+1. That left him with 2 Commissars who seemed as eager to shoot his men as rally them.
My guys out in the open started to get beat up, but the big MGs and the Lahtis were now in the trenches and gearing up to protect against the final assault. He'd been keeping his tanks back, waiting for the last rush and when they did come out my ATG spoke and took out the lead tank. Still his infantry was in position to get to the board edge and he had three tanks left: more than enough to get 16 exit VP.
Things really started to look bad when his 10-0 Commissar recovered the radio and put an SR down in the middle of my trench line. A Smoke FFE would make it all but impossible for me to hit his tanks as they made their sprint. Also, I wouldn't be able to do much to his infantry firing out of smoked hexes. Well, once again the Finnish sniper spoke: just before the 10-0 could bring down the FFE, he got a slug in the chitlin's.
Things had gone too far for my opponent to concede, though. He made his rush anyway. Another tank fell to a Lahti and some 3 squads bit it trying to get through my MMG's firelane before he conceded.
Actually, I came away from this feeling pretty lucky. If it hadn't been for the sniper, I probably would have lost this one. Despite what the Record shows, I think this one is pretty close.
Anyway, just thought I'd share this. Haven't done one of these AARs in a while.
Dade