"FOW Somewhere near Tolvajärvi (1500 points)" Topic

LtC Pajari was in ill humor. The Soviets were still dug in near the Tolvajärvi Hotel. Captain Lahjaton's attack had shown no imagination and was a complete failure. He would take matters into his own hands. In the meantime, what to do with Lahjaton?
After exchanging the normal pleasantries, Pajari tells Lahjaton, "Captain, you have been reassigned to a critical task. I want you to be in charge of the coastal watch near Kemi, where you will keep a sharp eye out for enemy submarines that have been reported in the area. Oh, and at night you will be teaching home economics to the local Lotta Svärd…"
SET UP & TURN 1:
Col Kuldinov is nervous. He knows he is trapped and his experience tells him he should try and break out of the encirclement. However, Komrade Komissar has other ideas. So he will dig in by the hotel and try and hold out. 1st Company (29 + 1HMG) is dug in facing north, 2nd company (29+1HMG) is dug in facing south. 3rd company (19) is dug in west of the hotel, in some heavy woods. His two tank platoons (5xT38 & 7x T26) are guarding his open east flank. Finally his arty is protected in the center (8 guns) and his final two HMG are stationed in the hotel.
Pajari splits his forces in two. Major Malkamäki will approach from the north with 1st platoon (9), half the machinegun platoon (2 x HMG) and the two 37mm Bofors. They are to keep the enemy from concentrating against the main assault from the south. Pajari will take 2nd platoon (9+w/ half the HMG platoon), 3rd (6) scout platoon, mortar platoon (4x81mm), the tank hunters(4) and the Sissi platoon (8).
The Finns approach cautiously through the woods. Major Malkamäki tries to get the mortars to zero in on the enemy artillery, which they finally do, but have little success (2 hits, no kills). The Soviets try and fire on the 2IC spotter, but fail to zero.
TURN 2:
The Finns continue their cautious approach, but the scouts are now in position in the tree line, everyone else from the southern approach is still hidden in the woods. The mortars fire is right on target and they take out five of the main guns with some very accurate shooting. Soviet arty fire takes out a Finn HMG to the north
TURN 3:
As the scouts do their work identifying enemy targets (removing GtG) of Soviet 2nd company, the mortars switch their fire to the infantry (3 kills). They are joined by HMG of 2nd platoon (1 kill). Accurate Soviet HMG fire destroys both Finnish ATG before they can finish setting up.
TURN 4:
The Finns continue to use mortar fire to try and split the large company in two, as the Sissi platoon moves into position. Pajari figures the mortars will be better served by taking out teams that are in a position to counterattack his small assaulting force rather than smoking; he is rewarded when the mortars take out the company CO, but a new one is soon appointed by the Colonel, who is nearby. Supported by HMG from 2nd platoon, the Sissi move in too quickly for the defensive fire to stop them (3 hits, no kills). They hit the end of the company hard (7 kills) and the few surviving teams that are near bye break off and fall back to the rest of the company. The Sissi head back for the woods for cover, but don't quite make it.
As the Sissi recover from their efforts, they are immediately hit by Soviet HMG fire, they take some casualties (2 kills) including the platoon leader, the gallant Lt Alakulppi. But his Sgt. Steps up and keeps the men focused. Meanwhile, the Soviets decide to try and maneuver the T38 platoon to a firing position, but the inexperienced crews struggle in the deep snow (1 bogged). The T26 platoon moves has determined the enemy objective, but likewise has trouble with the snow (4/7 bog down).
TURN 5:
Not much action. The Soviets struggle with their tanks, and the Finns maneuver, although the mortars to destroy 1xT26.
TURN 6:
The mortars return to hammering Soviet 2nd company as the Finnish 2nd platoon prepares to launch an assault. They survive the defensive fire and overwhelm the Soviets with their ferocity (7 kills). Lt Hadinov, the replacement commander cannot keep what is left of his command from leaving the field (3/29 teams left).
However, the Soviets get some payback, although a few tanks are still struggling to extricate themselves from the deep snow, those that are operational rake 2nd platoon with their MG fire. The remaining Soviet artillery, firing over open sights, also target 2nd platoon (total four kills). Lt Kivela keeps the remaining men of 2nd platoon (4) in the fight, but just barely. They will not rally from their pinning for the rest of the game. Meanwhile, the Soviet 3rd company breaks cover and heads for the scout platoon, hoping to roll up the Finnish left flank.
TURN 7:
The Finns attempt to assault the T38 platoon. The tank killer team failed their "Tank terror" test. The Sissi tried next, but were pinned by defensive fire. The mortars take out 3 teams from the advancing 3rd co.
The Soviets have an effective fire turn. The remaining T38 (several are bogged in snow) kills a team from tank killers. The T26s kill 2 teams from 2nd platoon. 3rd company assaults the 3rd (scout) platoon. The Finns fail to disengage, suffer one kill and break off.
TURN 8:
Both the AT team & the Sissi platoon fail their tank terror test, fortunately Pajari is on hand to motivate the Sissi and he gets them going. They make it through light defensive fire (most of T38 platoon is stuck in the snow) and defeat the tanks, who fall back (I made a mistake in rules here, the T38s should have lost a couple more tanks). The Sissi consolidate and take cover behind bailed out/bogged tanks, as the sole remaining tank disengages.
The Soviet 3rd company continues to press the scouts, but can't come to grips with them this time.
TURN 9:
2ND Platoon still refuses to unpin themselves. They are in charge range of remaining Soviet artillery, but can't seem to get moving. Pajari gets the Sissi going and they finally destroy T38 platoon. They take cover behind knocked out tanks.
Part of 1st company moves in to position to assault 1st platoon, trying to force a way open to the north. The rest of 1st company, led by Colonel Kuldinov abandons their foxholes and moves south to back up the T26s who are on the objective. Since the T26 don't have a good shot at the Sissi, they open up on 2nd platoon survivors and drive them off the field.
TURN 10:
The Sissi stay put while the tank killers move in on T26, who have been smoked by the mortars. The tank killers lose one team on the way in (cmnd + 2 left) but destroy one T26 (1 active, 2 destroyed, 4 bailed/bogged) – the survivor tries to flee, but bogs down in heavy snow.
3rd Company still can't come to grips with the scouts – but they have pushed them back. Part of 1st company assaults Finnish 1st platoon with devastating results (kill 6/9). The Finns pass morale but break off. Closer to the eastern objective, Colonel Kuldinov assaults and destroys the tank killers.
TURN 11:
Pajari organizes his forces for one final push. Mortar fire kills 1 team and 3 more fall to the SMG of the Sissi on the way in. Defensive fire is ineffective and the assault kills seven more. The only survivor is Colonel Kuldinov.
With the Sissi platoon sitting on the objective, and no way of dislodging them – the Soviets quit the field, leaving their artillery behind.
Finns
CO & 2IC – survive
1st platoon: 2/9 survive
2nd platoon: destroyed
Scout platoon: 6/7 survive
Sissi platoon: 6/9 survive
Mortars: 4/4 survive
HMG: 2/3 survive (2 were attached and died with 2nd platoon)
ATG: destroyed
Tank killers: destroyed

Soviets
CO – survived; 2IC killed
1st company: 16/30 survive
2nd company: destroyed
3rd company: 11/19 survive
Artillery 3/8 survive
T38: destroyed
T26 detroyed

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