I have been perusing all the old posts on FOW Finns – especially the Winter War variety, and came across an old question posed by John the OFM, about how to deal with the Soviet hordes. So I thought I would share my recent experience.
Keep in mind I am a soloist, so you may need to take it with a grain of salt. I played the Russians as how I imagine they would be – stubborn and push on to the objective at all costs regardless as to opposition. I like naming my guys after historical figures – so all Finnish officers are named after real officers who fought near Tolvajārvi.
A counter attack somewhere deep in the Karjalan Woods – Late Dec 1939 (1750 pts)
Finnish Sissi company (5 platoons):
HQ Rifle: LtC Pajari & Capt Laakso + 2 snipers
Kivelä's platoon: 8 Sissi armed w/ SMG (2 tank assault teams)
Isotalo's platoon: 8 Sissi armed w/ rifles + 2 attached HMG (2 tank assault teams)
Heinvaho's platoon: 8 Sissi armed w/ rifles + 2 attached HMG (2 tank assault teams)
Kanerva's platoon: 8 Jāākārit armed w/ rifles
Mortar platoon: 4 x 81mm mortars
Soviet Rifle Battalion (6 platoons)
3 Rifle companies: 28 Rifle teams, 2 HMG, 2 light mortars
Heavy Artillery: 4 x 122mm guns + 4 x 76mm guns
Field Artillery: 4 x 76mm guns
5 T26 tanks
Terrain:
The entire map covered by woods & snow, except for 4" on either side of the road, which was clear. The road, which bisected the map length-wise, was lined with snow drifts on either side.
The Soviets started with their 3rdcompany in line facing west, the heavy artillery on the objective (star) and the light tanks close to the road. The Finns started with just their Jāākārit and mortars on the board. Everyone else was in Motti ambush. I ended giving the Soviets until turn nine (rather than six) to contest the objective, because they couldn't keep up with the Sissi skiers.
Turn 1:
Heinvaho's Sissi platoon appears just west of 3rd co. and skis off (double time) to the objective. Because of the woods, they cannot be seen. The Sissi and the mortars back off deep enough into woods so they cannot be seen. Sniper pins 3rd co (their left flank is clear of the woods)
Soviets: Reserves fail to arrive, 3rd company rallies and marches off to the objective, Tanks move up onto road, planning to follow road to objective. Arty takes three rolls to range in on Jāākārit but fail to cause any casualties.
Turn 2:
Heinvaho's platoon arrives on objective; mortars and Jāākārit ski off into the woods, out of sight of Soviet observers, heading for the middle of board. Sniper causes 1 casualty on 3rd company.
Soviets: 2nd co arrives in column on western edge, the unit is so large, it almost makes it to south edge. Tanks move off down the road, moving cautiously to avoid bogging.
Turn 3:
Heinvaho's platoon digs in on objective. Isotalo's Sissi platoon pops out of ambush in rear of tanks. Kivelä's platoon pops up behind #3 company. Jāākārit ski off trying to flank #2 company. The 2nd sniper appears in front of #2 company.
Mortars fire on #3 co and kill 4 teams. Kivelä's SMG Sissi open up on rear of #3 co and kills 4 more. Sniper #1 pinns #3 co, while sniper #2 pinns #2 co. Isotalo's platoon bails one light tank.
Soviets:
#1n company arrives off southern edge, as no room to deploy on western edge. Field Artillery arrives on western edge. All teams rally (including bailed out tank) and move to objective. Light tanks fail to hurt Isotalo's Sissi (Limited vision) – Heavy artillery hits Isotalo's Sissi, but do not cause casualties. #3 company choses to ignore Kivelā's platoon in order to close on objective – because of deep woods – they are out of range.
Turn 4:
Jāākārit are in position northeast of #2 company. Kivelā's platoon pursues #3 co and plasters them again (6 kills) as do the mortars (1 kill). Isotalo's platoon tries to assault Tanks, but is pinned by some very lucky defensive fire.
Soviets:
#3 company is close enough to dispute objective, so attempts to dig in without success. The CO (who is with 3rd Co.) tries to call arty fire on objective but also fails. Tanks decide to ignore Isotalo's platoon and keep moving to objective. They fire on Kivelā's platoon, but fail to cause casualties.
Turn 5:
Kivelā's SMG platoon (w/help from mortars & sniper) fire on #3co and eventually finish them off with an assault. Isotalo's platoon assaults tanks. They kill two tanks, the tanks counterattack and kill one Sissi team. The Soviets keep passing morale, but eventually, Isotalo's tank assault teams destroy all five tanks. Heinvaho's platoon on objective sees that #3 co is no longe a threat, so they redeploy to face looming threat from south.
Soviets: #3 co fails its wave attack and is out of game – taking CO with them. FA observer is now in range to spot Heinvaho, but cannot range in. The heavy artillery section has better luck, and kills two teams from Isotalo.
Turn 6:
Technically the Finns have won, but gave Soviets extra time because of snow.
Kivelā's SMG platoon passes Motti test and returns to ambush. Isotalo's fail their test, but at least are taking cover now in woods. Jāākārit and others fire on #2 & #1 companies causing light casualties.
Soviets:
Continue to march on objective – manage to kill one of Heinvah's teams.
Turn 7:
Kivelā's SMG platoon pops in on flank of #2 company (and close to field artillery). Finnish teams cause light casualties to Soviet units.
Soviets:
All arty fails to zero or cause casualties. #2 company tries to assault but is stopped by def fire from Heinvaho's HMG.
Turn 8 – Finns go for kill.
Kivelā's SMG platoon breaks off from attacking #2 company and goes after FA – eventually destroying or capturing all guns except battery commander who escapes and stays in game (may be in trouble from NKVD later though for losing all his guns). Heinvaho's platoon tries to assault #2 companies few survivors but is beaten off by HMG fire. Jāākārit continues to harass #1 company.
Soviets: #1 company presses on to the objective. They are barely half strength, having lost 3 out of 6 platoons (and one of those is down to sole survivor). #2 co fails its wave attack
Turn 9: Game over
The Finns are now shooting #1 company on three sides, causing heavy casualties. Eventually, Kivelā's SMG platoon is given the honor and finishes off #2 company with one final assault.
A Finnish victory without losing any platoons – although they came close. Heinvaho's and Isotalo's Sissi platoons barely survived.
Sissi are fun troops to mess around with – at least when there is plenty of no-man's land with room to maneuver. Keeping one platoon in ambush also ties down troops because you never know where they will show up next.
I think this battle was fairly representative of Motti battles. The thick woods mitigated the Soviet tanks and artillery advantage, and the snow slowed them down where the foot could be outmaneuvered by the Finnish ski troops.
wants to know if you can tell the difference between weaker and stronger magnets with 3mm aircraft.
