Oberlindes
Thanks for the reply, because of the bug thingie, you migt noy have seen this, but here is some info I have found:
I realize these aren't exactly primary sources, but it is the best I have available to me. Anyway, a few quotes I have from my books:
Colonel A K Marttinen (Siilasvuo's chief of staff) has stated, "…when the Russian skis were collected, they were found to be of such poor quality, as to be useful only for firewood." – The Winter War, Russia Against Finland (1972) by Richard Condon, pg. 101
"The Russian ski manual has evidently been compiled by a pure theoretician. Much of its advice would be excellent for tourists… The Russian manual shows skis fitted with the various forms of heel straps. No Finn would ever have a heel strap fitted to his skis, since his safety and efficiency depend on his ability to kick off his skis in an instant of time." Finnish soldier vs. Soviet Soldier (2016) – Osprey Combat series, pg. 23
(after Suomussalmi) … "even the soberest of Finns had reason to smile at examples of Soviet Naivete. They found… thousands of packaged copies of a Manual of ski-fighting, a 277-page book that gave step-by-step instructions on such techniques as how to throw a grenade while wearing skis, how to stab with a bayonet while wearing skis, and how to ski cross country while lugging a machine gun mounted on a pair of runners."
"You don't beat an enemy by thinking up clever ideas like that," scoffed one Finn."
… "they (The Finns) also knew instinctively that the very slipperiness that made skis useful for mobility rendered them a hazard in close combat. The Finns took off their skis before fighting." Battles for Scandinavia , Time-Life Books, Colonel Elting, pg 36.
This tells me that they were sort of like early dragoons that just used their horses for mobility and dismounted for combat. Or the way the Finns used bicycles in the summer.
They could probably shoot a little bit in an emergency, but would kick them off at first opportunity.
My focus is The Winter War, so I am thinking of three types of Rules:
1) A penalty for shooting while on skis, and even more severe one for engaging in melee on skis.
2) The Finns should be able to kick off their ski's much faster than Soviets.
3) Soviet skiers should not be as skilled as Finns for movement purposes. Maybe no movement penalty for moving in snow when compared to non-ski equipeed troops, but no movement bonus like for the Finns.
Soviet ski troops likely improved during WWII, but at this time and in this place, I think they were clearly outclassed by the Finns. The Soviets fielded a ski unit known as Dolin's Ski Brigade during The Winter War in the Kuhmo sector. It was slaughtered by the Finns.
