Arctic Front: Higher Ground (H2H TESTING IN PROGRESS)

[Crossroads]

Can't create a Viborg Bay Winter War scenario (https://www.theblitz.club/message_boards...?tid=64002), without redoing the Vuosalmi action by River Vuoksi too!

And it needs to begin with letter "H" ...

Another new Winter War scenario placeholder...

** Higher Ground





On the last day of the war [13 MAR 1940], the Finnish position looked grim. Ammo shortage (especially the artillery) was catastrophic, the thick ice that covered the Bay of Viipuri and Vuoksi-river gave the Red Army good attack routes, since the Finnish AT-capability was still very limited, despite of the recently arrived 25mm French antitank guns and some captured 45mm guns.

On the Vuoksi (Äyräpää area) the situation was also critical (most of the battalions helding the high ground on the " Soviet " side of Vuoksi near Äyräpää and containing the Soviet bridgehead were down to 100 - 250 effectives, including all men from supply & other non-combat units)

Map and quotes from WinterWar.com

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The 2nd Division fighting in Vuosalmi ends its assessment of its present situation:

"Today we're okay, tomorrow we'll be really struggling, and the day after tomorrow the 2nd Division will no longer exist unless we get full assistance from III Army Corps."

From: Telegrams of the Winter War , 27 Feb 1940

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Misc. pictures:

I won't have time to start with this for a while, though...

Additional links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_War
http://www.puolustusvoimat.fi/wcm/Erikoi...+27.2.1940

[Crossroads]

Telegrams of the Winter War, with emphasis on Vuoksi sector.

To advertise the **Enforcing the Line LWM scenario, the Allied intervention plans, as mentioned in telegrams, are included as well.

While skimming through the material, the similarity to Summer 1944 is almost eerie, regarding locations. It would indicate **Grim Days of Winter would need to be a 3x3 team scenario on full Viborg Bay map as well. As for Vuoksi, the *Across Vuoksi map would need to be extended to full size of the map present in OP above...

Lots of work ahead

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Anyway, as for telegrams (inside spoiler):

Spoiler Expand

Telegrams of the Winter War

Ibid., 30 Nov 1939:

Karelian Isthmus: the Soviet artillery opens fire at 6.50. Soviet troops cross the border at several places without declaring war.Crossing points include Rajajoki, Joutselkä and Lipola.

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Ibid., 1 March 1940:

The Western Allies announce they are ready to send 50,000 troops and aircraft to Finland if they receive an official request for help before the 5th of March.

Ibid., 2 March 1940:

The Allies ask the Norwegian and Swedish Governments to allow their troops to pass through Norway and Sweden en route to Finland. Norway and Sweden refuse permission.

A battalion of Hungarian volunteers arrives in Finland.

The office of the Canadian Prime Minister announces there are no legal obstacles to Canadian volunteers participating in the war in Finland. The first batch of volunteers board ship in Ottawa en route for Finland.

Ibid., 3 March 1940:

The Soviet troops on the Vuoksi throw almost three divisions into an offensive across a broad front in the Vuosalmi and Kaskiselkä sectors. The defending Finnish troops successfully halt the offensive with the support of artillery fire.

Ibid., 5 March 1940:

The counterattack to retake the church hill at Äyräpää is delayed by the late arrival of the Finnish detachment at the starting position. The launch of the operation is put back until daylight. The Finnish attack founders with heavy losses in the face of intense enemy fire.

Ibid., 6 - 7 March 1940

British volunteers swear their oath to Colonel Kermit Roosevelt in the Finnish Aid office in London.

Ibid., 8 March 1940

Mannerheim suggests Finland consider one more time the offer of assistance by the Western Allies.

In Vuosalmi the enemy is digging in on the northern bank of the Vuoksi.

The first session of [peace negotiations] talks begins in Moscow at 7 o'clock in the evening.

Ibid., 9 March 1940:

The Finnish Government convenes at 5 o'clock in the afternoon to consider the telegrams sent by the delegation at the Moscow peace talks. The assembled ministers are shocked by the proposed loss of access to Lake Ladoga and the cession of the district of Salla in Lapland.

The Government is able to draw on an assessment of the military situation prepared by General Heinrichs, commander of the Army of the Isthmus. Heinrichs' pessimistic assessment forces the Commander-in-Chief to conclude that there is no alternative but to accept the Soviet Union's peace terms.

Ibid., 10 March 1940:

Finland's former president, P.E. Svinhufvud is in Berlin to seek help for Finland, but is unable to gain access to members of the German leadership.

The Finnish and Soviet negotiators meet for a second round of talks in the Kremlin at 2 p.m. today. The meeting lasts two hours.

Finland is in an awkward negotiating position. Contact with the Government at home has to be conducted via Stockholm and telegrams can take up to 12 hours to reach their destination. The deadline of March 12 set by the Allies is also getting ominously close. The Finnish negotiators attempt to haggle over the Soviet terms, but without success.

In Vuosalmi the enemy is concentrating its efforts on the Liete meadows to the northeast of Vasikkasaari.

Ibid., 11 March 1940:

News of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee's readiness to accept the Soviet Union's terms leaks into the Swedish evening papers.

The fighting continues with the Soviet troops fiercely attacking the Finnish defences in Viipuri.

The enemy breaks through into the suburbs of Viipuri. By early evening the vanguard of five enemy tanks has reached Tammisuo station to the northeast of the city. Three of the tanks are subsequently destroyed.

At 2.45 p.m. the enemy achieve a 500 metre breakthrough to the northwest of Vasikkasaari, but the defending Finnish troops manage to contain it. During the night, the Finnish troops in Vuosalmi withdraw from Vitsaari after heavy fighting.

Ibid., 12 March 1940:

At 9 o'clock in the morning President Kyösti Kallio puts his signature to a paper giving full powers of negotiation to the Finnish delegation at the Moscow peace talks. Kallio says on signing: "This is the most awful document I have ever had to sign. May the hand wither which is forced to sign such a paper."

There is fierce fighting on the Isthmus to the northeast and south of Viipuri. The Red Army breaks through at Kollaa to a depth of approximately one kilometre. Combat Detachment Haini's daily losses total around 100 men. On the days of fiercest fighting, the enemy is losing over 2,000 men a day.

The Finns decide to abandon the defensive line along the River Kollaanjoki. Around 50 Soviet tanks drive across the Vuoksi to the mainland, suffering losses under the Finnish artillery fire.

Colonel Hersalo's 21st Division launches a counterattack in Vuosalmi.

Ibid., 13 March 1940:

The Treaty of Moscow ending the Winter War is signed in the Kremlin at 1 o'clock in the morning Finnish time. The peace treaty takes effect on all fronts at 11 o'clock in the morning.

In the Taipale and Vuosalmi sectors of the front the Finnish artillery, which has played a major role in the successful defence of these sectors, finally falls silent as the fierce fighting is broken off at 11 o'clock.

At 3.40 p.m. the Finnish flag is lowered from the flagpole on Viipuri Castle. The Winter War is over.

Despite the fact that the Red Army attacked Finland without so much as a formal declaration of war, the harsh terms of the peace treaty mean Finland is forced to cede to the Soviet Union the Karelian Isthmus and areas to the north of Lake Ladoga. The towns of Viipuri, Sortavala and Käkisalmi are incorporated into the Soviet Union. Most of Salla in Lapland is also lost, while the south coast port of Hanko is to be leased to the Soviet Union as a naval base for 30 years.

The total surface area of the ceded territories amounts to some 35,000 square kilometres. This represents one tenth of Finland's total surface area. Almost 430,000 Karelians, or 12 per cent of the country's population, lose their homes.

[John Given]

Wow - when is this scenario gonna be released?

[Crossroads]

Depending if I extend the map or not... Perhaps not, after all.

I'll propably start with this one, instead of Grim Days, to get more familiar with Soviet early war units. So it could be out in say two months even.

Why don't you try **Across River Vuoksi, meanwhile, for the 1944 battle in the precise same area.

[Crossroads]

Map of the area (from: Sodan taisteluja 1; Talvisota, by A. Raunio and Y. Kilin, with archive access to both sides), which should provide for familiar reading for the veterans of **Across River Vuoksi LWM:



The scenario will cover the Eastern pincer of the Soviet attack.

Instead of the fixed line defence of Across Vuoksi, this will cover the delaying retreat of 6th Infantry Regiment (JR 6), buying time for the 23rd to reinforce and set up the defence of Vuosalmi heights, south of grand River Vuoksi.

Facing the two regiments is the Soviet 15th Army Corps, commanded by Gen. Korolyov.

... and it won't fit into existing Vuosalmi map. Will need to extend it somewhat...

[Crossroads]

Order of Battle research is on:

Vuosalmi 1.-5. March 1940



Sources:
- Sodan taisteluja I - Talvisota (Battles of Our Wars 1 - Winter War) by Ari Raunio and Yuri Kilin.
- Miten Suomi valloitetaan (How-To Conquer Finland; The Operative Plans of Red Army 1939-44), by prof. Ohto Manninen
- Wiki/11.division (renamed 1 Feb 1940 as 2.division): http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/11._divisioona_(talvisota)
- Axis History Forum http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.p...9&t=198754
With Special Thanks to 'Olia' on Red Army OoB
http://kannas.nm.ru/rkka.htm
http://www.winterwar.com/forces/SuArmy/S...tm#isthmus
RKKA tanks at Winter War: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.p...r#p1239909



Finnish forces

III Army Corps - Maj.Gen Paavo Talvela

TykR K (Artillery Group "K")

- II/KTR 2 (II/Field Artillery Regt 2) - Capt Jorma Leimu - One battery per sector . Organic to 2.D
- Three batteries on loan from 8.Division - Capt Alpi Uusisaari

2.Division - Colonel Eino Koskimies

Sintola Sector OUT OF SCOPE
JR 4 Lt.Col Lauri "Lasse" Leander
I/JR 4 Capt Hirvikoski (Salopaakkola)
III/JR 4 Major Yrjö Hanste (Sintolanniemi)
II/JR 4 Capt Hovi (Sintola R)

I/JR 63 Capt Yrjö Pitkänen (retreating towards Sintola)

Kaskiselkä Sector
JR 6 Lt.Col Karl-Wilhelm Grünn
II/JR 6 Major Arvo Leppänen (Kylä-Paakkola)
I/JR 6 Capt Veikko Korttila (Ojapelto)
III/JR 6 Capt Kaarlo Nisula (Kaskiselkä R)

Vuosalmi Sector
JR 23 (of 8.Division, Col Claes Winell) Lt.Col Matti Laurila (Deployed 28. February 1940)
II/JR 23 Sihvo (Äyräpää)
III/JR 23 Capt Olavi Valtonen (Äyräpää)
I/ JR23 Capt Vallas (Vuosalmi R)

Reinforcements / Vuosalmi 4 March 1940:

- Light Detachment 8 (Kev.Os.8) - Squadron Master (Capt) Leo Hälvä

- III/JR 24 (8.Div) Capt Onni Lampinen
- one 'Separate Light Battery' ?
- an 'Interim Battery' ? (jäykkälavettinen patteri)
- 3rd battery from R.Psto 5 (Heavy Artillery Bn 5)
- II / KTR 21 (three batteries)

=> In total: four artillery bns (patteristo) / 48 guns with a decent supply of ammo - quite impressive given the state of the army towards the last days of winter war.

Reinforcements 6 March 1940 - 21. Division takes over Vuosalmi sector, the now worn out 2. Division to cover Sintola and Kaskiselkä sectors only. OUT OF SCOPE

21.Division, Colonel Niilo Hirsalo

JR 63 Lt Col Konrad Laaksonen
III/JR 24 Capt Lampinen
III/JR 63 Capt Karl Ruda (reserve, soon deployed)
I/JR 62 rank? Larko
II/JR 61 Capt Holopainen x3/8 Ltn Herman Nykänen x3/9 (reserve, soon deployed)



RKKA Forces

13th Army - Army Commander II class Vladimir Grendahl
(-> March 2 -> Army Commander II class Filipp A. Barusinov)
- Army Comissar A.I.Zaporozhets

- 3rd, 15th and 23rd Infantry Army Corps
- total of 9 inf divs, 6 arty regts, 2 hvy arty regts, 3 army corps arty regts, 1 tank bde (39th), 2 separate tank bns (14th, 204th), and one cavalry regt (28th).
- total in Greater Vuosalmi sector: 60 batteries (ca 760 guns) and 479 tanks.


15th Army Corps - Brigadier Commander M.F. Korolyov
- Bde Commissar A.I.Mikhailov

Initial attacks without much of artiilery support, as artillery trains were late. Strong air support.

17th Motorised Division (Kylä-Paakkola - Ojapelto) [Moscow - Gorki]
- Brigadier Commander Terenti K. Batsanov,
- Bde Comissar P. Antipin

- 55th Mot IR
- 271th Mot IR
- 278th Mot IR
- 20th Recon.Bn
- 350th Tank Bn
--- on 20.1.40 had 19 BT-7, 4 BT-5 and 9 T-26

4.Division [Belorussia - Slutsk]
- Brigadier Commander Ivan N. Muzydzenko
- Regt.Commissar Maklashin

- 39th IR
- 101th IR
- 220th IR
- 40th Recon.Bn
- 320th Tank Bn
--- 16 T-26 and 17 T-37/38 on 8.02.40

- 95th Howitzer Regt

Reinforcements 4 March 1940:

50.Division - Brigadier Commander Sergei Goryadzev (15th AC / 13th Army) [Belorussia - Polotsk]
- Bde Commander possibly also Borichvev?
- Bde Commissar S.I. Eremin?

- 2nd IR
- 49th IR
- 359th IR
- 202th Recon Bn.
- 202th light artillery regiment (from AHF ???)
- 257th Howitzer Regt
- 393th Tank Battalion
--- Strength unknown


6 March 1940 OUT OF SCOPE
8.Division - Brigadier Commander P.N.Rubzov (23rd AC / 13th Army)
[Belorussia- Zlobin and Bobruisk]
62 light artillery regiment and 117 howitzer artillery regiment were in 8 RD

By 'Olia'
- Аccording to the states of the Red Army 09/13/1939 light artillery regiment had 20 х 76- mm guns and 18х 122-mm howitzers
- Howitzer artillery regiment had 12 х122-mm howitzers and 12х 152-mm howitzers

From Raunio / Kilin book:

Winter War Red Army infantry division, according to book, consisted of
- three infantry divisions,
- one artillery regt and
- one howitzer regt
=> What were the organic artillery units of 17. Mot.D. and 4.D? 15 Dec 2013: mystery solved, finally!

Also, "typically" an infantry division also had
- a tank battalion of ca. 40 AFVs. Also, I believe,
- an Anti-tank Bn and
- Anti-Aircraft coy were included, plus
- a engineer bn and
- a signals bn, possibly also
- a recon bn
=> Which of the 13th Army tank units were involved?
- 39th Tank Bde deployed into Taipaleenjoki. Vuosalmi? 15 Dec 2013: organic tank units now known, use them instead

[Crossroads]

Finnish OOB with Org editor pretty much done. Took a long time, as I decided to build a generic structure from a full Winter War era division down to coys with the new units available in EF:FB.

Whoever's done the original OOB kudos to him. Really a top job. My new units are mostly toned down in assault and firing values, rather than anything else. Of course the new units will be in use, such as the Molotov cocktail units, the new 25mm Hotchiss atg nicknamed "Marianne" in Finland, etc.

Next, Soviets. I have had rotten luck finding out about the exact formations, so will revert to standard Winter War Red Army structure instead. Should be fun, combined arms was not really used yet, with tanks scattered among infantry etc.


Picture: 13 March 1940 Hostilities are over. Source: www.SA-kuva.fi

[Crossroads]

The first version is completed and playtesting is about to begin. Please feel free to have a look and to provide your comments!

** Higher Ground EF:FB


Complexity: 9
Turns: 25
Modified complexity: 9 * 25 = 225
Size modifier: 5

First side: Axis (Soviet Union)

Visibility: 6
Ground: Frozen
Allied Air 3; Ammo 70; Smoke 6
Axis Air 6; Ammo 75; Smoke 6
AI Allied 35; Axis 85

Major Loss 600; Minor Loss 1000; Minor Win 1600; Major Win 2000

3 March 1940


[Karelian Isthmus, 80 km North from Leningrad, Finland.] [H2H] [HIS] [GD] [ALL : N VV : AF OPT]

Towards the last days of the Winter War, the Finnish position looked grim. The troops were experiencing heavy casualties against the relentless Red Army attacks, artillery ammunition was nearly exhausted, and their gun tubes worn out. Even worse; the thick ice that covered the Bay of Viipuri and the River Vuoksi turned these once formidable natural obstacles into excellent attack routes.

On March 3rd, The Soviet 13th Infantry Army threw three fresh divisions into a new offensive across a broad front in the Vuosalmi and Kaskiselkä sectors, even before their artillery trains had reached their final deployment positions. Supported by tanks, and later, heavy artillery, the Red Army began to make headway.

On the Vuoksi area the battalions responsible of the strategic high ground on the "Soviet" side of Vuoksi near Äyräpää were nearing the end of their endurance. With no room for manouvering, the area soon resembled a World War I battle ground. The 2nd Division fighting in Vuosalmi ended its assessment of its present situation: Today we are still alive, tomorrow we'll be in deep distress, and the day after tomorrow the 2nd Division will no longer exist, unless III Army Corps sends immediate assistance by any means necessary.

Having no option, the III Army Corps sent its last available units to enforce the area, including (from a Finnish point of view) a significant amount of artillery pieces.

Unknown to soldiers bitterly contesting for the strategic higher ground, the Winter War was to end in just ten days time, in March 13, 1940.

[** Requires players to install East Front: Forgotten Battles Mod version 1.35 or newer **]
[Scandinavian Terrain sub mod recommended to be enabled when playing this scenario.]

FILE AVAILABLE IN THE EAST FRONT H2H FORUM!

[Crossroads]

Version 2 uploaded now for H2H testing: LINK