** Bitter Kuuterselka

[Crossroads]

To make up for the lack of Leningrad Front scenarios, after six months of intensive development, I am happy to announce I've added a new scenario to database:

** Bitter Kuuterselka
https://www.theblitz.club/scenarios/Camp...6&ladder=2

Balanced for PBEM, all rules except AF, VV.



Red Army officers study a disabled Stug III just outside Kuuterselka village, June 15, 1944. (For Larry: register # Ps.531-17. chassis # 77365 ) (Source: Russian archives)


[June 14, 1944, Karelian Isthmus, 50 km NW from Leningrad, Finland.] [H2H HIS BZ] [ALL: N AF N VV)] Following the D-Day landings at Normandy, the Allied side waits upon Stalin to fullfil his promise of a major operation on the Eastern front. Only, Generalissumus has a plan of his own. While ensuring the Normandy landing would gain momentum, allowing Hitler time to move reserves from East front to West, he decided to solve the unfinished business with Finland. All other campaigns put on hold, while waiting to commence Operation Bagration later in June, he orders the Leningrad Front to encircle and destroy the Finnish Army deployed at Karelian Isthmus.

On June 9th, after a full day of continuous artillery barrage, the Red Army slices through the Finnish forward line, following the old border just north of Leningrad, in full force. The shell-shocked defenders fight delaying actions while retreating to the fortified Vammelsuu-Taipale (VT) main defense line. By June 12, Lieutenant General Alfyorov faces a dilemma: having quickly advanced some 20 kms, should he stop to regroup and re-equip, allowing the Finns time off as well, or should he keep the momentum on? Having done his homework, he opts for the latter. Swithching the now battle worn 108th Army Corps to aside, he orders his fresh 109th Army Corps to break out via a weakly defended area the Finns had considered not suitable for large scale armoured operations. His plan: to break out simultaneously via the Sahakyla and Kuuterselka sectors, sending a left pincer to encircle and destroy the Finnish forces towards West, while continuing to push North with a strong right pincer. On the early morning of June 14, again after a fierce artillery barrage, the plan is on.

Having realised this is the real thing, the Finns gather the available reserves to save the VT line, and as they fear, the whole front. Still, perhaps not realising the full size of the enemy formations, elements of Major General Lagus' Armoured Division are ordered to attack hard to retake any ground lost. Soon realising this is a damage limitation mission at best, the men of the proud "Lagus' Fist" will long remember the battle as Katkera Kuuterselka - Bitter Kuuterselka.

[Picture: June 15, 1944: Red Army officers study a disabled Finnish Stu-40 in the fields of Kuuterselka village]
[Anomalies JTCS 1.4: (1) Finnish Jaeger platoon values wrong (2) Finnish infanty cannot ride tanks (3) Finnish bicycles are railcars]

Standing tall, on the right corner: the Soviet Leningrad Front 109th Army Corps, represented by 14th and 133th IR / 72.D, 456th IR /109.D and 996th IR / 286.D, supported by medium and heavy tank and assault gun regiments. A fine force, stripped of all unnecessary units (commissars, bn hqs, ...).

Standing on the left corner: the Finnish 53th IR / 3.D, soon to be supported by any available units in the area. Outnumbered, but not outgunned as far as they are concerned.

A complexity 9 scenario that does not feel like it all. A detailed map, based on 1:20k and 1:100k maps of the time, layered on top of Google Earth for an exact replica of the battlefront.

Playtested over the summer agains AI, then with Huib Versloot twice. My most humble thanks to him for the hours he put up helping this scenario come out right!

The balance might still be a tad towards the Russian player, therefore I would like to receive any feedback from you guys to further enhance the playing experience.

Historical notes: I read about a dozen of books of battle, studied Finnish and Russian sources, it is as close to the real thing as can be: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.p...9&t=165897

Only some minor changes made to ensure playability, most notable (!) being only about 60% of Soviet strenght (4 of 7 IR, 1 of 2 Mobile Groups) having been included to scenario. It must have been madness, back then...

More about terrain, equipment, etc: here's the url for the YouTube version of "Tali Ihantala 1944". As a movie mediocre at best, as a re-enactment with immaculate equipment, top notch. Kuuterselka counter attack begins at 9.30 in clip 1/12, clip 2/12 is mostly about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWOqBtSmz...1&index=45


I started the work on this scenario on Feb/March , thinking it would be out for the anniversary of the battle. Little did I know... Next stop: Battle for Vuoksi river http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vuosalmi

Enjoy the scenario. I certainly did enjoy making it!

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Here's some pictures from the battle I've found during the research:


Large scale map of the area


Armoured division on move, summer 1944. Note the PaK40, behind the StuG, being towed by a captured Komsomolyets mover. (Finnish archives)


Jaegers leaving village of Liikola, on their way to Kuuterselka, June 14 1944 (Finnish archives)


Landsverk AA tank (a Swedish design) at road towards Kuuterselka, June 13, 1944 (Finnish archives)


Ps.531-23 hit a mine and was then thoroughly destroyed by Soviet AT guns at Kuuterselka. Pic: June 15, 1944 (Russian archives)


Capt. Kvikant's Stug, Ps.531-29, with a jammed gun elevation to begin with, laying destroeyd in a ditch. As portrayed in the movie, by means of using that same ditch to get the gun elevation right, it managed to destroy a T-34/85 and an ammunition truck, before being hit. (Russian archives)

(Note: The short-armed swastika (Liberty Cross), taken into use in 1918, was not Nazi related.)