Arctic Front: Metal Gods

[Crossroads]

EDIT: I am seriously considering renaming the scenario into Metal Gods...

At Honkaniemi, the 4th Tank Company of the Armored Battalion with their sixteen British 6 ton Vickers tanks, the only modern tanks Finns had, engaged the enemy in the only larger Winter War battle that had both sides deploying tanks to front line.

I took the artistic liberty to deploy the full 4th Tank Coy to this scenario, while in reality only a handful of them made it to battle under the harsh winter conditions.

Metal Gods, Forward!

Machines are taking all over
With mankind in their command
In time they'd like to discover
How they can make their demand
© Judas Priest - Metal Gods

Metal Gods

Feb 26, 1940


Picture: A Finnish Vickers 6 ton tank, armed with a Bofors 37mm ATG, laying destroyed after the battle for Honkaniemi. Photo: Wikipedia Commons.

In 1936, Finns bought 33 Vickers 6 ton tanks without armament or radios, opting to equip them by themselves. While the Bofors 37mm was a good choice and a formidable gun at this stage, the optics and periscope system put into tanks was of inferior quality, and there were no radios. These issues caused tank crews all sorts of problems, as the inquest after Honkaniemi battle, where six tanks were lost, revealed. After Winter War, all remaining Vickers tanks were converted to use equipment similar to that of their Soviet T-26 counterparts, including radios, 45mm guns, and optics. Vickers tanks were then renamed as T-26E, E standing for English.

Coming up in MCS 2.01; new bitmaps for these little things! Computer art by Mike Amos:




Complexity: 5 Turns: 16 Modified complexity: 5 * 16 = 80

Size modifier: 2
First side: Allied
Turns: 1-16[d]
Visibility: 1-3[3] 4-6[4] 7-16[5]
Ground: Snow

Allied Air 0; Ammo 65; Smoke 4
Axis Air 0; Ammo 75; Smoke 6
AI Allied 70; Axis 30

Major Loss 0; Minor Loss 100; Minor Win 200; Major Win 300

[Honkaniemi, Karelian Isthmus, 14 km Southeast from Viborg] [H2H] [HIS] [CSL]

By the end of February, only within a fortnight after the Finnish retreat from their Main Line of defence, the faith of their so called Interim Line was already at great risk, no more so than in the sector leading towards city of Viborg.

As the situation around the Honkaniemi region became more threatening, the Finnish II Corps ordered the 23rd division, reinforced with elements of 3rd Jaeger Battalion and the newly arrived 4th tank company, to destroy the small enemy salient east of lake Naykkijärvi.

The original plan was to conduct a counterattack with six battalions and three artillery battalions, commencing at 0500 hrs of 26 Feb 1940. After the hurried preparations were completed, the units eligible for attack decreased to four battalions and two artillery battalions.

The final plan called for a two phased attack. First (portrayed in this scenario), the 3rd Jaeger Bn with the 4th Tank Coy, together with I/67th, were to penetrate the enemy lines. Then, the two remaining battalions (II and III/67th) would join in and proceed to remove the remaints of the enemy elements in the salient.

As the lead elements of the Soviet 84th division were still hastily digging into defensive positions, their main elements begun to deploy into area, also with orders to attack on that same day, but at noon. The Soviet attack was to start on schedule, regardless of the Finnish attack they were now facing. Reinforcing the 84th Infantry Division were the tanks of the 112th tank battalion of the 35th Light Tank Brigade.

As the Finnish counter attack withered to a halt, the order to leave the Interim Line was given on February 27th, 1940. The city of Viborg, with its road network to inland Finland, stood now in great peril (See: ** Grim Days of Winter).

(Scenario picture: Finnish Vickers 6 ton tank, destroyed at Honkaniemi. © Wikipedia Commons)

[Scandinavian Terrain Mod recommended to be enabled when playing this scenario.]

[ALL : N AF] [2.00]

The scenario is available HERE.

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