Arctic Front: Guards Assault (IN PROGRESS)

[Crossroads]

OP content referring to what became The Tuloksa Landing Operation scenario, removed.

[Crossroads]

Well, this one is going to be about the 37th Guards AC beginning their drive north at Lodinaje Polije. Scenario name will remain, as it fits the situation very well!

The Tuloksa Landing Operation will be covered in another scenario.
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ARCTIC FRONT: GUARDS ASSAULT
June 21, 1944


Finnish assault boats evacuating troops and supply to northern shores of river Svir. Palteenkylä, 22 June 1944. © SA-kuva.fi


In June 21, some two weeks after the Stalin’s Fourth Strategic Offensive began in Karelian Isthmusin full scale, the Olonets Isthmus erupts in fire too. Leading the charge over major river Svir was the 37th Guards Army Corps of the Soviet Union 7th Army, led by Lt Gen P.V. Mironov. Supported by strong artillery and airforce, their attack to create a bridgehead would be just north of the town of Lodinaje Polye Once over, engineered bridges would be built, and the second wave elements would cross this major river in force.

The Finnish 5.Division had left their forward lines, south of the river, and had deployed in depth in the northern shores of the river. The first main defence positions were prepared some 20 kilometers further behind the river. However, executing an orderly retreat required the advancing Red Army to be held in bay, while the whole front would retreat in sync. Not an easy task by any means, becoming ever more difficult as several units were recalled to Karelian Isthmus to reinforce the faltering lines there.
7th Army was not going to play a waiting game, though. With plans for a full scale landing at Tuloksa, behind the Finnish lines soon in motion, the men of the 37th Guards boarded their boats. On the other side of the river only a few enemy battalions were known to secure the area. The assault over river Svir was on!

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5.Division – Maj Gen K.A.Tapola

- JR2 Colonel H.Sauren:
--- I/2 Major V.Väänänen; II/2 Major T.Simo; III/2 Major P.Uusitalo; SepBn 15 Major W.Lindqvist;
--- KTR 3; RaskPsto 24; Kev Psto 18

37th Guards Army Corps – Lt Gen P.V.Mironov
- 99th Guards Division Colonel I.I.Blazevits:
--- 303th Guards IR;
--- 297th Guards IR

- 98th Guards Division Colonel K.N. Vindusev:
--- 299 Guards IR;
--- 302 Guards IR;
--- 296 Guards IR;

--- TODO: Armored units?

--- Artillery + smoke
--- River crossing equipment
--- Air superiority