** Bitter Kuuterselka 2.0 (now obsolete) - The Matrix Games version of East Front II

NOTE: This version of Bitter Kuuterselka with JTCS 1.04 stock units is obsolete. As the scenario has recorded results, it is left here, but the download is not available.

Please visit the current homepage of Bitter Kuuterselka: https://www.theblitz.club/scenarios/the-matrix-games-version-of-east-front-ii/arctic-front-bitter-kuuterselka/b-15.htm?action=scenario&id=5507.

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[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]