Murmansk 1941

[AngrySwan]

The Murmansk direction in 1941 has not been covered yet. There is a Panzer General 2 scenario ''Attack on Murmansk''/Vosrstoss Richtung Murmansk'' that could be converted...
... but the map seems too big, so it looks like a mini-campaign of 2 or even 3 scenarios, cutting the map into pieces:

- Op Raindeer/Rentier - June 22 to 28. No action yet. The infantry battalions of 2nd and 3rd Mountain Division start from Kirkenes and move to Petsamo (2nd division) and Luostari (3rd division.) More like a tutorial than a real scenario as there is no fightiung and the divisions just need to take some locations in their own territory.

- Rybachiy/Litsa - a 56x56 map (hopefully working in game). On June 29 the mountain corps crosses the border, supported by air units from the airfui8eld near Luostari (Kirkenes is too far and will not fit into the map). The attackers soon run into real Soviet defences as Rybachiy peninsula is heavily fortified and the Soviets have prepared defense on the other coast of the next river. Depending on what can be done with Rybachiy, it either is or is not taken, and Germans must be able to establish bridgeheads on the other side of Litsa.

- If the Soviets are not defeated immediately they set up defenses near Litsa and the battles stop (Rybachiy either taken or not taken). Meanwhile, generals in Berlin convince the political leadership that military operations are either done properly or not done at all, so the mountain corps is reinforced with 6th mountain division (hopefully the smaller map allows more units) and the final attack on Murmansk starts on October 15, by 3 mountain divisions (2nd, 3rd or 6th). The Soviets also receive the Polar Division and one rifle brigade by then.

All units are battalion size and you get them before the scenario begins. You can reinforce a unit if it still exists but what is lost is lost. Additional units only at the beginning of the next scenario.

Op Rentier is done and the mountain infantry can reach Petsamo-Luostari in a week.
Next scenario is more tricky, as the only way I know is rebuilding the eastern part of the map manually with a hex editor (takes time but possible if you know what you are doing).

[Ronald Wendt]

Hi AngrySwan,

this on will be tricky as to get the right feel of those battles. Was like a slow motion grinding fest, if memory serves.

[AngrySwan]

Hi Ronald,

In the original Panzer General II scenario the Soviets have enough forces with good artillery support, so if the AI does not make absolutely wrong moves, it should be able to hold the ground for long time.

The Operation Rentier, if both divisions start from Kirkenes and move to Petsamo, Luostari area takes exactly a week, June 22 to June 28 - not sure if this should be put in the campaign or not. Maybe as a walking tutorial or point gathering scenario.

On June 29 day Germans cross the border and only face some Soviet bunkers. The real Soviet defenses start on the other side of the next river after the border (2 infantry divisions - 1 regiment) and on the Rybachiy peninsula (a fortified area with a minefield, heavy artillery, air defense and an infantry regiment). Germans have 2 mountain divisions - 1 regiment in Murmansk direction, and 1 mountain regiment, 2 combat engineer battalions and corps artillery against Rybachiy. Assuming Germans can only use the planes based in Kirkenes and a Gruppe (regiment) of Stukas from Rovaniemi airfield, they have some air superiority but the Soviets have stronger artillery and enough infantry, so it could be a heavy fight for many days.
The Soviets need to blow the bridges against the second river, then they can hold longer.
The Soviets can also make a landing operation either on the coast or on Rybachiy if it falls. Even if we have no ships, a reinforcement appearing on the coast could as well be called a landing operation. That could be a nasty surprise.

Nothing except engineer units is motorized and one tank battalion is not very much worth on its own - Soviets can stop it just with their artillery. So the move should be slow.

The final attack starts in October not in September and Germans finally receive the 6th mountain division but the Soviets also get the Polar Division and an infantry brigade - so the attack should not be too easy and the Soviets still have a couple of rivers to hold to.