Feb 1940 Russia advance Kemijarvi

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 1900 Hours 2/1/40

Here we go again chasing the Finns. The time off was great. Its a great day with clear weather. There is snow on the ground and vis is about 450 yards. Lots of dense woods and a couple rivers to cross.

I have lined up all 3 companys along a 1300 yard wide front. We are to move out along the southern map edge. The front extends from the south to about the center of the map. The south vh is 1000 yards east. A hill 500 yards behind this runs NW about 350 yards. Maybe 250 north of this hill is another one that runs NE for 600 yards. The center VH sits on the middle of this hill. 400 yards north of this hill is the north VH.

A river runs from the south map edge NW to North edge. This river runs over the center hill splitting it down the middle it ends in the north with a 400 yard swamp.

The south rear vh is about 1400 yards from rear of hill. 700 yards north of this is other rear VH. Woods run up to with in about 400 yards of both hills.

We will proceed east till we are about 300 yards of the hills. Our right flank will then pull a left oblioque and proceed NE to take the center. After center has been secured one company will split off from main force and proceed to the rear VHs. The other two companys will continue on to the north VH.

The left flank is screened by 4 sections of light and medium tanks. This is going to be a tough fight i feel it in my bones. Most of it depends on a clean sweep of the sothern map edge. WE CAN NOT ALLOW ANY ENEMY TO GET BEHIND OUR SWEEP NE.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 1935 Hours 2/1/40

We jumped off at 1900 hours proceeding due east. No enemy sighted for about 20 minutes. Left flank ran into some entrenched ski troops. Hit them with 50MM and 82MM mortars. Couple squads were eliminated and 2 were chased off. Lost a sniper to there fire. Center has had some small arm fire unable to locate as yet. Nothing to report so far from the right flank.

The tank screen has come under fire. Chased off maybe three squads there. Lost a T-28 to 76.2 bombardment.

The left flank is about 400 yards from the center hill. Slow going so far thru the woods and looking out for there dug in troops.

Troop morale still high and eager to engage the enemy.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 1950 Hours 2/1/40

The tank force on the left flank is my anchor at the river. They are to hold and advance no more then 50 yards at a time. While the far right flank in the south will swing NE towards the river. This will cause an enveloping manuver to close on the center hill. At this time the whole line will push NE towards the river. We should catch the bulk of there forces between us and the river.

Not much activity in the south sector. Most of the action is center and slightly north of there around the center hill and VH. There artty has been continuous but slight. Some casualties and only one armored vehicle so far a T-28. Lost an Gaz AA to rifle fire or may have been HMG.

Sniper went down with a recon squad from an ambush few minutes ago. The south flank has taken there VH with out any losses. They are about 100 yards from the hill behind the VH. Will move some inf guns and ATG up on hill once it is secure. Once over this hill our infantry will be in the rear of some of the enemy defending the center VH. Our guns should then be able to cover the top of the center hill where the VH sits. This should help our troops making the assault on the front of the hill.

The center will be coming out of dense woods about 250 yards from front of center hill. They must make a mad dash across this fairly open space. I have had our big guns making almost a continus bombardment on this open space and the west slope plus the western top of the hill. I feel this will be where we will lose most of our casualties. All 3 companies of mortars the 81 and 107 plus the plattoons 50s have been laying barrages about 100 yards in front of centers advance. I dont see how even a rabbit could live in this flying death barrage. The 76.2s have been laying smoke on the western slope of the hill as well.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 2000 Hours 2/1/40

The far right flamk has almost reached the river. The encirclement looks almost like a football. The river forms the north and slightley south east curve. Where my tank force anchored at the river in the north starts the west point of the ball. The line then extends south east to the riight flank which is about 150 yards from the river.

We are on the western slope of the south hill. Took some heavy fire from the top. Had a few casualties nothing severe. I had plastered this hill and thought it fairly clear of the enemy. Dont really see how anything human could have been still alive on it.

Would have liked to have been able to get some trucks for our infantry guns when we asked for support for this battle. They are far behind our front lines right now too far to really help. Needless to say we lost our suppy officer in a really freak accident today. I will send you the report on this later after we have defeated the Finn war mongers.

Mostly our front line has been meeting little resistence. Mainly stragglers who have been unable to get away. Nothing in any way that resembles a defence. As soon as the right flank reaches the river i will give the order to advance all along the line.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 2015 Hours 2/1/40

Not much happening for the last 15 minutes. We are moving forward slowly. 100 yards at a time. We are still finding the occassional squad still dug in. We are losing a man here and there asthey try and root out the enemy.

The process is slow to say the least. Our infantry moves forward locates and hunkers down. A tank is then brought up and routs the enemy out of his hole. The Finns are dam good shots hardly ever misses. I still can not say the same about our men. They consistently miss at under 100 yards.

I have begun to have problems with getting scouts out on the points. This i believe is to the high mortality rate. Had to shoot one myself for refusing to move awhile back.

The right flank was held up from a small concentration trying to stop us from reaching the top of the southern hill. They have been disbursed and are moving again.

The center has about 200 yards to reach there objective. Should be in our hands with in the next half hour.

Our armor loss is very low so far thanks to our gallent infantry advance. I believe no more then 3 have been lost.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 2045 Hours 2/1/40

Right flank has taken southern rear VH. They are now moving on the northern rear VH. Have come up on two hidden AT guns 47MM. Have infilicted several losses and pinned them down. Two men have been lost from one squad.

The center has taken there VHs and are now swinging NE towards north VH. The tank force on the left flank is moving towards the north VH as well. They have engineers out in front of them. The engineers have suffered heavy losses in trying to root out the remaining die hard Finns.

There is only about 600 yards seperating both flanks from there respective objectives. This battle should be over in about 20 more minutes. We have delt the Finns a heavy defeat in the loss of so many of there men. There has been no sight of any of there armor so far.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff

[robot]

Western Front Kemijarvi: 2105 Hours 2/1/40

The battle is over. We have won. A decisive victory for our side. All objectives were taken.

Our losses were slight. Men 199 AFV 4. Our men are now fighters of the highest caliber. They performed very well. The tanks were used well this time. Used in there primary role only. Heavy support for the infantry.

The enemy was decimated from our onslaught. Very heavy losses for them. Men 1187 plus 7 Artty. I assume they had no more armor to throw at us after the previous battles.

We were told we were to get a unit citation today. This is to be presented back in Mother Russia at Moscow square. The men are glad the war is over and we get to go home for good. There were several promotions handed out today as well. They were deserved by the men who got them. There will be one heck of a celabration tonite. The Vodka will flow like water and i will have one hell of a headache tomorrow. We will then begin to prepare to ship out home.

Commander XX Heavy Tank Force: Col Igor Razinsnoff