Scenario with Finns

[Puukkoo]

As I have a relatively good chance to produce a historical scenario using Finnish sources, I may do it.

Any suggestions about what battle?

[Korpraali V]

Taking Suursaari 27.3.1942 in snowtorm?

[Puukkoo]

Thanks for your suggestion Korpraali V! I have at least some material on that event, a 'Kansa Taisteli' magazine article.

It would be another scenario with Col. Aaro Pajari. Map would be a plain winter map with the island in the middle.

[Korpraali V]

...and in big snowstorm. I have few lines written about it in "G. Mannerheim: Muistelmat, II" (1952, Otava)

And here seems to be very good source (in Finnish):
http://www.rannikonpuolustaja.fi/rp203/suursaa.htm

[Puukkoo]

Thanks for the link, man. I had 'Kansa Taisteli' number 3/77 which had Gen. Pajari's own account of the matter. I also found an article on German amphibious invasion to take that island in September 1944. That would be nice too (and only occasion where Soviets collaborated with Finns, if just with airforce).

I see that the battle is better to produce as three separate pieces, like the TULAGI offensive on scenario roster. It is still possible to make it as one massive package, but the weather changed during the operation and there was later a considerable airforce involvement too.

[Korpraali V]

So what about a small Finnish campaign? I think that would be the first one.

Or even two small campaigns: Fin-Sov and Fin-Ger?

[Puukkoo]

Why not a Finn campaign. About three battles with ski troops.

That German amphibious invasion would work fine just as a scenario. They took only the northern beach head and failed.

As for the Finnish campaigns, The Games Depot has at least that Finn-USSR campaign by some non-Finn. It was fun to play.

[Korpraali V]

Found one but it was reworked to three scenarios.
[:(]

If you choose to make a campaign I'm ready to test it and give some feedback (although I'm rookie in testing stuff).

[IBTyrone]

Do the campaign. Sign me up to help test if you end up doing it. We always need: A) more campaigns, and B) more of the smaller guys to spice things up. That's part of the reason why I play Italians all the time.

[Puukkoo]

Nice to hear that, boys. I will proceed with some further research and planning. There may be some delays due to soccer match Finland-Andorra and ice hockey matches against Russia and Sweden.[;)]

[Korpraali V]

Perfectly understandable situation.


It has been written about going war:

5. And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.
6. And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.
7. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
8. And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart melt as his heart.

(Deuteronomium 20:5-8)

However, Finnish translation includes ice hockey game against Sweden

[;)][:D]
[:D][;)]







(I don't mean to offend, I'm Christian and Finnish myself)

[Puukkoo]

Okay it was just a horrible weekend. I should really have done something else than just watch those games. Humiliating draw against Andorra (0-0) was probably the worst possible show-up in our soccer history. Ice hockey did not fare any better at all. Three games and two goals! Despite these national misfortunes the U21 team and women played much better games. And Räikkönen overcome his ill luck by finishing 4th at Monza after Montoya, Alonso and Fisichella. It seems however probable that Fernando Alonso will claim the title in F1's this year.

Back to our business. I created some kind of map of Suursaari island. -Ugly like falcons behind. Perhaps with some revising it will become much more beautiful to human eye. The idea of assauting an island from frozen sea is something never done before. Using coastal infantry is also something new to me.

[Puukkoo]

Reporting.

I planned the 'Suursaari Island' mini-campaign to consist of four battles. Finn player takes a force of about two companies and some supporting squads.

1x Ski Company
1x Coastal Company
1x Engineer Section
2x Special Forces (Sissi-, Blitz-, or ErP 4 Squads)

Russians have elite forces based on wintry island: Soviet Ski troops and Marines. Finns will not have much points to replace their losses and Soviets will fight fanatically to the last ditch.

Fortunately for the Finns, the aerial supremacy will be achieved before the final battle. Before that, a lot of LaGG's will make life difficult.

There still remains much to do. I had to give up with some historical facts to make campaign more intresting. I Generally try to keep the amount of units relatively small. Despite that, there will be a lot of mortars, light artillery and AA-guns involved.

One possible addition is a 'bonus' mission: a rendez-vous with Germans to capture the 'Daughter Island' before Russians take it.

[Korpraali V]

Sounds good so far.

Not too many LaGGs please... open ice means horrible losses when under machine gun fire. And the sight was very limited at first, if I remember right.

...eagerly waiting...[>:][;)][:D][:D][:D]

[Puukkoo]

LaGG's will mostly annoy the artillery battery on ice. Brewsters will eventually shoot those down as they did in the real battle.

[Puukkoo]

I think this one is ready for testing. Volunteers wanted!

It is a campaign with six scenarios. All battles are fought with infantry.

[IBTyrone]

ORIGINAL: Puukkoo

I think this one is ready for testing. Volunteers wanted!

It is a campaign with six scenarios. All battles are fought with infantry.

Okay, Puukkoo. I'm your huckleberry. I'm in the midst of working my way through Das Reich for the first time, but if your campaign doesn't involve huge forces, I can work through yours as well.

You can email me the files at my Depot account (IBTYRONE@spwaw.com) or PM me over there. If that doesn't work, we can try some of my other email addys.

[Korpraali V]

I'm in.

Also with Das Reich near Kharkov...
Where are you IBTyrone?

Puukkoo, I sent you my address.

[Puukkoo]

Okay guys, I sent you both a package. Let's hope it works. Report here if you don't have it yet.

[IBTyrone]

ORIGINAL: Korpraali V

I'm in.

Also with Das Reich near Kharkov...
Where are you IBTyrone?

Still in Poland, on the last battle with the forts. This one has been a little bit tougher nut to crack than the others so far. I'm out of smoke and having difficulty kicking in the back door on the upper fort but it seems to be better defended than the front side was. Ugh. It's only turn 10 out of 20 and I have already taken the other two victory hexes in the town and lower fort, so I should be able to get through in 10 turns--I hope.

I have a long ways to go in the campaign, though. How far into the campaign is Kharkov?