Background
On 4-5 September 1944, the cease-fire ended military actions between Finland and the Soviet Union. An armistice between the Soviet Union and Finland was signed in Moscow on 19 September. Finland had to make many concessions: the Soviet Union regained the borders of 1940, with the addition of the Petsamo area (now Pechengsky District, Russia); the Porkkala peninsula (adjacent to Helsinki) was leased to the USSR as a naval base for fifty years; and transit rights were granted. Finland’s army was to be demobilized with haste, but Finland was first required to expel all German troops from its territory within 14 days. As the Germans did not leave Finland by the given deadline, the Finns fought their former co-belligerents in the Lapland War. Finland was also required to clear the minefields in Karelia (including East Karelia) and in the Gulf of Finland. Retreating German forces had also mined northern Finland heavily. The demining was a long operation, especially in the sea areas, lasting until 1952. One-hundred Finnish army personnel were killed and over 200 wounded during this process, most of them in Lapland.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuation_War)
Situation
The German 20th Mountain Armee deploys rear guards to attempt to delay a Finnish attack, while the main army falls back to Norway.
The Game
Terrain
The terrain is heavily wooded and covered with deep snow. A river divides the table into two separate and independent sectors. Two roads parallel the river (all waterways were considered frozen over). All cross-country terrain is considered Rough Terrain and is Very Difficult Going. All roads are considered slow going. Deep pine woods are classified as dense woods and defoliated woods are considered light woods. All tall grass areas around water are classified as cover
Special Rules
- Play edge to edge on the table.
- Board was divided in half, with each side playing independantly. Center river could not be crossed or fired over.
- Each Finn Team received 1600 point company each. Build units out of Lapin Sota .pdf.
- Each German Team received two 800 point companies each from Ardennes or Grey Wolf for Germans.
- The German units started with his units on the table, up to halfway in on the terrain, with one platoon in ambush (all dug in).
- The Finnish forces marched onto the table at the beginning of the game (recon get initial march on table).
- If a dug in unit moved out of its position, it could not dug in elsewhere, to reflect the frozen ground.
- The Scenario uses the Delayed Withdrawl scenario in the FOW rule book.
- Starting on Turn Three, the German players must remove one platoon per turn until the number of platoons fall less than five.
- Starting Turn Six, Germans can remove a single objective a turn.
- The game lasts eight turns or until the Finns have uncontested possession of one of their Objectives.
- Neither side can purchase Air Power.
- The Finns received the first move.
Forces
The Germans on the left consisted of a 6th SS Mountain Company (two Grenadiers, one Scout platoon) and a Grenadier company (two Grenadier, one 80mm platoons, a ersatz T-34 and a Nebelwerfer unit. The Germans on the right flank consisted of two Grenadier companies with three Grenadier plattons, HMGs and off board artillery. The German Heer units were rated Confident Veteran and the SS Fearless Veteran.
The Finns consisted of one Jaakari on their right and one Jalkaviki Company on the Finnish left. Each force had a mixture of Jaakari, Jalkaviki, Sissi, HMGs, Pioneers and mortars. The Finns were a primarily Veteran with a mixture of Reluctant and Confident troops.
Narrative
Turn zero: Finnish recon infantry moved full speed onto the board.
On Turn One and Two: The Finns surged forward with the rest of their forces, double timing most of their units using the cover of the woods. The remaining Finns moved against the German centers to tie down the units there. The Germans hunkered down and engaged in long range fire were possible, catching one Finnish platoon in the open and wiping it out. The Germans deployed their ambush on the left flank to solidify the defense,
By Turn Three, Finns conducted rapid close assaults against the German right flanks, almost destroying the German platoons deployed around the objectives on the right flank. Germans on the right tried to unsuccessfully push the Finns back with a counter attack. Now the Germans had to remove one of their platoons from each side, which was difficult on the right flank because of the Finnish pressure along the lines.
On Turn Four, The Finns massed all their troops against the SS defensive positions and tried a probing assault, but swere thrown back with heavy losses. To add insult to injury, the Germans on the left raked the exposed Finnish with Fire, causing a number of casualties. On the other flank, the Finns managed to destroy one of the German platoons protecting the furthest objective. The Germans had to quickly react or the game would be over. The Germans sprung their ambush to the rear of the victorious Finn platoon, routing it off the board. It also mangled a second Finnish platoon but could go no farther. Another unit of Germans from each side was pulled off the table
On Turn Five, the Finns on the German right flank launched everything they had at the SS to try to overwhelm the defense. Unfortunately, the integrated German defense was too much and threw back every assault with heavy losses. This was followed by more raking fire against the Finns, that broke the Finnish company. One Game Point to the Germans. The Finns attacking the German right had a much easier time and blasted their way into the second objective, leaving no German units within counter attack range.
On Turn Six, unable to recapture or contest the second objective, the game was a draw due to the split result. Now the Germans will have to move faster away from the following Finnish forces.
– Manteuffel